News Releases
Gameti Celebrates School Addition and Grade Extension
Yellowknife (October 1, 2009) —The Tlicho community of Gameti today celebrated the official opening of its new school retrofit and the first year of a high school program for students.
Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, Jackson Lafferty, joined in the celebrations along with the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs, Robert C. McLeod and the Minister of Public Works and Services, Michael McLeod.
The completion of a 870m2 addition to the school includes a culture room, seminar room, two classrooms, a foods area, storage and washrooms, a gymnasium, change rooms and an office. Furthermore, the addition has paved the way for grade extensions in the community.
This school year marks the beginning of high school programs being offered in Gamètì. The school is offering the grade 10 curriculum this year and plans to add grades 11 and 12 in subsequent years. There are 8 students registered in grade 10 who are all looking to becoming the first high school graduates from Jean Wetrade Gamètì School.
“I am very pleased to join with the people of Gameti to celebrate the opening of this great new school,” Minister Lafferty said, “I know that it means a great deal for students to be able to complete their education in their home community. I look forward to returning to congratulate them when they graduate from grade twelve.”
All students in JWGS are taught in both English and in the Tlicho language. Students also have many opportunities throughout the school year to participate in traditional activities on the land and interact with Elders and community members.
“The new gym addition provides an excellent opportunity to broaden the sport, recreation and physical activities offered in Gameti,” said Minister Robert C. McLeod. “MACA is pleased to be a part of this project which will contribute to improving the health and well-being of all Gameti residents.”
“The classroom expansion and addition of a gymnasium to the Jean Wetrade School in Gameti is a key piece of public infrastructure which will support the building of a stronger community for many generations to come,” said Minister Michael McLeod. “I am very pleased that Public Works and Services were part of the partnership between governments, departments, boards and agencies, and industry which resulted in the high quality of achievement that we see on this project.”
Jean Wetrade Gameti School (JWGS) is a modern community school originally constructed in 1992. The school is named after Jean Wetrade - a respected Tlicho elder who was a member of the original six families that settled in Rae Lakes in the mid 1960s. She passed away on April 15, 1994.
For more information contact:
Drew Williams
Press Secretary to Premier/Cabinet
Government of the Northwest Territories
(867) 669-2304