On Sept. 6 the Arcola School faculty hosted a back to school barbeque between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. for the new and returning students. Despite a chill in the air due to the breeze, many students, parents, and teachers were outside enjoying time outside of the classroom to chat.
This year the Arcola School has a few new faces. Megan Dunham is the Learning Support Teacher this year. She is originally from Weyburn and graduated from the University of Regina this past April. Happy to have been able to stay in south eastern Saskatchewan she is eager for her first year of teaching to begin.
Another new face to the area is Aynslee Rakochy. She will be the teaching a grade eight and nine split social class as well as their English class. Rakochy will also be instructing the grades 10 through 12 in English. She hails from Thompson, Manitoba, and is greatly enjoying herself in Arcola. Dreaming of coming to a small town to teach, she is also new to teaching and just graduated from the education program in Brandon.
Sarah Peterson will be teaching middle years social and health classes. Peterson has been teaching since 2008 and this will be her fifth year teaching.
This year there is also an intern from the University of Regina, Stephanie Gress, who will be here until December. She is in Cindy Ellis' grade two classroom and is not only excited for the school year, but for her final year in the education program. Originally from Lampman, Gress was excited about being able to teach in the area.
A familiar face coming back to the school is Sandy Wright. She is a retired teacher who will be at the Arcola School for two months, while another teacher is on leave.
The principal, Kevin Hengen, is looking forward to the new year.
"We have a really great group of students, we always do, but this they have real focus especially in high school and the attitude of doing the best you can," Hengen stated.
With an abundance of new students throughout all grades the school is home to approximately 220 students this year.
Already one week in many are excited for a few upcoming events. The first being the Terry Fox Run they will partake in on Sept. 27, while the last weekend in November will see 2A boys provincial volleyball held. Already thankful to Gordon F. Kells High School for agreeing to let Arcola School use its gym for a second court.
Finally they are very excited to point out construction on their pre-K building is in progress. They hope the project will be finished towards the end of October or beginning of November. The program will, therefore, hopefully be able to move into the new building in November at some point. This will allow the expansion of their pre-K program from 12 youth to 16.
All are excited to be back to school. Both the Senior Girls and Boys volleyball programs have already been holding practices, wasting no time before their season begins. With new and familiar faces throughout the student body and staff everyone is looking forward to the new year and what it will entail.
