Page 16 - OCTOBER 27, 2016 - martensville messenger
Affinity Credit Union Treats
GSCS Announces French Immersion
ResidentsShanine
toSealey,
Free
Lunch at A&W
Programming in Martensville
Martensville Messenger
Anyone stopping by the
The theme for this year’s Credit
Martensville A&W from 11:30am
Union Day was “The Authentic Difference”,
to 1:30pm Thursday,
where Credit Unions
October 20th was in
recognize the things that
for a pleasant surprise.
separate them from the
Upon walking into the
big banks. “Credit Unions
restaurant, they were
are synonymous with
greeted by an employee
supporting local and this
from the Martensville
year’s celebrations are
Affinity Credit Union
no exception. We have
branch and offered a
gone to local business
free lunch consisting of
members and asked them
a teen burger, fries and
for a donation to create a
a drink. A total of 135
raffle basket representing
patrons were treated to
the
“Advantages
of
lunch on Affinity Credit
Supporting
Local.”
Union.
Martensville, Warman and
This was done ABOVE: Everyone was enjoying their Dalmeny branches have
Teen Burgers on October 20th.
as part of Credit Union
each had their baskets on
Day, which is celebrated
display for a week prior to
on the third Thursday of October
Credit Union Day and any Affinity members
each year by Credit Unions around
have had the opportunity to enter our draws,
the world. The Martensville branch
with a combined value of over $1000,” Tena
also offered cookies and coffee to all
Strunk, Affinity Credit Union Financial
members that came into the branch
Services Manager , explained.
that day, as well as doing a draw for
For more information on your local
a prize basket containing numerous
Affinity Credit Union, contact them at (306)
donations from local businesses.
934-4000, or visit www.affinitycu.ca.
Shanine Sealey, Martensville Messenger
Since the announcement that Martensville was getting a newly constructed jointuse school, there has been much planning done by both the Prairie Spirit School Division,
as well as Greater Saskatoon Catholic Schools in preparation for the opening, taking place
in the fall of 2017.
A major announcement was made following the October 17th GSCS Board
meeting, with Holy Mary Catholic School in Martensville being selected as the region’s
designated school for dual-track French immersion programming. Students attending the
school will have the option to choose between an English only classroom from kindergarten
to grade 8, or French immersion programming from kindergarten to grade 8. The French
immersion programming is an option in addition to the English only classrooms, and is
there only for those that prefer that alternative. “This is a combination of a fair amount of
work that we have been doing with the community and the request has been quite consistent
that the board considers this,” Greg Chatlain, GSCS Director of Education, explained. With
feedback from the community via a survey, it was clear that French immersion programming
was desired within Martensville, and according to Chatlain, “the numbers seemed to work
from the division standpoint to make the program viable.”
Currently, there are approximately 40 students being transported from Martensville
to Saskatoon to attend French immersion classes. Once Holy Mary School in Martensville’s
Lake Vista development opens, it will become the designated French Immersion Program
for Martensville and Warman. Students residing within these communities, who currently
attend St. Paul and Sister O’Brien in Saskatoon, will no longer be bused to these schools.
Buses will however be provided to Holy Mary beginning September 2017. “We believe
that there will be enough interest to run a good, stable program there, and even though
we may start out a little smaller, it will grow and develop and we will have a nice, solid
English program, and a nice, solid French program as well. We run schools like this very
successfully in other parts of the School Division,” Chatlain stated. French immersion
programming is not offered in all GSCS facilities, and Martensville will become a regional
placement for students living in both Martensville and Warman, as Warman’s Holy Trinity
School will offer an English only program. “We feel this is a much more geographically
relevant and family friendly approach to responding to the request and the needs of the
communities,” Chatlain stated.
Following the announcement, GSCS is hosting information nights from October
24th to November 1st for families with students attending their newly constructed schools
next year. The Martensville meeting was held Tuesday, October 25th at Immaculate Heart
of Mary Parish. “The intent of these meetings is to update the community on the progress
of the facility itself and updates on program decisions like this one, and then we can begin
to discuss what that means for the process leading up to the opening in the fall. There are
lots of good things on the go and we are excited.”
An additional information night will be held in January 2017 as GSCS would like
to have registrations complete by the end of January 2017 to assist in planning. Visit www.
gscs.ca for more information.
ABOVE: Affinity Credit Union staff Tena Strunk and Krystal Scutchings, Dorothy Ens, Manager of
A&W and Tony Korol, Branch Manager at Affinity Credit Union.
Attention Hunters
We are ready for your wild game.
Please call or visit our website for more
information.
Happy Hunting
Saskatchewan!
Stay safe
From your hunting partners at
(306) 955-9791
www.smokehaus.ca
After Hours ($30) 306-380-0563
RIGHT: Greater Saskatoon
Catholic Schools held
an Information Night at
Immaculate Heart of Mary
Parish in Martensville
Tuesday, October 25th.
Families were invited to
come out and learn about
Holy Mary School.
‘Lest We Forget’
Remembrance Day
is Approaching
Do you have memories
and pictures of anyone
in your family that
served in the military?
If so - we would like to
publish these.
Please contact our office
at 306-668-1093