World's First PowerPlay Ambassadors Receive Starfish Award

Blackville School's World's First PowerPlay Ambassadors were
awarded the Starfish Award from the Anglophone North School
District

Three middle school students from Blackville School were acknowledged for their significant contribution as young entrepreneurs with the Starfish Award on April 12.

Jerrica Manderville, Chloe Curtis, Jayda MacDonald and Stephan Brophy were nominated by Mr. Buggie to act as four of the World's First PowerPlay Ambassadors.

These students will be models for other young entrepreneurs in our school and district.

Through the PowerPlay program these students will be able to refine their skills in public speaking and network with entrepreneurs around the world.

This program will continue to give the students many new opportunities. On April 16, the young ambassadors were part of a video conference into a panel discussion on entrepreneurship held at UNB.

Click here to see more pictures.

Photos by Allan Carter
Article by Maggie Jardine

Students Win Prizes for Spelling Bee

From left to right the movie card winners were: Miley
McCormack, Pierce Brophy, Sophie Hannah and Lincoln Howe.

Each year elementary students at Blackville School are given the chance to participate in the Annual Spelling Bee.

Students who spell all their words correctly or raise over $50 in pledges, get their name put in for a draw for prizes.

Miley McCormack, Pierce Brophy, Sophie Hannah and Lincoln Howe were the lucky winners of $25 Cineplex gift cards on April 26.

From left to right the top five pledge earners were: Samuel
Brennan, Dixon Gillespie, Hanna Hallihan, Avery Donahue and
Cameron Innes

As the top earner of pledge money, raising $251, Avery Donahue received an Amazon Echo Dot. Other top earners were Cameron Innes, Dixon Gillespie, Hanna Hallihan and Samuel Brennan who each received their own special prize.

To view more pictures from the reception click here.

Photos by Allan Carter

Article by Maggie Jardine

BHS ICE Centre Students Visit Kelly's Special Care Home

Residents at Kelly's Special Care Home got a visit from
BHS ICE Centre students

Residents at Kelly's Special Care Home got a little taste of the future when students participating in Mr. Hallihan and Mr. Lehnert's BHS ICE Centre courses stopped in for a visit on April 17.

During this time they introduced the residents to exciting new technology including a 3D printer, the making of vinyl stickers and even a robot who could dance!

Not only were residents wowed by this, but also got to enjoy fiddle music provided by Melissa Barry and singing by Jayda McDonald.

Thanks to Brilliant Labs and iHub, students from grades 7-12 were able to visit the seniors home and showcase both their technology and talents.

Click here to see more photos.

Photo by Deanna Nordin
Article by Maggie Jardine

Local MLA Presents Certificate of Achievement to Local Dancers

Spotlights and Sequins dancers Abby Keenan (left) and Anna
Sturgeon (middle) receive $100 donation from MLA Jake
Stewart

This fall, five dancers from Spotlights and Sequins dance club in Miramichi were chosen to represent Canada at the World Cup of Dance in Portugal. 

Two of these students are from Blackville School. Abby Keenan (grade 11) and Anna Sturgeon (grade 10) have been dancing competitively for years, traveling to competitions across the province where they often receive high honour awards for their routines. 

To have the opportunity to go to the World Cup of Dance is similar to an athlete attending the Olympics, with over 45 countries participating.

This experience of a lifetime, however, does not come without a high cost of about $15, 000 for each dancer. This morning Minister Jake Stewart contributed by donating $100 to each girl as congratulations on their achievement.

With their trip to Portugal fast approaching, the dancers need the support of their community to reach their goal. To donate and find out more information click here.

On May 5 from 2 pm to 6 pm, there will be a benefit to support the dancers at the Miramichi Folklore Park. Along with the 50/50 draw and live entertainment, the girls will be performing a few of their routines.

Photo and article by Maggie Jardine

Students Enter PSA Video in Safe Grad Competition

Grade 12 students Kel Vickers and Christopher Underhill
with Grade 11 Daniel MacVicar who played a part in the video.

Two grade 12 students from Blackville School have entered a video into this year's Alcool NB Liquor Safe Grad Competition.

Chris Underhill and Kel Vickers produced a public service announcement video that explores underage drinking and also drinking and driving.

The Safe Grad competition encourages students to create and deliver a message about making responsible choices when celebrating high school graduation. The competition is done in cooperation with the New Brunswick Department of Education and Early Childhood Development.

Underhill explained they wanted to make a video that would "be short and to the point." He said they spent some time considering transitions. "We wanted the glass to be the same size and shape as a car tire so that the quick transition would be effective," he added. 

The students also added foreshadowing in the short narrative. "Kel came up with the idea of having the ace of spades face up on the table at the beginning of the video because it represents death," Underhill said. 

Each year Alcool NB Liquor gives out prizes of up to a total of $20, 000 to high schools that participate in the competition. This is the 12th year for the Safe Grad Competition.

Blackville School has won $1000 to $1300 prizes in previous years for its Safe Grad entries.

Photo by Cassidy Coughlan

Students Wear Blue for World Autism Awareness Month

Students and staff at Blackville School wore blue on Tuesday to show their support for World Autism Awareness Month held during the month of April.

For more information about Autism Awareness Canada, click here.