Fresh start for Maskwacis alternative school with cutting edge new home

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In addition, the school offers outreach and alternate programs designed to meet various learning requirements in a more flexible learning environment. Described as a state-of-the-art facility, Ehpewapahk Alternate School is intended to be a launching pad for students as they head out into the world to make their mark.

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Officials with the Miyo Wahkohtowin Education Authority, which operates the building, say the school has four classrooms, study rooms, a library, a workout facility, a commercial-sized kitchen, staff lounge and offices, plus a comfortable space for its roughly 49 student to lounge and relax.

Andrew Fulks, the school’s Principal. says it has gone through many transitions over its roughly 20 year history, including starting off as a school for dropouts, gang members and other students who were simply struggling. Then the programming changed about five years ago.

“Just the school itself, by changing the look of it, by getting something new, it was really showing our kids that the community is investing in them” said Fulks. “They have this renewed sense of pride with coming to school. I’ve heard a lot of students say that they don’t even want to stay home on the weekend, they want to come to school every day.” 

Fulks further points out that besides all the latest technologies, they also have great people that work there.

“They’re really invested in our students and we really try to promote mindfulness with our students for them to build resiliency. We help to foster hope with them, sometimes hope is what they need to keep going.”  

He says the school focuses on promoting good behaviour and other positives, such as functional literacy, functional numeracy, employability skills and health and wellness, instead of dwelling on negatives.

“This new school really is a game changer for us,” said Fulks. “We can really elevate our programming to the next level where we couldn’t do that in our old facility. We just didn’t have the space or the type of environment that we wanted.”

The $4.5 million project saw the Canadian government contribute $4.1 million, with the Ermineskin Cree Nation contributing the remaining $400,000.