Millarville's Cool News

(Page 9)

Principal Notes
We are well into our second month of school and with the flags of time passing and approaching quickly. Our Upper School backcountry experiences have taken place with no unexpected challenges (weather to some extent) as our warmer days seem to have out-performed the inclement ones. As you read this, our whole school will be participating in scheduled daily periods working with Madame Louise Raymond as they explore the art and culture as it relates to West African drumming throughout the week. In the longer term of events to come, the Upper School staff is reviewing spring trips and learning initiatives away from the MCS campus.
With Thanksgiving now passed we should continue to reflect on a life blessed with abundance. Our basic needs for our survival are more than met as we surround ourselves with the technical wonders that entertain us, enable us to communicate with those near and far instantaneously and in real time, and to be creative in how we express ourselves.
Many of us take for granted the luxuries of our society and we grow up expecting we are owed these as a necessity for living. With such material evidence of prosperity, do we not find that the more we collect the more we insulate ourselves from the vast majority in the world who have little or nothing. Will we be remembered for our materialism or for how we shared our good fortune with others?
Perhaps one could better put it that we are truly blessed to find ourselves in a state in which we can choose to give and share of our wealth with those who have so little. What can we share? How about time? How about doing for others that in some way fills a need – be it material or intangible such as listening and being present with them. Do not become isolated by fortressing yourself within a sea of material things that in the end will distance you from the gifts that come from our land and each other.
Our grade eight students organized a school food drive for the local Diamond Valley Foodbank. The result was two pick-ups full of groceries (about sixteen apple boxes full of non-perishables). Take a moment and be thankful for that which you expect to be there each day – try counting those many, many blessings. As a teacher, we work with many blessings (220 here at MCS) daily . . . how great is that!
Ted Thorne

The Grade 6 Millarville class has gone on a world of adventures in the past 2 or so weeks. So far we have had a helicopter pilot, who flew in the Vietnam War, share his heartfelt stories.
The next day we saw a presentation of the Hoja accapella group. Boy, did they rock the Lady Gaga! Of course, you can't forget our camping trip out to Gooseberry Campground. It was a completely different experience from the classroom. We learned how to do a bear hang, start a fire with flint and steel, purify water and how to use a compass and GPS.
After, we played the late night games. The best thing was the AWESOME prize of GLOW STICKS!! Roasting marshmallows and sipping hot chocolate was a great way to bond with our classmates.
In the morning, we packed up and some went down to the river to play in the freezing water. It was nice to sit by the running water and reflect on what you have learned and how fortunate we are to live in this gorgeous country and community.
Once we came back from playing “man vs. wild” for a night, we had our great Millarville neighbour, Olympic Speed Skating Silver Medalist, Jason Parker talk about his experiences and how you should believe in who you are and always try something new. Believe it! See it! Achieve it! With honest effort!
Well, that's it for now from Millarville Community School - a week of adventures, with much more to come!!
Callie and Jade