HAC Powerpoint
Application Form and Parental Consent for HAC Course.pdf
HUMANITARIANS IN ACTION COURSE (H.A.C.)
(new course for Grade 11 & 12 students at Ballenas Secondary School)
A group of teachers from Ballenas Secondary are designing an experiential learning based course for students in grade 11 and 12. This course would be cross-curricular in nature and allow students to develop a particular set of skills at school and then apply those skills in an international setting.
Spearheaded by Robin Pawliuk, teacher, and Jane Reynolds, Vice Principal, the course will allow students to take charge of their own learning. Called Humanitarians in Action Course (H.A.C.), students would participate in a regularly scheduled course at Ballenas but, during the length of that course, they would learn a particular skill that they would then use and apply in Panajachel, Guatemala. The idea for the course has come from Mrs. Pawliuk's 10 years of developing socially responsible students through Mayan Families Canada, an organization she started with her daughter (a Ballenas graduate) 10 years ago. (see www.mayanfamiliescanada.org for further information)
Here are a few examples of how H.A.C. would work. If a student was enrolled in Spanish 11, during the course of the semester they would be learning words/phrases/sentences that would be useful for their 10-day work in Guatemala. If a student was enrolled in Carpentry and Joinery 12, they would learn the skills needed to make a water filter stand. When in Guatemala, they would make these stands at the Mayan Families carpentry workshop and then deliver the stands to families in need. If a student was in English 12, they would learn the journalism skills necessary to conduct a successful interview. While in Guatemala, they would interview an elderly person who is part of the Elderly Care Program. They would then write about this person's story. Other examples of learning a skill and then applying it in an international setting could be developed in Foods 11/12, PE 11, Media Technology 11/12 etc. This would earn the students 4 additional credits for the regular course they were registered in.
The course would not be limited to just students enrolled in these programs. It could also be for students wanting to do an Independent Study. For example, a student in lunch-time Civic Action group may want to further enhance their social responsibility skills and develop activities here at the school to highlight child poverty. A student in the lunch-time Leadership program may be interested in organizing activities that would raise funds to be used during the time in Guatemala. Any of these students would, when in Guatemala, be able to experience an NGO (non-governmental agency) in action. This would provide 4 additional credits for the successful student.
Students would learn/develop skills while in the classroom. They would then take these skills down to Guatemala and put them into action. Specific activities they could participate in could be food, corn and donation hand-outs, installing fuel-efficient stoves, feeding the elderly, building and delivering water filters and working in pre-schools. If Mayan Families Canada has a home scheduled to be built or repaired at the time of their trip, these students could participate in that as well. Upon return to Ballenas, students would need to demonstrate their learning as prescribed by their teacher.
The number of students accepted into this course would be limited to 12 with students submitting an application and undergoing an interview process. The trip would occur between Friday April 8 and Monday April 18, 2016 and would cost approximately $2,500. The hope is that any interested student would apply, regardless of their family's financial considerations. If necessary, specific family's needs would be considered upon successful application by their child. Having taken volunteer groups to Panajachel, Guatemala for the past 8 years, Mrs. Pawliuk is comfortable in leading a group of this size and age group. She would also be accompanied by the Vice Principal, Jane Reynolds and up to 3 volunteer parents.
IMPORTANT DATES TO CONSIDER:
Monday May 11th – presentation to all Grade 10 & 11 students
Wednesday May 20th – parent information night, 7 pm at Ballenas Secondary
Wednesday May 27th – applications and parental consent due
Week of June 1st – interviews held
Friday June 5th – team selected
Friday June 19th – non-refundable commitment fee of $400 due
TRIP DATES:
Friday April 8, 2016 – Monday April 18, 2016
For further information please contact:
Robin Pawliuk – rpawliuk@sd69.bc.ca
