Angel Mergle-Orr
For the Lakeside Leader

The first two months of Lakeside Outreach School (LSO) have been busy and engaging for staff and students.

There have been many fun activities and educational field trips since the school year has started, and several students have already completed core subjects.

LSO has seen familiar faces rejoin us this school year and a whole new group of students as well.

On September 26, 2022, LSO students joined Roland Michener Secondary School and Prairie View Outreach School for an Autumn adventure at EC Bar Ranch.

Activities at the ranch included an educational nature walk where students learned about traditional Indigenous medicines.

Students also had the opportunity to practice fire safety when they made bannock and hot dogs over a fire.

To go with their bannock, students and staff also learned how to make their own home-made butter in a jar.

The activities ended with all of the students and even some staff making their way through the EC Bar Ranch corn maze, and a friendly game of Foosball.

LSO takes pride in celebrating student achievement, so on the last Wednesday of each month a monthly master chef, athlete of the month and citizen of the month is awarded to deserving students.

Jericho Noskyie was awarded athlete of the month of September.

Mia Knutt was the monthly master chef. Mary Maskow was citizen of the month.

To be awarded with one of these, LSO students should show that they are creating a kind and respectful learning environment, demonstrating good sportsmanship, showing responsibility in the kitchen, and collaborating well with others.

There is a flourishing physical education program at LSO where students are able to attend Slave Lake’s Multi Rec Centre on Monday, Wednesday and Friday and various other venues in our community on Tuesday and Thursday.

LSO also played host to High Prairie School Division’s annual golf tournament on September 21, 2022, thanks to the work of Lyndsay Baird.

There hadn’t been an annual golf tournament for three years, partially due to COVID-19 restrictions.

Forty-two student golfers from around the region competed.

Moving into October, students are learning to skate at the local rink, and LSO hosted its first grad meeting of the year. It was confirmed that the Legacy Centre will host LSO’s grad ceremony again this June. This was followed up by a student survey, to iron out some of the other details, which was sent out to student school emails.

LSO opened up the school to the community on October 5, 2022 for an open house and turkey dinner.

Students Emma Jeffreys and Angel Mergle were able to earn three volunteer hours for their community volunteerism class by helping prepare the space and meal. Every 15 hours equals one credit.

As the month of October comes to an end, LSO staff and students have enjoyed a quiet and focused couple of weeks, before capping the month off with a field trip on October 25, 2022 to North Shore Homestead, as part of LSO’s Jr. PD days.

LSO students earned one credit that day participating, in WLD 3020: Wildlife Protection and Stewardship.