STETTLER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL -- Stettler Elementary School was sad to say goodbye to our two exceptional student teachers on Friday, April 15. Friday marked the last day of teaching for Aimee Roste in Grade 5 and Nicole Konrad in one of our Grade 4 classrooms. The staff recognized Aimee and Nicole during morning recess, and we had some students from 5CF and 4LW present these teachers with gifts at the monthly assembly as well. These ladies have spent the last nine weeks with us and have made a positive impact on both the students and the staff at SES. We will miss them and we wish them both the very best in their future endeavours. We know that these young professionals have many years of successful teaching ahead of them.
Our Grade 4 classes have recently completed, or will soon be completing, their social studies unit on First Nations People in Alberta. Our 4DB class was treated to delicious bannock made and provided by Deacon's kokum (grandmother). It was a great culminating activity for this class, and the students thoroughly enjoyed tasting treats represented in this culture.
Our Grade 6 students have also been busy during the past week. 6EP has been working throughout the year to make a difference both locally and around the world. In continuing their partnership with WE Days (www.wedays.com), a program empowering youth to make a difference to their local and global communities, these students were moved to become a part of the "We Are Rafikis" campaign. Rafiki means friend, in Swahili. The Rafiki bracelets were handmade by Kenyan women to help earn a living, send their children to school and ultimately improve their community. Mrs. Prehn's students made a goal to sell 60 of these bracelets, but far exceeded this goal. They ended up raising over $1000 for the Kenyan community. We are very proud of these young citizens and we are confident that their efforts will make a massive difference in the lives of the Kenyan people.
This Grade 6 class has also been busy in science. The class created homemade sundials and are using them to check shadows in order to see how we can use the sun to tell time. The Grade 6 students are currently studying the sky science unit and have been learning about the sun, the moon, the solar system and how they all are connected. The students have been able to go outside on multiple occasions to mark the shadow on their sundial and to see how the shadow continually changes.
SES students have also been busy preparing for, and performing at, the Stettler Music Festival. On Friday our Grade 5 and 6 band students made us very proud with their performances. Watching these students, it is hard to believe they only picked up instruments for the first time a few short months ago. They have learned quickly and were able to play actual music together at the festival. On Tuesday, our music classes performed at the festival and did a fabulous job of sharing their talents with the adjudicator as well as the audience members. They demonstrated amazing talent and were rewarded for their efforts. The Choral Speech groups also shared their talents, on Tuesday and Wednesday and each of these gifted students represented the school in a very positive manner. Our students truly performed well in all areas of the festival, and we recognize that this would not be possible without the hard work of our staff members who have taken this on. Thank you to those who helped prepare our students for festival, and a heartfelt thank you to all of the staff at SES who work hard throughout the year to provide excellent education and excellent opportunities for our students.