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Learning field trip for Uplands students

A group of Uplands Elementary School students got a lesson in construction and immigration support work on Friday.
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Construction site superintendent Niall McCarthy of Wildstone Constrution talks with Grade 2 student River Kroschinsky of Uplands Elementary School Friday during a class visit to building currently being built on Ellis Street. Mark Brett/Western News

A group of Uplands Elementary School students got a lesson in construction and immigration support work on Friday.

The 40 Grade 2 kids were given an inside look at the new $1 million dollar South Okanagan Immigrant and Community Services location in the 300-block of Ellis Street currently being built by Wildstone Construction.

“This gives the kids a great opportunity to learn about different cultures that are in their community and also what it actually takes to make a building,” said Uplands teacher Carla Garrett who was with the group for the hour-long presentation inside the partially completed building. “Lego (building toys) is very popular and they love to use and with our new curriculum it fits very nicely and even just to get them out of the classroom and have some hands-on opportunity is good for them.”

Upon entering the site each student was given a small hard hat which was theirs to keep at the end.

“We really wanted to teach kids what the South Okanagan Immigrant and Community Services is all about the construction was just to butter them up, so they would warm up to it,” said Wildstone president Mark Melissen whose son Nash is a student at Uplands.

Several members of the society were also on hand to talk a little about the work they do to help newcomers to Canada adapt to their new home.

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Grade 2 students from Uplands Elementary School had an inside look at the construction of a building during a recent visit to the new South Okanagan Immigrant Society Services building on Ellis Street. Mark Brett/Western News