Anti-Bullying Presentation

Thank you to the PEI Rocket Hockey team members and management who visited Birchwood to share their anti-bullying message with students and staff. Team members told their own stories, shared what they had learned from their experiences and what it takes to become a better person.

Emusoi School, Tanzania

Thank you to Kate Martin who recently presented to grade 9 (2012-2013) Birchwood students about the life and culture for the Maasai girls of Tanzania. Ms. Martin, a former high school teacher, is passionate about education and her work with the girls at Emusoi School, Tanzania, Africa.

Students Letterpress

A group of grade 9 (2012-2013) students visited the Reinventorium in Charlottetown to learn the skills of letterpress printing.  Students learned about the Holocaust and one of the novels they read was about a Jewish teenager whose first mission was to distribute leaflets that were printed by the resistance. Birchwood students had an opportunity to design and print posters about human rights.  Thank you to Peter Rukavina for this opportunity.
 

Canadian Author Sylvia Gunnery

Students in Ms. Squire's grade 9 Language Arts class went to the Confederation Centre Public Library recently to hear Canadian author Sylvia Gunnery. Students also learned many tips and hints about the writing, editing, and publishing process.  The reading featured Sylvia’s most recent young adult novel, Emily For Real (Pajama Press, 2012). It was quite an honor for Ms. Squire's class to attend this event, which was sponsored by the Canada Council for the Arts and the Writers’ Union of Canada. It was co-hosted by the Confederation Centre Public Library and UPEI Department of English.

Students Meet Willow Dawson

Grade 7 students met with Willow Dawson at the Public Library in celebration of National Book Week.  Willow Dawson, who is an illustrator and cartoonist working out of the RAID Comics Studio in downtown Toronto, shared her talents and stories. It was a terrific morning! To read more about Willow and her fabulous books, please visit www.willowdawson.com

Writers in Schools Program

Grade 7 students received a rare treat when Mr. Patrick Ledwell came to visit this week - because he is not only an Island author and comedian, but a filmmaker as well; and he shared with Ms. Squire's Language Arts students the unique experience of telling stories and communicating with an audience through the medium of film. We are exceptionally pleased and excited to have provided this opportunity and special presentation for students.  They were engaged, enthralled, and inspired! Thank you Patrick, the PEI Writers Guild, and the Cultural Development Program of the PEI Department of Community and Cultural Affairs.

The Magic Within

“The Magic Within”  was sponsored by the PEI Department of Health Youth Addictions. The interactive “magic show”, presented by Mr. Gary Sommers, a retired teacher from Newfoundland, delivered a powerful message to our students about alcohol, drug, and gambling addictions. Thank you to Jennifer Cairns-Burke, RCMP Corporal Reg Campbell, Vice-principal KJ White, and Mr. Murray MacInnis, Birchwood Guidance Dept. who organized and coordinated this special event for our students.

October Read Fest!

A very special thank you to Matt Rainnie from CBC, Island authors Larry Retnitsky and Jane Ledwell, Island author and publisher Laurie Brinklow, the Rocket players, and UPEI Panthers hockey players for coming to Birchwood to celebrate their love for reading and promoting literacy while engaging our students and staff in the Million Minute Challenge.

Special Guests

Throughout the year we have many special guests visit us at school and we receive many positive emails from around the world with comments and suggestions for our site. We would like to thank everyone who visits with us. A special guest or guests will be featured on this page. See below.

Black History Month Celebrations

On February 19th from 1:00 - 2:30 Black History Month Celebrations were held at Birchwood Intermediate School Library Resource Center. The film "Journey to Justice" was shown followed by a terrific presentation by Sarah, who is a descendent of the Sheppard family from Cardigan. Thank you to Amanda Campbell, Donna Casford, and Frances Connell for organizing this event. Thank you to Jo-Anne White for her assistance as well.

Black History Month, which has been celebrated in Canada since the 1960s and officially recognized by Canadian Parliament in 1995, provides an opportunity to commemorate the many contributions which Canadians of African descent have made to the growth and development of Canada. It is also a time to celebrate our diversity and our respect for Canadians of all backgrounds.

Visit Canadian Heritage's "Black History Month" for additional information.

The Tankard Trophy at Birchwood
 

The Tankard Trophy, which is the top prize of the Mens' National Curling Championship, known as The Tim Hortons Brier, made a special appearance and visited Ms. Reid's 7-4 classroom a number of years ago.  We would like to thank Bill Tschirhart for his informative and enthusiastic presentation to the students and David Kassner, who is the the manager of the Charlottetown Curling Club, who organized this special visit.  Best of luck to PEI Team Gallant - Curl your way to the top!

Go Team Gallant from Birchwood!