Students from Birch Narrows Dene Community School are back in Saskatchewan after a recent trip to Edmonton. (submitted photo/Valendie McKay)

By Derek Cornet

West Edmonton Mall

Northern students rewarded with trip to Edmonton for good attendance

Apr 3, 2019 | 12:04 PM

It was a trip students from Birch Narrows Dene Community School won’t soon forget after spending a day at the largest shopping mall in North America.

On March 29, 48 students between the ages of seven and 20, along with chaperones, left the Northern Hamlet of Turnor Lake for Edmonton. According to literacy catalyst Valendie McKay who helped organize the trip, it was meant as a reward for students who attended 90 per cent of the school year. It was the first time the school tried such an incentive to boost attendance rates as 2018 data showed only 10 students were attending 90 per cent or more of the academic year.

“We hope to create a ripple effect, because we saw other kids who did not make it wanted to go,” McKay said, adding 68 students originally qualified. “They told us they were going to do better next year, so they can go.”

Most of the trip was spent exploring the West Edmonton Mall as the students only left the facility for a couple of meals. McKay noted students broke into groups and visited places such as Galaxyland, the World Waterpark and the large-scale replica of Santa Maria, one of ships used by Christopher Columbus in 1492 to sail to the Americas. With students returning back to Turnor Lake March 31, she stated they were able to spend one entire day at the mall.

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McKay also mentioned the trip was deemed to be successful as the students were able to make new memories and go to a big city for the first time. She said some of them told her it was the happiest day of their life.

“They were so amazed and it was such a good feeling,” McKay said. “Just seeing their smiles; we did something.”

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derek.cornet@jpbg.ca

Twitter: @saskjourno