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SES students had magical moments with illusionist

97384stettlerSESMagic
Tough job – An eager little student was using pool noodles to build a beaver dam before “ski-ing” back to her team on her carpet-skies last week at the SES. She is wearing a little beaver tail while doing this activity.

By AMORE du TOIT

ELEMENTARY NEWS

The phrase “magical moments” is really appropriate in describing the events of the past week at Stettler elementary.

Our week started on a magical note with the visit from an accomplished magician. Sheldon Casavant, a young magician from Edmonton, visited our school on Monday, Feb. 14. He had recently completed over 600 magic shows across Japan and had just performed for the Variety Showcase in Stettler, on Sunday, Feb. 15. Sheldon’s magic tricks, ranging from rings and cards to escaping from a strait jacket, had the whole audience, both students and staff, amazed, astounded and engaged! Sheldon left everyone wondering, “How did he do that?” When asked what they thought, the students replied, “That was the best show ever!” and “That was amazing!” What a great way to help celebrate Valentine’s Day.

Students had fun exchanging Valentine’s and celebrating friendship while enjoying Valentine’s class parties on Monday, Feb. 14. The part-time kindergarten students made heart-shaped vests with pictures of family and friends on it. Many students and staff wore red on Valentine’s Day. Red was the right color to wear as we celebrated Canada Flag Day on Tuesday, Feb. 15.

February 15 was declared National Flag of Canada Day in 1996. It marks the day in 1965 when our red and white maple leaf flag was first raised over Parliament Hill in Ottawa, and indeed, hundreds of communities across Canada. Red and white were designated as Canada’s official colors in 1921 by His Majesty King George V. This is a perfect opportunity to celebrate our flag and what it stands for: a Dominion that is the envy of the world.

Our great gym teachers, Kim Poapst and Jill Neitz as well as Dawn, our H.E.A.R.T. co-coordinator, organized a fabulous Canada games event. The gym was beautifully decorated in all things Canadian. The attention to detail was fantastic. Each class was asked to dress in one of the colors found in Canada’s coat of arms (red, yellow, green and blue). All grade 2s, grade 1s and grade 4s had the opportunity to participate in the games on Tuesday while ECS, grade 3s and grade 5s had their turn on Wednesday.

Students had tremendous fun participating in activities such as sledge hockey, basketball, triathlon, canoeing, snow shoe races, snow dog races, beaver dam building, a fun bouncy ball-swimming pool obstacle course and a mascot relay.

Our Canada games celebration had seven mascots. They were: Diver the duck, Sugar the polar bear, Maple the moose, Gus the loon, Chip the beaver, Molasses the Black bear and Rustipher the raccoon. Students loved these little critters and enjoyed to have relays with them. Teachers also participated in special teacher’s events. I think the most amazing teacher athlete must be Carmen Fox who was able to fit nine marshmallows in her mouth while singing Oh Canada! The Events were opened by our principle Rod McElroy dressed as a cowboy riding a stick horse. The students really enjoyed his participation and enthusiasm. We ended the games by watching a great music video featuring the song Believe with Highlights from the Vancouver 2010 Olympics. While we sang Oh Canada we all waved little paper flags and felt so proud to be Canadian.