Stawamus Elementary School staff, students, families and alumni gathered at the institution鈥檚 grounds on Wednesday, June 24 to say goodbye to their beloved 鈥渓ittle school with the big heart.鈥澛�
Beginning in fall, Stawamus will no longer function as a traditional elementary school. The Sea to Sky school district voted in March to discontinue the school in its current configuration and try to grow enrolment by offering two programs of choice: Cultural Journeys and Learning Expeditions.聽
The 麻豆社国产Nation-inspired Cultural Journeys for students in kindergarten to Grade 6 is an outdoor-based program that focuses on First Nations culture. Learning Expeditions, for students in Grades 7-12, offers project-based learning that involves critical thinking, collaboration and presentations.
鈥淚 know we are calling this a farewell,鈥� Rick Price, SD48 chair of the board of education, said at the event.聽
鈥淏ut I prefer to call this a celebration. One of the things we are celebrating is that we are not closing a school.
鈥淲e are delighted to be able to have found a solution that includes not closing a school in this district, but rather offering new and dynamic ways of learning.鈥�
However, many at the event lamented the loss of a school community that has thrived for the 59 years since the school originally opened.
鈥淪tawamus Elementary has certainly had its share of great sports teams, musical talent and notable alumni,鈥� said principal Juanita Coltman.聽
鈥淏ut we will all remember first and foremost the feeling of family at this school.鈥�
She acknowledged saying goodbye to the school in its current incarnation was emotional.
鈥淎fter 59 years, the Stawamus school sign is coming down,鈥� she said, offering those gathered a story about the inevitability of change.聽
鈥淏ut change is hard, so tonight is a night of reflection. The good times will live on in our memories.鈥�
It was a sentiment echoed by Kindergarten teacher Sarah Jajic, who had taught at the school for 26 years.聽
She ran through a memory-laden 鈥淎BCs鈥� of Stawamus Elementary, from how 鈥渁mazing鈥� it has been working at the small school to how much of a 鈥渮oo鈥� it could be at times.
Former principal Angela Uren was also on hand at the event to bid farewell to her former school.
鈥淲e were the best kept secret in Squamish,鈥� she said of the school. 鈥淓veryone truly cared about each other here. We were a family, working hard to accomplish some great things鈥� and we did accomplish great things.鈥�
Uren described being a student herself at the school and eventually returning as principal for eight years.聽
鈥淚t was interesting transitioning from a student to becoming principal,鈥� she said. 鈥淎nd having to talk to students about things they were doing that I also did when I was a student.鈥�
She told those in the audience to continue to 鈥渄ream big.鈥�
鈥淭hat matters,鈥� she said.聽
鈥淎nd I am confident that Stawamus Elementary will live on in everyone鈥檚 hearts forever.鈥�
The farewell celebration also included drumming and dancing from 麻豆社国产Nation鈥檚 Welh Tima Kexwusem dance group, live music from 麻豆社国产band The Overcomers and a potluck barbecue.
