Back To School!

They’re Back in School

Rosanne Fortier - News Correspondent

Students at Elk Island Public Schools and Elk Island Catholic Schools in Vegreville returned to class on August 30 for the start of the 2022-‘23 school year.

Students from A.L. Horton Elementary School offered their impressions about being back in school.

Danica Evans, who was starting Grade One, was jumping up and down with excitement. Danica said she went to Kindergarten last year and she felt good about the new school year. “I love school! I love learning Math and I am good at it. As well, I hope to make a lot of friends.”

Trevor Ketsa, who was starting Grade Four, said he felt good about being back in class. “Going to a new classroom is exciting in every way!”

In no particular order: Trevor Ketsa, Alice Guenette, Kayleign Guenette, and Karsin Guenette.

(Rosanne Fortier/Photo)

Alice Guenette commented that she was excited about going into Grade One.

“I like school and I am happy to go back as I have a class with a special friend in it this year. Also, I like to learn.”

Kayleign Guenette, who was starting Grade Six, said she was scared to go back to school because she was going to a new school. While kids in the background commented that she didn’t need to be scared as it was the best school in the world.

Start of a New School Year in BTPS

Buffalo Trail Public Schools - Submitted

Welcome back to the new school year.

We were excited to welcome our students back to school on Tuesday, August 30. The beginning of the school year represents the chance to begin again, renew our efforts, and reaffirm our commitment to do whatever it takes to ensure every single student experiences personal success.

Buffalo Trail Public School, (BTPS) began our school year with staff coming together for orientation, learning, and planning to set our school year up for success. On Aug. 22, BTPS hosted 17 new teachers and two new leaders for our beginning teacher/ leader orientation session. We want to welcome all the new staff to our division.

On August 23, we hosted our 27 principals and assistant principals for our start up meeting and learning. Our school leadership team and staff are busy planning and preparing to welcome our students back to school.

New teacher orientation.

(Buffalo Trail Public Schools/Submitted Photo)

On Aug. 24, we brought all teachers from across BTPS together for the first time in over two years. We were excited to kick off the new school year by hosting our BTPS Learning Day in Wainwright. Board Chair, Stephanie Spornitz, gave our teachers a tremendous thank you in support of all their work for the past two years and also for preparing to welcome our students back to an exciting school year.

Superintendent Holoien thanked our staff for their commitment to demonstrating our core values and living out our mission and vision. Our teachers had an opportunity to hear two extraordinary speakers who brought messages of motivation and learning. We were inspired to hear from Darci Lang, who gave us tools on how to focus on the 90 percent, and Gerry Varty, who shared messages of supporting student learning.

BTPS has demonstrated that together we can combine our efforts, talents, enthusiasm, and inspiration to advance our vision of being dynamic leaders in empowering students to be caring, responsible, and contributing global citizens with a passion for learning. We welcome back our staff and students to a new and exciting year. We can’t wait to begin our learning!