Creating student success Spring 2013

RETSD school trustees have passed a

budget for 2013–14 that demonstrates

their steadfast support for the students

and taxpayers they serve.

The $170-million budget is up from

$166 million last year and represents

a 2.3 per cent increase in spending.

For local taxpayers, that translates into

a 2.5 per cent tax increase, or about

$35 on a home valued at $220,000.

“This was not an easy process. The

complexities of normal budget planning,

coupled with the fact we received no

new funding from the province for the

second year in a row, made the task

particularly challenging for us. But we

did our due diligence and were able

to preserve the quality programs and

services our employees deliver, and at

the same time, keep taxes low for our

ratepayers,” says trustee Robert Fraser,

board chair.

The $3.8-million in new spending

primarily covers increased payroll costs

to meet collective agreement require-

ments; payroll represents approxi-

mately 85 per cent of the division’s

budget. No new initiatives are included

in the 2013–14 budget, but the board

of trustees continues to support the

work identified as priority areas in last

year’s budget.

“We made a commitment to enhance

learning in the areas of early years

literacy and middle years mathematics

and we are pleased that focus will

continue within this budget,” says

the chair of the finance committee,

trustee Peter Kotyk.

As well, trustees continue to support

the development of programming to

help at-risk students stay in school,

and the expansion of opportunities

for senior years students to begin

apprenticing in the trades while still

in school.

“These are all critical areas that will

help students become more successful

in society. The board supports these

initiatives and this budget as an

investment in our children’s future,”

says Mr. Kotyk.

While Manitoba Education contrib-

uted no new money to the overall

budget, RETSD did receive funding

earmarked to hire seven additional

teachers in response to the government’s

class size initiative, called 20K3.

The government has mandated that by

2017 all but 10 per cent of kindergarten

to Grade 3 classes in Manitoba’s school

divisions must have 20 or fewer students.

“We support the concept of 20K3.

We know it’s designed to give our

youngest students a strong start to their

education. But we know it will come at

significant cost,” says Mr. Fraser.

RETSD trustees add their voice to the

Manitoba School Boards Association

position that while the government is

providing some funds to hire teachers

and build additional classrooms, it

must develop a clear and sustainable

funding model so the cost of its

initiative is not borne by local taxpayers.

Fast facts:

• Themillrateforthe2013–14budget

is estimated at 14.639.

• Administrativecostsareestimated

at 3.7 per cent of the total budget;

the provincial cap is four per cent.

• Thedivisionreceivesapproximately

52.8 per cent of its revenue from

provincial government program

support, 13.3 per cent from the

provincial government property tax

credit, and another 31.1 per cent

from the local property tax base.

The remaining 2.8 per cent comes

from other revenue sources.

• Basedonthe2012–13FRAMEBudget

Report, RETSD’s per pupil spending

—$10,454—is the lowest in the Metro

Winnipeg area. The provincial

average is $11,473.

• RiverEastTransconaeducates

approximately 16,350 kindergarten

to Grade 12 students in 42 schools

and employs approximately 2,050 staff.

Trustees pass budget that puts students first

Front row (l–r): Eva Prysizney, Peter Kotyk, George Marshall, Colleen Carswell. Back row (l–r): Greg Proch, Shirley Timm-Rudolph, John Toews, Wayne Ritcher (board vice-chair), Robert Fraser (board chair).

Superintendent’s message

Goodbye indoor recesses, hello sunshine.

It’s official—we’ve weathered a

particularly cold and snowy winter,

and made it to springtime. (Though

that’s never a guarantee of balmy

weather in Manitoba, it doesn’t hurt

to be optimistic.)

The past few months found some of

our students braving the cold to enjoy

a generous gift of winter sporting

equipment (Sherwood enjoys GoodLife,

p. 6); keeping warm in the kitchen,

while learning some skills and enjoying

companionship (Clubs cook up independence,

p. 4); chatting with classes from warmer

climes (Grade 2 class has international

chats, p. 3); and being singled out for

their achievements (Students and staff

honoured by MCEC, p. 5).

It’s been as busy as always. It takes

more than sub-zero temperatures to

keep Winnipeggers down.

Our trustees have been very busy, as

well, as can be seen in our cover story

about the 2013–14 budget. Every year,

they face the challenge of meeting the

needs of our students and the changing

expectations of the educational system,

while paying heed to their responsibility

to taxpayers. And it’s a job they take

very seriously.

We hope you enjoy this issue of The

Torch and find something within it

that piques your interest or makes

you smile.

Kelly Barkman

Superintendent/CEO

Chief Peguis makes historic phone call to outer space

“I can hear you loud and clear.”

With those words at precisely 13:47:43

on Feb. 13, a historic event began for

Chief Peguis Junior High School, when

it made radio contact with astronaut

Chris Hadfield aboard the International

Space Station. Students spent the next

10 carefully orchestrated minutes

fielding questions to Cmdr. Hadfield,

who could hear them “loud and clear”

as the space station passed over South

Australia.

Contact with the Canadian Space

Agency astronaut was made possible

through Amateur Radio on the

International Space Station (ARISS).

A dedicated ARISS amateur radio

ground station (in this case in Airdrie,

Alberta, and then Kingston, South

Australia) established a radio link with

the ISS and connected to the school

via a phone line.

There were a few tense minutes at

Chief Peguis about 30 minutes before

the event began when it was discovered

maintenance work being done on the

school’s alarm system had interfered

with the phone line, but in the end,

everything went off without a hitch.

“Of all the days for that to happen!”

said principal Doug Nowicki, who

could laugh about it after the line

was restored in plenty of time to be

ready for the momentous phone call,

which could be heard by the assembly

through loud speakers.

Teacher Kathleen Murphy, who

organized the event, pre-selected 15

students to ask the astronaut questions

that ranged from how he trims his

moustache (with scissors in one hand

and a tiny vacuum in the other) to how

food is stored on the spaceship (it’s

like the food you’d take “on a really

long camping trip”). Cmdr. Hadfield

told the students he knew from the age

of nine he wanted to be an astronaut

and planned his entire life around that

goal.

Grade 9 student Reeve Johnson asked

Cmdr. Hadfield how he felt about

becoming the first Canadian to com-

mand the ISS (he became commander

in March).

“I’m excited and honoured,” he

responded. “It’s a tremendous

responsibility. There’s only one space

station for the whole world and I get

to be commander for a while and I’m

delighted to have the opportunity. I’ve

worked my whole life to be here to do

this.”

Reeve said his brief conversation with

Cmdr. Hadfield was something he’ll

remember for the rest of his life,

and added it was “epic” that Cmdr.

Hadfield is the first Canadian to

command the ISS.

For students in Grade 9 at Chief

Peguis, it was the second time they’d

spoken to Cmdr. Hadfield. In 2011,

when they were in Grade 7, Ms. Murphy—

who is passionate about space

exploration—arranged for the

astronaut to visit Chief Peguis as he

was making a cross-Canada tour prior

to beginning his training for the

expedition.

“We were very fortunate to have him

visit the school in 2011 and he spoke

of his mission to the ISS at that time.

I thought it would be very enriching

for the students to further their

connection with him while he’s in

space. I hope that what they take away

from this experience is that with hard

work and a positive attitude you can

fulfil your dreams, whether it’s to be

an astronaut, a teacher or anything.”

2 The Torch • Spring 2013

Grade 2 class has video chats

The students in Georgette Nairn’s

Grade 2 class had just enjoyed playing

outdoors for recess in what felt like

balmy temperatures (-10˚C) after a

long cold snap. But when they sat

down to have a chat with their friends

in a Grade 2 class in Birmingham,

Alabama, they learned that not everyone

is accustomed to such a climate.

“Is it always that cold up there?” asked

one girl.

For the record, it was 17˚C in Birmingham

that day, and Ms. Nairn’s class was

chatting with its southern friends using

Skype, which allows people to have

video chats over the Internet using a

webcam and microphone.

It was the third time this year that the

class chatted over Skype with Grade

2 classes elsewhere in the world, and

they’ll be connecting with classes in

Texas, New Brunswick and Michigan

in the future. Last year, Ms. Nairn’s

class Skyped with students in Australia.

“I enjoy seeing them get so excited

about what they’re doing. Their faces

light up!” she says. “They’re making

connections between other people and

what’s happening in their own lives.”

This all got started with a group of

Grade 2 teachers from around the

world that gathers online once a week

to share ideas. Building that profes-

sional network with other teachers has

been valuable to Ms. Nairn, providing a

lot of support and inspiration. She and

some of the other teachers decided

to take things beyond their online

meetings.

“There was a core group from there

that decided we’d like to collaborate

on something,” she says.

This core group of teachers has

organized Skype chats, as well as group

efforts between the classes on audio

books and Google Docs stories to

which each class contributes. They’ve

also made great use of class blogs, sharing

and reading each other’s work.

“The idea that someone else, other

than their teacher or parents, is looking

at their work and is interested in

seeing it is very exciting to them,”

says Ms. Nairn. “They know that what

they’re doing matters.”

Transcona Collegiate student wins international jazz contest

Transcona Collegiate music teacher

Daniel Steinhilber knows Devon

Gillingham lives and breathes music,

which is why he created an academic

challenge for him that pushes the

Grade 12 student beyond the boundaries

of the normal high school music

curriculum.

The challenge is a 110-hour School

Initiated Course called “Advanced

Arranging and Composition,” which—

depending on his achievement—will

earn Devon a high school credit.

There is little doubt Devon will get that

credit. After all, he’s doing well in the

course… and his crowning achievement

is pretty hard to ignore. He is the

first-ever winner of the Essentially

Ellington Gerhard W. Vosshall Student

Composition/Arranging Contest,

which drew entries from across

the United States and Canada and

was judged by some of the most

accomplished jazz musicians in

North America.

And the prize? Devon will travel to

New York City in May to hear jazz great

Wynton Marsalis record his piece with

the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra.

The contest Devon won is a new

addition to the Essentially Ellington

competition and festival, held annually

in New York City and directed by

Mr. Marsalis. It brings together some

of the finest high school jazz bands in

North America to play the music of

Duke Ellington. (Jazz bands from

River East Collegiate have auditioned

and earned a trip to the festival five

times.)

“It’s pretty incredible to think that

players and composers and arrangers

of that calibre chose my music as

the winner and are going to record

something I wrote,” says Devon, adding

he’ll probably be struck dumb when he

sits in on the recording session.

Jazz music has been a passion for Devon

since he was a child. “I think what

appeals to me is the improvisational

nature of the music,” he says. “You can

play the same song with the same

musicians twice in a row and it won’t

be the same.” He sings and plays

double bass, guitar and piano, and

has been a member of an adult

ensemble, the East Side Jazz Band,

since he was 12.

Devon has been transcribing and

arranging music throughout high

school and the School Initiated Course

is a natural progression. “It gives him

the flexibility to explore things on his

own terms,” says Mr. Steinhilber, who

monitors and mentors Devon as he

works through the course.

One of the course’s many learning

outcomes requires Devon to compose

for a variety of musical ensembles and

while Devon has written music for

his rock band and for concert band,

his winning piece for the Essentially

Ellington contest was only his second

effort at composing an original work

for jazz orchestra.

Mr. Steinhilber, who founded the East

Side Jazz Band, says it’s been exciting

to watch and help nurture Devon’s

musical growth over the years. He

says Devon is “supremely talented and

incredibly motivated” and says winning

the contest gives him an amazing

opportunity to go to New York and

learn from the greats in jazz music.

3River East Transcona School Division • 589 Roch St. Winnipeg, MB R2K 2P7 • Tel: 204.667.7130 Fax: 204.661.5618 • www.retsd.mb.ca

Clubs cook up independence

Take one cup of learning, add two

heaping tablespoons of independence

and a dash of companionship, mix well

and garnish with laughter.

River East Transcona has discovered a

great recipe for teaching independence

and life skills to some of its students—

cooking clubs.

The division was approached by the

Rehabilitation Centre for Children

(RCC) in 2012 with an offer to hold

cooking clubs for high school students

with special needs through the financial

assistance of The Winnipeg Foundation.

The funding was split between three

schools—Murdoch MacKay, Miles

Macdonell and Transcona collegiates.

A club has already been held at

Murdoch, and the TCI and Miles Mac

clubs will take place in the spring—

once a week for four to six weeks.

Occupational and physical therapists

from RCC run the clubs after school

hours, pay for the food and bring

adapted kitchen equipment necessary

for those whose physical challenges

require it, says Tammy Mitchell, manager

of student services at RETSD.

“It was a huge success at Murdoch,”

says Ms. Mitchell. “The students loved

it, the families loved it, and the RCC

staff were so impressed with how fully

accessible our kitchen facilities were.

I really credit our maintenance

department for making accessibility

a priority whenever they do building

renovations.”

Independence is always a focus. The

club takes its members right from store

to plate, meaning the students plan

their meal, shop for the grocery items

they’ll need, cook the meal, set the

table, serve it up and eat it together,

and even play some games afterwards.

“The socializing element is nice,”

says Murdoch teacher Joanne Calver,

“because outside of school hours these

students don’t meet up usually. They

had the chance to expand their social

boundaries.”

Club member Jenn Jensen recalls a lot

of laughter one particular evening.

“I remember when we were all playing

games here, it kind of felt like I was in

a Greek or Italian restaurant, because

I could hear them all chattering out

here and laughing.”

Jenn was able to transfer some of the

cooking skills she learned in the club

to practical use for a mainstream foods

class she was taking. She invited two

classmates, along with her educational

assistant and Ms. Calver, to join her for

lunch in the adapted kitchen and she

was graded on her independent skills.

“I made a huge lunch for them,” says

Jenn. “I made spaghetti, Caesar salad,

garlic toast, cherry Kool-Aid and ice

cream sundaes.”

Everything that they learn to make in

the cooking club is made from scratch

and takes nutrition and the four main

food groups into account. When the

students complete the club, they get

their own cookbooks full of adapted

recipes to keep.

A Winnipeg Foundation representative

visited on the last day the club was held

at Murdoch to ask questions, meet the

students and see how they enjoyed it.

Ms. Calver says their guest was quite

impressed with what she saw and

promised to take the information

back to the foundation to see if they’d

be able to fund the club again in the

future.

In the meantime, some of the students

continue to sharpen their skills during a

regular lunch club their class holds, so

they’re making use of the aprons and

hats that were given to club members

as gifts. There are plans to have

the Murdoch MacKay school logo

embroidered onto the hats for them.

Wearing the school colours means a

lot to club member Alexa Smith.

“It’s just like being part of a team,” says

Alexa. “It takes teamwork to make the

dream work.”

“That’s our motto,” explains Ms. Calver.

“Yeah, it never gets old,” says Alexa

with a smile.

Cooking club member Jenn Jensen.

École Centrale marks 100

École Centrale students wore 100 Froot Loops around their necks and did

themed activities for 100 Day, which marks the 100th day of the school year.

It was the school’s 100th 100 Day, because they’re celebrating their centennial

this year, with the festivities taking place on Sept. 28. For more information

about the centennial, visit the school website at www.ec.retsd.mb.ca.

4 The Torch • Spring 2013

REC students participate at UN conference in NYC

Iraqi native Mustafa Ali was six years

old when he immigrated to Canada

from Jordan in 2002. The Grade 12

River East Collegiate student could

hardly have imagined he’d visit New

York City for a school field trip one

day, especially as a participant in

something as prestigious as the UN

Student Conference on Human Rights.

Mustafa, along with fellow REC

students Alana Pither and Betheny

Hooper, travelled with principal

Jim Beveridge to NYC for the annual

three-day conference in early Decem-

ber 2012. This is the third time REC

has sent students to this event, most

recently in 2007.

Only 13 students were chosen to

represent Canada at the conference,

which hosted 400 delegates from

around the world, and the three

from REC were chosen because they’d

shown exemplary commitment to

human rights causes.

Human rights have always been a

subject of interest for Mustafa, who

has been working with the UNESCO

school programs since he was a student

at John Pritchard School.

River East is also a UNESCO-associated

school, “so it was a natural transition

when I came here to stay involved with

UNESCO,” he says.

Mustafa was also a student organizer

for the conference—one of only six

and the only one from outside of the

United States. As a student organizer,

he helped to fine-tune the conference

to suit the needs and perspectives of

students, and helped to decide what

student projects would be chosen for

focus. It was a process he found hectic,

but rewarding.

“There’s always something that goes

wrong,” he says. “But that’s part of

the fun, figuring out how to make

everything work on the fly!”

Apart from the bustle of the conference

and an impressive visit to the United

Nations, the REC students took some

time out to visit some of NYC’s must-

see spots, such as Times Square, the

Empire State Building, some museums

and a Broadway show.

“We packed as much into the time

there as we could, but we didn’t even

see a fraction of what was possible,”

says Mustafa, clearly impressed. “They

have lightening in a bottle over there.”

Students and staff honoured at MCEC awards ceremony

On Feb. 21, during Inclusive Education

Week, several students and staff

from River East Transcona were

singled out and celebrated for their

achievements by the Manitoba Council

for Exceptional Children (MCEC) at

their annual awards ceremony.

The MCEC Yes I Can! Awards

acknowledge the achievements of

children and youth with disabilities,

and encourage them to seek their

highest potential. They were presented

to: Markus Dowling Tober from River

East Collegiate for academics; and

Cassandra Bell from River East

Collegiate for arts.

Certificates of Recognition are presented

for excellence in assisting and/or

working with children and youth with

special needs. They were presented to:

Raisa Willis, a student from Valley

Gardens Middle School, for her

exemplary inclusion and support of

those with special needs; WPS Patrol

Sgt. Bob Keber, who works with the

school teams in RETSD; and the

Springfield Heights School resource/

administrative team for their strong

collaborative approach and willingness

to try new strategies and support one

another.

Murdoch MacKay Collegiate student

Madison Vassart received one of three

$750 scholarships that were awarded to

support Manitoba students pursuing a

career directly related to working with

persons with special needs.

An additional touch of grandeur

was added to the ceremony with the

presentation of a Queen Elizabeth

II Diamond Jubilee Medal to Kim

Campbell, the manager of community

initiatives for RETSD. Ms. Campbell is

also president of the Autism Society of

Manitoba, and the award was presented

to her on behalf of the society.

Congratulations, everyone, on being

recognized for the great work you do!

5River East Transcona School Division • 589 Roch St. Winnipeg, MB R2K 2P7 • Tel: 204.667.7130 Fax: 204.661.5618 • www.retsd.mb.ca

(l–r) Mustafa Ali, Betheny Hooper and Alana Pither in the General Assembly Hall at the United Nations.

Yes I Can! Award recipients Cassandra Bell and Markus Dowling Tober.

5River East Transcona School Division • 589 Roch St. Winnipeg, MB R2K 2P7 • Tel: 204.667.7130 Fax: 204.661.5618 • www.retsd.mb.ca

Miles Mac leads way with new state-of-the-art science lab

Students at Miles Macdonell Collegiate

are already making great use of the

gleaming counters and equipment

in the school’s new, state-of-the-art

science lab, and Premier Greg Selinger

stopped by for a tour of the classroom

recently.

Premier Selinger visited Miles Mac’s

new lab to draw attention to the

results of the province’s $25-million

science lab renewal program that was

announced in 2011. The Miles Mac

lab is the first to be completed through

the program.

“The investments we are making today

to build and renovate science labs

across the province will create learning

opportunities that inspire students to

pursue careers in the sciences,” says

Selinger. “A skilled workforce is critical

as we continue growing our economy.”

Funding of more than $240,000 was

provided to River East Transcona to

renovate the science classroom at

Miles Mac, including provision of

a new fume hood. The school also

received $25,000 for the purchase of

equipment that will allow students to

perform more complex experiments.

The Miles Mac project is one of many

science lab upgrades across the province

that will provide students with modern

spaces and equipment, which will

support the implementation of

Manitoba’s updated high school

science curriculum, the premier said.

“We feel very fortunate to have been

included in some of that funding,” says

RETSD board chair Robert Fraser, who

toured the new lab along with Premier

Selinger. “In fact, Miles Macdonell’s

lab is not the only one in our division

to benefit. As we speak, the hammers

are swinging at River East Collegiate,

where another science lab renewal

project is under way.”

River East Collegiate will likely

undergo many of the same changes

that took place at Miles Mac, where

the old stationary lab benches were

replaced with moveable tables, allowing

more customizable classroom setups.

The teacher’s elevated desk was

removed and the teacher will now be

closer to the students. The addition

of a Smart Board allows for more

interactive presentations. The electrical

system was completely upgraded,

the lighting was improved, and the

rubberized flooring and chemical-resis-

tant tables are both functional

and stylish.

“This is where the scientists, health

professionals, engineers and space

explorers of tomorrow are born,” says

Mr. Fraser. “It’s the start of a bright

new future for students who will be

studying science in this room.”

RETSD students love to read

Excited early years students in RETSD

spent a fair bit of time cross-legged

on the rug, eyes forward and on their

best behaviour in February, as they

were read to by a variety of interesting

guests for I Love to Read month.

I Love to Read is an annual month-

long celebration to encourage reading,

writing and sharing in the joy of

literacy.

“Reading opens the door to lifelong

learning,” said Education Minister

Nancy Allan in a recent visit to a

Winnipeg school. “Once a child

becomes a reader, his or her life is

vastly enriched. I Love to Read month

is the perfect time to develop the

reading skills necessary for rewarding

school and life experiences.”

During February, many RETSD schools

turn to prominent local professionals

and celebrities in an effort to promote

the importance of reading and literacy.

“It’s a terrific opportunity for schools

to engage the community and build

school spirit,” says Elizabeth Loewen,

who is the teacher librarian at both

Neil Campbell and Hampstead

schools.

“Many of our guests choose books

that represent their field of interest

or occupation, and this opens up

the floor for questions about these

interests and career choices.”

RETSD schools have been visited this

year by the lieutenant-governor, the

premier, city councillors, trustees and

the chief of police, as well as authors,

firefighters, radio hosts, magicians,

comedians, journalists, ballet dancers,

professional athletes and more.

It’s always exciting for the students to

have special visitors to their class, and

it’s a fun way to reinforce literacy as a

lifelong skill that is essential in many

different careers.

“It makes a big impact,” says Ms.

Loewen. “Our students will remember

their interactions with these people

who took time out of their busy day to

share their love of reading.”

Premier Selinger says a few words before touring the new lab at Miles Macdonell.

Sherwood enjoys GoodLife

Sherwood School students hit the ice in February to enjoy skating and curling

equipment bought with an $8,300 grant from the GoodLife Kids Foundation of

Manitoba, secured by phys-ed teacher Nadine Cabak Ralph.

6 The Torch • Spring 2013

Virgin Radio DJ Chrissy Troy.

Comedian Big Daddy Tazz.

Winnipeg Free Press writer Doug Speirs.

Vincent Chernichan of the Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service.

City councillor Jeff Browaty.Const. Jay Sabourin of the Winnipeg Police Service.

7River East Transcona School Division • 589 Roch St. Winnipeg, MB R2K 2P7 • Tel: 204.667.7130 Fax: 204.661.5618 • www.retsd.mb.ca

YOUR TRUSTEESCongratulations

Congratulations to trustee Colleen Carswell,

who received a 20-year Long Service Award

on March 15 at the Manitoba School Boards

Association annual convention. Three other

trustees have also received long service awards,

which are given to mark 12, 16 or 20 years

of service to education. Board chair Robert

Fraser received a 20-year award in 1998.

In 2012, trustee Peter Kotyk received a 16-year

award and vice-chair Wayne Ritcher received

a 12-year award. Trustee George Marshall is a

lifetime member of MSBA. It all adds up to a

lot of experience!

(Clockwise from top right) Board chair Robert Fraser reads to John de Graff students; trustee Peter Kotyk reads to Donwood students; trustees John Toews and Eva Prysizney chat with community members at annual budget meeting; trustee Shirley Timm-Rudolph and Spring-field Heights principal Mario Beauchamp at Koliada celebra-tion; trustee Wayne Ritcher and Manitoba Parents for Ukrainian Education president Susan Zuk at Koliada celebration; trustee Colleen Carswell reads to Westview students.

CONTACTRegular board meetings are

open to the public. They are

scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on

the first and third Tuesday of

the month at the Administration

Offices, 589 Roch St.

Ward 1 • Colleen Carswell • 204.222.1486

Ward 1 • George Marshall • 204.221.8464

Ward 2 • John Toews • 204.663.0475

Ward 3 • Robert Fraser • 204.667.9348

Ward 4 • Eva Prysizney • 204.668.3501

Ward 4 • Wayne Ritcher • 204.663.6669

Ward 5 • Peter Kotyk • 204.668.4181

Ward 5 • Shirley Timm-Rudolph • 204.414.8239

Ward 6 • Greg Proch • 204.663.1925