Local artists to have work shown by Toronto transit (4 photos)

NEWS RELEASES

ALGOMA DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD

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Kim Edmond is a teacher at Algoma District School Board’s (ADSB) Urban Aboriginal Program. 

A number of her students, under the tutelage of local artist Sharon Hunter, have completed murals that will become part of a much larger project called Welcome 41. 

Welcome 41 is a mural project run by Toronto community arts organization Art For Children and Youth (AFCY). 

Working with the Toronto 2015 Pan Am/Parapan Games, AFCY lined up schools and community organizations across Ontario to create 60 distinct artful panels – 41 representing each of the visiting countries and 19 that speak to the spirit of the Games.

Students from the Urban Aboriginal Program painted 2 of the 60 mural panels that will be displayed in Toronto this summer.

Not only will the murals be displayed in Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) subway stations to the local and visiting public, they will also be digitalized and included as part of the Welcome Package for all athletes.

Urban Aboriginal students worked on two themes: Local Narrative and Inspiration. 

They are pleased and excited that their work will be seen and shared by international athletes, locals and visitors from around the world who will be travelling to Toronto for the games.   

To follow updates on Welcome 41 visit the agency’s website www.afcy.ca.

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At the November 2014 Board Meeting, a pilot program called Sci-FY was introduced to the Board.  

Sci-FY (Science & Reading for Youth), is a peer-to-peer mentoring program, with university students as mentors. 

At Tuesday’s meeting the Board was provided an update on the program.

Sci-FY was designed to bring university and elementary school students together in a fun, interactive and educational setting.

During the 9-week program, Algoma University student volunteers worked one-on-one and in groups with Grade 5 and 6 students at Northern Heights Public School.

Each week they engaged in a literacy and/or numeracy activity, as well as an interactive, healthy living and science-based curriculum.

Northern Heights Principal Marg Dodds spoke about the success of the program and how all the students involved this year want to be part of the program again next year.  

Ashton is a Grade 5 student at Northern Heights. 

He came to the Board meeting to share his thoughts on the program. 

“It was a great experience for socializing and talking with the mentors from the university and for them to speak to us about the countries they came from. One student was from Nigeria and one was from Korea.”

Savannah, in Grade 6, was also at the meeting. 

Ashton and Savannah brought along samples of their work from the program and Savannah shared her thoughts.

“My favorite day was the gala. This was an evening where everyone got to meet everyone else and to do presentations so that our parents and some other people got to see what we had been working on for the 9 weeks.” 

Forty-eight attended the gala including parents, mentors, teachers, Dr. Myers from Algoma University and Mrs. Reece and Mrs. O’Neill from ADSB.  

Algoma University student Cynthia Burmaster and Sci-FY Lead Mentor shared, “Our post-secondary students had the opportunity to explore aspects of science and healthy living that intrigued them and practice their literacy and numeracy skills. With the success we had this year, I am sure this program will expand in the future and I am thrilled to have been a part of the designing process.”

Algoma University’s Brent Krmpotich, Director of Marketing, Communications and Student Recruitment agreed.

“Algoma University is extremely proud of our students whose hard work, commitment and enthusiasm contributed to the success of the Sci-FY program. This is an excellent example of how our local school boards and Algoma University can work together to create meaningful partnerships that benefit all of our students,” said Krmpotich.

Melissa Kargiannakis, an ADSB graduate, was the Sci-FY Project Founder. 

"After thinking about this program for seven years and finally seeing it come to life, all I can say is, this is just the beginning. Many thanks to Northern Heights Principal Marg Dodds, teachers Natasha Cole and Kyle Thaibeault and Director Lucia Reece of the Algoma District School Board; Brent Krmpotich & Dr. Myers of Algoma University, Sci-FY Lead Mentor Cynthia Burmaster, Science Curriculum Instructor Heather Douglas & all of the students & mentors for a successful first year," said Kargiannakis.

The program is a partnership between Sci-FY, Algoma University, Algoma District School Board and S.E.E.D.S. (Supporting Education, Empowerment and Development through Science).

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