The first day of school for students at Morrin School is Thursday, August 31, and principal Don Yavis is looking forward to another great year.
Yavis said Morrin School’s registration remains steady,
“It is looking pretty good, we are probably looking at the same number as last year, Maybe a slight increase,” said Yavis, adding there are strong numbers at the elementary level which bodes well for the school.
The school welcomes Amber Perry who will be teaching Grade 3 for Rachelle Grenville who is going on maternity leave.
They are also welcoming Stacey Hoppins who will be teaching ECS, also filling a maternity leave for Sarah Visser.
Ryan Wales began at the school last year. He is from the Coronation area and teaching high school sciences, for Heather Moriarty, and has had another year added to his contract.
One focus for the school they began last year, according to Yavis, is to encourage students to continue to talk about their dreams, to help them make dreams a reality.
“We are encouraging them to talk about their dreams with teachers and parents so we can develop our programming

to make sure we are working towards their goal dreams,” he said. “When kids are in elementary they say ‘I want to be this or that,’ but when they get older they don’t want to discuss it, so the teachers don’t really know where the kids are going or what their plans are so it is important we discuss that with them.”
The division focus has always been on teaching and learning, and Yavis says a large part of that is health and wellness.
“We are looking at a new breakfast program this year,” he said. “We had it for two days a week but now are making it five days a week.”
“We just want to make sure there is lots of nutritious food for these kids first thing in the morning, and that is for all the children,” he said.
Often, there is an impression that small schools are not able to offer a variety of programming for students.
“We offer a tremendous number of things for our students. We have kids doing electronics, we have kids doing robotics, woodworking, and welding, and it is all on site at the school,” he said. “We don’t have electives anymore. There is a CTS program where students can tap into their interest areas and then do their own projects with the teacher as a guide to help them along the way. So they can attack any interest they see fit.”
The school has had great success with their work experience program and this summer 16 kids participated. The Registered Apprenticeship Program (RAP) is also offered.
“I have some students who have expressed interest (in RAP). So we will start them in the work experience program so an employer gets to know what kind of a student they are, and then they will step forward and take the RAP program.”
“We are looking forward to an excellent year.”

Thanks to Canada Day Parade revellers, the Drumheller Fire Department was able to fill their boots.

In an annual tradition, the Fire Department walks the parade route each year collecting donations to donate to Muscular Dystrophy Canada.

This year they were able to collect $4,580 and last week present the funds to Amanda Race, revenue development manager for Muscular Dystrophy Canada, Alberta-NWT region.

She explains that 27 departments in Alberta participate in the Boot Drive and last year raised over $350,000

Drumheller has been a big supporter of the Boot Drive, and firefighter Mitch Smith tells The Mail over the last 10 years the Drumheller Department has raised $46,056.64.