Who鈥檚 weather report do you want to believe 鈥� the Farmer鈥檚 Almanac that talks of so much cold upcoming or the Environment Canada report released Aug. 29 that talks of prolonged nice weather this fall? Either way, let鈥檚 just cross our fingers for the weather to hold out for problem free harvest for our farmer friends.
Those school zones are busy places 鈥� please remember when buses are dropping off you cannot pass through the school zone, especially when stop signs are out!
All schools in Unity have reported positive enrolments with St. Peter鈥檚 school on par, UCHS reporting 296 students with a large class of Grade 7s with 60 students and UPS reporting 268 students enrolled this year. All schools have also welcomed some new staff on board.
At Unity Public School, it鈥檚 picture day today. Staff and students are well into their routines for the school year and the school bulletin board creators have done a wonderful job of making bulletin boards welcoming, positive and fall fresh. A reminder to all visitors at UPS, please check in through the front doors at the office as part of their role of recognizing and welcoming all visitors and as part of their safety practices. UPS is also one of the locations for the 鈥渁fter school program鈥� wherein students not yet old enough or comfortable enough to be home alone while parents work can take part in fun, organized activity until a parent can pick them up. This program is offered in conjunction with the Unity Daycare but offers an older child compatible setting for kids.
St. Peter鈥檚 school is already hearing the wonderful sound of music in their hallways as both choir and band have restarted for this year. While the students and staff have adjusted nicely to their new group of Kindergarteners, the Grade 6 class is fitting in nicely in their new role as 鈥渟eniors鈥� and leaders at the school. St. Peter鈥檚 would also like to welcome back Mrs. Ruder who came out of retirement to help out in the Kindergarten room as teacher. St. Peter鈥檚 would also like to congratulate Mrs. Akerlund (formerly Ms. Wildeman), who got married over the summer 鈥� very exciting! The staff and students also give a warm welcome to Tamara Sander, Tamara Gerein and Melissa Sieben. Mrs. Sander will be teaching Grade 1 this year. Ms. Gerein and Mrs. Sieben will be working as EAs in the school and both live in Unity. They also would also like to welcome Michaela Deck who is interning in Grade 2 with Mrs. Jackson. If you see any of these new faces around please make sure and say hi.
St. Peter鈥檚 is collecting non perishable food items for the local food bank in the spirit of Thanksgiving. As well, they will include toiletries like shampoo, toothpaste, soap etc in these collections. This ongoing collection chest will be delivered after their Thanksgiving mass and shared soup event on Oct. 10 at 11 a.m.
St. Peter鈥檚 Grade 3 class would like to thank everyone who donated tabs from beverage cans to their service project, 鈥淪ilver to Gold.鈥� This is an initiative to get the public involved in raising funds and awareness for childhood cancer to work towards developing a suitable cure. In just six months, 125 lbs of tabs were collected and submitted. St. Peter鈥檚 will continue collecting tabs this year to once again be submitted in June.
The Orange Shirt Day Society was formed in Williams Lake by the founders of Orange Shirt Day to encourage and support communities to recognize Orange Shirt Day and to support reconciliation events and activities. Their goal is to create awareness of the individual, family and community inter-generational impacts of Indian Residential Schools through Orange Shirt Day activities. St. Peter鈥檚 School will wear orange shirts on Friday, Sept. 27 to show support.
At UCHS, they take pride in offering something for everyone as far as extra curricular programming for students. Drama, student leadership, students against distracted driving, robotics, book club, tinker space, games room, yearbook committee, Activate and so much more. This is in addition to the sports now in session of cross country running, football and volleyball. Welcome week activities offered so much fun in spirit days, special events and the always popular chili cook off. Staff and students enjoyed the variety and the fun that was involved, and one staff member might have especially enjoyed the car show volume that was part of this event. Volleyball teams will spend the fall competing in league and tournaments, with home tournaments coming up for each division, including the senior girls who will play host for their home tournament in Unity.聽 The Warrior football team is now on the road for games until their last home game takes place, under the lights, on Oct. 17.
Unity Minor football continues to play both at home and away.
This weekend, Sept. 21, will be the fourth annual zucchini race at Parkview Place. There is always room for guests and there is plenty of fun to be had.
The next big thing on tap at Unity will be the annual Fall Fair and Trade Show taking place Oct. 4 and 5 at the Unity Community Centre. You can watch the local paper for details, as well as posters around town with the added bonus of following the Unity Ag Society Facebook page for the latest updates and news. Don鈥檛 forget this event includes the fall fair portion upstairs in the community centre, the trade show event in the curling arena, along with the Saturday morning sponsored pancake breakfast that will benefit STARS this year.
Starting Sept. 30, the Unity arena will play host to the annual 3-on-3 conditioning hockey tournament, and it will run into Thanksgiving weekend.
Wednesdays continue to be a busy night in Unity as pickle ball continues at the curling rink until the ice gets put in mid October. As well, weekly Mental Wellness support group sessions continue at the Unity Health Centre, open to anyone who is in need or interested. The Lions Club 鈥淐hase the Ace鈥� also continues each Wednesday at the Legion Hall.
Coffee row was brimming with news to discuss including the federal election, the recent credit union card issue experienced on Sept. 8, another rainy September for harvesters and activities that are upcoming. There is no lack of things to talk about, and there is always room at these tables with plenty of laughter and wisdom to be shared. So you see we keep busy with wisdom, laughter and plenty of fun here in Unity with our friends on coffee row.
