edcom news may 2014

SD38.BC.CA& RICHMOND-NEWS.COM @RICHMONDSD38

MAY 2014

Tomorrow’s leadersand thinkers takeonaglobalperspective - each tripprovidesanew insight

Turning on a tap, flushing a toilet, having a10-minute shower. These are things we do inRichmond on a daily basis and don’t even thinkabout their ramifications.

But, considering the looming fresh water crisis that’sabout to knock on our front door, it’s something we allought to think about.

The Global Perspectives program at Richmondsecondary school is churning out progressive thinkersand leaders on social, environmental and economicissues each year.

These are the students that will play pivotal roles inour societies, solving the problems of tomorrow.

Take the perspective of Grade 12 student TristanDurrad after his excursion to Sri Lanka this year:

“Living and working with poor people was eyeopening,” said Durrad.

“But what’s more, was coming back to Canada andseeing the wastefulness and what we take for granted.When you see the contrast, you see the things you takefor granted – things you would never think about.”

When Durrad went to a resort area, the atmosphereand type of travel is completely different. “Here, welived, conversed and ate with the local people and webecame a bit of a part of their culture,” added Durrad.The program sees about 30 students take an annual

trip to a remote place in the second or third world inorder to help a community with whatever issue theydeem to be the most pressing.

In Sri Lanka, students built a one-classroom schooland a water well.“We mixed cement in Sri Lanka by hand and with ashovel for five days,” said Matheny.

In 2013 in Samoa, the students built a multi-purposeplaying field for victims of a tsunami in a remote town.2011 saw students build a town hall in storm-ravagedFiji. In 2007, students helped build a community hallfor women in Morocco.

“Every year is different and we always have amazing

cont. on › page 4

Chairperson’s message............3A Year in Review/Camp Ignite ...............................5Engineering...............................6

DeBeck Community..................8TheWars of 1812.....................10Ferris Students

Enjoy the Spotlight..................12McNair Music ..........................14Growing Chefs.........................16

E2 MAY 2014 SD38.BC.CA

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MAY 2014 E3SD38.BC.CA

RichmondSchoolBoardTrustees AMessage fromtheChairperson

Mr. Rod [email protected]

Richmond School District No. 387811 Granville AvenueRichmond, BC V6Y 3E3

Phone: 604.668.6000Fax: 604.233.0150sd38.bc.ca

EdCom News: The Educate and Communicate Newspaper is published by the Richmond News on behalf of the CommunicationsDepartment of the Richmond School District No. 38. EdCom News us intended for the parents of the Richmond School Districtstudents and includes information on upcoming events, district projects and school based activities. EdCom News is produced at nocost to the Richmond School District. Commercial advertising in the publication does not imply endorsement by the Richmond SchoolDistrict No. 38.

For more information, or to provide feedback or article suggestions, contact David Sadler, Communications and Marketing ManagerSchool District No. 38 at 604.668.6000 x3399 or [email protected]. All stories written by Graeme Wood & Philip Raphael.

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Dr. Eric [email protected]

On behalf of the Richmond Board of Education, I amproud to present our third edition of EdCom to ourstudents, parents and community. As the school yearcomes to a close we thought it would be importantto reflect on some of the many great events,accomplishments and stories that have made thisyear such as success.

Thanks to all of those involved in the education ofour students over the past year. The rich learningenvironment that surrounds our students would notbe possible without the dedicated administrators,teachers, staff, sponsors and volunteers. I am proudof the collaborative leadership displayed by ourpartners who work tirelessly to support our system.

EdCom has provided another way for our schools,staff and students to share and celebrate thesestories. It is essential to note that EdCom isproduced at no cost to the Richmond School Districtand the commercial advertising in this publicationdoes not imply endorsement by our District.

These stories are about our District and about thededicated people that make a difference each day.Countless hours are committed behind the scenes toaccomplish so much and often times this dedicationgoes unrecognized. I am excited that we have theopportunity to shine a spotlight on a few of theseindividuals and congratulate them for the greatwork.

Donna SargentChairperson, RichmondBoard of Education

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‹ from page 1

stories to tell,” said programcoordinator and social science teacherKevin Matheny.

“It’s really about getting as much of acultural experience as possible.This is not the typical lie on the beachthing. This is complete immersionand interaction with local people. Andthe theory is to provide some localinfrastructure for the people.”

Each trip over the past two decadestries to incorporate a theme. So in SriLanka, students better understood howconsumption and the environment gohand in hand.

In Samoa and Fiji, the learning curvewas about a better appreciation offamily and community. The Morocco tripshowed students the merits of genderequality.

In 2009, students visited poor towns inParaguay.

“The connection there was how we blowmoney on silly things,” said Matheny.“We saw people who made two bucks aday.”

Also, the students provide a newperspective for people around the

world. For instance, Matheny said thegirls doing physical work took many SriLankans aback.

Many of the trips involve helping otherkids and students. In 2008, the programbuilt a small school in Malaysia for kidswho had previously been getting theireducation, quite literally, under a tree,Matheny said.

It made his students appreciate themodern, clean schools in the Richmondschool district.

“The theory is, you can’t understandwho you are as a person until you go toother parts of the world and recognizeyour shortcomings, as well as what youhave,” said Matheny.

Each trip takes about a year to plan.Once one trip is over, the wheels beginturning on the next. In 2015, studentswill head to Bhutan to experience itsgross national happiness index and gaina better perspective and understandingof our addiction to materialism righthere at home.

The students will help build a soccerfield for orphaned monks. “They livea humble life. I hope it will challengestudents on the merits of materialism,”

said Matheny, who visited Bhutanlast year and was amazed by theirsocially progressive policies.Planning to head toBhutan is Grade 11student Peijia Ding.

“The actof helpingsomeoneand givingsomethingin return — Ithink these actionscan be appreciatedanywhere,” said Ding,who is now on a fundraisingdrive to raise money for thetrip.

“I want to try and make a difference inpeople’s lives…even though our effortsaren’t that big it will change their livesin some ways.”

Matheny said students must pay theirown way and are encouraged to find asummer job to gain an appreciation forhow much work to takes to travel.

He said the program started in 1994and since he took over as its organizerin 2006, the Internet has amelioratedorganization.

Matheny seeks out impoverishedcommunities on his own and doesn’tneed to go through a third-party. Andwith communication as fast as it isthese days, problems can be mitigatedbefore his students arrived.

The Internet also allows parents toeasily communicate daily with theirchildren.

ny, who visited Bhutanwas amazed by theirgressive policies.head toade 11ia Ding.

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AYear inReview

(From left to right) Richmond student Arjun Sumra, McNair Culinary Arts teacher DoraHo, Richmond student Nalini Prasad, Trustee Kenny Chiu, Trustee Donna Sargent, TrusteeEric Yung, Trustee Debbie Tablotney and Trustee Grace Tsang at the opening ceremonycelebration for Education Week.

ReADY Summit: Richmond Green Ambassadors with David Suzuki

As another year comes to a close, I findmyself reflecting on some of the greatmoments that were created in the 2013-2014 calendar year. The Cambie SecondaryFine Arts Night, the REaDYSummit at McMathwith a keynote byDavid Suzuki andEducation Weekwere all greatevents thatI can vividlyremember.Passion,excitement andingenuity wereon full display asstudents engagedin their learning andpersonal growth.

All of this would not be possiblewithout the dedication of our teachers,school administrators and District staffwho spend countless hours supportingour students. It is the extra effort given byso many in our District that creates sucha strong sense of community, supportand pride. It is the extra time that is putinto field trips, school clubs, after school

lessons and personal connections that setsour students on a path of lifelong learning.

I am always impressed with the varietyof unique learning environments

that allow our students toreach their full potential.As a result, academicachievement is onceagain a bright spotin our District andcompletion ratesof 90 per cent areconsistent withprevious years.

I hope that you enjoyreading a few stories of achievement

and excellence in this edition of EdComand as always, if you have any questionsor feedback please feel free to contact ourcommunications department at [email protected].

Monica PamerSuperintendent, Richmond School District

Superintendent Monica Pamerwith Richmond Science Jam students

Richmond firefighter Mia Kivari is on aquest to inspire young women.

As a co-organizer of Camp Ignite,Kivari hopes two female studentsfrom Richmond will be able to feelempowered after a week of inspiringactivities put on by Metro Vancouverfirefighters.

“Years ago we started talking aboutusing our firefighting skills to inspire.And not necessarily to inspire someoneto become a firefighter themselves butrather to simply empower youth,” saidKivari.

Camp Ignite is a four-day camp heldevery August sponsored by firefightercharitable groups throughout the region.The camp intends to teach girls aboutfitness, nutrition, health and teamwork.Whether they leave interested inbecoming a firefighter is a secondaryconcern for the firefighters.

“That’s the great thing about this group.It’s not necessarily about the firefightingpart of this. It’s about arranging this tomake sure everyone’s able to completethe camp,” said Kivari, who wasmotivated to participate as a leaderlargely due to her history as a formeryouth worker.

Camp Ignite hosts about 20 studentsfrom different school districts. This yearit will take place in locations in Burnaby,Vancouver and Surrey while the studentswill bunk in a dorm at Simon FraserUniversity.

Students take part in many firefighter-related activities. Among the highlightsis a search and rescue platoon that hasthe girls put on a mask and gear andenter a dark room to find a manikin.

“It’s an opportunity to see what it’slike and how it can be unnerving attimes. It’s totally different and reallychallenging for them,” said Kivari.Also, campers are taught how to use a

fire hose and how to set-up a fire truckwith gear. They are also taught basic firesafety aspects such as how to use a fireextinguisher.

The camp also provides many non-firefighting related activities likehiking, cross fit workouts and teambuilding activities. Many of the activitiesare funded through donations fromthroughout the community.“It gives them an opportunity to relyon each other,” said Kivari, who notedpersonal fitness awareness is anotherkey goal of the camp.

Keeping the camp all-female is animportant aspect of Camp Ignite.

“One of the reasons we make it allfemale is to take away the distractionof having it be co-ed. Often the girlsare worried about what the malecounterparts will think of them. We justwanted to give them an opportunity tothink about this in a casual way,” shesaid.

So why are firefighters suitable rolemodels?

“I think it’s a commitment to communityand always wanting to help. It’s beingof that kind of personality to always dowhat you can. It takes such a strengthof character, male or female, to be afirefighter. And that energy level is whatculminated in us as women wanting togive back,” explained Kivari.

The Richmond Firefighters CharitableSociety Local 1286 will sponsor twoRichmond students, who have yet to bechosen. The camp is open to Grade 11and 12 students.

The deadline for applications is June 27,2014. Applicants will be contacted at thebeginning of July. Students can apply byvisiting http://bit.ly/1ooVc2P

Camp Ignite aims to light firesof enthusiasmBy Graeme Wood


Opening minds and achievinggender equality.

That’s what Scott Clements, a physics andengineering teacher at Steveston Londonsecondary school has been trying to do overthe past two years by hosting the Girls inEngineering Day.

Clements has been on a quest to help raise theinterest in engineering as a course of study andcareer among female students by inviting Grade8 girls from across the district to take part in aday-long series of hands-on, problem-solvingactivities using engineering concepts.

What got the ball rolling for Clements was theimpression a seminar made on him at UBCa couple of years ago by a professor at theuniversity who was the chair for developingwomen in engineering.

According to figures from a recent study, an averageof just 18 per cent of first year engineering students atthe Point Grey campus were female. Plus, the attritionrate for female students appeared to be higher thantheir male counterparts.

Looking back on his experience in engineering schoolat the Unverisity of New Brunswick, Clements isn’tsurprised by the study’s numbers.“In mechanical engineering, maybe 15 or 20 per centwere women,” he said. “What’s pretty typical is 25 percent at the most.”

It’s a trend he’d like to see change, andthe day for girls he organizes is designedto spark an interest in those youngsters byshowing them a potential career path inengineering.

“Historically, women have beenunderrepresented in engineering, and I thinkwe need to do more to encourage youngwomen to get involved in engineering andother science disciplines,” Clements said.

The event, which drew about 67 studentseach year, challenges the students withthree separate tasks requiring differentaspects of engineering solutions.

“The first was a bio-medical engineeringactivity, second an environmental one, andthen a third which was based on materials,”Clements said. “They were all disciplines of

engineering that are better represented by women.”In the bio-medical challenge, they were given a varietyof different materials and a budget to design a robotichand.

“It was to be a device that could pick up a variety of

Engineeringamore

Female students in Grade 8 from across the Richmond School District were invited toStevston London secondary school for a hands-on opportunity to problem-solve at theGirls in Engineering Day. Photo supplied

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materials. And they were given an hour to accomplishit,” Clements said.

The environmental challenge was to design a simplewater filter. This challenge was put forward by theorganization Engineers Without Borders, which aidsimpoverished countries around the globe by improvingtheir water resource situation with inexpensiveengineering solutions.

“That was interesting because it was a socio-economicproblem as well as an engineering achievement; it’smeant to get people to think about the economic dividebetween countries and the decisions on whether toshare resources and equip developing nations with theability to produce clean water,” he said.

In the third and final challenge, students had to workwith wood, changing its properties with water andsteam to make a variety of designs.

Many of the solutions offered up were unique,Clements said, adding the feedback from students waspositive.“The Water For The World challenge was amore typical arrangement of the materials with sandand gravel in their filter. But with the robotic hand, onegroup took a real simplistic approach and basically

made some great big chopsticks,” Clements said.

“Meanwhile, others made what was more like areal hand controlled with tendons to help it graspthings.“For girls 13 or 14 years old, they came up withsome interesting ideas.”

In the end, Clements said the goal was to have thegirls become engaged in fun, hands-on activitiesand appreciate how applying science ideas canhelp people.

“Essentially, that’s what engineering is all about —taking science and applying it to help people.” Butdid Clements think it helped some define a studypath for the future?

“I’m hopeful,” he said. “That’s why I’m doing it.If I can influence some young ladies to considerengineering when they may not have before, I wouldsay the goal has been achieved. If it solidifies aninterest that was already there, that’s good, too.

“They may be a little young to make some finaldecisions, but in the course that I teach I feel if kidscome out saying, ‘No, this is not for me,’ I think I’ve

done my job, as well. That way they don’t go intosomething they’re not completely clear about andwaste a bunch of their time and money.”

Students were given the task of finding engineering-based solutionsto three separate problems that event organizers hope will spur theirinterest in further education in engineering and the sciences. Photosupplied

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Do you remember trekking over muddyfields to get to school? Or, do you stillhave to?

Your socks inevitably end up caked inmud and your feet become soaked. Youroptions are few: Call Mom or Dad to seeif one of them can bring you a new pairof socks and shoes, walk around in yourstinky, bare feet, to the chagrin of yourteacher and friends, or grin and bearit all day long, only to find at the end ofthe day your feet are more wrinkly thangrandma.

DeBeck elementary students willnever have to worry about this terribleproblem again, thanks to a new walkingpath that will encircle their playingfields.

“Right now, it’s just too wet for thekids to run,” said vice-principal KathyPantaleo.

The idea for a path was a groupeffort between students, teachers,administrators, parents and the school’sneighbours.

Helping to lead the organizing effortswas principal Mark McCallum.

“Unfortunately, our fields get reallysoggy and they’re not useable for mostof the year,” said McCallum.

“We’re looking at a way to get kidsactive and to go out. We’re also lookingfor a way to make access better to theschool.”

The six-foot wide asphalt path will costabout $15,000 and will be installedby school board grounds staff. It willconnect three sides of the backfields tothe school, providing a circular route forwalkers and joggers.

The path will also connect to adjacentroads that lead to students’ homes.Presently, even on a sunny spring day,the field can still be soggy.

A similar path was installed at Westwindelementary, where McCallum was oncea vice-principal.

Both students and neighbours often use

that path.The path will help keep theschool’s Kilometre Club going year-round. As a way to entice students tobe physically fit, the club sees kids runaround the fields to collect Popsiclesticks that can be exchanged for prizes.

“I think it’s a good way to get exerciseand it will help us get fit. It’s a goodthing at recess and lunch,” said Grade 6student Hudson Swaim, an avid runnerand walker.

“If we had the path, we could have thisprogram year round,” noted McCallum.

Funding for the path came from severalsources. McCallum said it was aneighbour of the school who works atCoast Capital Savings that suggestedthe school apply for a $5,000 communitygrant from the credit union.

The school got it after McCallum drewup the paperwork and then turned toparent advisory council (PAC) chair TaraLaing for further funding. “It’s a greatway to show that, when parents have anidea, the PAC can make it happen,” said

Laing, whose group will be on the hookfor about one third of the costs.

“It’s going to be great to see it happen.”

The remaining $5,000 came from thegenerous donation of father and motherduo Randy and Rhonda Schuette, whohave three children attending DeBeckand a fourth a few years away fromstarting Kindergarten.

“It’s something the whole communitycan enjoy. We were happy to help,” saidRandy.

McCallum said he will also divert somemoney from the international schoolprogram to pay for any additional costs.“People from the school board think itwill be anywhere from $10-20,000, sowe’re right in the ballpark right now,”said McCallum.

Pantaleo and McCallum are also hopingthe path results in another benefit to theschool: less tardiness!

DeBeck community onBy Graeme Wood

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the right path(From left toright) RandySchuette,RhondaSchuette,

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TheWarsof 1812How often are students encouraged by their teacher to“act badly.”

In the case of drama students at Steveston Londonsecondary, much of what went on stage during therecent production of The Wars of 1812 was justthat, bad — but intentionally so.

“We’re not supposed to be good actors in theplay, which is a kind of shoddy production. It’sfun trying to be bad intentionally,” said PaigeGelfer, who played Claire, a young actor in theoriginal play-within-a-play that follows thetrials and tribulations of a troupe intent onsiphoning off federal grant funds to produce apoorly executed tale of the renowned conflictbetween the British and their colonials againstthe Americans.

“We’re essentially playing two characters— the one in the play, and the one you’resupposed to be playing within the play,” addedAlyssa Hirose, who assumes the character ofVanessa, an older actor who thinks very highlyof herself and is the lead in the production,which is punctuated with overacted, boisterous

scenes as plans for war take shape, on and off thestage.

The concept for The Wars of 1812 came about at theprompting of Jean Kosar’s senior drama students —

including Grade 12s Gelfer and Hirose — who wereeager to perform something new and different to marktheir final large-scale production in the program.

“The kids saw me in a show a couple of years ago andit involved a theatre company with some notvery good actors and writers,” said Kosar,who wrote the piece. “And so the kids said,‘Gee, we should do a show like that.’”

And that entailed using more than justthe normal confines of the cozy theatre’sstage as some actors were dotted in andaround the audience in a bid to immerse theonlookers in the play.

“We have actors scattered in the audiencewho respond to what’s going on up on thestage. So, we’re trying to give everyone a realtheatrical experience, rather than just sittingback and watching a show,” Kosar said.

The play, which ran at the end of April andinto early May also provided the opportunityfor a little role reversal for the senior andjunior performers.

Richmondstudentsbehavingbadly

Scripts in hand, students rehearse a scene from the original play The Wars of 1812 at

Steveston London secondary school. Photo by Philip Raphael/Richmond News

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Kosar said she always tries toaccommodate every student who wantsto be on stage by doing crowd scenes.But that did not seem fair to the youngerones to play nameless characters.

“So, we decided to do an ‘understudy’show, in which the understudies wouldplay the leads and the leads would standin for the understudies,” Kosar said.“It was really amazing how well theunderstudies did, with little or no realrehearsal in big, complicated roles.

“The best thing was to see the youngerkids teaching the Grade 12s their roles,and have the Grade 12s feeling nervousbecause they didn’t feel prepared toperform as ‘redcoats.’”

Kosar said the change about was a greatopportunity for the entire group witheach side game for their new roles.

But why focus on the War of 1812?

“A couple of years ago, the federalgovernment offered grants to theatrecompanies that put on work about theWar of 1812,” Kosar said with a smile.“That’s where the idea for this camefrom — a pretty bad theatre companytrying to get money out of the federalgovernment.”

Grade 12 students Paige Gelfer, left, and Alyssa Hirose, helped prompt their drama teacher, Jean Kosar, to pen an original play that would stretch theboundaries of the stage for their final, high school production. Photo by Philip Raphael/Richmond News

Richmond RCMP Youth Section is made up of 9 dedicatedpolice officers who specialize in issues related to youth. Theywork closely with the school district and make engaging youtha priority.“Not all contact between youth and the police should benegative” says Cst. Adriana Peralta. Peralta has been in theyouth section for six years and specializes in investigations ofchild abuse and sexual assault. The youth section has a dualrole. They are the experts in the Youth Criminal Justice Act andalso role models and mentors to Richmond’s youth.This summerRichmondRCMPYouth section has partneredwithRichmond Fire Rescue and Parks and Recreation to teach kidsabout the emergency services fields. This program is geared atteaching kids between 9 and 12what it is like to be a firefighteror a police officer.“Often it is these opportunities to meet with kids in a positiveway that make it easier for kids to seek help when somethingbad happens and the police become involved.” says Peralta.Kids interested in participating in the summer program cansign up through the Parks and Recreation guide. There are twodates for the summer camp, July 8 and August 21, 2014.

RCMPSUMMERCAMPSJULY8&AUGUST21

Kids interested in participating in the summer program can sign up through the Richmond Parks & Recreation Guide


Ferris studentsenjoyQuestion.When does a school become an art gallery and aperformance hall, all in one day?

Answer.When a group of dedicated students and theirteachers decide to hold a Celebration of the Arts (COA)event, like they did at Ferris elementary school in earlyApril.

“We converted the whole school into, basically, an artgallery with all the classes doing some special artprojects that were displayed throughout the school’shallways,” said Harold Kruk, the school’s music andband teacher who served as the main coordinatorof the COA. “We then opened up the school to thecommunity and within the school we had five differentperformance stations where we had students who hadauditioned to perform for parents, friends and familyas they were walking around the school.”

The art portion of the event ran from 3 p.m. to 4:15p.m., and was followed by a concert that evening inthe gym where all of the school’s bands, choirs and

individual performers took turns entertaining theaudience.

“It was amazing. A great event,” said Kruk, who,last spring, helped spearhead the first COA, whichwas received so well it was decided to have a repeatperformance this year. “We had about 450 parentsin the gym this year who had nothing but positivecomments.”

Kruk said he thought up the event originally as a wayof showcasing the students’ performances to theirparents.“That hadn’t happened for a while at the school,”he said. “So, myself and other teachers formed acommittee and it started to spread from there tocelebrate the arts at Ferris elementary.”

Kruk added, too often schools stress academics atthe expense of other pursuits, such as the fine arts.But the COA brought back a little more balance, andignited a passion in the students and staff.

“We had 60 and 70 students audition on their own orin groups, in front of panel of teachers, and basicallyeveryone who auditioned got to perform in one formor another on that day,” Kruk said. “And the kidsabsolutely thrived on it. One of the highlights was

Students from Ferris elementary school perform for the audienceduring the Celebration of the Arts event. Photo submitted

By Graeme Wood

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the forming of a little rock band withstudents from Grades 5 to 7 who openedup the evening concert with the songRoar by Katy Perry.”

While the art show and performancenight were a success, Kruk said it wasthe preparations that created a specialvibe within the Ferris school community.

“The lead up to it was quite exciting,” hesaid. “Then there was the run-through.It just seemed to bring everyonetogether.”

As one student wrote about the event:“It was so amazing to see all of myclassmates’, schoolmates’ talents. Ididn’t know so many people in ourschool were able to do all differentkinds of things. I especially liked therock band. They were outstanding.They must have put a lot of effort andpractice into their perfo rmance. I don’tthink I would have enough courage todo what they did. I hope our school willcontinue to hold a COTA (Celebration ofthe Arts) every year.”

The entire school population at Ferris elementary school got into the act, either by live musical performances, or creating original art work that was ondisplay throughout the school. Photo supplied

the spotlight

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Summer Camps...social, creative and active!

• full day, half day, single day and week long options

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• preschool, children and youth camps

www.richmond.ca/campsto view full camp brochure


‘Berminator’ keepsmusic relevantShe is the Berminator. A woman sopassionate about music her toughlove doesn’t seem to get in the way ofstudents bending over backwards tohelp her complete the many goals shesets for herself, her students and herschool.

“She’s tough but fair. If she knows you’renot practicing, she will call you out on

it, but if you are practicing and trying,that’s another story,” said MarissaMurray, a Grade 12 student at McNairsecondary school, explaining herrelationship with music teacher JanetBerman.

Considered a “life changer” by many,Berman is the head of a thriving musicprogram at McNair — no small feat in

a day when music programs at otherschool districts may teeter on the vergeof extinction.

Fully one-quarter of McNair’s studentbody has been enrolled in a music classthis year. Berman is indeed earning herkeep — there’s the junior and seniorjazz bands, the junior, intermediate andsenior bands, the string orchestra, choirand last but not least the introductorymusic class.

“It’s a challenging discipline and peoplerealize that it takes a lot of effort to begood,” said Berman, 57, who startedteaching music at McNair in 1998.Murray is one of many students whovolunteers their time before and afterschool and during spare blocks tomaintain the music program and keep itvibrant.

“As long as she knows you’re trying, shegives you a lot of credit,” said Murray,who signed up as a “service student,” orsomeone who “sacrifices” a spare to getthe job done.

So demanding is Berman that t-shirtshave been circulated at the school

reading ‘You’ve Been Terminated by theBerminator.’

But as Berman says: “Mostly I’m apushover if they know me well.”

Aside from daily course work, Berman isinsistent the students get an educationoutside of the classroom. In order todo so, she spends endless hours of herown time planning local field trips andmusic retreats every year, as well asweek-long trips.

This year, students went to SanFrancisco and performed at schools, aseniors home and the famous pier.“We didn’t do a ton of fun things. Theyplayed a lot,” Berman chuckled.

However, Berman is just as hard onherself as anyone else. Indeed, they diddo fun things. The students visited theGolden Gate Bridge, Haight-Ashburyand the city’s famous waterfront, amongmany other things. They also went toa famous trombone performance andvisited a music festival at BerkeleyUniversity, she said.

On the way home, the students stopped

By Graeme Wood

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Explore Nature atRichmond Nature Park

For more information or to register, call RichmondNature Park at 604-718-6188. The Richmond Nature Park

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Summer Programs & Events:Make new friends, discover nature andmeet the wild things that live in the park. Choose children’s half dayprograms or week long day camps!

•Multiple themes and options available, July 2 – August 22•Ages 4 – 10, $18/half day or $150/4 days•Pre-registration required

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by another university in Portland toattend a music clinic.

“They get a lot of performanceexperience. So those kinds ofexperiences build an ensemble.You have to have a commonality ofexperiences,” said Berman, who hopesto take her students to New Orleans inthe near future.

“The process is more important than thegoal, and every moment counts,” saidBerman.

The ironic thing is that despite all of thistough love, Berman herself wasn’t a“good” student.

As a teenager, Berman dropped outof school in her native England. When

A Grade 11 guitar trio performs at an arts night at McNair secondary school

things in life settled down, she foundherself in Vancouver and attendedcollege and later the University of B.C.for an undergraduate degree in music.She then volunteered her skills at alocal high school.

“I wasn’t the perfect student by anyimagination, but when I started workingwith teenagers I thought this is fun andsomething I can do,” she said.

She then went on to become a teacher.“With music you’re never done. There’s

always more to learn, and I myself amtaking more course work on conducting.I have so far to go still. I could workfor another 10 years and still not beremotely able to say I’m done”

What’s the one thing she doesn’t likeabout her job?

“You’re not just a teacher teachingmusic, there’s a lot of administrationinvolved,” she said. But one can assumeher strong endoskeleton is more thanenough to get her by.

You Pick:Choose from a variety of both hot and cold lunches

We Make:Lunches are made fresh daily

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email [email protected] toregister child or go online@ www.novafood.ca

Fresh Lunches from

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Come in an find out how we support yoursports teams and organizations!

After School Specials whenSchool I.D. is shown.


Growinganappetite forThere’s plenty of things “growing on”in a pair of local elementary schoolclassrooms thanks to some talented,local chefs.

They have volunteered to share theirknowledge with Grade 1 to 3 studentsin McKinney and Wowk elementaryschools as part of the Growing Chefsprogram.

But judging by a recent visit to the Grade1 and 2 students and their teacher,Karen Leung, at McKinney, when apair of chefs made one of their twice-monthly visits, the flow of informationcan go both ways.

That was especially true for the studentson the “bring a vegetable to schoolday,” which is part of the Growing Chefsmandate to educate children, families,and community members about healthyeating and healthy food systems.“They’re teaching us that they areinterested,” said Brendan Robson,executive sous chef at the DeltaVancouver Airport Hotel who, along with

executive chef Morgan Lechner, was onhand.

“This is a young class — about six toeight years old. That’s a young age to belearning this. And they are passionateabout it and enjoy having us around.”Among the assortment of traditionalvegetables brought in — carrots, parsleyand the like — the students displayedtheir rich cultural mix with lotus fruitand daikon.

“My grandma cooks it with spices andputs it in the middle of two tortillas,”said the youngster, who brought in thedaikon.

“That’s a very cool way to eat it,” Robsonsaid.

And while the students were young,some didn’t show it when it came totheir familiarity with cooking techniques.“How do you eat beets at home?”Robson asked one student.

“We slice them and put them in a pan

with some oil, and my dad watches ituntil they go kinda caramelized. Then hetakes it out and we eat it,” the youngstersaid with authority.

“Sounds good, chef!” Robson replied,nodding in approval at the student’susage of a specific culinary term.“Those are some serious cookingtechniques there. Caramelized, that’s agreat word.”

In addition to getting students morefamiliar with foods, there is an in-classgarden set up on trays where all mannerof veggies are being grown — from peasto dragon tongue beans.

“This program, it has really piqued theirattention and fascination when they seethings growing right in front of theireyes,” Leung said. “They also have tolearn how to care for them.

“And we hope that, not only are theysharing things they learn at homeabout their multiculturalism and eatinghabits, but about urban agriculture

and what they can do at home to createsustainable and healthy eating habits.”

The Growing Chefs program wasstarted in 2005 by a pastry chef namedMerri Schwartz, who felt chefs hadwonderful knowledge about food,food sustainability, and incrediblerelationships with local growers. Yet allof this was not getting outside of thekitchen environment.

“She decided to do something aboutthat,” said Helen Stortini, executivedirector of the Growing Chefs program.“And what better way than to create anon-profit organization that worked withkids.”

The program was piloted in 2006,was a huge success and today it is in34 classrooms, with more than 125volunteers in eight communities acrossB.C.

“Richmond was the first community wegrew to outside of Vancouver,” Stortinisaid, adding the local hotel sector was

By Philip Raphael

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foodknowledgeapproached and stepped forward tohelp, as did the corporate sector withthe Vancouver Airport Authority beingone of the many sponsors. “There’sbeen some tremendous support fromRichmond getting the program up andrunning.”

Locally, the program is presented toGrades 1 to 3. A smaller, pilot programis open to older students in Grades 4to 6.

“We’ve had interest in what we dofrom as far away as Dubai,” Stortinisaid, which is likely a function of thesometimes transient nature of theculinary industry.

“It’s our hope that, as we establishmore funding sources, we canstart to spend more time recruitingand training more volunteers incommunities outside of Vancouver,”Stortini said, “so that we couldaccommodate every school that asksfor this. And we do have a waiting listof schools in Richmond.”

Chef Brendan Robson for the Delta Vancouver Airport Hotel reads a story about the benefits of composting to the Grade 1 to 3 class at McKinneyelementary school as part of the Growing Chefs program. Photo by Philip Raphael/Richmond News


7560Minoru GateRichmond, BC604-238-8020

Daily public swimming available.Schedule details atwww.richmond.ca/aquaticsor call 604-276-4300.

14300 Entertainment Blvd.Richmond, BC(Hwy 99 – Exit 32 –Steveston Hwy East)604-448-5353

www.richmond.ca

Enjoy family fun &fitness at the pool

South Arm and Steveston Outdoor Pools open daily July and August.


summer


Hapkido

Grand Master

Michael LokBlack Belt 8th Dan

Weekly Camps beginning July 2014Opportunity to test and

obtain his/her yellow belt atthe end of the 2 week camp

During the camp your kids willlearn the following skills• Punching• Kicking• Flipping• Weapons• Ground techniques• Multiple holds and traps• And much much more!

Unit #120 - 5726 Minoru Blvd, Richmond

Camp is designed and taught by an8th Degree Grand Master in Hapkido,

the highest rank in Canada for this martial artand with over 30 years of training experience.

Tel: 604-307-8683 www.hkd.ca

Buy 2 weeks and you’ll get• FREE T-Shirt $20 Value• FREE Uniform $80 Value• FREE Belt Test Seminar $100 Value

Buy 4 weeks and you’ll get• FREE T-Shirt $20 Value• FREE Uniform $80 Value• FREE Belt Test Seminar $100 Value• Plus 3 months FREE of regular Hapkido Classes**2 classes per week maximum. Offer only valid forour fall program from September-November**$100 Value

One week of summer camp $195• FREE T-Shirt. alue

weeks and$20

One week of summer camp $195FRE -Shirt. $20 Value

11 time winner

Est. 1996

SUMMER CAMPSMARTIAL ARTS

edcom news may 2014

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