www.insideHALTON.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Friday, April 15, 2016 | 10 Pilgrim Wood Public School celebrates 25 years by Julia Le Oakville Beaver Staff Pilgrim Wood Public School is celebrating its 25th anniversary with a party next week. Pilgrim Wood Vice-Principal Kathy Fournier says the occasion is an opportunity for the school community to celebrate its motto: Work hard. Be Nice. Make a difference. While planning the event, the anniversary committee came across interesting discoveries about Pilgrim Wood's rich history. "Although Pilgrim Wood opened in 1990 as a single-track school, it has transformed during the last 25 years to a dual-track English and French immersion school and additionally offers classes to those students placed in our gifted program," said Fournier. "With almost an equal number of students within each program, our students engage collaboratively in their learning while enjoying a variety of activities, teams and clubs." Pilgrim Wood will host its 25th anniversary celebration at the 1551 Pilgrim's Way school Thursday, April 21 from 5-8:30 p.m. An of cial ceremony will begin at 6:30 p.m., followed by cake-cutting and school band and choir performances. The free event will also feature a photo booth, food trucks on site, a `memory walk' to highlight key events from the past 25 years, a dance and a time capsule. For more information, visit http:// Oakville's Pilgrim Wood Public School is celebrating its 25th anniversary and has developed a logo (pictured in inset) for the occasion. | submitted photo pwe.hdsb.ca. "Pilgrim Wood Public School encourages former students, parents, staff, and administrators to attend and reconnect with one another," said Fournier. Among past students returning will be Lauren Garven who hasn't strayed far from her roots. The time she spent from Kindergarten through Grade 8 had such an impact on her, she decided to return three years ago as a teacher. "I had so many wonderful teachers. A couple of teachers that really stand out for me are Mr. Taylor, Mrs. Krug and Mrs. McBay. They were great teachers of mine and created such a positive school environment I knew I wanted to go back and give back to the school that gave me so much," said Garven, who teaches a Grade 4 gifted class. Some of Garven's favourite moments include taking part in sports activities and being part of the skipping team that went to other schools to promote healthy living through the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada. "Back then, we were a really strong running school, so running was kind of my thing -- I was a good cross-country runner and did pretty well in it and in track and eld." Garven admits it's "bizarre," walking down the hallways and seeing her Grade 8 graduation picture on the wall. Even more strange is calling some of her former teachers by their rst name because they are now her colleagues. She said she's looking forward to anniversary celebrations and is wrangling up her friends, her sister (also a Pilgrim Wood graduate) and her sister's friends to walk down Memory Lane. She says she can hardly wait to celebrate the milestone and showcase the school and the wonderful qualities it still embodies. "It's really inclusive. There are a lot of different things for people to do with different interests," said Garven. Located Between cIBc & td BanK On All In Stock* SALE NO TAX $199 Business Class Upgrade MaNy sofa set styLes to Choose froM firePLaCe & eNtertaiNMeNt UNit SALE INTO SPRING! $600 Shipboard Credit OCT 4, 2016 8 NIGHT MASTERS & LEGENDS VOYAGE Monte Carlo ~ Cinque Terre ~ Florence/Pisa ~ Rome ~ Sorrento ~ Nauplion ~ Mykonos ~ Athens variety of Chairs GroUP of seveN fraMeD PriNts Bonus: Special Onboard Enrichment by Smithsonian Collection Lecturer Why not add a 4 night Culinary Creations: Flavours of Provence tour before your cruise? Experience hands-on cooking classes, wine sampling, tasting of local delicacies and more! Ask for details! ALL INCLUSIVE PRICING WITH AIR FROM TORONTO ~ TRANSFERS ~ FINE WINES ~ FREE SHORE EXCURSIONS ~ SPECIALTY DINING ~ SPIRITS & ALL NON ALCOHOLIC DRINKS ~ PRE PAID GRATUITIES ~ UNLIMITED WIFI ~ TAXES INCLUDED! vanItIes to choose from wIde seLectIon of dInIng sets Seven Seas Explorer arrives this summer! Be amongst the first to sail on the world's newest, most luxurious cruise ship! 750 guests maximum ~ all suite ~ all balconies ~ ALL INCLUSIVE! 905-847-2975 905-635-8779 (formerly hopedale mall) South oakville Centre Burlington Mall CALL FOR AVAILABILITY & PRICING Cruise Holidays of Oakville 905.337.2228 | info@cruiseholidaysoakville.com *Shipboard credit is per suite; ** Business Class air add on is per person each way guaranteed on transatlantic flight only. See Regent brochure for full terms & conditions. Prices and shipboard credits in USD. Classique-Decor.com *Some conditions apply