The excitement buzzing from Jasper Jr./Sr. High School is palpable, as the announcement of a new school building is still the hot topic.

“We’re just happy to get back in the swing of things,” said Principal Mark Crozier. 

The school year started off with a bang – there was no easing this year’s crop of students into things, as the week began with the Grade 10s heading off to the Palisades Stewardship Centre for a four-day course. 

The week will end with a fun activity day where students will be informally welcomed back with an afternoon of fun, goofy activities. 

Crozier couldn’t contain his smile as the conversation turned to the new school that was approved just as the 2010/2011 school year ended. The principal said the teachers are already brainstorming ideas for programming that they will take with them when the new building opens just kitty-corner to the current location. 

“The next three years is a good sort of groundwork to test out some of these programs we will be running,” Crozier said. 

One of the big ideas coming out of the early discussions is how to make the new school environmentally-friendly, and how to get that message into the classrooms. 

“How do we reflect that in our teaching?” Crozier said. 

Another exciting aspect is École Desrochers joining the building, and what kind of cohesive atmosphere that will create. While the two schools already share a gym, Crozier said it will be great to work even closer with them and see how the high school’s French Immersion program will continue to grow. 

This year the French Immersion program is already taking major leaps forward, as it moves into the Grade 9 year. Joining the faculty this year is Vice Principal Fred Kreiner, who the school managed to snag from the University of Alberta’s Faculty St. Jean. Kreiner worked at the university evaluating student teachers, and has helped support and develop French Immersion programs. 

“I think he’ll bring a wealth of knowledge to that area,” Crozier said. 

Also joining the staff is new French Immersion teacher Denise Lipscombe and new teacher’s assistant Carole Senz. 

This year there will be many returning programs, such as the extremely popular sustainability class. An after school guitar class was a huge success last year and will once again be starting this fall. Crozier said the rugby program which brought together a great group of athletes last spring will happen in the new year as well. 

“We’re definitely going to be continuing that,” Crozier said of the sports team. 

A new school year means a new start for all of the students returning, said Crozier. 

“School’s always exciting for everyone,” he said. “This is a new page, and a new chapter for you (the students).”

Over the summer the Alberta government banned the sale of junk food in schools, and Crozier said the new changes won’t really effect the students at Jasper Jr./Sr. High School. 

Last year the high school teamed up with Community Outreach Services to bring the Grab and Go healthy eating program to the school. 

“At first I wasn’t sure if the healthy food was going to go,” Crozier said. 

COS distributed surveys to students on what food would be best in the refrigerators, and the new healthy items flew off the shelves. 

“They sell out within a week,” Crozier said of the items in the fridge, adding that the students in Jasper seem to be very health-conscious. “Students are opting to buy these healthy snacks.”

Keep an eye on the Fitzhugh for coverage of the high school’s many exciting events, and head over to jasperhigh.ca for information on the events planned throughout the year.