District schools mark Education Week

“Passport to Hope, Opportunity, Jobs and Growth” was this year’s theme for Education Week, which was marked last week by students at Sturgeon Creek, Our Lady of the Way, and Donald Young schools.
Throughout the week, each school arranged subjects, games, etc. to suit the occasion.
On Wednesday afternoon, for instance, Sturgeon Creek students presented a delightful program for parents and seniors highlighted by performances from last month’s district music and drama festival.
At Our Lady of the Way in Stratton, students kicked off Education Week with a school mass and by decorating the auditorium. The JK/SK children sang their festival song and the grades five/six gave a poetry presentation.
The following day, all the classes took part in the “Pitch-In” program, earning a worthwhile treat for their efforts.
Then on Friday, OLW students held their annual Voyageur Day celebrations. It is a mainstay in their education program, and the children really look forward to it every year.
The students were divided into teams, each one doing different events throughout the day as arranged by school staff. Many were wearing plaid shirts and sashes while some had on traditional native costumes.
The only competition was to see who won out as voyageurs of the day, and, of course, who could get to the potluck feast first.
At Donald Young, principal Nancy Fretter welcomed parents and friends to their spring concert and tea in the auditorium, which was decorated to give the program a tasteful spring flavour
The junior kindergarten class, under the direction of Vicki Loney, performed “Rain, Rain Go Away,” “Six Little Ducks,” and the “Rainbow Song.”
Grade eight students Erin Anderson, Jana Mose, Wade Mose, and Amber Sheloff the recited “Le Coupable.” Fifth-graders Sarah Hettinga and Jolene Veldhuisen recited the poem, “Generals,” while Allison Ogilvie presented her version of “My Day at the Farm.”
The senior kindergarten class, with a clear voice and demonstrative actions, then recited and sang “Baby Chick” and “It’s Our World.”
Grade six students Stephanie Strachan and Jennifer Carmody shared the poem, “Our Room,” while Allison Williams, who had won the award for the Most Promising Vocalist at the recent music and drama festival, sang “Early One Morning.”
Charlene Gustafson and the grade one class presented a variety of individual demonstrations, including “Dino Rap.”
Second-grader Josh Pollard recited “Snowmobiling,” Casey Grant recited “Mr. Mole,” and Brianna Shortreed sang “The Angel Band,” then the entire class joined in two selections, “Grandpa’s Whiskers” and “Dobbin, Dobbin.”
Grade eight students Lauren Matheson and Melinda Hawkins recited “Faire de Son Mieux” while Jenna Kaemingh and Amanda McQuaker delivered “Le Bebe Dort.”
Fourth-graders Sarah O’Sullivan and Tyler Kinnear presented “There’s an Alligator in my Coffee,” followed by Melinda Hawkins, winner of the DYS speech contest, who narrated “Unexplained Places of the World” and played a piano solo, “Govatta.”
With paper cut-outs of animals and directed by June Winik, the grade four ukulele band played “All God’s Creatures,” a performance that delighted the audience.
After the concert, guests were treated to refreshments and danties served by the students.
DYS students also had a cleanup work bee on Saturday, winding up with a barbecue, and also participated in the “Jump Rope for Heart” fundraiser.