Jasper Elementary School News
January 11 - 15th , 2021
Dear JES Families,
Welcome back, and Happy new year to all of our students and families! We are excited to resume in-person classes for 2021 on Monday, January 11th. Thank you for the many ways that parents supported the week of at-home learning with the children. We are very grateful to resume in-person classes tomorrow!
COVID - 19 Update
Any travellers must ensure that they are COVID-free and have self-quarantined before entering our schools. According to AHS guidelines, you are legally required to quarantine for 14 days if you enter Alberta from outside Canada.
If your family receives notification that your child has tested positive for COVID-19, please contact the school right away (call 780 852-4447 email jodicamp@gypsd.ca).
The government's full suite of COVID-19 information for Albertans is available here.
Music
Our amazingly talented music teacher, Colleen Macza, is retiring from teaching and will not be returning to the classroom in January. Mrs. MacDonald prepared a lovely tribute to Colleen on the Jasper Elementary School Facebook page. If you missed it, please see an excerpt below and join the JES Facebook page to contribute your comments.
Mrs. Macza has prepared an abundance of musical programming, which will be delivered by classroom teachers for the remainder of this school year. A new music teacher will be hired to replace Mrs. Macza for the 2021/2022 school year. All the best in your retirement, Mrs. Macza!
This week we say a bittersweet farewell to Mrs. Macza, our music specialist, as she retires from teaching. An already seasoned teacher, Mrs. Macza started subbing at Jasper Elementary ten years ago, and took over the reins of our music program 7 years ago. Over the years, she has shared her love of music with the students and has given them excellent foundations in reading music, rhythm, and expression. Mrs. Macza knows that positive attitudes toward music are fostered by success in singing, playing instruments, listening, moving, reading, and creating music. This is exactly what could be heard as you walked past her music room each day and heard angelic voices singing in harmony, rockin’ rhythms being tapped out on buckets, the laughter of children enjoying a game, and squeaky recorders morphing into the sound of a lovely ballad.
Mrs. Macza was a very dedicated teacher and wanted all children to experience the joy of music. She spent many hours researching new songs and material, staying connected with music professionals and teachers around the world to bring the best experiences to her students at JES. Lovely melodies could often be heard from the music room on Sundays as Mrs. Macza prepared for an engaging week ahead with her students. She continually sought out professional learning networks and development experiences, such as taking Orff and Kodaly training, and music history from Yale.
Mrs. Macza has been the orchestrator behind many memorable Christmas concerts at JES. Often, she would begin planning for the big event during the summer months, choosing the “just right” song for each class to perform. She often wrote the scripts for these productions, as well.
Besides the Christmas concert, Mrs. Macza has spent a lot of time getting classes ready for the Yellowhead Arts Festival. A highlight of her career would be winning first class honours with distinction for her grade 5 percussion ensemble, playing a toe-tapping version of “I Like to Move It.”
Mrs. Macza has devoted countless hours towards extracurricular programming. She has led a variety of music-based clubs including: ukulele club, carol club, percussion club, band, drumming club, and recorder club. Her clubs were always very popular amongst students.
This fall, Mrs. Macza showed how dynamic of a teacher she is when she shifted her music program to include more pandemic-aware games and activities that were rhythm based. Students were excited and engaged with these new and exciting experiences that she afforded them.
Her creativity, professionalism, and dedication to her students will not be forgotten.
We wish you all the best in your retirement, Mrs. Macza!
Please join us in congratulating Mrs. Macza on her retirement by adding your congratulatory messages on the Jasper Elementary School Facebook page. Due to COVID-19, there will not be a retirement celebration at this time.
Outdoor Learning & Stewardship!
Jasper Elementary School
Email: jodicamp@gypsd.ca
Website: https://jasperelementaryschool.gypsd.ca/
Location: 300 Elm Ave, Jasper, AB, Canada
Phone: 780-852-4447
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1133299976756570