Plaxton family honoured as Lethbridge’s newest school welcomes students this fall

By Al Beeber on September 23, 2021.

Herald photo by Al Beeber Louise Plaxton, along with children David, Linda and Nancy listen to speakers during the grand opening Friday of a new public elementary school in Fairmont subdivision named after their husband and father, Dr. Robert Plaxton, a former longtime superintendent of the Lethbridge School Division.

LETHBRIDGE HERALDabeeber@lethbridgeherald.com

He had the distinction of being the Lethbridge School Division’s longest-serving superintendent and played a role in opening the first school in West Lethbridge – Nicholas Sheran Elementary – as well as Park Meadows School in north Lethbridge.
And on Friday, the late Dr. Robert Plaxton was honoured with the grand opening of a new southside elementary school named after him, Dr. Robert Plaxton Elementary School located in the Fairmont subdivision.
Plaxton’s wife Louise, along with children David, Linda and Nancy were on hand for the outdoor ceremony on a blustery morning along with dignitaries and school students.
“We’re very honoured, Bob would be proud,” Louise said before the official ceremonies.
Those ceremonies included brief speeches by several dignitaries including Taber-Warner MLA Grant Hunter, Lethbridge mayor Chris Spearman, board chair Christine Light and school principal Erin Hurkett.
The new school is the city’s first solar-powered one and even includes a solar and wind powered playground. The school has a capacity of 380 students including online learners.
“Learning and education were important to Dr. Robert Plaxton including in his own family. When I was home we were taught learning was the thing, we were shown that learning was the thing. And we were taught and we learned all the time,” son David Plaxton told the assembled crowd when he spoke on behalf of the family.
Plaxton came to the city in 1973, his son recalled. Plaxton served nearly 20 years as superintendent and after retiring was the executive director of the College of Alberta School Superintendents.
David Plaxton told students it wasn’t necessary to detail his dad’s accomplishment because “it’s pretty clear he had an impact. What he brought to Lethbridge and what he brought to education in Alberta is exemplified in a lot of ways. There are students here studying in a school in his name and I think that’s a wonderful result of his career.”
He called the school “beautiful and innovative and it has amazing things going on with the solar panels. It’s about these students, these teachers, this community. My mother, my sisters and I want simply to say thank you. This school, its name, its vision, its innovative community spirit is a significant honour for an exemplary teacher and an exemplary leader in education in this province. Dr. Plaxton, my dad, would have been very thankful and truly would have been humbled by this honour and so too are we, Plaxton said.
Light told the crowd students were experiencing a number of firsts, starting with being the first in a new school in the city.
The school will serve the community for generations, Light said in her address.
“This school was designed with thoughtfulness with so many creative elements to be a place of creativity and connection and innovative learning. And these are greatly appreciated things but these aren’t the things that make this school amazing. What makes it amazing is the community that gets to learn and play and discover and teach and work and volunteer within these walls,’ Light said.
“You the students, staff and parents you make this beautiful building into an incredible community. The school and school year is a new beginning and this year you have the privilege of doing something that no other year will have – you (will) experience a year of firsts,” she said to students.
She told them when the board makes decisions, some of them are tough “we never fail to talk about how awesome and amazing our kids are. How brave you are and how strong you are and how proud we are you’ve not given up in your learning and in your doing your best and in being kind to others.”
Hurkett said “it’s always been a dream of mine to become the principal of a brand new school. And it came true. I’m incredibly thankful for this opportunity and honoured that Lethbridge School Division has trusted me with this position. I began my position as principal at Dr. Robert Plaxton Elementary late last November and quickly became part of a team of individuals who helped in the preparation of everything from furniture and resources to cleaning, technology and staffing,” said Hurkett.
She thanked numerous people including staff for their work in getting the school built and open.
“Thank you to a fabulous committed and vibrant staff. We are so fortunate to have the team we do, we will do great things together, I have no doubt,” Hurkett said.
“We are incredibly excited to move forward with an innovative and forward thinking approach to learning within Dr. Robert Plaxton Elementary School. With a heavy emphasis on environmental stewardship, we aim to model and install the value of environmental care and ethics within our school body. A conscientious focus on foundational literacy and numeracy practises, along with a state of the art makers space enhanced with advanced technology will provide students with opportunities that generate a love of learning and creativity that will no doubt contribute to their future success in life,” said Hurkett.
“Our Fine Arts program, focused on music, art and movement, along with strong PE and future extracurricular opportunities will surely provide a balanced education rich with positive and diverse experiences for students,” Hurkett said.

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