Many positive changes were visible when the Preeceville School welcomed students back for another school year.
The biggest change that the students saw was the special new hardwood floor in the gym that was installed over the summer. The entrance way to the gym was also renovated to accommodate the changes required by the new flooring. All doorways were lifted three inches to be level with the new floor.
Sound barriers were added to the ceiling with hopes of absorbing and buffering some of the sound. A new water fountain with a water chill feature for filling water bottles was installed in the gym entrance.
鈥淥ver the past two years the gym has received numerous renovations,鈥� said Doug King, principal. 鈥淭he plan for the gym is now complete and we have a plan in place to help preserve the new floor. We are asking everyone to not wear outside shoes on the floor.
Every two years the division will pay to refinish the floor but if it has to be done on an early timetable or the cost will have to come out of the school鈥檚 budget. The renovation plans are now complete and there are no plans in the future for a new gym building.鈥�
There are several staff changes to note. Laura Chartrand will be teaching Grade 1. Ashton Langille who was covering Tonilee Lario鈥檚 maturity leave will continue and move to teach Grade 2. Meghan Morton will be taking over in the Grade 4 classroom from Erin Stolar who is on maternity leave. Katelynn Prokop will be sharing middle and senior science with Heidi Paterson.
Paterson requested a halftime position to be able to continue with her graduate studies. Leslea Hanson returns from a maternity leave to teach middle and senior English. Sarah Deruiter also returns from a maternity leave to teach art. There is one intern, Tyrell Amy who will be interning under Leslea Hanson.
With more than 30 students, the Kindergarten class will be spilt this year. The GSSD updated laptops for all teachers. There are 12 new desktop computers, 60 net books and 30 iPad Mini鈥檚 which are divided into fours for each classroom from K6. The net books are small laptop computers that run on a Goggle platform. All the technology has increased in the school.
鈥淭he old wooden play structure as well as the teeter totter, and one set of swings will be removed and the climbing board will be moved back,鈥� said King.
The SCC has all new members with: Kim Sandager as chairperson; Amanda Balyski, secretary; Megan Maier, treasurer; and Shannon Nelson and Tammy Chornomitz, members.
鈥淭hey are looking for new members and are looking at fundraising ideas,鈥� he said. The football program continues to be strong with six teams in the conference. Practice for the senior and junior teams are scheduled to start September 1 with Jeremy Mattison, Patrick Livingston and Doug King coaching the seniors, with help from Bill Dodge who is coaching junior ball.
The first game for senior football team will be against Kamsack on September 16 in Preeceville. The senior boys volleyball team will host provincials on November 28 and 29 with Cary Franklin as commissioner and coach. The school will host a backtoschool barbecue on September 4 followed by the elementary track field meet.
鈥淭he school wants to acknowledge the dedication and hard work of Dave Sliva and the maintenance department. Without their help getting plans in place and their role in preparation for the new gym floor project, it would have never happened,鈥� said King.
鈥淲e as staff are looking forward to another great school year and want to welcome all students and parents back,鈥� said Kent Seerey, vice-principal.
