by Sandi Kuntsi
MSS is having a very busy, but successful semester so far. The MSS boys’ hockey team played against Lo-Ellen on February 21. They won 9-1, qualifying for playoffs. The first game of the playoffs was February 28 against the St. Benedict Bears. The Mustangs play on home ice in Little Current today, Wednesday, March 1, at 5:30 pm. The girls’ hockey team moved on to semifinals after their game against St. Benedict on Wednesday, February 15 with a 5-3 win. The first game in the best of three series against Bishop-Carter was on Thursday, February 23. The Mustangs played hard, but lost 6-1. The second game is of the series is on Monday, February 27 in M’Chigeeng at 5 pm.
From February 19-22, Madame Desbiens brought a group of 30 students from MSS to Saint Donat in Quebec. The group participated in several workshops, went x-country skiing, alpine skiing, skating, snowshoeing, and a scavenger hunt around the St. Donat village. The scavenger hunt gave students the chance to use the conversational French skills as they talked to locals and shop owners. At night there were musical shows and group dances for the 200 students staying in the village.
Julia Desbiens, a Grade 9 student, said, “My favourite part of the trip was doing all the activities with my friends. I loved skating and skiing as a group.” The group returned to MSS bursting with stories of their adventures.
Sophie Bondi, a Grade 10 student, said, “There were people who taught us a bit about the natural medicines all around us. They taught us about all the types of trees in Quebec and what we use them for. It was super cool!”
The Classroom Closet Conference was held at the Clarion Hotel in Sudbury on February 23. Classroom Closet is focused on LBTQ+ students and supporters feeling supported and empowering them to be true to themselves. Nine MSS students attended the conference as well as nine students from Wikwemikong. The group was chaperoned by Miss Seabrook and Mr. Ferri. About 100 students attended the conference and had the opportunity to attend various workshops. There were workshops for staff and community members, English students, and francophone students offered in English and French. Megan Misner, a Grade 12 MSS student, attended a safe sex workshop in the morning and a presentation by gender and transgender activist Starr Daniyels. There was also an art workshop available for all students. Megan said, “My favourite part about the day is the same as any conference, the ability to meet new people, which is very important working with Pride Manitoulin and Grandma Seabrook’s House.”
On Friday, February 24, Ms. Ferguson took a group of students to Espanola to see the ‘Shades of Our Sisters’ exhibit. The exhibit is by Ryerson University and is travelling around the province. The exhibit is about the 1,000 missing and murdered indigenous women in Canada with unsolved cases, but it focused on two women in particular, one of which was from Birch Island. Grace Duncanson, a Grade 11 student, said, “It was very sobering and sad, but I think it’s something that needed to be addressed and I’m glad I went.”
The MSS Students’ Council planned to host Winter Formal on Friday, February 24. Unfortunately, due to poor weather conditions, the dance was postponed. The new date for the dance will be announced soon.
After so many fun activities and trips, MSS is keeping busy as semester 2 continues. ‘Til next time, stay golden, Mustangs.
