Remembering a decade of Sacred Heart

Times Reporter

 

Sacred Heart Academy, SHA, recently celebrated its 10th birthday, having first opened its doors in 2001. Many changes have occured over the years, though a few staff members and students have been a part of it since the beginning. 

“Lots of schools call it their anniversary, but because we’re elementary we really (wanted) to celebrate it as a birthday party,” said Principal Paulette Chotowetz.

“That’s why we decided to go that route, and just really celebrate 10 years of good life, and good school. This school was created by very highly energetic parents and grandparents. 

“That’s who first approached Christ the Redeemer to open up a Catholic school in Strathmore. The Town of Strathmore has embraced our school incredibly, and we’re very fortunate to live in a community where people embraced another school system.”

Chotowetz first came to the school from Brooks, beginning as a Grade 3 teacher. Seven years ago she and a colleague took on a co-principal position, teaching part time and sharing the position.  Her colleague transferred to Canmore three years ago, and Chotowetz became the sole principal of the school.  

“It’s exciting to see the growth of a school from the beginning when the doors first opened,” said Chotowetz.

“I think we had like 110 students to a school now in 10 years where we’re over 400 students. Plus it’s grown into Sacred Heart and then evolved into Holy Cross on the other side.”

The first year the school was open it was just SHA with students in Kindergarten up to Grade 7. As the school grew, pre-school was offered. Now SHA teaches students from pre-school to Grade 6. Holy Cross Collegiate, attached to SHA, offers the junior and senior high grades. 

 “I have no idea where I will be in the next 10 years. Where I know Sacred Heart will be, it will be a very viable school with a good school community and good people and hopefully contributing to the growth of our future citizens,” said Chotowetz. 

She said creating good citizens is an important part of the school, and if they can accomplish that in the next 10 years she would be happy.

Joanne Clark has also been a part of the school since the beginning, volunteering her time for the first year before being hired on in the second. 

“I just felt that everybody needed to have the choice of Catholic education, and it was important,” said Clark.

“When we moved here the choice wasn’t here and our kids had always been in the Catholic school system. When we moved to town it was disappointing to me that we didn’t have the choice, and so it was important to me that the choice be created for people.

“In the next 10, it would be fantastic if we could expand even more. It would be nice to have Holy Cross Collegiate, the junior and senior high, it would be fantastic if they could have a new school and be in their own building.”

When asked why she has stayed on with the school she was quick to answer that it is because of the kids. She said some of the students really stick out and it’s rewarding to see the kids come into the school, and grow up to become responsible, active Christians.   

Tyler Magwood, now in Grade 10 at Holy Cross Collegiate, is one of those students who stand out to both Chotowetz and Clark. 

Magwood has many fond memories of the school and it’s staff. 

 “All the Grade 6’s do a retreat and we go to Camp Chestermere for, I think it was overnight, and that was a lot of fun. That’s probably one of my fondest memories because we were transitioning from elementary to junior high,” said Magwood.

“It’s really nice because the only thing separating the elementary is one door, so it wasn’t too large of a transition, it was really smooth.”

He too has noticed the growth of both of the schools, and has enjoyed having the opportunity to move from one side of the school into the other. Magwood said it has been easier to maintain friends, and it has given him a chance to get to know his teachers better.

“There’s an environment of stewardship and everyone looks after each other, because everyone knows each other. If you need someone to lean on then you have a lot of people because you’ve known them for so long,” said Magwood.

“The experience there has definitely been rewarding and my education is going to go somewhere because I went to HCC or SHA. The whole thing, knowing and learning all those teachers name’s and getting to know them, it’s been really, really amazing.”

He still has two years of school left and said he still loves every second of it, and is happy to have spent all of his school years in Sacred Heart and Holy Cross Collegiate’s halls.