Prairie Spirit Provides Response to Perrins Report
Prairie Spirit has submitted its response to the recently released Educational Governance Review Report , prepared for the Government of Saskatchewan by Dan Perrins . Prairie Spirit ’ s response to the Perrins Report focuses on improving student learning and preserving democratic processes . The Prairie Spirit Board of Education and senior administration made a formal presentation to the Perrins panel on January 11 .
Prairie Spirit believes a strong focus on improving student learning must not be negatively impacted by organizational restructuring .
“ Deep and meaningful student learning and ongoing adult learning must remain the priority for education and guide any governance or organizational restructuring ,” said Larry Pavloff , Prairie Spirit Board Chair . He pointed out that the report does not provide details of how system-wide student learning i m p r o v e m e n t would be supported following major o r g a n i z a t i o n a l change .
The Perrins Report provides four options for education governance structure , with changes including reducing the number of school divisions in the province and re-drawing school division boundaries . Prairie Spirit would be affected by all four of the options if they were implemented as detailed in the report . The four options do not include any such changes for separate school divisions .
The Perrins Report seems to identify improving effectiveness and efficiencies as the reason for restructuring education governance and school divisions . “ Prairie Spirit is achieving high effectiveness and efficiencies and is the fourth largest school division in the province with over 10,000 students ,” said Pavloff . “ I think it ’ s important that the Ministry and the public are reminded that Prairie Spirit made significant budget reductions over the past four years totaling well over $ 11 million ,” he added .
“ Prairie Spirit is achieving high effectiveness and efficiencies and is the fourth largest school division in the province with over 10,000 students .”
Larry Pavloff , Prairie Spirit Board Chair
According to the Ministry of Education ’ s own statistics , Prairie Spirit is one of the most efficient and effective school divisions in the province . Prairie Spirit has low governance and administration costs and is one of the highest performing school divisions . The graduation rate for Prairie Spirit students — both aboriginal and nonaboriginal — is well above the provincial average .
The Perrins Report identifies the strengths of the current governance model , including local accountability , communication , strong local voice and a local culture of learning . The Prairie Spirit Board of Education believes that these strengths would be strikingly absent in the proposed governance models presented in the report . The Perrins Report introduces the concept of moving from democratically elected Boards of Education to appointed Boards . The Prairie Spirit response focuses on the importance of preserving a democratic process that includes elected trustees to represent communities at the board table . “ High levels of accountability are already embedded in the current governance structure ,” said Pavloff . Boards are accountable to government and their communities . In addition , Boards hold their administration accountable to ensure the school division operates effectively and efficiently .
In its presentation to the panel and in its formal submission , the Board said that government could meet its goals for greater accountability in education by changing regulations and legislation , avoiding large scale changes to school division structure . The amalgamation of school divisions is not cost effective and is disruptive to the learning improvement initiatives for students .
The Board ’ s presentation to the panel voiced concern that the proposed changes include only public school divisions . If the goal is to improve efficiencies within the education sector , all school divisions — including separate school divisions — should be included in the restructuring process as described in each of the options .
MHS ’ ‘ Poe ’ Performances Progress
martensville messenger - JANUARY 26 , 2017 - Page 11
Holy Mary Catholic School Prepares for 2017 School Year Ciara O ’ Reilly , Martensville Messenger
Construction of Holy Mary Catholic School is well underway and is closely following the estimated timeline for completion . Holy Mary Catholic School is set to open its doors during the month of September for the 2017 school season . Crews have been working diligently undergoing construction and they have done well in staying within the budget and deadline . School trustees as well as the school ' s principal have already had a chance to tour the facility .
There is also a great deal of work going on at the school beyond construction . The furniture procurement process which started in June of 2016 is well underway . Board office staff and the school administration are developing the staffing process that will allow for smooth transitions of staff members , and division staffs are also working diligently behind the scenes to ensure that everything is in place and ready for the fall of 2017 . “ There is even paint on the walls ,” expressed Francois Rivard of Greater Saskatoon Catholic Schools . Committees for the resurrection of the playgrounds of the school have now been established . Both school divisions are working together and are in the process of getting funds together for the construction . The organization is already soliciting funds in Martensville , awaiting an answer from the City of Martensville regarding grants . The new school intends to have two playgrounds , but only one is estimated to be completed upon the date of the school doors opening in September .
Holy Mary Catholic School will be a great addition to the city of Martensville , as it has something different to offer to community members . The school offers the English as an Additional Language ( EAL ) program which is designed to meet the needs of both new Canadians ( immigrants and refugees ) and students in the International Student Programs . The school offers the services of experienced teachers to provide instruction for all age levels with a focus on listening , speaking , reading and writing . Student assessments take place individually in order to determine what instruction or other support is needed . There are many benefits to supplying a program such as this . Students thusly receive support in adapting to a different curriculum , school environment and Canadian culture . Students also have the opportunity to receive assistance in a school that is close to their homes . Additional support is also available for students with special learning needs .
The principal of Holy Mary Catholic School is Luisa Giocoli . Giocoli is currently serving the Greater Saskatoon Catholic School Division as principal of St . Bernard School . She has been a member of the school division since she was four years old . The school will be holding the Holy Mary Kindergarten Information Night at the Martensville Community Centre on the 26th of January at 7:00pm . Parents can expect to meet the kindergarten teacher and receive information about English and French immersion kindergarten programming . Principal Luisa Giocoli will also be there to answer questions from parents with children from Grades 1 to 8 who also want to attend and register . Although school registrations are accepted all year , the school hopes to have the majority of registrations completed by the end of January , 2017 . Having the accurate registration numbers ultimately helps with staffing and resource allocation . “ We are very excited to bring catholic education to Martensville , it seems like it has been sought after for some time . This is a great opportunity for Greater Saskatoon Catholic Schools ,” says Francois Rivard .
ABOVE : Exterior Progression of Holy Mary Catholic School taken at the beginning of January , 2017 .
Ciara O ’ Reilly , Martensville Messenger
Anticipation grows as the performance dates to Martensville High School ’ s ‘ Poe ’ grow nearer and nearer . The play will explore the ‘ strange and tumultuous ’ life of American author and literary critic , Edgar Allan Poe , in an entirely original artistic aspect . Martensville has been especially fervent to get their hands on tickets to this year ’ s performance . The amphitheatre will meet its full capacity on all three shows , as tickets sold out faster than ever before . In fact , the tickets sold out close to a full month ago , which means over 400 people will be present during the performances . “ Since we sold out so quickly , people contacted the school and requested more shows to be put on so that everyone could attend , but you know , I quite like that some people are unable to see the show . It adds energy and hype that you have to get tickets fast , so I ’ m looking forward to next year for that reason ,” stated director , Micah Robinson . Since the theme of the play is black and white , the theatre arts crew went the extra mile in order to incorporate the morbid affairs into the audience ’ s seating arrangements . Round tables big and small will be decorated with black linens and black and white runners , along with Victorian-themed centre pieces .
Each year Robinsons ’ ideas get brought to life and thusly become more and more extravagant . This year with the resources available and the amphitheatre itself , standards will be set for years to come in regards to what to expect from an upcoming performance from the Theatre Arts crew of MHS . “ Every year actors and crew come together at the end with tears in their eyes , especially the grade 12 ’ s who think , ‘ wow , it ’ s over ’,” explained Robinson . Robinson hopes that graduating students will further their involvement in the arts for years to come . For the months that went into preparing for these performances , Robinson described how proud he truly was of his cast and crew for not only working on the obvious costumes and sets , but in taking their character home and perfecting everything from their walk to their ABOVE : The cast and stage crew of ‘ The Strange and Tumultuous Life of Edgar Allan Poe ’, talk . Martensville simply cannot wait to see the brilliance that ’ s in store , so enjoy the show ! which takes place on February 2nd , 3rd , and 4th , have been working tirelessly to ensure they And for those who weren ’ t quite quick enough , good-luck next year ! are prepared for their performances . ( Ciara O ’ Reilly , Martensville Messenger )