Eckville Echo – Letters To The Editor

Dear Editor,
I would like to thank Steven Lush, the athletic director at Eckville High School, for nominating me for the Alberta Schools’ Athletic Association media award for my coverage of Eckville High School sports while I was employed by the Eckville Echo. I would also like to thank Wolf Creek School trustee Karin Engen for her letter of support.
I was truly humbled and honoured to receive the award which was presented to me Saturday night at a special awards banquet in Edmonton. The ASAA staff and board members treated all the recipients of the awards and their guests royally and it truly was a night to remember.
Eckville High School, its staff and its students, are truly an integral part of the community of Eckville. I am pleased to be recognized for any small part I played in making the community aware of the accomplishments of the students, both in academics and athletics.
I couldn’t have provided such coverage without the help of Steven Lush, Deb Macrae and all of the staff at the school who were always ready to help me and took time out of their busy day to answer my questions patiently and courteously.
Thanks so much for your help while I was covering the school events, and, above all, thanks for believing in me and nominating me for the award. I am very grateful to have worked with you all.
Treena Mielke,
Sylvan Lake

May 9, 2008

Dear Editor,
It was staff appreciation day at Eckville Elementary on Friday and I just wanted to take the time to publicly thank all the staff at the school.
I would like to thank you for taking the awesome responsibility of shaping my children’s lives seriously; for knowing that you can make or break my child’s day, simply in your response to him/her.
I thank you for the music program that challenges them to learn wonderful songs, play interesting instruments and perform in front of an audience; not to mention the awesome Christmas concert through which my children receive the gift of learning the real reason for Christmas and the joy sharing that reason with others.
I thank you for caring about the physical education of my children and for providing quality daily physical education classes; for teaching new games and encouraging participation at whatever level the kids are comfortable with; for being brave enough to play with the kids, fast enough to be good at jug and jog and strong enough to win at tug of war.
I thank you for sharing time with my children — for listening to the stories, looking at loose teeth, hurt knees, or hurt feelings; for caring enough to stop, look them in the eye and really listen; for sharing your love and the occasional mitten or toque; for taking time to warm up lunches, zip up coats and tie up shoes. For these small gestures, I cannot say enough — thank you for treating my children like your own!
I thank you for treating not only my children, but everyone with dignity and respect, thereby teaching them how to treat others with the same care; for it is through these daily examples that my children are learning how to deal with the world and become good citizens.
I thank you for answering the phone in a cheerful manner and always passing messages on to my kids; for keeping all the important dates organized; getting newsletters published and distributed; and knowing what is going on before it happens.
I thank you for attending conventions and learning one more way of teaching basic math facts; and for taking the time to implement these games and ideas into the class; for your positive attitudes when teaching a new concept; and for taking the time to explain it one more time to those who need it; for making the curriculum make sense, fitting in neat projects and still getting through all that is required.
I thank you for recognizing each student at least once during the course of the year at the special assemblies; for taking the time to look at the positive characteristics of each student; and for hoping that the kids will begin to see the great things that everyone has to offer.
I thank you for listening to my concerns at school council meetings and implementing those ideas that are of benefit to the whole school. It is great to know there is a place that all parents can go to help make the school a better place and that the staff is eager to share their time with us.
Most of all I thank you for accepting the challenges of being in education; of touching lives in ways they may never know; of shaping my children in positive ways and creating a warm and inviting climate in which learning can take place.
For these and many other reasons, I thank all the staff of Eckville Elementary – I am proud to have my kids attend this education facility. Whether you teach my children directly in the classroom, or indirectly by your presence in the school — THANKS for ALL you do!!
Shelley Dyrland,

April 18, 2008