Former students, retired teachers and community members gathered at Alf Cuthbert School on May 27 to celebrate the school’s 55th anniversary and reflect on its lasting role in Moosehorn.
June Huska, the only surviving child of Alf Cuthbert, holds a bouquet of flowers presented to her during the afternoon program
The event welcomed 83 guests, along with current students and staff, for a day of tours, performances and reconnecting with former classmates and educators.
For teacher and co-organizer June Gagaluk, the celebration carried personal significance.
Originally from Moosehorn, Gagaluk began kindergarten at Alf Cuthbert School in 1980 before returning to teach at the school in 2007 after earning her teaching degree from Brandon University.
That connection between past and present was evident throughout the celebration. Four of the school’s five homeroom teachers once attended Alf Cuthbert School as students and now teach in the same classrooms where they learned as children.
Gagaluk said the anniversary was especially meaningful because many staff members have lifelong ties to the school and community.
Throughout the day, guests toured the school while current Grade 7 and 8 students acted as guides.
Gagaluk said one of the most enjoyable parts of the celebration was not knowing who might walk into classrooms during the tours.
“You didn’t know who was going to walk in next,” she said. “Someone who still lives around here or someone who hadn’t been back for decades.”
Staff members also appreciated the opportunity to reconnect with former teachers who helped shape their own careers in education.
“We all agreed that while there wasn’t any one teacher who inspired us to go into the teaching profession, each of the teachers we had along the way influenced what kind of professional we wanted to be,” Gagaluk said.
She added that returning to work in the same school they once attended has created some unique experiences for former students now teaching there.
“We all agreed that the strangest thing about returning to work in the school you attended is working alongside your own former teachers because calling them by their first names takes some getting used to.”
Following the tours, lunch was provided by the hospital guild before guests gathered in the gym for a program featuring guest speakers and performances by each class.
A particularly meaningful moment came when June Huska, Alf Cuthbert’s only surviving child, was recognized during the afternoon program and presented with a bouquet of flowers. Her presence offered a direct link to the man whose name has been associated with the school and community for more than half a century.
Huska said it was a “fantastic day all around” and she couldn’t have been prouder of the event that was hosted. She recognized the outstanding contributions made by organizers, students and teachers that made the event a success.
“My dad would have been very, very proud of the entire day,” she said. “He was a very community-minded person and he would have done possibly anything for the children — the day would have meant a lot to him.”
She hopes his legacy continues to live on for many more years to come.
“I encourage students to be open minded and work hard for their school, job, community and church — that’s what life is all about.”
The celebration concluded with guests sharing a cake decorated with a picture of the school.
Throughout the event, organizers emphasized the importance of remembering Alf Cuthbert’s contributions to the community and encouraging students to recognize the impact individuals can have, regardless of where they come from.
“By learning about him and celebrating his contributions to our school and community, we hope students realize that coming from a small town in the middle of nowhere doesn’t mean you can’t do big things or be successful in the life path you choose,” Gagaluk said.
Looking ahead, organizers hope the school continues serving the community for generations to come.
“Our hope for the future is that the school is still here for a long time to come. After all, the centennial is only 45 years away.”
Students mark milestone with anniversary poem
Grade 5/6 students presented the following poem during the celebration. The poem was written by teacher Katlyn Bittner-Taylor and refined with input from the students.
In a small town where the gravel roads wind,
Where faces are familiar and kindness you find,
Stands a school with stories to share,
Built on hard work, community, and care.
Where parents once sat, now their children do too,
Learning and growing in classrooms they knew,
Teachers who’ve guided for many a year,
Still welcoming each new class with cheer.
From chalkboards and books to screens that glow,
From pencils to tablets, we’ve watched learning grow,
Smartboards and laptops have all found their place,
Yet some things remain we cannot replace…
Yes, we type and we click, and technology’s great,
But handwriting still matters, yes, we still teach it just to be straight,
Because here in these halls, both old ways and new,
Help shape who we are and all that we do.
For 55 years, through change and through time,
Through laughter and learning, through reason and rhyme,
One thing stays constant, strong and true,
This school is our family, me and you.
Alf Cuthbert School, we proudly say,
Happy 55th Anniversary today!
