Chinook’s Edge documents student journeys in ‘Vision 2020’ series

Feb 2, 2020 | 1:00 AM

In 2007, the Chinook’s Edge School Division asked grade one students what their vision of 2020 would be. This year, those same students will be graduating and beginning their lives.

Sandy Bexon is the Communications Officer for the school district and author of Celebrating Chinook’s Edge, a weekly newsletter about the happenings of the school district, wrote the original piece 13 years ago as well as four current editions highlighting Vision 2020.

Allan Tarnoczi, The Chairman of the Board of Education for the Chinook’s Edge School Division said that the piece is an exciting look forward to a student’s grade twelve year, when they will be graduating.

“One of the things that happens, I started teaching in 1982. I’ve often thought about how things have changed. I’ve worked as a teacher, I’ve worked as a principal, I’ve worked at the central office and now I’m working as a trustee. I’ve often thought about what those changes are like and what I have seen and I’ve definitely seen a lot of changes, particularly in regards to technology,” said Tarnoczi. “We are much more inclusive now than when I started. But I’ll tell you, the thing that amazes me more than anything else, is how much things have stayed the same. You’ve got in front of kids, teachers who are doing everything in their power to help those kids succeed.”

Chinook’s Edge has taken efforts to connect with students on a larger level in what is called the Students Matter Committee. Students in grades 7-12 can become reps for their school and meet with other students in the division and share thoughts on major decisions in the division.

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“I’ve been part of Students Matter since I was in Grade 8,” said Sadie Jeffries, a Grade 12 student who will graduate from Sylvan Lake’s École H.J. Cody School this June. “I think it’s really cool to talk with students from other schools. The committee gives you an idea of how many people care about us and how much they are listening. When I tell others about Students Matter, it makes sense that a school division should be listening to students but I’m realizing it isn’t that common.”

Tarnoczi added that seeing students grow up and return to the community is the most rewarding part of the job.

“Not only have I seen those kids come in at kindergarten, I’ve seen them grow up and I’ve seen them graduate, I’ve seen them go off and sometimes do post-secondary education but in the end, most of the time get a job. Some of those kids have come back into the community where I live, I’ve seen them grow up and become adults and I’ve seen them have kids of their own.”

One of the students featured in Vision 2020 was Tristin Brown, a grade 12 student who is preparing to graduate and move on to college.

“I’m going to school for hairdressing, and I’m hoping to take over my grandmother’s salon one day. It’s in Red Deer,” she shares.

She added that she may not remember being asked about Vision 2020 in the first grade, she thinks it’s interesting to see what she thought it would be like 12 years into the future.

In the last excerpt of Vision 2020, Sandy Bexton talked to current grade one students about what their vision is for their graduation year, 2032.

by Dan Hermanutz

Chinook’s Edge documents student journeys in ‘Vision 2020’ series

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