Class of 2021 - the 25th graduating class

Wow, it’s hard to believe it’s already the 25th class of the Nellie McClung Girls Jr. High Program.  And their jr. high journey has certainly taken on some very unexpected turns - who knew that learning to properly tie a tie would be the least of their worries as they attempted to get comfortable with their uniforms for their first day in Gr.7.  Luckily, they had the chance to bond & hit it off with each other, & their teachers at the Birch Bay teambuilding field trip – they nervously made new friendships while ziplining; horseback riding; & sharing bunk beds.  Then as part of Harry Potter week, the Nellie experience continued with opening a ‘Hogwarts’ letter (from Gr.9’s), & taking part in the ‘sorting’ ceremony.  Project Fair had the Nellies researching & presenting their interests in the STEM & Humanities fields.  Before they knew it Gr.8 was upon them, & they were dissecting a sheep’s hearts & pig’s eyes.  The Power of Women Conference (POW) kept the Nellies busy as they organized speakers; planned cool activities for Gr.6 students; & prepared tasty treats on the actual day.

It was pretty disappointing to have the Ottawa/Montreal field trip cancelled & not rescheduled for the following year.  Despite Covid restrictions in Gr.9, the Nellies managed to put on the annual POW event that took on a different flavor as an online Nellie Talks.  Getting 11 speakers is pretty good!  A very impressive group of women presented on their careers.  The Nellies participated & connected in creative ways & didn’t shy away from being part of daily online announcements; showcasing their artistry for World History Projects; performing in an online talent show; contributing graphics for the 25th Anniversary Hoodie; participating in an interactive virtual genetics fieldtrip; & lastly, adapting & pivoting between in-person & online learning.

The virtual Gr. 9 celebration was worked on & created by Nellies.  They were fantastic emcees; some provided dance, & music performances, while others curated a trip down memory lane.  For some fun & laughs, every student received an award acknowledging their ‘personality’ – Abacus award (someone you can always count on); Emoji award (student with the best reaction); & Swiss Army Knife award (voted as being indispensable).  In a way, the online format was convenient for previous teachers, school admin, & alumni (students/parents) to attend – it was an honor to have them in attendance. It was an uplifting, supportive, & delightful celebration.

Twenty-nine Gr.9 students have come from all corners of Edmonton for the Nellie program - they have the same confidence to move on & make new friends as they branch out for high school.

The Gr.9 students have shown resiliency & determination; remained connected & engaged, & have worked hard to accomplish great things.  A great spirit to have and learn from.

BRAVO!!!

There’s also a note to the Gr.9 class from the NLMES Board

25th Anniversary Hoodie

In the midst of a very unique and unprecedented school year for 2020/2021 there has been a bright spot at the Nellie McClung Program: Celebrating 25 years of our program. The NLMES board decided one of the ways to commemorate the event would be to offer up a limited edition hoodie that both alumni, family members and current students could wear with pride. The school will be allowing this special hoodie to be worn as one of the uniform options once it arrives early next school year and it’s also a great chance for those of us who formerly rocked the uniform on a daily basis to have our own piece of nostalgia.

In the spirit of leadership, the board asked the ladies of Nellie McClung for design submissions to embellish the back side of the hoodie and put the top 2 to a vote! Here are all the amazingly creative designs we received from students:

Aren’t they all lovely?

Once all the votes were tallied it was a very tight race but this was our winning submission, as shown on the hoodie.

Congratulations to Lu, Isobel, and Kinsey who worked together on the design and will each receive a free hoodie for their contribution!

We look forward to seeing the hoodie being worn at school and around town in the next few months, as well as continuing our 25th anniversary celebrations. Don’t forget to place your order, this is a one time offering and all orders must be submitted by July 30, 2021.

You can place your order directly on our site, right here.

Trailblazers – Women in Business

What do these things have in common – building a better battery, manufacturing cloth masks, and baking cookies?  Women that are inspired & driven and blazing a trail in the business world.

On Mar 4th, 2021, four gr. 9 Nellie students learned what it means to have an innovative spirit, and commitment to become an entrepreneur. They learned the importance of making a difference in the community and consequently inspiring and motivating young women.   The Edmonton Chamber of Commerce (ECC) generously invited Nellie students to attend their virtual Inspiring Women Leaders (presented by CPA Alberta) event.

The 2020 ECC Inspiring Women Leaders event was an in person luncheon, & Nellie students were invited to assist & participate.  The girls helped with set up & greeted attendees as they arrived.  It was beneficial for the Nellies to be involved with the preparation for a luncheon, to take part in public engagement, & to see business community involvement.

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the 2021 event was a virtual speaking event, however it was still very impactful for all those participating. The girls discovered that these successful business women had to work hard to achieve their goals. And the efforts paid off in so many ways for making the community a better place, by bringing about awareness of:  greener energy; sustainable manufacturing; & small local producers .  Connie Stacey, founder & President of Growing Greener Innovations patented a rechargeable battery generator; Claire Theaker- Brown, founder & Director of Unbelts created socially sustainable cloth masks & belts; and Kathy Leskow, founder of Confetti Sweets expanded her cookie business from her kitchen to retail, & created a collective to sell curated local food.

The Nellies thought it was valuable: to hear different stories; & learn about the challenges & how motivation, passion & taking charge helped with achieving success.  These girls also realized that being scared is normal and it shows you care, & overcoming fear makes you a better person.   It was impressed upon them “to go for it, & overcome the obstacles” & “don’t let the fear of failure hold you back”.

For these young Nellie students, the entrepreneurial spirit embodies – “taking action & making the changes”; “don’t expect change to happen or wait for others to do it”; and always look to improve to be the best. 

⮚      Persevere when “you’re told you can’t”

⮚      Persist “no matter how far out of reach it is”

⮚      Keep at it  if “others tell you that you can’t have it or this it’s not possible because of who you are”

An innovative spirit encourages & empowers everyone along the way & these girls believe that “passion will lead to success”, & “you’ll never know success if you don’t try”.  Excellent advice!