Classes were dismissed last week as Stettler-and-area students began their summer break.
Changes are expected for next year, but principals believe the local schools can continue to offer quality education.
Elementary and middle schools
A shared principal position for Stettler Elementary School and Stettler Middle School is planned for the next school year.
“We have excellent staff and fantastic students in both schools, which will make for a smooth transition and operations,” said Sharon Fischer, who adds the elementary school to her middle school role.
“We will continue to offer excellent opportunities and programming for students.”
With 300 students projected for the middle school (grades 6 to 8) and 550 elementary students (kindergarten to Grade 5), Fischer will oversee about 850 students.
For the coming school year, the middle school welcomes new teachers David Teasdale from Stettler Outreach School, while Luke Peters moves down the hall from William E. Hay Composite High School to teach physical education and Grade 6 language arts and social studies.
Fischer said the current staff at the elementary school would be maintained — for now.
Kindergarten will take on a new look, with parents given the opportunity for the children to be in class for three days a week or for five.
“We want to work with parents to provide the programming that parents want, with relatively small classes,” Fischer said.
After the inaugural year of the Characters in Action program for students was successful, the school want to continue the program that builds the character of students.
Students return to classes on Sept. 3.
High school
While enrolment at William E. Hay Composite High School is projected to fall to 522 students from 530 last September, the principal expects few changes on staff.
“Three teachers will not be back next year, while we will have a net loss of one teacher,” said principal Norbert Baharally, who declined to disclose names.
He’s excited to move forward with various projects.
Invited by the National Association of Secondary School Principals, math teachers from William E. Hay will be published in the September issue of Principal Leadership magazine.
“It will highlight again the high school’s redesign model, with emphasis on removal of the Carnegie unit,” said Baharally, who has completed seven years as principal and 25 years on staff at William E. Hay.
“Imagine There’s No Carnegie Unit” was the title suggested for the article.
Baharally is also grateful that the school plans to continue the student assessment, evaluation and reporting practices.
“We have spent a lot of time reviewing literature and research surrounding best assessment practices over the last three years.
“As a result of our work, our entire staff and school will be continuing to move towards a more formative way of assessing our students in the work that they are doing.”
For the fall, student timetables will also be mailed out in August.
The first day back for grades 11 and 12 students is Sept. 3. Grades 9 and 10 students will return to school on Sept. 4.
The first day back for all students is Sept. 5.