聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 Students sang Happy Birthday, cake candles were lit and blown out, guest speakers reminisced and offered congratulations and visiting adults shared memories on October 9 during a program held to celebrate the centennial of the Victoria School in Kamsack.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 The program, held in the school gymnasium, began with Langford Whitehawk, a First Nation elder, saying a prayer and the Grade 3 class leading in the singing of O Canada.
Karie Thomas, the principal, welcomed everyone, saying that it was neat to know that the original part of their school was first constructed 100 years ago.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Thomas introduced the guests: Kamsack Mayor Rod Gardner; Bryan Cottenie, member of the Good Spirit School Division board; Mark Forsythe, a superintendent of the school division and former principal, and Rhae-Ann Holoien, the director of education.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Thomas explained how the original building had been demolished in the 1980s after a ceiling in one of the second-floor rooms had fallen and said that bricks from that original building were used to create the Victoria School sign at the front of the school.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 The school has seen many changes, she said, adding that its staff has spent much time learning about the school and thanked all those who had submitted information and photographs and shared stories regarding the school.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淲e are all a piece of Victoria School history,鈥� she said.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Gardner told the audience that he had been a student at Victoria when he was in Grade 6 and said it was pleasant to be back celebrating the school鈥檚 centennial.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 On behalf of town council and the residents of Kamsack, Gardner thanked the teachers and students who do more than what the curriculum asks them to do and offered as examples the Victoria garden and Sparty Park.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Such efforts help to make a vibrant community, he said.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 One hundred years is an accomplishment, Cottenie said. 鈥淲e are so busy in our everyday lives and everything is so fast paced. With new technology, we are improving our future and the success of our students. We have seen an incredible amount of change over the last few years. We have computers, smart boards, Ipads, cell phones, laptops and now chrome books.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淲e have access to the Internet, Facebook, Twitter and of course U-Tube, all of these things help us in the education of our students,鈥� Cottenie said. 鈥淪ince we are celebrating 100 years of this great building, I want to take a moment to not look at the future but rather to take a quick look at the past.
鈥淰ictoria School is 100 years old since it first opened,鈥� he said listing some of the things that are used and relied upon today, that were invented after Victoria School opened.
When Victoria School opened Band-aids were not yet invented, the jet engine for planes was not yet around, helicopters were not here, hair dryers and the washing machine were not around and microwaves and televisions were nowhere to be seen. Computer and video games had not been invented, he said.
Bringing greetings on behalf of the Good Spirit School Division board, Cottenie said he is 鈥渢hrilled to be able to attend the birthday bash.
鈥淚 went to Victoria School over 50 years ago. It started as grades 1 to 8 school for me, changing to a grades 1 to 5 school before I had graduated. There was no pre-school or Kindergarten. It was a two-storey building with a low basement where he had physical education when it was too cold to be outside.
Victoria School is a very old building, but what a beautiful school you have here, he said. 鈥淪chools are a great place to be, but you know what makes a great school? It is the staff and students that have made Victoria School such a great place.鈥�
鈥淭o make a building strong, you need a strong foundation. Good Spirit鈥檚 mission statement is: 鈥楤uilding strong foundations to create bright futures.鈥� We want our students to have the necessary tools to be successful in their futures.
鈥淰ictoria School and its staff have been a foundational pillar for thousands of students over the last 100 years,鈥� he said. The staff, with the help of parents, caregivers and the community, will continue to support students and create opportunities to ensure they are successful.
鈥淐ongratulations Victoria School and happy 100th 产颈谤迟丑诲补测.鈥�
After a 鈥渕ovement break鈥� the students recited A Hundred is a Lot, and thenHappy Birthday was sung, and while slides showed photos of the school鈥檚 past, pieces of birthday cake were served.
Former members of the staff of the school assembled for a group photograph.
