Fort Good Hope (Feb 07/05) - This year has already been filled with many victories at Fort Good Hope's Chief T'Selehye school.

Harry Mac Neil, program support teacher, has received $10,000 from the Native Women's Association of the NWT by way of the community's inter-agency - comprised of all organizations around Good Hope. The money will help Grade 10-12 design a DVD and newsletter to help fight the spread of HIV and hepatitis-C in the community.

"We want to make sure that accurate information gets out to the students," he said.

Mac Neil said there are a lot of misconceptions and stereotypes about these diseases which he hopes his team can overcome.

The value of this project can't be underestimated, said principal Philip Cull.

"We learn from our mistakes," he said. "But in a case like this, learning from our mistakes is very expensive."

The school has had a lot more on the go than just the one project, reports Celine Proctor, the school's community liaison counsellor.

Montana King won a $500 savings bond after more than half of the students took part in the Enbridge reading challenge.

The school also received a $400 grant from the University of New Brunswick for a Health Canada initiative designed to help students develop healthier eating habits.

In December, 18 students had perfect attendance in their classes.

Then in January, Chief T'Selehye school hosted a family literacy night. Students, parents, grandparents and other residents got a chance to take in a number of activities, including storytelling by renowned artist Alfred Masuzumi.

"We need to have more activities like this," said Anne Meaney, co-organizer of the evening and a kindergarten and Grade 1 teacher.

On Jan. 20, a group of biologists made presentations to the students on wildlife health and disease in the North.

The scientists included Dr. Susan Kutz, Alasdair Veitch, Aleksija Neimanis and Glen Guthrie.

The team left the school with a microscope and research software for classes courtesy of Enbridge, which sponsored the project.

The school was also the scene of a sad goodbye as Angela Grandjambe, long-time chair of the Fort Good Hope District Education Authority, retired.

After more than 20 years of service, Seamus Quigg, superintendent of the Sahtu Division Education Council, presented Grandjame with a gift of appreciation for her tireless efforts.