The first thing one notices when walking into the K'alemi Dene School is its overall cleanliness and freshness in its naturally lit foyer and hallways.

It doesnSA国际影视传媒檛 look a day over one. 

However, the school SA国际影视传媒� designed by the former Pin/Taylor architecture firm SA国际影视传媒� in fact turns 10 years old next month and will be holding a special day-long ceremony Sept. 27. 

The day will mark the schoolSA国际影视传媒檚 opening in 2009 and will include a hide tanning demonstration by Dene Nahjo, speeches from community guests to mark the decade milestone, and a group photo that will replicate one that was taken on opening day. 

SA国际影视传媒淭he school has definitely changed over the years, but the one thing that we have tried to maintain is the community feel and that is what it makes it so special,SA国际影视传媒� said principal Meagan Wowk, who is heading into her third school year as leader, but who started out as a teacher in 1999. 

SA国际影视传媒淲eSA国际影视传媒檝e really come a long way in promoting community and language and we continue to evolve, but it is a place where there are the most interesting people you will ever meet. That is one of the main reasons I have stuck around.SA国际影视传媒�

Heading into the 2019-20 season Wowk said there are tentatively about 110 students, which can fluctuate throughout the year, however this is up from the schoolSA国际影视传媒檚 opening in 2009 where registrations sat at around 80 students. 

She said with the student population, the school is close to capacity and the goal is to ensure that all classrooms have a maximum of 20 students each to make sure there is maximum learning quality. 

Wowk said she credits her staff of 17 SA国际影视传媒� which includes teachers, educational assistants, a cook and language and culture instructors SA国际影视传媒� with the success over the years in connecting to the community and Dene culture. 

There remain long-term goals for the school, she added, which include eventually getting a gymnasium that can build on student athletics. There is currently a fenced soccer pitch and over the summer a private donor provided a new basketball court that students will get to take part in. 

SA国际影视传媒淪o weSA国际影视传媒檙e always lobbying leadership for help and we are seeking support for help with student physical education,SA国际影视传媒� Wowk said. 

Dr. Angela James, a celebrated educator and former principal with the school between 1999 and 2011 enthusiastically tells stories about the buildingSA国际影视传媒檚 features and the people who have come and gone in it. She is now a director of Indigenous Languages and Education Secretariat and remembers the day the school opened. 

K'alemi is the Willideh word for rainbow and came from NdiloSA国际影视传媒檚 first teacher Florence Erasmus, however James said it is believed to be in reference to the former Rainbow Valley group of coloured federal houses in Ndilo during the fifties and sixties.

She said she likes to think that the word also represents SA国际影视传媒渢he colours of children with different learning stylesSA国际影视传媒� however the opening day of the school reflected a strong symbolism, too, she said. 

SA国际影视传媒淲hen the school opened in 2009, there was rain big time,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淭here were two rainbows over the school along with about three eagles coming in. One of the kids said SA国际影视传媒楳s. James there are rainbows in the sky and eagles. Talk about blessings.SA国际影视传媒橲A国际影视传媒�

James said those blessings speak to the overall clean look of the school which is surely due to the upkeep of the it. 

SA国际影视传媒淭he kids know that this is their school,SA国际影视传媒� she said.