聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 A budget day information package received by the Good Spirit School Division (GSSD) board on March 22 heralded cutbacks in funding, including a decrease of 51 per cent to the governance budget.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 A reduced operating grant and increased operating expenditures will see the division working toward finding approximately $3 million to balance the budget, said a strategic plan report issued by GSSD on April 13.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淕SSD believes that we are all accountable,鈥� it said. 鈥淏oard members, students, staff, families and community members have a responsibility, both individually and as part of the learning team, to participate and to contribute positively to public schools.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 The budget day announcement contained some positive news as well. It included an increase to the preventative maintenance and renewal funding of 13.9 per cent for a total of $1,673,360 to be earmarked for facility work that meets the criteria outlined by the Ministry.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 This report contained highlights from the various schools, programs and activities within the GSSD.
Sarah Kowalyshyn, Grade 12 student at Invermay School, was selected to receive the Edwards School of Business Undergraduate Scholarship valued at $24,000. This scholarship is one of the University of Saskatchewan鈥檚 premier awards. It recognizes exceptional individuals who are entering the Edwards School of Business and have achieved high academic standing.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 The university letter to Sarah states, 鈥淵our extraordinary academic record has distinguished you among your peers and we are honoured to offer you this prestigious award.鈥�
WE Day is a movement that brings people together and gives them the tools to change the world.
鈥淲hether at home, in school, at the office, or everyday in your life, you have the power to conquer the world鈥檚 biggest obstacles,鈥� it said. For detailed information, visit the WE Day website.
There were numerous GSSD schools that had students attend WE Day in Saskatoon on March 15.聽 Students involved in WE Day pledge to make a difference in their school and communities.
鈥淕SSD students have become involved and part of the 鈥榗hange.鈥� They inspire us to be difference makers in the lives of those around us as well as to be responsible 鈥榞lobal citizens鈥�.鈥�
鈥淚 know this sounds totally cheezy, but I genuinely feel like I can make a difference now,鈥� commented one student after attending a WE Day event. 鈥淚t鈥檚 true, you know, one person really can make a difference, even if it鈥檚 a small one. That realization is my goosebump moment.鈥�
鈥淓very adult everywhere who thinks that teenagers are just lazy and negative needs go to WE Day. They need to see that teenagers want to do good things and change our world, you just need to give us the chance,鈥� said another.
Orrie Babichuk, a Grade 12 student at Invermay School, took his second provincial gold at the Skills Canada Competition held at Saskatoon on April 7. He took the provincial title after placing first in all categories of outdoor power and recreation equipment. Categories include a written test, parts identification and assessment, engine tear down, measurement test, and a compression and ignition test. Babichuk did extremely well in all categories; earning over 90 per cent in each one. He advances to nationals in Winnipeg in June.
Chloe Irvine, a Grade 11 student at Kamsack Comprehensive Institute, placed bronze in the Skills Canada sewing competition.
The Kamsack Comprehensive Institute Senior Drama Club won Best Overall Production and runner-up for Best Visual Production at the Region 4 Drama Festival in Esterhazy in April for its play Moving.
The Kamsack Comprehensive Institute junior drama production was the Wizard of Oz.
During the first few start-up days of the 2016-2017 school year, the Canora Junior Elementary School nutrition committee met to go over its Learning Improvement Plan for the upcoming year. Research shows that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, so the committee wanted to come up with a way that would help students be able to function better in the classroom. This was the beginning of the breakfast program at CJES.
The program, which is held in the newly-renovated kitchen, welcomes everyone in the entire school. On any given day, there are up to 10 students that come to enjoy whatever is 小蓝视频 served that particular day, the report said. 聽A variety of foods such as healthy cereal, whole wheat toast, milk, waffles, yogurt, muffins or fruit such as oranges or bananas are offered.
It is a wonderful way to start the day on a favorable note, it said. 聽Not only do students have a chance to eat breakfast, but they experience positive interaction with a staff member, as they are the ones who greet and serve students every morning.
The East-Central District Athletic Association (ECDAA) identified a trend of declining numbers of officials in the district in the sports of football, volleyball and basketball, it said. The response was to create a mentorship program to provide guidance and support for new officials with the focus 小蓝视频 on development and retention of these officials.
Cary Franklin, Preeceville School teacher and ECDAA officials commissioner accepted the challenge to create an official鈥檚 mentorship program. When mentors are available, they are assigned to games and tournaments. They are not part of the paid officiating crew, but are there to build their skills by observing, shadowing and assisting senior officials. ECDAA compensates mentors for their participation and are hopeful that the gain will be worth the expense.
Archery is a great way to build student focus, motivation and a connection to school, it said. Many GSSD schools currently use the National Archery in the Schools Program (NASP). Some schools choose to keep the program within their schools, and others have had teams travel throughout Canada and the U.S.聽聽
Matthew Makowsky, of the Canora Junior Elementary School, won the gold medal. He is the Canadian National Champion in the Elementary Boys Division. Makowsky received a gold bow for his win. A gold bow cannot be purchased; the only way to get one is to win a national tournament.
The Friends Resilience program is recommended by the World Health Organization. It assists students in building social skills, resilience and self-esteem, and supports healthy emotional development as students learn skills to cope with feelings of fear, worry and depression. The pilot is running from April to June in Churchbridge, Columbia, Kamsack Comprehensive Institute, Langenburg Central, Macdonald and Victoria schools, and is 小蓝视频 supported collaboratively by teachers, school counselors, and mental health staff from the Sunrise Health Region.
Persons wishing to access the full GSSD strategic plan report released April 13 may do so by going to the gssd.ca website.
