Education
Recently retired longtime teacher receives national recognition
Melanie Beebe stands with students in the outdoor gardens at École Oriole Park Elementary
A recently retired teacher at École Oriole Park Elementary has been recognized at a national level for her excellence in teaching.
Melanie Beebe has received a Regional Certificate of Achievement from the Prime Minister’s Awards for Teaching Excellence in STEM. She was nominated by the school’s Principal Lori Irvine.
“It’s an absolute honour to be recognized,” said Melanie. “Many names belong on this award. I have to give many people credit for this award because I couldn’t have done it alone and without the support I had from admin, my colleagues, parents, students, and the community.”
Melanie, who retired last June, began her teaching career in 1992 in Edmonton before spending the last 13 years in Red Deer Public Schools. “I’ve worked with some incredible teams throughout my career who have created some rich learning environments for students,” she said.
Teaching was always something she knew she wanted to do after having experiences in the educational system following the completion of her Bachelor of Science in Psychology Degree.
“I have always loved kids. I love their energy, and I love that they just give,” said Melanie. “Something that was really important to me was to create a classroom that was safe and caring where students felt that I loved them.”
She said she was fortunate enough to spend many years of her career in a French Immersion setting.
“Giving kids the opportunity to learn a second language is a gift. It opens your mind to learning a whole new language and a new culture,” she said. “French Immersion is challenging as it adds a layer in education, but students learn to problem solve and to work as a team, so I think it adds a good layer. It gives them a gift at the end of their school career in that they can converse in a second language.”
Some highlights of Melanie’s career include the Rethink Red Deer Capstone Educational Program which saw students plant and harvest vegetables at the Capstone Gardens beginning in the spring of 2022.
“I think giving kids opportunities and experiences to do different things really helps them grow and learn,” she said. “I saw this as a really exciting opportunity outside of the classroom and it was something that was hands-on. I saw a real difference in my classroom when we started the gardening project. My classroom changed and the kids became really cohesive and became a team.”
The project received national recognition in that Melanie and her class won the Canadian Geographic Queen’s Jubilee Classroom Challenge grand prize for their community involvement in gardening and native plant research.
“All of these successes came about through teamwork and collaboration,” she said. “The food that we helped grow was donated to the Red Deer Food Bank and Mustard Seed. It was an adventure in global citizenship and community involvement.”
She was also instrumental in bringing the Northern Coding Academy to Oriole Park. The program, funded by the Government of Canada’s CanCode program and administered out of the Telus World of Science in Edmonton, saw online instructors guide students in a 10 week coding school.
“It was an incredible technology learning experience for all of my Grade 5 students and for myself. This project incorporated the Social Studies Canadian history curriculum, French Language Arts, English Language Arts and Math,” said Melanie. “Students learned to code video games with Makecode Arcade about historical figures and moments in Canadian history.”
For Lori, she said nominating Melanie for the prestigious award was a no-brainer.
“When a teacher steps up and goes that extra mile and looks for opportunities to connect students to the community like Melanie did through the Capstone Garden Project, and when you have a group of students who you want to do right by each and every day, that is what Melanie does, and that is deserving of recognition,” she said. “She ran a very respectful and rigorous classroom and taught her students first and foremost to be good human beings. Academics are very important, but Melanie wanted to ensure her students were good people in society, too.”
Just when we thought our smiles couldn’t get any bigger – they did! And we have the Red Deer community to thank for their overwhelming support.
We are so excited to share the total from the Tim Hortons Smile Cookie Campaign this past spring…and it’s very impressive. In fact, it’s an all-time record, and we couldn’t be more grateful.
Over the long-week campaign held April 28-May 4, Red Deerians indulged in a lot of cookies – $80,773 worth! These funds will go directly to helping struggling readers become readers of potential through Reading College, a project of The Foundation for Red Deer Public Schools.
Reading College, held each July, provides students with identified reading gaps an incredible summer experience that builds their skills, confidence, and love for reading. Students leave the program with stronger reading and writing abilities, and a solid foundation for success in school and life. Now in its 14th year, 1,000 students have graduated from Reading College.
“We continue to be amazed by the generosity of our community and the partnership with Tim Hortons,” said Kristine Plastow, Board Chair for The Foundation for Red Deer Public Schools. “These dollars directly impact kids who need extra support to become confident readers. The difference this program makes is life-changing.”
Tanya Doucette, Tim Hortons Restaurant Owner in Red Deer, said it’s incredible to see what can happen when a community comes together. The simple act of purchasing a cookie by so many amazing guests, makes a huge difference for young students right here in Red Deer.
“This record-breaking year shows how much our guests care. We are so pleased to support Reading College and help give students the tools they need to thrive,” she said.
When you meet Brayden Chenier, a Grade 8 student at GH Dawe School, it’s clear why he’s been chosen to represent youth across Alberta. Brayden is the proud recipient of the Integrated School Support Program Provincial (ISSP) Chief Youth Courage Award, presented by the Calgary Police Youth Foundation, in recognition of his resilience, leadership and commitment to his community.
The award celebrates students who demonstrate courage and dedication to becoming a responsible and caring citizen, especially within a diverse school and community, and was presented earlier this spring at the Calgary Police Awards Gala. As part of the honour, Brayden will now serve as a youth ambassador, helping to raise awareness about child and youth crime prevention, education, and intervention programs across the province.
“It’s pretty surreal that I will be all over the province for a year,” said Brayden. “I am looking forward to helping out in the community.”
Brayden has been part of the ISSP program through GH Dawe School since 2023 and has benefited greatly from the support offered.
With the support of the mental health professional, Brayden has been able to successfully navigate a variety of challenges in his life including coming to terms with his disability and navigating a tragic loss in his life.
Born with clubfoot, Brayden has never let his physical disability stand in his way. He is an avid athlete in a number of sports including hockey, basketball, golf, track, volleyball and soccer. His goal is working towards becoming an athlete in the Paralympics.
Brayden was nominated by GH Dawe School Counsellor Amy Johansson, who described him as a compassionate, kind, hardworking, and honest person who is driven and motivated to be his very best at all that he attempts.
She added that within the GH Dawe School community, Brayden is a highly respected citizen by all students and staff. “He is highly committed to sports connected to our school, as well as sports outside of our school community. Brayden works diligently at his academics. And is so very helpful and caring, always. Brayden works to overcome a list of things that he will not allow to hold him back.”
GH Dawe School is part of Alberta’s Integrated School Support Program – a child wellness initiative aimed at improving academic performance and the overall well-being of students. The program supports schools like GH Dawe with services to meet the diverse needs of students and families.
As he takes on his role as a provincial ambassador, Brayden continues to be a role model for his peers and a reminder of the power of perseverance and community support.
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