PRESENTATIONS
Pope John Paul II School
Vice Principal Lori Bazelo along with teacher Mrs. Long and a delegation of grade 2 and 3 students provided a presentation on the authentic learning opportunities that are happening at Pope John Paul II School through the Entrepreneurial Adventure Program.
Grade 3 students Jack and Colton provided a video presentation of a pitch that the class made to their parent council for a loan
for their project. The classes are creating a cookbook that will be ready for sale in the spring. Earlier in the school year the classes teamed up to start an entrepreneurial business to make cook books and sell them. Through their business students are learning valuable skills such as reading, writing, researching, math, graphing and how to budget. Skills that go across the curriculum. The students are involved in every aspect of the business from communication, finance, design and sales and have teamed up with local entrepreneur Mike Greaves from Stuff Magazine and Fifth Hammer Marketing Group for valuable advice. The profits from sale of the cook books will go to the Fellowship Center.
Teacher Mrs. Long along with students Janelle, Jaden, Andrea, Nicholas, Alex, Danica and Emily talked about the Create-a-Critter business that their class recently launched. The students brought samples of their sock critters and the results of their surveys. The class polled almost every student in the school to find out their favorite critter and discovered that owls were the most popular animal. The class will be creating custom critters and selling them to students. Proceeds will be going to a local charity that has yet to be finalized.
You can read more about both of these presentations here.
Inquiry-based Learning
Tammy Bush, Learning Coordinator and Early Years Lead and grade 4/5 Teacher Kerri Favreau from St. Louis School teamed up to provide a presentation on inquiry-based learning. Bush explained that inquiry-based learning is an approach to instruction that begins with exploring the curriculum content and providing a framework for the students to ask their own questions which builds interest and curiosity. Bush explained that through inquiry-based learning it allows new knowledge building and to grow skills needed for the future. Inquiry-based learning is a shift in practice from traditional teaching which followed the rote learning model based on repetition and memorization.
Bush shared samples of inquiry-based learning from Karen Smith's Kindergarten class at St. Louis School. The students were studying lines and noticed lines in faces, shapes and objects around them. The class deepened their learning when they studied blue prints of a house that is being built.
Kerri Favreau provided a unique presentation shared through artfully written letters and photographs of the community learning partners invited into her grade 4/5 classroom that they refer to as their Schoolhouse. Favreau has opened the doors of her classroom and invited community learning partners in to share their knowledge, skills and experiences to help deepen the learning experience and foster relationships. You can read the letters and see the images here.
Human Resource Services Plan
Tina Sinclair, Manager of Human Resource Services provided a presentation on the initiatives and advancements that have happened within the Human Resource Services Department. Sinclair presented that a large focus within her department this year has revolved around the Ontario English Catholic Teachers Association (OECTA) negotiations. These negotiations resulted in the implementation of a new collective agreement that resulted in 1% lump sum payments and grid restorations for teachers. The department continues to review and update job descriptions and will be migrating to a new HR/Payroll system. Sinclair also shared that through the central bargaining process it was agreed that a new provincial benefit plan will be implemented throughout the province. The Human Resource Services Department will be involved in supporting the implementation of the new provincial benefit plan so there is a seamless transition for KCDSB staff and their dependents to the new benefit plan.
REPORTS
New Superintendent Hiring
Phyllis Eikre, Director of Education announced that the board is extremely proud to appoint Paul White as the new Superintendent of Instructional Services. He will join Mary Cunningham who also shares the same title. Eikre stated that White comes to the position well educated and is a respected administrator within the system. Read the full media release here.
Special Education Advisory Committee Appointment
The Trustees accepted a motion to appoint Norine Schram as the Representative and Aimee Foucher as the alternate for the Kenora Association for Community Living on the Special Education Advisory Committee.
Ontario School Boards' Insurance Exchange
Phyllis Eikre provided a report on the Ontario School Boards' Insurance Exchange (OSBIE). Eikre identified that OSBIE is owned by Ontario School Boards and provides a good rate on insurance to school boards. Andrew Poirier, Manager of Operational Services is a member of the OSBIE Board of Directors. The board will be continuing with the insurance coverage and no tendering for this services is required.
Student Trustee Report
Student Trustee Angela Myshkowsky provided a report on the notable accomplishments, humanitarian activities and events happening at St. Thomas Aquinas High School during March. You can watch Angela's full video report here:
Next Board Meeting
The Next Board Meeting of the Kenora Catholic District School Board is scheduled for Tuesday, April 19th at 7:00 p.m. at the Catholic Education Center. Video Conferencing is available from the annex of St. John School in Red Lake. Everyone is welcome to attend.