An exciting week was had by Canora Junior Elementary School staff and students in order to celebrate Education Week.
The theme chosen by the Government of Saskatchewan for Education Week, which was held from October 16 to 22, was “Celebrating Today, Preparing for Tomorrow.”
“You can see that all of the activities this week reflect that idea of looking towards the future,” said Rod Steciuk, the principal of Canora Junior Elementary School, during an interview on October 17.
Kicking off the week was Bus Driver Appreciation and Safety Day, and in order to celebrate this, the students took part in organized bus evacuation drills with their bus drivers. The drills are done twice a year, first with all students in the fall, and then with students who take the bus to school regularly in May.
“The students are quite familiar with the drills and what to do, so they were very well-behaved,” said Peter Dyck, one of the drivers.
After the students were taught about the emergency exit door at the back of the bus and the emergency windows on the sides of the bus, they were instructed on how to evacuate the bus, including how to walk into the wind in case the bus caught on fire.
To thank the bus drivers for their service and assistance, Canora Junior Elementary School provided pizza for the drivers after the drills.
Celebrated since 2010, School Bus Driver Appreciation Day is observed on the first day of Education Week to recognize the important role that school bus drivers play in safely transporting students to and from school.
“The safety of Saskatchewan students is always our top priority and our province’s school bus drivers deserve to be recognized and celebrated for their role in ensuring student safety,” said Don Morgan, education minister, in a release from the Ministry of Education. “I encourage parents, students and school staff to take some time today to acknowledge our bus drivers for their important work and dedication to our students.”
Also on October 17, the students began doing a classroom activity. The activity sheet has two sides so students can show both who they are today and what jobs they would like to have in the future.
“One side says, ‘This is me today,’ and the other says, ‘This is what I’m shooting for,’” said Steciuk.
October 18 was the launch of the Willow Awards Program, a reading program that takes place across Saskatchewan. Bev Hadubiak organized for the program to once again be featured at Canora Junior Elementary School. In the contest, students were allowed to vote on their favourite books in the Shining Willow category, with their votes going towards deciding the winner of the Saskatchewan Young Readers’ Choice awards. Betty Tomilin read the books to all of the students, who then voted on their favourites.
A special guest was also welcomed to the school on October 18. Rainy Crane, a storyteller from the Key First Nation, came to talk to each of the students and tell them some of his favourite stories. He was presented with tobacco at the beginning of each session, due to it being polite in his culture to make a gift of tobacco to those who tell stories to entertain and teach.
“When I get home, I will use this tobacco to sing a song and say a prayer to help everyone here get what lessons they need from the story.”
“All lessons are equal,” said Crane, who told the story of how he got the name Rainy Crane and the story of his grandmother, who was the first elected female chief in Canada.
On October 19, the students were allowed to buy books and other accessories at a book fair, with proceeds going towards the library. Students also celebrated the beginning of the Accelerated Reading program by having two books read to them by Mark Forsythe, a superintendent of education for Good Spirit School Division.
“The kids did awesome,” Forsythe said at the assembly of how well the students listened.
In the Accelerated Reading program, students take a test to find their reading range and then are allowed to read books in that range. Each book awards the students points for reading the book and for completing a quiz on the book, and students can then use the points for special prizes.
On October 20, Canora Junior Elementary School and Canora Composite School teamed up to take part in the buddy reading program. The school was packed with students. The younger children were paired with older students to read and play together.
“They’re so good with the little ones,” Steciuk said of the Canora Composite School students.
Education Week wrapped up on Friday with a dress-up day titled “When I Grow Up Day.” Students were able to dress up as what they said they wanted to be on their activity sheet. Steciuk said he was excited to see how everyone dressed up.
Education Week has been proclaimed by the province since 1987 as a way to celebrate student achievement and acknowledge the efforts of teachers, education assistants, administrative personnel, library technicians, custodians, bus drivers and maintenance workers. Canora Junior Elementary School was just one of many schools across the province to take part in the celebration.
