The Blackville Buzz: A Student's Unique Perspective

The Blackville Buzz Crew interviews grade 12 student Aiden Keenan.

Aiden shares his unique perspective on the public school experience after being home schooled all his life.

Note: This interview took place before the January exams.

The Dangers of Vaping and Smoking Highlighted during Presentation

Lori Gillies with grade 12 students Patrick
Donovan and Hayley Underhill

Lori Gillies from Quality Respiratory Care came to give Middle and High School students a presentation on the dangerous effects of smoking and vaping on January 15.

Gillies is a registered respiratory therapist who travels to patients homes to assist them when they have lung or heart problems.

She says that she deals with many teenagers whose breathing problems stem from smoking and/or vaping.

Gillies started off by explaining the difference between a cigarette and a vape pen. The main difference is that a cigarette is tobacco wrapped in a paper coating with a filter on the end. A vape, however, is a battery powered device where the main source of nicotine comes from a pod filled with flavoured juice.

Giving Back to the Community Through Mentorship

Kenson Warren, Drea Hallihan, Amber Walls, and Layla
Hallihan participating in the In-School Mentoring
Program. (Missing Trixie Coughlan) 

Blackville School currently has 12 high school mentors and 12 elementary students participating in the Big Brothers Big Sisters In-School Mentoring program.

This program provides youth with a role model and a friend to talk to and share experiences with.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada is a federation that provides direct services to struggling youth and children in Canada with the mission of enabling life-changing mentoring relationships to ignite the power and potential of young people.

According to the Big Brothers Big Sisters Canada website, many children and youth in Canada struggle with societal barriers and face adversities in their lives. 

Facing prolonged adversity creates toxic stress in the brain that can negatively impact development. With the support of a mentor, these risks can be reduced, or even avoided, and youth can reach and realize their potential.

Grade 10 students Layla Hallihan, Amber Walls and Drea Halihan are three of the high school mentors at Blackville School. 

"I decided to become a mentor because I wanted to give back to the community and try to make someone else's life better, and also to give myself a chance to get involved with the elementary in the school a bit more," says Layla. She is mentoring Kenson Warren.

"My experience has been pretty good so far; my buddy is very outgoing and very positive," says Amber Walls, mentoring Trixie Coughlan with Drea Hallihan. .

"I would recommend this program as it gives a great learning experience. If you like to make a difference in your community, this program would be the perfect place for you," says Drea Hallihan.

To learn more about Big Brothers Big Sisters in Miramichi, click here.

Article and photo by Abby Keenan

A Discussion on a World in Conflict

Bucket Filler of the Week for Jan. 13

This week's Bucket-Filler is Jack Jardine. Jack was awarded the Bucket-Filler because he is kind, helpful and a great help in and out of the class. Keep up the great work, Jack!

The Continuing Conflict Between the United States and Iran

The Blackville Buzz crew discuss the continuing conflict between the United States and Iran.