Author: YHS

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Noele, Grade 4, Wins French-writing Contest with AIM Language Learning

Noele, Grade 4, and Madame Céline, her Grade 3 French Teacher

In March 2020, the world went into lockdown and learned to live in a pandemic world. After Spring Break 2020, students and teachers alike learned how to teach online, facing and overcoming new challenges. During this difficult time, Noele decided to take part in a publishing contest promoted by AIM Language Learning, supported by her French teacher, Madame Céline. The AIM French language program was created by a previous York House School teacher, Wendy Maxwell, and adopted by York House in 1991. This method of teaching is now used in grades  SK to Grade 6 for learning French at YHS. 

While resuming her French classes online last year, Noele wrote a story inspired by her Grade 3 French play, ‘Les animaux du bayou’. Her story, called ‘L’arrivée d’un étranger’ (‘The arrival of a stranger’), tells the story of the lion Mamadou. Mamadou the lion is visiting Louisiana where Suzie the mouse and her friends live. Mamadou gets hurt, and he calls for help. Suzie helps him but her friends are more suspicious of this stranger. They do not want to help nor welcome him into their friendly group. Suzie is the only one showing some kindness to him. Later on, Suzie’s friends get into trouble and Mamadou won’t hesitate to help. 

Noele won the publishing contest with her story, and her piece is now featured in the AIM e-readers selection. It’s available for sale for all French students and teachers using this methodology. Noele really enjoyed writing this book, and she’s currently working on her next story. Congratulations Noele! Félicitations!

Madame Céline

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Yorkies at the Greater Vancouver Regional Science Fair

Every year, the Greater Vancouver Regional Science Fair (GVRSF) hosts a regional fair for approximately 200 students (Grades 7-12) at UBC campus over the course of four days in April. This is nothing like the “old school” science fairs from the past, it is much more engaging, interactive and inspiring! The purpose of the GVRSF is to showcase student work, give students access to UBC profs and scientists from around the community for feedback on their work, and provide opportunities to compete for prizes—especially the coveted prize of representing Team BC at the national fair. It is an all-expenses-paid trip—although this year it was held virtually. This is an incredible opportunity, and extremely rare to win.

Last year three Grade 7 students from our Science Alliance Club were accepted to the fair, but it was cancelled two weeks beforehand due to COVID. The students were devastated. Luckily, with more time to plan, the GVRSF committee was able to run a virtual fair this year with over 200 students and 250 judges from across the region. It took place over three weeks, and thanks to over 250 judges—students virtually showcased their projects and fielded questions from experts in their field. Our Grade 7s from last year (currently Grade 8) were able to bump up their experiments this year and present their work at the fair. We also had four new student entries from the Junior School. 

At the awards ceremony in April, we had plenty to celebrate! Grade 8 students Bella and Veronica did exceptionally well. Veronica in particular was invited to the national science fair to present her project and represent Team BC, Vancouver Region, and YHS at the national level! Youth Science Canada (YSC) hosts this national competition called the Canada Wide Science Fair for nine days in May, hosted at Canadian universities across the country.

Veronica’s project, which she completed in the Grade 7 Science Alliance Club and then continued to work on this year in Grade 8 through one-on-one mentorship, is inspirational toward her goal of environmental sustainability. Veronica walked away with a very impressive set of awards. This is rare and extremely exciting! We are so proud of her as has faced many obstacles throughout her science journey. She truly is an inspiring young girl in STEAM!

We could not be more proud of our young students in STEAM. For more information on our top projects, including the research, click on the links below:

  • Veronica, Grade 8: Gold medal (top in the country for Grade 7/8); Canada Wide Science Fair Team; NSESRC Award; BC Science Teachers Award; Intact Climate Change Resilience Award (Junior); Challenge Award: Environment and Climate Change (Junior).
  • Bella, Grade 8: Bronze medal; Structural Engineering Association of BC Young Members Group Award.
  • Kaida, Grade 7: Bronze medal; BC Game Developers Innovation Award.
  • Annabelle, Grade 7: Honourable mention; UBC Zoology Award.
  • Elisabeth, Grade 7: Ocean Wise Marine Stewardship Award

 

Rikki DaCosta
Grade 6 Teacher