PRESENTATIONS
St. Louis School
The St. Louis School Team, consisting of Principal Maureen Frankcom and Learning Resource Teacher Marnie Buffett, provided a presentation on school's initiative to support the whole child. The Whole Child initiative aims to support students emotionally, spiritually and academically. The initiative includes eight social-emotional competencies the entire school works on together. The competencies are personal responsibility, social awareness, optimistic thinking, decision-making, self-management, goal directed behavior and relationship skills. The school also talks about the competency they are currently working on at their Monday morning assembly where students present information on what they are learning. Buffett shared that the initiative uses the Devereux Students Strength Assessment. The assessment is a standardized, strength-based measure of social and emotional competencies of children from Kindergarten through Grade 8.
The school is also focusing in the academic area of math. They did an assessment of all students from Grades 3 through Grade 6 to find out the areas of need for each student. Following the assessment, individualized intervention programs were created for each student. The school team is already seeing gains in this area.
During the presentation a 'pop-up' performance of St. Louis School's Disney Aladdin Kids surprised the trustees. A few of the main characters dressed in full costume and makeup along with teacher Kerri Favreau, joined the meeting for a short but lively sample performance.
Healthy Active Living Lead and New Hockey Skills Development Program
Megan Derouard, Healthy Active Living Lead for the Board presented on programs and initiatives focused on physical fitness and sports skill development. Derouard explained that she allocates her time between the elementary schools and the secondary schools and supports the schools with anything related to sports, recreation or physical fitness. She leads the board's sports programs, jamborees, tournaments, open gym nights, and sports specific after-school programs and coordinates many regional tournaments. She also coordinates the All Catholic Championships tournament, bringing together students from across the region to compete in soccer, basketball, volleyball and badminton.
The goal of the Healthy Active Living program is to support student well-being and academics through physical activity and sports. Derouard explained that exercise enhances a student's ability to concentrate, increases attention span, improves memory, reduces stress and anxiety, heightens creativity and boosts confidence.
Derouard also spoke about the highly successful implementation of the boards 4 - 6 Hockey Skills Development Program offered at St. Louis School, Pope John Paul II School and École Ste-Marguerite Bourgeoys. The program was so successful she had to expand it to meet the demands.
Personal Fitness Activities Program
Teacher Clint Fenelon and Grade 10 student Kirsten Favreau presented St. Thomas Aquinas High School's Personal Fitness Activities Program.
Fenelon explained that the program is appropriate for all skill levels from beginners to experienced athletes. The program is customized to support students in various sports programs or individual fitness goals. The program tailors a fitness plan for each student based on their goals and encourages students to live a healthy lifestyle as well as learn safety and physical literacy.
Favreau explained that she was nervous about the program at first, thinking it was only for students who were in sports but quickly learned that it was more than that. "It's the best course that I've ever taken, and I learned that it's for anyone and everyone," says Favreau. "The program encourages everyone to live a healthy lifestyle and reach their fitness goals. I would encourage other students to sign up. It's a fantastic opportunity."
The Personal Fitness Activities Program collaborates with community fitness leaders and business to provide enhanced opportunities such as yoga, boxing, Olympic lifting, Physiological Testing, Self-Defense and access to the City of Kenora Rinks and Sportsplex.
Fenelon explained that the program also supports the goals of elite athletes like Gabe Mastromatteo and other students who go on to play university or pro sports.
REPORTS
Retirement of Heather Rogers
Trustee Paul Landry presented that Heather Rogers will be retiring on April 6, 2018. Heather started with Kenora Catholic in March 2009 as an Accounting Clerk. In September 2009, she began her role as a School Secretary. Since that time, she has worked as a school secretary at St. Louis School, Pope John Paul II School and most recently as a school secretary and lunch room supervisor at École Ste-Marguerite Bourgeoys. Heather truly made everyone feel welcome to the school community and embodied what the Kenora Catholic District School Board encourages all staff to be; warm, welcoming, collaborative and professional.
The trustees wished Heather Rogers much happiness and well-being in her retirement and thanked her for her years of dedicated service to the board.
2018 - 2019 School Year Calendar
The trustees passed a motion to accept the 2018 - 2019 School Year Calendar as presented and forward the calendar to the Ministry of Education for approval.
Special Education Advisory Committee
Trustee Anne Sweeney reported on the activities and initiatives of the Special Education Advisory Committee for November, December and January.
In November, the committee heard a presentation from Mariette Martineau, Religious Education and Family Life Coordinator, who spoke about contemporary issues in Catholic education as well as the board's Equity and Inclusive Education Strategy.
In December, the committee heard a presentation from Phyllis Eikre, Director of Education who shared a memorandum from the Ministry of Education on the Ministry's goals to refresh the curriculum and improve student assessment.
At the January Special Education Advisory Committee Meeting Tracy Walter-Fletcher, Learning Resource Teacher, provided a presentation on École Ste-Marguerite Bourgeoy's learning commons, artist in residence program, the Grade 4 coding project and Handing Writing Without Tears.
OCSTA Trustee Professional Development Report
Teresa Gallik, Vice Chair, provided a report on the 2018 OCSTA Catholic Trustees' Seminar held in January in Toronto. At the event, Indira Naidoo-Harris provided her first public address as the new Minister of Education. You can read more about the event here.
Student Trustee Report
Student Trustee Matthew Favreau provided a report on the notable accomplishments, humanitarian activities and events happening at St. Thomas Aquinas High School during February. You can watch Matthew's video presentation here:
Next Board Meeting
The next Board Meeting of the Kenora Catholic District School Board is scheduled for Tuesday, March 20th at 7:00 p.m. at the Catholic Education Center. Everyone is welcome to attend.