SD83 Students Explore OC
Question: So, how does one feed over 250 thirteen-year olds pizza for lunch? Answer: In a very orderly manner.
Grade Eight students from Shuswap Middle, Ranchero schools and King’s Christian schools got to spend a half-day exploring their future selves in an event sponsored by SD83, Okanagan College and the Province of BC. This is the first day of the two day event for all five-hundred-plus grade eight students in the district and private schools in the region. Day Two takes place on Friday where the other grade eight students from Sicamous, Armstrong, Enderby and outlying areas around Salmon Arm will take part. This is the third year in a row this program has taken place. In the first two years, it was a pilot program just involving Shuswap Middle School students. Now, This year’s event involving all Grade Eights was made possible by a generous grant from the BC Ministry of Education’s Career Education division.
The students had a choice of signing up for three different focus areas they could be interested in: Health Care and Social Services, Trades and Technology and University Transfer which involves Arts, Science, and Business Programs. Students had a mixture of sit down lecture and learn sessions while others were more interactive and collaborative. OC Civil Engineering Chair Ken Langedyk talked with students about some of the interesting jobs in civil, mechanical and computer engineering all the while a 3D printer printed off bridge parts for a model he was constructing for the students.
When it came to the sciences, Dr. Bryan White shared his passion with students of how science is everywhere and involves virtually everything around them. He was able to do some quick demonstrations and labs with students including how it is the central nervous system and the spine that sends the signal to your knee when you feel the sensation of kicking when a doctor checks for your reflexes. White adds science is in everyone’s realm and is doable. It does take work but if you are curious and like to test things, science could be for you.
There were at least 12 sessions for students to engage in. One of them involved students brainstorming groups coming up with ideas on how to diversify Big White’s recreational activities in the late spring, summer and early fall. A brief list of ideas students came up with included a mountain coaster, paintball, ziplines, horseback riding and bungee jumping. Other sessions had SD83 Liaison Dave Ramsey talking about Work Experience and Dual Credit programs while OC Salmon Arm Trades Administrator Brent Moffat outlined the potential trade school opportunities in the community.
If you want to learn more about the experiential learning opportunities that SD83 offers or you have a great idea for a field trip, please contact George Richard via text or phone at 778-824-1188 or email grichard@sd83.bc.ca.