All's Well: Alan Yang and Andria Weiser work off their worries by making “worry alls" out of rice and balloons at the Wellness Fair. The displays, games, workshops and presentations aimed at helping students reduce their stress took place March 22-24 at the New Westminster Campus. Opening Classroom Doors Project encourages collegiality ‘The learning curve started as soon as the classroom doors swung open. And by all accounts, the first Opening Classroom Doors Project was a hit with both employees and students. College instructors and staff got a glimpse of how their colleagues teach during this project. About 30 volunteer host instructors opened their classes to visits from other employees February 20-24. The visits were followed by a reception on March 1 where participants compared notes, swapped stories and provided feedback and suggestions to the College wide Faculty Development Committee (CWFD), which organized the event with Douglas Development. ‘The responses were very positive said Douglas Development Coordinator Cynthia Fulton. People felt the project built community and promoted collegiality between all College employees. “It showed students that we all care about teaching.” Quotes from the feedback session included: Douglas Development Coordinator Cynthia Fulton “We were able to see more of what goes on at the College and how what we do meshes with what people in other areas do.” “We learned a lot about teaching.” “Tt showed students that we all care about teaching.” Other feedback centered on the effects of having an observer in the classroom. Many found that it made the students sharper and shows instructors other members of the College community are interested in their work. Instructors also noted the similarities in teaching challenges faced by their colleagues. They found it helpful to see how others deal with technological glitches and encouraging student participation. Participants learned about the history of the program they visited and saw different approaches to teaching, including use of relaxation exercises at beginning of class and methods used to encourage participation ‘The CWFD received some suggestions for improving logistics and there was a unanimous feeling that the project should be expanded and repeated. The details of frequency and scale will be worked out over the coming months. The CWED and Douglas Development thank all those who opened their classes to other employees as well as the students who generously allowed the visitors to see them engaged in learning. NEWS BRIEFS Helping to make miracles happen Chemistry Lab Supervisor Celia Lau has been asked to join the Professional Miracle Maker Panel (PMMP) to help raise money for BC Children’s Hospital as part of the fund raising activities for the “Miracle Weekend,” June 3 and June 4, on Global TV. Her goal is to break the mark she set last year of raising over $6,000 for BC Children’s Hospital. Online donations can be made at http://bechf-kintera.org/ chinesemiracle/celia_lau. Donations made in memory of Lau’s son, Cameron, will be directed to the endowment fund in Oncology and Hematology and Genetics research. For more information, please contact Lau at lauc@douglas.bc.ca. HORM takes chamber by storm Gayle Jackson and her HORM students took the Tri-Cities Chamber of Commerce by storm on March 9, serving up a gourmet breakfast for over 50 small business people at an event hosted by the Douglas College Foundation. The audience was then entertained by Victoria Acheson of Employee Relations speaking on how to interview to hire the right people. Chamber members agreed it was the best breakfast meeting they could recall -- both from the standpoint of the food and the presentation. College hosts Post-Secondary Support Staff Conference Douglas College will host the sth Annual Post-Secondary Support Staff Conference at the New Westminster Campus on June 8. The Conference gives staff from various institutions a chance to meet and share their knowledge, experience and ideas. The program provides professional and personal growth opportunities as well as some health and wellness workshops. The conference provides a unique opportunity to develop an ongoing connection to other individuals working in the post- secondary system. Please visit the conference web site at: www. langara.bc.ca/psssc. For more information, please contact co-chairs, Wendy Waidson, local 5503 (waidsonw@douglas.bc.ca) or Wendy Davies, local 5340 (daviesw@douglas.bc.ca). If you're interested volunteering for part of the day, contact Joyce Hunter in Financial Aid, local 5104. Feel the power of Verdi's Requiem at Community Music School Spring concert Verdi’s Te equiem Douglas College Choral Society and New Westminster Symphony Orchestra Universal emotions and monumental musical settings make for a powerful personal experience. Composed by a gifted composer at the height of his powers, Giuseppe Verdi’s Requiem is the centerpiece of the Community Music School's Spring concert at the Massey ‘Theatre in New Westminster, May 14, 2pm. A joint presentation by the college Choral Society (directed by Alison Nixon and accompanied by Ruben Federizon) and the New Westminster Symphony Orchestra (conducted by Jin Zhang), the concert also features four talented soloists. Soprano Lynn Williams, mezzo-soprano Fabiana Katz, tenor Philip Grant and bass Willy Grenzberg help make this a performance to remember. Ticket price is by donation. For more information, please call the Community Music School at 604-527-5469.