Spring 2014 - River East Transcona School Division

Creating student success
Spring 2014
continues to support the work
identified in its ongoing priorities.
This includes continuing to create
spaces and hire teachers to meet the
requirements of the 20K3 initiative,
which will see enrolment capped at 20
students per classroom in kindergarten
to Grade 3 by 2017; implementing
a technology-enabled learning plan
that will focus on improving student
performance in math; implementing
the grade reconfiguration at River
East Collegiate and its feeder
schools; and developing a divisional
communication strategy.
Fast facts:
• The mill rate for the 2014–15
budget is estimated at 13.311.
Front row (l–r): Eva Prysizney, Peter Kotyk (board chair), George Marshall, Colleen Carswell. Back row (l–r): Greg Proch, Shirley Timm-Rudolph,
John Toews, Wayne Ritcher (board vice-chair), Robert Fraser.
Trustees’ budget safeguards core commitments
• Administrative costs are estimated at
3.8 per cent of the total budget; the
provincial cap is four per cent.
Providing quality educational
upwards. As well, increased costs for
That translates into a tax increase of
programming for its 16,100 students is
supplies and services add to the rising
2.6 per cent, or approximately $37.54
a core commitment of the River East
total in expenditures.
on a home valued at $247,000.
“Costs like these are unavoidable if
To minimize the burden on ratepayers,
provincial government property
we want to maintain our quality staff,
the board of trustees moved to
tax credit, and another 30 per cent
teachers and all of our support staff do
programming and services,” says Mr.
use $1,135,000 in funds from its
from the local property tax base.
to deliver a top-notch education to our
Kotyk.
uncommitted surplus. “If we hadn’t
The remaining four per cent comes
students. It’s why we’re all here and it’s
made that decision, the school tax
from other revenue sources.
why, at budget time, we as trustees do
Making decisions more difficult is
would have been much higher,” says
everything in our power to protect the
the fact that for the third year in a
Mr. Kotyk.
level and quality of our programming,”
row, RETSD received no increase in
says board chair Peter Kotyk.
funding from the province. “We have
The division’s uncommitted surplus
spending, $10,575, is the lowest
received virtually the same amount of
now sits at less than $1.6 million,
in the Metro Winnipeg area. The
provincial average is $11,841.
Transcona board of trustees.
“We’re very proud of the work our
• The division receives approximately
52 per cent of its revenue from
provincial government program
support, 14 per cent from the
Budget Report, RETSD’s per pupil
It can be a formidable challenge
money from the province this year as
or less than one per cent of the
for trustees, as ongoing costs in the
we received in 2011,” says Mr. Kotyk.
budget, and below the level that is
recommended by Manitoba Education
division continue to escalate. Payroll
• Based on the 2013–14 FRAME
and Advanced Learning.
• River East Transcona educates
costs represent approximately 85
With that in mind, on March 4 the
per cent of the budget and salary
board of trustees passed a budget of
increases to meet collective agreement
$172,145,990 for 2014–15, an increase
No new initiatives are included in
and employs approximately 2,053
requirements push the budget
of $2.08 million over 2013–14.
the 2014–15 budget but the board
full-time equivalent staff.
approximately 16,100 kindergarten
to Grade 12 students in 42 schools
Superintendent’s message
It’s been a tough, record-setting
winter, but warm temperatures are
just around the bend and our schools
are buzzing with excitement, planning
spring concerts.
Our transportation department must
certainly be glad that the days of wind
chill and weather alerts are waning. It’s
no easy task for them to get so many
students to school on time in such
Buses keep on motoring,
despite weather
When Wayne Paton’s Grade 6 students
at John W. Gunn Middle School were
asked to write to their heroes, it didn’t
take William Croker long to decide
who would receive his letter.
After a bitterly cold and snowy winter
that made driving difficult, William
decided his hero was his school bus
driver, Beatrice Miller.
“You never give up when the weather
is horrible,” wrote William, who along
with his parents Corrie and Jason,
are very grateful that Ms. Miller was
always there to pick him up, even
about how the money is allocated. If
service trip to Costa Rica (REC students
you have any questions at all about
come calling in Costa Rica, p. 5), and
the budget, please feel free to contact
about strategies to improve student
our board chair Peter Kotyk at
attendance, including a walking school
[email protected], or our secretary
bus (Walking school bus part of bigger
treasurer/CFO Vince Mariani at
plan, p. 7). And, with our eye always
[email protected].
on the future, we explore some uses of
technology in learning (Flipped lessons
I hope you enjoy this issue of
turn the tables, p. 6; Document cameras a
The Torch, and have a lovely spring!
modern alternative, p. 7).
In this issue, our front page features
Kelly Barkman
news of our board of trustees’ budget
Superintendent/CEO
“This winter was atrocious, but they
bus cancellations are posted on the
there. They feel badly for them, but
motored through it,” says Jason
division’s website at 6:45 a.m.
it’s something they can’t prevent,” Mr.
Parents aren’t the only ones who get
Dufault says.
Jean-Paul Dufault, RETSD’s
anxious when the bus is late to pick up
Ms. Miller says if she could, she’d wait
transportation director, would agree.
their child.
for her students, and she takes special
He’s been directing school buses
“Our bus drivers feel terrible when
for 35 years and calls the winter of
they run late,” says Mr. Dufault. It just
2013–14 one of the worst of his career.
takes a couple of students who are
The extreme, continual cold, the poor
late getting to their stop to throw a
visibility and the icy streets were a
bus off schedule. Meanwhile students
challenge.
waiting further down the line get cold
A bus driver for 32 years, Ms. Miller
and head back home, adding to the
says she loves her job—regardless of
dilemma.
the weather. And she’s very grateful
“But our drivers are professionals.
They drive to the conditions,” he says,
precautions with her kindergarten
pickups by phoning in to check on
them. But usually, she says, “if the
student isn’t there, we have to move
on.”
for William’s acknowledgement this
adding there may have been more
“A typical route stops 30 to 40 times in
fender benders than normal— “and
the rural area, and some have a long
when vehicles slide into school buses,
way to walk. The drivers know those
“I feel very honoured,” she says,
the vehicles never win”—but that was
kids are going to be cold standing out
smiling.
winter.
the worst it got.
Within one hour every morning and
afternoon, RETSD’s 63 bus drivers
transport 3,400 students to and from
school. There are 12 spare buses and
the division’s five mechanics are kept
busy troubleshooting problems on cold
mornings. Meanwhile, on particularly
bad days, Mr. Dufault and his assistant
Dale Desjardine head out in their cars
at 5 a.m. to check the back roads and
the parking lot at Chief Peguis Junior
High, a transfer location for buses.
Back in the office, they and their staff
not quite, at -45 C, the threshold for
are in constant communication via
cancelling school buses across the city.
radio with their drivers, and they can
Despite the cold, school buses were
answer up to 500 phone calls in a day
only cancelled twice this past winter.
from anxious parents, even though
The Torch • Spring 2014
learn about a River East Collegiate
about it below.
when the temperature was close to, but
2
for 2014–15, along with some fast facts
challenging conditions—you can read
Croker.
RETSD bus driver Beatrice Miller
Also in this issue of The Torch, you will
A lasting impression
Every student and staff member at Sun Valley School, with the help of local
artist Bud Gillies, created their own tile for a permanent colourful mural that
was assembled in the school’s foyer.
The result of this collaboration was
and learning opportunities on
a process called “Planning Inclusive
inclusive education,” says Mr. Bennett.
Community Schools” (PICS). PICS
“And schools are supported by our
assists schools in examining their
inclusion teachers throughout the
school culture for inclusiveness,
process.”
determining areas of strength and
need (parents and students can help
collect data for this purpose), and
creating and putting a plan into
action.
(l–r) Michael Bennett, Susan Miller, Anne Kresta, Sherri Black, assistant superintendent of
student services Joan Trubyk and Tammy Mitchell with their Manitoba Access Award.
RETSD leads way with
inclusive education
In 2011, student services manager
Tammy Mitchell and inclusion
teachers Michael Bennett, Sherri Black
PICS is in its second year at three pilot
schools—Bird’s Hill School, John
Henderson Junior High School and
Transcona Collegiate—and it’s being
used in schools in both the Sunrise
While inclusion involves everyone,
and Hanover school divisions.
PICS gives special consideration
The team’s work caught the eye of the
to those who are more often
province’s Disabilities Issues Office last
marginalized: people with special
June, when they were chosen to receive
needs; First Nations, Inuit and Métis
a Manitoba Access Award for their
students; newcomer Canadians;
important work.
students who live in poverty; and
People have taken notice of River
and Susan Miller began collaborating
East Transcona’s commitment to
with, among others, Anne Kresta
fostering inclusion. And now schools
from Community Living Manitoba,
across Manitoba can benefit from
an organization that promotes and
the expertise of the RETSD student
supports the inclusion of people with
“Throughout the journey, school staff
and reinforced that we’re on the right
services staff.
intellectual disabilities.
members are involved in conversations
track.”
by newcomer students for newcomer
She says the books help the newcomer
William James Hall of John de Graff
students.
students understand what to expect
Elementary for self-advocacy; Lindsay
at a Canadian school. They also show
McKay of Transcona Collegiate for
them that they likely have much in
transition; and Jessika Caipe Romo
common with other students who
of Kildonan-East Collegiate, also for
have shared their feelings about their
transition.
It can be challenging enough for
adults moving to a new land, but for
kids, encountering an unfamiliar
culture, strange language, new
environment and harsh, cold weather
those who are at risk of bullying due
to personal differences like gender,
religion or sexual orientation.
experiences.
“It’s always an honour to be recognized
by one’s peers, so it was a very special
moment for our team,” says Mrs.
Miller. “It validated a lot of hard work
Certificates of Recognition are
can be overwhelming. Ms. Hunt felt
“The students will often come back
presented for excellence in assisting
that newcomers who attend Sherwood
to the office to read the books,” says
and/or working with children and
and have lived here awhile could offer
Ms. Hunt. “It’s wonderful to see their
youth with special needs. They
some comfort and advice for those
reactions as they recognize new friends
were presented to: Joe Da Silva, the
who have just arrived.
or places.”
custodian at Joseph Teres School, for
serving as a positive role model and
A Sherwood student who moved here from
the Philippines holds the books. Her brother
wrote a letter for the project.
Sherwood welcomes
new Canadians
She enlisted the help of Gail
Hamilton, an RETSD English as an
additional language facilitator. Ms.
Hamilton worked with the students for
several weeks, gathering information
about Sherwood and encouraging
Sherwood School has found a way to
the students as they wrote letters to
take a hug and put it in a book.
describe their own experiences and
Moving to a new country can be a
scary experience for children, so
Sherwood principal Theresa Hunt
offer support. They also created a
Students, staff honoured by MCEC
On Feb. 20, several students and
staff from River East Transcona were
singled out and celebrated for their
achievements by the Manitoba Council
for Exceptional Children (MCEC) at
caring supporter; and assistant director
of transportation Dale Desjardine and
the RETSD transportation team for
the conscientious manner in which
they provide service for students with a
diverse range of needs.
their annual awards ceremony at the
As well, educational assistant Shannon
Victoria Inn.
Schultz, from Murdoch MacKay
companion book called Welcome to
The MCEC “Yes I Can! Awards”
Winnipeg.
acknowledge the achievements of
children and youth with disabilities,
Collegiate, was singled out for an
Educational Assistant of the Year
award for encouraging, entertaining,
empowering, consoling and inspiring
came up with an idea to offer some
“We have the books on display in our
and encourage them to seek their
comfort to newcomer Canadian
office, so when new families come in,
highest potential. They were
students who arrive at her school—a
the students can look at the pictures or
presented to: Dailan Clarke of Arthur
Congratulations, everyone, on being
book called Welcome to Sherwood, written
read the information,” says Ms. Hunt.
Day Middle School for academics;
recognized for the great work you do!
many students.
River East Transcona School Division • 589 Roch St. Winnipeg, MB R2K 2P7 • Tel: 204.667.7130 Fax: 204.661.5618 • www.retsd.mb.ca
3
Valley Gardens Middle School—and
design a piece of “extreme gear” to
two schools from other divisions.
help a character in a story they’ve
DestiNation Imagination is the
brainchild of a not-for-profit
organization that goes by the same
name. It provides challenges to
help students learn and experience
the creative process. They work in
teams and use their imaginations to
problem-solve and innovate.
Throughout the day, teams—with
names like Paper Beats Rock, The
Smarticles and Too Legit to Quit—
presented their solutions to a series
written adapt to the conditions
of the environment; or act out a
live comic strip story based on a
team-selected artwork created by an
artist from a foreign nation; or build a
weight-bearing structure out of wood,
glue and fishing line.
The teams have eight minutes or
less to make their presentation and
are judged by a jury. There are also
additional “instant challenges” that
require on-the-spot solutions.
of fine arts, scientific and structural
challenges. The teams received
These are great opportunities to learn
information about the challenges
about not only science, engineering
An event called DestiNation
ahead of the event, along with a $150
and art, but also collaboration,
Imagination® attracted middle years
budget for any supplies they may need
presentation skills, budget and time
The students may have all gathered
students from five RETSD schools—
to complete the task.
management, perseverance, critical
at Chief Peguis Junior High on Feb.
Chief Peguis, Arthur Day Middle
25, but the real destination was their
School, Robert Andrews School,
Participants in DestiNation
imagination.
Salisbury Morse Place School and
Imagination may be asked to
Learning that’s fun… imagine that!
“The energy was fantastic; the students
RETSD Hall of Famers
The High Flying Olympians—from Robert Andrews—get creative with a challenge.
Students rise to challenges
thinking and much more.
really got into it,” says photography
teacher Deanna Michaleski. “They
showed a fantastic sense of pride,
showcasing their skills in their areas of
expertise.”
they’re on the same team.
Fashion technology students from
Murdoch MacKay Collegiate and
(MHSAA) announced the 2014 class
being inducted into its Hall of Fame.
Those tipped for the honour include
River East Collegiate alumnus Susan
Murdoch MacKay during the school’s
(Boroski) Bodie for basketball,
50th anniversary celebration last
badminton and track; and Robert
October.
Andrews School principal Ted Stoesz
display of the students’ designs—and I
football field, but in the classroom
High Schools Athletics Association
for the project when she was touring
the space, their projects and the
The two schools may be rivals on the
presence when the Manitoba
Ms. Michaleski came up with the idea
“I was amazed at their fashion area—
KEC, Murdoch looking
good together
There was a noticeable RETSD
for the basketball, volleyball, track
and badminton he excelled at when a
student at Dakota Collegiate.
thought it would be awesome to have
James Harrison got the nod for
First, the students met to share
our schools and three vocational areas
his dedication as a volleyball and
their expertise—they discussed the
work together,” she says.
basketball coach at Miles Macdonell
Collegiate, having led his teams to 10
clothing being created by the fashion
technology students, and what
She contacted fashion technology
makeup, hairstyling, lighting, props
teacher Denise Miller and hairstyling
and backdrops would complement it in
a photo shoot. Then in January, with
teacher Susan Lachowich, and a
project was born. And this may be just
the beginning.
provincial titles along the way.
Just one team will enter the hall this
year, and it’s the Miles Macdonell
ladies curling team from 1970–72 that
won three provincial high school titles.
hairstyling and photography students
the clothing completed, the students
from Kildonan-East Collegiate
met at Kildonan-East to style and
“We built a great foundation and
The MHSAA Hall of Fame ceremony
collaborated on a two-part project
photograph the fashion technology
absolutely will be working on more
will take place on May 10 at the
recently.
students in their creations.
projects in the future.”
Holiday Inn South.
4
The Torch • Spring 2014
At another school, they handed out
an impact as their visit to Obras del
school supplies to students and played
Espíritu Santo, an orphanage in San
a game of barefoot soccer with them.
José, where they spent the day doing
“They kicked our butts,” says student
Tea Maric, with amazement.
Her friend, Lauren Scott, suspects the
climate gave the students a leg up. “We
were sweating so much because of the
heat, but they had no problem at all!”
volunteer activities. The students
quickly forged bonds with the children
who live there, and despite not
speaking the same language, they were
able to communicate well with body
language, play and laughter.
“There were definitely people who
And while they got in some kayaking
got sad there,” says student Emily
on Lake Arenal, did some exhilarating
Watson. “But I tried not to focus on
zip-lining, and stopped at an animal
the negative and put my energy into
sanctuary to meet some monkeys (one
the care we were giving them and the
from grades 10 through 12 arrived in
took quite a shine to Ms. Maharaj
experience we were having.”
the capital of San José and travelled by
Kumar, holding her hand and swatting
the Poás Volcano to La Fortuna, where
others away), the trip wasn’t a vacation.
The REC group with new friends at the Obras del Espíritu Santo orphanage.
REC students come calling
in Costa Rica
A once-in-a-lifetime experience will
happen twice, if a group of River East
Collegiate students get their way.
they got to work on their first service
project—building a raised vegetable
garden for a school.
From January 30 to February 7 a group
of students from REC, accompanied
by principal Jim Beveridge and
teacher Anita Maharaj Kumar, had the
opportunity to do service work in Costa
Rica, and they found the experience
so enriching that they vowed to visit
again.
The 23-member group of students
“Costa Rica has a very well developed
social welfare program, so the schools
get support for meals for the children,
but it’s very basic—beans and rice,”
says Ms. Maharaj Kumar. “Growing
their own vegetables in the garden will
help the school provide the students
with more nutrition.”
Ms. Maharaj Kumar says a strong bond
was forged with Obras del Espíritu
“We wanted the students to feel the
Santo, and they now consider them
hands-on, immediate impact of service
their primary Costa Rican connection.
work, and give them the opportunity to
The trip was so successful that plans
experience another culture,” says Ms.
are in the works to collaborate with the
Maharaj Kumar.
orphanage and visit again in 2016.
And experience it they did, eating
Tea Maric, for one, can’t wait to
fresh coconuts on the beach, chewing
return.
raw sugar cane, checking their shoes
for exotic spiders, and running
through torrential downpours.
However, nothing made as much of
“We went to help and teach them, but
it was the other way around,” she says.
“I will easily go back, in a heartbeat. I
want to keep connected and continue.”
took place in the classroom or gym,
like art projects, class assignments, and
learning a dance called the Bastringue
and voyageur games such as leg and
arm wrestling. However, students also
bundled up and ventured outdoors
to enjoy some traditional Canadian
sports, such as skiing, curling, skating
and snowshoeing.
“Our activities span over two days with
students attending the festival at the
end,” says École Regent Park School
Students from École Regent Park School (left, centre and top right) and Sherwood School (two pics at bottom right) during Festival du Voyageur.
Hé ho! RETSD celebrates Festival
Festival du Voyageur turned 45
this year, and as they have done for
decades, students and teachers from
The festival celebrates Canada’s
life and the coureurs de bois, and
French heritage and fur-trading
enjoyed activities like learning to track
forebears and receives over 90,000
animals, weave bracelets, and play the
visits each year. It’s billed as the largest
washboard and spoons.
winter festival in Canada.
principal Diana Zozman. “The students
really enjoy it. As a French Immersion
school, it’s a natural fit for us.”
RETSD students are a hearty lot
and, despite the below-average
temperatures, they pulled on their
RETSD made the trek to the festival to
School groups visited the festival
Back at the schools, there were also
mittens and toques and made the most
enjoy all that it has to offer.
grounds to learn about early Canadian
festival-themed activities on tap. Some
of the snow and ice. Hé ho!
River East Transcona School Division • 589 Roch St. Winnipeg, MB R2K 2P7 • Tel: 204.667.7130 Fax: 204.661.5618 • www.retsd.mb.ca
5
different and interesting ways.
Tracy Garbutt from CNIB read the
braille book The Black Book of Colors by
and storyteller Al Simmons also had
everyone in fits of giggles.
Menena Cottin, which explains what
Winnipeg Free Press columnist Doug
it’s like to be blind. Mr. Garbutt, who
Speirs, who is a returning guest, invited
had vision until he was 12, shared
the students to invent a new Olympic
his own inspiring story, as well, and
sport, and then published their ideas
the students had many questions.
in his column the next day, to their
Also putting an interesting spin on
delight. The fertile imaginations at
reading was Gordon Wiebe, who used
Neil Campbell were a great place for
American Sign Language to sign the
him to mine for ideas.
book Scaredy Squirrel to a Grade 3 class.
(l–r) Gordon Wiebe, Courtney Ketchen, Jeremy John, Al Simmons, Joe Aiello, Maralee Caruso,
Doug Speirs, Kerri Salki, Big Daddy Tazz, Tracy Garbutt.
this February. Veteran entertainer
Several local television personalities
Comedian Big Daddy Tazz had both
also took the time to stop by, including
the staff and students in stitches, using
Maralee Caruso from CTV News, Joe
humour to share his experiences being
Aiello and Kerri Salki from 102.3
Neil Campbell loves to read
with their students.
ADHD, dyslexic, colour blind and
CLEAR FM (who gave the kids a “shout
February is I Love to Read Month and
Every year, a great effort is made to
bullied as a child. A popular guest on
out” on their radio show), and Jeremy
at Neil Campbell School, they LOVE
gather a terrific group of guests who
the I Love to Read circuit, Mr. Tazz
John and Courtney Ketchen from
to have visitors share the joy of reading
use books to engage their students in
set himself a goal to read to 1,000 kids
CityTV’s Breakfast Television.
Flipped lessons turn the tables
Students have the opportunity to ask
up some fun for the kids in a concert
What happens when homework is
doing their exercises, because the
just for them.
done at school and school work is
teacher is present.
torn down and rebuilt at its current
location in 1987.
But the spirit of the school is a century
old and some of its history will be
shown through photos, archival
documents and other memorabilia
on display during the evening event.
Guests will also get a chance to admire
the new anniversary art installation
that graces the school’s hallway walls.
During the formal program, you
can enjoy performances by the
Bird’s Hill students, and following
the program, River East Collegiate
musical duo Flauto e Chitarra will
provide background music. Children’s
entertainer Aaron Burnett will serve
Bird’s Hill principal Nori Dehn
Bird’s Hill turns 100
Bird’s Hill School will celebrate its
100th anniversary on April 23, and it
welcomes former students and staff,
along with community members, to
join in the celebrations.
If you’re thinking the school looks
done at home? You have a flipped
We hope to see you there!
Bird’s Hill School “Come & Go Tea”
April 23, 2014
Doors open: 5:45 p.m.
Formal program: 6:15 p.m.
Children’s performer Aaron Burnett:
7:15 p.m.
questions and receive guidance while
lesson.
“If they run into problems doing
The flipped lesson is a new teaching
anyone to go to,” says Mr. Peltz.
technique that has been used this year
The technique is being used primarily
at Miles Macdonell Collegiate. Instead
for math and was piloted with a few
of watching a lecture in class and
Grade 11 classes in first semester;
working on related exercises at home,
they’re continuing with it into second
students watch lectures online in their
semester. Exploring this use of
homework at home, they may not have
really young for its age, that’s because
Fun Fact: Current principal Nori
own time and use class time for what
technology for learning has been an
the original building—located where
Dehn attended the original Bird’s Hill
RETSD math teacher and consultant
interesting experience for both the
School from grades 1 to 3.
Harvey Peltz calls “guided practice.”
students and teachers.
the Bird’s Hill Sobeys now stands—was
6
The Torch • Spring 2014
a grant by Manitoba Education to
“Our data shows these efforts have
develop strategies to address school
made a difference,” says Ms. Millman.
attendance issues. In the first year
of the initiative, the division did a
needs assessment and developed
recommendations. SMP volunteered
to be a pilot school for implementing
those recommendations. In June 2013,
RETSD received funding to expand
the initiative to two other schools—
However, she keeps her goals realistic.
SMP may always have issues with
attendance. It’s in an area where a
number of families face income-related
challenges that can have an impact at
school.
Hampstead School and Kildonan-East
Collegiate.
Ms. Millman says that many of her
school families don’t have cars and
Miss Mo, Mr. Mo (in orange vests) and their walking school bus passengers.
Ms. Millman says while her staff has
the very cold winter has resulted in
been focusing on absences, they’ve
some young students being kept home,
targeted lateness, as well. “Every day
rather than sent on a long, frigid walk
and on time” is what she emphasizes
to school—possibly not dressed well
and strives for with her students.
for the weather.
Among others, the school’s strategies
have included: an attendance
To help, the SMP staff collected warm
the school’s “walking school bus”—a
facilitator interviewing students to
clothing for the kids, because winter
group of students walked to school
find out why they’re having a difficult
arrived early and harshly, when they
by one or more adults, making stops
time getting to school; letters home to
hadn’t yet received donations from the
Every school day morning, Maura
along the way to pick students up. Ms.
parents; calls to check on students who
Koats for Kids charity.
Enns and her husband Dave can be
Enns is the “driver” at the front of the
are absent for two days or more, even
seen walking to Salisbury Morse Place
bus. Although not employed by the
if it’s an excused absence; assemblies
School with a flock of kids toddling
division, her husband volunteers his
to give certificates of recognition to
along with them.
services as a back-of-the-bus monitor,
those with perfect or most improved
keeping the little ones on track.
attendance; buying alarm clocks for
Walking school bus part of
bigger plan
“They’re just like little ducklings,”
says SMP principal Marjorie Millman.
“The kids call her Miss Mo and call her
husband Mr. Mo.”
As well as being a lunch supervisor and
students; presentations on the value
The walking school bus is just one of
of attendance; and a pamphlet on
several strategies SMP is employing in
attendance given to families.
its second year of an RETSD initiative
to increase attendance.
custodial aide at SMP, Ms. Enns is the
“We have some factors that will always
be an issue,” says Ms. Millman. “But
that doesn’t mean you stop. We have
to keep trying.”
Which means you’ll likely be seeing
more of Miss Mo and Mr. Mo, walking
Since the initiative began, a majority
their ducklings with care through the
of targeted students improved or
neighbourhood, making sure they
attendance facilitator and operates
In June 2011, the division was awarded
maintained their rate of attendance.
arrive safely and on time.
Document cameras a
modern alternative
a stand and pointed downwards.
several types and supplied one to each
to the photocopier. It lends itself to
Whatever is under the lens is
senior years school, as well as several
those unplanned but valuable teaching
projected onto a screen. It’s the
middle years schools.
moments.”
In the past, students may have
modern equivalent of an overhead
crowded around a lab table to watch a
projector. However, unlike its bulky
dissection or painting technique, the
ancestor, it isn’t limited to projecting
tiniest person pushing to the front or
things printed on transparencies. As
standing on tiptoes.
well as documents, they can project
Now, they’re just as likely to be viewing
these demonstrations as they’re
projected on a screen, thanks to a
piece of technology that’s become
more common in RETSD schools—
document cameras.
Document cameras are raised on
demonstrations, three-dimensional
Mr. Forrest sees the cameras as a
natural fit in the science classroom and
says English teachers are also finding
them to be a useful tool for teaching
writing.
RETSD teachers have been studying
the work of Penny Kittle, an English
teacher and literacy coach who
believes writing should be taught and
demonstrated as a process. Teachers
objects, full-colour images and books.
“English language arts teachers have
can model the process using document
They’ve even been used to assist a
found a number of uses for them
cameras—writing, making changes,
student with visual impairment.
in the classroom,” he says. “They’re
adding things and striking out words.
perfect for projecting a page out of a
The cameras are in use throughout the
novel, magazine or anthology. And it
This helps students observe and
division. Last year, RETSD consultants
can be done in a spontaneous way that
understand that the first draft is never
Drew Forrest and Rod Epp evaluated
doesn’t require a trip down the hall
perfect, even for an English teacher.
River East Transcona School Division • 589 Roch St. Winnipeg, MB R2K 2P7 • Tel: 204.667.7130 Fax: 204.661.5618 • www.retsd.mb.ca
7
YOUR TRUSTEES
Regular board meetings are open to the public. They are scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on the
first and third Tuesday of the month at the Administration Offices, 589 Roch St.
Trustee Eva Prysizney reads A Dragon in a Wagon to Polson School students during I Love to Read
Month in February.
Trustee Colleen Carswell enjoys a visit to Wayoata Elementary
during I Love to Read Month in February.
Trustee Robert Fraser (right) chats with parent Miles Pomaranski at the 2014 Community Budget
Meeting on Jan. 29.
CONTACT
Ward 1 • Colleen Carswell • [email protected]
Ward 1 • George Marshall • [email protected]
Ward 2 • John Toews • [email protected]
Ward 3 • Robert Fraser • [email protected]
Ward 4 • Eva Prysizney • [email protected]
Ward 4 • Wayne Ritcher • [email protected]
Ward 5 • Peter Kotyk • [email protected]
Ward 5 • Shirley Timm-Rudolph • [email protected]
RETSD board chair Peter Kotyk—with Jobs and Economy Minister Theresa Oswald and Concordia
MLA Matt Wiebe—speaks at Kildonan-East Collegiate on March 3. Minister Oswald was at the
school to announce a $1M fund for upgrades to high school technical training facilities.
Ward 6 • Greg Proch • [email protected]
We would love to hear from you!
Send questions and comments regarding The Torch to: [email protected]