North Memorial School in Portage la Prairie has started the year with fresh energy, welcoming new students, new staff, and new programs. Principal Valerie Smith says enthusiasm is high among students, parents, and teachers as the school heads into the fall.
Enrollment has grown by about 25 students, raising the population while still leaving space for more. Smith says the newcomers are already becoming part of the school community as “honorary Grizzly Bears.”
“We are really welcoming a lot of new people to our school,” notes Smith.
The growth comes alongside several staff changes, with fresh faces joining the team after retirements and transfers. Smith says the mix of experienced teachers and new voices will help the school continue to thrive.
“It’s always good to have new, fresh faces and new, fresh ideas,” adds Smith.
New support roles strengthen community
Among the new staff is social worker and Community Schools facilitator Charleigh Sandney, who joined North Memorial last week after working with another agency. She says the transition has been positive, though it is taking time to learn the names of so many students.
“It’s hard getting to know everyone’s names, but staff have assured me that I’ll learn as I go,” says Sandney.
She continues that supportive colleagues have helped her feel at home, and she looks forward to building lasting relationships in her dual role of student and community support.
Nutrition has also remained a priority, with the return of nutritional support worker Angela Meek. After a brief time away, she has rejoined North Memorial through the school division. Meek says her favourite part of the job is the daily connection with children.
“I absolutely love seeing all the children come in, and just learning about their day, what they’re doing in the evenings,” says Meek.
She explains that mealtimes often bring laughter, hugs, and silly moments that brighten the day. The school’s nutrition program, she adds, does more than fill stomachs.
“Just an amazing program that we have running here. Like, it’s unbelievable,” continues Meek.
She says regular access to breakfast, snacks, and lunches reduces stress for students and creates a supportive environment.
Chase is a student who says he loves having breaklfast at North Memorial, adding he can learn more easily with a full tummy. He notes chili beans are his favourite, which are served during the time when the school designates that as a meal as the menu changes each month.
Balancing growth with infrastructure
Smith notes that with more students and new staff, the school is also looking at how to balance growth with existing space. While there is still room for more students, future expansion would fall under the school division’s plans.
“That’s the first thing we look at is, do we have the capacity to make those projects happen?” says Smith.
In the meantime, the school has scheduled family meet-and-greet events, brought in new kitchen staff, and is planning activities like a bouncy castle day to strengthen school spirit. Social media will continue to be a key source of updates for parents.
A long-standing leader
Smith has spent more than three decades in the Portage la Prairie School Division, with over 25 years at North Memorial. She has been principal at the school for a decade, following eight years as vice-principal at La Verendrye School.
“I’ve been principal here, I think 10 years at North Memorial and eight at La Verendrye as vice-principal, but teacher here for over 25 years,” continues Smith.
She says North Memorial has been both the beginning and likely the conclusion of her career, making this school year a milestone. The blend of student growth, new staff, and strengthened supports has her confident in another successful year.
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