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KPDSB Staff and Students Celebrate Earth Month 2013

Media Release - April 19, 2013

In conjunction with Earth Month 2013, and Earth Day on April 22, 2013, our students took part in the KPDSB Digital Media Contest. The contest asked students to create a resource to support our staff and students efforts to make our schools and offices free of one-time use plastic containers and support the use of reusable beverage containers.

With nearly 100 entries from schools across the system, it was clear our students are passionate about protecting our environment and encouraging others to do the same. Keeping in mind our commitment to 21^st Century teaching and learning, and the level of skills our students display in their use of technology daily, the contest was designed to let our students choose how they would like to get their message out. From videos, to posters, to PowerPoint and Prezi presentations, the judges had a tough job selecting just a few from each division.

To view the winning submissions from the primary, junior, intermediate, and senior divisions, please go to our website at www.kpdsb.on.ca and click on the Earth Month announcement or click here.

Jack McMaster, Director of Education, said “Earth day is a day to remind us of our responsibility to protect our environment. Our students remind us of that expectation every day."

Background

Here in the KPDSB, we believe Environmental Education provides our students with opportunities to acquire the skills and perspectives they need to be environmentally responsible now and in the future. We have implemented a wide-range of programs to help our students focus on the issues that are important to them, including vermi-composting, school gardens, recycling programs, outdoor education programs, outdoor classrooms, energy conservation, community outreach, and many more. For more information, please visit our website at www.kpdsb.on.ca.

KPDSB Appoints New Director of Education

Media Release - April 16, 2013

Trustees of the Keewatin-Patricia District School Board are pleased to announce the appointment of Sean Monteith to the position of Director of Education effective August 1, 2013.

Monteith, currently the Superintendent of Education with responsibilities for Special Education, Aboriginal Education, secondary school programming, and Safe and Supportive Schools (which includes the growing work around Children’s Mental Health and Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) initiatives), began his teaching career in 1993 with the Red Lake Board of Education. Since that time, he has worked in the KPDSB as both an elementary and secondary teacher, as well being a principal at both the elementary and secondary panels, last serving as the principal of Beaver Brae Secondary School in Kenora. He began in his current role as Superintendent of Education in 2008.

Monteith stated: “I am both humbled and excited by the opportunity to be a part of such a progressive organization like the KPDSB; and believe that our responsibility in advocating for the unique needs of children and their families in Northern Ontario, while staying on track with our current focus on the achievement of the “whole student”, will ultimately see the Board have its finest hour. I look forward to serving all our staff in the KPDSB in the many years ahead.”

Dave Penney, Chair, stated “We, as Trustees, are extremely pleased to welcome Sean to the position of Director of Education. We’re confident his passion and dedication will serve our students and staff well in the years to come.”

Sean lives in Kenora with his wife Celia, and their sons Aoedan and Tristan, who attend Beaver Brae Secondary School and Valleyview Public School.

April Board Meeting Highlights

Media Release - April 11, 2013

Trustees met at Golden Learning Centre Public School on Tuesday, April 9, 2013, for a regular board meeting.

The April Seeds for the Future – Celebrating our Stars presentation titled ‘Restorative Practices in Action’ was received by Trustees. Debra Geary, Principal of Golden Learning Centre (GLC), and a student from GLC, gave Trustees an inside look into how Restorative Practices are being used in schools to manage conflict and tensions by focusing on repairing harm and strengthening relationships. Restorative Circles in particular, is one approach the school has found to have a positive impact in classrooms. The circles are used to enhance relationships in the classroom by providing students with an opportunity to talk about issues that are on their mind or even just for getting to know each other better.

Richard Hodgkinson, Alternative Learning Coordinator, along with secondary students from Red Lake District High School and Dryden High School, presented the School College Work Initiative report. The School College Work Initiative (SCWI) is a co-operative effort between school boards and colleges. Through the SCWI, projects have been developed to provide dual credit programs for secondary students that assist them in the completion of their Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) and successful transition to college and/or apprenticeship programs. In the past three years, dual credit programs in our schools have increased to the maximum participation level that the province will fund, and students in the programs have expressed their appreciation and excitement for the opportunities the programs provide, including the potential to earn one secondary and one college credit at the same time.

Al Wray, Safe and Supportive Schools Coordinator, presented the Safe and Supportive Schools update. Since 2007, there have been many significant intervention and progressive measures introduced in our schools to ensure we are providing students and staff with a supportive, positive and accepting learning environment. One of those initiatives, Restorative Practices, has had a dramatic effect on our suspension rates and more specifically, repeated suspension rates. Suspension rates are down from more than 1600 suspensions during the 2005-06 school year to just over 200 during the 2011-12 school year. The success of the use of Restorative Practices can be attributed to effective and consistent focus by staff to mitigate factors and repair harm done. By the end of the 2011-12 school year, every staff member in our schools was trained in the use of Restorative Practices.

Dean Carrie, Superintendent of Business, presented the Valleyview Public School Capital Project Update. At the February Board meeting, administration shared plans for a new capital project at Valleyview Public School in Kenora. At that time, the plans included the construction of two new Kindergarten classrooms and a new gymnasium for the school. Unfortunately, although no new capital funding would be needed from the Ministry of Education to complete the project, and the Board had already set aside the funds for the Valleyview project out of the Boards accumulated surplus, the Ministry of Education did not approve the gymnasium addition. As a result, we will continue with the construction of two new Kindergarten classrooms at Valleyview Public School for the fall of 2013.

World Water Day Celebration

Submitted by Kathy Boone, Environmental Education SAT - March 22, 2013

250 KPDSB students came together, at the Dryden Regional Training and Cultural Centre, on March 22 to celebrate International World Water Day. The intent of the day was to provide an authentic opportunity for students to focus attention on the importance of water, and the need for sustainable management of freshwater resources. At the same time, students were introduced to the world renowned Experimental Lakes Area by guest speaker, Mr. John Shearer.

Mr. Shearer, who is a retired aquatic biologist and former Operations Manager for the ELA, spoke to the grade 7 – 12 students about the role of the ELA in unique, whole-ecosystem research into environmental problems associated with water. He gave them an overview of the facility and the many important experiments that have been performed there. The grade 7 and 8 students also participated in a variety of water sustainability activities that were facilitated by Grade 11 Chemistry students from Dryden High School.

The water celebration was rounded out by Mr. Larry Beardy (KPDSB Aboriginal Education SAT) and Elder Mrs. Ellen Beardy, who engaged the students with Native storytelling to provide an Aboriginal perspective on water.

The first World Water Day was designated by the United Nations General Assembly on March 22, 1993. It has been celebrated every year since. The 2013 KPDSB event was a collaboration of students from many grades, teachers and community members who joined together to celebrate and promote the importance of water in our environment.

March Board Meeting Highlights

Media Release - March 5, 2013

Trustees met at Lillian Berg Public School on Tuesday, March 5, 2013, for a regular board meeting.

The March Seeds for the Future – Celebrating our Stars presentation titled ‘Professional Learning Community (PLC) Leadership Project’ was received by Trustees. Carla Markowski and Bill Reid, Leadership Special Assignment Teachers (SATs), gave Trustees an update on the project, currently in its second year. The project was originally created to provide teachers with 50 minutes of classroom coverage every three weeks to participate in professional learning with their colleagues. While teachers focus on their professional learning, students are provided with engaging, authentic learning opportunities that teach leadership skills and character education. Markowski and Reid travel to each of our elementary schools and engage groups of students in 12 different modules they have created that combine daily physical activity with learning skills such as self-regulation, organization, collaboration, responsibility and initiative.

Caryl Hron, Superintendent of Education, presented the second half of the Professional Learning Community (PLC) Leadership Report which focused on the professional learning of teachers while students are with the Leadership SATs. Teachers are able to meet and discuss effective teaching practices, curriculum based expectations, and assessments. Conversations around teaching strategies and student tasks and assessments are crucial to fine-tune practices that have proved to be effective in classrooms. The 50 minute PLCs provide teaching staff with an opportunity to check-in every couple weeks between the regularly scheduled half-day PLCs that take place every four to six weeks.

Clinton Bruetsch, Principal of Beaver Brae Secondary School, along with members of the Beaver Brae Transition Team, presented the Beaver Brae Secondary School Grades 7-12 Planning Report. Beginning in August 2013, Beaver Brae Secondary School will change from a Grade 9-12 facility to Grade 7-12. Following consultations held in the spring with families and community members, the transition team, made up of secondary and elementary school administration, teachers, parents, students, and KPDSB Kenora area Trustees, has been working to ensure the transition for students and their families is a positive experience.

The transition team explores options such as where to house the Grade 7 and 8 students, with the preferred location being the upper east academic wing where there is a notable presence of school staff throughout the day and students would have access to the main office, student services, school library, resource area, and the gym. The team also looks at what the school day schedule will look like, as well as planning and executing transition activities for students and their families.

Of particular importance is ensuring the Grade 7 and 8 students feel welcome and comfortable in the school. To achieve this goal, the transition team has planned transition events that help the students explore the school and learn about the programming, such as dances, activity days, scavenger hunts, and student led conferences (students bring their families into the school and show them around the building on their own). For more information on the work of the transition team, please contact Clinton Bruetsch at Beaver Brae Secondary School at 468-6401.

Project WILD

March 4, 2013

In the past year, eleven WILD Education workshops were hosted in communities across the Keewatin Patricia District School Board, providing opportunities for 85 KPDSB employees to become certified as WILD Educators. Workshop participants have included elementary and secondary teachers, education assistants, occasional teachers, and librarians. Not only have educators come away from workshops with both Project WILD and Below Zero certification, they have also benefited from the opportunity to meet, network and share ideas with other environmentally minded colleagues.

WILD Education is a Canadian Wildlife Federation professional development program for educators to become certified instructors ofProject Wild and Below Zero. Both programs are based on the premise that students and educators have a vital interest in learning about our natural world; and by emphasizing wildlife because of its intrinsic value, Project WILD addresses the need for human beings to develop as responsible citizens of our planet.

With almost 25% of the KPDSB teaching staff certified as WILD Educators, and with WILD Education Resource Kits in all schools, KPDSB students are benefiting from cross curricular, outdoor and experiential opportunities that are in line with the school board’s emphasis on authentic learning experiences that engage students in higher order and critical thinking.

OSSTF Local Leaders Vote to Suspend Political Action Regarding Voluntary Activities

OSSTF Media Release - OSSTF Local Leaders Vote to Suspend Political Action Regarding Voluntary Activities - February 22, 2013

TORONTO, ON - Feb 22 2013 — The Provincial Council of the Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation (OSSTF/FEESO) has voted to recommend to members to suspend their political action related to extra-curricular and voluntary activities.

Provincial Council is the legislative body of OSSTF/FEESO between annual meetings and is responsible for the determination of interim policy and approval of political action. It consists of over 150 local leaders from across the province.

“We expect that this sign of good will from our members will prompt the government to have genuine discussions that can lead to a fair resolution to this current impasse,” said Ken Coran, President of OSSTF/FEESO.

“We still maintain that voluntary activities are just that: voluntary,” continued Coran. “We encourage members to review recent information and decide if they are willing to return to participating in the activities we know they feel so passionately about.”

Ontario News Release - Premier Kathleen Wynne's Statement on Return to Extra-curricular Activities - February 22, 2013

Premier Kathleen Wynne released the following statement:

"I'm happy to hear the results of today's vote by OSSTF members, and I'm so glad that teachers, support staff and students across the province will once again enjoy the extracurricular activities and programs that mean so much to them.

For the past few weeks, my team and I have been meeting with our partners in the public sector and engaging in positive, frank and collaborative discussions about our shared priorities.

Our government has immense respect for the educators of this province and we recognize the important role they play in our children's lives and in communities across Ontario.

Today's news is a great indication of the hard work all parties are putting into the repair of this valued relationship. It shows our willingness to work together, to listen to one another's concerns, and to find common ground on which we can rebuild a foundation of trust and create an effective process going forward.

I've been clear that this issue needs to be addressed within Ontario's existing fiscal framework. But I am confident that our government's commitment to fairness, consistency and respect in our conversations with OSSTF and all our partners will continue to result in real work being done for the people of Ontario."

French Immersion and full-day Kindergarten means big changes for Valleyview

Media Release - February 13, 2013

At the February 12, 2013 regular board meeting, Joan Kantola, Principal of Valleyview Public School, presented an update to Trustees on the French Immersion program at Valleyview Public School.

Earlier this year, KPDSB Trustees supported staffing and recruitment efforts to promote a new French Immersion program at Valleyview Public School. The decision by Trustees allowed the school to offer the Full-Day Early Learning - Kindergarten Program in both French and English. Early registrations are very promising with 18 students registered in French Immersion Kindergarten, as well as the minimum number of students suggested by trustees to support a viable primary French Immersion classroom.

As a result, the French Immersion program is confirmed to begin at Valleyview Public School for the 2013-2014 school year. Kantola, formerly a French Language teacher, welcomed families in the Kenora area to continue to register for French Immersion classes for the fall. Students in Kindergarten to Grade 3 can register and school tours are available for any families that want to learn more about the school and the programs that will be offered.

Kantola and Dean Carrie, Superintendent of Business, were also pleased to share plans of a new capital project and renovations at Valleyview Public School beginning this spring. The plans include two new Kindergarten rooms, outdoor playground areas, the addition of two classrooms to house the growing French Immersion program, and the construction of a new, larger gymnasium. Classroom spaces will be ready for French Immersion and Kindergarten students to begin school in the fall, with the gymnasium construction continuing into the fall of 2013.

Jack McMaster, Director of Education, announces his retirement

Media Release - February 12, 2013

At the February 12, 2013 Regular Board Meeting, Director of Education Jack McMaster announced his retirement effective July 31, 2013.

Mr. McMaster has been Director of the Keewatin-Patricia District School Board since March of 2010. Prior to returning to the Keewatin-Patricia District School Board he was Director of the Rainy River District School Board for five years. Mr. McMaster worked for the Keewatin- Patricia District School Board and its predecessor board, the Dryden Board of Education for a total of 23 years.

“I am honoured to complete my career with the Keewatin-Patricia District School Board, as I feel that I am ending my career with my KP family. My 23 years with the Board has allowed me the opportunity to develop the relationships with staff that are required to build a team that accomplishes common goals,” expressed Mr. McMaster. “I am thankful the trustees hired me and inspired me to make a difference in building a better future for our youth. Through planning, collaboration, and reflection, the staff has worked diligently to improve learning opportunities for students. I am thrilled and honoured to be part of such a caring team.”

Chair of the Board, David Penney, gave thanks and congratulations to Jack. “I have personally known Jack for quite a number of years as a Principal, a Superintendent and Director. He has been a great asset to this Board and will be missed. We wish Jack all the best in his retirement.”

Over the past few years the Board has seen many changes and, under Mr. McMaster’s leadership, has developed a culture where student and staff voices are heard and acted upon, thus creating teamwork that supports purpose in accomplishing meaningful learning opportunities for students and staff.

KPDSB Reassesses Temporary Suspension of Extra-Curricular Activities

Media Release - January 11, 2013

On December 6, 2012, the KPDSB notified the public of a temporary suspension of all extra-curricular activities in our secondary schools as a result of escalating job action. Further developments at the provincial level between the government and the teacher unions have prompted us to reassess that decision. The KPDSB is planning, in some form, to continue our commitment to extra-curricular activities, recognizing that the decision for staff to participate and coach is a personal choice.

Jack McMaster, Director of Education, stated “After many years of coaching high school sports I appreciate what people contribute to student engagement and leadership. I also recognize the difficulty that they have in this current situation.”

McMaster added “We will continue to assess and monitor the provision of extra-curricular activities for our students and it is our hope that after the secondary exam period, we will be able to support some increased form of meaningful activities for our students. We continue to communicate with other Boards to ensure our actions can align with them in order to be able to provide a meaningful experience for our students.”

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