St. Regis school shows off new look

ST. REGIS – The St. Regis School District took advantage of their open house event last week to educate parents and others in attendance about the school’s new programs, amenities and some new aesthetic features.

The event provided educators with an avenue of information for parents and others in the community who are curious about what the school district has to offer and what is new this year.

In addition to new programs designed to foster learning, there are programs designed to broaden student’s horizons and provide after school activities. Principal Joe Steele said the new opportunities will afford students an enriching educational experience in St. Regis.

“We wanted to invite parents and the community to come in and talk with other parents and teachers to access information,” Steele said. “We have a new student information system. We’re trying to open up communication. That was one of the concerns that the community had so this is a way to address it and be more accessible.”

One of the new programs will continue the educational experience for students even after the last bell of the day has sounded. From Monday through Thursday, 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m., students from kindergarten to fifth grade will be able to take advantage of the St. Regis Clubhouse.

The Clubhouse, according to information provided by St. Regis schoolteacher Julie Burklund, will provide snacks, outdoor exercise, homework time and a reading period for students. And after that, the kids will be allowed time to engage in fun and educational activities.

St. Regis Schools Superintendent Judy McKay said she was encouraged by the turnout for the open house. She said administrators and teachers received positive feedback from those in attendance that the school was beginning to engage with the community.

“We had a nice turnout and a lot of positive input,” McKay said. “I thought it was a very good evening.”

McKay said local representatives from two nationally recognized youth educational programs were also on hand to let parents know what opportunities they offered in St. Regis. The local chapters of Future Farmers of America and Business Partners of America both gave brief presentations about their activities with St. Regis students.

“The FFA and BPA are both growing in numbers and expanding here,” McKay said. “They are working hard to meet the needs of the children involved in the program. FFA is building a brand new greenhouse and the kids have been very busy mapping that out. The kids are anxious to get that up and going.”

McKay said the BPA chapter is focused on making sure students are prepared when they leave St. Regis schools. She said, in addition to those programs, the chess club is starting to meet as well as the robotics club, which gave a brief presentation at the open house.

The centerpiece of the aesthetic improvements and the one that generated the most buzz at the open house, according to Steele and McKay, was the gym. With a new paint job for the walls, a preserved mural that was a source of debate for a short time and most noticeably a new finish on the floor, the gym is set to provide Tiger sports teams and fans with an enriched experience for years to come.

“The gym came out really nice,” Steele said. “We are really pleased with how it looks.”