Rosthern
Junior College News
Friday,
June 3, 2016
Submitted
by Ryan Wood
In late April and early May Rosthern Junior
College students completed their Alternative Learning and Service Opportunities
trips. All RJC students participate in
this annual service-learning program.
Students and staff traveled to Guatemala/El Salvador, Alabama, Calgary,
and Saskatoon.
It was grade 12 student Dusty Bill’s second
time on the Alabama trip where he built houses and worked at a local food
bank. “I liked meeting new people, and
being there for them when they needed some comforting through the hard times
they were going through,” said Dusty.
 |
| Alabama |
In Guatemala students lived with local
families and learned about some of the joys and struggles of living in this troubled
region of the world. “Though we did some
service work, I felt like we were helped more than we helped them,” mused grade
12 student Zachary Stefaniuk upon his return.
 |
| Guatemala |
In Calgary and Saskatoon students learned
about poverty in Canada and what is being done, and not being done, to meet the
need. Students focused on the themes of
immigration, homelessness, and racism, and volunteered with Mennonite Central
Committee. “When you live so close to
Saskatoon you don’t realize how close the poverty is; I didn’t notice it, but
going on this trip opened my eyes a bit more,” said grade 11 student Emily
Neufeld, who is from the Langham area.
 |
| Saskatoon |
 |
| Calgary |
On May 13 RJC hosted its annual Spring
Concert featuring performances by the Concert Choir, ManChoir and the RJC Chorale. The Chorale finished its season with a tour
through southern Alberta singing in churches and schools. “The kids at the elementary school were
adorable!” said soprano Jordan Regier.
The music program will now focus its energy on preparing for their production
of Rags, RJC’s annual spring musical,
showing on June 23-25. Tickets are now
on sale and can be purchased from the office.
The Peace & Justice Studies class
hosted a Peace Fair on May 25 called ‘Increase
the Peace’. Students championed a peace
topic, created awareness, and suggested action steps for change. Topics studied included ending modern
slavery, child soldiers, human trafficking, racism, protecting endangered
species, stopping rising sea levels, eating local food, and addressing homelessness
in Canada.
Some recent chapel guests included pastor Will
Loewen from Trinity Mennonite Church in Calgary and RJC Alumnus Jeff Siemens,
pastor at West Portal Church in Saskatoon; both pastors have students attending
RJC and were thankful for the opportunity to address the student body and to
reconnect with their youth.
 |
| Will Loewen |
 |
| Jeff Siemens |
