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May Thunder

By Pierre Ouimet
2 May

R.F. STAPLES SECONDARY SCHOOL

MAY 3 THUNDER


I will begin by recognizing the extraordinary efforts of Kyle Schole. His Earth and Environmental Sciences entry Microbial Degradation of Vehicle Tires has propelled him through the Edmonton Regional Fair at NAIT two weeks ago and onto the National Science Fair in Peterborough, Ontario May 15 – 23. You rock Kyle and we are proud to call you one of ours!

Professional Administrative Assistants Week was two weeks ago. Thank you to Mrs. Kulmatyski, Mrs. Schlachter, Mrs. Schwarz and Mrs. Vollema. Both Brett and I know that it is these ladies that really make the school run smoothly.

Mrs. MacKinnon and 27 Cosmetology students are attending the ABA Hairshow at Northlands on Monday, May 3rd. I have to keep reminding myself that hair is still a pretty big deal for most people!

Join me in a huge round of applause for all the folks involved in the Talent Show last Thursday evening. I hear Mrs. Comeau was her usual witty and hilarious self and there is truly a ton of talent in Westlock. To all of you behind and in front of the scenes…Awesome!

Our small but enthusiastic group of Junior Achievers has unveiled their product and it is for sale. Talk to Ashlee Champagne for details and to support their initiative.

Badminton: With Mrs. Huppertz, Mr. MacKenzie and Mr. Radke as Project Managers and a strong supporting cast pulling all of the details together, our badminton season was very successful. Andrew Kaliel in off to Provincials this weekend and a number of Junior High students performed admirably at Divisional championships last Friday. Here are some of the results:
Grade 7 Mixed Doubles
Silver-Patrick Frose/Danielle Weston
Grade 8 Boys Singles
Gold-Scott Ivey
Grade 8 Girls Singles
Gold-Honey Tkachyk
Grade 8 Girls Doubles
Gold-Kristin Jensen/Jordan Hickle
Grade 9 Boys Singles
Gold-Chase Rau
Grade 9 Girls Singles
Gold-Breann Dutchak
Grade 9 Boys Doubles
Silver-Aaron Graf/Mathew Schroeder
Grade 9 Mixed Doubles
Gold-Skylar Sauve/Jacolyn Gatzki

April 28th PLC assessment flashback. Strategy One encourages us to share, define, display and re-phrase learning targets using student friendly language. Ask not what your students are doing but what they are learning.

Thank you to all Senior High teachers for your CEU estimates over the last two weeks. I still need a few more but I will hound those folks today.

Education Week in Alberta. This year’s theme was Education: The Heart of our Communities. You don’t have to look very far to see how this theme is alive and well in the community of Westlock. Mid- April to mid-May alone provides all the evidence you need to support this theme. The celebration of the arts in the Cultural Arts Theatre, The Talent Show, the Canadian Parents for French student showcase, the Grad Fashion Show Fundraiser, the RFS Band Fundraiser, the Hanging Basket fundraiser, Community Service Day aligned with highway 18 & 44 Pitch-In and Skills Alberta just to name a few. It certainly takes a community to raise a child.

In an effort to build-up a RFS community of belonging, Mrs. Vollema and the Senior High Students Union are in the formative stages of organizing a fun-filled afternoon of carnival games and a Community Service BBQ. May 13th is the proposed date for this celebration and this is the first such event for RF Staples. Should be fun!

Perry Kulmatyski & Keith Szautner - two extraordinary teachers from RFS were recognized this past weekend at the annual Health & Physical Education Conference for their passionate promotion of healthy active lifestyles! John Ratey, associate clinical professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School & author of SPARK spoke passionately as the key note speaker on Friday in regards to all the extensive research "supporting the connection between exercise and the brain's performance that shows how even moderate exercise will supercharge mental circuits to sharpen thinking, enhance memory, beat stress, and improve focus and attention in individuals with ADHD." Wouldn’t you know that Mr. Szautner and Mr. K. are preparing for the 12th annual PE 30 Jasper to Banff bike trip. It looks like about 30 kids with participate during the last 5 days of May. Congratulations Perry & Keith for promoting health, wellness, emotional & mental well being!

The annual Skills Alberta competition is next week, May 13-14 at the Agricom. Along with our High school participants will be a contingent of approximately 30 Junior High students observing and taking in the ambiance of the event.

Our Grade 9 English Language Arts Part A PAT exam is scheduled for Wednesday, May 12 at 9:00 am.

This Thursday is Community Service Day. Our grade 9-10-11’s will be out in various work places while our grade 7-8’s will spend an hour cleaning up garbage in the community and around the school. Thank you Mr. Fagnan for your efforts in helping put this together. I have secured the help of Westlock’s Public Works department in picking up the garbage bags we leave in the ditches along highways 18 and 44 as well. The annual grade 7-8 MUK LUK competitions will take place Thursday afternoon following the highway clean up.

Band News: Miss Zerr, Mr. Willcock and 20 Band kids are in Regina as we speak. They left today and return May 5. They will perform 3 concerts in 3 days at the local schools and attend a workshop too. For fun stuff they will visit the Tunnels of Moose Jaw, the RCMP headquarters, go bowling and take in a dinner theatre. The year-end Band concert on May 26th at 7 pm features our choir and grades 7-12 music students. Thanks to Mr. Willcock and The Brick folks for the fundraiser that netted over $800.

The final School Council meeting is Wednesday evening May 19th at 7:00pm.

Mr. Cooper and Mr. Ouimet will be in Barrhead for an administrator’s meeting on May 22. The Teacher in Charge is yet to be named.

Zone II Drama Festival: Mr. Buchko and 16 students spent most of Thursday, Friday and Saturday at the Horizon Theatre in Spruce Grove. What a great experience! They performed the 1-act play Oh What a Tangled Web competing against many other schools from across our zone. Our stage crew won the very prestigious BEST TEAMWORK award. Congratulate Tynica Schmode (Stage Manager), Abigale Fairholm, Haleigh Burroughs, Paige Lemmen, Byranna Findlay, Jessica Dempsey and Robert Kaye, all from grade 7!

The Westlock Gators Swim Club is gearing up for another summer season. They are conducting a FREE trial week from May 3 to May 6. Any interested swimmers are welcome to come out. The Gators Club is for swimmers of all abilities both competitive and recreational. Our coaches will help you improve your technique. Swim times are: Mon & Wed 5:30 – 7:00 pm; Tues & Thurs 5:00 – 6:00 pm. For additional information, please call 780-349-8793


Enjoy the Renaissance of Spring!