Ever since its inception last spring, "House Teams" at Rossville School in Coleville has been all the rage for both staff and students.
WestCentralOnline received a special invite to the school back in May to watch principal Krystle Valliere inaugurate each of Team Bear, Team Bison, and Team Coyote into the school of Rossville Racoons. A few short weeks of competition before summer saw Team Bear take the 2022-2023 school year championship, but now things are reset with another year here.
A member of Team Bear hoisting the first ever House Teams trophy high (Photo courtesy of Joleen Scheible)The factions inside Rossville School helped represent Coleville at the Goose Festival Parade in Kindersley on September 23. In true community fashion, each of the teams came together to form a float that turned out better than anyone could have asked for.
Photo via Rossville School Community Group on FacebookHouse Teams made for an easy theme to choose this year for Rossville School's Joleen Scheible, who has been the mastermind behind the float since 2018. Scheible has been invested in the creative process since winning a Goose Festival award in 2018, and shared when the excitement began to build for students.
"The kids were buzzing about it here for probably two weeks. Especially when they started to see the candy donations come in the door."
The excitement continued to grow from there and Scheible was happy to share that nearly every student in the school was able to attend the parade.
The float was full, and most students stuck around at the end of the parade to get their hands on some candy (Rossville School Community Group on Facebook)Heading the float for at-least the last five years, Scheible knows all the work that goes into the process. She chuckled recalling the time spent cutting, printing, gluing, and creating in general to get the float ready for this past weekend. The decorating took about 4 hours on Wednesday night and thanks to a great community team they were ready to go, minus the talent in blue, red, and green.
Scheible wanted to mention one specific helper, a former Rossville Racoon that has helped since the beginning.
"Camille Roberts, I'm pretty sure she has helped me every single year decorating that float. It's kind of our thing." shared Scheible.
Community spirit is a major reason the float has become a local traditionScheible talked more about the true community effort, with so much of this possible thanks to volunteers. The float was created on a borrowed trailer, it was decorated in an open shop bay, and as mentioned the candy was community donated.
"Every year we have hundreds of dollars worth of candy donations, because I think our community members see the impact that it has." Scheible stated proudly about Coleville. "It's not just the school, it is truly the community of Coleville, and our Rossville School community that gets the float out there."
Rossville School principal Krystle Valliere was the mind behind House Teams in ColevilleCommunity and Coleville going hand-in-hand is nothing new. It might not seem like it at face-value, but togetherness is one of the biggest reasons for bringing in the House Teams and it's natural competition.
Scheible has had a front row seat to the environment House Teams has fostered so far.
"It is having the exact impact that (our principal) had in her vision when she introduced House Teams to our school."
The recent float was a good way to show-off their mascots and slogans to people from outside of town. Seeing messages like "No Bear Left Behind" and "Indestructible as a Pack" paint a better picture of what kind of environment is being created in Coleville.
"Get the buzz going, wondering what is House Teams, stuff like that." said Scheible.
Coleville residents have a front row seat. On a trip to the local post office you will see dedications to Team Bear, Team Bison, and Team Coyote.
"When we did it last spring it really got the buzz going around here."
If the recent Coleville Fowl Supper was any example, the teams are something that could play a healthy role around the community for years to come. Older students were given the chance to volunteer, and were in turn rewarded with some points for their respective team come Monday morning.
"The way to win points is to go above and beyond. Volunteering at a community event, that in our opinion is for sure going above and beyond. They were very proud of themselves, as they should be."
People on the school's Facebook group were appreciative of the help (Screengrab via Rossville School Community Group)Scheible begrudgingly admitted that Team Bear were last year's champions, but had some strong hope for her Team Coyote. No one should be counting out Team Bison and their motto of "Be Brave, Be Strong, Bisons Stand Together" as this group of Rossville Racoons engage in the three-horse-race.
Team Bear took the trophy and helped claim bragging rights for their leader, Principal Krystle Valliere
Thu, May 2, 9:30 AM
