Did you miss the Board Meeting on May 17, 2022? Not to worry, here are the highlights from the meeting.
Watch the full meeting on You Tube:
HIGHLIGHTS
Building Cultural Connections for First Nation Students
(TIMESTAMP 8:08)
Principal Corinna Glazier, along with Lexi McLeish, First Nations Life Skills Coach, Grade 4 student Rayne Childforever and Grade 6 student Grahm Cockcroft provided a presentation on St. John School's program called Building Cultural Connections for First Nation students. The program has running for a year and aims to bring cultural connections to students while increasing attendance, achievement, student engagement and well-being.
A video was shared during the meeting that provided a glimpse into the program and highlighted various activities, including weekly visits to the Red Lake Indian Friendship Centre where students get to learn from Elder Ed Imbeault. Elder Imbeault shares his teachings, practices, and knowledge with students, and they got to try snowshoeing, smudging, and drumming during their visits. In the program, students also got to try dog sledding, trapping and archery, promoting mental health and well-being. Another focus of the program is cultivating life skills. Throughout the year they focused on self-advocacy, decision-making, problem-solving and critical thinking to help students become more independent and better decision-makers.
The students shared that they really enjoy smudging because it helps them feel good.
Introduction of New Student Trustees for 2022 – 2023
(TIMESTAMP 20:04)
Student Trustees Maxwell Froese, Elizabeth Favreau, and Antonie-Marie Skead introduced and welcomed the new Student Trustees for the 2022 – 2023 school year. Josh Pitt and Zhaawan Kavanaugh were congratulated and formally introduced to the Board of Trustees at the meeting.
Elizabeth Favreau presented, "Josh is an excellent, outspoken Grade 10 student who is an active member of our school's sports teams. He participated in this year's Model United Nations and is an active member of our school's interact club. Josh has very strong leadership qualities and will be an asset to the team in the coming years."
Antonie-Marie Skead presented, "Zhaawan is an Indigenous Grade 11 student active in art, music, and dancing. She has many qualities for being a great role model for all FNMI students by being involved and making changes. Zhaawan will make an amazing leader in the coming years for FNMI students."
Elizabeth thanked Maxwell Froese for his leadership and shared that she is excited to work with the new Student Trustees and is grateful for the opportunity to mentor and work alongside them next year.
Student Trustee Report
(TIMESTAMP 22:21)
Student Trustees Maxwell Froese, Antonie-Marie Skead and Elizabeth Favreau provided a report on the activities and initiatives happening at St. Thomas Aquinas High school during May. Student Trustees reported that the school atmosphere is very positive and bright with many activities such as prom, culminating, exams, and graduation coming up, and everyone is busy in preparation.
In May, the school's Badminton teams participated in NorWOSSA, and a junior girls' doubles team won the silver medal at the Badminton Championships. Soccer teams are formed and have been practicing, and there is also upcoming three-on-three basketball for girls and boys. The Athletics Banquet is scheduled for June 8.
Students also highlighted the activities of Catholic Education Week and are excited for the Grade 9 – 12 Prom on May 27, and the Grade 7 - 8 dance on June 7.
The FNMI department has a spring Feast on May 31st. The department is also looking for dancers for the spring Pow Wow on June 2. The FNMI department is planning a summer camp – with volleyball, traditional cooking and art.
The students ended by thanking staff and students for their work in these final months of the school year.
Policy
(TIMESTAMP 26:00)
Trustees approved the review of
Policy #14 Hearings Regarding Teacher Termination with no legislative changes at this time.
The Board also approved the creation of three new Policies, from Policy #9 Board Operations:
Policy #19 – Trustee Honorarium and Expenses
Policy #20 – Delegations to the Board
Policy #21 – Community Relations
Phyllis Eikre, Advisor to the Director, provided a review of the new policies and indicated that the policies were created so that Policy #9 – Board Operations was more manageable, and information would be easier to access.
Catholic Principals’ Council of Ontario – Principal of the Year
(TIMESTAMP 31:58)
Director Paul White presented that Corinna Glazier, Principal of St. John School, received the Principal of the Year Award from the Catholic Principals’ Council of Ontario.
White presented, "Corinna is a Catholic leader and role model at St. John School and within the Kenora Catholic District School Board. The recognition from her colleagues and the Catholic Principals’ Council of Ontario is very well deserved. On behalf of our Catholic Board, I would like to formally congratulate you on behalf of our entire team for this huge accomplishment."
Occupational Health and Safety Committee Report for 2021 – 2022
(TIMESTAMP 33:13)
Alison Smith presented the 2021 - 2022 Occupational Health and Safety Committee Report overviewing the activities of the committee. Smith presented that since April 2019, the committee has been designed so that each workplace location has its own committee and membership structure. The committees aim to meet a minimum of four times per year to ensure the health and safety of students and staff by doing monthly workplace inspections and identifying, accessing, and resolving risks and safety implications.
The focus of the committee has been to recertify staff on First Aid Training certification.
Special Education Annual Review
(TIMESTAMP 38:25)
Andrea Batters, Special Education Coordinator, provided a report on the Special Education Annual Review. The 2022 amendments to the Special Education Plan were approved and will be forwarded to the Ministry of Education before June 30, 2022.
Special Education Advisory Committee Report
(TIMESTAMP 46:28)
Anne Sweeney provided a report on the April 29, Special Education Advisory Committee (SEAC) Meeting with a presentation from St. Thomas Aquinas High School. The presentation overviewed the many components of St. Thomas Aquinas High School’s special education supports for students. Supports focus on meeting the diverse needs of the student population, while balancing inclusionary practices and alternative programs centered on literacy, social-emotional learning, life skills programming, life skills programming and collaboration with Board and community programs needs of the diverse population.
Sweeney advised that the SEAC committee has been receiving correspondence from other school boards in Ontario regarding the provision of appropriate health support services in school settings and having educators perform the role of what is traditionally viewed as nursing skills. Additional letters were received regarding online learning and the reduction of the Special Incident Funding. Kenora Catholic's SEAC also provided a letter to the Ministry of Education regarding the reduction of the Special Incident Funding and the challenges imposed on programming and special education supports.
OCSTA 92 Annual General Meeting and Conference Report
(TIMESTAMP 51:00)
Chair Teresa Gallik provided a report on the Ontario Catholic School Trustees' Association AGM and Conference that was held in Ottawa in April. The theme of the conference was communities of faith and resilience. Gallik and Bastone provided highlights from the conference.
System Retreat
(TIMESTAMP 57:20)
Superintendent of Instructional Services Nicole Kurtz provided an overview of the System Retreat that was held on Saturday, May 7, at St. Thomas Aquinas High School. The keynote speaker at the retreat was Father Bill Cain, a Jesuit priest from New York. Father Cain is a playwright and has written scripts for TV and theatre as well as a book called The Diary of Jesus Christ.
2022 Municipal and School Board Elections
(TIMESTAMP 1:03:49)
Director Paul White provided a presentation on the 2022 Municipal and School Board Elections that are happening on October 24, 2022. Nominations for the office of School Board Trustee opens on May 2 and closes on August 19.
Trustees are elected for a four-year term. The next term of office is November 15, 2022, to November 14, 2026.
Catholic School Board Trustees are members of our school board and play an important role in the overall governance of the School Board. A Trustee's role is to maintain a focus on student achievement, well-being and equity and to participate in making decisions that benefit all students while representing the interests of parents/guardians, students and the communities in which they serve.
Want to Join a Meeting?
Guests are welcome at the Board Meetings as part of the audience.
Anyone wishing to address the Board of Trustees must register by contacting Paul White, Director of Education. For inquiries, please call 807-468-9851 or email at
[email protected].