Congratulations to the Wayoata Elementary School parent council on being awarded the Parent Council Recognition Award by the Manitoba Association of Parent Councils (MAPC). The Wayoata parent council was nominated by principal Kerry Cressall for their achievements, which include: purchasing equipment for the school music program to save families the expense of rentals; organizing family events in the school community; participating and engaging in annual school planning; and operating an inclusive and dedicated parent council. PHOTO: (left to right) Michelle Berard, Wayoata parent council chair, and Maria T. Fernandes, MAPC board secretary.

REMINDER: Monday, May 21, is Victoria Day and RETSD students do not attend classes.

Students from the Murdoch MacKay Collegiate Fashion Technology Program showed off the results of their creativity and hard work at the school’s Euphoric Distortion fashion show on May 16 and 17. This is the 38th year the school has held this annual event, and groups of students from other Winnipeg schools were a part of the appreciative audience. Many people put in a lot of hard work to make this event happen each year. Great job, everyone!

On May 10, middle years students from across RETSD came together to share their ideas on student success with trustees, senior administration and principals at an event called “Leading for Success.” They also shared photos they’d taken, representing their ideas around our common understanding of student success. These are some of the photos presented by students from Bernie Wolfe Community School, showing success in reading and music, and with Coral the service dog, who accompanies one of the students to school. The photographers’ names are on the composites.

Last week was Spirit Week at Kildonan-East Collegiate, and the students enjoyed a week of activities to boost their school spirit— Jets WhiteOut Day (Go Jets Go!), Lazy Day (when they could wear pyjamas), Tourist Day, and Dress Like a Teacher Day. They also had a competition to see who could do the best job of taping a teacher to the wall! #KEC #SchoolSpirit

A Transcona Collegiate teacher was one of 16 teachers honoured on May 14 at the 26th Annual Students’ Teacher Recognition Reception at the University of Manitoba. Tracy Romu, who still teaches science at Transcona Collegiate, was recognized at the reception by her former student Lisa Huang, who is studying biological sciences at the U of M. The event gives outstanding student honourees the opportunity to publicly thank both a K–12 teacher and a professor who greatly influenced them or offered support and encouragement when they needed it most. Congratulations to Ms. Romu on being recognized for her support, and our best wishes to Ms. Huang for her continued success! #CreatingStudentSuccess

A big Spring Community Feast is taking place at Donwood Elementary, with students from many of our schools taking part, along with family members. A drum circle, good food, and companionship.

ICYMI: From the May issue of our board of trustees newsletter The Torch

Miles Macdonell Collegiate teacher Jennifer Jantz and her daughter Emma Kushnier (a student at Miles Mac) were interviewed by Radio-Canada at the Run for Women on Sunday. The interview is in French. Great evidence of what Emma has learned as a French immersion student!

The next meeting of the board of trustees is tomorrow at 6:30 p.m. Members of the public are welcome. For more info: bit.ly/2gnCjUI

Today, the culinary arts students at Kildonan-East Collegiate held their monthly gourmet luncheon, and served up some delicious (and VERY reasonably priced) dishes. On the menu were: Cuban bread Bolilos Quinoa chowder Caribbean Jamaican jerk roast prime strip loin Potato & squash gratin Ensalada nopales Orange flan Lime & tequila-infused strawberries Brazilian brigadeiro The next luncheon (last one of the year) is on June 8. Call the school at 204-667-2960 for more information.

The 25-member Builders Club at Robert Andrews School has had a busy year, and on May 3 they attended a Kiwanis club dinner, where they did a presentation about the projects they’ve undertaken (the Kiwanis club sponsors Builders Clubs in middle years schools). Some of their initiatives include: bi-weekly pizza sales to fundraise for charities; Socktober in October to collect socks for Siloam Mission; a Koats for Kids campaign; fundraising for Christmas hampers; a 1JustCity project, crocheting plastic bags into sleeping mats for emergency sleep shelters; Pancakes & PJs day to fundraise for an emergency sleep shelter; and support of many other great causes and organizations, such as D’Arcy’s ARC, The Dream Factory, Canadians Helping Kids in Vietnam, The Eliminate Project, and the John Black Church Foundation. Well done, students! And kudos to faculty advisory Mrs. Douglas and Kiwanis advisor Mrs. Tole for their role in the club’s success.

Manitoba School Boards Association: "The current law provides millions of dollars in savings for schools. Changes proposed by the recording and publishing industry would result in significant new costs to schools using works for educational purposes."

Emerson Elementary School students and staff held a special event on May 2 to honour their friend and former student Mackenzie, who passed away last year. Her parents and brother were at the school assembly as students shared their memories of Mackenzie, and collected donations to help support families of those with Batten disease. Afterwards, everyone went outside to walk and place rocks they’d painted earlier throughout the neighbourhood, in the hope that people will find them and be inspired. The school also had a wooden bench built in Mackenzie’s memory that will be placed on school grounds.

Last week, Cheryl Kruchak’s Grade 5 class at École Regent Park School got to experience pioneer life! From woodworking to cleaning clothes by hand, the students participated in hands-on authentic pioneer experiences. “It made me feel like I was in pioneer times. I was living like them, kind of. It helped me understand what it was like and all the work they had to do.” —Charlie “It was a cool experience to use all of the tools that they used back in the day.” —Cecilia

ICYMI: From the May issue of The Torch

Congratulations to assistant superintendent Karen Boyd, who was chosen to receive the 2018 Distinguished Service Award from the Manitoba School Library Association.Ms. Boyd is an innovative educational leader, mentor, and library advocate. We’re very fortunate to have her as a part of our senior administration team! PHOTO 1: (L–R) Jo-Ann Gibson, past president of MSLA; Karen Boyd; co-award-winner Irene Nordheim, assistant superintendent at Louis Rield School Division (and Ms. Boyd's sister, coincidentally!), RETSD arts consultant Carol Ridd; and Kathy Atkin, co-ordinator of library services for LRSD. PHOTO 2: Karen Boyd reading to students at Hampstead School during I Love to Read Month in February.

REMINDER: Tomorrow, May 9, all RETSD schools will dismiss 45 minutes early.

Teacher Phuong McMahon and her Grade 5 class at Salisbury Morse Place School have been busy fundraising for Agape Table and Habitat for Humanity these days. They’ve been collecting empty pill bottles so Agape Table can refill them with toiletries like shampoo and soap, and provide them to those in need. They’ve also collected plastic bags for the organization to use when they hand out items to their clients, and for their low-cost grocery store. As well, the class has been collecting donations of toiletries. For their Habitat for Humanity fundraiser, the students have been letting people sign a wooden plank if they give a $1 donation, and the plank will be placed permanently in a new Habitat-built home. Way to go!

The May issue of our board of trustees newsletter, The Torch, was recently delivered to homes in the RETSD area. If you missed it or you'd like another look, click here.