Niverville Middle School recently won a scholarship which could help pay for a new learning tool. Students and staff applied to the All About Me School Scholarship, a product of myBlueprint, a Canadian website that provides learning programs to secondary students.
“It was exciting to find out we won,” says Aubrey Kyle, one of the Grade Five students involved.
Scholarship entrants were required to submit a video of students explaining why they enjoy using All About Me, myBlueprint’s digital portfolio program which allows students to showcase their work and enables them to explore different career paths.
Fellow students Brianna Johnston, Keira Penner, and Griffen Poettcker, along with Kyle, assisted in writing the script and creating the video under the guidance of teacher Laurie Loeppky.
“I was so proud of these four,” Loeppky says.
With the money, Loeppky says the school is considering purchasing Osmo, an interactive tool used for education and recreation. The user connects their device, such as an iPad, to the Osmo technology, which can then scan real-life game pieces in front of the individual. Osmo offers specialized programs for math, puzzling, coding, business, spelling, and drawing.
Without the scholarship, the school wouldn’t be able to find room in its budget to purchase Osmo, Loeppky points out, estimating that each unit ranges between $200 and $400. If purchased, she says, the school will keep the technology in the Learning Commons.
In addition to the scholarship, Niverville Middle School will also receive an All About Me banner, student and teacher certificates, as well as be featured on the myBlueprint blog.
All 400 students at Niverville Middle School use myBlueprint.
“I like the job choices and I like how you can explore different career options,” Kyle says about the program.
Johnston, meanwhile, explained in the video submission why she enjoys using the program: “I like myBlueprint because it’s very fun and easy and it’s like a video game for your work and you can collect badges.”
Niverville was one of three Canadian schools selected to receive the $1,000 award, and the only one in Manitoba.
