Many volunteers and participants in Edmonton Fashion Week are pleased with the event this past week in our city.
Most helpers and designers seemed impressed with the improvement of the event that took place from April 2 to 9 at the Transalta Arts Barn on 10330-84 Ave.
Fiona Fung, a participant in the Emerging Designers Contest and a volunteer was extremely satisfied this year.
“They definitely didn’t have as much funding, but they stepped it up from last year with more shows, with over 2000 people attending,” she said.
Fung believes that all the positives came out of how organized and professional the event planners were, and how they used their volunteers.
“They were really organized and creative this year, “ Fung said. “They found their new home at the Transalta Arts Barn on Whyte, which is a plus because in previous years, they have been floating around venues.”
Maggie Chan, a first time volunteer, said she found out about the event quite easily and had lots of work to do once she got there.
“I like fashion, and I found out about the event by just searching the Internet,” Chan said. “I helped out in front of the event with info, passing out pamphlets or raffle tickets. I also helped photographers in the back take pictures of collections and models.”
All though she had tremendous amounts of work to do, Chan didn’t feel stressed out or displeased with giving up so much of her time. She even hopes to take on more work at the next Fashion Week.
“I do plan to get involved next year, but I hope to do a larger role though, like help plan the actual event,” Chan said.
The volunteers don’t walk away empty handed though. The experience they get will help them greatly down the road, especially with Fung.
“I’m interning as a production assistant for Zac Posen in New York this summer,” she said. “They will be preparing for their Spring 2010 Collection and Edmonton Fashion Week really helped me understand the whole fashion industry and people in the community.”
Edmonton Fashion Week will be expected to elevate themselves again this Fall, as they set up the runway again from September 17 to 24.
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Monday, April 13, 2009
Photo of the Week Apr 5-11
Arashi-Do Martial Arts held their city-wide tournament at the Alberta Aviation Museum on April 4th and had a huge turn out. This is Rahul Deol as he competes in his first Men's Jiu-Jitsu tournament.
Thursday, April 2, 2009
PATs just don't make the grade.
Teachers and parents are in full support of the MLAs decision to look into abandoning the Grade 3 provincial achievement tests after the motion was voted on Monday March 23.
MLAs voted 29-18 in favor of the motion proposed by Genia Leskiw, an MLA from Bonnyville-Cold Lake, which could see the end of standardized testing at the Grade 3 level.
Teachers and parents seem united with Alberta Teachers’ Association President Frank Bruseker on the matter, who believes that these achievement tests have become futile and fruitless.
“Evaluation using paper and pen guidelines simply don’t work and that’s part of the concern we have had with the whole provincial achievement testing regime,” Bruseker said. “They impose these tests and we don’t feel they address all of the learning outcomes.”
Like Bruseker, Grade 3/4 teacher Arlene Bujold from Fort Assiniboine School believes that the achievement tests cause more harm than good.
“It puts a lot of stress on all parties involved,” Bujold said.
She believes that standardized testing places a focus on student success rather than actual learning.
“There needs to be more of a focus on an assessment for learning instead of an assessment of learning,” she said. “These evaluations should be ongoing throughout the year.”
Parents don’t seem to be worried about the disbandment of the achievement tests, such as Kali Kirby, a mother of four children. As they all enter elementary school, Kirby says she looks for more than just academic success measured by achievement tests.
“I focus on the atmosphere and moral teachings of the school,” Kirby said.
Kirby is not afraid that there will be no accountability from the teachers towards students and parents. She believes that teachers will always continue to strive for their students learning.
“If you are a good teacher, you’ll do it for the students. You will make sure they do better,” she said. “You will just want your students to do the best.”
Even though the MLAs voted in favor of the motion on Monday, Bruseker reminds the public that changes will not be made over night.
“We aren’t suddenly going to see an instantaneous change. We will still have a provincial achievement test at the end of this year and we’ll probably have one at the end of the next school year,” Bruseker said.
There are no current plans yet for any new diagnostic tests to replace the current 40 multiple-choice standardized exam.
MLAs voted 29-18 in favor of the motion proposed by Genia Leskiw, an MLA from Bonnyville-Cold Lake, which could see the end of standardized testing at the Grade 3 level.
Teachers and parents seem united with Alberta Teachers’ Association President Frank Bruseker on the matter, who believes that these achievement tests have become futile and fruitless.
“Evaluation using paper and pen guidelines simply don’t work and that’s part of the concern we have had with the whole provincial achievement testing regime,” Bruseker said. “They impose these tests and we don’t feel they address all of the learning outcomes.”
Like Bruseker, Grade 3/4 teacher Arlene Bujold from Fort Assiniboine School believes that the achievement tests cause more harm than good.
“It puts a lot of stress on all parties involved,” Bujold said.
She believes that standardized testing places a focus on student success rather than actual learning.
“There needs to be more of a focus on an assessment for learning instead of an assessment of learning,” she said. “These evaluations should be ongoing throughout the year.”
Parents don’t seem to be worried about the disbandment of the achievement tests, such as Kali Kirby, a mother of four children. As they all enter elementary school, Kirby says she looks for more than just academic success measured by achievement tests.
“I focus on the atmosphere and moral teachings of the school,” Kirby said.
Kirby is not afraid that there will be no accountability from the teachers towards students and parents. She believes that teachers will always continue to strive for their students learning.
“If you are a good teacher, you’ll do it for the students. You will make sure they do better,” she said. “You will just want your students to do the best.”
Even though the MLAs voted in favor of the motion on Monday, Bruseker reminds the public that changes will not be made over night.
“We aren’t suddenly going to see an instantaneous change. We will still have a provincial achievement test at the end of this year and we’ll probably have one at the end of the next school year,” Bruseker said.
There are no current plans yet for any new diagnostic tests to replace the current 40 multiple-choice standardized exam.
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Photo of the Week March 29-April 4
Everyone's favorite wonder dog, Fonzie, has trouble walking through the snow after last night's flurry added to our already huge collection. Over a week into Spring and Edmonton is still receiving consistent snowfall. But don't get angry, Edmonton had snow storms and nearly -30 weather up until the end of April last year. Maybe this year's Spring will involve a little more Spring weather...one hopes.
Later this week on Full Metal Pen:
The Alberta government has decided to look into abolishing Grade 3 Provincial Achievement Tests. Who influenced them and what could this mean for elementary schools? Find out tomorrow!
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