Dryden High School’s Kieran McMonagle to speak to Standing Senate Committee on Aboriginal Peoples

Media Release - May 31, 2018

Dryden High School’s Kieran McMonagle will testify before Canada’s Standing Senate Committee on Aboriginal Peoples on June 6, 2018, in Ottawa as a part of an Indigenize the Senate event.  McMonagle is the First Nation, Metis and Inuit Graduation Coach of the Four Directions program at Dryden High School. 

2018 marks the third year for the Standing Senate Committee on Aboriginal Peoples to accept nominations to identify Indigenous youth leaders to share their experiences and thoughts with the committee during an official hearing.  McMonagle was nominated by a colleague and was chosen to address the committee from applicants across the country.  She will identify challenges and share success stories from her work with Indigenous youth in Northwestern Ontario. 

McMonagle stated “Being recognized as an Indigenous Youth Leader at the national level is both an honour and a privilege. I am humbled to have been recognized by a colleague at Dryden High School and hope to influence positive change for Indigenous youth within the region.”  

Richard Hodgkinson, Principal of Dryden High School, said “Kieran is a remarkable leader advocate for Indigenous youth across our region. She goes beyond listening, encouraging and helping guide students, she empowers them. The students she “coaches” know that they have someone who believes in them, who is there for them, and who deeply cares about them and their success. Kieran will be able to share the challenges and successes of our Indigenous youth and how working and learning together, we can help them succeed and develop a positive vision of their future.”

Sean Monteith, Director of Education, added “Knowing Kieran, and the way she supports her students, I am not surprised that someone of her calibre has been identified by the Senate of Canada’s Standing Committee on Aboriginal Peoples to share her leadership and experiences. She is not only a model employee of the Keewatin-Patricia District School Board, but more importantly a fierce advocate for students in her care. She represents everything that the KPDSB stands for in its approach towards Northern Children, that we put their needs first before our own. We continue to be very proud of our staff; like Kieran.”

Background

The Four Directions High School Graduation Coach approach started at Dryden High School in June of 2014.  Four Directions offers First Nation, Metis, Inuit (FNMI) students the opportunity to work with Graduation Coaches who assist with leading and implementing programs, services and other supports to meet the unique needs of First Nation, Metis & Inuit students and their families, with a focus on student success and graduation. Since its inception, the Four Directions program has expanded to Beaver Brae Secondary School in Kenora, Queen Elizabeth District High School in Sioux Lookout, and Red Lake District High School.  The program has received national attention for its success in supporting Indigenous students in reaching graduation.

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Board of Trustees approve $2 million Sioux Mountain Public School Child Care Capital Retrofit Project

Media Release - May 24, 2018

Trustees met at Lillian Berg Public School in Vermilion Bay on Tuesday, May 22, 2018, for a special board meeting.

Steve Parker, Assistant Manager of Facility Planning and Development, presented the Sioux Mountain Public School Child Care Capital Retrofit Project report.  Through funding grants from the Ministry of Education, work will be carried out at Sioux Mountain Public School in Sioux Lookout over the summer months to enhance areas of the school for the community’s youngest learners.  Work is anticipated to be complete for the fall of 2018.

Construction to be carried out at the school includes:

• Creation of a new preschool room designed for 24 students
• Creation of a new toddler room designed for 15 students
• Outdoor playground enhancements for all early years students
• Relocation of existing school staff room and renovation to existing stage area
• Enlargement of school kitchen to create shared facilities for school and child care programs
• Renovations to Best Start HUB room
• Parking lot enhancements and expansion

Trustees awarded the contract for the interior renovations to Finn Way General Contractors Inc. for the sum of $1,559,000 (plus applicable taxes).

In total, the project cost is estimated to be just under $2 million.  Funding has been provided by the Ministry of Education through the Child Care Capital Retrofit Funding ($1.2 million) and the School Condition Improvement Grant ($850,000).

Steve Poling, Principal of Sioux Mountain Public School stated “We’re honoured to have the opportunity to renovate the school to increase child care spaces and enhance access to services for families in the Sioux Lookout area.  As a school community, we are excited about the work happening and look forward to continuing to working together with our partners to improve early years services.”

Caryl Hron, Superintendent of Education, added “Over the last six years, the Keewatin-Patricia District School Board and the Kenora District Services Board have worked collaboratively to enhance services for families throughout the region.  By welcoming child care and EarlyON programs into our buildings, and creating state of the art spaces for those programs, we are working together to provide families with the very best start possible and a seamless transition into our schools as children grow.  Our goal is to provide families with the supports and services they need right in our buildings, starting in the early years, and continuing straight through to graduation.”

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Beaver Brae Bronco Cheerleaders to return to World Cheerleading Championships in Florida

Media Release - May 16, 2018

The Keewatin-Patricia District School Board wishes to congratulate the Beaver Brae Bronco Cheerleaders and their coaches who will once again be representing the Manitoba Association of Cheerleading (MAC) and Northwestern Ontario at the 2019 High School World Cheerleading Championships at Disney World in Florida.  The event takes place in February 2019.

In yet another milestone for the team, the Bronco Cheerleaders have received the Paid Bid to the event.  The Paid Bid means that MAC will cover the costs of accommodations, park passes and all registration fees for the team.  The Bronco Cheerleaders had previously received At Large Bids in 2017 and 2018 (meaning the cost to attend had to be covered by the team and/or school). 

The Cheerleading Program at Beaver Brae expanded this school year to a team of 26 athletes, up from 19 during their previous visit to the world stage.  To date, the team has won numerous events and awards, including their most recent gold medal at the MAC Provincials last weekend in Winnipeg and the highest score in Senior School Cheer.

Deb Allan, Head Coach for the Broncos Cheer Team, credits the team’s unprecedented achievement at previous World Championships and here at home to the hard work and dedication of each and every student on the team, the support of their families, teachers and Bronco Alumni coaches, as well as Beaver Brae’s Bronco Cheer Academy. Beaver Brae has also announced a new Artistic Sports Physical Education credit for the 2018-2019 school year.

Allan stated “The standards, expectations and opportunities that we provide through Bronco Cheerleading not only builds exceptional athletes and students, but also prepares these young women for perseverance and success in their future.”

Tracey Benoit, Principal of Beaver Brae Secondary School, added “Deb is a committed coach who has brought our Bronco Cheer Team to a world class level. She has an extensive background which has allowed her to mentor many Bronco Alumni and create a strong coaching community. Deb’s philosophy is one of inclusion where she focuses on creating a supportive and positive environment for her team.  We’re proud of her and our hard working athletes and look forward to seeing them compete at the Worlds in 2019.”

Background

The Beaver Brae Bronco Cheerleaders won their first bid to the High School World Cheerleading Championships in February 2016.  The team was adjudicated in Winnipeg by a representative from the Universal Cheerleaders Association (UCA), and shortly after, the Broncos were invited by the International Cheer Union to enter a second event at the world championships called Game Day, making the BBSS Broncos the first international team to compete in the event.

During that first visit to the world stage, the Bronco Cheer Team won a Bronze medal in the Junior Varsity division and were a finalist in the Game Day championship, winning a Silver Nations Cup. 

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KPDSB launches new section of website for Mental Health supports, checks in on Capital Projects for 2017-18

Media Release - May 10, 2018

Trustees met at the Keewatin-Patricia District School Board’s Kenora Board Office on Tuesday, May 8, 2018, for a regular board meeting. 

The May Kids Come First presentation titled ‘Students with Abilities and Special Education Co-op Program – Beaver Brae Secondary School’ was received by Trustees.  Beaver Brae Secondary School’s Vice-Principal Lisa Achilles was joined by students and community members to talk to Trustees about a new Special Education Co-op being offered at Beaver Brae this school year.  Goals of the program include preparing students for employment, and educating community employers on opportunities for hiring students and their ability to be valuable contributors to the employment sector.  Community partnerships are crucial to the program, in particular is the school’s partnership with the Kenora Association of Community Living (KACL).  Trustees heard firsthand the pride and enjoyment felt by the students, as well as the close bonds between the students, their mentors and program/school staff. 

Candice Kerkermeier, Mental Health Lead, presented the Children’s Mental Health Update.  Kerkermeier presented a new section on the KPDSB’s website for Mental Health resources and support in recognition of Mental Health Week (May 7-11).  Included in the new section is links to:

• KPDSB Mental Health and Addictions Strategic Plan
• Mental Health Student Resources
• Mental Health Parent/Guardian Resources
• Mental Health Staff Resources
• Mental Health in Schools
• Mental Health Monthly Newsletter
• Trauma Informed Resources
• Crisis Supports (includes crisis phone numbers for youth and adults)

To view the entire section of the website, please visit *|SITE_URL|*pages/view/mental-health.

Steve Parker, Assistant Manager of Facility Planning and Development, presented the 2017-2018 Capital Projects Update.  Parker updated Trustees on on-going and planned work on KPDSB classrooms and schools for the school year.  Major projects include completion of Sioux North High School in Sioux Lookout, a major renewal of Beaver Brae Secondary School’s (Kenora) Technology wing, major renewal of Ear Falls Public School, and installing tunable LED lighting in all KPDSB schools. Parker also spoke to new applications available to monitor school and building systems to reduce utility consumption with an added benefit of classroom access to the application for teaching and learning, as well as work in a handful of elementary schools through the Childcare Capital Grant.

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KPDSB launches 2017-2020 Learning Technologies Strategic Plan in recognition of Education Week

Media Release - May 10, 2018

Trustees met at the Kenora Board Office on Tuesday, May 8, 2018 for a regular Board meeting.

Superintendent of Education Tania Sterling, presented the newly created Keewatin-Patricia District School Board’s (KPDSB) Learning Technologies Strategic Plan to Trustees. The plan was officially launched in recognition of Education Week (May 7-11, 2018).

Creation of the Learning Technologies Strategic Plan started with a 21C gap analysis and needs assessment across the entire KPDSB.  The assessment was conducted from October 2017 to April 2018 and included creating a survey for all staff and students on a variety of 21C tools and practices, collecting feedback from different stakeholders groups through meetings and conversations, as well as sending a delegation of staff to the BIT2017 conference in Southern Ontario to network with school boards across the province and research effective models for integrating digital tools into teaching, learning and leading.

Priorities in the plan include:

• Creating a shared vision with input from stakeholders
• Continuing to gather student and stakeholder voice
• Building capacity in future leaders
• Ensuring all KPDSB students are aware of appropriate use of digital learning tools and online networks to ensure safety (Digital Citizenship)
• Making virtual learning environments across all curriculum areas available for students
• Making makerspaces available for all students
• Offering Kindergarten to Grade 12 robotics and coding programs in all schools
• Making augmented/virtual reality available for students in grades 4-12

Sterling stated “Gathering student and teacher voice to help shape where our plan can go next helps us ensure we are preparing our students for an ever-changing world while keeping local needs and interests in mind.  We are proud of the exciting opportunities many of our educators are already creating for our students and this formal plan and renewed commitment from our Board of Trustees is going to help us scale up that innovation and provide access to dynamic opportunities across our entire system. We really do feel that technology, when used responsibly and creatively, has the potential to truly make teaching and learning boundless.”

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