A magazine for students and parents in langley - School District #35

featureSleeping with the whalesWater WeekWinnersThere were cheers and hugs all round on October 26 when Sarah Atherton of the LangleyEnvironmental Partners Society announced to Ms. Jean Moir’s class at Langley MeadowsCommunity Elementary School that they had won the Water Weeks Poster contest, and anovernight stay November 25 with the whales at the Vancouver Aquarium.Jean Moir’s class proudly displays their winningWater Weeks Poster Contest entry in the lobbyof Langley Meadows Community ElementarySchool.Sandeep Mann, Manager of Vancity’s WalnutGrove Branch; Ryan Schmidt, EnvironmentalCoordinator for the Township of Langley; andSarah Atherton of the Langley EnvironmentalPartners Society broke the good news to LangleyMeadows’ students.Sponsors Sandeep Mann, managerof Vancity’s Walnut Grove Branch,and Holly Harding, manager of theLangley Community Branch joinedin the announcement. EnvironmentalCoordinator for the Township ofLangley Ryan Schmidt was also onhand to congratulate the students.The class’s inspired entry had studentsdepicted in each room of a typicalLangley household, giving great adviceon how to make the home moreenvironmentally sound. “Insulate yourattic and walls,” one suggested. “Usealternative sources of energy like solarenergy,” another said. Every roomfrom the kitchen, to the bathroom,to bedrooms and family rooms had afew tips. There were even suggestionsfor the yard, like turning off the hosewhen you’re not using it.“We absolutely loved your idea of yourhome,” Ms. Atherton said.Ryan Schmidt said the scope of theproject and the quality of the ideas,as well as the imaginative take onpresenting environmental issues wonthe day for Langley Meadows. Butthere were lots of other great ideasfrom nine Langley schools that enteredthe contest.“Since 2003 we have been doing thiscontest, and this year we received themost entries ever,” he said. “So thecompetition was really stiff this year.You guys should be very proud of yourentry.”The class had lots of questionsabout their coming adventure at theAquarium. Would they be able to seethe whales during the night? Yes, Ms.Atherton answered, the whale poolwould be lit up and they would beable to see the whales through theglass. How do whales sleep? They’renappers, actually, because they are‘conscious breathers’ and have tosurface periodically for air.But the best question of all was: Dowe need to bring our bathing suits? No,Ms. Atherton answered, but there willbe lots of opportunities to get up closeto the Vancouver’s favorite marinecitizens.See a video of the Water Weekspresentation, and all the entreesthat were received by the Townshipof Langley at www.sd35.bc.ca/Pages/news.aspx?IID=171.24 Student Success