Photo: Year-end drumming celebration at Aqsarniit Middle School

Shawna Kyak drums alongside Iqaluit’s Aqsarniit Middle School choir and band. The school performed a song of their own creation called “All Around The World” in a school year-end celebration ceremony June 20. “So what we’ve been doing every month, it’s been celebrations. It’s attendance based and it’s also good deeds within the school,” said Grade 8 teacher Nickolas Kerton. “We want to focus on kids coming to school so they get prizes, for extra incentive to come. And also kids who are good citizens in the school.” Grade 8 student Alex McDermott also got acknowledged for getting a black belt this month. “I’m the first junior black belt in Iqaluit, in Taekwondo,” McDermott said. (PHOTO BY DAVID MURPHY).