There was fun, excitement, and plenty of splashes of mustard on young faces.
But teachers and principals at the Welcome Back Barbecue welcomed all with open arms on Aug. 31 at the Innisfail Schools Campus. The annual event is hosted by the Chinook's Edge School Division to help take the edge off anxious new students, as well as to begin the new school year on an upbeat note. The three Chinook's Edge schools at the campus, as well as St. Marguerite Bourgeoys Catholic School, opened their doors for the new school year the following morning on Sept. 1.
For the youngest students attending École John Wilson Elementary School, modernization construction is continuing at the campus, which is impacting their institution as well as St. Marguerite Bourgeoys. The school's staff and 440 students are currently using the main floor and part of Innisfail Middle School, while construction continues on the second floor.
There is also a new principal and vice-principal. Angela Warke, the elementary school's past second in command, is now the principal, while Lisa Baird, a former Grade 3 teacher at Penhold Elementary School, moves into Warke's old vice-principal position.
Baird spent the day of the barbecue shuffling from the office to meet and great parents, to joining the score of staff from all schools outside to mingle with hotdog munching kids and parents, who took the opportunity that day to drop off school supplies and check out the facilities.
“It has been fantastic. It was a team effort from all three schools, so we had staff from every single school out greeting families and welcoming them to our community campus,” said Baird, who is still a student herself as she is currently working on her master's degree in educational leadership through the University of Alberta.
She noted there is extra excitement this year for staff and students knowing they will soon be moving out of their main level classrooms to brand new facilities upstairs on the second floor as a result of the ongoing modernization construction project.
“We are absolutely excited to be moving into our new facility upstairs,” said Baird, noting the move to the second floor will prompt modernization construction on the main floor. “That is going to be a big change, to be in a brand new renovated space that is going to accommodate 21th century learning.”
Lisa Baird, vice-principal of école John Wilson Elementary School
"It has been fantastic. It was a team effort from all three schools, so we had staff from every single school out greeting families and welcoming them to our community campus."
