There’s a familiar face taking over the reigns at the Sunnie Bend and Pibroch colony schools.
Long-time R.F. Staples teacher Jerry Buchko started his new job March 18 as lead administrator of Pembina Hills Public Schools’ two Hutterite colony schools and he spent the first week just getting comfortable with his new surroundings.
“There was Monday, then I got a little more comfortable on Tuesday, then we had a staff meeting on Wednesday and everybody was pretty excited and happy to have me there. By Friday at 3:30 I said ‘Yep, this was the right decision,’” he said.
Buchko said he never had aspirations of becoming a principal and never gave such job advertisements a second thought, but the former principal of the schools contacted him directly to encourage him to apply.
“If you would have told me three weeks ago that I would be principal of the colony schools I would have asked what you’re talking about,” he said.
Buchko said he had never been to the colony before and didn’t quite know what to expect.
“It’s pretty neat. We’re talking 29 students at each colony, K to nine, three teachers, four program assistants, one admin assistant and it’s a lot slower pace than I’m used to at R.F. Staples,” he said. “The staff there are awesome, rock solid. The community welcomed me with open arms and the kids are eager to learn. They’re polite and respectful and they’re just great people.”
Things are done a bit differently at the colony schools. For instance, children start Kindergarten on the day they turn six and complete school on their 15th birthday, said Buchko.
All the children are taught together with teacher time rationed between the grades.
Hutterite colonies also build and maintain their own schools to keep their children on the colonies and to minimize outside influence, in keeping with their beliefs. The first language of many of the children is a German dialect, so focus on English skills is a priority.
“The parents want the three Rs — reading, ‘rithmatic and ‘riting,” said Buchko.
“It’s a lot of fun,” he said, adding he would encourage any teachers or educational staff to consider working on a colony school. “It’s a great experience, it’s not good to stay in one place for 20 years. We all need to try something new and challenge ourselves.”
