(Illustration: Jessie McLaughlin)
Autumn is here! Students are grabbing their backpacks and sharpening their pencils, whether they’re eager to learn or would prefer that summer lasted another two months. The Barnacle spoke to students on their favorite subjects, teachers they can’t wait to see, and more.
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Name: Katie
Grade: 11
School: Forest Heights Community School
Favourite subject: English
What you’re looking forward to learning this year: I’m definitely excited to put my leadership skills to work this year because I’m setting the scene for the younger years.
Favourite thing you did this summer: I volunteered at Stan Rogers Folk Festival. I drove people and musicians around on golf carts.
A teacher that you can’t wait to see: I’m excited to see Mr. Hazelton for sure, and Ms. Gillis definitely. And also Mr. Morash.
What you’ll daydream about once you’re in the classroom again: I’ll daydream about where the classes are going to take me, the skills that I’m learning and how I’m going to implement them in my life.
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Name: KJ
Grade: 3
School: Bluenose Academy
Favourite subject: Gym.
What you look forward to learning this year: I would have to say all sorts of new math questions that I didn’t know before.
Favourite thing you did this summer: Playing soccer.
A teacher you can’t wait to see: My old gr. 2 teacher, Mrs. Chapman.
What you’ll daydream about once you’re in the classroom again: I think I would daydream about being at Dalhousie because I wait to learn art there. I’m trying to master pointillism.
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Name: Katrina
Grade: 12
School: Park View Education Centre
Favorite subject: Art.
What you look forward to learning this year: I’m gonna be totally honest with you – I forgot what classes I’m taking.
Favourite thing you did this summer: The high ropes course at my summer camp.
What you’ll daydream about once you’re in the classroom again: Probably what’s happening in my book—I’m always thinking about getting back to reading it.
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Name: Nolan
Grade: 4
School: West Northfield Elementary
Favorite subject: Math.
What you look forward to learning this year: How to rocket a dodgeball, because you play dodgeball more in grade 4.
Your favourite thing you did this summer: Getting ducklings. Their names are Quackers, Cheese, Pepperoni, and Spock.
A teacher you can’t wait to see: Mr. Hallett.
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Name: Claude Fulton
Age: 12
Tell us about your school year: I am not attending a school or in any graded system.
I am following my own learning rhythm along with my younger brother, Clement.
Almost every morning I head straight outside where, after climbing a small hill, I tend to our flock of chickens, listen attentively to the early morning chorus of birds and insects and maybe walk on through our woods over the wooden bridge to the stream.
Once home again I might write a journal entry about the birds seen that morning, then I always do some reading and then compose a story. If there is a topic I am interested in, I research it in books we have at home, or at the library.
A couple times a month I have a stall at the Lunenburg Farmer’s Market selling greetings cards I have made from my drawings and watercolour paintings.
Some days we visit artist friends in their studios or go to concerts of classical or jazz music. In the evening we often take quiet walks by the beach, then fish for mackerel and cook them over a fire pit under our spruce trees.
Every day is different, and every day holds its own surprise.
