Director of Education Sherri-Lynne Pharand/KPDSB Website
Hopeful for the year ahead.
That’s the message from the Keewatin Patricia District School Board as 2021 comes to a close.
With more challenges due to COVID-19, Director of Education Sherri-Lynne Pharand stresses transitional support is and will continue to be important for their students.
“Virtual back to bricks and motar (in person learning) as well as elementary to secondary. We had many different transition initiatives that focused on positive peer relationships, getting to know the caring adults if they were going to a new school and where to go for support.”
For the second consecutive summer, KPDSB received funding to provide mental health support in the form of three student councillors from July to August this year.
This also marks Pharand’s second year as Director of Education.
Pharand says it was great to be back in the classroom in the later half of the year and notes the board’s important partnership with the Kenora District Services Board.
“Not only are we pleased to be able to provide new child care at Keewatin Public School this year and parents and families are really appreciating the opportunity, but we were also able to through our partnership to provide emergency child care spaces in the Spring of 2021 when the entire world went virtual again.”
The Board also implemented cultural competency training for all staff, which Pharand says speaks to their commitment to Truth and Reconciliation.
“From January to December we have seen an increase of knowledge keepers, elders and community members working within our schools and I think it’s really important that we work together to include Indigenous knowledge and ways of knowing in the classrooms and schools for all children.”
Schools also supported the first national day for Truth and Reconciliation on September 30 and an informative workshop on May 5 organized by former Student Trustee Emma Gardner on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls.
Pharand notes a lot of work has also gone into the new Grade 1-8 curriculum and de-streamed Math credit in Grade 9 with a focus on finical literacy and coding.
A goal for 2022, Pharand says they hope to incorporate outdoor learning in everyday programming that meets curriculum requirements.
Other highlights included the return of extra curriculars, sports and clubs.
The complete 2021 Director’s Annual Report can be read here.
