By Robyn Rexin
Students from Vavenby and Blue River elementary schools went to the Aveley Sheep Ranch near Vavenby on Wednesday, Apr. 11 – the only really sunny day of the week.
Eighteen from Vavenby and 15 from Blue River showed up, plus Rie Kimura, an exchange teacher from Japan.
READ MORE: Jack Moilliet takes over sheep ranch in 1935 (June 4, 2016)
Everybody started at the pens with the newborns and the children loved it when, by putting a finger in the pen a lamb came over and sucked on it. The students found it interesting that they didn’t get bit and asked some good questions of the shepherds working nearby.
Next it was off to the orphan pen. These are the lambs that could be cuddled. The children could also feed the orphans a bottle of milk but it was too soon after their last feeding.
All of the students had a wonderful time. Ms. Rie said, “I have never seen a sheep before, let alone touched one. There are almost no sheep in Japan. This is a great experience for the kids to see how a lamb grows up.”
The Vavenby students had lunch, then it was off to the museum, another look at the sheep, and back to school.
On that day the students said that they learned that you have to be careful of the baby lambs because the mom can break down the fence to protect her baby. Also you have to be careful picking up, putting down, and holding a lamb. You don’t hold it by the neck but from the bum and upper chest.
There are two new shepherds working at the ranch, Josh and Evangeline Harper from Spruce Grove, AB. They are starting out into sheep ranching and figured Aveley would be a good place to learn. Evangeline has known the Moilliets since she was small.
Day of Sucwentwecw at Raft River
The Vavenby and Blue River schools went together on another field trip, this time to Raft River School on Friday, Apr. 6. They left in the morning to celebrate the Day of Sucwentwecw. First Nations people from the reservation in Chase attended.
The students were taught how to do First Nation dances while playing drums and how to make a medicine wheel out of wood. A book was also read.
When the Vavenby children returned to their own school they had a pizza party and sang a couple of Ojibway songs together.
Keeping the Grade 4 class in Vavenby
There was a school meeting for Vavenby parents on Tuesday, Apr. 10.
Deputy superintendent Rob Schoen attended to discuss the possibility of keeping this year’s Grade 3 students at the school next year as Grade 4s.
He went over the pros and cons for the students. Schoen found no opposition from the parents so he will take it forward to the next school board meeting. He did not see a problem.
Remembering the hockey players
The Vavenby students took part in Jersey Day for Humboldt Strong on Apr. 12.
Miracles from Heaven at movie night
The next movie night at Vavenby Christian Church will be on Friday, Apr. 20.
The doors will open at 6:30 p.m. and the movie, Miracles from Heaven, will begin at 7 p.m. There will be popcorn, snacks, pop, and coffee.
The last community potluck luncheon at the church until the fall will be on Wednesday, Apr. 25, 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. Come on out for some fun and bring a friend.
The last crib night at the hall will be on Monday, Apr. 23. It will begin at 7 p.m. and will cost $3 for the whole evening. It too will start up again in the autumn if there are enough players.
The TNRD recently phoned all residents on Vavenby’s water system to tell them that the town is now on a boil water advisory due to an increase in turbidity in the water.
