By Kirsten Smawley
Theresetta School
The Theresetta teachers and students are currently enjoying their well-deserved Christmas break. The month of December was another speedy month at Theresetta. Students were busy with starting the basketball season in junior high, Christmas Concert practices for all the grades, and lots of learning units being wrapped up in all classes. It was a fun, fast, and fabulous month.
The whole junior high student body visited the Lodge on Dec. 6 to spread some holiday cheer. The students made ornaments with the residents that expressed their Christmas wish. The group had brought along a large Christmas tree cutout to hang on the wall and decorate with the residents wish ornaments. Some students took some time to play their favourite Christmas song on the piano and there was even a Christmas carol sing-a-long.
On Dec. 13, kids participated in the last Junior ATB day for the year. There were 11 employees present that helped with the 14 deposits that were made. The winners of the monthly draws were Kyla Beaumont, Rylee Charbonneau, and Ashley Renschler. Students can save up all their money over the break and the Junior ATB will be back at it again in the new year.
The girls’ basketball team has already put a few hard hours into practicing this year. The female Knights even managed to fit in two exhibition games before the break. The squad took on the Provost Angels on Dec. 12. It was a long road trip to their fellow East Central Division school, but Provost was so welcoming and the girls had a fun game putting to work their skills for the first time in the year. Coach Ries commented, saying it was the first time his team has been able to make it to Provost for a game and both schools were happy to finally make the match-up happen. The victorious Knights were back at it again the next day, as they took on the Killam Kougars. Trying to fine tune some plays, they worked hard but were defeated. The Knights will be back in Killiam for the Kougar Classic, their first basketball tournament of the year, on Jan. 11 and 12. The girls had a fun two days battling on the hardwood, and they are all really excited for the upcoming season to start in the new year.
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The Theresetta gym has been a busy place this month as the boys have also been practicing, gearing up for a full basketball season. The male Knights travelled across town to take on the Gus Wetter Raiders on Dec. 11 for their first exhibition game of the year. The boys played hard but lost out in the end. The boys travelled with the girls’ team, the following day, to Provost where they took on the Provost Saints. After rethinking some plays from their game the day before, the boys put in a good effort but were again defeated. The boys’ coach, Mr. Fink, did comment saying the team has learned a lot already from their two games, and the improvement from one game to another is a great sign for what is to come this season.
The Grade 1-2 class spent a few days putting their letter writing skills to work to get their Christmas letters to Santa written before the holidays. Their teacher was impressed to see how the students didn’t want to just jump into asking for their presents. Instead, they first asked many questions as they were curious about Santa and his workshop in the North Pole. It was great to see the Christmas spirit coming out in the students and seeing them put others before themselves.
On Dec. 20, Theresetta presented its annual Christmas Concert night consisting of three separate plays. The elementary music classes were busy most of this month practicing and polishing their musical for the Christmas Concert. Throughout the school, there were some scurvy-looking pirates, some adorable elves, and some dancing reindeer ready to put on a fun show. The play was about Santa’s elves coming across a crew of pirates as they were on their sunny vacation before their busiest time of year. The pirates then take the elves hostage to steal their treasure at the North Pole. The pirates aren’t made for cold weather and their arrival at the freezing North Pole forces them to join the elves in some dancing and singing to stay warm before they eventually learn the true meaning of Christmas, giving not taking. The students did a great job acting, dancing, and signing and the Pirate’s Christmas play was such a fun way to send the Theresetta community off into their Christmas break. Mrs. Kneller is very thankful for all the help she has received from the talented Theresetta staff members who had worked hard to create fantastic props and costumes for all the actors and singers.
Next up in the night, was the annual Grade 9 play. Written, conceptualized, acted, and directed by Mr. Reis and his Grade 9 Language Arts class. It was a comedic play about a Calgary Flames and Edmonton Oilers player’s reunion being double booked at the Castor Community Hall. The students took on outgoing characters which provided many laughs. The play itself was based around a trivia challenge between the two hockey teams to see who won the right to use the hall, which allowed lots of hockey references to be weaved in. It was well written, and well performed, by Theresetta’s group of Grade 9s.
Lastly, was the annual Nativity Scene play. The Grade 7-8 class provided the actor, and the narrators. The play was accompanied by a junior high choir group that helped tell the story of Jesus’ birth. It was a beautiful rendition of the Nativity Scene and the junior highs did a great job presenting the Christmas story to get everyone into the Christmas spirit.
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The fabulous, musical, and entertaining night ended on a high note, or rather a few high notes, as the junior high choir presented a special song to end the night. Their voices were so beautiful and powerful, it was a great end to the special night. Thanks to all those who came out to watch the student’s preform!
With Christmas holidays about to begin, the Grade 1-4 students kicked off their last day of school, on Dec. 21, with some Christmas fun. In the morning, the students got to decorate Christmas cookies, play Christmas bingo, and got to make a Christmas themed craft. Then, after lunch the whole group, joined by some helpful parents, walked to the arena and enjoyed some skating fun! It was a great note to end on before holidays officially began.
Concurrently, the Grade 5-9 classes headed off to Stettler on Dec. 21 for some end of the year fun of their own. The Grade 5-6 class started their morning with a dip in the Stettler pool, while the Grade 7-9 students tried their luck at bowling. After meeting up together for lunch, the whole group headed over to the Jewel Theater for the magical, classic Christmas movie The Santa Clause to end their day.
The Theresetta students and staff wishes everyone a very Merry Christmas with your family and friends. A happy New Year to you and yours. And a relaxing holiday break for all the Theresetta families, staff, and community. See you all back at it in 2019.
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