This content was shared with the Township from the Upper Canada District School Board.

The Township of Edwardsburgh Cardinal is keeping residents in the loop, thanks in part to some creative and committed students at South Grenville District High School (SGDHS). Students from the school have collaborated with the township to design the Edwardsburgh Cardinal Newsletter, a new monthly publication that is distributed throughout the region.

At the start of the 2024-25 school year, students Grant Emmell, Avery Griffin, and Isla Shields from the SGDHS Grade 9 Communications Technology class met with township officials to brainstorm ways they could build on the partnership that had formed through other real-world learning projects with the school and continue to contribute to the vibrant community. The discussion ultimately led to the question of how they could distribute local news and information in a way that would resonate with the varying demographics of the township, and the idea of a newsletter was born.

With the scope of the project solidified, students began by designing a template for the newsletter in Canva, a graphic design application, with input from the township. Among other design considerations, students had to adhere to branding guidelines set out by the township to ensure consistency with other official marketing materials.

The first issue was published in November of 2024, and featured news, events, and heart-warming stories from the area. In addition to being posted electronically on the township website and social media, approximately 200 printed copies were distributed to local businesses.

Grade 9 Communications Technology Teacher Tim East was impressed with how the students handled the increased responsibility of a public facing project. “They really took their skills to the next level, and they did a great job! Producing something for public distribution has been a great learning experience for them.”

For students Emmell, Shields, and Griffin, the experience was well worth the effort, and all three emphasized how it felt to help not just the township officials, but those in the wider community.

“I thought it was cool, and we're doing something to help people,” said Emmell. “To tell them what's happening in terms of things like at the arena, because I play hockey. Letting people know what's happening with public skating, the skate with Santa, and that type of stuff. Some of the things I would only know about because of the newsletter.”

“It felt good! It felt like I was helping everyone out, and I felt proud about that,” said Griffin. “Then when it came out, I was like “I did that!” We're just glad to help out the community and the communities around us.”

“It was exciting, and it was something new and fun to do,” added Shields.

The students’ hard work led to new issues published in December and January up to the completion of the semester. With the course completed, the collaboration should have come to an end, but the students remain committed to the newsletter and have volunteered to complete the remaining five issues of the 2024-25 school year, ending in June.

“Working with Avery, Grant and Isla on the Township’s monthly newsletter has been a great experience,” said Mary Tessier, Community Engagement Coordinator with the Township of Edwardsburgh Cardinal. “The newsletter has quickly become something our residents look forward to, and it’s been rewarding to see the students grow their skills while providing such a valuable service. We are so grateful for their contributions and look forward to seeing where their talents take them next.”

"The Township of Edwardsburgh Cardinal is proud to support real-world learning opportunities like this, where students can apply their skills in a meaningful way,” added Edwardsburgh Cardinal CAO, Sean Nicholson. “Grant, Isla, and Avery have done an outstanding job creating a newsletter that keeps our community informed and engaged. This project was entirely student-driven, and their creativity and professionalism have made a real impact in our community. Our mayor and council sincerely appreciate the dedication and hard work of the students and extend their thanks to the students’ teacher, Tim East, for fostering such an engaging and impactful learning experience."

The newsletter is the latest of many Real-World Learning (RWL) projects that have developed through a close partnership between the school and the township. During the 2023-24 school year, students in various classes worked on RWL projects that helped reinvigorate interest in local history, including the construction and installation of a bench near the site of the wreck of the Conestoga and a digital presentation on Cardinal native and NHL star Rusty Crawford that was featured in the lobby of the local arena.

The school plans to continue work with the township into 2025-26, enhancing the projects and bringing more Real-World Learning opportunities to students.

Photo Caption: (L-R) Isla Shields, Grant Emmell, and Avery Griffin hold up a recent edition of the Edwardsburgh Cardinal Newsletter.