On October 9, Ms. Soni Joon, Ms. Fiona Gachallan and Mr. Jordan Thies took a group of students to the pumpkin patch in Maple Ridge to choose a pumpkin to bring home while learning about the
different aspects of Canadian culture around the autumn season. On the trip were international students, EAL students and members from the multicultural club. They spent their day on hayrides, finding their way through corn mazes and choosing the perfect pumpkin. Later in the day, after getting back to the school, they were treated to a lunch provided by Mr. Tony Crisafi and the culinary team. They ate lunch while decorating pumpkins and watching A Nightmare Before Christmas.
A favorite among students was the corn maze, where they weaved their way around trying to find the exit. Many EAL students have never been to the pumpkin patch before, but they enjoyed the experience and hope to visit again next year. “We don’t celebrate anything in Turkey for Autumn, so I would do this again,” said Parin Ravanbakhsh, a student in Ms. Gachallan’s EAL class. Students enjoyed the trip so much, they are already preparing for the next trip. Riverside student Rintaro Tagami also said he was already practicing his skating for the trip to the ice rink.
New students to Riverside who are part of the International program, don’t know many of the Canadian holiday traditions, such as pumpkin picking or cutting down your
own Christmas tree. These trips are a fun and inclusive way to introduce new students to Riverside to part of our culture. Other trips are being planned this year as well to involve students in upcoming winter activities. They plan to go skating, as well as to Grouse Mountain in November. In December, they are planning a trip to the Christmas market in Vancouver.