With a new school year the Arcola School welcomes new teachers, as well as a new librarian, secretary, and Community Education Liason.
During the back to school barbeque at Arcola School on Sept. 5, The Observer had a chance to speak with new additions to the school.
Brenda Johnston
Brenda Johnston has joined the Arcola School's team as the librarian. Having worked in the school division for nearly 15 years, she is excited return to the school she once attended.
Having moved with her husband recently from Stoughton to take over the Red Market Barn, Johnston was happy to find something closer to their new home.
"Getting to know the kids and finding my way around the school, it's changed a bit since I went to school here, has been my main focus," Johnston explained. "The program I'm using is nothing new, but the students are and getting to know them is important."
Regie Maher
Regie Maher of Arcola, had previously been working in Carlyle at G.F. Kells. Though she had spent years in Carlyle, last winter brought harsh weather and Maher wanted a change.
Having never worked in administration, she saw the position of secretary as a new adventure that she has come to enjoy during her first week of work.
"This job came open and I thought I can do this," Maher explained. "I've loved it, absolutely loved it. It's been challenging, but the staff has been amazing and the kids are adorable. I've been enjoying myself immensely."
Katrina Chase
Also new to the school is Katrina Chase in the position of Community Education Liason. Moving with her partner from Nova Scotia, she has a background in working with at risk youth.
Describing her position, Chase explains she hopes to get the community more involved with the school
"I definitely am interested in getting as many community members in Arcola involved with the school and so, in particular, part of my focus is going to be First Nations students and working closely with Pheasant Rump and trying to bridge any gaps the community may feel there is with the youth involved in Arcola," Chase said.
"So, I'll be working closely with Kevin, our principal Mr. Hengen, as we try to develop new interventions to heighten the graduation rates for First Nations students. That's just a piece of it, but that's not my dominant role, it's more working with the whole community and being an advocate for the youth, secondly for the community and family members involved, and finally for the school."
Steven Treso
Steven Treso of Redvers is a retired teacher who has taken over a grade four and five split class as the regular teacher heals from knee surgery.
Having taught for 30 years, Treso enjoys helping out in this capacity and subbing on occasion.
Treso will be with the Arcola School for about a month.
Brenna Moser
Brenna Moser of Weyburn is an intern in grade two as she completes her education at the U of R.
"I'm interning with Cindy Ellis in grade two and our class is awesome, so I'm really excited to see what the rest of the year brings," Moser exclaimed.
"Seeing some of the strategies she uses working with the kids and the resources she uses, and not even just working with her, but working with other people in the school."
Moser will be able to sit in on other classes during spares and will be helping coach the rookie boys' volleyball team.
"I'm excited to be a coach!" she exclaimed.
Speaking of her experiences she is simply excited for her time in Arcola.
"I've learned a lot, but there's nothing you can do in university that will actually prepare you for what's in the classroom, I guess, so once you get into the classroom it's kind of a shock because you've learned so much; but, you realize you haven't learned as much as you think you've learned," she explained.
"I'm just excited to see how much more I can learn from actually being with the kids and being with Cindy."
Kierden Marshall
Marshall is the new grade nine science and senior high math and science teacher. Coming from Nova Scotia, he spent time teaching in Alberta, before finding a full-time position in Arcola.
He came into teaching to help make a difference in others' lives.
"I used to not care about school and when it came to grade 12, a teacher kind of verbally told me to smarten up, that I wasn't going to go anywhere if I didn't focus," Marshall explained. "So, I started focusing and, I don't know, I just gained respect for him I wanted to try and make a difference in someone else's life."
Overall he is looking forward to his first full-time position and is finding Saskatchewan a great place to live.
"I am enjoying it, it's a little flatter than Nova Scotia," Marshall laughed. "It's interesting to be able to see as far as the eye can see and not be stopped by hills and trees."
Heather Saarela
Saarela is teaching grade seven and 10 history. Having lived in Saskatchewan for about a year and a half, she spent time in Estevan and the Kindersley area after moving from Ontario.
Enjoying her first week at the school, she is looking forward to her first year as a full-time teacher.
"The history, the social studies, and the age range," is what Saarela is looking forward to most. "I really like the seven to 12 age range, so it's kind of perfect."
"I've always wanted to be a teacher, nerdily enough. In high school that's what I took stuff for, was to be a teacher, and it's just what I always wanted to be."
Though only a week into teaching, she is excited to have been welcomed into the community and the school.
"It's been great!" she exclaimed. "Actually when I interviewed, I asked Kevin what the teacher atmosphere was like and he was like, 'It's great, it's a family.' And it really is, he wasn't lying, it really is; so, it's been fabulous."
Carlee (Wyatt) Annis
Finally, Annis has joined the staff of Arcola School after teaching in Stoughton for four years. Having grown up in Kisbey and graduated from Arcola, she is excited to now call some of her teachers her co-workers.
"It's good, it feels like I'm home," Annis explained. "I mean, to walk in and be teaching in a classroom that I was once a student in, it's a little awkward sometimes to be dealing with teachers on a professional level, but it's good, it's like coming home."
Annis has taken over grade seven math and health, grade eight and nine practical applied arts, and grades one to five physical education.
"I love getting the kids moving and getting them active," she stated. "Doing the different activities and learning their grass roots, their skills, and continuing them on so they can continue being active for the rest of their lives."
Inspiration to become a teacher for Annis came from the very teachers she now works beside.
"I guess I had some decent teachers when I was in school," Annis laughed. "And I guess it was more the extra curr [curricular] stuff that got me involved with teaching. I taught swimming lessons in Carlyle when I was younger so that got me to realize that I really liked teaching and I really liked kids. It seemed like a good fit at the time and it turned out it was."
