Technology is state of the art at new Ermineskin school

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Principal Laura Okeymow has worked 10 years with Ermineskin school children. She was a teacher for five years, involved in administration for five years, including three as principal.

The new Ermineskin Junior Senior High School, which had its official opening last month, has been operational since September.

"It's really well laid out," Okeymow said of the new school. "They put a lot of thought into it."

She notes that attitudinal changes towards education are "slow in coming," but staff and students are working on improving attendance and overcoming "challenging behaviors." Now they have a beautiful school that honors Cree values, they are starting to see students want to come from other areas.

Students from all four Hobbema bands attend. They range in age from 12 to 19 years in Grades 6 to 12.

Okeymow said they are looking at building a new school for the primary school children. If that occurs, they may move Grade 6 students into that school.

Features of the new high school are the two gymnasiums, which "makes it easier to have separate areas for the boys and girls," she said. In addition, there is a work-out room. Also, a room to teach cosmetology, a commercial kitchen, a science lab and three computer and language labs and a library of 16,000 books with a full-time librarian.

Thirty-three teachers and three cooks are on staff.

Parents who previously may not have gone to their children's school are becoming more comfortable with dropping in and becoming part of their children's educational experience. They "really like the physical environment-how it has been set up" to give prominence to their Aboriginal heritage, said Okeymow.

Elders from the four communities gave their input as to how the bulding should be designed. As the Elders' centre is just across the street from the school, they are easily able to come for feasts and other occasions when they are needed.

"There are a lot of support systems in place," said Okeymow. In addition to the Elders, she said the co-operation and input from the community, school board, and administration "exceeds some other jurisdictions."

Okeymow said the school started with 313 students enrolled, but after the inevitable sorting out process they have 20 to 25 in 10 classes now and a capacity for 400, she estimates.

In the future, the school will possibly add an auditorium "like the Jubilee Auditorium" the principal said, but for now they hold assemblies in the gym.

Teacher Jim Hagerty has been in the profession 25 years and at Ermineskin for 10. He teaches the Grade 10 integrated occupational program.

He said "Our advantage is our technology. "Our computers are Macintosh power Macs; the majority are IMAC with DVD drives." Hagerty added there are four machines in each classroom, to be shared by 20 to 25 students.

"I think students are a little more excited about coming into school now."

With the teepee design cultural room, he finds the building is "more friendly to the community" and it is easier to get the community to come to school functions. "It's always important to make the community welcome," he said. Hagerty, who is non-Native, is pleased that Cree language and culture permeate the philosophy of the school. "Every student has (Cree language) daily," he said.