Peggy Revell
The annual director’s report for the Northwest Catholic District School Board soon will be available and distributed throughout the area.
“We believe it’s an opportunity to celebrate all the good news of a Catholic education in Northwestern Ontario,” Education Director Mary-Catherine Kelly told local Catholic board trustees during last week’s meeting when her report was presented and approved.
“Particularly it gives people an opportunity to see what our strategic direction is, and the accomplishments of all our students and staff throughout this past school year,” she added.
There’s a strong emphasis on Catholic values in the school system throughout Kelly’s report, including the theme of “We Are Called,” which also was the theme during Catholic Education Week back in May.
“What we have made sure to make clear to our community is that we are a spirit-filled community, that Catholic education is infused in all of our curriculum, and our character education is really our Gospel values that are infused in all of our programs,” enthused Kelly.
“And so they’re highlighted across the top of all our pages . . . so people know what we mean when we talk about character education from a Catholic perspective.
“There’s so many wonderful things that are happening in a visible way in our system, showing that we are Catholic schools and that we teach our education in a different way, and service to others and connection to family and parish is important,” Kelly added.
The annual director’s report is sent out to parents, parishes, and elsewhere throughout the community. Also included is a financial breakdown for the 2007-08 school year, which is required to be shared with the community.
Other topics in Kelly’s report include leadership development programs, student success stories, the funding of special projects that support student success, programs for students in need, after-school programs, oral language programs, programs for aboriginal students, and the French immersion programs.
“We’ve got many things to share this year,” Kelly stressed. “The progress in native and aboriginal education has really been tenfold for us, and we’re very pleased with the many activities and connections to our First Nations communities.
“We’re proud of the many funding initiatives that were acquired from the ministry and literacy secretariat to get special project grants happening in our schools and also to get ‘smart boards’ in our classrooms, as well.”
Professional development activities, EQAO test results over five years, and upgrades and projects taking place in the board’s facilities, as well as reports from the various school councils on their own projects, also are highlighted in Kelly’s report.
“It’s really phenomenal to see all of the schools and how much parents are engaged,” she remarked.
“I can say truly that when you do a report like this, and you collate all the information from all the reports that take place throughout the school year, it’s amazing how hard all of our teachers, our principals, and all of our support staff work to serve children well in Northwestern Ontario, particularly in our board and particularly in Catholic education,” Kelly enthused.
