Monday, October 31, 2016

Full day on Mayne!

We completed our last day of Exploratories for this term and then had our first OIMY plus day. These days allow for our students to experience each of the islands our students represent in the OIMY  program. The program we develop for each island is place-based and focused on local history and ecology often including local experts as facilitators. For example, on this afternoon students rotated through four different learning experiences. One station was run by local experts from our Mayne Island Conservancy: Michael and Stephanie. They shared information about mushrooms now starting to pop up in our forests and students went on a mushroom hunt and practiced identifying species with their help. Mayne Island teacher, Megan Cameron, led students in creating beautiful beach art. Local artist Annette had students create a found sound orchestra and teacher Jess Willows led students in forest games. Here are some photos from this exception afternoon:







Monday, October 17, 2016

Robotics!

This is the first opportunity we have had to teach Robotics in the OIMY program, and we're also the first middle years students to get to learn about Robotics in our school district!!

Thank you to Gulf Islands Secondary and particularly Rachel FitzZaland who started a Robotics program in our district and offered to lend us enough kits for an exploratory and train a teacher!

Here are the students building, programming, and then engaging in a challenge:







Tuesday, October 4, 2016

OIMY for 2016/17

We are starting our OIMY program for the new school year this week. Mayne School will be our campus for the next three Thursdays as we explore the following exploratories: robotics, photography, fibre arts, cooking and art.

Galiano students will take the water taxi to and from Mayne: leaving at 7:15am and returning at 5:15pm.

Pender students will take the ferry to and from Mayne: leaving at 7:05am and returning at 12:20pm.

Our first session runs at these times on these Thursdays: October 6, 13 and 20th.