IHMS Students Win National Aviation Award, Launch Tech Fundraiser, and Prepare to Welcome St. Nicholas

It is a season of excitement and achievement at Immaculate Heart of Mary School (IHMS), where students are soaring to new heights both in the classroom and beyond.

Grade 4 Students Take First Place in National Aviation Contest

IHMS is celebrating an extraordinary accomplishment: the Grade 4 class has won first place in the 2025 Aviation Nation Contest, hosted by Canadian Geographic Education and the RCAF Foundation. In a year that marks 150 years of Canadian aviation, IHMS students honoured that milestone with remarkable creativity and enthusiasm.

As part of their Grade 4 Airplane Club, students designed more than 20 original airplane prototypes and created a dynamic video submission that earned national recognition.

Their first-place prize includes:

• ✈️ An all-expenses-paid field trip to the Royal Aviation Museum of Western Canada

• 📚 A full class set of Aviation Nation books

• 📘 A signed copy of Pathway to the Stars – 100 Years of the Royal Canadian Air Force for the IHMS library

“We are incredibly proud of our Grade 4 students and their teacher,” said IHMS Principal Rod Picklyk. “Their imagination, teamwork, and enthusiasm truly soared.”

Students Lead the Way in $30,000 Technology Upgrade Campaign

The excitement doesn’t stop there. IHMS students are also championing a vital school initiative: raising $30,000 to upgrade essential classroom technology, tools that support learning across all grades and subjects.

To show why technology matters, Grade 8 students produced a one-minute video written, filmed, edited, and narrated entirely by the students. The video demonstrates how technology fuels their creativity, research, projects, and digital expression.

Thanks to early support from generous donors, IHMS has already reached 30% of the fundraising goal. Thank you!!

“Technology touches every subject and supports every student,” Picklyk said. “Our students created a remarkable video that shows exactly why these upgrades are so important. We’re grateful to everyone who has contributed so far.”

Welcoming St. Nicholas With Music, Poetry, and Tradition

On Friday, December 5, IHMS will celebrate a cherished annual traditions: Welcoming St. Nicholas and his angels with a joyful program of songs and poetry.

The Feast of St. Nicholas honours a saint known around the world for his kindness, generosity, and love for children. These are the very values at the heart of the IHMS mission.

“This celebration reminds our students of the importance of giving, compassion, and sharing blessings with others,” Picklyk said. “It’s a beautiful expression of who we are as a school community.”

A Season of Achievement, Gratitude, and Community

From national recognition to student-led creativity, to meaningful traditions, IHMS students continue to shine with leadership, talent, and heart.

To support the Back to School technology campaign, visit: lubovfoundation.ca/backtoschool
To watch the Grade 8 technology video, visit: youtube.com/watch?v=Duqd8pK4apc