Prince Charles School celebrates 50th year

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Prince Charles School celebrated 50 years as a public elementary institution on Sept. 23. A high level of community spirit and participation was evident throughout an energetic evening of renewed acquaintance, shared reminiscences, entertainment and, of course, delectable eats. There was lots of bannock.

Assistant Principal Liz Yule helped make sure everyone found a place to listen to speeches and view the student performers; in between she talked about the accomplishments that brought them to this night.

A quarter century ago, she said, the first heads-up was given to the creation of the Awasis Program Society, founded by Jenny Margetts, which brought significant improvements to Aboriginal students' learning environment in the school. More important, it was the start of a new era of co-operation and consultation among everyone interested in a quality education - parents, teachers, administrators and students.The Awasis program became entrenched and grew, until last year it added the junior high-level curriculum of culturally appropriate subjects and services.

Ninety per cent of Prince Charles students now study Cree, Yule says. "They get 90 to 135 minutes of Cree instruction a week," she added. "The junior high students get more."

The September celebration to which the surrounding Sherbrooke community was invited clearly revealed the historic school's modern-day Aboriginal focus and pride. The evening began with grand entry. Elder Marie Lund led the opening and closing prayers. The Awasis Program's origins were explained by Elder Nellie Carlson. Traditional dancing, taught by Doreen Cardinal, and Metis dancing, taught by Rita Norris, were the shining highlights of the occasion.

Teacher and school librarian Deloris Jack's address to the packed auditorium related the history of Prince Charles School's beginnings in 1948 as the Sherbrooke School, through its offical opening with six grades and 313 students in 1949 under the leadership of former principal J. N. McCallum, to its present-day enrollment of 450 students and 40 to 45 teachers and support staff between two locations. She explained that Sherbrooke School was renamed in 1953 in honor of the newborn British heir to the throne.

Jeanne Carter became principal of St. Charles School in 1997. School secretary Mrs. Hogg has logged 20 years' service so far. If applause is any indicator, staff have every reason to feel appreciated for their efforts.

"We are very, very proud of our students and our school," the principal said. They seemed pretty proud of her too.

In 1973, the Awasis Program got its start, when Margetts and others concerned about ensuring a quality education in an atmosphere of respect for Aboriginal students brought their ideas to school authorities. At that time, hardly any Native students were graduating.

A year later, Edmonton Public Schools, assisted by the Canadian Native Friendship Centre, took over running the program. Prince Charles School launched the first Native Early Childhood Program in this city between 1974 and 1976 at the kindergarten level, with the Cree language portion being taught by Pearl Ducharme.

By 1978, a yearly powwow-type celebration of Awasis Days involving the entire school community started a tradition that continues to the present day. Two years later, the board of trustees endorsed the idea of an alternative school program designed for urban Aboriginal children. In 1985 and 1986, Prince Charles began developing and implementing the program, along with an Awasis Program handbook.

"We have been very concerned with the high drop-out rate among Aboriginal students," Yule said. "We are trying to show them they can achieve their dreams, be successful in their chosen career while maintaining their culture and being proud of who they are. We hope they will find that school can be meaningful to them and if they get an education they will succeed in reaching their goals."

"It is most important that our students get a first-classeducation, second to none," principal Carter agreed.

Since the late 1970s, the school has been adding a grade a year to Awasis, as required by enrollment. By the mid-1990s, it became apparent the demand for Awasis was mushrooming. Prince Charles School hosted a Native education symposium that involved not only parents, but Aboriginal Elders, leaders and educators in discussing future directions for the program.

Along with that, the Army and Navy Club started a monthly hot lunch program for the entire school. Later, the school hired two full-time Aboriginal family support workers and set up a snack and hot lunch program that now is offered daily.

In 1994, Ms. Del Calub, who taught the English portion of the Awasis kindergarten program from its earliest days, retired.

By 1998, it was necessary to reopen the Sherbrooke School location to accommodate Grades 4 to 9, and a separate high school is planned for the year 2000 to accommodate increasing numbers of Aboriginal students who want their language, culture and history taught as essential subjects through to graduation.