The Village of Stirling’s population has increased by 39% since the year 2006, reaching 1,215 residents in 2015. Stirling School plays a crucial role in the vitality of our growing community. We develop good citizens, build holistic individuals, and shape future leaders… so much more than merely educating students. Stirling School was last updated approximately 25 years ago and is in vital need of modernization as well as expansion to serve the requirements of our growing community. A state-of-the-art music/drama theatre, a new science lab, flexible Career and Technology Studies (CTS) classrooms, a vibrant art room, a contemporary sound recording studio, community weight room, and a new gymnasium not only puts the students at the heart of learning, but also makes the school more civically robust while serving as an educational, cultural, artistic, and athletic centre.

This modernization will provide an enhanced learning opportunity for our young people and the community as a whole. Through this modernization, Stirling School will continue to provide strong educational programs by teaching our students with the most current, research-based, instructional strategies in an environment consistent with 21st century ideals. These critical improvements will elevate the economic, social, and cultural strength of our entire community. There is no question that improving and expanding our school is the community’s highest priority and one that will not only have an impact on our citizens but also shape the region. The modernization is budgeted at $15 million, with 93% of the funds having been pledged through Alberta Education and Westwind School Division. The Community of Stirling has accepted the challenge to raise the remaining $1 million. “Tradition of Excellence – Building For Our Future” is our campaign to secure our share of the needed funds to transform our school and community with this amazing opportunity.

Moving forward together

Stirling School is recognized provincially as a school that produces students with top marks and continues to be a leader in guiding students to success. Stirling School views the individual as more than a student. Through its dedicated staff and quality programs, the school develops good citizens, builds well-rounded individuals, and shapes future leaders. The Tradition of Excellence continues from when many of our residents attended Stirling School. Alumni are a source of pride for the Stirling School as respected and successful citizens; bringing honour and recognition to the school as well as the Village of Stirling. Stirling School’s educational foundation has played an important role in their success,­ and we will strive to continue this Tradition of Excellence by Building For Our Future.

Fundraising Committee Launches the “Sponsor a Seat” Campaign

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The “Sponsor a Seat” campaign has officially gone live. Seat sales will be tracked all weekend long. You can sponsor a seat in the new School Theater or the new Gym. Every $1000 donation will get your name on a seat.

The name plaque will be permanently attached to the gym or theater seats until the next school modernization –  approx. 50 years.

You can donate using a Visa, Mastercard, Interac or cheque at the Village Office.  Cheques can also be collected by a Fundraising Committee member. (Ben Nilsson, Jeff Nelson, Gary Bikman or Sandra Nelson) The Village of Stirling will be issuing the official tax receipt.

Phase I open-house/fundraiser a success

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Last night was the Phase I open house/fundraiser event which was a great time. Those who were able to attend took in the sights and the sounds of the recently completed Phase I of the school which includes a community gym (work-out facility), large gathering area, library/learning commons, several classrooms some of which will be used for science based teaching having a small work station with a sink which can be used for in classroom experiments or activities and of course there is also the new gymnasium. We were able to see the commercial kitchen put to work, though there were some growing pains, we were able to cook hot dogs and french fries for the over 300 people who attended.

 

Program

Next, those who attended viewed a video of the transformation of the Stirling School so far (the video can be seen to the right), were provided some history on how the Stirling School modernization was able to become a priority of Alberta Education, and the work behind the scenes which provided us with the opportunity to expand the Stirling School footprint to include a new gymnasium through a partnership with Westwind School division, Alberta Education and the Village of Stirling. The addition of the new gymnasium will allow the old gymnasium to be re-purposed into a new theater, sound recording booth, audio and video editing room, and several Career and Technology Studies (CTS) classrooms. We heard from the students and how this will impact the students for many years to come.

Fundraising Update

Finally, we were provided and update on the fundraising effort which have been taking place with the assistance of the School Modernization Ad-Hoc committee which includes: Ben Nilsson (chair), Sandra Nelson, Jeff Nelson, Gary Bikman, Matthew Foss (Village council representative) and Mike Selk.

The event included several cheque presentations from donors  finally the Village of Stirling was able to provide Westwind School Division with the first installment cheque totaling $257,988 at the event. Through much hard the School Modernization fundraising efforts have been able to successfully received commitments and donations totaling an outstanding $564,988 as of the start of the night with an additional approximately $3,000 raised at the event through ticket sales and the parent council bake sale/silent auction.

The donation and commitments range from $100 donations, to and amazing $250,000 and come in various forms including monthly recurring donation, in memory donations, personal, corporate and in kind donations. Though we have had great success to date by surpassing the 50% mark, we still have work to do to reach our commitment goal of $1,000,000.

 

How can you help?

We are asking you all to please help us reach our goal of fundraising $1,000,000 by donating, reaching out to your former classmates, business contacts, relatives that you may know to encourage them to donate as well. All donations big and small are greatly appreciated as they help move one step closer to our goal. If you would like to donate you can visit our donations page for more information on how to donate or for the Village of Stirling contact information.

Nice Gym, what else is new?

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After much hard work by the construction crews and some negotiation we were given a little sneak peak of what basketball games will look like for many, many years to come. Now phase I has been completed and we will have the opportunity take in all the sights and sounds during Phase I opening fundraiser event on Monday April 16th starting at 5:30 pm.  As many of you can attest the new gymnasium is truly a sight to behold, however, that is simply the tip of the iceberg as the Stirling School will end up with so much more that just a new gymnasium once the school modernization construction is complete. This post is a small sneak peak on the  new gathering area and commercial kitchen that are nestled just outside of the new gymnasium.

Kitchen

 

Now that phase I is complete the students, staff and community members have a fully functional, state-of-the-art kitchen, fully capable of preparing and serving a diversity of menu selections with its modern cooking technology. The kitchen includes: Stainless steel freezers, Combi-ovens, gas grills, sandwich bar, dishwasher, anything you would need to and much more. 

Overall the new kitchen has been designed as a fully functional, efficient kitchen with the capacity for preparing, serving, and selling food, while of course meeting all of today’s health requirements for safe food storage and production. While speaking with former Principle Mazutinec (now candidate superintendent, congratulations Mr Mazutinec),  he openly expressed the excitement regarding the food classes, catering, senior citizen “meals on wheels”, and weekend community socials (supper and a movie) which are all part of the plans for this component of our school. 

Gathering Area

The kitchen opens into the new gathering area which will become a multi-use space and will include tables and chair which can be used in association with the new kitchen to allow for some of the previously mention community socials. When not in use during events or lunch time the gathering area will double as overflow from the new learning commons/library giving students extra work space with the use of the tables and chairs. There will also be several risers that can be used as student seating which include several USB ports to allow for a quick top up for our phones and hand held devices.

Donations Update

A big thank you to those of you who have already donated and we continue to get regular donations. We have officially crossed the 25% mark reaching approximately $285,000 in cash and commitments to date. We are hopeful to see that number grow before our eyes in the coming days and weeks. Please visit our donations page to learn more about how you can help. You can also like, and share our Facebook page to follow the progress there.

Stirling School Phase I opening/fundraiser

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The Stirling School Modernization Ad-Hoc committee is hosting a Phase I openhouse/fundraiser on Monday April 16th starting at 5:30 pm. The ticket are $5.00 per person or $20.00 per family and will include a Hot Dog, french fries and beverage supper. The event is intended to give people the opportunity to come and have a look all the work that has taken place in Phase I, to receive an update on the School Modernization Phase II and fundraising efforts that are taking place. The night will include:

  • Starting at 5:30 pm access/tours of the complete Phase I construction
  • Dinner will start at 6:00 pm
  • School Modernization fundraising update and short program starting at 6:30 pm wrapping up the night around 7:00 pm

We hope to see you all there Monday April 16th at 5:30 pm. 

 

 

Gymnasium – What you need to know

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Early construction on new gymnasium

For those of you around Stirling still you have been lucky enough to see the external transformation of the new gymnasium which surely has been a sight to see. However, for many of us it is difficult to visualize how big the  new  gymnasium is and what an upgrade this will be for our school. I would like to present you with some details on the new gymnasium to help us better understand why this is going to be a welcome addition to the school that will serve the community for many, many years to come. The new gymnasium has 8,320 Sq Ft (733 Sq M) of playing surface compared to 5,672 Sq Ft (527 Sq M) with our old gymnasium more than a 46% increase. With the bleachers pulled out in our new gym there will be 6,070 Sq Ft (564 Sq M)  of playing surface compared to the 4,520 Sq Ft (420 Sq M) in the old gym or an over 34% increase.

New gymnasium from northwest corner

The size increase will allow for:

  • Two full basketball courts to run side by side going cross court 
  • Six full regulation badminton courts
  • One main volleyball court or two side-by-side full regulation courts going cross court 
  • Bleacher seating for 625 people 
  • Six glass backboards that are retractable into the ceiling
  • Two score clocks, a projector, a large projector screen 
  • There is a large retractable glass wall separating the gymnasium and the new gathering area

We have been working hard to reach our fundraising goal, however, we are currently only about 25% to our goal of $1,000,000 and we need your help in reaching our goal. Please visit our donations page to learn more about how you can help. You can also like us on Facebook to follow the progress there.

 

Stirling Historical Society Makes $5000 Donation

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Fundraising Committee Chair Ben Nilsson (left) and Stirling Historical Society Treasurer Bruce Larson (right)

After a recent call from the School Modernization Fundraising Committee to local service clubs and organizations, the Stirling Historical Society makes a $5000 donation.  While the Society acknowledges that their role is to preserve the past they wanted to be part of something that will be really important to Stirling’s future.  See the whole story.

Is your service group or are you interested in donating?  Contact the Village Office for more information  403-756-3379.

Phase I Nearing Completion

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Construction of the new gym nears completion.  The School is hoping to play final games of the season in the new facility.  Work is progressing and completions is now only weeks away.

Fundraising is now in full swing.