03
October 2019
It
is amazing how quickly time can pass.
Students began at William Roper Hull School on August 15 this year, and
we have now been in session for over six weeks.
In this time students and staff have become acquainted and re-acquainted
with one another, and our school continues to bustle with learning, energy, and
growth.
Our
students have enjoyed cultivating (quite literally) the fruits of their
springtime labour, as our one-of-a-kind school greenhouse and garden are yielding
incredible amounts of kale, broccoli, and a multitude of other vegetables of
every shape and size. Included in the
bounty are pumpkins – many, many pumpkins – that we are sure will come in handy
as the Halloween season approaches. The
greenhouse, horticulture, and Outdoor Education programs, alongside our
terrific automotive and wood shops, exemplify the exceptional applied,
practical learning opportunities that our students enjoy each and every
day.
Another
highlight early in our school year is our groundbreaking skateboarding
program. We are grateful at WRHS to have
access to (and permission to use) Hull Services very own Matt Banister Memorial
Skatepark, and all the therapeutic and learning opportunities that come with
it. The park is seeing significant
student use, through an options program that is highly popular amongst
students. There is significant evidence
that identifies skateboarding as an activity that promotes healing and
self-regulation in people of all ages, in addition to being an excellent source
of exercise.
All
of our outdoor pursuits are equalled by the vitality, energy, and passion for
learning that is taking place under the roof of WRHS, as well as in our
satellite classrooms at Acadia Elementary, Sherwood Middle, and Central
Memorial High Schools. We are engaging
in new Literacy initiatives in the classroom, continuing to focus on functional
Mathematics, and enjoying rich debate and discussion with our students about
any number of current events. Our Fine
and Performing Arts programs continue to provide a creative outlet and
inspiration for our students, and our Learning Commons remains the hub of the
school and a venue for literary exploration, chess contests, or just a break
from the typical busy-ness of the school.
The
Annual Terry Fox Run fundraiser at WRHS was a terrific success. We are all very thankful that we enjoyed
gorgeous Fall weather for the event.
Students and staff of all ages jogged, walked and interacted, carrying
on the vitally important and inspirational legacy of one of Canada’s iconic
heroes. And, though recent weather turned snowy, our students are excited as they realize that with snow comes the
imminent return of our hockey program, where students hit the ice each Friday
to enjoy Canada’s game.
As
we head further into Fall, I would like to pass on a few updates and reminders
for parents, guardians, and caregivers:
- We
have joined the “Twitterverse” and now have a Twitter account. Please follow us at https://twitter.com/HullSchool or keep up to date with the Twitter feed that will be up on our
school website soon.
- Our
first Talent Show of the school year will take place in the school gymnasium on
Thursday, October 10 at 10:30am. As always, we encourage loved ones to join us
to enjoy the always high-energy performances that our students will share with
us all.
-
We
do not have school at WRHS on Friday, October 11 (Non-Instructional Day), nor during
the week of October 14 – 18 (October Break).
This is due to our school being on the Modified School Calendar. Classes resume Monday, October 21. This does not apply to our satellite
classrooms, as the host schools follow the Traditional School Calendar.
- Our
annual Celebration of Learning is upcoming.
Please set aside the evening of Thursday, November 21 to visit our
school and see what your child has been up to during the early parts of this
school year. The evening events will run
from 4:30 – 7:30pm, with dinner provided for students and their guests
beginning around 5:00pm. We hope to see
you there!
It
is an honour and a privilege to work alongside the resilient, passionate,
dedicated young people who make up the William Roper Hull School student population. It is an equal honour to serve as a member of
the tremendous staff team that supports, teaches, counsels and guides our
students through this phase of their journeys.
William Roper Hull School is an environment that brims with kindness,
goodness, respect, and care. Thank you
for entrusting your child to us. Please
call or email me directly with any feedback, questions or concerns that you may
have. We welcome parent and guardian
engagement always.
Sincerely,
Joe Sturgeon
Principal, William Roper Hull
School
jisturgeon@cbe.ab.ca
403.251.8022
