Category: Junior School

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Salmonids in the Classroom

Since January, Grade 2 and 5 students have been participating in the Fisheries and Ocean Program, ‘Salmonids in the Classroom‘. In addition to learning about the life cycle and salmon’s role as a keystone species, the students also raised salmon from eggs. Grade 2 Students were the designated “Junior Salmon Caretakers” and the Grade 5s acted as the “Senior Salmon Caretakers”.

Beginning with 55 chum salmon eggs, with only two not hatching, the students ensured the tank remained a healthy habitat for the salmon as they developed into fry. In addition to clean water, watchful eyes made sure that there was a steady supply of air and the water temperature was maintained at a chilly 6-8 degrees Celsius. Thanks to the generosity of the YHS Parents’ Association, the water temperature was maintained with a cooling system designed specifically for the salmon program.

On Monday, May 8th, Grade 5 students released 53 chum salmon fry at Spanish Banks. It was bittersweet, but as young stewards they will treasure the experience and appreciate their positive impact on a fragile ecosystem. The Grade 2s can hardly wait to become Grade 5 students!

View the full photo gallery here.

Lela Ling
Science Teacher

UPDATE: The Department of Fisheries and Oceans was to cut funding to this program. This decision was rescinded due to the many emails, letters, and petitions signed by students and salmon educators. Please see this video message from The Honourable Jody Wilson-Raybould, thanking students for their letters. What a lasting lesson in democracy for our students!

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Gr. 6 Programming Club Participates in STEM Leadership Conference

Exploring the potential of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math

On April 20th, eight girls from our Grade 6 Programming Club travelled to St. Margaret’s school in Victoria, BC to participate in an all-girls STEM Leadership Conference. The conference included 400 students from 18 public and independent school from the Island and the Lower Mainland. Entitled, Heads and Hearts to Action, this conference was focused on inspiring girls to embrace STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) fields and learn more about the innovative and creative leadership opportunities available for women in theses areas. Inspired by speakers such as, Natalie Panek, a rocket scientist and one of Canada’s Female Explorers of the Year, the girls participated in workshops where they applied STEM concepts to real-world problems. During one workshop, our girls worked in teams to unlock the code in escape room style and learned how various leadership and interpersonal skills influence group behaviour.

In another session, girls worked with the Canadian Coast Guard to find and save a fishing boat in distress on the West Coast of Vancouver Island. They were required to plan their route, calculate the amount of fuel needed, and communicate with the operations centre as they carried out transit to the area.

When asked to choose one word to describe the conference experience, our girls chose, fun, educational, inspirational, encouraging, surprising,  exciting, and overwhelming. Tori noted that the conference has inspired her to persevere even when things are hard. She said that all of the women speakers shared that trait. Tasha reflected that at the conference she learned new things, made new friends, and she used teamwork to solve challenges.

Our Junior School STEAM Coordinator, Jennifer Sharpe reflected that our Grade 6 students represented YHS with maturity, curiosity, and enthusiasm. There was great ‘girl power’ energy throughout the conference, with an emphasis on women working and making advancements in STEM fields. An impactful moment was when Natalie Panek did an exercise demonstrating how most of us know women from reality TV but very few of us know women who have made significant contributions in math and science. In our reflection time, we discussed this exercise and how YHS can implement a program to highlight these women for all students.

The two-day conference gave our girls opportunities to dig into augmented and virtual reality, art and applications of 3-D printing, women working in the wild, as well as personal development topics like encouraging physical literacy, escape rooms as a problem-solving tool, and developing leadership skills through drama. One Grade 6 girl summed it up best when she exclaimed, “people often focus on men and their achievements but there are many women doing amazing things!”