Weyburn, Saskatchewan, Wednesday, June 1, 2016
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Farewell held for Weyburn Junior High By Greg Nikkel Taking care of junior high-aged students is much like caring for a Porsche: “there is lots of energy, they’re keen on appearance, expensive to keep up, damages are difficult to repair, and it’s a labour of love and of frustration.” This was the characterization of what it’s been like to teach students at the Weyburn Junior High as shared by former principal and vice-principal Gordon Liddle at the closing ceremonies held for the school on Friday morning. Liddle was one of several current and past staff who spoke as part of the farewell ceremonies during a program that included performances by the Grade 8-9 band and choir to open and close the ceremonies, and remarks from Mayor Debra Button. The junior high, which opened its doors in 1966, will close forever once school is done at the end of June, with the junior high grades to move over to the Weyburn Comp starting in September. The plan is to have the school building demolished, with a new elementary school built to accommodate students from Haig and Queen Elizabeth Schools, after which those two schools will then close. These steps are dependent on the government providing funding for the demolition of the school, and it isn’t expected that will come this year given the downturn in Saskatch-
Weyburn Junior High band and choir perform at farewell ceremonies
Review Photo 10753 — Greg Nikkel
Music director Tanya Cameron leads the Grade 8 and 9 band and choir in performing O Canada and the “Fight Song” as a part of the closing ceremonies for the Weyburn Junior High on Friday morning in the school gymnasium. The ceremonies included remarks by several guests, and an address by former principal Gordon Liddle. The afternoon included the Grade 9 art fair, a tea reception in the library and entertainment in the gym by current and former students. The Weyburn Junior High opened in 1966, and will close when classes are done in a month’s time, with all grades to move over to the Weyburn Comp in September. ewan’s economy currently, said principal Ryan Fowler. The principal opened the program with his address, noting that life at the WJH is based on five cornerstones, including energy, creativity, excellence in academics, extracurricular activities, and above all, hormones.
The creativity can be seen in the murals covering every hallway and classroom wall in the school, and on nearly every ceiling tile, along with drama, bands and choir. “Academics have been our priority since the day it was built. We’ve been preparing the students for the
rigours of high school, and we want all of our students to be successful,” said Fowler, adding that there are extracurricular activities to cover nearly every interest possible, from art to music to drama and sports teams. On the subject of hormones, he said, “We know
that junior high can be the best part of school or it can be a very tough place,” he said, bringing many challenges to the staff. As they transition to move over to the Comp in the fall, he said, “We will miss seeing the ceiling tiles and the art work on the walls. We look forward to
seeing a new look, but the focus on excellence will be carried on in our new school.” Mayor Button admitted she is a St. Michael girl, but said she has fond memories of the Weyburn Junior High “where friendships are made and dreams are Continued on Page 6
Syrian refugee families may not come till 2017 By Greg Nikkel The chair of Weyburn’s Syrian Refugee Committee is “very disappointed” that the federal government has stopped processing any refugee families, and Weyburn may not get their families until the end of 2016 or even 2017. “We don’t know when they’re going to be coming,” said Don Horner, noting he had received a letter from federal Immigration minister John McCallum in early May stating that privately-sponsored refugees would not arrive until either the end of this year or early next year. “Or, it could be next month,” shrugged Horner, shaking his head in frustration, noting they had initially thought their first family would’ve been here by January, then February or March. They have been in touch with Public Safety minister Ralph Goodale, who indicated they would
check into the status of the refugee families — and they have yet to receive any answer either. The difficulty this poses for the Weyburn committee is they currently have two rental housing units sitting with furniture and nonperishable food items stocked and ready, and they have to pay rent and utilities while they wait for the families to arrive. Horner estimates this is costing the committee $1,700 a month to keep the vacant units available, with about $6,500 used so far out of the $100,000 that has been raised from the public. “If they could tell us when they’re coming, then we could de-
cide what to do with the housing units,” said Horner. Besides this waste of money, due because the government is not processing the refugees, the committee is also worried about the refugees who are sitting in limbo, waiting to come to Weyburn, including one
They’ve asked for the birthdates of the refugees so they can check into it,” said Horner, noting they had earlier asked for the case file numbers also. “It’s frustrating. Here we are, excited and ready to go, and it’s like the wind is taken right out of our sails,” he said. This is particularly annoying, he added, as he remembers seeing McCallum saying on TV that they had been receiving complaints about – Don Horner the holdup of refugees from family that has had their interviews other groups, and they were going by Immigration officials. to expedite their arrival into Canada. Horner has also asked Souris“I said to Mr. Goodale’s staff that this is really disappointing. We Moose Mountain MP Robert Kitchneed to know when they’re coming. en for his assistance with this matter.
It’s frustrating. Here we are, excited and ready to go, and it’s like the wind is taken right out of our sails.
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“We’ve done all this work, got all those donations, and now we’re faced with this situation,” said Horner, noting if they could at least get a date, they could decide whether to let the units go and put the furniture in storage until that time. Instead, they were told to have everything ready in case the refugee families arrive at short notice. The Kabbabe family are currently in the United Arab Emirates, the Wanda family is in Lebanon, and the Handal family is in Turkey. The single male is in Sweden, and Horner fears that Weyburn may not get approval for him to come as Sweden is considered a “durable solution” by Canada’s immigration officials, even though Sweden wants to expel refugees. “We have a safe haven and a community that wants to welcome them. We’re ready, our hearts are open and our wallets are open,” said Horner.
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