Aboriginal quiz winners honored

Winners of the fourth annual Prince Charles Elementary School Aboriginal History Quiz were honored during awards ceremonies on April 7.

All of the quiz participants from grades three to six received books that had at their core Aboriginal content. They also received certificates of participation. Twenty-four with the top overall scores were presented medals and teddy bears by Gene Zwozdesky, Alberta minister of Education.

Students who won the final round of the quiz will have their names engraved on a plaque, which will be displayed in the main hallway at the school.

As the students filed into the gymnasium, the Awasisak Nikamowak choir positioned themselves on stage and kicked off the ceremony with a rendition of O'Canada, which they sang in Cree.

Approximately 100 students competed against each other in their grade levels. They were tested in three rounds throughout the week; the first and second rounds were elimination rounds consisting of 15 questions each. The third and final round took place on April 6, where the students had to answer 30 skill-testing questions. The quiz followed a similar format to Jeopardy where the students had to buzz in when they had the answer.

The questions covered a variety of categories, including Aboriginal literature, arts and crafts, Inuit people, and historical Aboriginal Canadians and Metis people.

This quiz was initiated in June 2003 by Deloris Jack, the teacher librarian at the school. She said the Aboriginal quiz was modeled after a quiz the students participated in February 2003 called the "Black Community's Afro-Quiz."

She said that "after seeing the dedication and enthusiasm that the children displayed for the Afro Quiz, I felt that it would be interesting to see how they would respond to a quiz about their own culture."

It was apparent on Friday that the kids have responded well, because the enthusiasm and the proud looks on their faces as they answered each question right during a quiz demonstration said it all; or at least it did for Elizabeth Potskin, a Grade 6 student at Prince Charles.

This was Potskin's third year of taking part in the quiz and, sadly, it will be her last because she is moving on to Grade 7. Potskin was one of five students who ranked as a high scorer for the event with a score of 1,000.

"I learned a lot about my culture," said Potskin, the first place winner in her category. "I think it was an awesome experience."

According to Jack, the quiz questions are related to the social studies curriculum and teachers are encouraged to use it as a component of their teaching.

"This has been one of the things that has been missing in the school," said Jack, a teacher of 16 years.

Not only are the students learning about their culture, but also their self-esteem, self-awareness and study habits are enhanced.

"Kids are learning about all of these other cultures, but not about themselves, so this in terms will help them in knowing more about their culture," said Jack. "This keeps growing and we would like for it to expand to other schools."

Like other elementary schools, the teachers at Prince Charles focus on guided reading, reading aloud and ensuring that the student is successful in their studies. Students at Prince Charles also experience intervention programs, Cree language and cultural instruction.