A leaf in the forest speaks…

Posted on by
Reply

Ji siix-mukws n̓iin

Listen carefully

 

A leaf in the forest is not something that’s given a second thought

It isn’t something that is significant

It’s actually the opposite

It floats, falls,  flutters gracefully to the ground

Only

to be put with the ones before it

Soon to be forgotten and left alone

It will only be remembered if it can stick out among the others

if it can be unique

Alone singular unusual, but extremely special

Beauty

in it’s own aspect

(Creative Writing – grade 9 student)

To read more writing by NESS students, visit  creativeNESS .

Arts and Culture Week at NESS

Posted on by
Reply

Mr. Gary Davis opens the feast.

Students, staff and teachers have pulled together at NESS this year to work on two big projects to celebrate art and culture.

Ms. Allain’s art classes are creating a mural from shoe impressions taken of all students, staff and community elders, while Ms. Swinn’s writing class is producing an anthology of student writing (SOUL IMPRESSIONS) following the theme of “journey”.  If you haven’t had a chance to step on a piece of clay, then mosey on down to the art room. And while you’re at it, stop by room 309 to share your journey with Ms. Swinn and the writing class. They are looking for submissions of poetry, fiction and non-fiction. The deadline is May 31st.

Kicking off the projects, was an enthusiastic and tasty feast/coffee house. Students invited elders from all of the Nass Valley communities, and cooked a traditional feast for them. Many thanks to the students and teachers for their efforts. The feast was appreciated by everyone. Following the feast, was a coffee house in which students from kindergarten to grade 12 took part. Singing, poetry reading, and rapping filled the gym and the halls, and everyone had a great time. Talent at NESS is flourishing! Keep your ears tuned for another coffee house in June. We will be celebrating the culmination of our Arts and Culture Week projects. (More photos attached below.)

Continue reading →

Claymation video- Txeemsim and the Nisga’a Fisherman (NESS Grade 5/6 class)

Posted on by
Reply

  • Presentation on Claymation by Teresa McMillan (gr. 5/6 teacher) and Ed McMillan(semi-retired), Nisga’a Elementary School District #92 (Nisga’a)
  • Learning, engagement, and pride all grow when students make their own claymation movies to retell traditional First Nations stories. Students (especially boys and students at risk) find this method of demonstrating their knowledge to be very exciting and engaging. Learn how to work with students through every stage of the process from developing a simple storyboard using a traditional story, creating the characters, using technology to film, edit, add audio, and evaluate the claymation.
  • Download the keynote presentation here.  Please unzip and view.
  • Claymation Keynote

Halloween at NESS

Posted on by
Reply

Happy Halloween everyone! Here are some pictures of the festivities…

Which is your favourite picture???

 

 

Haida Gwai – Grade 7 trip

Posted on by
1

Mrs. Teresa McMillan returns from Haida Gwai with a group of happy, yet tired, students. The school group, along with community members, practiced dancing all year so that they would be prepared to perform for our island neighbours. Before leaving on their odyssey, Mrs. McMillan’s class performed for teachers, and interested community members who couldn’t resist getting up to join them. We are so lucky, here at NESS, to have such talented people representing our school. Click below to see more pictures from the Haida trip. Continue reading →

Yanging Out at Commencement 2012

Posted on by
Reply

One of the happy surprises for the day was the appearance of Mr. Kevin Yang, former music teacher at NESS. Mr. Yang flew in on the Friday before Commencement, came to the ceremony, then travelled to Lakalzap for the “grad” dinner, before flying home on Sunday morning. Students were more than thrilled to have their former teacher join their celebration. One of the highlights of the dinner in Lakalzap was the Jazz Band, who were accompanied by Mr. Yang and assisted by Mr. Johnson. It was a bitter sweet moment for guests, knowing that this would be one of the last times they would hear this particular group of musicians play together. (Read further to see more pictures from the 2012 Commencement.) Continue reading →