Excitement is building for the grand opening of the Theresa C. Wildcat Early Learning Centre in the Ermineskin Cree Nation.
The event runs on Dec. 8, beginning at noon with opening remarks followed by snacks and refreshments, a look at the curriculum program, and family booths to check out.
At 1 p.m. there will be an honour song, a tribute to the late Theresa C. Wildcat, and a ribbon cutting.
The school, which serves children in pre-school and kindergarten, has been named in honour of Wildcat, a residential school survivor who was the first member of the Maskwacis Cree Nation to graduate with an education degree.
“From what I’m told, she was the first certified teacher in Maskwacis,” said Marlene Edgi, the school’s principal.
“She did a lot of work in the Cree language programming. I was just meeting with her family recently, and at the grand opening they are going to share some of the lessons that she created, and some of the resources that she developed over the years as well.”
Wildcat passed away in 2011.
According to her obituary, her many honours over the years included the Augustana Alumni Association Citation Award in 2010, the Alberta Centennial Medal in 2005, the Esquao Award — Lifetime Achievement Award in 2004, and the Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal in 2002.
She was also on the University of Alberta Senate (1978-1981), was a founding board member of Maskwacis Cultural College in 1974, and was also elected as the first woman councillor for the Ermineskin Cree Nation in 1966.
Meanwhile, besides serving preschool and kindergarten-aged children, the school also has an Interactions Class which is set up for students with special needs.
Programming for these students is individually based, and there are individual program plans for each student, she said.
For preschool and kindergarten students, the goal is to help develop their cognitive, emotional, and social skills, particularly for preschoolers.
“The kids also participate in Cree language classes and land-based learning — these are things that they do every day.”
Land-based learning includes taking the children out for such activities as picking sage, collecting wood, and learning about winter preparation as was done in past generations.
As for the brand-new facility, Edgi said it was absolutely built in a way that is aimed at four- and five-year-olds.
“When you walk through the door, it’s like a magical place. I think that is what I’m trying to create for our school … that this is a magical place where students are going to love to come to learn.”
On Nov. 23, a parent engagement night was planned to allow moms and dads to get an up close look at the new facility as well, she said.
For Edgi, who also worked as a kindergarten teacher for several years, there couldn’t be a more suitable career.
“You get to plan the most engaging and fun lessons,” she said, reflecting on working with the youngsters.
“It’s different from traditional school where the kids are sitting down and working from books. In kindergarten, we are using all of our senses — we are singing, we are dancing, we are doing all of those hands-on activities. That’s why I loved being in the classroom.
“I just want it to be a magical and happy place, because this is the start of school and you want the kids to feel excited, and to think, ‘I’m starting school and this is what it’s going to be like.’”
Her role is now more administrative, but she still takes time to directly engage with the students as much as she can.
“I try to get to the classrooms every day, and my goal is to coach the teachers,” she said, adding that altogether the school has 21 staff which includes a speech and language assistant, a school counselor who does play-based counseling, and a Cree language instructor.
“We also have access to an occupational therapist and a physical therapist — they come in at least once a month,” she said.
“We have tonnes of support here.”