November, 2025

Good morning, Horizon.

As we move into November, a time of remembrance and reflection, we honour the sacrifices of those who served and continue to serve our country. This past week included two significant days: Indigenous Remembrance Day on November 8th, and Remembrance Day on November 11th. 

Indigenous Remembrance Day offers a vital opportunity to recognize and honour the many First Nations, Métis, and Inuit peoples who served in Canada’s military, often facing extraordinary challenges both during and after their service. Their contributions, courage, and resilience are essential to our shared history.

On Remembrance Day, we paused together to reflect on the service and sacrifice of all veterans and those currently serving. These moments of remembrance remind us of the importance of peace, the value of freedom, and the responsibility we share in shaping a more just and compassionate world. Many of us remember a family member who fought in the world wars or who continues to serve in today's peacekeeping efforts. For me, I think of my grandfathers, one of whom was a corporal in the army and on the artillery gang, and my paternal grandfather, who was captured on the shores of Dieppe. Both of their stories have deep meaning for me and my family on Remembrance Day and every day leading up to and following it. 

As we reflect this week, I’m reminded of a quote by author and veteran Joseph Boyden: “We remember so that we can live better. We remember so that we can walk forward together.”

Ag Learning at Bulyea Elementary
I began the week in Bulyea, where I joined Principal Justine Wheeler for an interview with CTV News titled Beyond the Books: Bulyea Elementary School incorporates agriculture into the curriculum. 

Bulyea Elementary runs three main ag-based programs: an outdoor garden, indoor hydroponics, and—perhaps the most talked-about addition—five laying hens now living in their beautiful chicken coop. This “Chicken Mansion” was built by students from Punnichy Community High School, making this an excellent example of collaboration and experiential learning. It’s inspiring to see how land-based education and agricultural education are being brought to life in such tangible, engaging ways for students across Horizon School Division. It remains a steadfast focus of our system and our Board as we endeavour to meet student learning needs by understanding the importance of the land and the ways in which those who care for it truly feed our world.

If you have a few minutes, please feel free to watch the interview at: Beyond the Books: Bulyea Elementary School incorporates agriculture into the curriculum 

Directors’ Leadership Team

We had a virtual Directors’ Leadership Team meeting later Monday morning, during which senior leadership provided essential updates to our principals and vice principals. These are such vital meetings that bring our unique understandings of leadership to bear as we support learning in our schools and across our system. Following the DLT meeting, we held an SLT meeting to review the school nutrition funding grant plan so it could be shared with our Board following the holiday. We also reviewed the ongoing work toward a finalized Accessibility Plan for our system, focusing on the accessibility areas highlighted in the survey conducted with our staff, families, and communities. We look forward to sharing in these important discussions with the Board at the beginning of the week. 

Lanigan School Grand Opening

We celebrated the grand opening of Lanigan School alongside our students, staff, school community councils, families, and our community and government partners on Tuesday morning. We were proud to host the Honourable Everett Hindley, Minister of Education; the Honourable David Marit, Minister of SaskBuilds and Procurement; and Mr. Chris Beaudry, MLA for Kelvington–Wadena. We also welcomed former MLA and Minister of Finance, Education, Social Services and Deputy Premier, Donna Harpauer, to the grand opening. Donna had a great deal of influence in support of this project, and we indeed thank her for her years of service to our area and province. 

I’d like to thank the students and staff at Lanigan School for the warm welcome and for their thoughtful contributions to the celebration. The students who shared personal land recognitions, along with the talented dancer who performed a traditional powwow dance, were truly the stars of the day.

This beautiful new PreK–12 school represents years of planning, collaboration, and commitment. From the first concepts to opening the doors, many hands and hearts came together to create a learning space that will serve generations of students to come. I want to especially thank our Board of Education for their ongoing leadership and vision, and for their steadfast support throughout the planning and construction process.

Board Agenda Meeting

We stayed in Lanigan to prepare for the upcoming regular Board meeting. Board Chair Garth Anderson and Vice Chair Mark Fedak joined Superintendent of Finance Services/CFO Sarah Reding, Executive Assistant Marni Sogge, Communications Officer Jesse Green, and I for the meeting. We are all set for our annual organizational meeting and regular board meeting this Wednesday.

Local Implementation Negotiation Committee (LINC) Negotiations

On Wednesday, we met to review clauses and make progress toward renewing our Local Implementation and Negotiation Committee (LINC) agreement, as the previous agreement expired in June 2025.

LINC Chair Rob Lissinna, HTA President Verna Lynn Gorrill, Jennifer Jackson, Patrick Nikulak, and Mark Laurie represented the Horizon Teachers' Association. Joining me from the Division office were Superintendent of Finance Sarah Reding, Superintendent of Human Resources Cory Popoff,  Assistant Superintendent of Finance Lori Washkowsky, Manager of Human Resources Monica Arendt, and Human Resources Officer Sydney Knaus. 

I would like to thank all involved for their continued efforts as we work toward a fair and respectful local agreement for Horizon teachers.

Canadian School Mental Health Leadership Network

On Friday, I joined a virtual meeting of the Canadian School Mental Health Leadership Network. This national network brings together education leaders from across the country to share strategies, challenges, and successes in promoting mental health and well-being in our schools. It was a valuable chance to learn from the experiences of thought leaders and educational leaders from across the country, as well as to share the many ways Horizon continues to prioritize safe, caring, and inclusive learning environments for all students and staff.

I wish each of you a meaningful short week ahead.  

-Kevin

Kevin C. Garinger B.Ed., M.A.Ed., Ed.D. (Candidate)

Director of Education/CEO

Horizon School Division No. 205

[email protected]

@kevingaringer

Good morning, Horizon.

Much of this past week was spent in conversation with leaders—both within Horizon and across the province and country. These moments of connection and planning help ground our work and keep us moving forward with purpose.

I’m reminded of a quote by leadership expert John C. Maxwell, who said, “Leadership is not about being in charge. It is about taking care of those in your charge.” This sentiment reflects the heart of the work we do together: leading with care, collaboration, and a focus on supporting student learning.

Humboldt Holiday Trail 

Looking ahead to the festive season, the Humboldt Holiday Trail is just around the corner! With light displays and festive scenes created by local groups and volunteers, it’s an excellent way for families and visitors to enjoy an evening out. 

The Humboldt Early Years Family Resource Centre staff will be volunteering on December 6, with proceeds supporting programming and activities. A few weeks later, Division Office staff will be volunteering at the gate on December 22, 2025, with proceeds from that evening going toward our annual Christmas Hamper Project. If you’re planning a visit, that would be a great night to stop by! 

Board Organizational Meeting & Regular Meeting

The Board of Education met for its annual organizational meeting and its regular November meeting this past Wednesday. Highlights will be available in the From the Board newsletter, but I will mention and congratulate Linda Mattock and Mark Fedak, who were elected Chair and Vice Chair, respectively. The Board and I thank outgoing Chairperson Garth Anderson for his leadership and dedication over the past year, and we look forward to his continued contributions at the Board table.

New Horizon Hutterian School Celebration Lunch

Trustee Garth Anderson, Superintendent Bryan McNabb, and I had a warm welcome from Principal Brooke Breti and our students at the Twin Creek Hutterian Colony for their Celebration Lunch on Thursday. It was wonderful to spend time listening to students talk about their learning, traditions, and accomplishments. 

Provincial Directors’ Meeting

On Thursday afternoon, I met with my co-chair, Ward Strueby, Director of Education for Holy Trinity Catholic School Division, to set the agenda for our next provincial Directors of Education meeting. It was a productive conversation, and we look forward to meeting with our counterparts from school divisions across Saskatchewan. 

Horizon Indigenous Education Team at Agribition

We are very proud to be returning to Agribition this year! Superintendent Bryan McNabb and his team will be on-site all week with engaging programming. If your class is attending, be sure to stop by Booth 315 at the Brandt Centre to connect with them. We’re honoured to be the only Indigenous education team with a booth at Agribition, and we look forward to sharing the powerful land-based learning happening across Horizon School Division.

Provincial Football

Last weekend, I missed the opportunity to share the outstanding efforts of our coaches and athletes who competed in football throughout the season. I am always so proud of the efforts of our young people and of those who support their development in sports and the arts. The football season culminated in a provincial title for Winston High in 6-man, a bronze medal for Wakaw (also in 6-man), and a provincial silver medal for HCI in 9-man. These are tremendous achievements, and I want to congratulate the coaching staff and young people who competed for our schools in our Division. 

Provincial Volleyball

I had the pleasure of being referee-in-chief for the 1A Provincial Girls Championships on Friday, held at LeRoy and Englefeld Schools. I then switched over to the 2A Provincial Girls Championships hosted by Wadena and Foam Lake. I want to congratulate the school communities, including our students, staff, parents, and volunteers, who did a fantastic job of hosting at their respective schools. I heard many excellent comments from those outside our system, who were so appreciative of the many hours of preparation and daily effort that went into making these competitions memorable. In particular, I want to thank Commissioners Sarah Dale and Jacquie Faubert, as well as Student Activities Administrator Brian Grest, for their leadership in bringing these championships to their host schools and to Horizon School Division.

I am always so proud of all our Horizon teams involved in athletics, and this weekend was no different. In 1A Girls, LeRoy, Watson, and Annaheim vied for a chance to win the coveted provincial championship. And while LeRoy and Watson narrowly missed getting to the medal round, Annaheim came away with a bronze medal. In the 2A competition, Horizon boasted having four of the ten teams in the provincial championship. While Ituna and Raymore made the playoff round, they bowed out of the medal hunt in the quarter finals. Wakaw and Wadena won their respective quarter- and semi-final matches, setting up an all-Horizon final for the 2A banner. For the first time since 1978, Wadena won a medal in girls' volleyball, and unlike the bronze they won 47 years ago, they captured the gold medal. Wakaw, who were defending provincial champions, came away with the silver medal, a tremendous accomplishment in their own right. In the 3A girls competition held in Maple Creek and Gull Lake, Lanigan continued their incredible dominance in volleyball, capturing their fourth straight provincial title. Watrous was also at the provincials and lost a heartbreaking match to get into the medal round. Finally, in the 4A girls' provincial competition held in North Battleford, HCI lost a hard-fought quarterfinal to the eventual silver medallists. 

Congratulations to all Horizon schools on a great year of volleyball. On to basketball season. 

Have a great week, everyone.  

-Kevin

Kevin C. Garinger B.Ed., M.A.Ed., Ed.D. (Candidate)

Director of Education/CEO

Horizon School Division No. 205

[email protected]

@kevingaringer

Good morning, Horizon,

“It is not enough to be busy. So are the ants. The question is: What are we busy about?”- Henry David Thoreau.

As we head into the final stretch of November, this quote reminds me of the purpose behind our day-to-day efforts. Whether we’re in classrooms, boardrooms, or community spaces, our work is ultimately about creating the best possible conditions for students to thrive. This week offered several meaningful opportunities to connect through collaborative planning, progress celebrations, and deep conversations about the future of education in Horizon.

Horizon Indigenous Education Team at Agribition

We’re proud to be back at Agribition for the second year in a row! This year, Superintendent Bryan McNabb and the Indigenous Education team have their own area in the Brandt Centre, offering daily activities including guest speakers and dancers. If your class is attending, be sure to stop by Booth 315 to say hello and take part. Horizon is honoured to be the only Indigenous education team with a booth at Agribition, showcasing our powerful connections between agriculture and land-based learning across our school division.

Saskatchewan School Boards Association (SSBA) Fall General Assembly

This past week, our Board of Education joined trustees from across the province for the 110th Fall General Assembly of the Saskatchewan School Boards Association (SSBA) in Regina. It was a significant opportunity to collaborate, learn, and celebrate the work of school boards across Saskatchewan.

The assembly opened on Sunday with the Public Section meeting, led by Board Chair Linda Mattock, who is also the Chair of Public Schools of Saskatchewan. The next morning, we were inspired by keynote speaker Dr. Brent MacDonald, a registered psychologist and educator with more than 25 years of experience supporting neurodiverse learners. His talk, “When Opinions Dissent: Collaborative Communication in Governance”, offered valuable insights into how we can foster respectful and productive dialogue in leadership settings.

Delegates also took part in resolution discussions and voting on Monday morning and afternoon, followed immediately by elections in constituencies where elections were required. The evening was capped off by the SSBA Supper and Awards ceremony. The awards ceremony celebrated the contributions of Boards, trustees, and student scholarship recipients. Among the honourees were Jaimie Smith-Windsor, named a Life Member; Harry Lafond, awarded an Honourary Life Membership; and Janet Kotylak from Prairie Valley School Division, recipient of the Award of Distinction. The ceremony was well attended by dignitaries, including Their Honours the Honourable Bernadette McIntyre and Mr. Rich McIntyre, as well as strong representation from MLAs from both sides of the floor, including the Minister of Education.  

Horizon School Division was deeply humbled and honoured to receive the 2025 Lieutenant Governor’s Board of Education Award for Innovation and Excellence in Education for our “From Field to Future” agriculture education initiative. Our sincere thanks to Her Honour for presenting this award, and to The Promhouse Financial Group at CIBC Wood Gundy for sponsoring it. We are incredibly proud to be recognized for this meaningful work and grateful to the Elders, partners, and educators who make it possible. If you haven't yet seen it, I encourage you to watch the short video highlighting our project: https://youtu.be/mfUGYoLvfj0.

Learning Improvement Plans

We began the first of the year's two Learning Improvement Plan (LIP) review meetings. Superintendents Jacquie Bergerman, Bryan McNabb, Terry Leibel, and Jeremy Rolheiser serve as LIP contacts for their assigned LIP schools, joining me to meet with principals and vice principals each fall and spring. 

During this first round of meetings, we dig into school data, plans to promote continuous student learning, strategies to support literacy and numeracy, safe and caring, transitions and graduation rates, and SCC involvement in the LIP process. These meetings are valuable because they allow us to connect with our Director’s Leadership Team members, discuss the core elements of education, and gain insights into how their school teams are focused on enhancing student outcomes.

This past week, we met with administrators at Schell, Imperial, Watrous Elementary, Winston High, Viscount Central, Punnichy Community High, Punnichy Elementary Community, George Gordon Education Centre, Raymore, Sask Central Hutterian, Bruno, Cudworth, and Wakaw schools. 

BHP - 140th Anniversary Celebration

On Thursday afternoon, I had the pleasure of attending a special event hosted by Karina Gistelinck, BHP Asset President Potash, celebrating BHP’s 140th anniversary and the grand opening of their new River Quarry office. This milestone event reflected the strength of our partnership and the exciting progress underway at the Jansen site, where one of the world’s largest potash mines is being developed. It was a meaningful opportunity to connect with BHP employees and leaders, and to acknowledge the hard work and dedication of those driving this generational project forward for the benefit of Saskatchewan and beyond. Of course, it is also amazing to hear of the many Horizon graduates working for BHP in their new office in Saskatoon. We have great students leaving our system who go on to work for great companies. BHP is no different. 

Local Implementation Negotiation Committee (LINC) Negotiations

On Friday, we met to continue our work toward renewing our Local Implementation and Negotiation Committee (LINC) agreement, as the previous agreement expired in June 2025. LINC Chair Rob Lissinna, HTA President Verna Lynn Gorrill, Jennifer Jackson, Patrick Nikulak, and Mark Laurie represented the Horizon Teachers' Association. Joining me from the Division office were Superintendent of Finance Sarah Reding, Superintendent of Human Resources Cory Popoff,  Assistant Superintendent of Finance Lori Washkowsky, Manager of Human Resources Monica Arendt, and Human Resources Officer Sydney Knaus. 

The committees from both sides did a lot of hard work, and we are now able to review the language and prepare the document for the next steps in the process. Thank you to everyone involved for your continued dedication as we head toward a fair and respectful local agreement for Horizon teachers.

Provincial Boys’ Volleyball

I want to congratulate our Horizon teams who travelled to provincials this past Friday and Saturday. Coaches, your teams represented us so very well, and we are proud of all of our athletes at every level of sport for their ongoing sportsmanship. At the 1A level, Annaheim finished the round robin 4-0 before losing a close battle to Medstead in the provincial semi. At the same time, LeRoy finished with a 3-1 record before losing their semi to the eventual provincial champions. This led to a bronze medal clash between Annaheim and LeRoy, with LeRoy capturing the medal for 2025. Congratulations to both teams on a great season!

In 2A, Englefeld made the playoffs, having finished third in their pool, before losing in the quarter finals to a strong team out of Saskatoon. Finally, in the 4A provincials, HCI finished their season with a bronze medal match against rivals from Melfort, narrowly losing in three sets. Again, congratulations to our teams and their coaching staff on an excellent season. Onto basketball! 

Humboldt Holiday Trail – Upcoming Volunteer Nights

The Humboldt Holiday Trail is nearly here! On December 6th, staff from the Humboldt Early Years Family Resource Centre will be volunteering, with proceeds supporting their programming. Division Office staff will be at the gate on December 22nd, with funds from that night going toward the Christmas Hamper Project. If you're planning a visit, those are great evenings to attend!

For other ways to support our annual Christmas Hamper Project, please visit horizonsd.ca/Christmas/.  We’ve started seeing some beautifully decorated hamper boxes arriving at the office. Thank you to all the teachers who volunteered to decorate them with their students!

Have a great week, everyone. 

-Kevin

Kevin C. Garinger B.Ed., M.A.Ed., Ed.D. (Candidate)

Director of Education/CEO

Horizon School Division No. 205

[email protected]

@kevingaringer

“Coming together is a beginning, staying together is progress, and working together is success.” – Henry Ford

As we turn the calendar to December, this past week offered so many powerful reminders of what’s possible when we come together in service of our students and their learning. From national collaboration to community celebrations, and from financial stewardship to classroom support, the spirit of partnership was felt across every part of Horizon.

Canadian Association of School System Administrators

On Monday, I participated in the virtual executive board meeting of the Canadian Association of School System Administrators (CASSA), where I serve as the western Canadian regional representative to AASA, the School Superintendents’ Association in the United States. This ongoing involvement provides a valuable opportunity to share Horizon’s perspective at the national and international level, while also learning from colleagues across Canada and beyond who are navigating similar challenges and opportunities in public education. 

Classroom Complexity Teachers

We began the week with three full days of collaborative work at the division office, bringing together the Director’s Leadership Team and our classroom complexity teachers. The sessions focused on building shared understanding and consistent practices to support student needs at the Tier 1 level across our school division. As a new provincial initiative, the classroom complexity role is an essential addition to our Multi-tiered system of supports (MTSS) education model, supporting literacy, numeracy, behaviour, and student well-being across a range of learning profiles. This professional learning time was a valuable opportunity to strengthen our collective capacity and ensure alignment in how we serve all students.

Learning Improvement Plans

We continued with our Learning Improvement Plan (LIP) meetings, engaging in conversations with school leaders about student learning, data-informed strategies, and the supports in place to strengthen outcomes across Horizon. 

Superintendents Jacquie Bergerman, Terry Leibel, and Jeremy Rolheiser joined me to meet with principals and vice principals at their assigned schools. Last week, we met with Ituna, Foam Lake Composite, Foam Lake Elementary, Wadena Elementary, and Wadena Composite schools. As always, I want to thank school teams for their work in preparing their LIPs. 

Board of Education - Audit Committee

The Board’s Audit Committee met on Friday morning for a detailed financial and governance review. Committee members Jim Lissinna (Chair), Albert Pinacie, and Pamela Wintringham were joined by ex officio members Board Chair Linda Mattock and Vice Chair Mark Fedak. From the Division Officer were Superintendent of Finance Sarah Reding, Executive Assistant Marni Sogge, and me. 

As part of Horizon’s regular audit cycle, we welcomed Kathleen Berenik, Manager with the Office of the Provincial Auditor of Saskatchewan, who provided a verbal report to the committee. The Provincial Auditor’s Office plays an important role in ensuring public accountability by auditing over 250 government entities, including the auditors who conduct school division audits.

We also received a comprehensive update from Nadine Gibney, Senior Manager at MNP LLP, who presented key draft reports on Horizon’s internal controls, legislative compliance, and audit findings for the past fiscal year. A closed session was held for further discussion, followed by the presentation of the 2024-25 Draft Audited Financial Statements.

In addition, the committee reviewed updates on school-generated funds, the 2024–25 governance budget, and projected revenues and expenditures for joint operations, before the Finance Services Report was reviewed and approved.

Canadian Western Agribition

For the second year in a row, Horizon was proud to take part in the Canadian Western Agribition this past week, sharing Indigenous agriculture teachings and cultural knowledge with learners of all ages. After launching with a booth in 2024, we coordinated registered learning sessions three times daily, alongside an engaging booth space. Each session was well attended, with presentations featuring Indigenous traditional teachings, Indigenous Ways of Knowing, powwow dance demonstrations, and much more.

We are deeply grateful to Canadian Western Agribition for their continued partnership and for welcoming us back to the Heritage Link area, a vibrant and meaningful learning space. Thank you to the many vendors, partners, speakers, dancers, and supporters who helped bring this experience to life. Superintendent of Indigenous Education Bryan McNabb and his Indigenous team represented my office and Horizon throughout the week. You can see an interview with CTV here: CTV Live Interview.

Although I only had the chance to visit for one day, I was pleased to witness the learning in action as students and families visited our Horizon display. I also had the opportunity to attend the Maple Leaf Circuit Finals Rodeo - Indigenous Night, presented by BHP. A special moment was seeing Indigenous Cultural Coach Patrick McNabb dance during the evening’s celebrations. I was honoured to be invited to watch the rodeo alongside representatives from local and provincial governments. I appreciated the opportunity to connect with leadership from BHP, along with those who build community partnerships. 

Kelvington School Grand Opening

On Friday afternoon, we were proud to celebrate the grand reopening of Kelvington School with students, staff, families, community members, government officials, and building partners, marking the completion of this beautifully renovated facility.

We are grateful to the Government of Saskatchewan for this investment in the future of Kelvington and the area, as well as Horizon School Division. I want to thank all those who helped make the day so special, including Communications Officer Jesse Green, who spent a great deal of time organizing the event. Special thanks to Mr. Chris Beaudry, MLA for Kelvington-Wadena, Mayor Greg Standish, the Town of Kelvington Council, and the Ministry of Education representatives for joining our Horizon Board members and our many community supporters. Your presence underscored just how much this school means to so many.

Appreciation also goes to Principal Kim Nicholls, the dedicated staff at Kelvington School, and all our Kelvington students for the warm welcome and superb performance of O Canada. The pride and joy in the building were unmistakable. I also want to thank Superintendent of Operational Services Justin Arendt, Manager of Facilities Kameron Kiland, and their team for leading this project from Horizon’s side. I also want to thank Miner’s Construction for its project leadership and expertise, which were second to none. This renewal was truly a team effort. Thank you also to the Ministry of Education, government partners, municipal leaders, school community councils, and community organizations for your collaboration and care throughout the project.

Giving Back

A quick reminder that the Humboldt Holiday Trail is just around the corner! Staff from the Humboldt Early Years Family Resource Centre will be volunteering on December 6, and Division Office staff will be at the gate on December 22, with proceeds from both nights supporting great causes. If you're planning a visit, those are wonderful evenings to attend.

We’ve also begun receiving some beautifully decorated hamper boxes. Thank you to the students and teachers for bringing such festive cheer to the Christmas Hamper Project! We’re also grateful to the many generous sponsors who make this annual effort possible. We’ve been highlighting their support on our website and social media, and honestly, we can’t say thank you enough. For more ways to help, please visit horizonsd.ca/Christmas.

Have a great week, everyone. 

-Kevin

Kevin C. Garinger B.Ed., M.A.Ed., Ed.D. (Candidate)

Director of Education/CEO

Horizon School Division No. 205

[email protected]

@kevingaringer