Tuesday, September 8th (90 Minutes)
On the first day of school, all students will be at school for 90 minutes, but at different times.  

Grade 6     8:20 to 9:50 am  

Grade 7 & 8    10:10 to 11:40 am

• Students will meet in the gym for a mini-assembly, then go with their teachers to their classrooms for a school wide orientation.

For those students who take the bus, you will go directly to the bus stop immediately after the early dismissal time, where busses will be waiting to take you home.

Wednesday September 9th (Full Day)
On the second day, we will have all of the students at the same time, for a full day.

Grades 6, 7 & 8    8:20 am to 2:27 pm

• Students should go directly to their classrooms after the warning bell rings at 8:15 am.

Congratulations to Mr. Haire,  Clayburn's Digital Visual Arts teacher, who combined his creativity with the support of numerous students, friends and colleagues, and was selected as one of the top entries in the Canada-Wide Hyper Cube contest. He is now the proud owner of a brand-new 2010 Nissan Cube!

Teepees stood on the fields, the smell of bannock filled the halls and classrooms of Clayburn Middle School last Friday as staff, parents and students celebrated National Aboriginal Day a bit early.

There were numerous historic posters and drawings on display throughout the school, drum circles were formed, Metis dancers were in attendance and aboriginal leader Henry Hall was present to discuss native history in B.C.

Clayburn principal Angus MacKay said the school had been celebrating Aboriginal Day - held June 21 - for many years, and that every third year involved major celebrations like the ones held last Friday.

Kyle Stark, the aboriginal co-ordinator for Clayburn, said the event was held earlier this year because so many other events are scheduled for the same day. Stark said the school likes to do everything big.

"We do the awards ceremonies big, we incorporate the culture right into the school; it's part of the curriculum and all the kids participate, because if you don't share culture, it becomes a point of division."

Stark said the entire school participates because (native culture) is not an add-on to the school; First Nations culture is actually a part of the school.

"That way aboriginal kids feel they are part of the school and the non-aboriginal kids appreciate the culture. So it becomes a way of fighting racism by sharing it," said Stark.

Integrating First Nations culture into the school was part of a vision Stark had when he came to the school six years ago, and said MacKay and the staff had been incredibly supportive of getting the culture into the curriculum.

Students in Grade 8 make aboriginal wood flutes as part of shop, Grade 7 students participate in an aboriginal field trip and Grade 6 students learn Metis dances as part of physical education classes.

"And we have an aboriginal essay contest going on right now," Stark said.

"Part of the research writing paper they do at the school is on a prominent aboriginal figure, so it's a way of introducing it to the students - they have to do it anyway - why not do it with a little culture."

Feedback from students has been "incredibly positive" Stark said, adding he feels there is less racism at the school because of the integration, with a positive self-image for native students as a major benefit from the programs.

"Not only do [aboriginal students] get to share in their own culture, they get to see other people who aren't aboriginal enjoying their culture.

"And that really hits home when it's their peers."

Published: Friday, June 12, 2009

As part of a number of district wide administrative changes, our vice-principal, Mr. Dexter Horton, has been transferred to Abbotsford Middle School, effective July 1st.  Mr. Horton has done an exceptional job over the last three years at Clayburn, and while we are very sorry to see him go, we wish him all the best at his new school.

Please welcome Mr. Abby Chan,  currently the vice-principal at Reimer Middle School,  who has been assigned to take Mr. Horton's place at Clayburn Middle.

Congratulations to the Clayburn Middle Boys Rugby Team on winning the 2008 - 2009 Fraser Valley Grade 8 Boys Rugby Championship.