So, why don't we have more students?

In reflection, these past four months at school have been tumultuous to say the least. The September 30 student count rocked our world - we lost another 15 students. Our enrolment, like other rural schools in Alberta, has been in decline. However, this last set back was a shock to the system. We lost a full time equivalent certified teacher and had to ask another to work half time. Our school board was faced with many questions and our local community woke up to a reality that its school might have to close.

Since September, we've all had to make adjustments at the school. As principal, I've had to take on half time teaching of our grade 1 to 3 classroom. Grades have been grouped together to form three classrooms, and teachers have had to make hard curriculum choices with regards to what we are teaching in the classroom. While we continue to hold the same high standards for reading, writing, and mathematics, we find time to teach the scientific method and globalization. Teachers are responsible for a wide spectrum of academic outcomes and yet, we also find time to be creative, to play with our students. We find time to create art and music, build things, act, cook, coach sports, and dance with our students.

We really haven't changed a whole lot.

So, why don't we have more students?