Skyline

2017-2018: Brian Davidson is supporting Skyline Alternate School's inquiry this year, focusing on:

• Focus: Engagement through problem-based independent study courses
• Checking:
  • Staff and students dried, canned and froze seasonal fruits and vegetables for future use
  • 24 students completed Food Safe
  • adapted Foods 10/11/12 courses to “fit” a working kitchen
  • dried Salmon and berries with First Nations Elders in Residence (some dried traditionally, most dried with modern methods) – poster crated comparing methods and outlining how technology has built upon traditional methods
  • monthly guest “chefs” from the community sharing ethnic recipes and idea around nutrition
  • gathered, dried, processed and learned about the cultural significant of sage through a partnership with Dog Creek school
  • a focus on IDS courses as an extension to areas of interest met with limited success. We are finding that students are perceiving that projects are more work and more difficult than completing paper-based courses. We will continue to slowly phase out paper-based fill in the blank options. This is a tricky balance because we are looking for quick success to build confidence.
• Reflection:
  • gaining a better understanding of how (who) our First Nations students are connected in their home communities helps us to identify elders that we can encourage to become involved in our school programs. We discovered that elders were very willing to share knowledge and skills when approached directly rather than putting out a general call for “help”.
  • Non-First Nations and First Nations students were very willing to engage with our “Elders in Residence”.
  • preserving seasonal foods helped our food budget stretch. Donations of traditional First Nations and ethnic foods was greatly appreciated.