聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 The Sturgis Composite School invited special guests, board members and Good Spirit School Division administrative members to join the students and staff in officially opening the newly-renovated school on October 20.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 The newly-renovated school currently houses both high and elementary students under one roof. The celebrations got under way with a photograph opportunity of all staff and students sporting their new orange shirts for students and blue shirts for staff members.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 A special banner displayed at the front of the stage was created by the Grade 6 and 7 students. A special plaque was created by Kacie Meroniuk, Tory Reynolds and Shanae Olson under the direction of Michael Andrusko.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 The program was overseen by Brad Cameron, principal. Cameron welcomed all special guests including: Terry Dennis, 小蓝视频 for Canora-Pelly Constituency; Crossroads Credit Union personnel; Mayor Alan Holmberg; Quinton Robertson, GSSD Director of Education; Mark Forsythe, Superintendent of Education; Lois Symandych, GSSD board chair; members of the School Community Council; staff; parents, and community members.
Also acknowledged were Teresa Korol,assistant superintendent of business administration, and her team.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Cameron introduced all staff members and students as they entered the gymnasium. He continued with a brief history of the school consolidation.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 On June 9, 2016 the Sturgis Community Council held a public meeting in which representatives from the GSSD and the public met to discuss the possibility of consolidation of聽 the elementary and high schools, Cameron said. On June 20, the SCC passed a motion to consolidate the schools. Cleaning out of the upstairs of the high school began in November. The renovations began in November and continued until May when the high school students moved upstairs.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 In the months of May and August the south end classrooms and art room were renovated with new lights installed in the gym over the summer. In July 18 to 20 the new playground was installed in the south end.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 The new name for the school was selected from many names that were submitted. In the end it was recommended to the school that the name Sturgis Composite School be sent for approval to GSSD.
鈥淪turgis Composite High School was the first composite high school in Saskatchewan and we wanted to honour that heritage,鈥� Cameron said. 鈥淲e also wanted to recognize the contributions of the Sturgis Elementary School to the community.鈥澛犅犅犅犅犅犅犅犅� Terry Dennis, brought greetings on behalf of the provincial government.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Quintin Robertson, GSSD Director of Education acknowledged everyone in attendance.
鈥淚t is a privilege to be here today to celebrate this special day," he said. It all began inn October 2016 when the facility team worked tirelessly to make this a Kindergarten-to-Grade 12 school. He acknowledged everyone who contributed towards the project
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 The School Community Council recognized that since the schools were going to be consolidated, a playground on that location was needed. A loan from GSSD was attained in order for new playground equipment to be purchased. The parent support group from the Sturgis Elementary supplied the down payment of $24,000 that enabled the Sturgis school to be approved for the loan from the division. The total cost for the playground was $115,000.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 "There were many individuals who helped us with this project," said Cameron.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Sturgis Composite students from both the high school and elementary gave some positive testimony of 小蓝视频 one school. Students included: Bo Babiuk, Student Representative Council president; Cole Kowalchuk, Grade 12 student; Kaeleigh Folk, Grade 12 student; Neveah Rudachyk and Cole Secundiak, both Grade 5 students.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Rudachyk and Babiuk participated in a special 小蓝视频 of pouring two different coloured crystals into one vase symbolizing the uniting of both schools.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Jeff Bisschop, Crossroads Credit Union CEO, presented a donation of $3,000 to Janice Beatty, president of the Sturgis Community Council.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 To date two phases of the renovations have been completed which encompasses the upstairs, the south end, the roof on the gym and upstairs offices and new LED gym lights.
The next phase of the construction starts in November with the gymnasium renovations, it was said. The gym will be receiving new paint, washrooms and new flooring. The renovations are expected to be done by September 2018.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 A pulled pork lunch concluded the program. A cake was supplied by Preeceville Shop Easy.聽
