University School opens doors

300 elementary students to get a taste of campus

By Angie Hart

Discovering what lies beyond the doors of a university will be the focus of an intense week of hands-on learning for 300 elementary-school children.

“My kids can’t wait to come…they are absolutely squirming in their seats with anticipation,” says Carolyn Mahovlich, a teacher from Terrace Road Elementary, who will be relocating her Grade 3 to 5 students to a University School classroom from May 26 to 30.

University School is offered through Campus Calgary/Open Minds, an initiative of the Calgary Board of Education and the Calgary Catholic Board, in association with University of Calgary Continuing Education. The program is funded by Hunt Oil of Calgary.

From May 2 to June 13, the U of C will host 13 teachers, many parent volunteers and approximately 300 students from grades 3 to 6 from 12 classrooms and seven schools.

This year’s schools include: Crossing Park School, Pineridge Community School, Vista Heights Elementary, Douglas Harkness Community School, University Elementary, Terrace Road Elementary and Marion Carson Elementary.

“I chose University School Week because I want my kids to know what’s possible for their future…I want them to know what’s out there for them,” says Mahovlich.

Despite the fact that her students live relatively close to the university, Mahovlich says many of them have never been on campus. “These kids will be amazed by the gyms, and the massiveness of the library will absolutely blow them away.”

The Terrace Road students will have the opportunity to study bats with the help of the Faculty of Science and check out the university’s solar car with the cooperation of the Schulich School of Engineering. They will also visit The Nickle Arts Museum, McKimmie Library and the university greenhouse, as well as participate in a mini convocation at the end of the week.

Some classes will visit the new Child Development Centre or the Human Performance Lab in the Faculty of Kinesiology, learn about the Light Up The World foundation, ancient Greece or how to make slime. Others will study DNA, robotics or rockets and aerodynamics.