Irving Oil and Champlain Heights School 'CHEER' on Partnership
SAINT JOHN, NB –Champlain Heights School and the Irving Oil Refinery announced a new partnership today that will enhance education for students at Champlain Heights School.
The partnership, called CHEER (Champlain Heights Educational Enhancement Relationship), will provide students with tutoring programs, a book club, class trips, six Smart Boards and an opportunity to participate in an onsite refinery education program. CHEER is expected to provide the school with over 200 volunteer hours per year by refinery employees.
“Over the years, we’ve worked with the Irving Oil Refinery on a number of individual programs and activities,” said Champlain Heights School Principal, Bob Bonner. “We’re pleased to take this partnership to the next level. The initiatives planned for this partnership will offer our students new opportunities to achieve academic excellence.”
To launch CHEER, grade five students will have a bus tour of the refinery today and all students will participate in activities throughout the day. “Our refinery team has enjoyed working with our neighbours at Champlain Heights School for many years,” said Gary Bischof, General Manager of the refinery. “We’re looking forward to strengthening that connection even more through the tutoring and education programs.”
Irving Oil has supported many of the Champlain Heights School’s fundraisers and events. Recent donations include new playground equipment in 2005 and three Smart Boards in 2007. The partnership supports the New Brunswick Department of Education’s When Kids Come First Plan, a plan designed to ensure New Brunswick’s education system fosters innovative, critical thinkers. One major goal of this plan is to engage communities and partners in improving schools.
This will be the second school partnership for Irving Oil. In 2002, the company launched a partnership with St. John the Baptist-King Edward (SJBKE) Elementary School, known as Fueling the Future. Approximately 80 Irving Oil employees and alumni volunteer at SJBKE each week, providing support to the students and staff through one-on-one mentoring, classroom assistance, and at the school’s lunch program, the Chicken Noodle Club.
About Champlain Heights School
Champlain Heights School is located in East Saint John in the heart of Champlain Heights sub-division. The school serves over 400 children from kindergarten to grade five.
Media Contacts:
Lesley MacLeod
Irving Oil
(506) 202-3924
Bob Bonner
Champlain Heights School
Phone: (506) 658-5335
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