Tom Henihan
Express Staff
Ecole Providence held its awards ceremony on June 23, including a student-learning fair and hamburger lunch.
The gym stage was appropriately decorated for the ceremony and the lunch tables draped, giving the environment a sense of occasion that the kids evidently enjoyed.
At the learning fair, students exhibited their projects for parents and other adults, and ran through and explained their project to those who visited.
Following lunch, the main segment of the event began with a brief introduction by Ecole Providence principal Krista Veitch.
The process used in deciding the awards is inclusive with every child being recognized for his or her talent, strength or virtue that the teachers have recognized as a predominant attribute that genuinely distinguishes that child in a positive way.
“Today is about recognizing that all children have special talents and today we are celebrating those talents as we recognize the potential in all your kids,” says Veitch addressing parents and family. “We look at them and make it a priority to recognize what their talents are.”
Beginning with Grades 1 and 2, teachers from each grade presented the awards, for academic performance, arts, sports and other qualities such as leadership, courage, honesty, kindness and generosity.
Veitch gave each of the four Grade 6 students, who will be going to G.P. Vanier in the fall, a special mention.
“While it is nice to see the kids mature and move on to new things, when they leave they are missed,” says Veitch. “At the beginning of the new school year there is always a void, especially here in Providence as it is a small school.”
Gary Fisher, board of trustees, Holy Family Catholic Regional Division invited speech coach and teacher’s assistant, Wendy Bonsan, to the stage, recognizing her five-year service with Ecole Providence.
Members of the Providence Order, Sister Delores and Sister Rita also presented a gift to the school of a framed portrait of Mother Emilie Gamelin, (1800 to 1851) who founded the Sisters of Providence in Montreal.
The Sisters of Providence have been in McLennan since 1929, when they opened The Sacred Heart Hospital and they established Providence School, originally called Guy School, in 1931. Sister Delores and Sister Rita, the last remaining Providence Sisters in the McLennan community are planning to retire later this year and move to Edmonton.
