Over 65 School Community Council (SCC) members from across Sun West gathered in the Rosetown Central High School (RCHS) Gym the evening of May 10 for the first in-person, division-wide SCC workshop since the pandemic.
Incoming Acting Director of Education Vicki Moore, who is also the outgoing Superintendent responsible for SCCs, celebrated the return to in-person gatherings in her welcoming remarks stating: “To those of you who this is your first SCC workshop – welcome! To those of you who have been to workshops before – welcome back old friends – it has been too long.”
Fourteen Sun West schools were represented at the Workshop and members of the Sun West Board of Education and Senior Leadership were also in attendance. There was positive energy throughout the event with SCC members happy to have the chance to find new ways of supporting student learning.
The SCC delegates were treated to nice supper catered with the help of Coach Paproski and Coach Wintonyk and the RCHS Football Team who also assisted with setting up for the evening and were generally super-helpful throughout the whole event.
Carmen Ledding, Branch Coordinator with the Rosetown Branch of the Canadian Mental Health Association, provided the opening keynote. Her informative presentation focused on factors in daily life that impact mental health such as school/work balance, home-life and relationships. She outlined the kinds of resources and supports available in communities to help all of us stay mentally fit and healthy.
The Workshop also featured five breakout sessions. Sun West Literacy Coaches Abbey Mahoney, Brenda Anderson and Sandra Lutz discussed the “Science of Learning How to Read.” Learning Consultant Pamela Sawatzky explained “Understanding Personalized Goals.” Superintendent Kelli Boklaschuk presented on the Sun West Resource Bank and Engagement Coach Jessica Wall presented on “Parent Engagement and SCCs.” Assessment Consultant Vanessa Lewis with three students, Aarika Haque, Brylee Jefferies and Macy Norrish explained Sun West’s highly successful Student Leadership Program.
The evening concluded with a networking sessions where SCC members had the opportunity to learn from each others’ experiences and ideas.
“The turnout was great,” commented Ms. Moore, “and we couldn’t be happier with the level of engagement from those who attended. We look forward to building on this success in coming years.”