TWO North Shore educators were recognized for their extraordinary efforts in the classroom on a national stage last week.
Arlene Anderson of Rockridge secondary in West Vancouver and Ellen Muirhead of North Vancouver's Mount Seymour Preschool were given Prime Minister's Awards for Teaching Excellence and Excellence in Early Childhood Education, respectively. They received their awards at a ceremony in Ottawa on Oct. 5.
Anderson, a teacher librarian at Rockridge, was honoured for a number of initiatives she started at the school, according to a media release. She showed students how to use books, magazines and journals to do research and established an acquisitions committee so that they can get involved in the selection of incoming periodicals.
She also championed an environmental club that has introduced a composting program, reducing school waste by almost 50 per cent. Earlier this year, the club won a $20,000 Solar BC grant from the province, allowing them to install 15 solar panels on the school's roof.
Anderson was also commended for designing a broadcast studio, which students use to voice their concerns over issues that matter to them.
For Muirhead, the ability to listen and observe young children and cater to their interests is what makes her stand out.
Her daily greeting song features a couple of words from all of the students' mother tongues. She is also known for her involvement with parents and the community. For example, her daily reporting system lets parents know what their kids have been up to all day. She also got her students involved in supporting an art program for underprivileged kids.
Both teachers were given a certificate, pin and letter from Prime Minister Stephen Harper as well as a $5,000 cash award to be split between them and their schools.
Twenty-six national Certificates of Excellence were given out in total along with 58 regional Certificates of Achievement.
mkrishnan@nsnews.com
