Past students of Queen Elizabeth Elementary School can now get a digital yearbook encompassing all 60 years of the school’s history.

The Q.E. School Community Council has digitized photos of each class and staff member, as well as all of the associated memorabilia.

“There are parent volunteers that have made yearbooks ever since the school began, so they go back to 1958,” said Jennifer Cugnet, a current SCC member-at-large. “Deana Mainil was approached because of her good abilities with the camera and was asked to photograph all of them so that they would be available in digital format. So she did that and it's amazing.”

Mainil, whose four children attended Q.E., was a long-term Room Mom who also served four years as SCC president. She graciously agreed to photograph and digitally-compile more than 7,700 images from the trove of treasured memories.

“We've got newspaper clippings, we've got the class photos, we've got the staff through the years that have been here, they're all in the books,” explained Cugnet. “Any other kind of special memorabilia, memories people have submitted, past students have submitted their favourite memories of the school. Children's Christmas letters, letters to Santa, poems, other projects, it's all contained within the yearbooks.”

With literally thousands of families represented throughout the school’s history, the SCC has made the archive available for anyone to enjoy in a digital format.

“What we have done this year is we have put them onto USBs and CDs, and this is the first time that the school yearbooks are going to be available for purchase to the public,” Cugnet said. “So, prior to that, we just had one book per year that were available in the school library.”

She said the digital books can be purchased from the school office. The USB is available for $20 and the DVD for $10. The funds raised will go toward special events held by the SCC at the school, such as special speakers, school dances, family fun nights, and movie nights. Other SCC purchases in the past have included equipment for the classrooms such as iPads, as well as playground equipment.

With Q.E. scheduled to close its doors upon the opening of the larger elementary school near Jubilee Park, Cugnet noted the SCC takes into consideration whatever items purchased can be used at the new school.

She emphasized how significant the past 60 years have been for the community having a school dedicated to the children of farmers.

“I just think it's a really important part of Weyburn's history because Q.E. is the only rural school, it is just for farm kids, the schedule is catered to a farming schedule,” she explained. “It is very unique and I think a lot of families have benefitted from that.”

Cugnet said it will be sad to leave the old school.

“I think it will be very missed when it does amalgamate into the new elementary school,” she said. “So this is a nice keepsake to have before that happens.”

Anyone wishing to purchase a digital yearbook can contact the office at Q.E. at 306-842-3553. Order forms are available HERE.