Did you miss the Board Meeting on September 20, 2022? Not to worry, here are the highlights from the meeting.
Watch the full meeting on YouTube:
HIGHLIGHTS
Student Trustee Commissioning (Timestamp 1:42)
Student Trustees Elizabeth Favreau, Zhaawan Kavanaugh and Joshua Pitt received their Rite of Commissioning, led by Mariette Martineau, Religious Education and Family Life Coordinator, at the September 20, 2022, Board Meeting.
The students lit their Christ Candles and declared their belief in the importance of the Catholic School as a community where faith and spirituality are lived and supported. They declared their commitment to bring leadership to their student colleagues and to strive daily to live the values and teachings of their faith and spiritual values.
The term of office is for the 2022 – 2023 School Year.
Tap this link to read more.
2022 Summer Learning Programs (Timestamp 7:33)
Bob Kowal, Graduation Coach, provided a report on the FNMI Art Camp that was offered from June 27 – June 30 for Indigenous students. Students interested in a Volleyball Camp participated in the community Volleyball Camp led by Kowal and Megan Derouard.
The Art Camp was led by Shawna Grampentine, Moon and Back Custom Arts and focused on teaching students about acrylic painting, mixed media, and foil embossed abstract art.
Students Audrey Godbout in Grade 11 and Jaylynn Derourd, Grade 9 showcased their artwork and talked about their experiences in the art camp, which they said was fun, relaxing and chill.
The students would like to see the camp continue in the future and expand to include culinary arts.
Jared Ralko, Summer Learning Acting Administrator, provided a report on the 2022 Summer Learning Program. The program ran from July 4 to July 22, for students in Grades 1 - 5, with 49 students registered in the program.
The program focused on daily reading and intervention groups, creative writing and storytelling, numeracy-based collaborative problem-solving, financial literacy and STEM activities.
Highlights included guest speakers from North, Ask a Scientist, Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program, and Lake of the Woods District Stewardship Association.
Kenora Catholic Custom APP (Timestamp 25:06)
Grace Dunford, Community Relations Lead and Trina Henley, Executive Assistant to the Director, provided a presentation on Kenora Catholic’s new custom App, which officially launched on September 21. The App is an enhanced communication tool to support communication, connections and engagement between schools and families, as well as high school students. Once the App is downloaded, people can choose which schools they wish to follow - with dates, activities and events featured under the calendar section.
The presentation included testimonials from Grade 12 students Anywyn Friesen Kroeker, Kate Chmeliuk and parent Denise Chmeliuk about their experiences while testing the new App.
The App is available for download at the App store by searching Kenora Catholic District School Board.
Tap these links to read more:
Kenora Online – Kenora Catholic launches new app for students, families
KCDSB APP
Student Trustee Report (Timestamp 41:06)
Student Trustees Elizabeth Favreau, Zhaawan Kavanaugh and Joshua Pitt provided a report on the activities happening in September.
School started off with an opening mass led by Father Rudy. Senior and Intermediate bands have formed and are preparing for a Christmas Concert. Choir and drama clubs are forming with the aim of a spring drama production.
Athletics covered the NorWOSSA golf results, cross country, volleyball and mountain biking club.
Destreaming of the Grade 9 curriculum is progressing well with positive reviews from students.
In the Grade 11, First Nation, Métis and Inuit Voices English Course, students are learning about smudging from Elder Terry Skead. The Fall Harvest is scheduled for mid October.
Students at St. Thomas Aquinas High School are hopeful believers and are thankful for all teachers, administrators and school staff for giving students the best high school experience. Students are happy to be back to in-person learning with a variety of extracurricular opportunities.
2022 Staffing Report (Timestamp 46:37)
Alison Smith, Superintendent of Business, Facilities and Planning Services, provided a report on the recent staffing activities in preparation for the start of the 2022 school year. Smith reported that 37 employees have been hired for permanent positions in the past six months. New positions ranged from a new Director of Education, Speech and Language Pathologist, Manager of Financial Services, Principal at St. Thomas Aquinas High School, as well as various education positions.
Emergency Appointments (Timestamp 47:50)
Director Nicole Kurtz provided a briefing on the Emergency Appointments Motion. Kurtz reported that the annual motion gives the Director the opportunity to appoint an unqualified person to teach in an emergency situation when no qualified teacher is available and falls under Regulation 298 of the Education Act.
National Day for Truth and Reconciliation (Timestamp 49:20)
Nicole Kurtz provided a report on the activities and importance of September 30 - the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. The day honours the children who never returned home and the survivors of the residential schools as well as their families.
At Kenora Catholic, the day will begin with prayer and song led by Elder Terry Skead, as well as reflection and learning in the schools.
In recognition of the day, Kenora Catholic unveiled a new Orange Shirt Day logo designed by recent graduate – Kitana Blackhawk of St. Thomas Aquinas High School. Kitana is a member of Northwest Angle #33 First Nation and shared with us that she drew her inspiration for the new logo - not only from her spirit, but also the local memorial that sprung up in response to the discovery of 215 unmarked graves on the grounds of the former residential school in Kamloops B.C.
All Trustees and staff were gifted an orange shirt with the new design to be worn on September 30.
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Enrolment Report (Timestamp 52:28)
Alison Smith provided an initial enrolment report indicating that the schools are still in transition with incoming enrolment and OSR requests. Smith provided an overview of each school’s enrolment, indicating that overall the board is up 38 students from spring projections with a current enrolment of 1,329 students.
Elections Compliance Audit Committee 2022 – 2026 (Timestamp 56:38)
Alison Smith reported information on the formation of the 2022 – 2026 Elections Compliance Audit Committee that will be formed with the Superintendents from the Keewatin-Patricia District School Board, Northwest Catholic District School Board, Rainy River District School Board and the Kenora Catholic District School Board.
The Municipal Election Act, section 88.37, requires that all municipal councils and local boards appoint a compliance audit committee before October 1st of an election year.
The role of the committee is to serve the same term as the incoming Board of Trustees and deliberate on cases of allegations of breach of campaign financing.
Special Education Annual Review (Timestamp 59:58)
Trustee Anne Sweeney provided a report on the Special Education Advisory Committee Meeting on June 17, 2022. Sweeney provided an overview of the highlights of the meeting and also noted that the SEAC committee is seeking members.
Upcoming Board Meetings
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2022 - 2023 Board Meeting Schedule