You are here: Home / 2016 / Archives for February 2016

Archives for February 2016

Open Letter on Education: Upcoming Provincial Election

by

With the provincial election coming, on behalf of the SSBA Executive and our members, school boards in our province want to take this opportunity to highlight our shared priorities for education in Saskatchewan.

We are all aware of the economic challenges our province is facing. As school boards, we are also aware of the challenge of balancing financial resources and providing much needed services. Boards of education have always tried to find efficiencies in order to optimize our resources. We continue to examine our own systems and work in cooperation with other partners to ensure that we are meeting the needs of our students.

At the same time it is critical, perhaps now more than ever, to emphasize the importance of education to our society. Our students will shape our province today and into the future. As Saskatchewan grows and changes, we must focus on renewal, and education must remain a top priority to ensure our students have the resources they need to be successful.

With a review of the operational funding model underway, we are looking for equitable distribution, as well as improved predictably and transparency, so school boards can plan and respond. As we look forward, we need to ensure that our resources are sustainable and, above all, adequately provide for the needs of our students.

It also important that locally elected boards of education continue to work closely with the women and men who are elected provincially to ensure that local interests and local circumstances are considered and are part of the decision making related to education in Saskatchewan. Locally elected school boards have a vital role in serving Saskatchewan’s publicly funded education system. The longest lasting and most fundamental responsibility of schools boards is to bring the voice of the public to publicly funded education.

We continue to remain firmly committed to the belief that all children should have access to the resources they need to achieve, regardless of where they live in the province or their personal circumstances.

On behalf of boards of education, we invite you to share with those running for office your priorities for education in Saskatchewan as well.

Sincerely,

Connie Bailey
SSBA President

For a printable, PDF copy of this letter, please click here.

$100,000 in Prizes for 10th Anniversary Mosaic Extreme School Makeover Challenge

by

REGINA – To celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Mosaic Extreme School Makeover Challenge, The Mosaic Company has provided $100,000 in total cash prizes for 2016, Mosaic, the Saskatchewan School Boards Association (SSBA) and Breakfast for Learning (BFL) have announced.

“In honour of 10 years of successful partnership with BFL and the SSBA, we want this year’s challenge to leave a lasting impact on children across the province,” said Sarah Fedorchuk, Senior Director of Public Affairs for The Mosaic Company. “We are excited that schools and communities get to pick the project that will net the biggest returns for their kids. Mosaic plays an important role in food security around the world; here at home we understand that quality nutritional programming is imperative to achieving success in the classroom.”

Together with the SSBA and BFL, Mosaic launched the Extreme School Makeover Challenge in 2006. To date, 23 schools have received funding to improve their nutrition environments.

The Mosaic Extreme School Makeover Challenge is open to all schools in Saskatchewan. Participating schools receive a certificate of recognition acknowledging their efforts to create healthier school nutrition environments. Ten winners will each receive a $10,000 prize. Schools are invited to submit nutrition-related action plans prior to Apr. 16, 2016. Entries will be judged on quality of nutritional programming and potential benefits to the school community.

“Our students are our future leaders, and investing in their learning through nutrition programs is vital to their success,” said Kelly Berlinic, Director of Programs and Community Development for BFL. “Breakfast for Learning is proud to work with the Saskatchewan School Boards Association and The Mosaic Company to ensure all students have the nourishment they need to succeed at school.”

The Mosaic Company and the SSBA, in partnership with BFL, host the Mosaic Extreme School Makeover Challenge to encourage grassroots initiatives to improve student nutrition. As Canada’s first established and one of the largest national charities focusing on student nutrition as it relates to learning, Breakfast for Learning helps support and sustain school-based breakfast, lunch and snack programs Canada-wide, providing students with the opportunity to reach their full potential in life. Since 2004, the SSBA has been involved with supporting those efforts.

“The Mosaic Extreme School Makeover Challenge is important because school boards firmly believe that every student in Saskatchewan should have the resources and supports needed to succeed and achieve, regardless of where they live in the province or their personal circumstances,” said Connie Bailey, president of the SSBA. “The Mosaic Extreme School Makeover Challenge helps ensure all students in Saskatchewan are well-nourished and ready to learn. The SSBA is very proud to support Breakfast for Learning. We also thank The Mosaic Company for their strong commitment to excellent corporate citizenship in this province and their support of K-12 education.”

To learn more about the Mosaic Extreme School Makeover Challenge and view a video, visit: saskschoolboards.ca/partner-organizations/mosaic-extreme-school-makeover-challenge/.