May 22, 2024 (Langford, BC) – With the help of the Construction Foundation of BC (CFBC), teacher-librarian and Applied Design Skills and Technologies (ADST) teacher at Eagle View Elementary in School District 61 (SD61), Dagmar Restell, led students through an ADST project centred on the design and build of a lending “Take a Book, Leave a Book Library”.
Following consultation with SD61’s Career Coordinator, CFBC was approached to assist in the design and implementation of the project at Eagle View. The Foundation’s role included developing the project outline, purchasing materials (wood, plexiglass windows, green roofing, solar LEDs and a notice board), as well as prefabricating and delivering those materials to the school. Funding for the project was provided in part through the Vancouver Island Construction Association’s (VICA) Training Fund.
“This year, we were fortunate to receive grants to allow us to design a lending library,” explained Restell. “The grade 4-5 class—Mr. Rutherford’s students—have worked on this project with me since September. We have been using the design thinking process to create and build our lending library.”
As part of the project, students worked through the design thinking process to assist in the construction of their lending library. After several classroom sessions consisting of sanding and painting, CFBC catalyst Kate Markham-Zantvoort returned to help the students construct the library. Once location and installation dates are confirmed, the library will act as a small-but-mighty resource for the View Royal community. The library is also acting as a class legacy project, as some of the current group of students completing the project will graduate to middle school for the upcoming school year.
“VICA welcomes opportunities to contribute to projects that introduce our youth to the world of skilled trades,” said VICA Chief Executive Officer, Rory Kulmala. “Eagle View Elementary’s Tiny Library project is a great way to engage students by creating a fun and rewarding experience—it’s a thrill for our entire team whenever our fund can play a role in the community.”
As described in the BC Government’s Curriculum outline, the ADST curriculum is an experiential, hands-on program of learning through design and creation that includes skills and concepts from traditional and First Peoples practice; from the existing disciplines of Business Education, Home Economics and Culinary Arts, Information and Communications Technology, and Technology Education; and from new and emerging fields. ADST fosters the development of the skills and knowledge that will support students in developing practical, creative, and innovative responses to everyday needs and challenges.
For more information on the work being done by the Construction Foundation of BC and to donate, please visit www.constructionfoundation.ca.
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