Pembina Pipeline June, 2007 “Our purpose is to ensure the delivery of an excellent education to our students so they become contributing members of society.” Sharpen the saw!! Take time for yourself In Stephen Covey’s book The 7 Habits of Highly deals with how we communicate and relate with Effective People, he speaks to being proactive, one another, our empathy toward folks. putting first things first, beginning with the end in mind and other habits all leading to the 7th So with that being said, how are we getting Habit: Sharpening the Saw. ready for the summer? Did we take care of ourselves these past 10 months? I know we To those who have taken the program or read were taking the time to attend to the Alberta the book, the habit “to sharpen the saw” refers to Initiative for School Improvement, Professional allocating time to take care of our physical, Learning Communities, Assessment for spiritual, mental and social/emotional well Learning, Student Engagement, Professional being. Growth, Evaluation, Education Plans, Budgets, Annual Reports, Grade Level of Achievement, You come upon someone in the woods sawing School Superintendent Richard Harvey sharpens his saw by cutting this log with Student Services, Professional Development, down a tree. They look exhausted from working Deputy Superintendent Colleen Symyrozum- Provincial Achievement Tests, Diploma Exams for hours. You suggest they take a break to Watt at Fort Assiniboine School. and the list can go on; all related to teaching sharpen the saw. They might reply, “I don’t have and learning. time to sharpen the saw, I’m too busy sawing!” Habit 7 is taking the time to sharpen the saw. By renewing the four dimensions of your To say the least we have had a busy, productive year and all too often nature – physical, spiritual, mental and social/emotional – you can during the year we let our own health and well being take the back seat work more effectively and effortlessly. while we forge ahead to get the job done. Our certificated staff, support staff, Trustees and parents work endless hours for our students and The physical dimension involves caring for your health, eating the children but then again that would be an expectation; but we need to right foods, getting enough rest and relaxation, and exercising on a find the balance. As the saying goes all work and no play makes…… regular basis. If we don’t have a regular exercise program, eventually we will develop health problems. The spiritual is your center, your Relax this summer and enjoy the warm days and think of how you can value system. People find their spiritual renewal in many different take care of yourselves in the months to come. Thank you for your ways. For some it may be a relaxing walk in the woods. For hard work and dedication to our students this past year and have a great others it may be time in church, thinking reflectively on summer! what and how we do things. Sharpening the mind by reading, writing, and challenging your Richard Harvey thoughts; the social/emotional Superintendent of Schools elcome to the following new staff of the Students shine W Pembina Hills Regional Division: Ashley Bendrien: Administrative Assistant @ Vista Virtual at national science fair Juanita Brouwer: Teacher @ Fort Assiniboine Christine Boychuk: Admin. Assistant @ ADLC A pair of Pembina Hills students earned national recognition by Tammy Cote: Special Needs Assistant @ NPCS winning awards at the Canada Wide Science Fair in Nova Scotia from Elizabeth Doke: Summer Library Support-STEP @ WR Frose May 12 to 20. Trevor Durstling: Temp. Interactive Media Designer @ ADLC Jean Gault: Temp. Program Assistant @ Eleanor Hall Malcolm Stagg, an 18-year-old Calgary student who attends the ADLC, Debbie Gelderman: Program Assistant @ NPCS earned two silver medals and $1,400 in prize money for his science Jason Gerun: Summer Computer Technician @ Tech. Services project Distributed Robotics: An Intelligent System. Malcolm earned Stephanie Holton: Office Assistant-STEP @ ADLC a silver medal in the Automotive category and a silver in Senior Melissa Howitt: Teacher @ WES Engineering. Trudy Kluin: Program Assistant @ Swan Hills Cindy Knapp: Administrative Assistant @ ADLC Joining him at the Canada Wide Science Fair was 14-year-old Kyle Sharon Lyons: Teacher @ WES Schole, a Grade 8 student at R.F. Staples. Kyle earned a $100 cash Mary Ann Melicher: Teacher @ ADLC award and honourable mention in the Junior Life Sciences category for Sarah Sterling: Summer Reading Program-STEP @ WES his project, More to Light than Meets the Eye. Fond farewell to Cec drives forward She’s travelled thousands of miles over the last two decades, dedicated staff transporting the school division’s most precious cargo. Cecilia Sanderson has been driving bus for 23 years, now she will drive forward with a new chapter in her life when she retires at the end of the year. “I’ve driven two generations of some families. Most of the kids are good and I’ll have fond With more than 750 years of combined service to the school memories for years to come. division, the 40 employees honoured at this year’s Farewell Some of them get to be like Banquet have shaped the lives of countless students. The teachers, your own,” says Cecilia. “I think I’ll get a few pangs when it’s bus drivers and support staff attended a special dinner and awards time to leave in the morning and the afternoon, but I’m looking presentation on June 13 at the Barrhead Seniors Drop-In Centre forward to retirement because my husband and I will be able to in honour of their retirement. get away more.” School Board Chair and Master of Ceremonies Clayton Jespersen Cecilia started driving as a sub for her husband and decided to thanked the retiring staff members for their commitment to drive full time when her kids were older. She has always drove students and dedicated service over the years. They shared fond in the Meadowview area and developed a strong relationship memories, some laughter and even shed a few tears during the with some of the local families. While there have been some course of the evening. close calls over the years, Cecilia has never been in an accident, an impressive achievement considering some of the horrendous “We so appreciate the work of our people. As trustees, we make conditions bus drivers contend with if they drive for any length decisions about policy and take care of staff, but our employees of time. are on the front line doing the work, looking after kids and making sure they get a fair shake. We value them and appreciate them,” “It doesn’t really matter what the day is like or what the roads says School Board Chair Clayton Jespersen. “They go to work are like, you have to be at each driveway at the same time. That every day, are dedicated to their job, you work with kids, which can be a bit challenging, especially when the conditions are bad,” can be really fun, but can also be really challenging.” says Cecilia. Pembina Hills Retirees - 2007 Name Location Years Name Location Years Corinna Burdek ADLC 5 Trudi Marsh Fort Assiniboine 15 Janice Gogal-Foster ADLC 25 Reed Svenson Fort Assiniboine 36 Brian Key ADLC 31 Jane Medcke Jarvie 20 Eugene MacIntyre ADLC 34 Shane Pask RFS 9 Nina Johnson ADLC 9 Josef Vlach RFS 29 Greg Gramlich BCHS 33 Carmen Strydhorst Regional Office 5 Karla Knudsen BCHS 5 Neil Hinton Support Services 8 Brian Luciuk BCHS 33 Melanie Orr Swan Hills 6 Dennis Sheridan BCHS 29 Judy Yaro Swan Hills 20 Yvonne Blowers BES 7 George Andrews Transportation 14 Linda Bouyea BES 33 Evelyn Bourgeois Transportation 13 Hope Manuel BES 20 Cecilia Sanderson Transportation 23 Cheryl Meyer BES 32 Joe Buniak Transportation 7 Louise Miller BES 22 William Hiebert Transportation 11 Kathleen Norton BES 25 Janet Perryman Transportation 26 Marilyn Shaw BES 32 Wendy Breitkreuz W.R. Frose 25 Ivy Beattie Busby 9 Mike Edwards W.R. Frose 6 Linda Snow Busby 32 Jim Laughy W.R. Frose 35 Margaret Kurtz Dunstable 29 Linda Rakoz WES 20 Bev Hahn Fort Assiniboine 20 Louise Slobogean WES 6 Trustees Fort teacher hangs up lab coat for last time retiring in One wall in Reed Svenson’s classroom at Fort Assiniboine School is adorned with half a dozen picture frames, listing some of the brightest students he has taught throughout his October career. The list stretches back decades, but Reed can vividly Sharon Volorney might feel a bit recall each and every one of those students. lonely after the School Board election in October. After 36 years, the high school Math, Science, Physics and Chemistry teacher is hanging up his lab coat for the final time She is the only trustee currently and retiring at the end of the year. He’s been fortunate to spend serving on the School Board who has his entire career teaching at Fort Assiniboine School and committed to seeking re-election this developing strong bonds with the community.“I’ve enjoyed fall. Five other trustees have declined working in a small school because you get to know the students to run in the upcoming election and so well. I get them in Grade 9 and work with them for four years. chair Clayton Jespersen is still Some of them are so keen to achieve. They want to work hard and undecided. it’s just a joy to teach them.” “Our board has been together for a For now, Reed intends to kick back and relax. He has no elaborate retirement plans or desire long time.