Opening our doors to the world

Connecting with other schools near and far is just one of the many ways we build relationships in Pembina Trails.

In January, a principal from Sao Luis Brazil made a special stop at Henry G. Izatt Middle School in hopes of gaining insight into Canadian education. The visit was organized through Maple Bear Schools which aims to deliver Canadian curricula abroad. Adrianna Castro, a Principal at Maple Bear Sao Luis, spent the day touring HGI with her daughter Clara. They both had the opportunity to not only observe but participate in different grade level classes and activities.

A few highlights were watching cross country skiing during active start, learning French phrases with a balloon activity, speaking to HGI Student Technology Leaders in the Media Center and participating in grade 5s ecosystem building using MineCraft.

"It is great to see it happening before my eyes. We learn about Canadian education but there is nothing like seeing active learning here at this school," shared Mrs. Castro. A highlight for mother and daughter was watching a grade 5 class build Arctic ecosystems using MineCraft. "They mix technology with traditional learning. It surprised me but it seems to really flow well. Kids are using pencils to write down the social studies research and then they are using the computers and making it with MineCraft. I see lots of different resources to achieve learning goals."

As much as the Mrs. Castro gained from her visit, HGI's principal Peggy Hobson believes her school benefits just as much from partnerships such as these.

"Education is about increasing our skills as well as our understanding, acceptance and informed participation within our community. Our community is becoming a global one. The opportunity to have visitors from other parts of our world participate and share at our school enriches us all. Acknowledgment and dialogue centered on innovative teaching practices increases understanding and is positive for both the visitors and HGI," shared Hobson.