I am writing this as I return from a trip where I had the pleasure of accompanying 34 students from Souris Regional High School to Quebec City for four days.

This was not a new experience to me, as I have been organizing this trip at our school for the past 14 years. Each year, the students have been impeccable ambassadors for not only our school, but our province as well, and this year was no exception. Our students were polite, respectful, in quisitive and fun to be with.

Bus drivers, tour guides, security guards, waiters and attratcion co-ordinators went out of their way to comment to us about how courteous our students were. Teachers from other provinces seemed incredulous that we would rish traveling with 16-, 17- and 18-year-olds - yet I could not think of a more enjoyable way to spend four days.

These young people did not just happen by chance to possess these wonderful attributes, nor is the school solely responsible. Credit must be given to their families, their churches, the local volunteer organizations that provide activities for the youth and the community as a whole.

But at the end of the day, as we make our way home to Souris, tired but happy, I would like to thank the teachers at Souris Regional High School who played a significant role in developing the good citizens that we have at our school. I know from other principals that ours was not a unique experience, yet we seem hesitant to praise the good because we expect nothing less.

The time has come, however, to applaud our students and give credit is due. Thank you to all the students at Souris Regional High School, past and present, who continue to reaffirm the reason I chose teaching as a career - to show that, as a profession, we can make a difference in the lives of our students.

Seana Evans-Renaud,
principal,
Souris Regional High School