Drumheller Valley Secondary School is hosting its 21st annual Seniors Dinner December 11 at the high school. Those interested in attending are asked to contact Rose Poulson at the Town of Drumheller at (403) 823-1317.
A warm and wonderful holiday tradition in Drumheller is now in its 21st year.
The annual Senior’s Dinner hosted by Drumheller Valley Secondary School will be held in the school gym December 11.
“Youth and teens are frequently stigmatized in our media and especially television in regards to being bad,” said DVSS Principal Curtis Lapierre, “and it’s an opportunity for seniors to see teens in large numbers and say “Geeze, these are really nice kids.”
Lapierre said the dinner is an opportunity to connect seniors and youth, which was the specific purpose in mind for the school starting to host the dinner all those years ago, and a way to thank the seniors for all the contributions they’ve made.
The school usually hosts between 350 and 400 seniors for the dinner, said Lapierre, for a traditional Canadian roast turkey supper that includes an appetizer and dessert.
“You take youth, you take kids, and you give them an opportunity to serve somebody else, and literally we’re talking about them serving at the table - but just service in some way,” Lapierre explains, “and kids understand the importance of the ceremony. They understand the importance of giving - and they get a great deal of joy out of that. And we want to provide kids with the opportunity.”
Well over half of the school’s 450 students take part in working at the dinner in some capacity, from cooking to serving the meal, playing in the band, checking coats, making the table centerpieces, or escorting the guests to their tables.
Mr. Lapierre’s food class does all the cooking for the dinner, including making the bread from start to finish, on site.
The principal said his two favourite parts with DVSS hosting the meal are welcoming the seniors, and sharing with the kids how to plan, organize and execute a meal for 400 people, while making sure the food tastes good and is served hot.
“The kids themselves take a great deal of pride in that, and it’s a big accomplishment for them.”
The Town of Drumheller contributes funds toward hosting the dinner and the rest is paid through the school.
DVSS opens its doors for the Seniors Dinner December 11 at 11:30, the entertainment begins at 12:30, and dinner is served at 1:00 p.m.
Plan to attend the dinner by contacting Rose Poulson, Seniors Services Coordinator for the Town of Drumheller, at (403) 823-1317.
