Teachers of the Thompson Teachers' Association gathered at the Juniper Centre on the evening of March 7 to congratulate and celebrate the service and dedication of colleagues who have taught with the School District of Mystery Lake School District (SDML) for 20, 30 and 40 years.
Emceed by T.T.A. Decades Club committee chairperson Teresa Jenkins, the evening's celebrations began with cordial greetings and best wishes to all honourees. While noting how Westwood Elementary School's Toni Roque, who has taught with the SDML for 40 years, was unable to attend the event due to prior commitments, Jenkins raised a cheer in Toni's, R.D. Parker Collegiate's Linda Markus' and Deerwood School's Diane Wicks' honour and continued with her opening remarks by noting how "we are fortunate, in Thompson, to have such amazing and dedicated teachers who provide their students with the highest quality of education. Experienced teachers help younger teachers contend with contexts ranging from communicating with parents to working through mid-year weariness and fatigue. They are an invaluable resource to first-year teachers and up-and-coming teachers who are willing to admit that they still have much to learn. The benefits of outreach efforts by teachers with 20 plus years experience are rich."
In his official greetings from the association, TTA president Shaun Kennedy recalled how, when he first arrived in Thompson many years ago, Linda and her daughter, Westwood Elementary School teacher Ashley Squires, were the second and third people that he actually met as he was boarding under her roof during his first four months in Thompson. Noting how Superintendent Angele Bartlett and many retired teachers were in attendance that evening, he noted how their presence speaks volumes in the recognition of the high calibre of teachers that were being honoured. "It is the resiliency, persistence and professionalism of these teachers," noted Kennedy, "that has lead them to the longevity in their careers and that is why we are honouring them in tonight's celebration."
In honouring the teaching career of Linda Markus, Ashley Squires recalled many of her experiences of Linda as her mother and as Linda being the greatest role model in her life. Recalling how her mother received her Bachelor of Education degree through the Brandon University Northern Teachers' Education Program (B.U.N.T.E.P.), Squires noted that Linda's beginnings with the S.D.M.L. actually occurred 10 years prior to her becoming a teacher when she was Burntwood Elementary School's Lunch Program co-ordinator. Inspired and motivated to teach, Linda completed her degrees and has taught at every school in Thompson over the past 20 years, principally as a resource teacher. Always remembering her mother as being very busy and giving of her love and care towards her family, Squires calls her mom a strong motivator in her life. In reflecting this, she noted Linda's successes: one of particular significance was that of becoming the president of the Thompson Chamber of Commerce. Motivated to help others learn and succeed, Squires noted her mother's latest passion: her involvement with Manitoba Mentors. In closing, she thanked her mother for being the greatest guidance in her life and wished her continued success.
Commonly known by SDML teachers as the "other half"
of Deerwood Elementary School administrative team, Principal Laurie McInnes honoured the teaching career of her friend and colleague Diane Wicks by recalling many interesting facts and experiences that have shaped Diane's life and career. Born third to a large French-Canadian farming family of seven siblings, McInnes noted how Diane's earliest school years occurred in a convent being taught by nuns. Having received her Bachelor of Education and later her Post-Baccalaureate from Brandon University, Diane's career began as the first teacher of the pre-school program in Skownan, Man. Having then taught in Waterhen, Thompson and Falcon Beach among other places and then returning to Thompson while having taught a variety of grades from pre-school to Grade 9, Diane taught in Deerwood Elementary School's S2C classroom for many years before becoming Deerwood's vice-principal. Always recalling Diane as one who is always wearing her "teacher's hat" (teacher-speak for thinking of great teaching ideas while having new experiences) whenever on holidays with family and friends, McInnes noted the great joy in Diane's life that has occurred in recent weeks: becoming a grandma for the very first time. In closing, McInnes noted how it has been great to work with her for much of her 20 years in SDML and wished her all the best in her future life and career pursuits.
The Thompson Teachers' Association would like to take to congratulate the following teachers for their years of service to the School District of Mystery Lake and the youth of our city: Toni Roque, Westwood School: 40 years; Linda Markus, R.D. Parker Collegiate: 20 years and Diane Wicks, Deerwood Elementary School: 20 years.
