ATHABASCA – The end of the 2022-2023 school year marks the end of a chapter for Whispering Hills Primary School (WHPS) and its principal Lorna Anderson who is retiring after heading the school for the past 13 years.
Anderson said that working with young students has always been her passion throughout her 32-year long career in the region, while highlighting a litany of other successful initiatives at WHPS during her tenure. Shona Hunter will be stepping into the vacancy at WHPS for the 2023-2024 school year.
“For me, that K-3 age group is where my passion really lies. There’s so much learning happening, about how to do school, how to read. Most kids come in as non-readers and when they leave in Grade 3 they’re reading,” said Anderson during a June 27 interview. “But I think it goes further than that as well. All the staff here share that passion for working with little people.”
Enroute to building that culture, Anderson said she always asked a simple question: What’s best for the students?
“It may not be best for the staff, it may not be best for others, but if you tailor your decision making on what is best for students, and what is best for children, you can’t go too far wrong,” she said.
With that as a guide, Anderson was able to help foster a positive working environment that is one of her proudest accomplishments.
“The commitment and dedication of the staff at WHPS … our staff go above and beyond every day to ensure that students get what they need,” she said. “I just think that the culture that we have continued to create and foster, that culture of caring. For me it’s about modelling it myself. If the staff see that they’re being treated in a caring and compassionate way, it enables them to foster that with their students.”
The other area that Anderson is most proud of is the APPLE program, which stands for, ‘A Project Promoting healthy Living for Everyone in schools.’ The program serves 30,000 students across B.C., northern Alberta, the Northwest Territories, and Manitoba and focuses on improving their eating habits, physical activity, and mental health.
“Not that WHPS wasn’t focused on healthy and active living before, but we took it to another level with the program providing free milk to children, and the breakfast program that we’re able to provide where every child gets food if they need,” said Anderson.
“If children don’t have what they need, if their basic human needs aren’t being met, it’s almost impossible for them to learn. We have to provide that structure and create that culture so it does then empower them and allow them to learn. I think they’re happier, and I think happy students are better learners. And we know that students that move are better learners.”
Aspen View Supt. Neil O’Shea, who is also retiring at the end of the school year, said that Anderson was always passionate about her work, and her demeanour rubbed off on everyone else.
“Lorna has always had a positive, upbeat attitude. She is a solution-focused leader who cares deeply for her students, their families and her staff. Her warm smile will be missed.”
