November 3, 2010 - funds used to open full-day Kindergarten at Tipaskan

At the September 14, 2010 Board meeting, the Board of Trustees approved using $125,000 of the $175,000 in donations realized by the District Foundation during 2009-10 to fund a full-day Kindergarten program at Tipaskan School during the 2010-11 school year.

To celebrate this occasion, the Foundation hosted a Mad Hatters Tea Party Wednesday, November 3 from 9:00 to 10:30 a.m. at Tipaskan School, which was sponsored in part by Mac's Convenience Stores Inc. Adorned in hats made by students from Dr. Donald Massey School and Nellie McClung Program students from Oliver School, approximately 60 Foundation friends and about 20 other individuals, including students, parents and staff members from Tipaskan School, were in attendance.

The event was emceed by two students from Tipaskan School and included greetings from Board Chair Dave Colburn, Superintendent Edgar Schmidt and the Foundation’s Board of Governor’s Chair Louise Hayes. In addition, Foundation Director Sandra Woitas shared brief remarks and Principal Lil Rueck spoke about the impact the full-day Kindergarten program will have on students and announced that students are planning their own pay-it-forward fundraising campaign. The intent is the funds raised by the students this year will be gifted to the Foundation to put towards another full-day Kindergarten program in the future.

Immediately after the formal program, guests were taken on a tour of the school and the Kindergarten classroom to visit with the students and teacher, Meghan Loney. The event concluded with a tea party celebration in the gymnasium, which included food and beverages donated by Mac’s Convenience Stores Inc.

The Edmonton Examiner covered the event and posted an article that same day.

Shaw TV also interviewed Director Sandra Woitas, Principal Lil Rueck and Teacher Meghan Loney and videotaped the Kindergarten students. The interview can be view on Channel 10 starting Friday, November 12.

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