School

Good teachers educate. They teach all required state materials and ensure students are properly prepared for the next step. These teachers invest time and energy into each child, making sure they understand. They are exceptional educators. They care for their student’s success and work hard to make sure each child is prepared. Good teachers are good, but great teachers are absolute lifechangers. These individuals develop friendships with their students and inside jokes with classes. They celebrate small victories, as well as huge accomplishments. Great teachers offer encouragement during trials, and rejoice in growth and success. Good teachers are found across the nation but great teachers—well, I’m convinced Canadian ISD has all of them. Throughout the school year, Canadian ISD teachers and students form a bond. Each homeroom class has a system, an understanding for one another. These students (and teachers) spend at least six hours learning, growing, and developing friendships. Slowly, a classroom turns into a family. These students care for each other, and they care for their teacher. Summer feels a little different this year because these families weren’t given the opportunity to say goodbye. That was until a parade was organized on May 7 in recognition of Canadian ISD staff and faculty. Baker Elementary students decided to show appreciation for these teachers. Posters with words of encouragement were hung on car windows and families piled in cars to show gratitude and thankfulness for Baker Elementary teachers and staff. Thank you Canadian ISD teachers, staff, and faculty for being great educators but even better people. Thank you for investing in your students, for persevering through this time, and for showing up every day. No global pandemic can rain on this parade!

CHAPTER TWO: SLIM GETS FIRED UP

Canadian ISD school officials capped the end of the year on Monday by honoring selected teachers and staff for their many contributions to education. In the age of COVID-19, award winners were announced through a surprise home visit and the installation of a yard sign.

The Canadian High School Wildcat Band conducted their annual Band Banquet via a Youtube video on May 7. Band directors, Daisy and James Edwards, honored outstanding musicians during the digital program.

Following voter approval of the Higgins and Canadian school district consolidation plan on May 2, Higgins ISD began the formal process of closing the district, which will be effective at the end of this school year.

SCHOOL’S OUT? These teachers and staff members—masked, gloved and carefully distanced—were lined up outside Canadian Middle School Monday morning waiting for students to come by and pick up their locker contents, which had been gathered, bagged, and sealed and were lining the sidewalk on Sixth Street. Farther up the street were tables filled with lost and found items that students were asked to claim. With the disruption of the coronavirus, all that’s left of the 2020 school year is a series of virtual awards ceremonies that staff have been preparing, and the Canadian Middle School and High School graduation ceremonies. School officials are hoping that at least the Class of 2020 graduation ceremony will still be held at the Wildcat Football Stadium, with restrictions on the number of family members who can attend to allow for safety and social distancing.

Who’s Who Awards were presented by Canadian High School educational staff on Monday, May 4, in a virtual ceremony via video. Awards were presented to the students who excelled in each subject. Award winners were:

CHAPTER ONE: SLIM HAULS GARBAGE

2019-20 CANADIAN HIGH SCHOOL TOP TEN STUDENTS