When Iron River School hosted its annual Christmas concert, it wasn’t just festive tunes and cheerful performances that stole the show—it was the Grade 7/8 class’s remarkable behind-the-scenes efforts that turned the event into a spectacular success. From organizing fundraisers to running school-wide events, these 14 students have proven themselves to be true leaders in building a vibrant and welcoming school culture.
Under the guidance of their teacher, Marguerite Miller, the Grade 7/8 class has spearheaded five major school events since September. From the school’s welcome back barbecue to the Christmas concert, they have taken on every aspect of event planning with enthusiasm and minimal support from staff. Alongside these large events, they’ve also organized numerous fundraisers, spirit days, and sporting events, all while maintaining their focus on academics.
Principal Dustin Blake is continuously amazed by what the students are able to accomplish. One December day exemplified the students’ incredible drive and organization. The morning began with journal writing and a math assessment. By midday, they were in town thoughtfully spending $2,000 on items for Operation Christmas Child, the school’s annual Christmas charity initiative. Returning to school, they set up the gym for all students to fill shoeboxes with toys and personal items for children in need. The day ended with a spirited volleyball pep rally, where the students’ team triumphed over the teachers 25 to 7.
“All of these things were completed with respect, effort, fun, authenticity, and positivity,” said Blake.
Holidays at Iron River School are brighter thanks to these students’ efforts. For Thanksgiving, they worked tirelessly for two weeks to prepare a feast of perogies, cabbage rolls, and desserts for students, parents, and community members. Their hard work didn’t stop at cooking; they also decorated the gym with the help of parents and community members, and handled cleanup.
Halloween brought even more creativity as the students transformed the gym into a festive space, complete with two haunted houses for different age groups and over 200 cookies they baked for the event. For Remembrance Day, they created a stunning “river of poppies” flowing from a life-sized cutout of a soldier. The students also emceed the event, performed songs, and served refreshments to guests.
The Christmas concert showcased their multifaceted talents. In addition to writing the script, they cleverly reimagined "A Bar Song" as "The Barn Song" for a lively performance. They managed the sound booth, played piano accompaniment, and handed out goodie bags to attendees. These efforts were a culmination of weeks of planning and teamwork.
The students’ leadership extends beyond special events. They organize spirit days every other Friday, oversee fundraisers to support field trips and sports, and assist with sporting events by timekeeping. This year, they even raised funds to welcome a new class pet: a bearded dragon. After Aria Gamache presented a compelling slideshow to convince their teacher, the students worked together to secure a tank and supplies with help from the custodian and a student’s aunt. Zara, the bearded dragon, became the class’s latest pet, joining guinea pigs Timbit and Double Double and a large fish tank full of fish.
Planning these events is no small feat, but the students find it deeply rewarding. “We are grateful for all of these opportunities that we have,” said Jenna Tkachuk, reflecting the group’s gratitude and pride in their work.
The Grade ⅞ class at Iron River School is the Student Shining Stars for the month of January. Each month during the 2024-2025 school year, NLPS recognizes students and staff who are making a difference in their schools and communities.