An extra classroom has been added at École Fox Run School since enrolment has increased by about 30 this year to 501 students, as of Aug. 31.
Principal Don Rattray said staff and students are also excited about some of the programs and events planned.
“We’re excited to have the Heroes program back in both Grades 7 and 8 with Julian and Kyla Price as facilitators for Grade 8,” he said.
“We’re looking forward to the leadership camp, Camp Evergreen in October.”
The school welcomed six new teachers this year. Terra Clements, Michelle Pengelly and Tambourine Simpson are teaching Grade 6 students, Jordan Hart and Christine Konyk are teaching Grade 7 and Renee Eastwood is teaching Grade 8.
Terra Clements is filling in for a maternity leave during this school year. Previously she’s been subbing regularly for Chinook’s Edge, Red Deer Catholic and Wolf Creek school divisions.
A graduate of Red Deer College and the University of Alberta she and her husband have seven children. Coaching and volunteer activities include skipping, aerobics and social committee.
Michelle Pengelly lives in Sylvan Lake with her husband David, son Emmett and golden retriever Zoey. She’s previously taught Grade 6-8 students at Glendale Middle School in Red Deer and Grade 7-9 students at Ryley School in Ryley. She received her Bachelor of Education from the University of Alberta.
She’ll be involved in cross country running, the Remembrance Day service and Operation Shoebox campaign at the school.
Tambourine Simpson earned her degree from the University of Regina. Her past teaching experience has been at H. J. Cody, Rimbey Christian School and in Ontario.
She lives with her husband and three children in Sylvan Lake and will be involved in junior boys basketball and the Renaissance program.
Jordan Hart is teaching Grade 7 language arts, social studies and math. For the past five years he taught language arts and social studies at Percy Baxter Middle School in Whitecourt and has moved to Sylvan Lake with his wife Chelsey.
He earned his Bachelor of Education from the University of Alberta. He says he’ll be involved in coaching badminton and whatever other clubs or teams might need some help.
Christine Konyk is teaching Grade 7 French Immersion core and Grade 6 English. A graduate of Campus Saint-Jean of the University of Alberta, she did practicums in Grades 4, 5, 7, and 10.
She’s moved to Sylvan Lake from Calgary and plans to be involved in coaching volleyball.
Renee Eastwood is teaching Grade 8 language arts, social and math. She earned her Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Education from the University of Lethbridge and has taught English and social as a high school teacher at Calgary Academy and has subbed in Sylvan Lake for the past year.
Married to John (who works for the town), they have a daughter, Lila who’s five years old and son Mac who’s two and a half years old.