Benefiting from Uncle Bob
Chester students thankful for Australian's generosity
Darrell Greer
Northern News Services
Published Wednesday, December 11, 2013
CHESTERFIELD INLET
Victor Sammurtok School (VSS) in Chesterfield Inlet has benefited a lot since Australia's Bob Carveth (Uncle Bob) began donating items to Nunavut youth more than a year ago.
Louie Kukkiak uses a camera donated by Uncle Bob to film Paul Jr. Autut at Victor Sammurtok School in Chesterfield Inlet this past week. - photo courtesy Glen Brocklebank |
One donation saw each student at VSS receive a flashlight and a set of rechargeable batteries, while the school was given six battery chargers.
Carveth, 73, has also sent VSS 12 cameras, a robot, electronic dance light, science prizes, educational toys and walkietalkies.
But the prized possession for VSS students, among Uncle Bob's numerous donations, is a Canon XL2 video digital camcorder.
Teacher Glen Brocklebank said the camera arrived near the end of the previous school year.
He said he and the students have begun filming segments of VSS's kayak-making program to share with other schools.
"Students in grades one and two did a short film to send to a southern school, and we're getting into trying to do some more features, like taping our upcoming Christmas concert," said Brocklebank.
"We're leaning how to properly use the camera, but we're still in the infancy stage with it because we're not used to having something with this level of technology at VSS.
"We have a few kids who are really starting to pick it up, but we're still working on their proficiency."
Brocklebank said although a little intimidated by the technology at first, the students are starting to look at things like doing videos for the always popular YouTube.
He said they've also expressed an interest in filming their community for people in other parts of Canada, and starting to work on their own short productions.
"The Christmas concert on Dec. 19 will be our first true test with the camera, so we're all pretty excited.
"We're setting up a team of three or four students to be in charge of the production.
"So far, the students showing the most interest tend to be in Grade 7 or Grade 8.
"We might start an after-school club to improve our skills with the camera."
Brocklebank said the students really appreciate all Uncle Bob has done for them.
"Bob has really hooked us up and done a great job for us.
"It's been pretty amazing and we're fortunate he took an interest in our school.
"So thank you, Uncle Bob, because you've really made a difference here."
