It's a happy coincidence that the province's theme for this year's Education Week is the same as that chosen by Light of Christ Catholic School Division - Celebrating Student Success.
There are various activities planned across the division's seven schools, but every K-9 student will have one thing in common. They will be receiving future graduation certificates as a commitment by the division to make graduation a goal for students from the beginning of their school years.
It's not solely the high schools' responsibility to improve graduation rates. It should start when children first come to school, says Director of Education Cory Rideout.
The certificates and a letter to be taken home to their parents is the division's way of telling students their future will be a priority with the division, even - and perhaps especially - if they have troubles along the way.
With the certificates, the letter and the recent installation of graduation class plaques on each classroom door, students are being told there will always be somebody to look for them if they should get lost.
Rideout says that promise is in line with their Statement on Catholic Education, Build Bethlehem Everywhere, which states:
"We often assume that the worst of all possible scenarios is to be lost. We know, in fact, that this is not true. The worst of all possible scenarios is to be lost, and to realize that no one is coming to look for you."
In the letter going home to the parents, it is stated, "Should your child ever face difficulties during the educational journey with us, rest assured that we will not give up on them. We will never stop looking for more effective ways to build strong relationships with our students in an effort to meet their individual educational needs. At Light of Christ Catholic Schools, you are always a member of our family."
Rideout also says in the letter, "Each and every day we get to see the faces of the future in the children we serve; your children. It is an important job and one that none of us take lightly. We hope this certificate will be something you and your child look at from time to time, and use in 'staying the course' through your child's educational career."
Light of Christ Catholic School Division Director of Education Cory Rideout (far left) and John Paul II Collegiate principal Carlo Hanson (far right) present graduation class certificates to students Erik Littlepoplar, Abby Closen and Jordyn Nachtegaele, representing the student body, in celebration of Education Week. The certificates name the students as members of graduation classes of the future, underscoring the division's goal of helping all students work toward that goal. Photos by Jayne Foster
Students of St. Mary donned graduation caps in affirmation of their goals to graduate. Light of Christ Catholic School Division Director of Education Cory Rideout (far left) and St. Mary School vice-principal Amanda Risling (far right) present graduation class certificates to students Tia Bird, Grade 4, Austin Armstrong, Grade 7, and Braxton Smith, kindergarten, in celebration of Education Week. The certificates name the students as members of graduation classes of 2023, 2020 and 2027, respectively.
