Welcome Back Note from Director of Education, Sean Monteith

Writing a welcome back message to all of our students, their families, and staff and community partners, including our First Nations partners, comes this year with a feeling of mixed emotions. It seems like it was just a couple of days ago, that many of us were attending high school and public school graduations. “Where did the summer go?!” many will ask themselves, and I include myself in that camp. Regardless of where it went, on behalf of the Keewatin-Patricia District School Board I hope that it brought you and your families the very best that only a  Northwestern Ontario summer truly can provide!

September is here, and with it the change in leaves, cooler nights and sun filled days; September also means school is here and I welcome all of our students, staff and families back to our schools! There is a feeling in the air of excitement, enthusiasm, renewed energy and thoughts of the year ahead with all of the promise and hope that Public Education can bring….education truly is the great leveler of the field. As Mandela said years ago, “It is only through education that a son or daughter of a miner or laborer, can become the leader of a great country.” Mandela is right, regardless of where you live, what you do, what background or culture you represent and are proud of…you can become anything you want to be, and public education is the vehicle that will take you there! Of course, hard work and a commitment to accepting only the best for our students is also helpful, but that is where the Keewatin-Patricia District School Board comes in; we will support each and every student at achieving their best. We have the greatest teachers in this province leading by example, setting the highest of expectations and working in world class facilities and learning environments! We are ready to welcome all students and families back to school!

As I conclude my thoughts as the Director of Education, it would be remiss to not acknowledge that there remain challenges in our sector. There remain uncertainties and potential road bumps ahead; my message to all of you is that whatever the challenge or obstacle, we will overcome it and persevere; it absolutely is a trait of Northerners. With this in mind, I also want to take the opportunity to extend best wishes to all in the region for a successful year ahead, and specifically to the students, families and staff of the Kenora Catholic District School Board, Northwest Catholic District School Board and CSDC des Aurores boréales. May we work together in a spirit of cooperation that supports all students in the name of public education, and as always, put their needs first!

Best Wishes for 2015-2016!

Sean Monteith

Director of Education

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Red Lake Road Run - September 27, 2015

The Red Lake Road Run is a fundraiser for the Red Lake District High School athletics program.  This year, the run will take place on Sunday, September 27th and is the school's fifth annual event!

To register for the event, or for more information, please visit the Red Lake Road Run event site by clicking here.

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New Hockey Canada Skills Academies in Dryden, Kenora and Sioux Lookout!

We are pleased to offer a variety of Hockey Canada accredited Hockey Skills Academies to families in the Northwest. 

The Hockey Canada Skills Academies are a complete program that includes academics, hockey skills, off-ice strength and conditioning, mental training, and personal and team development. They are great programs for those students wanting to enhance their current skill set and also provide an opportunity to introduce the game to students new to hockey who want to play for the first time.

Please click on an area below for more information on the Hockey Canada Skills Academy in your area.

• Dryden/Vermilion Bay
• Kenora
• Sioux Lookout 

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June Board Meeting Highlights

Media Release - June 10, 2015

Trustees met at King George VI Public School on Tuesday, June 9, for the final Board Meeting of the 2014-2015 school year.

The May “Students Come First” presentation titled ‘Parents at Secondary School – Beaver Brae Secondary School’ was received by Trustees.  The Parents at Secondary School (PASS) program is offered at several of our secondary schools, including Beaver Brae in Kenora.  The program allows young parents to work towards their secondary school diploma in a supportive and caring environment where they can complete their credits while caring for their children.  With a focus on life skills as well as academics, students in the program learn about cooking and making healthy choices for them and their children, resources in the community that young families can reach out to for any support they may need outside of the school, and the importance of connecting with other parents who understand the challenges they face.

PASS program students shared their stories with Trustees and often talked about how the program has inspired them to not only complete their high school requirements, but also to look forward to the future and accomplishing the goals they have set for themselves while in the program.  Trustees heard from all of the young parents that they believed they would not be where they are today if it wasn’t for the PASS Program and the support of their teacher, Sherry King, and administration and staff of Beaver Brae Secondary School.  The students all agreed that the program has changed their lives, and that of their children, by helping them to become better moms, and they were extremely grateful for the support we have been able to offer to them.

The Transitions North year-end report was received by Trustees. Principal of Keewatin Public School, Heather Mutch, and Transitions North classroom staff, Mike Dean (teacher) and Nicole Downey (Education Assistant), shared the work that has been happening in their program.  The Transitions North classroom at Keewatin Public School is one of three programs in our Board, with one in Sioux Lookout at Sioux Mountain Public School, and another in Dryden at Open Roads Public School.  The programs are the first in their kind in Ontario schools and were created in partnership with Dr. Gideon Koren of Toronto Sick Kids Hospital and MotherRisk to support students with FASD.

The Transitions North programs have been extremely successful in supporting our students with FASD with staff from all three programs indicating the program is changing lives for many of their students.  With small class sizes, a focus on self-regulation, sensory sensitive classrooms and direct intervention, the students are receiving the support they need from our caring and dedicated staff.  Students in the program learn at their own pace and each student receives unique support that is tailored to their individual needs.  The overall goal of the program is to integrate students back into the regular classroom by providing students with coping skills they can use to ease the transition.

Sean Monteith, Director of Education, presented the Employee Recognition report as per Policy 703 – Recognition of Employees.  As the 2014-2015 school year comes to an end , it’s important to acknowledge the work of all of our employees over the past school year but we are also proud to acknowledge the dedicated service of those who are retiring and celebrating 25 years of employment with us.  This year, we are publically recognizing those staff who all together, have over 1300 years of service to public education and children in the Northwest.  Below is a list of our retirees and 25 year honourees.

Retirements                                                                   25 Year Service

Ariano, Dale                                                                    Carlson, Kim                     

Armstrong, Sandra                                                        Kimberley Douglas

Benson, Lee Ann                                                          Dufault, Karen

Bergman, Lynn                                                              Dufresne, Chona

Bruetsch, Clinton                                                           Dzwonyk, Pazia

Brechtefeld, Lorraine                                                    Farrell, Laura

Comhaire, Angela                                                         Favreau, Jim

Cornish, Diana                                                               Fretz, Keith

Duffield, Marilyn                                                            Hill, Rick

Estabrooks, Gloria                                                         Kovel, Deanna

Frenette, Lindsay                                                           Kuznak, Gwen

Galeotafiore, Louie                                                        Lambert, Theresa

Gramatowski, Barbara                                                   Lampi, Carla

Hager, Janet                                                                   Magel, Betty Ann

Hill, Rick                                                                          Marion, Kathleen

Kummen, Madelon                                                        O’Hearn, Rosemary

Lambrechts, Valerie                                                      Ponton, Randy

Lindsay, Mary                                                                 Prosken, Loretta

MacMillan, Doreen                                                        Snyder, Debi

Murray, Carol                                                                  St. Hilaire, Shelley

O'Grady, Susan                                                              Stemkens, Jennifer

Peloquin, Karen                                                             Urquhart, Michelle

Pronger, Cheryl                                                              Wilcox, Richard

Salo, Pauline                                                                  Zabloski, Sherri

Shedden, Paula

Skora, Johanne

Skrupski, Barb

Skye, Leonard

Wilcox, Richard  

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KPDSB Celebrates Partnership with Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities - May 30 Jumpstart Day

Joint Media Release - May 29, 2015

For two years, the Keewatin Patricia District School Board (KPDSB) and Jumpstart have successfully partnered to provide individuals, classes, and schools the tools they need to help kids develop physical and social skills through sport, dance, and other organized physical activities.

As a Chapter member of Jumpstart, KPDSB students have benefited across the region, with students participating in many different activities and programs including hockey academies, swim programs, GPS and geocaching, and hip hop dancing.  Jumpstart initiatives can be found in KPDSB schools throughout Northwestern Ontario, from Savant Lake, to Keewatin, to Ear Falls and Sioux Lookout.

"We are proud to support Jumpstart and National Jumpstart Day, on May 30, by recognizing our burgeoning partnership that is all about supporting kids, and more importantly, putting kids first.” said Sean Monteith, Director of Education, KPDSB.

“This past year, in partnership with Jumpstart and Triple Play, skates and helmets were purchased for our children to participate in skating lessons,” said Heather Mutch, Principal of Keewatin Public School. “Also thanks to Jumpstart, our students participated in swimming lessons at the Recreation Centre.  As a result our kids were able to learn valuable skills, be active and have fun! Thank you Jumpstart for making this possible for our children.”

Jumpstart, Canadian Tire’s national charity, helps kids from financially disadvantaged families participate in organized sports and physical activity by helping to cover the costs of registration, equipment and transportation. Jumpstart also works with a national network of over 2,000 Community Partners, including the KPDSP, to develop physical activity programming that aligns with Jumpstart’s mission.

“We’re so proud to have strong partners like the Keewatin-Patricia District School Board. Together we can give even more kids the opportunity to develop the confidence, teamwork and leadership skills that come with participation in organized sport.” said Glenn McLean, Regional Manager, Jumpstart.

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