Connections – Workplace Awareness Activities

CONNECTIONS

We are pleased to announce that the Connections Program is once again being offered this year at North Island Secondary School. This program provides an opportunity for high school students to take part in “Workplace Awareness Activities” throughout the North Island. Together with the support of local business and organizations we strive to work with the communities on the North Island to introduce youth to the opportunities that surround them.

If you are an employer, business owner, or an organization who is interested in having students participate in a guided tour of your worksite, please contact Mr. Jay Dixon at jdixon@sd85.bc.ca. This could include a small group visit, larger group, or a personalized “hands on” experience. We will arrange all transportation to and from the worksite and supervision throughout.

We would like to thank the following for recently welcoming our students into their place of business;

Windsor Plywood

North Island Gazette

Quatsie Hatchery & Interpretive Centre

Visions Learning Centre

Port McNeill Volunteer Fire Department

It is the participation of these businesses that makes the Connections Program a success.

Spencer O’Brien Visit

Thank You, Spencer O’Brien

On Friday, September 22nd, we had the privilege of listening to one of the world’s top snowboarders, Spencer O’Brien, as she delivered an inspirational message on the importance of hard work, perseverance, patience, resiliency and family support in order to achieve one’s goals in life.  Born in Alert Bay, she is proud to say that her love for the sport started in the North Island.

Thank you for the visit Spencer, and NISS wishes you the best in your future endeavours.

 

NISS at Port McNeill Chamber of Commerce Awards Dinner

NISS students and staff attended the Port McNeill Chamber of Commerce Awards on Friday, October 22, 2016.  A student and three teachers  received awards during the evening.

Youth Entrepreneur – Danielle Lacasse

Professional Merit – Greg Muirhead

Innovation Award – 1-Eleven Coffee (Doug Abbot and Mark Taylor)

Well done, team!

chamber-awards_oct-22-2016

CLIMBING WALL GALA

Climbing wall volunteer students

We are proud of this group of students for volunteering to assist with cooking, decorating and serving tables during the Climbing Wall Gala which took place on Saturday, April 30, 2016.

Over 100 community members from the North Island enjoyed an evening which included dinner, entertainment, and a fun cash auction.

It was a fun evening with everyone coming together around the common goal of getting a climbing wall built at our school.

During the evening the Port McNeill Rotary Club presented a cheque to the school for $10 000.00.  By the end of the evening another $10,000.00 was donated by the guests through the auction and other fun activities.

Feedback today from community has been very positive about learning in School District No. 85.  Most of all people have been talking about the wonderful student volunteers that helped make the evening a success.

Many thanks to the staff and students who helped the Rotary Club with the evening.  To date we have now raised over $40 000.00!

Thanks to the North Island’s commitment to our youth, we will be building our climbing wall this summer.

TRADES FAIR 2016

trades fair poster 2016

I would like to invite all students and parents to our second Trades Fair at North Island Secondary School.  It will be held on Thursday, March 10th at NISS.  We will begin at 11:30 with an opening by Jay Dixon and then students will be able to move throughout the Fair with their teachers or in small groups. Our PAC will be providing a free hot dog for all students.  This year we will have the ‘Find Your Fit Tour” on site. This will give students a real chance to discover a trade they may be interested in.  More information can be found at: https://www.findyourfittour.ca/

There will be hands on activities for the students and they will have a bingo stamp card that they can have filled up for a chance to win an awesome prize.  Some of the businesses in attendance will be Hardy Buoys, Greigs Seafood, Marine Harvest, Progressive Diesel, West Coast Helicopters, Vancouver Art Institute, Visions Hair Salon, Creation Renovation, Coastal Community Insurance, North Island Employment Foundations Society, Community Futures, and many others.

I hope you will participate.  This was an awesome day in 2014 and NISS loves hosting the Trades Fair.  It is also open this year to the public from 4:00 -7:00 p.m. See you there.

If you have a business and would like to participate contact kmcarthur@sd85.bc.ca or phone Kathleen McArthur at 250-956-3394.