Longview School - Let Your Learning Soar

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Young Authors
Students from Longview School had the amazing opportunity to attend Foothills Young Authors' Conference on Saturday, April 16th at Ecole Highwood High School in High River. Students started the conference by attending a presentation by keynote speaker Ben Mikaelsen who spoke about his journey in becoming an author and his many life adventures. As it stated in the conference student handbook, “Author Ben Mikaelsen is the winner of the International Reading Association Award and the Western Writer's Golden Spur Award. His novels have been nominated for and have won many State Readers' Choice awards. These novels included: Rescue Josh McGuire, Sparrow Hawk Red, Stranded, Countdown, Petey, Touching Spirit Bear, Red Midnight, Tree Girl and Ghost of Spirit Bear.”

Students attended three different sessions put on by authors and illustrators throughout the day. Some of the workshops our students participated in included: Have Fun Writing & Publishing by Elaine Bailey, Character Creation Crash Course by Lorna Bennet, Toys or Tools by Val Lawton, Drawing on the Imagination by Derek Mah, Telling Tall Tales by Donna MacNaughton, Crafting Your Magic by Derek Donais, Character Design & Comic Illustration by Tim Huesken. Students enjoyed a pizza lunch while meeting and visiting with other students from all over the Foothills area. At the end of the day, they were given the chance to purchase books from their favourite authors and illustrators. They then got to meet them personally and have their books autographed as a keepsake of the day. The students of Longview School would like to thank everyone who volunteered their time to make this conference such a great success especially Mary Donaldson and Maryke Brummelhuis.

We welcomed many parents and community members to our musical drama performance of Pinocchio with the theme of “Always Let Your Conscience Be Your Guide”. This play adaptation, by Kathryn Schultz Miller, was held on Wednesday, April 20th. Students in kindergarten, Grades 1 and 2 performed the songs: When You Wish Upon a Star, I've Got No Strings, Give a Little Whistle and Baby Beluga. Students in Grades 3, 4, 5 and 6 all had either lead or supporting roles in the performance. Students played the characters of Pinocchio, Geppetto, Hickory, Lorenzo, Blue Fairy, Ivana, Lucky Star, Fibber the Fox, Lefty the Cat, Lampwick, Coachman, Jack, Jill, Puppeteers and Puppets. One of our Grade 1 students went home and said to her mom that she needed to learn how to “klutzy” for the play. Her mom had a good laugh when she figured out that she really meant to say she needed to learn to “curtsy”. The overall goal of our drama presentations at Longview School is to foster a positive self-concept in students by encouraging them to explore life by assuming theatric roles and acquiring dramatic skills. Throughout the year we have presented a number of dramatic performances in meeting the learner outcomes outlined in the drama program of studies.  A Big Thank You goes out to Ms. Thomson and Ms. Smith as co-directors; Mr. Musgrove and Ms. Winfield for their assistance in programming, photography sound and lighting; Ms. Hoyle, Ms. Dyck and Mrs. Graham for helping behind the scenes with students; Barb McDonald for decorating the gym so magically; Joan Stuart for organizing treats; School Council for supporting this event, as well as, our fine arts program; the parents for helping students learn their lines and finding costumes to wear; and especially all of our students for the amazingly job they did!!