ROCHESTER — Aspen View Public School (AVPS) trustees met in a well-loved Rochester classroom for the last scheduled meeting in the hamlet before the end of the academic year and the closure of the K-9 school.
Rochester principal Elizabeth Siemens gave the small school’s last report to trustees, a presentation filled with palpable passion for her school and students. She gave update on current programming, option courses available, and the unique-to-Rochester activities that have made the school “an exceptional place to be,” a catchphrase coined by a former staff member.
It was during mention of the upcoming closure of the school and efforts to ease the transition for students that had Siemens and a trustee or two fighting back tears.
“We have weekly assemblies, so we have a sharing circle when its time to check in with students,” said Siemens. Regular visits from the Family School Liasion featuring presentations on social and emotional skills are also part of the last year process.
“It’s not just the students — they’re the focus of our transition plans, but we also are trying to make sure the parents are ready,” said Siemens. “To encourage that communication with parents, we’re inviting them in four times over the year to a family breakfast or to the Christmas dinner.”
Siemens said school staff is also working in conjunction with the Athabasca schools to schedule student tours of their new schools, so Rochester pupils can see what a day in the life of an Athabasca student looks like.
“I just want to say how grateful I am for the work you’re doing here,” said trustee and former Rochester principal Dennis MacNeil. “I don’t think there could have been a better person to be in charge of this school over the past couple of years; I want to applaud you for work that you’ve done.
“I also want to thank you also for the foresight for your transition plan, I know it’s a difficult part. It tugs on the heartstrings I think of everybody in this room,” he added with emotion in his voice.
On Jan. 25, a majority of trustees voted in favour of closing the Rochester School following the end of the 2024-25 school year after the questions about the viability of the building and enrolment numbers were called into question, and not for the first time.
Related: BREAKING: Rochester School to close after the 2024-25 school year
An exceptional place to be
Despite the emotions about the upcoming closure of the school, Siemens proudly described the student-led approach to learning seen at the Rochester School.
“One of the pieces I’m particularly proud of is our Rochester STEAM academy,” said Siemens. “Since it started in 2021-22, we have done a majority of our core curriculum on Monday to Thursday, leaving Fridays for options and career explorations.”
Standing for Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math, the STEAM program connects students with almost cost-free access to local recreational and educational opportunities.
STEAM options range from downhill skiing at Tawatinaw and robotics to outdoor and even veterinarian education, according to grade 7 pupil and student voice speaker Harper MacMillan.
“We’re given the option to pick our passions to learn about with STEAM projects,” said MacMillan. “I was able to go to a vet who’s a friend of our family and watch him pull porcupine quills from a dog and ask questions about the process — I loved it.”
Other highlights from Rochester programming and offerings include the nutrition program, which provides free breakfast and a once-a-week hot lunch for students, frequent outings like yearly field trips for each class, and what Siemens, staff, and students call ‘pew pew’ time.
“When the kindergarten to grade 6 physical education and health curriculums were combined and changed into physical education and wellness, we embraced the acronym of PEW and its connection to Star Wars guns going ‘pew pew,” said Siemens.
“We did a bit of an experiment with it, we have found this to increase their attention span and engagement for their other subjects, so it was really helpful.”
