On the 24^th day of February, 2013, the team of Okiero Anthony Okoro Development Foundation with the support of the Staff and Students of Peace River North School District No. 60 Canada carried out a drama presentation on Malaria prevention and treatment with the use of ACT at the Market Square of Ughoton Community in Okpe Local Government Area of Delta State, Nigeria.

RATIONAL OF THE DRAMA:

The Malaria Drama presentation was to educate the community members on the Prevention, Diagnosis and Treatment of Malaria.  The area was chosen because of the swampy nature and mosquitoes breed in these area and Malaria is one of the illness prevalent in the area.

1.  Malaria has become a leading killer disease in most developing countries, Nigeria inclusive
2. 60% of family health expenses is spent on Malaria treatment.
3. About 300,000 people die yearly from the attack of Malaria.
4. For every 10 children that die of all sickness, 3 of them are caused by Malaria.
5. Malaria is dangerous to pregnant women and their unborn children.

Based on the above premise we then chose to inform the Ughoton Community of the dangers of Malaria through Drama presentation.  The drama script was very comprehensive and covers all the various areas that the community people need to know to enable them take action if they are diagnosis of Malaria found in them.

The drama presentation is made up of the mother of a child who fell ill when the parents were not available and was rushed to the Health Centre in the area and the Nurse discovered that the child was suffering from Malaria and treatment with ACT was administered.  They were also told to keep their environment clean to avoid the breeding of mosquitoes.  They were also told that not all mosquitoes carries the Malaria parasite but the female mosquitoes call Anopheles’ are the ones that carry Malaria parasite.  The Health Centres are the only places where people can go for treatment and that people should not administer treatment on themselves without a recognised Medical Officer.  The pregnant women were advised to always register themselves for Ante-natal early to have the complete does of Intermittent Preventive Treatment (IPT).

SUCCESS STORY:

The Drama presentation reach out to so many community members who were in the Market Square comprising of Female, Male and Children.  The team of Okiero Anthony Okoro Development Foundation as distributed some mosquitoes nets (LLINs) Long Lasting Insecticides Treated Nets to some members of the community.  We also carried out free Malaria test with our diagnosis testing kits and those found to have Malaria parasite were advised to  go to the Health Centre for treatment.  The community members were happy and thanked the Staff and Students of Peace River North School District No. 60 Canada for their generosity and choosing their community as a pilot scheme.  They prayed that God will bless you all for this kind gesture and replenish your purse from where the funds were derived.

School District #60 was very happy to have you study with us this year.  We would love to have your input on how you felt things have gond. Please for the link to complete the year end survey.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1tHtDtFVSFkzQi4JqbmRyVneXZMkmNnpEQDeyrIWlcMs/viewform

From March 16^th – 22^nd, we went to Banff with a group of Shecana exchange students from all over the world. The trip didn’t start out very well, because the road from Prince George to Banff was closed, and we had to drive over Kamloops. When we arrived in Banff, we were all super tired. We rented skis and snowboards and in the evening, we went to the Banff Hot Springs. The next four days we skied either at Sunshine Village or at Lake Louise. It was awesome, the weather was nice and sunny most of the time, and I got better at skiing. I also got to meet exchange students from many different countries, who all experienced similar things in Canada. And I got to talk German for a few days… J On the way back we were all exhausted, but it was a great trip!

Neele Peters

Jonathan Davis from RBC came into discuss different opportunities for students in the realm of business and banking.  With some great life and financial advice, Jonathan always puts on an informative presentation.  Thanks to Jonathan and RBC for their time.

Jeff Mayer

February 12, 2013
*FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE*
Contact: Val Dipasupil
(604) 602-5219
vdipasupil@sciencefairfoundationbc.ca

BC Science Fair Students Win International Awards in Taiwan!

Vancouver, BC – Kevala Van Volkenburg, Grade 10 from North Peace Secondary in Fort St. John and Keltie Murdoch, Grade 12 from Mount Baker Secondary in Cranbrook have returned home big winners from the Taiwan International Science Fair, held January 29th to February 5th in Taipei, Taiwan.

Ms. Murdoch received 4th place in her category for her environmental engineering project, Geo Air a system that circulates air through underground pipes into a house’s heating system greatly improving its efficiency at not only heating but also as a cooling system during the summer months. Ms. Van Volkenburg also received 4th place for her project, Finding a Better Brain Booster, a study which demonstrated that short periods of aerobic exercise improved student’s academic performance in reading and mathematics in contrast to other strategies which were much less effective.

The students were accompanied by Ms. Sandi Lavery, Faculty at the University of Victoria’s Teacher Education Program in Cranbrook, BC and Past Chair of the East Kootenay Regional Science Fair. The students were selected to participate based on their science fair project work, their effective communication skills and their ambassadorial qualities. Ms. Lavery was chosen as the educator because of her broad teaching experience and her years of enthusiastic support of the science fair program and her appreciation of its educational benefits for students.

During their time in Taiwan, Keltie and Kevala had a home-stay with a local family which provided both a wonderful ambassadorial opportunity as well as a unique and incredible cultural experience. The International component of the competition included entries from 21 countries including Germany, Hong Kong, India, New Zealand, Philippines, Romania, Singapore, Switzerland, South Africa, Thailand, Turkey and the United States.

Keltie and Kevala agree, “The week was absolutely awesome, it was a tremendous experience! Having the chance to interact with students from 21 countries was amazing, everybody was wonderful!” British Columbian students have attended the Taiwan International Science Fair since its inception in 1991, a legacy of the Pan Pacific component of the 1991 Canada-Wide Science fair hosted by the Science Fair Foundation of British Columbia.

‘Through scientific research and innovation, Science Fair participants are able to gain important life and job skills which help reveal where new career opportunities exist,’ said Patti Leigh O.B.C, Executive Director of the Science Fair Foundation of BC. ‘Science fairs allow students to stretch their imaginations and intellect, and they also provide a chance for young scientists to network with their peers and with potential mentors.’

British Columbia regional science fairs are supported by the Science Fair Foundation of British Columbia, a non-profit organization whose vision is to sustain and enhance the science culture of the youth of British Columbia.
- end –

About the Science Fair Foundation of British Columbia

The Science Fair Foundation supports science education through the science fair program to foster curiosity and build for the future. The Science Fair Foundation of British Columbia (SFF BC) is a non-profit, charitable organization incorporated in February 1998 to support and promote science fair activity in British Columbia. The Foundation is committed to ensuring ongoing financial support in order to build a stronger and more visible Science Fair Program throughout the province.

To learn more about the Foundation, please visit our website at: www.sciencefairs.ca.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Canadian Sport School – Northern BC is Now Accepting Applications for the 2013-2014 School Year 

FORT ST JOHN, BC – PacificSport Northern BC in partnership with School District 60 is pleased to introduce a new sport academy program for student athletes that are entering Grade 10, 11 or 12 in September 2013 and have been recognized by their Provincial Sport Organization (PSO). Students will attend their neighbourhood Secondary School in the morning and be transported to the Sport School afternoon sessions hosted at the Pomeroy Sport Centre from Monday to Thursday each week.

Student-Athlete Benefits 

 Onsite teacher support

 Physical literacy and fitness

 Sport Science education

 Customized training sessions

 Access to training facility

 Interaction with athletes from various sports with same excellence goals

 An understanding and accepting peer group

 Transportation to Sport School during lunch break

PR 2013 Fort St John_Feb 19_Final

Last weekend, we went to Grand Prairie to play basketball. In these few days, our team was  together all the time. My teammates are very nice and funny.

We had played three games in this tournament. We won every games. I am having a lot of fun and improving all the time.

Jake

Please click on the links below to find out what students have to say about their experiences studying in North Peace Secondary School in Fort St John, British Columbia.

Come and find out more about School District #60 ‘s  International Program in both Lagos and Abuja.  Brian Campbell,  District Principal of  International  will be happy to meet with students and parents to discuss how the district can help prepare students for post secondary.

Education in Canada Fair in Africa 2013

Date: January 24-26, 2013
Event Type: Student recruitment fair
City: Lagos, Nigeria
Venue: Federal Palace Hotel Lagos
Audience:  Students – all levels

Education in Canada Fair in Africa 2013

Date: January 28–29, 2013
Event Type: Student recruitment fair
City: Abuja, Nigeria
Venue: Sheraton Hotel Abuja
Audience: Students – all levels

On December 13, I went skiing with two of my friends, one of them from Norway and her boyfriend from Canada. We went to Powder King. My host father drove me down there. I met Julie and Vernon there, ready to ski! It snowed the whole time we were there. It was perfect conditions and new powder. Every skiers dream! We skied all day long. Up and down, up and down. It was amazing. I’m used to alpine skiing, with groomed slopes and gates. So this much powder was a big difference, but it was super, and something I will do again. One of the best things about it is that it doesn’t hurt whenever you fall over! I don’t fall over that much tho… Anyway, it was a lot of fun! We didn’t take that many pictures. Vernon had a GoPro camera, a video camera that you put on your helmet so we have some vidios but they are super long. And pictures we got some but they are not really that great! When we came home from skiing, we went to Boston Pizza. And I had Pizza!

On December 14 after school I went with the international students to the school play. The class, Musical theater, was preforming Willy Wonka. It was a really good show, and they did a very good job!

The day after I went to a concert with Betta, (an exchange student from Brazil) her host mom, host sister and some of her host sisters friends! We went to Theory of a Deadman! It was super! After I had a sleepover at Betta’s house! We were so tired and fell asleep at once!
- Julie