Gonzaga Middle School

On behalf of Gonzaga Middle School, we congratulate three of members of our teaching team who were honoured at the Manitoba Excellence in Education Awards at the Manitoba Legislature last Friday. We are proud to congratulate Karla Grobb, Doug Hemmerling and Laurie-Anne Regula on being named the 2025/2026 recipients of the prestigious Premier's Award for Excellence in Education!

As our Intervention Specialist, Karla Grobb has been instrumental in addressing barriers to student learning while building trust and respect with students, reflected in their requests for her presence in their lives; not only by the grade 6-8 students who want to 'go work with Ms. Grobb' but with graduates who are navigating personal and academic concerns in high school.

In collaboration with the whole Student and Graduate Support team, as our Student and Graduate Support Director, Doug Hemmerling, has helped to ensure continuity of care and support for our students and graduates through his blend of mentorship, case management, advocacy, and networking across multiple high schools, school divisions, agencies, and community partners. His efforts have helped so many graduates stay connected with Gonzaga's mission and community, stay engaged in school and ultimately earn their high school diplomas.

As a classroom teacher, Laurie-Anne Regula has been with Gonzaga
throughout its entire ten-year history, and this has put her in an honoured position of trust as she has positive relationships with all students who have attended the school. Having cultivated a relational space where academic vulnerability is safe, students know they can seek her out for tutoring and help rooted in dignity, respect, and growth with many graduates coming back regularly for tutoring time she generously volunteers after school.

We celebrate these educators, and those of the whole Gonzaga Middle school team who demonstrate a special kind of excellence: the daily, relational, trauma-informed heart work that heals through evidence-based interventions that stabilize learning, and the relentless hard work of long days, evening tutoring, summer hours, home visits, and networked advocacy that keeps students and graduates on track. All of their efforts are truly helping to change lives and fulfill potential!

Congratulations Karla, Doug and Laurie-Anne!

We are hosting an Open House this Thursday February 19 from 5-6:30 pm with a presentation starting at 5:30 pm here at the school... 174 Maple Street North. If you are interested in finding out more about our unique school with wrap-around supports for Grades 6-8 students come to the Open House.

You will also find out that students who graduate from Grade 8 are then supported in the high school of their choice and can continue to receive practical help right through post-secondary studies thanks to our unique Graduate Support Program. Especially if you know of someone in Grade 5 this year who would benefit from our program, please invite them to attend!

Come to the Open House to find out more!

The Gonzaga Middle School Big Drum Program continues to develop with great student interest in being part of the group and in cultural learning. Thanks to the guidance and knowledge of Jeremy Raven and the leadership of Aaron Hill, we have embarked on building our own drum. This has included participating in a sweat lodge ceremony, cutting and shaping the wood and most recently, glueing the wood pieces together. Work will continue as the drum is still a work in progress...

As part of our social justice education program we are continuing to host community leaders throughout the year. We recently hosted Kendra Layne from Point Douglas Stray Cats to share about how, in the last few years after seeing so many stray cats in the neighbourhood, she has helped to spay, neuter and care for hundreds of stray cats.

Thank you to First Book Canada for helping us to provide great books to enhance our reading and literacy programs this year!

It was great to welcome Gonzaga Middle School families to our Christmas Dinner and Student Showcase which featured our Big Drum group offering an honour song, table centrepieces crafted by our Art Group under the guidance of volunteer Doug Mackie, a video presentation by our Tech Group, a medley of songs by our Ukelele Group and After School Rock Band under the direction of Music Specialist Skender Sefa, a performance of A Charlie Brown Christmas by our Drama Group under the direction of Meraki Theatre Drama teachers Taylor Gregory and Kennedy Huckerby along with our own teacher Tori Eggum, and carols by our Carols and Cookies Group under the direction of Mrs and Ms Gardiner! Thanks to Jason Kopytko from Tim Hortons for sponsoring the juice, coffee and hot chocolate! Thanks also to Board Chair Mr Mark Chipman and Patti Chipman for sponsoring the wonderful turkey dinner from the kitchens of the Canada Life Centre. As well, thank you to Munther Zeid from Food Fare for sponsoring the dessert cakes! Thank you to St. Paul's High School for the gift baskets and to all our volunteers and staff who made the evening a great success!

Heartfelt thanks to for the annual gift of pyjamas to our students before Christmas!

Thank you for joining us Minister Smith!

Our sincere thanks to Gonzaga Middle School for hosting such a meaningful Christmas celebration. 🎄✨ We are grateful to the dedicated staff, volunteers, and students whose efforts made the delicious dinner, wonderful entertainment, and warm hospitality possible. 🎅 It was a pleasure spending time together and reconnecting with so many familiar faces, making the evening truly memorable.⛄️❤️ #GonzagaMiddleSchool #ChristmasCelebration #HolidayGathering #WinnipegCommunity

Fabulous Friday of a great week of learning and activity. Today we travelled to Manitoba Theatre for Young People for their production of The Lightning Thief, a dramatic musical presentation of a Percy Jackson story adapted from the book by Rick Riordan. It was a great production that was appreciated by our students!

Another day in a great week, another regular weekly outing to the Hockey For All Center thanks to GMS's participation in True North Youth Foundation's Winnipeg Jets Hockey Academy. The whole school participates in weekly skating and hockey skills training on Thursdays. The WJHA outfits the whole school with skates, sticks and all the hockey equipment each year. It is wonderful to see the progress already this year, and year to year for our Grade 7 and 8 students who participated in past years. Thanks to WHJA Director Murray Cobb and all the great coaches for working with GMS students every week!