Borden School awards night was held June 13 in the school gym, preceded by a barbecue supper. MCs for the evening were Natalie Anderson and Rachel Sutherland. Principal Dean Broughton thanked everyone for coming and the school community council for the barbecue.
Scott Sutherland, on behalf of the RM of Great Bend, awarded the William H. Johnston $1,000 scholarship to Aidan Loessin. Mr. Broughton outlined some of the other scholarships available, including the Lions that went to Aryn Poplichuk. He gave Rachel Sutherland her plaque for being the Lions speak-off winner. Rachel placed fourth at the multi-district competition. The Lions also sponsor a peace poster contest in the fall.
Volunteers were recognized – drivers, SCC, book fair, classroom helpers, field trips, fundraising, hot lunches and breakfast program. Community service certificates were given to the SCC members – Laura Reiter, Kim Worona, Sheri Sutherland, Gwen Dyck, Danielle Grasby and Ken Crush. Also recognized were Pam Pidwerbesky and Alana Gunsch for helping. Medals went to Celeste Lumgair and Max Gader for community involvement.
Linda Yuskiw presented certificates to the eight library club members.
The Governor General Award for highest average went to 2015 graduate Dallas Burnett, with Emma Pidwerbesky only a decimal point behind.
The Grade 6 to 12 students who went to track and field were all recognized. Marafun runner certificates went to Tyler, Liam, Bill, Sydney and Katelyn and Special Olympic awards to Celeste and Max.
Most deserving athletic awards were given out as follows: junior volleyball to Danika Pidwerbesky, senior volleyball to Sara Prescesky, junior curling to Jade Matte, senior boys’ volleyball to Cole Sutherland, senior badminton to Justin Brth, junior boys’ basketball to Colton Thiessen, junior badminton to Danika and Colton, junior track athlete medal to Savannah Sutherland, senior track to Cole Sutherland, cross-country to Liam Faith and Owen Dyck and senior cross-country to Brooklyn Gader. Athletes of the Year goblets went to Carson Derksen and Savannah for juniors and to Cole and Brooklyn for seniors.
Citizenship plaques went to Justin Worona for kindergarten/Grade 1, Tyler Barth for Grades 2/3/4, Sydney Schmidt for Grades 5/6, Zach Martens for Grades 7 to 9 and the Borden Lions Senior Citizenship Award to Wyatt Piprell for Grades 10 to 12.
Leadership award plaques went to Casey Wensley for kindergarten/Grade 1, Anna Gough for Grades 2/3/4 and Chloey Redhead for Grades 5/6. The Radisson Royal Purple Junior Leadership award for someone in Grades 7 to 9 went to Savannah and the senior Helen Hiebert Memorial plaque to Brooklyn Gader.
Beginner band certificates went to Noah Braun and Nick Siebert. Most improved medals went to Jaydess Whitbread in kindergarten/Grade 1, Ben Hosegood in Grades 2/3/4, Sierra Chase in Grades 5/6 and Angel Tracksell in Grades 7/8.
Honour roll certificates, for an academic average of 80 to 89.9 per cent, were earned by Krysta Bueckert, McKinley Martens and Brett Reiter in Grade 11 and Jusin Barth, Brooklyn, Mackensie and Wyatt Piprell in Grade 12. Distinction certificates for an average of 90 per cent or above went to Brooke Brazeau and Danika in Grade 9; Natalie Anderson, Rachel Sutherland, Kirsten Szwydky and Clayton Wiebe in Grade 10; and Aidan Loessin and Graham Sargent in Grade 12.
Highest average certificates went to Brooke Brazeau and Danika Pidwerbesky, both with 95 per cent, in Grade 9; Natalie and Kirsten, both with 96 per cent, in Grade 10; McKinley Martens, at 89 per cent, in Grade 11; and Aidan, with 94 per cent, in Grade 12.
All donors were recognized; then Mr. Broughton spoke his last words as he is leaving Borden to be principal at Warman High. He thanked everyone for all their support over the 12 years he has been here, and the staff. Tony Martens spoke on behalf of the community, school and SCC, thanking Broughton for all his efforts over the years. He has been a great teacher and principal and he will be missed. A picture of the Borden Bridge, which Dean passed over every school day for 12 years, will be given to him when it is completed.
The Metanchuk family – Pete, Donna and Myron – presented Borden School with an AED (automated external defibrillator), thanking Borden School for the 13 years that Myron attended the school and all the help he had from the staff.
Borden School held their kindergarten graduation June 17 in the school gym, decorated with flashing stars on a black background. Mrs. Locke spoke of this being such a special day for her kindergarten class. The kindergarten and Grade 1 class sang an action song titled Get Up and Dance and the graduates were all recognized. As each one came to the front, teacher Mrs. Locke gave a history of each one – where they would travel in the world, their favourite thing about kindergarten, one wish they would like granted and what they wanted to be when they grew up. Each was given a diploma and a rose to give to their mother. A PowerPoint presentation set to the music Live While We’re Young was then shown of their school year.
The end of the school year brings happiness but also some sadness as, because of budget cuts, Borden will lose three of its educational assistants – Gwen Dyck, Trina Mierau and Carol Crabb. Carol is transferred to Langham Elementary. Two EAs remain – Linda Yuskiw and Sheri Sutherland. If parents and the community believe this cutback will affect the students, then please write to your MLA Randy Weekes to complain about what the government cutbacks in education and teachers’ salary is doing to Prairie Spirit School Division.
The principal will be Mitch Luiten. Because of higher enrolment, kindergarten will be by itself next year and the Grade 1 and 2 class and Grade 3 and 4 class returned to what it was a few years back.
