The snow may have just melted, but students at Oakville School are already thinking about the winter. The school recently received a donation of 27 pairs of snowshoes, thanks to a partnership between Andrea and Darcy Miller of Miller Agritec and the local Canadian Tire. Principal Todd Boychuk notes the donation will allow full classes to take part in a new winter activity, and the kids are already excited.

"They're very excited, especially the Grade 4 class. Mrs. (Shauna) Smoliak is big into cross-country skiing and she has spread her passion into her classroom. They'll be in Grade 5 next year, but they're very excited."

Boychuk notes he's relatively new in the position, taking over as principal at the beginning of this school year, and says it's exciting to see local support for their school.

"I think it's just a great experience as a new principal to see someone come in and say 'Hey, we want to do something for the school'. It's a great experience for myself, and it inspires everyone out there to support the school."

It's not the first time the school's received a sizeable donation from Miller Agritec, and Darcy Miller says that's because he sees the importance of the rural school.

"We talked to them and offered to do something with them, something that maybe doesn't fall within the normal expenditures for the school. We love to do that kind of thing because we're so fortunate to have our rural school. I think we're the last rural school in the Portage School Division, and we just want to support it and make it a better place for them to have a learning experience."

Miller adds the staff at the local school are great, noting it's exciting to see the facility provide such great programming for the youth.