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Wednesday, June 24, 2020

Lafleche Central School Box 130, 207 5th Ave W, Lafleche, SK S0H 2K0

www.prairiesouth.ca/lafleche T: 306-472-3192

The Lafleche students, staff, parents and community continue to amaze me with their positive

attitudes, never-ending eagerness to persevere, their dedication to their academics, their

enthusiasm for our school sports and the overall strive to make LCS the best it could possibly be.

We started this school year, like every year at LCS…staff and students with endless energy, skills,

and devotion to learning. We planned and celebrated many achievements and events until

March 16, 2020. This date will go down in history and in my career, most likely and hopefully, to

never happen again. The COVID-19 virus has plagued the world. Schools, businesses, and borders

closed in order to contain the spread of the virus putting everyone in uncharted waters. Fear and

panic spread with concern for the effect on students’ education.

When the pandemic first hit, our staff, as per usual, went above and beyond the call of duty to

provide, support, and reach out to students providing them with some type of learning at home

through technology and/or home packages. Many tears were shed as teachers cleaned out

lockers and desks feeling apprehensive about the untimely closing of the school. My sincere and

genuine thanks to my staff who stepped up and conquered this unique and difficult year!

A special shout out and thanks to the parents/guardians who have always contributed in ways

small and large to the school. Your contribution this year was unimaginable! Thank you for the

partnership between home and school; we know it was not easy this year and required more from

you than ever expected. We understand and appreciate your concerns about your children not

learning what is required for the future. We know it was a heavy burden on everyone’s shoulders.

We are grateful for all that you do, each and every day, for our school and our children!

To the students at LCS, we have missed and thought of you more than you can ever imagine! This

was definitely an exceptional and difficult year for you. You were robbed of competing and

participating in the sports you love, your music and dance lessons were discontinued, your learning

was challenged and your physical socialization with friends halted. My heart aches for the youth

who had to endure this. I wish I had a magic wand to reverse and change the outcome. However,

like true Lightning style, you took it in stride and conquered the challenges you were faced with.

You attempted to learn new things at home and found new ways to grow and succeed. I am so

honoured to be your principal; you make me proud. You keep me laughing and young at heart.

Currently, the staff have been busy preparing for the fall classes. Even though the government has

announced the opening of Saskatchewan schools in September, we continue to wait for direction

as to what that may look like. We know that the situation is unpredictable. Our staff and school

need to be prepared for different scenarios to ensure the safety and education of all students and

staff. Regardless, I have complete confidence in my dedicated staff who will work hard through

teamwork and perseverance to overcome any challenges that may arise.

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Here is a look at the staffing for the 2020-2021

school year:

Mrs. Sandi Cornet – PreK, Kindergarten

Ms. Lana Wilson – Gr.1 & 2

Ms. Taylor Hagenes – Gr. 3 & 4

Ms. Jaylyn Elek – Gr. 5 & 6

Mr. Mitchell Lindsay – Gr. 7 & 8 Home Room

Mrs. Crystal Bouffard – Gr. 9 & 10 Home Room

Mrs. Gillian de Graauw – Gr. 11 & 12 Home

Room

Mrs. Shirley Packet – Student Support Teacher

Mrs. Rachelle DeWulf – Classroom Teacher

Mrs. Lisa Packet – Administrator & Senior Math

Mrs. Karen Ellis – Educational Assistant

Mrs. Crystal Packet – Educational Assistant

Mrs. Darlene Miller – Educational Assistant

Mrs. Joelle Spence – Educational Assistant &

Library Associate

Mrs. Wanda Longworth - Administrative

Assistant

Mr. Michel Pinsonneault – Head Facility

Operator

Our support staff are amazing people!

During this challenging time, they continue to

work and support our teachers and students!

We are so blessed to have these people on

our LCS staff.

We are excited to have an intern joining our

staff in the fall. Ms. Terrilyn Sinclair is a former

LCS student and we look forward to her

young energy and new ideas that she will

share with our LCS family!

Together, as a community, we have learned

much and shared a unique time in history.

We will continue to persevere and help each

other out! The passion and strength within

our community makes our school a special

place for our children and a place that I am

extremely proud to lead and be part of.

I hope students who leave LCS and those

who return, maintain our Lightning strikes

attitude, and continue to conquer all the life

challenges they encounter.

2020 you continue to be a challenging year!

As we navigate the unknown ahead, the one

sure thing that remains constant is the great

students, staff, and community we belong to

and so proud to call HOME.

Our staff wishes you all the very best during

your summer vacation. We hope your days

can be full of fun with friends and family.

Don’t forget to make new adventures

whenever possible and return to LCS with

happy memories of a wonderful and

enjoyable summer. We are so looking

forward to the day when we can all be

together again at LCS. Lisa Packet

2020-2021 SCHOOL SUPPLIES

Purchasing your school supplies

through the School Start website

(https://schoolstart/ca/) is a great

way to get the supplies needed for

your children. Students receive the

precise supplies necessary and

orders are delivered right to your

door! Please note those who place

their order online could win $1,000 in

groceries!!! You will find more

information in the parent letter

included later in this newsletter.

*** NEW – Students will be required to

bring their own WATER BOTTLE and

HAND SANITIZER. These items have

been added to the School Start lists.

However, if you have already placed

your online order(s) you will need to

purchase those items elsewhere.

The school supply lists have been

emailed to parents. We have also

included these lists as attachments

with this newsletter. They can be

located on our school website as well

https://schools.prairiesouth.ca/laflec

he/school-supply-lists-for-2019-2020/.

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The staff and students at Lafleche

Central School would like to extend a

huge shout out and thank you to the

following:

- Dave Fehler (Town of Lafleche) for

putting up the banners of our

Grad 2020 students on Main

Street.

- Jim Hribnak for making the

necessary repairs to our Grad

2020 banners on very short notice!

- Lafleche Credit Union for

recognizing our grads with the

awesome displays posted on their

windows.

- Mrs. Joelle Spence for creating

the PowerPoint presentation of

our LCS 2019-2020 Awards.

- Wyatt & Grady Crooks for the very

thoughtful and meaningful

message and the delicious

cupcake treats for the staff at

LCS.

- R.M. of Wood River (Terry

Kirkpatrick) for grading our track

to keep the weeds down and

keeping it in shape for next year!

- LCS Teachers for all their hard

work preparing for the number of

scenarios we may face for the

2020-2021 school year. Your

professional dedication and

commitment to our students is

amazing. Please try to take a

break over the summer and

continue to take care of yourself.

The staff and students at Lafleche

Central School would like to

acknowledge and thank the following

businesses and organizations for their

sponsorship of scholarships. Your

support of our students is so very much

appreciated, and we are very grateful

for your contribution. Congratulations

to the LCS recipients:

- Lafleche Lion’s Club - $100

Highest Mark in Senior ELA

Tie: Brady & Fletcher Starke

- Lafleche Agencies - $100

Highest Mark in Senior History

Fletcher Starke

- Lafleche Legion - $100

Highest Academic Standing in

Grade 12

Shaun Bouvier

- Southland Co-op - $100

Highest Mark in Senior Math

Shaun Bouvier

- Lafleche Pharmacy - $100

Highest Mark in Chemistry 30

Brady Starke

- R. M. of Wood River #74 - $50

Highest Average on any two

Level 30 Sciences – Fletcher

Starke

- Lafleche Credit Union - $50

Each LCS Graduate of 2020

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There are still numerous items that have not been picked up from our Lost &

Found tables. We will be placing these tables on the front lawn on Wednesday,

Thursday, and Friday (until noon) THIS WEEK ONLY. Please come to the school

and take home any item(s) that belong to your child. On Friday afternoon any

items remaining will be packed up and donated to a worthy cause.

LOST & FOUND ITEMS

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June 29

PREP Day for Teachers

June 30

School-Based Organization Day

July 4

Grad 2020 Celebration

August 25

School-Based Organization Day

August 26

School-Based Organization Day

August 27

School-Based Organization Day

August 28

Professional Learning Day

August 31

Teacher PREP Day

September 1

First Day of Classes for PreK, Grade 1-12

September 2

First Day of Classes for Kindergarten Students

September 4

Regular Classes – Monday Timetable

Kindergarten Day

September 7

Labour Day Holiday – School Closed

September 9

School Picture Day

September 11

Regular Classes – Monday Timetable

Kindergarten Day

September 18

Regular Classes – Tuesday Timetable

PreK Day

September 25

Non-Instructional Friday

September 28

2:30 Early Dismissal

Dates to Remember

CROSS COUNTRY RUNNING

Calling all Cross-Country Runners! You need to meet, or

beat, Mrs. de Graauw as she runs to Bengough!

At this time, we are unsure as to whether we will have a

cross country season and, if we do, what that will look like

exactly. However, the athletes should have some training

in the event we can compete, so here's the challenge:

Mrs. de Graauw is committing to running 16km a week

for 8 weeks (from July 6th - August 30th.) That means she

will run 130 kms this summer, which is the equivalent of

running from Lafleche to Bengough. Your task is to meet

or beat her distance. There will be a prize for those of you

that complete the challenge.

Please use the running "log", attached to this newsletter,

to keep track of your kilometers ran. You can contact Mrs.

de Graauw at degraauw.gillian@prairiesouth.ca for

further information or with questions.

Please remember to respect social distancing rules and

local regulations while you run. And, most importantly,

be careful and safe while out on country roads and when

running in town. Don't run when it is dark, with music

which may distract you from hazards in your

surroundings or without telling someone where you are

going and when you will return. Happy Running!

Mrs. de Graauw

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These are our people…the students we share our lives with, almost daily, year after year. These

faces bring us joy, laughter and yes, sometimes heartache! Each and everyone of them is special,

unique and has gifts they bring to make our lives better. During these very challenging

circumstances they are, in every way possible, our heroes! Our job is to teach but these children

teach us many lessons as well and for that, we are humbled and grateful. We want you parents

to know that you have done an incredible job supporting your child by supporting us; you have

made our job easier.

The majority of our staff continued to come into the school and work throughout the past few

months and some of the staff chose to work at home. We will continue to lean on one another,

support one another and share with one another.

We were so saddened to have the school year end so early and abruptly. The 2019-2020 school

year is now behind us and we hope beyond hope that the 2020-2021 school year will be the best

year ever for our students.