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EDUCATION WEEK 2019 Work toward a career: UR Advantage

The University of Regina offers many avenues for you to gain valuable experience in your chosen field while working toward your degree.

We also provide career services to help you secure employment after you graduate.

E X PE R I E N T I A L L E A R N I N G

You can graduate with a degree AND an impressive résumé!

Co-operative Education Fifty years ago, we pioneered the very first Co-op Work Experience Program in Western Canada and it’s still the best. The University of Regina’s Co-op Program enables students to kick-start their career by gaining valuable, paid work experience while pursuing almost any undergraduate degree in Arts, Business, Engineering, Mathematics, Statistics, Chemistry, Biochemistry, Physics, Biology, Geology, and Computer Science. Co-operative Education alternates practical, career-related, paid work terms with semesters in class, giving students 12 to 16 months of supervised work experience by the time they graduate. Students successfully completing the required number of work terms, receive a Co-op Designation on their degrees, having gained the kind of valuable experience that will get them hired.

(Added bonus: Co-op students often notice that their grades improve, too, because they are integrating classroom theory with practical experience on the job.) More information is available at: www.uregina.ca/careercentre/coop.

Internships, Practicum Placements, Professional Placements & Fieldwork In addition to the Co-op Work Experience Program, the Univer-

The UR Guarantee program supports students through every step of the University experience all the way through to successful employment.

PH OTO: U N I VE RS I TY OF RE G I NA

sity of Regina also offers a variety of other hands-on learning opportunities through internships, practicum placements, and fieldwork. These include paid opportunities, as well as those completed for course credit.

Some are program requirements (practicums in Nursing and Education, for example), while other options can be added to degrees and be completed locally, nationally or internationally. Actuarial Science, Engineering, and Aboriginal internships are currently available.

Students can choose placements that allow them to stay close to home and work with the City of Regina, Regina Folk Fest, and Regina’s Globe Theatre, for example. Others travel across Canada to work with various organizations, including professional sports teams, major rehab centres, and oil companies. Some are looking for more of an adventure and decide to look internationally for hands-on work experience – like our student who traveled to Tanzania for a Kinesiology Fieldwork placement or our student who worked with the New York Rangers for a season.

C A R E E R & E M PL OY M E N T S U PP O RT

Career Exploration and Counselling Career Education Counsellors at the U of R Career Centre can help students explore career options and recommend the best educational route to get there. The Career Centre also offers Indigenous Career Education programming that supports the academic and career-related success of Indigenous students.

S T U D E N T E M P L OY M E N T S E RV I C E S

Connect with employers seeking students from all faculties for summer-internship, volunteer, parttime and full-time work. Indigenous Career Education also works to provide specialized career supports for students looking for part-time or fulltime employment or internships.

U R G UA R A N T E E A DVA N TAG E

Launched in 2009, the Exclusive UR Guarantee program is designed to enhance your University experi-

ence by empowering you to achieve your educational, career, and life goals. Throughout the program, Students in the UR Guarantee program will have access to the tools necessary for academic success and opportunities to fully engage in University life, as well as participate in service and leadership roles.

The UR Guarantee program supports students through every step of the University experience all the way through to successful employment.

861 STUDENTS (a record) ac-

cessed career-related placements through the Co-op Program in 2018, the Co-op Program helped a record 861 students access careerrelated placements. $10 MILLION in wages were earned last year by co-op students in 2018.

MORE THAN $11,000 (on average) earned by students per fourmonth co-op/internship placement.

JOB OFFERS for permanent positions are offered to most co-op/ internship students from their employers prior to graduation.

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Elders in this whole process.

The phrase has long been part of the lexicon, but you could make a very strong case for the fact that “it takes a village to raise a child” never having been more authentic. Long may this partnership continue to evolve. By working together, there is also learning that is happening by all and thereby society benefits.

Educators in today’s world are admirably finding innovative ways of addressing student learning needs against the backdrop of funding shortfalls in recent times, which in many cases that has meant staffing cutbacks in terms of the supports that have played such an integral role in the whole education process.

With a population that continues to grow exponentially in this province, it is reasonable to ponder how long these aforementioned innovative steps can be sustained. As we celebrate Education Week it is a thought that we can’t afford to ignore when contemplating the long-term future.

Education is, after all, for all of us.

dering what is happening at the local school because more often than not there is a good chance there is a concrete example of being involved in the learning process.

It does not have to be parents of a student, but rather citizens who have bought into making what they see as a valued contribution to the education of our youth. More and more we see examples of how it is no longer a case of the teacher closing the door to the classroom and thereby being isolated from the outside world.

The whole Truth and Reconciliation process has been another perfect platform with the school acting as the ideal link for not only the students but by osmosis through the parents gaining a greater appreciation of how we can collectively map out the path for a better future for all people in Saskatchewan. This is another example of how involving the community has helped break down barriers via the inclusion of

THIS STORY WAS PROVIDED BY THE SASKATCHEWAN TEACHERS’ FEDERATION

THIS STORY WAS PROVIDED BY THE UNIVERSITY OF REGINA.

here.

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EDUCATION WEEK 2019 A new vision for student success

Every student is known, valued, and believed in.

That is the vision of Saskatoon Public Schools, created as part of the school division’s new strategic plan.

“This plan is focused on students, above all else.

It begins with a vision of what we want to achieve for every young person who walks through our school doors,” said board chair Ray Morrison. “It’s a grand vision, but it is one I know we can achieve through focusing on our student goals and our commitment.”

The strategic plan, which was approved by the Board of Education in June, sets the course for the division’s work during the next five years. The plan’s development included consultation with parents, students, staff, and community partners.

Deputy Director of Education Shane Skjerven, who led nearly two years of work to develop the plan, said the feedback focused on preparing students for an evolving world and highlighted the necessary skills, character traits, and knowledge that students will need for their future. Those responses helped identify four student goals: academic excellence, character, engagement, and well-being.

The goal of academic excellence states that students will achieve success in their learning goals.

Those goals, Skjerven explained, are as unique as our students. “ F o r m a n y, s u c c e s s

means achieving curricular outcomes. For some, it could involve exploring more advanced disciplines.

For others, it will mean accomplishing hard-fought physical and intellectual achievements. We want to know our students, value their abilities, and believe in their ability to achieve their individual goals,” said Skjerven.

The goal of character states that students will demonstrate respect, responsibility, and perseverance – themes that were r e p e at e d f r e q u e n t l y i n feedback from the learning community. Skjerven said teaching respect, understanding responsibility, and fostering perseverance will develop students’ ability to not only exist in the world, but be active community members now and in the future.

The goal of engagement will see students actively participate in relevant and meaningful learning.

“We must adapt and innovate to engage and challenge students. Lessons in the classroom should be collaborative, appealing and joyful,” said Skjerven.

The goal of well-being states that students will develop the skills to make healthy choices. This means equipping students so they know how to take care of themselves and be physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually strong.

“To achieve our vision and help our students reach these four goals, we need to make a promise to our

Academic excellence, character, engagement and well-being of students are at the heart of Saskatoon Public Schools’ five-year strategic plan for 2019-2024. SUP P LIED P HOT O

students, to their parents and caregivers, and to our community,” said Director of Education Barry MacDougall. “Our commitment is we will create learning experiences that inspire all students to reach their potential.”

This commitment will be achieved through a focus on three key areas: relationships, equity, and accountability.

MacDougall explained the school division will focus on fostering caring and supportive relationships, will honour diversity, creating welcoming and joyful spaces, and developing and growing community partnerships.

Saskatoon Public Schools is open to all. As part of its commitment to equity the division will focus on Indigenous student success, en-

act anti-racist/anti-oppressive practices, and pursue a representative workforce.

Through a focus on accountability, MacDougall said the division will maintain high expectations for all, respond to student needs through evidencebased practices, pursue continuous improvement, and ensure safe, caring, and accepting environments.

“Our new strategic plan

will change our work. While some parts will feel familiar, other areas require a shift in our focus and practices. All our work will be done to provide the best for our students,” said MacDougall.

“I am confident this new plan will result in greater success for our students.”

For more information, visit saskatoonpublicschools.ca.

THIS STORY WAS PROVIDED BY SASKATOON PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

The school is only part of the overall education experience As public education continues to change and evolve every year, there are all sorts of examples of how the theme of this year’s Education Week, “Working and Learning Together,” resonates with communities throughout the province.

There are a multitude of ways in which schools in urban centres have incorporated available resources – ones which might not have been considered in the traditional model. This trend is arguably even more apparent in some of the rural settings, where it is still very true that

the school is the hub of the community.

It has become much more than a symbolic gesture, and has morphed into what has become a mutually beneficial approach among parents, community members and the teachers. Ultimately the beneficiaries are the students, who are being exposed to a wealth of “reallife” experiences that will serve them well in their respective futures.

One of the more tangible examples of how this has unfolded has been in the area of the trades, which tended

to be overlooked a decade ago but have since risen to a position of far greater importance, and in the process has made the education experience that much more relevant for a segment of the student population.

The burgeoning emphasis on land-based education has also been a source of considerable rejuvenation for schools while simultaneously making more of a connection between the school and its community. It is no longer a case of folks wonS E E E X P E R I E N C E O N PAGE 4

There may not be many on staff at Dorintosh Central School but there is no denying their passion for helping their students. That includes Scott Thompson (top) using the white board to help one of his students.SUP P LIED P HOT O

Working and Learning Together Travailler et apprendre ensemble

Working &learning together Education Week – October 20 - 26

Rooted in faith. Growing in knowledge.

Reaching out to transform the world.

Education Week October 20-26, 2019 saskatchewan.ca

Semaine de l’éducation Du 20 au 26 octobre 2019

www.gscs.ca

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EDUCATION WEEK 2019 Serving together: educating children is a shared responsibility

By the time you bring your son or daughter to school for that momentous first day of kindergarten, you have been his or her educator for about five years.

Parents don’t often claim the title of teacher or educator, but think about it. You have taught, directed, encouraged, explained and demonstrated countless things in those first years when those little sponge-like brains soak up so much—and you will continue to be their primary educator.

When you entrust Greater Saskatoon Catholic Schools with your little one’s education, it becomes a shared responsibility to educate children and youth. You’re not passing the baton, you’re choosing to share the responsibility to help your child grow and develop intellectually, emotionally, physically and spiritually. We’re grateful to be working and learning together with you and many people, groups and organizations.

Students spend a significant part of their day in a classroom, and teachers have

Indigenous artist Kevin Peeace works with students at St. Anne School to create a mural in the library. S U PPL I E D PH OTO

a special vocation to foster growth and development.

They use their gifts, talents and training to help bring out the best in each unique individual.

In addition to classroom and centrally-provided supports, teachers are surrounded by a host of people and groups to help educate stu-

dents. Tops on the list is, you guessed it, parents. Parents help in the classroom, chaperone that field trip, serve on the Catholic School Community Council, fundraise, read at home and help with homework, and are pretty much saints in all they do to help ensure success in the classroom.

The other people and groups that support education in our schools are too numerous to mention. Educational partners like the University of Saskatchewan College of Education, St. Thomas More College, Saskatoon Tribal Council, Central Urban Métis Federation Inc., Gabriel Dumont Institute, and

THIS STORY WAS PROVIDED BY SASKATOON CATHOLIC SCHOOLS.

the Ministry of Education support learning in a variety of ways. School Resource Officers from Saskatoon Police Service help keep students safe and give important safety information to students.

The Open Door Society and Global Gathering Place help welcome those new to our country and community. Service clubs, community associations, corporations and local businesses all help make the educational experience at our schools the best it can be.

The Saskatoon Roman Catholic Diocese and the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of Saskatoon are vital partners in providing spiritual guidance and growth for both staff and students.

We are thankful that we receive much from many.

Healthy relationships mean we must also give. Working and learning together at our Catholic schools includes serving together, and that means that we act as good stewards of the many gifts we have been given. It’s important that students learn to put that into practice. “It is more blessed to give than to

receive.” (Acts 20:35) At Greater Saskatoon Catholic Schools, we encourage students to see themselves as active and vibrant members of their community.

Whether that community is their home, classroom, school, local community, city, or globe, we want students to understand that their Godgiven gifts are to be shared to make the world a better place.

By visiting care homes, volunteering at the Friendship Inn, donating much needed food to the Saskatoon Food Bank and Learning Centre, or the numerous ways students serve, we all learn how connected we are and the role we play to make stronger communities. (If you have students come to your door collecting food for the food bank this Halloween, please give generously.)

During this Education Week, and throughout the year, we thank all of you who work and learn with us. Together we will remain rooted in faith, grow in knowledge, and reach out to transform the world.

SEIU-West: Put kids first all staff who work as Librarian and Education Assistants, Administrative Assistants, and Maintenance, among others. When classroom sizes balloon and resources are stripped, it is the students who suffer. With a growing population, the program cuts for English as an Additional Language and supports for students with special needs are particularly concerning… our kids need our support!

Your voices and collective wisdom can make the difference in the decision of the government

BY BARBARA CAPE President of SEIU-West

As the school year continues on, we have an opportunity to celebrate Education Week (October 20 – 26.

2019) and to put kids first. But this is no mere platitude, rather a call to recognize the value of education and the impact on our province.

Saskatchewan has undergone some dramatic changes in the past ten years. Our provincial government boasts an increase in population and a strong economy. Our Premier publicly states that he is standing up for Saskatchewan. We need to engage on this undertaking with him – is he really standing up for our younger generation? Is he standing up for education?

We lost approximately 350 Education Assistant jobs during the boom years. This was followed up by the 2017-18 budget, where the education sector experienced deep cuts to the tune of 54 million dollars; in the 2018-19 budget funding was restored but only to the extent of 30 million dollars. In our current budget year school operating grants were reduced by 31.5 million dollars. This leaves us struggling at significantly reduced budget levels. The real world impact of those funding cuts has been larger classroom sizes; reduced services in maintenance and infrastructure; further cuts to

to ensure that we have more staff: Teachers, Education Assistants, Maintenance, Administrative and Library Assistants. Our province depends on the education that we can provide; high quality education is a silver bullet that can promote prosperity and progress for our future society.

The time is now – during Education Week – reach out to your MLA and ask them to put kids first – end understaffing. Our children deserve a safe, comfortable and well-supported learning environment.

At Saskatoon Public Schools Every Student is

Known • Valued • Believed In

Barbara Cape President, SEIU-West

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THIS STORY WAS PROVIDED BY SEIU-WEST.

Celebrating the Curious, Independent and Responsible nature of your child.

Allegro provides a Montessori Education for Preschool through Grade Six. To stay up-to-date on the news while you’re on the go, download our mobile app for iPhone and Android.

Allegro Montessori is a Qualified Independent School with Montessori trained and experienced teachers, providing children with authentic Montessori in an atmosphere of independent learning since 1987.

4215 Degeer Street, Saskatoon, SK S7H 4N6 Call 306-931-4000 or email us at allegro@sasktel.net www.allegromontessori.ca “Help me to do it alone”

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Maria Montessori

Celebrating 40 years of providing opportunities and experiences for students to learn and use French - to embrace official bilingualism... through programs, events, resources, and partnerships.

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EDUCATION WEEK 2019 ADVERTISEMENT

MESSAGE FROM THE MINISTER

Education Week 2019:

Working and Learning Together

BY G ORD ON WYANT Saskatchewan Minister of Education

As we celebrate Education Week in Saskatchewan from October 20-26, it is an opportunity to recognize the achievements taking place in our schools, the impact of our outstanding educators and the successes of Saskatchewan students.

This year’s theme, Working and Learning Together, honours the collaborative relationships that strengthen our education system. This theme speaks to the understanding and growth that can be achieved by working together and learning from one another, encompassing everything from curriculum renewal to reconciliation.

During my time as Minister of Education, I have been encouraged to see educators, trustees, sector organizations and government coming together as willing partners to ensure the success of our students. I recognize that we have a great deal to learn from one another, and I am committed to building on those relationships and putting in the work necessary to make our education system the best it can be. This begins with listening and collaborating.

Over the past year, our education sector partners have been working together to coconstruct a new provincial education plan. This work will incorporate feedback from public engagements and our online survey to help

This year’s theme, Working and Learning Together, honours the collaborative relationships that strengthen our education system. This theme speaks to the understanding and growth that can be achieved by working together and learning from one another, encompassing everything from curriculum renewal to reconciliation.

- T H E H O N O U R A B L E G O R D O N W YA N T, Minister of Education

shape the future of education in our province.

Other innovative partnerships are also serving to improve education across the province. The RoboX program, developed by Innovation Saskatchewan in partnership with the Saskatoon Industry-Education Council (SIEC) and the Saskatchewan Science Centre, began in Saskatoon and has expanded to bring hands-on robotics and coding experiences into northern classrooms, training more than 28 teachers and hosting student engagement workshops in 10 northern communities. Through another experiential learning partnership, Dene High School students in La Loche are harvesting their own produce with the help of a grant from President’s Choice Children’s Charity and the sup-

port of a dedicated science teacher leading the project.

Through their own innovation, Regina Catholic School Division became the first ever Canadian recipient of the Follett Challenge, winning the grand prize for their original “Tinker Tubs” program. The hands-on learning kits allow students to discover and explore a range of topics, rotating between their various schools throughout the school year. This award recognizes their innovation and collaboration, and will allow for the expansion of the Tinker Tubs program with additional learning resources for students.

Partnerships like these open up new doors and possibilities for students, opportunities that would not be possible without dedicated and forward-thinking educators,

administrators and education partners willing to pursue engaging opportunities for Saskatchewan students.

The Government of Saskatchewan is incredibly proud of the work being done in classrooms across the province, and celebrates those at the forefront of education who incite innovation and foster engagement. This year, five outstanding Saskatchewan educators from Weyburn, Balgonie, Île-à-laCrosse, Saskatoon and Regina were recognized with the Prime Minister’s Award for Teaching Excellence. Another charismatic Saskatoon teacher received national recognition from the Fields Institute for Research in Mathematical Sciences, being awarded the 2019 Margaret Sinclair Memorial Award.

Education Week is also about celebrating the learning that takes place in our schools and the achievements of our students. Dedicated students, like our province’s two new Loran Scholars and two Schulich Leader Scholarship recipients, exemplify academic excellence, leadership and community involvement. Others whose achievements deserve recognition, like the recipients of Saskatoon Public Schools’ new Perseverance Award, have overcome significant obstacles and insurmountable odds to complete their high school education.

This past weekend, I had the opportunity to sit down with 12 exceptional young leaders who have come to-

The Honourable Gordon Wyant, Minister of Education, visits a classroom in one of the province’s 27 school divisions.

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gether to form Saskatchewan’s first provincial youth council, an experience that left me inspired and truly confident for the future of our province. There is no doubt that our students have a great deal to contribute and, as the leaders of tomorrow, their voice will be important as we work to ensure the direction of education is relevant and engaging to the province’s students.

A high-quality education is

at the heart of our vision for Saskatchewan, but it is only through these collaborative relationships and partnerships that we can achieve the best results for our students.

On behalf of the Government of Saskatchewan, I encourage everyone across the province to take this opportunity to celebrate our outstanding education professionals and recognize the success and tremendous potential of our students.

THIS STORY WAS PROVIDED BY THE SASKATCHEWAN MINISTRY OF EDUCATION. THIS SECTION WAS CREATED BY CONTENT WORKS, POSTMEDIA’S COMMERCIAL CONTENT DIVISION.

We areUofR

The U of R is now accepting applications for the Fall 2020/ Winter 2021 semesters.

WHY CHOOSE U OF R?

Career preparation!

3 Our co-operative education students earn an average of $12,000 per 4-month internship! Plus, nearly every program has experiential learning opportunities meaning our students gain valuable real-world experience.

3 More than 90% of our graduates are satisfied with their educational experience.

3 Our grads work! We have the highest graduate employment rate – 88% – of any Saskatchewan post-secondary institution!

To apply or learn more about the University of Regina, visit urconnected.uregina.ca