The Kivalliq Science Educators Community (KSEC) is celebrating its 30th anniversary this school semester and its first order of business is kicking off the annual science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) competition in schools across the region.
The annual event could be delayed, however, due to the Canada Post strike.
Glen Brocklebank, of Chesterfield Inlet, is KSEC's co-president and has been involved with the regional organization for the past 23 years. He said the search is still on for another teacher to take the second co-president role.
He said he came onboard with KSEC just at the time it really started growing.
“I enjoy seeing students excel and do well with any school-related thing, but especially in math and science,” said Brocklebank. “Right now, we're about to launch the Agnico Eagle STEM Challenge.
“All the resources for the STEM Challenge have been sent out to all the schools, although it's apparently stuck in the mail. The theme to this year's challenge is target practice, so there's activities for kids in grades kindergarten to Grade 2, Grade 3 to Grade 5, Grade 6 to Grade 8, Grade 9 to Grade 10 and Grade 11 to Grade 12.
“There will be T-shirts sent out to celebrate it, as well, and schools are encouraged to either run it in the classroom or run it as an event day. In Chester here, we usually make it, sort of, an afternoon activity where all the classes come together to participate.
“With the theme being target practice, they have to knock down some bowling balls and there's a catapult that they have to make and hit targets to score points.”
Brocklebank said the schools are encouraged to put up their top distance scores and then KSEC will compare them and send out something special to the top overall competitor in the winning school.
He said the schools are also encouraged to send in their results for each individual category and the top schools will receive a certificate saying the students who did the project were first, second or third overall in the region.
“We try to make the challenge a month-long thing but, this year, it all depends on when the resources get to the schools. Not all schools can do it at the same time any year, so it's when the schools and teachers across the region can offer it.
“We're going to do ours in Chester on the last Friday of the month and that will be an afternoon activity during which all our kids will participate. Because we're such a small school, we can do it as a school-wide event.
“This year Agnico Eagle has sponsored us and we appreciate the support.”
