Pine Street Elementary

The Nordegg Experience was a resounding success again this year with memories the students will treasure for many years!  The weather was perfect (we missed the snow), the students were amazing and the parents were so supportive.  On Thursday, June 3^rd at 7:00 the students will be sharing with their parents a video that captures their experience.  We thank Mrs. Blacher for completing this video for out school archives.  Thank you to our staff Mrs. Brown, Mrs. Werner, Mrs. Lockwood, Mrs. Hawryluk and Ms. Stevens,  for once again offering this enriched educational program that has been a cornerstone at Pine Street for over thirty-five years.  Our parent volunteers, who led their group of students through the various learning stations, were such caring and capable people despite only catching a few hours of sleep each night!  We thank Mrs. Blacher, Mrs. Chalmers, Mrs. Gerling, Mrs. Klapwyk, Mrs. McCormack, Mrs. West, Mr. Bucknor, Mr. Churchill, Mr. Cloutier, Mr. Lucki,  Mr. Rudnew, Mr. Shewchuk, Mr. Simons. We wish to send a special thank you, to Mr. McFadden for providing a trailer for all of the luggage and supplies.   

Hats off to the Grade Six Parent Volunteer Fundraising Committee this year!  With support from our school community and their hard work there was no student fee this year. 

In anticipation of Nordegg 2011 school supplies will be made available from Write-On Stationary Supplies, Inc. to parents based on supply lists created by the teachers at each grade level.  This firm will purchase, package and deliver all your child's school supplies for the next school year. Ten percent of the funds generated would be profits directed to the Nordegg Program with voluntary family participation. Please return the order form that has been sent home if you would like to access this service.

Updated: June 2, 2010

It is hard to believe that spring has finally arrived and we will be heading to the mountains with our grade six students next month as a culmination to their Nordegg Program.  They are currently wrapping up their pre-study units learning about the geology, energy, botany and history of the Nordegg area.  During botany they visit our courtyard where they learn about plants and trees as part of their grade six science unit on trees and forests.  During our trip they are immersed in the forest as we hike for three days reviewing what they have learned.  Do you think they will be prepared for the Science PAT in June?

The Nordegg Fundraising committee wishes to thank everyone for the support of their fundraising projects this year: purchasing Entertainment Books, supporting the Family Dance and corporate donations.  With support from our families the Nordegg Fundraising committee has been able to make the cost of the Nordegg Program a reasonable amount for all of our students.   The Corporate Donations committee was successful in finding businesses committed to supporting this enrichment program for our grade six students.  Strathcona Councillor, Linda Osinchuk, has again funded our program with a donation and will be joining us for our celebration evening when we return.  Thank you to everyone on the committee for their dedicated hard work and to those of you with younger students, remember, one day your little one will be packing their bags to head to Nordegg!

Updated: April 6, 2010

The legacy continues at Pine Street.  Pine Street's School Council approved the continuation of this enriched learning program for our grade six students if the grade six parents agreed.  In early October a questionnaire was sent out to the grade six parents with an overwhelming response indicating they wished the program to continue and would assist with fundraising activities.  An organization fundraising meeting was held on Oct. 21^st with an amazing turn out. 

In September, with the support from School Council, the grade six parent group undertook two Nordegg fundraising projects that have helped give them a great head start.  The sale of School Supplies which is appreciated by many families brought in $721.30.  Entertainment Book sales organized by the grade six parents had a profit of $6747.13.  Thank you to the families who supported these projects. 

The committee will be organizing Ice Cream Sales, a favorite for our students and a Family Dance in March while also accessing corporate donations.  Their goal is to be able to fundraise enough to cover the entire cost of the trip for our students ensuring all students are able to attend.  They are hoping to provide each student a t-shirt commemorating the experience free of charge this year.

Updated: November 2, 2009

For over thirty years Grade Six students from Pine Street Elementary have participated in what is fondly referred to as "The Nordegg Experience". This program is an integral part of our Grade Six curriculum program and involves approximately ten weeks of classroom based pre-study in the areas of history, geology, energy, botany and wildlife studies of the Nordegg area. Conservation, protection of habitat, nature appreciation and the responsible use of resources are concepts that are integrated throughout the units of study which involves diverse classroom activities including the development of written research skills, critical analysis of audiovisual medium, and guest speakers. Students are actively engaged in the promotion of recycling, environmental research and the safekeeping of our own small piece of "wilderness" found within our school courtyard. This courtyard was intentionally built as a learning tool with botanical samples from the Nordegg area that are also related to the Grade Six Science curriculum topic, "Trees and Forest".

This project culminates in a three-day intensive outdoor academic focused excursion to Nordegg, Alberta. The itinerary includes a visit to the Rocky Mountain House Museum to gain a further appreciation of the fur trade and settlement of the area, fossil study at a limestone quarry, along with a tour of the Nordegg Town site. The Big Horn Dam Power Station and the now-closed Brazeau Collieries Mine are viewed. As well, geographical and geological study is made of Siffleur Canyon, Big Horn Canyon and Crescent Falls. Finally, the students participate in botanical studies around Goldeye Lake.

The Nordegg Experience continues to be successful due to the scope of its educational value. Annual student, parent and staff evaluations consistently indicate the successes of this program are not only enhancing academic knowledge but also instilling a sense of appreciation and responsibility for the natural environment. This project also provides a further opportunity to develop with students a sense of responsibility, co-operation, independence, leadership and the refinement of socialization skills.

The Nordegg Experience clearly extends far beyond the actual excursion. Students share their experience with parents and community members at the Students' Open House Evening. Participating students serve as role models and leaders in the larger school community, promoting the values they have developed. Former student participants have been so inspired by The Nordegg Experience that they pursued related career choices!

The Nordegg Experience is funded from various fundraising events with the exceptional leadership and support of the Nordegg Parent Fundraising Committee and students as well as generous corporate donations. The philosophy and practice at Pine Street continues this year with the parent group choosing to organize school wide events such as a Family Dance, Penny Carnival and ice cream sales that benefit the entire school community while generating monies in support of the program.

Visitors are invited to view the picture gallery located in the Grade Six wing. These pictures have been collected over a number of years and highlight various aspects of the program. We trust this brief summary will answer some of your questions. Please feel free to chat if you have further questions. We know you join with us in looking forward to your child participating in The Nordegg Experience when they are in Grade Six!

Updated: October 21, 2009