Brightview Connects Lots of Learning to Food at EJ School

The Grade 6s from Brightview School spent February 9 to 13th at the Edmonton Journal to learn about journalism.

Print - just one of the four news "platforms"

This was a part of the Inquiring Minds Site School programs.  Mrs. Van Riper is the leader of EJ School and Mr. Mastel is their teacher.
Students enjoyed meeting Jana Pruden, who is the crime bureau chief. Students learned that she loves her job which she said, “is hard emotionally and physically.” She can get emotional: sad, worried and scared after some of the stories she reports on.  She also loves her job because she and her co-workers “help each other and are a big team.”

Brightview students meet Capital Ideas, Sam and Karen

Some lucky grade 6 students met Karen Unland and Sam Brooks from ‘Capital Ideas’ on Tuesday. 
They help business people or the people who want to start a business here in Edmonton. They ask successful business owners to give some ideas on that topic. They put the person’s picture on the Capital Ideas’ page and the ideas and advice in quotes.  “Our job is really fun because we get to meet people who are very successful with their business and we can help the Edmontonians who want to start a business”, they both told the students. Karen Unland commented, “I love to learn new things.” “Newspapers can tell a story that the internet can’t,” Sam Brooks pointed out.

Pizza at fantasia gelateria

On Wednesday the grade 6s went to Enterprise Square, which is the old Hudson’s Bay building. The students ate tasty pizza from fantasia gelateria, and when they finished they explored Andrea Itzeck’s art exhibit in the lobby called ‘Walk of Hands.”   Then they had some delicious gelato, care of Mrs. VanRiper.  After lunch students interviewed Fiona Cavanagh, Marco Melfi, and Yvonne Pronovost from the Centre for Public Involvement and the Edmonton Food Council.  

Students met and interviewed Brittney Le Blanc on Thursday February 12th. Her job is community manager for newspaper pages called GastroPost in Wednesday’s edition of the Edmonton Journal.  She’s passionate about her job and is not in it for the money: “I do media because I love it, not because I make lots of money.”

Earlier in the week, a handful of Brightview students met Chris Zdeb, who was looking at past newspapers on microfiche. She used three machines to look at the old newspapers to find a story from the past to feature in an upcoming issue of the Edmonton Journal. “I think this is the best job at the Edmonton Journal” she said and has worked there for 35 years as a reporter and feature writer. She is a curious lady that likes to talk to people around the city. Students were also exposed to microfiche at the Stanley Milner Library, thanks to Community Librarian, Angie Miller.  

Students stayed active during their week at the Edmonton Journal. 

Near the Shaw Conference Centre

They had lots of fun walking to the Shaw Conference Center, where they saw the building of Red Bull CrashedIce track. Some students are planning to attend this upcoming event.

Students also toured the CKUA building.  They went into the studio and recorded a skit using a microphone and the computers. Then, they went into the library filled with records and CDs. The students were able to learn a lot about how the radio station works.  

CKUA recording

By Friday it was the final day at the Edmonton Journal and Mr. Mastel decided to take the students to the Don Wheaton Y.M.C.A to swim. It was a great experience. They enjoyed swimming around in the pool with their teacher. “Mr Mastel I’m really tired,” Jessica said, “I’m exhausted!”

Throughout the week students had fun exploring, learning and meeting people through EJ School. As Jaslyn boarded the bus for the final time she was quoted as saying, “I liked how we learned about food throughout the week. You should go to Enterprise Square and have the pizza and gelato!” 

"...we learned about food throughout the week."