School Partnerships

School Partnerships

About

The first partnership program taken on by our Canmore-Sedona Sister City Association involved linking together some elementary classrooms in Canmore and Sedona. Teachers at both ends shared drawings, pen pal writings and books with their counterparts. They also held a joint class lesson exchange on Zoom and were able to learn about the landscape and unique features of each others’ towns. 

As a bonus, a couple of the Sedona elementary school teachers came to Canmore on their own and visited Elizabeth Rummel School.

A woman reads a story to a group of young children seated on the classroom floor. The classroom is decorated with educational posters, bookshelves, and bins filled with supplies. The children listen attentively as the woman shows them the book.

Testimonial from Sedona teachers on their visit to Canmore in 2025: 

It was with an adventurer’s heart and sister city excitement that I flew from Phoenix to Calgary to make the first Teacher/Classroom Education Exchange with the Elizabeth Rummel School in Canmore, Alberta Canada. I brought with me class projects and gifts from Patty Falsetto’s class at West Sedona School and shared them with Terri WIlliamson‘s class in Canmore.

With Janet Krausert, the Canmore Mayor’s wife looking on, the students and I took a Google Earth Tour of the West Sedona School campus pointing out the unique features of the school and the area. I read the book The Three Little Javelinas to the class which highlights the unique Arizona flora and fauna within the context of the classic story The Three Little Pigs.

We toured the school, met with the Principal Brian Witishyn and heard about a whole school community wellness program called Right From The Start, a mindfulness program that helps adults and children settle their mind and feelings before beginning work.

Pete, my husband, as the Wellness Rep, shared another area that Sedona and Canmore have in common. Pete’s children’s book for soothing the part of the brain that generates anxiety and fear was left with the Elizabeth Rummel School and welcomed at the Canmore library and by the Administrator of the Right From The Start program.

Team Members: Deb Sanders, Patty Falsetto and Pete Sanders

A teacher stands at the front of a classroom holding a large illustrated book, addressing young students seated at desks. The students are attentively watching, with some bottles of water and school supplies on the desks. A large monitor screen displays a video call or presentation, and colorful educational posters decorate the classroom walls.

This school to school partnership is ongoing and will hopefully grow to encompass high school students in the future.