Peggy Revell
With a daily route to take Seine River First Nation children to and from Mine Centre School, Ted Menson was recognized with the “Bus Driver of the Year” award by the Rainy River District School Board at last week’s meeting.
“The staff and school at Mine Centre School appreciate all that [Menson] has done for them,” RRDSB transportation co-ordinator Donna Lee lauded at the June 7 board meeting, which saw annual awards presented to various staff and students.
“[Menson] has proven to be courteous, dependable, [and] professional, and is an exemplary role model for the students at Mine Centre School,” Lee noted.
Besides bringing students to and from school, Menson also provides transportation for school field trips, Lee added, and is the school’s “biggest fan” at all sports events—often heard shouting out words of encouragement to the athletes.
He always has his camera ready to take photos of the games and teams and share them with the school, she noted.
“It’s certainly an honour to be chosen as bus driver-of-the-year,” said Menson, thanking the board and staff and students at Mine Centre School, who he said have really bent over backwards to include him in the school community.
“I also accept this award on behalf of all the drivers in this district—they are the best in the world as I see it,” he added.
“And they also show the same commitment and passion for safety and reliability for getting students to school on time.”
The bus driver award was one of many “big, giant thank-yous” extended by the board to staff and volunteers at its June 7 meeting.
“We value all employees who work together in our schools and promote student learning,” said Diane Ross, the board’s manager of human resources, while announcing the various award winners.
“We couldn’t do it without every contribution that each person makes,” she stressed.
“Volunteer of the Year” awards also were presented last Tuesday.
First to be recognized was the Bailey family of Atikokan—mom, Sheri, dad, Darcey, and children, Mariah and Julia—who have spent many volunteer hours helping with the breakfast program at North Star School.
The family also has been involved with helping with food preparation at school celebrations for Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas, as well as the parents’ ongoing volunteerism in their children’s classroom.
“I think the breakfast program is a really interesting way and really nice idea to make sure that kids get good nutrition,” said Darcey Bailey, adding a lot of the volunteer hours for helping out come from his wife.
“We’re fortunate enough that Sheri can spend a lot of time [volunteering],” he remarked, noting the family really loves helping to make a contribution to the school.
The second recipient of this year’s volunteer award was Cheryl Morrison, who initiated the emergency first responder program at Rainy River High School back in 2004 and has dedicated “countless hours” instructing students.
“Your dedication to the emergency first responder program has truly been a gift to both Rainy River High School and our communities,” said Ross, noting the program truly has made a difference to the community.
“And when you see all the people that have learned, it just branches out like a web,” she added.
Morrison noted three of the students she had in the program have headed into paramedic school, with another one planning to attend this fall.
“It’s an honour,” she said of the award.
“I just feel that the kids can take this wherever they go, and even if they just help one person in their life, they’ll never forget what they’ve learned,” Morrison reasoned.
Also recognized at last week’s board meeting were two employees who have earned a “special ticket to the quarter-century club.”
Robert Moore principal Dianne Thompson and Josie McLeod, the communications assistant there, each were presented with certificates for their 25 years with the board.
“I always tell the kids I’m really old, and now I’m really feeling it,” Thompson laughed as she accepted the recognition, eliciting chuckles from the crowd.
“I do truly love my job,” McLeod told the board. “And I think the most rewarding part is seeing your students’ confidence grow when you’re helping them with their speech.
“I do look forward to going to work every day,” she stressed.
School Effectiveness leader Sylvia Parker previously had been recognized for her 25 years with the board at its May meeting.
Finally, the local public board also will be bidding adieu to a handful of employees set to retire at the end of this school year.
These include Fort High teachers Ludger Rittau and Mary Jane Gushulak, J.W. Walker teachers Karen Woods, Dorothy Quibell, Marnie Dutton, and Ed Cain, and Fort Frances High School library technician Laurel Halvorsen.
