People Matter, After All They Are Matter
The principal, Dr. Christison, explained to the students and staff that people matter and sharing a meal with them is special.
Through experiential learning in a transdisciplinary model in the OES program, the goal is to provide transformative experiences for students like Thomas, to make a difference in their community’s health. Their projects are student driven, project based, and authentic.
In the OES program Thomas had the opportunity to x-country ski, backpack, snowshoe, kayak, canoe, mountain bike, and do scientific investigations at the Athabasca Glacier, field studies in Fish Creek Provincial Park and being certified as Wilderness First Responder. Thomas also participated in Caring for Our Watershed contest and eats nutritionally rich food without chemical application, grown in the classroom for the salad club.
After Dr. Christison’s remark, Thomas leaned over and said to me, “and there’s not too many students that get the chance to eat with their teacher for 10 days” referring to his 10 day field experience trip working on organic farms, and backpacking on lava rock in Hawaii as part of this project.
We smiled.
Bio: Even though this program is delivered by two teachers, Adam Sandbeck and Carter Cox who were both born in Saskatchewan, play hockey, love the outdoors, and extremely grateful to so many people that matter; the extremely supportive administration staff, guidance councils, teachers that supervise on trips, teachers and staff that adjust their schedules to accommodate the OES students in so many ways, bus drivers, school board specialists and risk managers, our area superintendent, the parents that sign 20 forms and attend 20 meetings, the Provincial and National Park’s staff, and the support of non-for-profit organizations.
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