With summer drawing to a close, staff at Garden Valley Collegiate are preparing in their own ways to welcome students back for the new school year.
Principal Mike Friesen
This fall marks Mike Friesen’s first year as principal of GVC. He said much of his summer has been spent reading through policy and procedure and meeting with new teachers to get settled into the role. Having already worked at GVC for years, he’s confident in the year ahead with what he calls “a great team here, great teachers and great students.”
Friesen said one of the main focuses is helping grade nine students navigate the transition from grade school into high school. “There are lots of nervous people, but it’s amazing how quickly they settle in once they get a lay of the land and understand how to open the locker and where their classes are situated.”
Business Ed Teacher Rhonda Kezema
For Rhonda Kezema, preparation for the year starts early. She says for her method, some time is spent each summer adjusting lesson plans and gradually easing back into “work mode” before students arrive.
Her goal in September is to create a welcoming environment. Icebreakers, games, and even short clips from shows like Dragon’s Den help break the ice and spark interest.
“The students usually are well engaged then because they’ve probably seen or heard the show and kind of, oh, this is what I’m up to this next semester.”
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Guidance Counsellor Ross Derksen
In the guidance office, Ross Derksen has been busy with schedule changes and new student intakes. Teens often reconsider their courses in August, sometimes realizing they need classes like physics or computer studies for the career they are looking to pursue.
Derksen also helps families new to the community register and settle in. Tours of the building and communication with teachers are key to making the first days smoother.
“I always tell them, you know, all the grade nines are new to the school and we have probably 40 other new students. So there’s 200 people that the first couple of days are trying to figure things out that they are not alone.”
Though new school years can bring about anxieties, the staff at GVC are ready to go and have made it a goal to ensure new students feel welcome and acclimate easily so that everyone can have a great back-to-school.