After months of study and preparation, Crestomere School students and staff were excited to present their first Learning Expo showcase. The recent event was well attended and favorably reviewed by visitors who enjoyed seeing the students’ excitement and enthusiasm for their learning projects.
Visitors to the final Expo showcase were amazed by the variety of topics generated by the students: monster trucks, living in space, touch screens, bananas, ancient structures, volcanoes, deep sea life-forms, transmissions, and many more.
The Expo Learning project reflected this year’s focus of the Crestomere School’s professional growth plan — working with and deepening new knowledge. Preparations began in the fall when students from kindergarten to Grade 9 brainstormed about their interests and then were divided into small groups to learn more about their assigned topic. Staff acted as facilitators for the groups, guiding their focus and research, planning activities and field trips, and assisting with the final presentations, but students took the reins in directing and completing their learning experiences.
A visitor walking around the displays in the gymnasium could easily visualize future biologists, veterinarians, mechanics, engineers and programmers, to name but a few. Principal Penny Mueller was especially proud of the leadership skills she saw emerge in both staff and students as the whole school community pulled together to be ready for the Learning Expo showcase.
Crestomere students and staff thank everyone who helped bring their vision of self-directed learning to reality. Students are already looking forward to exploring new ideas for Learning Expo 2014
— Submitted