The Alberta Teachers’ Association

Spirit of education captured by teachers

Teachers across Alberta captured both teachable and memorable moments playing out in their schools and classrooms over the past year. Featured here are some of the many outstanding photographs submitted by teachers to the 19th annual ATA News Gotcha! Photo Contest.

This year’s photo contest judges were Raymond Gariépy, ATA News managing editor; Yuet Chan, photographer and ATA News designer; and Kim Dewar, photographer and ATA News business manager.

You can see all the photos entered in the contest at www.flickr.com/photos/albertateachers.

1st Place

Pudding on a face

Photographer: Paige McClement, Cremona School, Cremona

Comments: The judges were unanimous in their decision to award McClement first place. They were drawn ­immediately to McClement’s photo of Regan, whose nonchalant demeanour is accentuated by a touch of mischief in her facial expression. McClement’s note accompanying the photo says: “Regan just finished a no-hands, chocolate-pudding eating contest.” From the look of satisfaction on Regan’s face one could safely say the “proof of the pudding is in the eating.”

2nd Place

To infinity and beyond

Photographer: Karen Nielsen, Horse Hill School, Edmonton

Comments: The interplay of shadow and light and the mesmerized ­expression on the face of Pawan (second from right) intrigued the judges. At first glance, the photo is puzzling—what’s going on? The Grades 5 and 6 students were learning about the moon’s phases during a presentation from an astronomer at the University of Alberta. This simple demonstration resulted in the creation of an enigmatic image. Left to right: Dylan, Anupal, Pawan and Xavier

3rd Place

For the love of the dance

Photographer: Patti Liogier, St. Peter’s Learning Support Services, Edmonton

Comments: What photographer could resist photographing the semi-toothless grin of a child—especially when the grin belongs to a young boy who shows such joy in dancing? In addition to the young dancer’s infectious pleasure, the judges liked the sense of movement suggested by the slight blurriness of the dancers. Liogier’s photo of swirling dancers was taken during the Edmonton Catholic School District’s annual Celebration of the Arts. The students attend John Paul I Elementary School’s Spanish immersion program.

Honourable Mentions

Lights! Camera! Action!

Photographer: Benjamin Stevens, Mistassiniy School, Wabasca

Comments: Learning and communicating were the theme of photos submitted by Stevens. Featured here, Grade 7 students film Mustang TV. Mustang TV is designed to enhance school–community communication with the “aim of fostering a universal positive message in what can be an extremely trying environment,” says Stevens. Mustang TV has been featured on the CBC national TV network as an educational technology innovation. This photo was selected because it depicted students engrossed in an activity that isn’t typical of the daily classroom. This is the second year running that Stevens has received recognition in the photo contest.

Hanging around with my buddies

Photographer: Renée Willis, St. Gregory Catholic Elementary School, Hinton

Comments: On the heels of what seemed like an interminable winter, it’s no wonder the boys were keen to hang out together on a warm March day. The trio’s beaming faces, the red crossbars and rich hues of blue make for a crisp and refreshing image. Willis has had photos published in the ATA News.

Shadow play

Photographer: Sheila Dillman, Rosary School, Manning

Comments: Students attending Rosary School participated in the annual Jump Rope for Heart Day, on May 10. Payton, featured here, is jumping for joy for two good reasons: the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Alberta and her own health. Dillman’s photo of Payton in mid-jump gives the impression that Payton’s shadow is escaping. Dillman’s photography has been recognized in past GOTCHA! Photo Contests.

Hollye and the hermit crab

Photographer: Rachelle St. Onge, Leo Nickerson School, St. Albert

Comments: St. Onge writes: “I took this picture today in my classroom of Hollye and our ­classroom pet, a hermit crab. The crab was unusually active and curious, probably wondering about Hollye’s colourful nails.” The colour and shape of the crab’s makeshift home are no match for Hollye’s outlandish nails. Hollye’s endearing face is enhanced further by the semicircle of bright colours. St. Onge is a regular contributor to the GOTCHA! Photo contest and has received recognition in past years for her photos.

Sit down!

Photographer: Paige McClement, Cremona School, Cremona

Comments: It has happened before that a photographer’s work is recognized twice in the same contest. McClement’s photo of Asher, playing a mean bus driver while his Grade7 classmates pose as students on his bus, reveals something of group dynamics and a wide range of human ­expressions, from anger to curiosity to apprehension and happiness. The photo was taken when Trickster Theater visited Cremona School in March.

Holy Dino!

Photographer: Angela ­Golinowski, Edgerton Public School, Edgerton

Comments: The students pictured here spent the night sleeping among the dinosaur skeletons at the Royal Tyrrell Museum, in Drumheller. Judging by their faces, the sleepover may or may not have been a traumatic experience. Kudos to Golinowski for giving us a sense of scale and capturing the students’ mixed reactions.