Before- and After-School Program Survey for Families for 2018-2019 School Year

As we prepare for the 2018-2019 school year, we wanted to reach out to our families to find out your needs for before- and after-school  programs next school year. 

In order to gather this information, we have created a short survey for you. We are offering the survey both as a paper copy (will be sent home with your child this week) and an electronic option, please fill out whichever survey you are most comfortable using.  Please visit this link - https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/beforeafterschool2018 for the electronic survey. 

The survey is open to families who have children in Kindergarten to Grade 5 in the 2017-2018 school year, as well as families with children who will be starting Kindergarten in the fall.  Any information you can provide is helpful, even if you do not plan to enroll your child in before- or after-school programs. 

Thanks for taking the time to fill out the survey!  The electronic version will be available until the end of the day on April 30, 2018.

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EQAO Executive Team completes visit to KPDSB Schools

Media Release - April 9, 2018

We were pleased to welcome members of the Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO) to our schools last week.

Dr. Steven Reid, Chief Assessment Officer for EQAO, and members of the EQAO Executive Team visited KPDSB schools in Kenora, Dryden, Ignace, Red Lake, Ear Falls, and Sioux Lookout.  They were also welcomed to Lac Seul First Nation to tour schools and meet with leadership in the community.

Staff and students from all areas of the Board were given the opportunity to meet with the EQAO Executive Team to share their experiences in education in Northwestern Ontario and specifically, with the provincial standardized tests.  All students in Ontario are required to write the provincial assessments in Grade 3 and 6 (Reading, Writing and Math), Grade 9 (Math) and Grade 10 (Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test, a requirement for students to attain their Ontario Secondary School Diploma).

Reid had the following to say about his team’s visit, “In light of our commitment to modernizing EQAO assessments, our team was eager to learn more about realities and experiences in Northern Ontario. Director of Education, Sean Monteith, and his team were gracious hosts, taking us all across the Keewatin-Patricia District School Board to connect with students, staff and community members. We were honoured that so many people took the time to share their understandings, as well as their thoughts and hopes for the future.

“It is important to offer all students across Ontario equitable opportunities to demonstrate their knowledge and skills, and EQAO gained valuable insights in speaking with KPDSB students, staff and community members. EQAO’s commitment to the future will reflect learnings from our visit, and we will continue to listen to perspectives from across the province as we develop assessments that are more student-focused, easily accessible and engaging. Our team has left with a great gift of knowledge. Miigwech KPDSB!”

Sean Monteith, Director of Education for the KPDSB added “For two full days, members of the EQAO Executive Team traveled throughout the entire district and met with staff, administration, parents, and most importantly our students, to look at how the realities and experiences unique to Northwestern Ontario might be reflected in the types of questions they are assessed on. Our kids are just as gifted and capable as any in all of Ontario. They should be able to share their experiences with the value they deserve; the fact EQAO and their leadership recognized this and came to see firsthand validates this. We are grateful for their time with us in the Keewatin-Patricia District School Board.”

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KPDSB announces administration appointments for 2018-2019 school year

Media Release - April 30, 2018

Trustees met at Lillian Berg Public School on Tuesday, April 24, 2018, for a regular Board Meeting (the original April Board Meeting had been postponed from April 10, 2018).

On behalf of the KPDSB Senior Administration Team, Superintendent Caryl Hron presented the 2018-2019 Administration Report.  The following appointments were announced. 

Lillian Berg Public School (Vermilion Bay)

• Principal – Doris St. Jules (currently Vice-Principal of Ear Falls Public School)

Sioux Mountain Public School (Sioux Lookout)

• Principal – Darryl Tinney (currently Principal of Red Lake District High School)
• Tinney will join the current Vice-Principal Barbara Van Diest

Sioux North High School (Sioux Lookout)

• Vice-Principal – Andy Schardt (currently Vice-Principal at Queen Elizabeth District High School and Principal of Savant Lake Public School)
• Schardt will continue his work with Principal Wayne Mercer and current Vice-Principal Jennifer McMaster

Savant Lake Public School

• Principal – Holly Szumowski (currently Principal of Crolancia Public School in Pickle Lake)
• Szumowski will also continue in her role as Principal of Crolancia Public School

Golden Learning Centre (Balmertown)

• Principal – Grazia Cianci (currently Principal of Red Lake-Madsen Public School)

Red Lake-Madsen Public School (Red Lake)

• Principal – Debra Geary (currently Principal of Golden Learning Centre in Balmertown)

Red Lake District High School

• Principal – Shawnda Norlock (currently Vice-Principal of Red Lake District High School)
• Appointment of Vice-Principal at Red Lake District High School to be announced at a later date

Sean Monteith, Director of Education, said “On behalf of the entire Senior Administration Team I would like to congratulate these individuals on their assignments and their milestone achievements; and in doing so continue to recognize the depth of leadership in the Keewatin-Patricia District School Board.”

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KPDSB launches 2017-2020 Learning Technologies Strategic Plan in recognition of Education Week

Media Release - May 10, 2018

Trustees met at the Kenora Board Office on Tuesday, May 8, 2018 for a regular Board meeting.

Superintendent of Education Tania Sterling, presented the newly created Keewatin-Patricia District School Board’s (KPDSB) Learning Technologies Strategic Plan to Trustees. The plan was officially launched in recognition of Education Week (May 7-11, 2018).

Creation of the Learning Technologies Strategic Plan started with a 21C gap analysis and needs assessment across the entire KPDSB.  The assessment was conducted from October 2017 to April 2018 and included creating a survey for all staff and students on a variety of 21C tools and practices, collecting feedback from different stakeholders groups through meetings and conversations, as well as sending a delegation of staff to the BIT2017 conference in Southern Ontario to network with school boards across the province and research effective models for integrating digital tools into teaching, learning and leading.

Priorities in the plan include:

• Creating a shared vision with input from stakeholders
• Continuing to gather student and stakeholder voice
• Building capacity in future leaders
• Ensuring all KPDSB students are aware of appropriate use of digital learning tools and online networks to ensure safety (Digital Citizenship)
• Making virtual learning environments across all curriculum areas available for students
• Making makerspaces available for all students
• Offering Kindergarten to Grade 12 robotics and coding programs in all schools
• Making augmented/virtual reality available for students in grades 4-12

Sterling stated “Gathering student and teacher voice to help shape where our plan can go next helps us ensure we are preparing our students for an ever-changing world while keeping local needs and interests in mind.  We are proud of the exciting opportunities many of our educators are already creating for our students and this formal plan and renewed commitment from our Board of Trustees is going to help us scale up that innovation and provide access to dynamic opportunities across our entire system. We really do feel that technology, when used responsibly and creatively, has the potential to truly make teaching and learning boundless.”

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KPDSB launches new section of website for Mental Health supports, checks in on Capital Projects for 2017-18

Media Release - May 10, 2018

Trustees met at the Keewatin-Patricia District School Board’s Kenora Board Office on Tuesday, May 8, 2018, for a regular board meeting. 

The May Kids Come First presentation titled ‘Students with Abilities and Special Education Co-op Program – Beaver Brae Secondary School’ was received by Trustees.  Beaver Brae Secondary School’s Vice-Principal Lisa Achilles was joined by students and community members to talk to Trustees about a new Special Education Co-op being offered at Beaver Brae this school year.  Goals of the program include preparing students for employment, and educating community employers on opportunities for hiring students and their ability to be valuable contributors to the employment sector.  Community partnerships are crucial to the program, in particular is the school’s partnership with the Kenora Association of Community Living (KACL).  Trustees heard firsthand the pride and enjoyment felt by the students, as well as the close bonds between the students, their mentors and program/school staff. 

Candice Kerkermeier, Mental Health Lead, presented the Children’s Mental Health Update.  Kerkermeier presented a new section on the KPDSB’s website for Mental Health resources and support in recognition of Mental Health Week (May 7-11).  Included in the new section is links to:

• KPDSB Mental Health and Addictions Strategic Plan
• Mental Health Student Resources
• Mental Health Parent/Guardian Resources
• Mental Health Staff Resources
• Mental Health in Schools
• Mental Health Monthly Newsletter
• Trauma Informed Resources
• Crisis Supports (includes crisis phone numbers for youth and adults)

To view the entire section of the website, please visit *|SITE_URL|*pages/view/mental-health.

Steve Parker, Assistant Manager of Facility Planning and Development, presented the 2017-2018 Capital Projects Update.  Parker updated Trustees on on-going and planned work on KPDSB classrooms and schools for the school year.  Major projects include completion of Sioux North High School in Sioux Lookout, a major renewal of Beaver Brae Secondary School’s (Kenora) Technology wing, major renewal of Ear Falls Public School, and installing tunable LED lighting in all KPDSB schools. Parker also spoke to new applications available to monitor school and building systems to reduce utility consumption with an added benefit of classroom access to the application for teaching and learning, as well as work in a handful of elementary schools through the Childcare Capital Grant.

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