Banner Year for LBPSB OSEntreprendre Efforts
submitted by Nancy Battet, Community Partner Liaison, LBPSB
Development of an entrepreneurial spirit: ‘Don’t ask a student what they want to be when they grow up, ask them what problem they would like to solve’ Quote by Jaime Casap, Google Educator
Entrepreneurship, or developing an entrepreneurial spirit in our students allows students to find ways to identify a problem within their school, community or globally and find ways to ‘take action’ to solve that particular problem. Entrepreneurship, beginning at kindergarten to adult sector, allows students to be at the center of the action, while helping them to develop valuable problem solving and critical thinking skills for their future. Education through Entrepreneurial spirit is an excellent pedagogical approach that has a significant impact on student development by contributing to perseverance and educational success. This project-based learning approach encourages students to develop strong leadership skills and creativity by identifying a problem and finding a solution through creation of a product, service, or event.
The Ministry of Education (MEES), in partnership with the OSEntreprendre (www.osentreprendre.quebec) offers students in our Quebec public schools, along with their teachers, and other school professionals the opportunity to enter their projects in the OSEntreprendre challenge. Funding is also available to schools ($500.00 per project) for taking part in the challenge. It is important to note that this entrepreneurship initiative is not about starting a business, but about social entrepreneurship where students learn to find real world solutions to problems they identify. The Lester B. Pearson school board submits between 400 and 500 projects per year from our schools. This is the most projects submitted by any school board in the province of Quebec.
Many of our projects have won prizes over the years at the Regional as well as National levels. This year, the LBPSB submitted 750 Entrepreneurship projects to OSEntreprendre Project categories included: Prescolaire, Elementary. Secondary, Adaptation and Adult Education.
A total of 33 Projects were chosen as contest winners:
– 22 Winners from Montreal Region
– 11 Winners from Monteregie Region
As well, the school board had total of two winners at the regional level that were announced recently.
The first winning project was ECOGlam from Terry Fox Elementary School which was overseen by teacher Tara Branston and the second one was Le club des Petites Collations (Small Snack Club) overseen by Sophie Larochelle, a teacher at Edgewater Elementary school.
We are proud of our young entrepreneurs and our teachers, principals, school professionals, support staff and daycares who support the entrepreneurial spirit in our students, allowing them to be real world problem solvers.
SMALL SNACK CLUB
Teacher Sophie LaRochelle often has discussions in class about topics which make the headlines in the news. When there was a common front and FSE strike last December, a subject often discussed was that of “Breakfast Clubs” and if children did not go to school and relied on breakfast club what would they eat? Students asked why is breakfast such an important meal and are there families in need at their own school and how can we help them?
« On a eu cette discussion là en classe, puis y’a des amis qui se sont rendu compte que peut être qu’il y’a des amis dans notre école qui arrivaient à l’école puis qui ont pas mangé. » explained Mme. LaRochelle.
As second grade student Mia put it, “people come to school with empty tummies, so we made them snacks.”
As Edgewater is not part of a breakfast club program, and wanting to be sure the less fortunate in their school have a healthy snack available to help contribute to their success at school, Ms. LaRochelle and her students have been cooking snacks every morning. The snacks are nutritious and healthy to provide students with energy for a successful day.
ECOGLAM GEMS
The student’s journey into creating jewelry from recyclable materials began when students were working on their art projects and began to join Tara Branston in her classroom at recess. Shortly after the weekly recess art group began, “Inspiration struck, leading them to brainstorm ways of reusing materials for a more significant cause. Through watching many “do-it-yourself” YouTube videos, experimentation and the help of their teacher, they discovered ways of crafting paper beads to make necklaces from recycled scrap paper, turning tin cans into stylish earrings and plastic water bottles into bangles.
The jewelry they have created stands out because of how beautifully they turned out and their eco-friendly nature. Not only are the student’s promoting sustainability, but they are also promoting their entrepreneurial skills by being creative, learning how to market their product and selling their creations. Additionally, the proceeds from selling their creations will go towards funding Cancer research (The Terry Fox Foundation), which was decided upon by the students. This is another entrepreneurial skill demonstrated by the students which is “decision making”.
