2020 2021 board activity report

Board Activity Report

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FRONTIER SCHOOL DIVISION

Table of ContentsMessage from the Board Chair .................................................4

Meeting the challenge of technology in the North ..............6

Highlights from our Frontier Family .......................................8

A virtual celebration of art ..................................................... 10

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We are proud of our students, teachers, parents/caregivers and all others in our school communities for facing the challenges of the past year. Together, our Frontier Family has continued to strive for excellence as we explored and developed effective ways to connect and learn online and outdoors—doing what we need to do to respect and protect each others’ safety.

The pandemic will end, and we will return to what is often called “normal,” but we will also take away from this time valuable lessons about how to holistically support our children.

This past year we made the decision to not hold an in-person School Committee Conference—our annual event to recognize accomplishments and celebrate students and staff. Instead we have tried to make this report a celebration of our students and communities (with many photos!) and have also included Board Activity and Annual Report content.

Thank you to everyone who contributed to our children’s success over this past year. As we move forward together, in a stronger circle, we feel confident the pride and focus of our Frontier Family will continue to advance towards our “North Star”—Our Children, Our Success, Our Future.

Linda Ballantyne Chairperson

West Lynn Heights School made a graphic for their students during the spring school closure spelling out “Stay home, stay positive, flatten the curve! We miss you, we are all in this together!”

Message from the Board Chair

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2020/2021 BOARD ACTIVITY REPORT

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Meeting the challenge of technology in the NorthCOVID-19 forced us to tackle the technology and online learning challenges to support students and teachers, not the least of which is inadequate internet service throughout our division.

In spite of this challenge, we updated our mobile device strategy. We ordered over 2000 laptops for Grade 5-12 students, 350 for teachers, and committed to Google Workspace for Education as a divisional platform. Last fall we ordered 2,500 iPads to support K-4 students to use the Seesaw learning platform, and deployed 450 Onetab learning devices across the division in partnership with the Onebillion project—a non-profit with a goal of providing educational software to children around the world.

We have also accelerated professional development to support all these new technologies, including recorded sessions for offline review and empowering teachers to create online content for their students. We have also been utilizing Microsoft Teams, which only took one week to provide to all Frontier staff.

Another exciting step in process is the improvement of in-school Wi-Fi and rollout of StarLink—a new internet provider in North America—which is allowing us to increase our internet speeds by a factor of up to 30 at less cost than existing service providers. Results have been some very fast internet speeds!

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Instructional technologyA new plan was launched in 2020/21 to increase support for teaching and learning with digital tools. It began with new leadership, personal development for all teachers, and new devices for all students.

We created a new Instructional Technology Coordinator role to shepherd an effective divisional approach to learning with technology. We also launched a new website to support technology-related professional development for teachers.

Teachers and students have begun learning with two new online tools this year: Seesaw (K-6) and Google Classroom (7-12) to support remote learning. iPads pre-loaded with needed software have been distributed across FSD for K-4 students, with laptops going out to 5-12 students. About 60 teachers have shown leadership in volunteering to take Seesaw certification to enable them to support their school colleagues.

“I was very impressed with using Google Classroom to create quizzes and to make assignments available to students with feedback.”

– high school teacher

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Highlights from our Frontier FamilyFrontier School Division, Manitoba’s largest geographical division, includes 41 schools and 21 adult education sites. Staff and teachers at all our schools continued to do amazing work to help children succeed as they faced the personal and working challenges of the past year. They, and their students, have found new ways to connect and learn, and to support each other. We are extremely proud of our entire Frontier Family. It is in the face of adversity and challenge that the true spirit of a family like ours shines through, and as we move forward together, and move beyond the pandemic, we feel confident that we move forward stronger than ever.

Land-Based Coordinator Charles Ettawacappo (left) sharing knowledge on the land with John Kalmbach's students.

Students at Helen Betty Osborne Ininiw Education Resource Centre in Norway House went out on the land this past year to learn and harvest as part of teacher John Kalmbach's Construction Technology class.

“It ties in with sustainability and resources and where your material comes from," said Kalmbach.

“We're kind of experimenting. It's a new adventure."

It was important this year to get outside and keep doing the activities we love while being distanced. The Annual Frontier Fishing Derby was one of those things we accomplished by making it a “Distance Derby,” with staff and students from 16 schools participating on the lake of their choice. A video showing photos sent in by dozens of participants can be found on the FSD website and Facebook page.

Falcon Beach School student Hunter shows off his monster fish, and the date he wrestled it out of the water, for the FSD Distanced Fish Derby in March.

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The appreciation by students and families for our staff and teachers was felt across the division, and many school communities showed it with gestures large and small—including showing up for staff parades!

Gillam School children lined the streets last spring to watch staff parade around town to show them how much they missed them.

Wellness has become especially important during this unique year of adjustment and social distancing. Looking for ways to be kind, connect and talk to trusted people, wherever they may be, are things we encourage everyone in our Frontier Family to do.

Waterhen students donned pink shirts promoting kindness and stand against bullying for Pink Shirt Day in February.

Like many schools around FSD, visitation to Cold Lake School in Sherridon was limited due to pandemic restrictions—meaning fewer opportunities to host guests to speak and share knowledge. It also meant finding more opportunities to use technology like audio books and virtual platforms to connect and keep students engaged and learning.

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Long term service awards were presented to school authority members Margaret Neilsen and Kathleen Ettawacappo. Both Margaret and Kathleen have completed 15 years of service within the Frontier Family – congratulations to both of them!

Margaret and Kathleen accept their service awards.

Staff at Oscar Blackburn School in South Indian Lake had to endure multiple lockdowns in their community. Area 1 office staff coordinated multiple grocery deliveries from Thompson – an important show of strength, caring and family within Frontier. It’s through the community support like this that we were able to endure such a challenging year!

Area 1 office staff help deliver groceries to families in South Indian Lake.

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Peonan Point, located on the shore of Lake Manitoba, embraced outdoor learning with numerous land-based learning activities. Though the school only has a few students, by embracing new learning opportunities like this, staff were able to continue creating engaging lessons.

Students at Ministic School also had the opportunity to take part in land-based learning. While COVID-19 impacted the classroom, staff at Ministic School, located in Gods Lake Narrows, took to their natural outdoor landscapes for new educational adventures.

Graduation looked different for all of our students throughout the 2020-21 school year. Thankfully, with the support of our staff and communities across the Frontier Family, students were still able to enjoy special graduation ceremonies that they will remember forever.

Peonan Point students competing in the snowsnake competition, a traditional Indigenous sport.

Students from Ministic School exploring a nearby quarry.

Frontier Mosakahiken School students celebrating their 2020 graduation on wheels.

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A virtual celebration of artThe Annual Frontier Juried Art Show brings together student art from across the Frontier School Division in a celebration of art. This year is no exception with our first Virtual Juried Art Show. Students provided exceptional work in drawing, painting, mixed media, sculpture, craft and photography. Two exhibits were created one for Visual Arts and the other in Photography with links on the Frontier Website. This format provides more visitor then ever before including students, teachers, family, community and the world. We are very proud of our students and this format allows us to share this with the world.

Thank you to all of the adjudicators who provided their expertise in providing comments for our student artists.

Art Adjudicators Shawna Grapentine – Visual Arts – Artist & Art Instructor

Pat Lazo – Visual Arts – Artistic Director Graffiti Art Gallery & Artist

Doug Melnyk – Visual Arts – Artist & Performance Artist

Hans Arnold – Photography – Artist & Author

This year we received 170 submissions from 87 artists from 15 schools. The judges are always so excited to adjudicate the Juried Art Show and state the talent from our students is exceptional.

A100 Drawing

A200 Drawing

1st

1st

2nd

2nd

3rd

3rd

LAUREN FORSTERJoseph H Kerr School – A106 Acoustics

TRINITY QUESKAKAPOWHelen Betty Osborne Ininiw Education Resource Centre – A212My Nan

KIYANAW DELARONDE Barrows Junction School – A103End Of Time

TRISTA TOWERSHelen Betty Osborne Ininiw Education Resource Centre – A210Narwako Playing Cards

BELLE BOULETTESan Antonio School – A110 Into The Blue

AMY CORDELL Helen Betty Osborne Ininiw Education Resource Centre – A207The Chef

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A300 Drawing

B100 Mixed Media

B200 Mixed Media

1st

1st

1st

2nd

2nd

2nd

3rd

3rd

KATRINA DUNCANHelen Betty Osborne Ininiw Education Resource Centre – A307 Red

KEISHA SHLACHETKACormorant Lake School – B108Untitled

KAYLIN SHORTTWest Lynn Heights School – B201 Strong

RAVEN ALBERTHelen Betty Osborne Ininiw Education Resource Centre – A301The Dapper Frog

THOMAS LAPIERRE San Antonio School – B103 The Rising Trees

KAYLIN SHORTTWest Lynn Heights School – B202 Yuya Fungami

KATRINA DUNCANHelen Betty Osborne Ininiw Education Resource Centre – A308 Flower

BELLE BOULETTESan Antonio School – B106Up Above

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B300 Mixed Media

1st 2nd

MORGAN OLSON Peonan Point School – B301 Writer’s Block

LILY JOHNSON Helen Betty Osborne Ininiw Education Resource Centre – B302Koi Pool

C100 Painting

1st 2nd 3rd

YELENA BRIGHTNOSE Cranberry Portage Elementary – C103 My Community Geese

SAGE DUMAS West Lynn Heights School – C116 Sharing Wisdom

CARALINE MCKAY Lakefront School – C102 Starry Night

C200 Painting

1st 2nd 3rd

KAYDENCE SKOMOROWSKI West Lynn Heights School – C203 Lady Bird

NEVAEH COLOMB West Lynn Heights School – C205 Turnip Head

ALICE GREYFrontier Mosakahiken School – C201 Northern Lights

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C300 Painting

D100 Pottery/Sculpt

D300 Pottery/Sculpt

1st

1st

1st

2nd

2nd

2nd

3rd

SERENITY HUNTER Frontier Mosakahiken School – C305 Purple Day

MATT DOAK Joseph H Kerr School – D102 Tusker

MAXWEL BURKE Duke of Marlborough School – D301 The Wreck Of The SS Ithaka

RAYNA NEEPIN-TAIT Helen Betty Osborne Ininiw Education Resource Centre – C303 Seven

WAYLON LAFRENIERE Philomene Chartrand School – D101 Fix It

MORGAN OLSONPeonan Point School –D302 Rings Of Fire

SERENITY HUNTERFrontier Mosakahiken School – C306 My Quiet Place

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E100 Crafts

1st 2nd 3rd

Jennica Colomb West Lynn Heights School – E102 Midnight Dust

Jennica Colomb West Lynn Heights School – E103 Sundust

Jennica Colomb West Lynn Heights School – E101 Fire & Ice

E300 Crafts

1st

SAMANTHA GLENDAY Leaf Rapids School – E301 Healing Turtle

F100 Digital Photography

1st 2nd 3rd

CHASE MICHELLE Cranberry Portage Elementary – F107 Sky Is The Limit

CHASE D’OTTARVO Falcon Beach School – F106 Tree

Daniel Bonneteau Falcon Beach School – F102 Driving in Darkness

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G100 Enhanced Photography


1st

1st

1st

2nd

2nd

2nd

3rd

3rd

3rd

KAITLYN PODOLCHUK Falcon Beach School – F202 Two Seasons Collide

AISLYNN GUSTAVSON Falcon Beach School – G104 Lily Pad

PARIS ALLEN Duke of Marlborough School – F323 Twilight Sunset

CHAVEZ MENOW Helen Betty Osborne Ininiw Education Resource Centre – F215 Eagle

EASTEN LEVESQUE Falcon Beach School – G103 Sunrise Over Marsh

SPIRIT RIVER JOSHUA OSBORNE Helen Betty Osborne Ininiw Education Resource Centre – F318 Flower

KIA IWANKOW Falcon Beach School – F201 Valiant Viking

ROBERT SPENCE Cranberry Portage Elementary – G106 Blue Moon

MORRIS ROKOVETSKY Helen Betty Osborne Ininiw Education Resource Centre – F316 Mushroom

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1st

1st

2nd

2nd

3rd

3rd

TRISTAN MOWATT Helen Betty Osborne Ininiw Education Resource Centre – G204 Speckled Eagle

CONNER CORDELL Helen Betty Osborne Ininiw Education Resource Centre – G302 River Painting

KAITLYN PODOLCHUK Falcon Beach School – G202 Cold Winter’s Morning

ALEXANDER MUSWAGON Helen Betty Osborne Ininiw Education Resource Centre – G304 Eagle 1

KIA IWANKOW Falcon Beach School – G201 Funky Flora

JADE DIXON Helen Betty Osborne Ininiw Education Resource Centre – G306 Canoe Painting

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2020 2021 board activity report

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