February, 2025
January 27-February 14, 2025
January 27-February 14, 2025
Good afternoon, Horizon! Happy Staff Appreciation Week! This week is a time to recognize and celebrate the incredible work you do every day. Your dedication to students and each other makes a lasting impact, and I hope you take a moment to appreciate the difference you make.
I also hope you’re staying warm during this stretch of extreme cold! Indoor recesses have been the norm lately, but at least we’ve had some sunshine to brighten the days. I was fortunate to take a bit of a holiday last week, so this update covers a few week’s activities and wraps up our time just as the break is getting ready to hit.
Sask Central Hutterian School
I met with leadership from the Raymore Hutterite Colony to discuss our ongoing partnership in the Sask Central Hutterian School. I always appreciate the opportunity to meet with our education partners and learn how we can continue to support their children and ours in the best way possible.
Board of Education
The Board’s Governance Committee met with members Dana Stefanson, Jennifer Lemky, Linda Mattock, and Rhonda Kayseas, along with ex officio members Garth Anderson and Mark Fedak. The committee elected Jennifer Lemky chairperson, and after reviewing the terms of reference, several policies, and the Board’s appraisal process. Jennifer will present the committee report to the Board at our next meeting and ask for motions to change or adjust policy.
Program for Student Assessment (PISA)
I joined an information session on the PISA for Saskatchewan’s K-12 education sector to learn more about the objectives of PISA and the value of the data collected for educational systems. PISA is an international test organized by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). The test measures 15-year-old students' abilities in reading, mathematics and science. The first PISA test was given in 2000 and has been repeated every three years. This year, we have a number of schools that will participate, and support will be provided as necessary by my office.
School for New Trustees
Our Board of Education joined the Saskatchewan School Boards Association’s 2025 School for New Trustees in Saskatoon on January 30 and 31. This was an extremely valuable two-day session focussing on everything from meeting norms to an overview of the SSBA’s legal services, to cyber risk, and finally, to highly effective governance practices.
Provincial Education Plan and Directors Meeting
I spent the end of last week in Saskatoon, beginning with the Provincial Directors Meeting on Thursday morning. This gathering brought together directors of education from across Saskatchewan to discuss shared goals and challenges in education and to engage in discussion with the Deputy Minister’s Office.
I joined Superintendents Jacquie Bergerman and Trish Maxwell on Thursday afternoon and Friday as we dedicated time to the Provincial Education Plan Implementation Team (PEPIT) meetings. We heard update reports from each of the priority areas, and on Friday, we were able to focus on the next steps toward implementation.
Social Media, Cell Phones, and Surveys
I want to thank everyone who responded to our surveys about smartphones. We had an exceptional response, with 961 students, 837 parents and caregivers, and 386 staff members responding with thoughts on how smartphone technology affects students’ daily lives. While many students miss the chance to listen to music or tune out their surroundings, many also commented that smartphones are addicting and they spend more time than they would like on them. Parents, caregivers, and teachers’ thoughts were loud and clear: smartphones and social media are taking away real experiences from children and negatively affecting their mental health.
There is great alignment between the comments noted above and the research and evidence about the impacts of social media, particularly on our youth. However, I will share these words from Jonathan Haidt, author of The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness. He says, “By designing a firehose of addictive content that entered through kids’ eyes and ears, and by displacing physical play and in-person socializing, these companies have rewired childhood and changed human development on an almost unimaginable scale.” If you haven’t read his book, it might be a great February break read or listen. I believe every parent, teacher, and community member should read his work, as this societal issue won’t get better without some significant support now.
We were able to dig into this topic with families and community members on Monday evening, with help from two experts in the field of children and digital wellness. We were proud to host Margot Denommé, founder of Raising Awareness About Digital Dangers (raadd) and author of The Family Smartphone Guide—Empower Your Child to Navigate Smartphone Safety, and Duncan Embury, partner and Head of Litigation at Neinstein Personal Injury Lawyers and lead counsel in a major legal action against social media companies for their impact on education and student well-being with Schools For Social Media Change.
Vier Lake Colony School
Attendance was taken for the first time ever at the Vier Lake Colony School on Monday morning of this week. I had the pleasure of going out to the Colony that morning to meet our newest Horizon students and their Principal/Teacher, Ms Nadine Jennison. Although I was delayed due to a silly slide into the ditch on a narrow grid road, I was excited to get there and meet the children the German teacher and to see Ms Jennison in action, supporting them in such a tremendous way. There was so much going on, and the children were already starting to feel like part of this brand-new school and community. I also aimed to make sure they felt a considerable part of Horizon School Division. I also practised my Hochdeutsch (high German) with the children. As much as they learn Plattdeutsch (low German) in the home, they also study high German in school before they go to English school with Ms Jennison.
Aspiring Leaders Meeting
After returning from the Colony, I joined superintendents, coordinators, and our newest group of aspiring leaders at our Division office. It was tremendous having them learn a little more about the leaders they already are and giving them some sense of what the principalship and vice-principalship look like in schools. Leadership discussions inspire me, and this group of teachers was as outstanding in sharing their views as the last. I want to thank everyone who was part of the day, especially Superintendent Cory Popoff, who helped facilitate and lead the day for all of us. Leadership in schools is in good hands in Horizon schools.
Board Agenda Meeting
I joined Board Chair Garth Anderson, Vice Chair Mark Fedak, CFO Sarah Reding, and Executive Assistant Marni Sogge for an agenda meeting on Monday afternoon. We have our agenda set for the February 26th regular meeting of the Board and look forward to engaging with our trustees on some important issues that are on the docket.
Directors’ Leadership Team
Our principals, vice principals, and senior leadership team who met in Humboldt on Tuesday also heard from Margot Denomme and Duncan Embury, who shared powerful messages about digital safety and the realities of smartphone and social media use in youth. We were incredibly honoured to once again host Margot Denommé, founder of Raising Awareness About Digital Dangers (raadd), which can be found on the web, and author of The Family Smartphone Guide—Empower Your Child to Navigate Smartphone Safety. We also had the great honour of hosting Duncan Embury, partner and Head of Litigation at Neinstein Personal Injury Lawyers and lead counsel in a major legal action against social media companies for their impact on education and student well-being. He is also involved in the group called Schools For Social Media Change. They were powerful presentations and learning opportunities, and I look forward to our next steps as we continue to work as a system and with our Board to address these issues that have led to an epidemic of sorts regarding mental wellness issues for our children.
We also heard from Superintendent Cory Popoff with human resources case studies and from Superintendents Trish Maxwell and Jacquie Bergerman on transitions and assessments. All in all, it was another great day of learning and leading with our DLT.
Pink Day - LeRoy School
The students, staff, and school community of LeRoy School planned and presented an amazing day aimed at acceptance and mental wellness on Wednesday. I had the honour of saying a few words and being part of this inspirational event. I am still marvelling at the singing of O’ Canada and the opening dance routine, which featured some pretty impressive lighting work and dancing in the dark! It was also great to see so many of our staff and students from many of our other schools in attendance. I believe it was between 15 and 20 other schools in attendance, including staff and students.
Local Implementation Negotiation Committee (LINC) Negotiations
We began negotiating for a new LINC agreement on Thursday, as our current agreement expires in June of this year. Representing the Horizon Teachers’ Association were LINC Chair Rob Lissinna, HTA President VernaLynn Gorrill, Patrick Nikulak and Mark Laurie. From the Division office were CFO Sarah Reding, Superintendent of Human Resources Cory Popoff, Assistant Superintendent of Finance Lori Washkowsky, Manager of Human Resources Monica Arendt, Human Resource Generalist Sydney Knaus, and myself. We had a great first day and although it may have seemed to start off slow, we got through many of the clauses in a timely fashion. I certainly thank each negotiation team member on both sides for their insights and openness to engage in sometimes challenging issues.
We have already planned our next meeting for the end of February and I know everyone looks forward to coming back together with a shared view to get to an agreement.
HTA President Meeting
Verna Lynn Gorrill and I met to go over a number of items, including our agenda planning for the upcoming HTA Liaison meeting toward the end of March. I always appreciate meeting with the leadership of our staff organizations and catching up with Verna Lynn was a pleasure. We have some exciting things planned for the Board and HTA committees and look forward to the important discussions that will most definitely ensue.
HAVE A GREAT BREAK!
With the February break upon each of you, I hope you have a wonderful Family Day and a tremendous and relaxing week off with loved ones. I look forward to coming back together on February 24. Enjoy everyone!
-Kevin
Kevin C. Garinger B.Ed., M.A.Ed., Ed.D. (Candidate)
Director of Education/CEO
Horizon School Division No. 205