New vice-principal returns to alma mater LES STULBERG Independent reporter The Clearview School Division has appointed Katy Syson as a William E. Hay Composite High School vice-principal for the 2013-14 school year. Principal Norbert Baharally said Syson, a Stettler native, is a William E. Hay graduate. “We are very excited to have Katy join our staff and administration team,” Baharally said. “Katy is a very positive, upbeat and enthusiastic person. “With the commitment to her students,
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our extracurricular programs and fostering and building relationship with students and staff will benefit. She will fit right in.” Syson joins Myranda Shepherd as one of the high school’s two vice-prinicpals. Shepherd said the high school has “had a two-vice-principal model forever — and sometimes three.” She said when there are multiple viceprincipals, they each spend time in the classroom. After the retirement of vice-principal Gordon Moorlag last year, Shepherd and Baharally each assumed expanded roles. This year, Shepherd has been a full-time vice-principal.
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“We are a school sizeable enough that we need that support for our students, parents and staff,” she said. Syson welcomed her new challenge. “I am looking forward to my new role as vice-principal and thrilled to be working with the staff, students and parents of William E. Hay Composite High School,” she said. “I am very excited to be back in Stettler.” Syson began her teaching career in 2006 at Clive School. In September 2008, she joined Ponoka Composite High School as a teacher and a member of tthe student services team as a co-ordinator. Her responsibilities included school programming and
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academic and personal counselling. This year, Syson has been working at the Stettler Elementary School on a part-time basis. During her years in Ponoka and Stettler, Syson has led activities such as graduation, professional learning communities, TA programs, cognitive coaching seminars and school-wide celebrations. She has also been active in supporting extra-curricular programs, including student union, Skills Canada and coaching junior and senior girls’ volleyball, track and badminton teams. In 2011, Syson completed her master’s degree in counselling psychology at Yorkville University in New Brunswick.
June 19, 2013
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Mayor’s son dies Jaden Richards ‘very much an athlete’ RICHARD FROESE Independent reporter
Just two days after Father’s Day, Stettler Mayor Dick Richards suffered the sudden loss of his 14-year-old son. Jaden Richards died of an apparent medical condition just before noon Tuesday. “Our hearts and thoughts go out to Dick and his family,” said Rob Stoutenberg, the chief administraRICHARD FROESE/Independent reporter tive officer for the town. Jaden Richards, who died Tuesday at age 14, poses with his father, Town of Stettler “It’s a very traumatic incident Mayor Dick Richards, during the Family Day activities in Stettler this past February. and we support the family in any
way that we can.” Jaden was a Grade 8 student at Stettler Middle School and active in sports. Just last week, he won the intermediate boys’ shot put event at the CARA Invitational track and field championships in Stettler. “He was very much an athlete,” Stoutenberg said. Jaden also played hockey with Stettler Minor Hockey Association teams. His father Dick was one of his minor hockey coaches. In respect for the family, the mayor has asked for privacy during the time of bereavement. Funeral arrangements were incomplete.
RICHARD FROESE/Independent reporter
About 30 cancer survivors brave the rain in the Victory Lap in the Relay for Life last Friday night at the William E. Hay Composite High School track in Stettler.
Relay for Life battles cancer ... and rain RICHARD FROESE Independent reporter Despite a wet start, the fifth annual Relay for Life in Stettler dried up and netted just under $50,000 last Friday night at William E. Hay Composite High School track. “We raised about $49,000,” said Trish King, co-ordinator of the local event and revenue development co-ordinator with the Canadian Cancer Society in Red Deer. “That’s awesome. “We had 101 participants and about 30 in the survivors’ lap.” More than 750 illunaries were lit in a ceremony at dusk in memory of loved ones who lost their battle with cancer.
With support declining since the first event attracted 49 teams and raised more than $170,000, organizers plan to reschedule the local fundraiser in September, starting next year. Local civic leaders urged the participants as they spoke during opening ceremonies in the rain. “I commend the people for organizing this event and I encourage you to make it as much fun,” said County of Stettler Reeve Wayne Nixon. Words were also given from the Town of Stettler. “Don’t let the rain discourage you,” said Coun. Peter Simons, who described the fight to battle cancer as courageous. “It’s relentless and unforgiving and requires perseverance and courage, and that’s why we’re all here.” A cancer survivor and former local relay co-ordinator shared here experience in the fight. “I know you know you’re
RICHARD FROESE/Independent reporter
Last Friday night at the fifth annual Stettler Relay for Life, Lynn Sabo (left) and Crystal Shierman of the Stettler organizing committee light luminaries in memory of family members who have died of cancer. amazing and strong,” said Andrea de Young, who shared her story during the survivors’ luncheon and first participated in Relay for Life in 2009. “Because I saw all of you in yellow shirts as survivors, it gave me hope, inspiration and
strength to keep going and keep fighting.” During the opening ceremonies, participants were urged to fight together. “We relay because we want to put and end to cancer — a disease that has touched all of our lives
in some way,” said Lynn Sabo, who co-chaired the local committee. “We relay because we know that we can change cancer forever. That’s the power of relay. “Our community has joined the fight.”
Last year, the event netted $130,239.07 with 28 teams, and $163,000 was raised in 2011. Others on the Stettler committee included Crystal Schierman, Dorothy Hebert, Kevin Sabo and Murray Wahlund.
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