THE OPEN VOICE

“Mark has a wonderful talent for making people feel immediately comfortable in their surroundings,encouraging expression and creativity from his students.”

“I just wanted to let you know I got another voice gig….Being in the right place at the right time, I was able to audition for the part and got it!!…Thanks again for your course.”

VOICES OF THE ELDERS

Mark was respectful of my time, organized and had the patience necessary to deal with teens who don’t always follow through despite their best intentions. Without exception, every student of mine who participated had an enriching experience. Mark was able to coax out of them their creative best, not only in the interview process, but in the production of their finished product. Students also formed a relationship with the alumni association housed at the school, whereas prior to their involvement, the alumni office and archives were a rather irrelevant and foreign part of the school. I was happy to be a very small part of this process and commend Mark for his vision and perseverance.     Jim Pine, Instructor Victoria High School.

On behalf of the students and staff of Victoria High School, I would like to say “thank you” for your brilliant vision to honour and recognize our Alumni over the years with your “Voices of the Elders” project….Your work with both our Alumni Archives group and our students has helped to secure a permanent legacy to our school history while allowing our students to learn from their elders and through that relationship, further the value the role their high school has played in their lives….[and] for future generations of VHS students to enjoy. Thank you again, Mark, for your perseverance in seeing this project through to the finish.  R. Falls, Principal, Victoria High School

….a great record of some of the people that make Vic High the special school that it is….It was especially important to us that the participating students were exposed to the Archives as a place to meet, do their research, and interview their subject.  We continue to see more students come in to visit….VHS Archives Volunteers

…That which has been created in the VHS 150 web site has immediate as well as long-range value and it is a matter of pride and historical merit.  We are in your debt for this…I am certain that I speak for many others who were interviewed that we enjoyed the experience greatly–and that we are pleased that our records of remembrance and memory have been noted for posterity….Barry Gough, VHS 1956, Staff 1964-65, Chair VHS Alumni Association

RESTORATIVE JUSTICE ROLE PLAY WORKSHOPS

The children were in their own familiar surroundings and able to feel safe and comfortable enough to discuss the play as well as use abstract thought and relate some of the instances to their own self or circumstances. It was very interactive and I was amazed at just how many kids became involved in the discussion. It was quite obvious they had a keen interest in the topics and that they were engaged in the process of the play as they were able to recall various parts of it….It was a pleasure to be there and keep up the good work Mark!     Tara Folk – Pender Island Restorative Justice Group