From the Boardroom - March 20, 2018

From the Boardroom - March 20, 2018
Posted on 03/21/2018
From the Boardroom

Students in caps in gownsPRESENTATIONS

Catholic Schools Matter
Mariette Martineau, Religious and Family Life Coordinator provided a presentation on the various initiatives happening within her portfolio of Catholicity.

Martineau shared that students have been taking a leadership role at Pope John Paul II School and École Ste-Marguerite Bourgeoys in co-creating and planning the school's prayer services. The whole dimension and the feel of the services change when students lead.

In February, Catholic entertainer and storyteller, Greg Walton, performed for students across the board.

Students in caps in gowns During the week of Christian Unity, Kenora Catholic hosted a prayer service at St. Thomas Aquinas High School and École Ste-Marguerite Bourgeoys. The board also sent students to the Baptist Church for prayer. The intention is to let all the local churches know that they are welcome at Kenora Catholic.

Kenora Catholic is continuing with community cares outreach in the Notre Dame du Portage Church with Muffin Sundays and also has created 60 dozen muffins and over 600 litres of soup for the Agape Table.

Martineau is looking forward to Catholic Education Week 2018 during May 6 - May 11th. The theme this year is Renewing the Promise.

St. Thomas Aquinas High School and Grade 7 Transitions Planning
St. Thomas Aquinas High School teachers Katie Jackson and Lauren Penner along with Grade 6 students Cole Mitchel from École Ste-Marguerite Bourgeoys, and Login Bowlin and Wonara Hatharasinghaege from Pope John Paul II School provided a report on the transition plan for Grade 7 students.

The students talked about the various opportunities, activities and events throughout the year that St. Thomas Aquinas High School offers to support students in their transition from elementary school to high school. Read their full report here.

Specialist High Skills Major, Apprenticeship and Dual Credit Program
Kelly Sundmark, provided a report on St. Thomas Aquinas High School's Specialist High Skills Major, Apprenticeship and Dual Credit Program.

Sundmark presented that in the Specialist High Skills Major program St. Thomas Aquinas High School is completing a three-year plan with the goal of expanding the program and encouraging more students to participate. Currently, the school offers pathways in Construction and Hospitality and Tourism. In 2016/17 the completion rate was 77%. In construction, STAHS's completion rate was 71% while the provincial rate is 48%. In hospitality and management, the completion rate for the high school was 83% while the provincial rate is 41%.

The high school is exploring options to expand the program into the Justice and Health and Wellness pathways as there are employment opportunities in both sectors in Kenora and the surrounding area.

In the Coop program, there were 27 students in the program in semester two with 42 credits accumulated. Examples of placements include the Lake of the Woods District Hospital, OPP, Child Care centers, Shoppers Drug Mart, Hair and Aesthetics, Lakeside Dental, Jarnel, Kenora Truck Service, Bestway Rentals, Neniska Repair and Lake of the Woods Electric.

In the Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program, the high school currently has 12 students enroled and working in apprenticable trades. Students have access to apprenticeships in construction, hairstyles and aesthetics, truck and coach technician, automotive services, electrician, small engine technician and child development practitioner.

Sundmark presented that in April the high school will be entering students in the qualifier for the Skills Ontario Competition in Thunder Bay.

REPORTS

Ontario Student Trustee Association Turning Point for Education: The Student Platform
Matthew Favreau, Student Trustee, provided a report on the Ontario Student Trustee Association's document entitled A Turning Point for Education: The Student Platform. Favreau overviewed the report which outlines a strategy to improve Ontario's education system and ensure that Ontario's youth are better prepared for the unique opportunities and challenges of the modern workforce.

The report identifies three pillars that serve as the foundation of the system: Student Wellbeing, 21st Century Learning and Equitable Access to Opportunities.

Special Education Advisory Committee
Trustee Anne Sweeney provided a report on the activities and meetings associated with the board's Special Education Advisory Committee.

The committee met on February 16th at Pope John Paul II School where they received a presentation on augmentative and alternative communication and prologue program designed to help with communication for children with autism and children who are deaf. The committee also received an update on the Special Needs Strategy as well as a Coordinator's Report from Chris Moorley.

NEW BUSINESS

2018 Trustee Determination
Phyllis Eikre provided a report on regulation 412/00, which outlines the trustee elections process as well as the allocation and distribution of trustees. The trustees passed a motion declaring that the board is not designating any low population areas. The trustees accepted a motion for the trustee determination for October 2018 allocating five trustees for Kenora and one trustee for Red Lake, Ontario.

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 March. 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, April 17th at 7:00 p.m. at the Catholic Education Center. Everyone is welcome to attend.

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