October, 2024
September 30-October 4, 2024
Good evening, Horizon!
The start of the year has brought both opportunities and challenges, and I’m proud of how our staff and students have embraced them with enthusiasm and dedication. As Malcolm Forbes once said, 'Education’s purpose is to replace an empty mind with an open one.' This sentiment perfectly captures the spirit of learning we continue to foster in our schools—where curiosity, growth, and open-mindedness lead the way.
National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
When I think about the importance of Truth and Reconciliation, I am reminded that true progress can take far longer than any of us want. I was recently at a cultural services event in Humboldt put on by the Humboldt and District Museum and Gallery board and Director Jennifer Fitzpatrick. They were part of a one-year reconciliation project with Heritage Saskatchewan that involved the Office of the Treaty Commissioner and staff from Horizon, including Superintendents Bryan McNabb, Cory Popoff, Trish Maxwell, and Administrative Assistant Melanie Grey and Coach Amanda Moosemay. An individual at the event spoke up about what should be done to address what he considered to be the “issue” regarding Indigenous people. His comment about ensuring housing for people should be closer to police stations so the officers can “walk to work” caught everyone off guard. It is precisely this attitude that perpetuates the opposite of reconciliation. It remains clear why it will take the next 3.5 generations to reconcile our tragic and terrible past. But I also know that it will take us all to continue shifting the paradigms of those most ignorant.
Although I was away with a family matter on Monday, Horizon recognized the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation with division office staff and trustees at our Division office. The staff and board members in attendance watched a pre-recorded session with Cadmus Delorme, former Chief of Cowessess First Nation, and then were asked to reflect on the importance of Truth and Reconciliation through both Cadmus’ words and other discussions and activities. The sessions wrapped up in the late morning with a traditional feast. I know everyone came away with full hearts, full stomachs, and a far better understanding of the importance of reconciliation.
Horizon schools were actively involved in learning and recognizing the importance of truth and reconciliation over the remainder of the week, as Monday was a non-school day in recognition of Orange Shirt Day and the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. I want to extend my gratitude on behalf of our board and my office to our students and staff for their thoughtful participation in this significant day. Thank you for demonstrating a genuine commitment to learning and understanding, setting a positive example, and giving us hope for a bright future. As Senator Murray Sinclair said, “Education got us into this mess, and education will get us out” (Senator Murray Sinclair).
Governance Committee
Our board’s governance committee, led by committee chair Jennifer Lemky, met on Wednesday afternoon. Board Chair Linda Mattock, Vice Chair Mark Fedak, Trustees Christine Gradine, Paul Crow-Buffalo, and Dana Stefanson were also present. Superintendent of Finance Services Sarah Reding and Executive Assistant Marni Sogge from my office joined me for this important meeting. There was a great deal of work to go through, including reviewing and recommending changes to various policies and preparing the orientation session of the Board following the 2024 board elections slated for November 13, 2024.
Humboldt and District Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors
I attended the Chamber of Commerce board meeting on Wednesday during the noon hour. I greatly value my volunteer role on the chamber board. Sharing the perspective of one of the largest employers in the area is valuable as the chamber considers items that can impact the member businesses in Humboldt and the surrounding area.
Director Appraisal
On Friday, the Board of Education completed my annual appraisal. I value these opportunities to connect with the Board and reflect on my work within Horizon. Striving for ongoing growth and learning should be the goal for every student in our care, and it's equally important for every adult who works in Horizon, including the Director. It was a busy yet rewarding day, and I valued the Board’s work as they thoroughly reviewed the documentation and reflected on my work.
And Finally…
I had time this Sunday to complete some last-minute yard work while the weather was still cooperating. I hope you found time to relax and enjoy whatever you needed to do this weekend. Travelling to the Moose Jaw area on Saturday, I got a pretty good approximation of how much of the harvest is in the bin. I also took the time to referee some volleyball at Briercrest College, watching former students of Horizon perform at a high level beyond high school. I also had the chance to take in an 18U AAA hockey game later that evening, seeing at least one of our Horizon students (and grandson of current trustee Garth Anderson) compete at a high level in his chosen sport. He’s also the son of two of our Horizon staff, Jeff and Lindi Stroeder. I genuinely relish hearing or seeing the successes our students experience in academia, culture, arts, and sports.
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
October 7-11, 2024
Good morning, and welcome back from the Thanksgiving weekend, Horizon! I hope you had a wonderful weekend with your loved ones and were able to spend time recognizing your reasons for being thankful. I spent the weekend cleaning and organizing for the last part of the season. Although it was windy, it was still a good weekend of fall-like weather.
Musician Lionel Hampton said, “Gratitude is when memory is stored in the heart and not in the mind.” I am thankful for so many things, including my family, friends, and amazing colleagues across our system. I am also so grateful that every day, we have the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of students, families, and our communities. I have said it before: we are in the greatest profession in the world!
School Board Election
On October 10, nominations were finalized for trustees for our school division. After the dust settled, elections will be scheduled in Subdivisions 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, and 9. Here are the results of the 8 trustees who have been acclaimed and who we welcome back or to the Board table.
Pamela Wintringham (Subdivision 1), Dana Stefanson (Subdivision 5), Melanie Craswell (Subdivision 8), Garth Anderson (Subdivision 10), Irma Anderson (Subdivision 11), Paul Crow-Buffalo (Subdivision 12), Albert Pinacie (Subdivision 13), and Rhonda Kayseas (Subdivision 14)
I would like to thank everyone who has put their name forward and shown a commitment to supporting the success of our students and schools. Your willingness to serve and make a difference in our community speaks volumes.
Thank you again to all candidates, acclaimed trustees, and voters for your continued support of our school division. As a reminder, elections will occur on November 13 in each subdivision named above. I look forward to working with both new and returning trustees as we build a bright future for our students.
Directors’ Leadership Team
We began last week with an online DLT meeting where Horizon’s senior leadership team and I shared important updates with principals and vice principals. There was much to discuss, and I know principals will share this information with each of you if they haven’t already done so.
Board of Education
I joined Board Chair Linda Mattock, Vice Chair Mark Fedak, CFO Sarah Reding, COO Justin Arendt, Executive Assistant Marni Sogge, and Communications Officer Jesse Green for the Board’s agenda meeting on Monday afternoon. We are set to meet with the Board at their next regular meeting this upcoming week.
Joint Operations Committee (JOC)
We held our quarterly JOC committee meeting at the Greater Saskatoon Catholic Schools’ office, with whom we share some of the oversight of operations for Humboldt Collegiate Institute. Trustees attending from Horizon were Linda Mattock and Cheryl Vertefeuille, and from Greater Saskatoon were Wayne Stus and Dianne Boyko, along with staff from both organizations. Dr Vertefeuille joined us remotely during the meeting, as did Superintendent of HR Cory Popoff and Executive Assistant Marni Sogge. We reviewed staffing, enrolment numbers, and other operational items related to HCI. We finished the afternoon with a quick tour of the 4-floor building in downtown Saskatoon. They have recently made some upgrades, and it is a nice building for their staff and board.
Lanigan School
On Thursday, I had the pleasure of joining Drake, Lanigan Elementary, and Lanigan Central High School SCCs, along with Trustees Mark Fedak and Linda Mattock, Superintendent Justin Arendt, and Manager of Facilities Kam Kiland for a walk-through of the new Lanigan School. We also had a virtual meeting with the construction team prior to the tour, so we conducted this meeting on-site. The building has come a long way since I was last on site in September, and it was really exciting to see SCC members get a sneak peek at their new school.
Personal Professional Day
Friday was a personal professional day in Horizon, a time for staff to be in their schools to work on research and preparation for their classes. Our Board is highly supportive of these opportunities for staff and the chance to give our more than 3,000 bus-riding students a few extra days at home, all while ensuring we meet the required instructional hours for the year. While this was happening, Justin and I met with our architects to discuss finalizing some of the plans for the gyms in Lanigan and some other time-sensitive items that needed attention.
Although it was a short week, it was busy, as they all seem to be. And here we are, only a couple of weeks or so from Halloween!
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
October 14-18, 2024
Good morning, Horizon.
I wanted to share some updates from a busy and productive week. A lot is happening across our division, from Board meetings and conventions to meaningful discussions about mental health and social media.
When it comes to social media, I’m reminded of a quote by Theodore Roosevelt: “Comparison is the thief of joy.” This couldn’t be more timely as we think about the impact of social media on our students' well-being. It’s easy for young people to feel pressure when they constantly compare themselves to what they see online. That’s why we must work together—students, families, and educators—to build a healthier relationship with technology and ensure that everyone has the tools and support they need.
With that in mind, here’s a look at what’s been happening across our division this week:
Board of Education
The Board held its regular monthly meeting on Tuesday, and it was extremely productive. We'll be sharing the highlights in the upcoming From the Board newsletter. As the meeting wrapped up, trustees took a moment to acknowledge the group, noting that the November elections will bring some new faces to the table.
AASA, The School Superintendents Association
On Thursday morning, I participated in an AASA session on mental health led by Dr Vivek Murthy, the U.S. Surgeon General. A highlight for me was having the chance to ask Dr Murthy a question about what schools can do to address the significant impact of social media on mental health.
Dr Murthy emphasized the importance of engaging students, staff, and families in tackling this societal challenge. He shared a powerful analogy about the early days of cars when there were no seatbelts, road lines, or stop signs. It wasn’t the cars themselves that were dangerous, but the lack of safety measures in place for the people. Similarly, the issue isn’t social media itself but the absence of safeguards for young users.
Instead of banning social media, which doesn’t account for children's time in its applications outside of school, we need to approach the issue through education and policy. Dr Murthy stressed the need for better regulations to protect students and support educators and families.
Engaging our youth, families, and staff in this discussion is timely. Although we’ve taken steps to limit some technology use, we must ask ourselves if we’re genuinely making the "car" safer for everyone. I'll share more about our engagement plans in the coming weeks as we address this critical issue. I look forward to a meeting with thought leaders from across Canada on November 12, 2024, to continue a discussion we started about a year ago focused on the significance of screen time, social media, and gaming on our children and youth. I will share more with you following that event.
HelpME App
I met with representatives from StopIT Solutions on Thursday to discuss Horizon’s upcoming launch of the HelpME app, set for November 6, 2024. We’re thrilled to be the first Canadian organization to offer this tool. It will give students, families, and staff easy access to support for food security, physical safety, and mental health. We believe it will make a meaningful impact in our school communities.
Project 11
Also, on the evening of November 6, 2024, we are equally excited to bring the launch of Project 11 to Saskatchewan and Horizon School Division. The Project 11 team is training our teachers as we speak, and I look forward to hearing the impacts of this curricular tool in our classrooms.
Horizon Teachers’ Association (HTA) Convention
On Friday, Trustee Jennifer Lemky and I had the pleasure of speaking to Horizon teachers at the HTA Convention in Manitou Beach. The convention is a positive event for teachers in the school year, and we greatly appreciate the planning and dedication of HTA President Verna Lynn Gorrill and the organizing team. It was also great to hear from Dr Jody Carrington. She did a great job explaining the impact of social media on isolation and loneliness for youth and adults alike, a topic Dr Murthy is extremely passionate about.
Outside of getting ready for a move to a smaller home, I spent Saturday in Saskatoon watching the U of S and U of R play football at Griffith’s Stadium. I got to see a number of our former students compete in the sport they love, including sons of trustee Dr Cheryl Vertefueille and retired teacher Morris Sokul. It was a great game, with the U of S squeaking out the victory 22-20 and vaulting themselves into the playoffs.
I hope you also enjoyed the wonderful, warm weekend. 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
October 21-25, 2024
Good morning, Horizon! I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend.
I was fortunate to engage in many collaborative meetings this past week, connecting with colleagues in Saskatchewan and across the country. American designer Virgil Abloh once said, “The whole point of collaboration is that you give and take from each other, and that's how you create things that are totally new.” This idea resonated with me throughout the week, as each conversation brought fresh perspectives and new ideas that we could bring back to our work in the Division.
Collaboration isn’t just about sharing our experiences—it’s about building something better together. It’s about creating synergies to borrow from the work of Stephen R Covey. I’m excited to see how these discussions will shape our efforts.
Canadian Association of School System Administrators (CASSA)
I began my week with a CASSA board meeting to discuss the many issues that exist across the country. As a member of the executive, we have made a relatively easy decision as an organization to support Bill C-63, the Online Harms Act. We are asking the government of Canada to amend the Criminal Code, the Canadian Human Rights Act, and An Act respecting the mandatory reporting of Internet child pornography by persons who provide an Internet service. Currently, the federal government is considering pushing pause on the bill, which we feel would be detrimental to our most vulnerable population.
Provincial Directors Meeting
Later on Monday, I joined directors of education from across Saskatchewan for a virtual meeting to discuss common issues across the province. Ben Grebinski, the League of Educational Administrators, Directors, and Superintendents (LEADS) executive director, joined us for part of the meeting along with Darren McKee, executive director of the Saskatchewan School Boards Association (SSBA). We finished the afternoon event by meeting with the Deputy Minister, Clint Repski, and his team of Assistant Deputy Ministers.
Celebration Day Lunch
Thanks to Principal Loralie Hamel and Archerwill School staff for the warm welcome on Tuesday. Trustees Jim Lissinna and Rhonda Kayseas joined senior leadership team members, along with Marni Sogge, Kim Loose, and Shelley Schell, as we travelled to Archerwill on Tuesday to treat the staff to lunch. Our Division office staff supervised the students during the lunch hour, which ended with a celebration cake being provided to the students and staff. An enormous thank you to Marni, Kim, and Shelley for all their work in preparing the lunch event. The Board has six more lunches that will occur before the end of June, and we look forward to joining these schools in the near future.
Canadian School Mental Health Leadership Network Meeting
Later in the week, I travelled to Toronto, again joining CASSA colleagues and thought leaders like Michael Ungar for a mental health leadership meeting focused on addressing mental well-being for students across Canada. This important work has led to some necessary resources being developed by the Canadian Mental Health Association to support teachers in the research around the “why”.
As you can see, it was quite a week filled with provincial and national conversations and collaborations. 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
October 28-November 1, 2024
Good morning, Horizon.
As we kick off the first full week of November, I hope everyone is enjoying the colourful fall days. Last week was full of events and excitement, from the provincial election to Halloween celebrations in our schools. I want to take this opportunity to congratulate Premier Scott Moe and the Sask Party for their fifth consecutive majority government. I also want to congratulate all those who ran in the provincial election including those who won seats from the NDP party. Education was a significant topic in this election, and I am confident that we will continue to see important decisions related to funding and supports for school divisions, school staffs, and, ultimately, students and families.
I usually don’t talk about the upcoming week in TWIH, but I want to remind everyone about our mental wellness launch this Wednesday at 7:00 pm. I trust that many of you and your families will join us for the exciting launch of two important initiatives, HelpME and Project 11. Please find the link to join the event online. More details are available at https://horizonsd.ca/WellnessPrograms/.
I spent time Wednesday afternoon right through the weekend addressing an emergent family health matter. As our parents age, I was quickly reminded that many of us are in the “sandwich generation”. I know some of you are addressing things in your family in the same manner I am. We are sandwiched between continuing our care and support of our adult children and also needing to provide the same for our aging parents. I am fortunate that both my parents are alive, but as challenges like health crises arise, it is even more apparent that they require support systems from us, their kids. I am grateful I had the opportunity to be with my parents and my siblings as we endured these challenges together. It was important to get all the answers from our province's incredible medical health professionals and support them with a plan that meets their needs.
Audit Committee
Our Board’s audit committee met on Tuesday afternoon to review forecasts, draft financial statements, and reserve allocations for the 2023-24 school year. Committee members Albert Pinancie, Jim Lissinna (Chair), Garth Anderson and ex officio members Board Chair Linda Mattock and Vice Chair Mark Fedak attended the meeting, along with staff including CFO Sarah Reding, and Executive Assistant Marni Sogge.
Early Learning – The School Superintendents Association (AASA)
I joined colleagues from across North America for an enlightening session focused on the pressing needs of our youngest learners in the wake of the pandemic. The little ones and toddlers of the COVID era are now school-age, and it is obvious that they require additional support to reach grade-level targets. The good news is that young children’s brains develop so rapidly, offering parents and the education sector a critical window to lay the foundation for a lifetime of learning.
Lanigan School
On Thursday, Superintendent Justin Arendt and Manager of Facility Services Kam Kiland were in Lanigan to connect with the project team and receive the latest school development updates. They were able to review the budget, timeline, and current construction status in preparation for our May 1, 2025, opening day. Touring the facility provided witness to the remarkable advancements firsthand, and it’s clear that the larger school community’s enthusiasm directly reflects the outstanding progress being made.
Nelson Event - K to 12 Curriculum
On Wednesday evening, Superintendents Terry Leibel and Cory Popoff travelled to Regina to engage in a meaningful discussion about the future of K to 12 curriculum in Saskatchewan. They gathered with Division Leadership colleagues from across the province to delve into the impacts of curriculum changes within our rapidly evolving educational landscape. They also examined the evolution of curriculum delivery, discussed insights from across Canada, and considered how these developments affect Saskatchewan. Additionally, they looked at the landscape of curriculum resources in our divisions and provided updates on developing trusted, vetted, and culturally relevant learning solutions for educators.
This vital work reminds me of the importance of collaboration and feedback from K-12 teachers and leaders as we navigate this complex and changing landscape. It was an enriching experience, and I look forward to applying the insights gained to our ongoing work in education.
As I close out This Week, it is done with a heavy heart. I want to share with you the recent passing of Elder Gilbert Kewistep. Gilbert was one of the advisors on the Reconciliation Project in Humboldt, which was put on by Heritage Saskatchewan and the Treaty Commission. Superintendent Bryan McNabb and Administrative Assistant Melanie Gray were also part of the advisory committee. Gilbert was a professor at the First Nations University and did a lot of work supporting organizations like the Saskatchewan Health Authority on their path toward Reconciliation. He has also supported Horizon School Division, including leading the opening prayer during one of our collaboration days just before author David Robertson spoke to us. He will be deeply missed by all who had the opportunity to know him.
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