Appendix A Item 14.1 June 18, 2015 Volume 12 • Summer 2015 Our Community Report Card 2015Shaping the World Cathy Abraham W. R. (Rusty) Hick Chairperson of the Board Director of Education Our Message to You Across our country, and across the globe, our graduates are leaders in their fields. They are enriching and even transforming their communities and creating a better future for us all. Each year, our students embark upon another year of promise, achievement and shared memories, and all of our educational partners play important roles in making that happen. Through the pages of this year’s Community Report Card, Shaping the World, we have illustrated in a very brief way how the experiences of our students set them upon the road for lifelong learning and success. Here in KPR, and throughout the province of Ontario, we know that our public school system is among the very Our Students are Among the Best in Canada best in the world. This has been acknowledged clearly by some of the most respected educational experts in We believe that our students are among the best and the world, including educational theorists such as Sir brightest in the country. This has been proven true year Michael Barber and Michael Fullan. They have singled out after year, with this year being no exception. Ontario’s education system as a “great system” that has Every year the Loran Scholars Foundation invests all the necessary aspects to become even better in the in exceptional young Canadians who demonstrate future. This is inspiring, a testament to our hard work, character, service and leadership. Through the country’s fortunate for our students and points to a bright future most rigorous and personalized selection process, which for our society. includes interviews at the regional and national levels, Together, we are helping the future leaders of our world the foundation selects the top 30 of approximately 3,500 receive a head start on their work. applicants as Loran Scholars. Each Loran Scholar receives an award valued at up to $100,000 for their undergraduate studies. This year the Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board is, amazingly, home to two Loran Scholars – Daniel Brown DISTINGUISHED ALUMNUS of Kenner Collegiate Vocational Institute and Milton Calderon Donefer of Cobourg Collegiate Institute. Both Daniel and Milton credit the strong educational programs at their schools as being instrumental in their Quilting Friendships Together success. “It is an honour to represent One Square at a Time Kenner and the Peterborough Our students and staff continue to explore new and community as a Loran Scholar. unique ways to foster strong and supportive environments Throughout my four years of high for all students. Daniel Brown school, I have been grateful for the At Central Public School in Bowmanville, Educational opportunity to have leadership roles Assistant Joanne Kendall and a group of Grade 3, 4 and 5 within our athletic program, as well © Supreme Court of Canada, Photo by Andrew Balfour students knitted stronger and more enduring friendships as Student Council,” says Daniel. together while making a beautiful Friendship Quilt. Michael J. Moldaver “Kenner is an incredible school, and without the endless support of my The six students of the Friendship Circle met weekly for Proud graduate of Queen Mary Public School teachers and peers, I would not have 12 weeks, and, with help from Mrs. Kendall, embedded and Peterborough Collegiate Vocational School been able to thrive and grow within their quilt with a unique message in each square to reinforce the values of building peaceful and caring “ My years at Queen Mary Public School were wonderful. these roles, and to accomplish the relationships. The teachers were committed and dedicated. They were things that I have.” Milton Calderon Donefer kind and generous and totally devoted to their students. “I really enjoyed my time at Central Public School Principal Kathryn Davidson It is at Queen Mary Public School that I learned that Cobourg Collegiate Institute, and explains that “the goals of the program included sharing nothing comes easy and that success comes with hard earlier years at Cobourg District Collegiate Institute East. I stories and listening with empathy to the stories of others, work – and a healthy dose of good luck. All in all, I was was given many opportunities to pursue my passions and developing strategies to cope with feelings of sadness, fortunate indeed to spend my formative years at Queen share this enthusiasm with many teachers and students,” loneliness, anger or conflict, and learning to manage Mary Public School.” says Milton. “The educational program here is very these emotions in restorative and constructive ways.” The Honourable Mr. Justice Michael J. Moldaver was strong and the teachers are great. I believe that they are The quilters not only love their quilt, but more appointed to the Supreme Court of Canada in October, committed to work towards preparing the students for importantly, as Grade 4 quilter Sierra says, “I learned to 2011. whatever path they want to take in life.” be a better friend.” DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI PARTNERSHIPS Strong Community Partnerships Keep Students Engaged in School We constantly ask ourselves how we can keep our students engaged and active in school, while strengthening connections to the communities in which we live. Last summer, students from Lakefield District Secondary School (LDSS) were at the core of an innovative partnership Carolyn Wilkins with Curve Lake First Nation, Fleming College and the Ministry of Education. Through collaboration and Proud graduate of Lakefield District Secondary School cooperative planning with our education partners, we were “ Lakefield District Secondary School gave me a able to provide an exciting Dual Credit program for students solid base to succeed at university. The teachers at Curve Lake First Nation. The program is set to run again were engaged and the school offered me many this year. Summer school Dual Credit teacher Mike Williams is opportunities.” Dual Credits are courses that are offered in partnership equally positive about the program. Carolyn Wilkins was appointed Senior Deputy Governor with area colleges. Students enrolled in a Dual Credit earn a “Having the expertise of the college instructors is great (SDG) of the Bank of Canada for a term of seven years credit that counts towards their high school diploma as well for all of the participants in this program. The students are beginning on May 2, 2014. as a college credit. engaged, feel challenged and successful at the same time,” This unique program also was interwoven into our says Mr. Williams. “The community is fortunate to have an ongoing implementation of the provincial First Nation, Métis opportunity like this to keep the youth involved in positive, and Inuit (FNMI) Education Policy Framework. confidence-building activities throughout the entire school The summer FNMI Connections to College program year.” focused on environmental education and links to Aboriginal All of the students involved in the program have re- culture at the Curve Lake First Nation Territory. Students engaged with their education through this opportunity to experienced hands-on ecosystem skills, outdoor skills strengthen ties to their culture and community. and learned about the wider world of ecology and the environment. Instructors from both Fleming College and LDSS worked with the students. In October 2014, former Below, some of the students involved in the program Toronto Argonauts player speak to its novel benefits. Mike “Pinball” Clemons “The Dual Credit program motivated me to further my spoke to a mass gathering of Jonathan Goad education by attending post-secondary education and secondary students as part Proud graduate of Bowmanville High School utilizing the credit I earned this summer,” says Keely Knott. of the Team55 Let’s Tackle Suicide Awareness campaign. “ Bowmanville High School will always represent for “The Dual Credit program assisted me in gaining a high me a time where my wide diversity of passions were school credit, as well as helping me meet new people and fostered and permitted to flourish.” learn new things which will be helpful to me in the future,” Jonathan Goad has spent 12 seasons at the Stratford agrees Payton Knott. Festival performing in over 30 productions and is currently “I hope to experience it again this summer.” Payton has playing the title role in Hamlet. He was named an Associate brought these experiences back with her to LDSS, where Artist of the festival in 2006. she has done well in her Grade 11 classes. Bringing New Friends Together Daily – The Buddy Bench Merwin Greer Public School in Cobourg has introduced a unique new way for friends to come together, and new friendships to be made each day. Believed to be the first in Ontario, and part of the school’s Healthy Schools initiative, the Buddy Bench was donated Jeffrey M. Karp by parents and decorated in school colours. Based on a Proud graduate of Crestwood Secondary School concept from Germany, and introduced by a 2nd grader in A Legacy of Giving Pennsylvania, the Buddy Bench is a place where students “ I loved my high school days at Crestwood Secondary can sit if they are looking for someone to play with or to be School. I had the best friends, best teachers, and a friend to someone else. East Northumberland Secondary School support from every corner.” approaches $1 Million in Support of Cancer Research Principal Jennifer Johnston says the Buddy Bench is a Dr. Jeffrey M. Karp is an Associate Professor at Brigham and great way to bring children together. It is the result, in part, Across our school board, students, staff and school Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, and is Principal of input from parents and students. communities are committed to making a difference in the Faculty at the Harvard Stem Cell Institute and Affiliate lives of our families and friends.