The CAMROSE BOOSTER, April 1, 2014 – Page 10
Centra Cam Bowl-a-thon raises nearly $20,000 By Murray Green
Centra Cam relies on sponsors and fundraisers like the Bowl-a-thon to help fund the programs they offer to clients. This year, approximately 90 bowlers raised nearly $20,000 to allow programs to be offered. “We appreciate the support the community has shown us with this event,” said organizer David Tanton, of Centra Cam. “We were down a little from last year, but we are happy with the amount.” Centra Cam held a successful 17th annual Bowl-a-thon on Friday, March 7 at Tabb Lanes in Camrose. About 90 bowlers enjoyed a great afternoon of fun and friendly competition. The bowlers included Centra Cam clients and staff and members of the Challenge teams. “There were great prizes donated by local businesses. Each year, the support for the Bowl-a-thon is very strong,” said David. “The main goals of the Bowl-a-thon are to increase awareness of
Murray Green, Camrose Booster
Centra Cam had another successful Bowl-a-thon this year with 90 participants and about $20,000 raised for programs because of sponsors. Back row, left to right, Todd Severson, Ace Plumbing; Steve Fontaine, EMCO; Mike Layden, Border Paving; Sandra Howard, Boston Pizza; Elaine McKay and Rose Gabert of Hauser Home Hardware. Front row from left to right, Dana McGuigan, Ace Plumbing; Amber Olson, Camrose Insurance Services and Challenge Cup winners; Franca McNary, Highway 13; Katheryn Keichinger, CIBC and Bank Challenge winner; and Curtis Mandrusiak on behalf of Cathy and Glen Mandrusiak. Missing from the photo are representatives of Denz Auto Repair, Frankie’s Flower Shop, Fortis Alberta, Recycle-Logic, Smitty’s Restaurant, and Fielding and Company.
Centra Cam’s programs and raise funds to offset rising costs.” The team from Camrose Insurance Services raised over $1,500 to win the 12th annual Centra Cam Challenge Cup. The team from Hauser Home Hardware Building Centre finished second and the team from
EMCO Corporation finished third. The team from CIBC raised over $650 to win the ninth annual Bank Challenge Cup. Also competing for the Bank Challenge Cup were teams from Scotiabank, Battle River Credit Union, the Bank of Montreal and the Royal Bank.
“The Bowl-a-thon is our major annual fundraising event. Centra Cam clients, staff and board members thank the community for sponsoring our bowlers,” added David. “We also want to send a thank you out to all who donated prizes and are so supportive of this important annual event.”
Tofield ER resumes regular hours The Tofield Health Centre has resumed regular hours of operation of 24-hours a day, seven days a week following successful physician recruitment efforts. Alberta Health Services, the Tofield and Area Health Services Foundation, the Tofield Recruitment and Retention Committee, Dr. Richard Hackett and other community and surrounding area partners worked together to help bring Dr. Mohammed Muneer to the community. Dr. Muneer began practising in Tofield on March 24. The emergency department was operating on a modified schedule since last May due to a shortage of physicians in the community.
EICS planning for new high school in Camrose By Murray Green
St. Patrick School and Our Lady of Mount Pleasant School (OLMP) students could literally be hanging from the rafters if a new school isn’t built in the community in the next few years. Elk Island Catholic Schools (EICS) held an informational session on March 20 for the Camrose community on the growth pressures they are experiencing. The EICS board and school staff wanted to share their thoughts on capital planning for the next 10 years. “One of the things in Camrose we need to address is the growth. Our schools are bursting at the seams and I know that is because of the great work people are doing in our schools,” said EICS superintendent Michael Hauptman. “People can see the value of Catholic education in this community,” St. Patrick School currently has 412 students. “We are already taking registrations for next year and we are currently booked in with 428 for next year. Our school continues to grow,” said Joe Kucy, principal at St. Patrick School. “We are super excited, but it is also very stressful from the point of view that we are going to have to find some space.” The school will be expanding before the fall. “We have applied for more portable classrooms and additional washrooms,” said the principal. “It will give us more space, which is fantastic. We have increased class size ratios to accommodate growth. However,
Murray Green, Camrose Booster
OLMP staff member Brad Burns explains to Betty Barrett where the new modernization and portables will be housed at the school next fall.
increased class sizes are always a concern.” St. Patrick School has combined its computer lab and music room, eliminated the arts center to create a regular classroom, and converted the library to student center space and a part-time classroom. “One of the biggest concerns I hear from our Grade 4 to 6 students is the distance of bathrooms,” said Kucy. “The students are housed in the far north end of our school. That is a concern because it is a need. St. Patrick uses the staff room for collaborative space and as a sickroom when needed. OLMP uses a garage for storage and a bus, which reduces that space for St. Patrick. There is no space for a chapel, or small meeting area.
“We understand the pressures of growth. The portables will be a temporary fix, but we are looking for a long term fix,” superintendent Hauptman added. “OLMP was designed to be a kindergarten to Grade 6 school with one home room for each class and when we moved in back in 2003 we had 132 students,” said Pat Olafson, principal at OLMP. “We presently have 385 students and are currently taking on new registrations and have already taken on some waiting lists.” OLMP will be receiving four more portables before the fall. It has school modernization plans, waiting lists, and educational assistants and students who meet at a desk in the back of the custodial area. The sick
room is being used for individual and one-on-one meetings, the chapel is now a classroom, the teacher work room is now a classroom, a small paper room was converted to a photocopier/work space. Two teacher desks and work areas are in some classrooms so teachers have a work space (even if a another class is going on), and library space is used parttime as a classroom. “They have to limit staff eating and meeting in the staff room at noon as it was built for 12 and we are at 27,” said principal Olafson. When OLMP expands to have more modules, they will also need to address parking, site circulation because of bus traffic and student drop-off using the same lane, and site restrictions for
expansion of core space past the recently announced CTS addition. “Our schools provide a strong, faith-based Catholic educational program valued by our community,” said superintendent Hauptman. “Students from Camrose and surrounding areas are making our schools their school of choice.” High density population in limited space leads to increased health and safety concerns. “Current growth pressures have resulted in schools having to turn away students,” added Hauptman. “Crowded spaces increase challenges in the area of programming.” EICS secretary-treasurer Ryan Stierman explained the numbers. “Camrose is growing at about 1.5 per cent per year according to the 2011 census. Growth at EICS schools is significantly higher,” he said. Growth is occurring in all grades, but especially at ECS and Grade 7 at OLMP. Growth is hard to predict into the future due to reconfiguration of the public system. While OLMP and St. Patrick’s have been approved for an additional nine modulars, current projections have the schools at 111 per cent capacity in 2019. ECS enrolment and growth will continue at current rates (80 students now) as supported by growing zero to five age census numbers (5.8 per cent of total population in 2011 compared to 5.5 per cent in 2008). Continued on page 11