What's Happening in GSSD?

Yorkton Regional High School Water Damage

On the afternoon of July 1, 2010, a severe storm hit the Yorkton area. As a result of massive rainfall, YRHS received water damage. Please click on the Information Fact Sheet for further details. It is our intent there be little or no disruption to the school year. Updates will follow as the work progresses.

Update of July 23, 2010 (click here)

Fourth Annual School Community Council Symposium

The SCC Symposium was held at the Yorkton Regional High School in Yorkton on Tuesday, March 2, 2010. The forum provided an opportunity for Council members to network and share ideas with others in an open atmosphere. There were also a series of special interest presentations, facilitated by Board members and Senior Administrative staff, in an effort to answer many of the questions put forth this past year. Also, it was an opportunity to provide Council members with up-to-date information on various initiatives throughout the Division.

Prior to the SCC Symposium, the Board of Education hosted a Student Forum in which 2 student participants from each of our high schools were asked to take part. This is the second year in which students were asked for their valuable feedback regarding student life within their respective school environment. The Board appreciates these sessions to glimpse how their decisions are affecting daily life within the schools as well as a valuable way to glean knowledge on what the division can do to make their school life more meaningful.

Anna Ingham Resource Room Rededication Ceremony

The ANNA INGHAM RESOURCE ROOM Rededication Ceremony was held on Wednesday, February 10th @ 4:00 pm at the Fairview Education Centre in Yorkton.

We celebrated the career of Mrs. Anna Ingham, a former educator within Yorkton and area schools who devised the "Blended Sound-Sight Program of Learning" over 60 years ago. Mrs. Ingham, at 98 years young, expounded on her years in education with an exuberance and pride in her past students that was very much evidenced in the words she shared.

A biographical sketch of the life and career of Mrs. Ingham can be viewed by clicking here.

2009 Attendance Boundary Review

During our December Board Meeting, the Board of Education approved changes to the attendance boundaries between Melville, Grayson, Stockholm and Esterhazy.

Click Here for the Full Map

2009 Annual General Meeting of Electors

With over 50 attendees taking part on Monday, November 23, the meeting was very interesting and informative. Many highlights of the 2008/2009 year of operations shared including a great demonstration of the archery program happening in some of our schools. The kids did an amazing job!

The meeting portion featured various speakers from throughout the division. We would like to thank the 30 student participants in the archery demonstration along with Darren Wandy from Yorkton Regional High School and Brad Cameron from Sturgis Elementary School, Dennis Muzyka from Melville Comprehensive School as well as Don Tkachuk from Yorkton Regional High School for their Skills Canada presentation (a copy of The Myths and Realities about Skilled Trades Canada is available here), and Clara Haacke from Churchbridge Public School and her Leadership Academy presentation on SMART Board technology. Other presentations included the Board Chair Report by Mr. Raymond Sass, the Operations Report by Mr. Dwayne Reeve, Director of Education and the Financial Report by Mrs. Sherry Todosichuk, Superintendent of Business Administration.

Many handouts were made available during the evening including the following (available in pdf format):

The Continuous Improvement Plan Update, indicating division achievement to date on educational priorities as established in the Continuous Improvement Plan last year is now available for viewing as follows: Click here for a copy of the Plan Update; click here to access the Appendix of Assessment Data!

Great things are happening throughout the division!

For information and resources regarding the H1N1 Flu, please click here. For H1N1 information, call the Sunrise Health Region Information Line @ 1-866-800-5510. NOTE: Click on the H1N1 Flu Information icon to go directly to the Ministry of Health website.

Grand Openings Abound

The end of October/beginning of November saw an amazing four grand openings happening throughout our Division.

	Canora Junior Elementary School Wednesday, October 21, 2009 Grand Opening of the Newly Renovated School Library
Yorkton Regional High School Tuesday, November 3, 2009 Grand Opening of the Newly Renovated Music Suite as well as the unveiling of the George S. Skinner plaque in recognition of their monetary donation towards the project
	GSSD Distance Learning Centre Friday, November 6, 2009 Grand Opening Ceremonies
Norquay School Friday, November 6, 2009 Grand Opening of the New Addition

Service Recognition Awards Gala

In celebration of our employees' hard work and dedication to the school division, the Board of Education hosted the 3rd Annual Service Recognition Awards Gala on Friday, October 23, 2009.

The evening recognized educational milestones of 10, 15, 20, 25, 30 and 35 years of service to the Good Spirit School Division. A wonderful supper was followed by the Service Recognition Awards presentations to 89 deserving employees. To cap off the evening, nationally acclaimed comedian Herb Dixondazzled with side-splitting comedy. An evening of friendship and funwas shared by everyone in attendance.

Click here for pictures of our award recipients as presented in the October 2009 Monthly Matters newsletter.

Superannuation Banquet

On Thursday, June 11, 2009, the Board of Education of the Good Spirit School Division hosted the
Third Annual Superannuation Banquet to honour twenty retiring staff members. The evening consisted of a wonderful supper at the Ramada Inn in Yorkton with a program to follow congratulating each of the retirees in attendance. The Board would like to thank BMO Bank of Montreal, Park's Jewellery and Source Embroidery and Screenprinting for sponsoring the wine and door prizes for the evening. The Board and staff of the division would like to congratulate the retirees on reaching this milestone in their careers and wish them many wonderful, relaxing retirement years ahead.

Retirees include the following: Back Row (L to R): Dale Winnitowy (Yorkdale Central), Elmer Repay (Dr. Brass), Randy Albers (Davison), Carol Prout (M.C. Knoll), Morley Maier (Yorkdale Central), Georgina Harambura (Victoria), Mavis Morken (Sturgis Elementary), Verner Sikorski (Sturgis Composite), Monica Dudeck (Fort Livingstone), and Herb Elder (Yorkton RegionalHS) Front Row (L to R): Jean Burback (Kamsack Comprehensive), Donna Dickie (Yorkdale Central), Gwen Keith (Calder/Saltcoats/Springside), Karen Fullmann (Hoffman), Norma Cook (Langenburg), Jean Remezoff (Victoria) and Barbara Widaiko (Melville Comprehensive)