One of St. Albert’s newest schools has been named after one of its most dedicated educators.
The St. Albert Public School board announced Wednesday that it would be naming its new K-9 school after Joe Demko, a long-serving teacher/administrator/trustee in the district.
The province announced funding for what is now the Joseph M. Demko School last October. When built, it will house some 900 students.
The board generally names schools after people or concepts that represent the district’s values and commitment to students, said newly elected board chair Glenys Edwards.
“Mr. Demko is a strong and committed advocate for children and for public education, and this board can think of no better way to honour his contribution than by naming our newest school after him.”
Demko started as a teacher with what was then the St. Albert Protestant school district back in 1969 and retired as a trustee in 2013, having spent his entire career with the district. He’s the only person ever to have served as a teacher, assistant principal, principal, associate superintendent, superintendent, and trustee in district history, Edwards noted.
This new school will ensure that generations of students will know of Demko’s contributions, Edwards said.
“I’ve been in this district a very long time, and I’ve come to know that most people in this district have a ‘Joe’ story, because you have touched the lives of so many staff and students.
“It’s wonderful to see those ‘Joe’ stories continue.”
Demko, 66, is one of the two St. Albert residents alive today that have a school named after them, according to the St. Albert public and Catholic boards (the other is Jack Nearing, the namesake of J.J. Nearing Elementary).
Demko said he was thrilled and honoured by this decision, and looked forward to visiting the school once it’s built.
“It’s nice to be part of an elementary/junior high school, because I taught primarily in elementary and junior high.”
While he worked mainly at Sir George Simpson, W.D. Cuts and Lorne Akins, Demko said he has taught at every school in the district at one time or another.
He did not have any suggestions as to what the school’s mascot should be.
The board will settle on a site for this school later this fall, said superintendent Barry Wowk. The school is expected to open in 2017.
Lorne Akins students sampled some meals on wheels this Friday as part of the school’s first food truck rally.
The Moose on the Run, Hungry Dodo, and DaVinci Gelato Originale food trucks visited Lorne Akins Junior High Friday as part of a unit on food trucks held by the school’s Grade 9 foods and fashion class.
“Food trucks are so hot right now,” said foods and fashion teacher Cynthia Dyer, and are something that students can use to combine their cultures and passions.
Friday’s visit gave the students a chance to see real food trucks up close and to interview their owners about their operation.
As part of the food truck unit, students have to come up with an original design for a food truck business, and develop a model vehicle, menu and budget for it, Dyer said. They’ll also have to make one of the dishes on that menu and have it judged by their fellow students.
Dyer said she was unaware of a similar food truck event held at Vincent J. Maloney last year.
About 10 per cent of the proceeds from Friday’s rally went towards the Terry Fox Foundation.
