Volume 11 Issue 2 Published by the Saskatchewan School Boards Association December 2018 Prairie Spirit School Division Receives Premier’s Award Prairie Spirit School Division was presented the 2018 Premier’s Board of Education Award for Innovation and Excellence in Education during the SSBA Fall General Assembly in Regina in November. Prairie Spirit School Division has Premier Scott Moe during the SSBA opportunities through an innovative received the 2018 Premier’s Board Annual General Assembly in music program that brings quality of Education Award for Innovation November in Regina. music education to rural schools.” and Excellence in Education, for its “I want to congratulate Prairie In its application for the award, submission of “innovative music Spirit School Division for winning Prairie Spirit School Division said a programming” in the division. this year’s award,” Todd Goudy, new approach to music The Saskatchewan School Boards MLA for Melfort, said on behalf of programming called “Resonate” Association (SSBA) co-ordinates the Premier Moe. “This award honours (www.resonatelive.ca) was initiated Premier’s Award each year. The the great work in Prairie Spirit in the division in 2015. Resonate is award was presented on behalf of schools, which includes expanding Continued on Page 2 INSIDE Premier’s Award 2 Awards of Distinction 4 Local Government Week 2 Fall Assembly Photos 5 THIS Life Members 3 Activity and Updates 7 ISSUE Scholarship 3 Fall Assembly Sponsors 8 Premier’s Award (continued) designed to be an inclusive The $3,000 award is sponsored focused on student achievement approach to music programming in by Xerox Canada. The award that have been advanced or directed the division and involves a number recipient is recommended by a by boards of education. of channels and outlets, including a panel that includes representation “The Premier’s Award highlights student music conference, teacher from education sector partners. the great work being done by school professional development, “For 20 years, Xerox Canada has boards throughout the province,” performances and other events. been investing in the education of said SSBA President Dr. Shawn “We measure success for our our future leaders and proud to Davidson. “While there is only one school board by whether students continue supporting the recipient of the award each year, and teachers are successful,” said development of youth and students every submission is worthy of Prairie Spirit Board Chair Sam Dyck. in our community,” said Xerox recognition for promoting efforts to “Resonate gives us feedback that Regional Manager Bal Badh. help ensure success for all students tells us the subject matter is Developed in 1999, the Premier’s in Saskatchewan.” relevant and that parents are Award recognizes educational All submissions for 2018’s award engaged in the students’ learning.” innovations and improvements are available on the SSBA website. Local Government Week Proclaimed in Saskatchewan Saskatchewan’s Government infrastructure that residents rely on Relations Minister Warren Kaeding daily,” said SUMA President Gordon officially proclaimed the Week, Barnhart. “Local Government Week which ran from Nov. 12 to 16. provides a formal opportunity to “Mayors, reeves, chairs, highlight this.” councillors, trustees, and The call to recognize Local administrative officials all contribute Government Week emerged to shaping the quality of life through discussions between the delivered to our province’s citizens partner organizations as an excellent and their families. They all play key opportunity to increase awareness roles in working with their and engagement in the province’s Representatives of the partner neighbouring communities and systems of local democracy. organizations participated in a other government partners. On “Locally-elected governments are behalf of the Government of kickoff media conference held in the voice of the people and provide Saskatchewan, it’s a pleasure to Saskatoon in November to launch connection and accountability to have this week recognize their Local Government Week 2018. communities,” said SSBA President valuable contributions and insights Dr. Shawn Davidson. “Decisions are The first-ever Local Government that help keep this great province best made at the grassroots level Week was proclaimed in the strong,” said Kaeding. and local governments have province at the joint request of the “We are committed to building credibility and relationships with Saskatchewan Association of Rural capacity at the local level and are their communities.” Municipalities (SARM), the pleased to recognize Local The partner organizations Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Government Week,” said SARM representing local governments also Association (SUMA) and the President Ray Orb. include the Federation of Sovereign Saskatchewan School Boards “Local governments are Indigenous Nations (FSIN) and Métis Association (SSBA). responsible for the services and Nation – Saskatchewan (MN-S). New Life Members Connie Bailey Élizabeth Perreault (with Lieutenant Governor and SSBA President) (with Lieutenant Governor and SSBA President) Connie Bailey served as a locally elected school Élizabeth has been happily married for more than board trustee for more than 15 years. 30 years to Norman. She was an active member of the Provincial She is a very proud mother of her two sons Emile Executive of the SSBA for a total of more than 10 and Dennis. years, serving in the roles of Constituency She welcomed, last year, a new addition to the Representative, Vice-President and President of the family, daughter-in-law Ashley. Association. She served a trustee for the Sun West Élizabeth and Norman live and work on their School Division until 2016. farm in Hoey. Connie has been married for 39 years to Roy. She Before getting her feet wet in politics, Élizabeth has two children, Rylan and Brenna. She is a mother- worked at the school in Bellevue as a in-law to Maria and Geoff and a proud grandmother communications officer. to Brynn and Jasper. She was then voted as an elected official with the Connie continues to work on the family farm assembly commmunautaire fransaskois (ACF), where although less time is spent there as the farm she represented her community for two terms. transitions to new ownership under the next Élizabeth was elected to the conseil scolaire in generation. 2006. She spent 10 years on the conseil as board Connie now resides mostly in Saskatoon. She is member, chair and vice-chair. generally enjoying volunteer opportunities and Élizabeth spent six years on the SSBA executive as participating in her local community. the representative for the conseil. 2018 SSBA Scholarship Recipient Alabi AbdulFattah is the recipient of the 2018 Degree Program Scholarship. Abdul graduated from Central Collegiate in the Prairie South School Division. Abdul is enrolled in the Bachelor of Science in Animal Bioscience program at the University of Saskatchewan. Abdul is depicted in the photograph here with the Lieutenant Governor, Prairie South Board Chair and SSBA President. Awards of Distinction Larry Caswell Bert de Gooijer Ray Morrison (with Lieutenant Governor and SSBA President) (with Lieutenant Governor and SSBA President) (with Lieutenant Governor and SSBA President) Larry Caswell serves on the Bert de Gooijer resides in Kelliher Ray Morrison has dedicated Chinook Board of Education and is and with his wife Joy operates a years of service to promoting and being recognized for outstanding grain and cattle farm. They have supporting public education in service and significant contribution four adult children and five Saskatoon. He has served on the to the youth of the southwest and grandchildren. Bert is a graduate of Board of Education for Saskatoon the province over the past 40 years. the College of Agriculture at the Public Schools since 2003 and as His first foray into school board University of Saskatchewan. chair since 2006. affairs was on his district’s local Bert has 24 years of service in He also sits as a Board member school board in 1978. He was first education. He serves on the Prairie of the Saskatchewan Public Schools elected as a trustee in 1988 and has Valley School Board. He has foundation and until recently READ held that position for 28 of the past extensive experience as a board and Saskatoon. Prior to being elected he 30 years through evolutions of committee member and serves as served on his local parent council for education in the province. vice-chair of the board. He is a true 13 years, as an executive of the Larry and Bev have five children example of the foundation of citizens advisory council to the and numerous grandchildren, many trusteeship being the voice of the Saskatoon Public School Division and whom have gone or are going public in public education. of the Saskatchewan Association of through school systems he has been He has been active in many School Councils. part of. His family was instrumental community organizations including He has represented the SSBA on in his entrance into school politics. the recreation centre board, a number of committees and task Larry has served as chair, vice- managing minor hockey, 4-H leader, forces. In December 2016, Ray was chair, on committees and church council and agriculture- appointed by the Minister of contributed at the provincial level. related organizations. Education to chair the “Educational He is credited with helping lead a Bert is committed to ensuring Governance Advisory Panel”. number of different initiatives