b'directors message 2020 chairs message 2020It is my pleasure and privilege2020 has truly been a year like to present the 2020 Directorsno other. It has challenged us Report. As you read it andas leaders and made us look marvel at the many ways ourat education in a new way. students have grown, invested,Our strong leadership team and engaged over this past year,has inspired me as they have think about which pillar(s) ofnavigated us through these the strategic plan is/are bestturbulent and unknown times, exemplified in each initiative,always keeping our students and student achievementand staff safe.featured. COVID-19, although a great Growing - It grew and challenge has not stopped became a tree. (Luke 13:19)many amazing things from We continually grow studenthappening in our schools and potential by living our Catholicvirtually. I am incredibly proud Faith. Several features in thisof our teachers, education report highlight the manyworkers, custodians and Dr. Derek Haime | Director of Education innovative programs our employees that have comeTeresa Gallik | Chairstaff and students design together to make for a yearand implement. This reportof memorable experiences illustrates how our students have found success, arousedand hope.their curiosity, and engaged their originality as they I know there has been great sadness as students graduated continually move closer to realizing and even redefiningvirtually, had their year-end activities suspended, many their incredible potential. have not seen their friends or classmates for a very long Investing - Build a house, dig deep and lay the foundationtime. There is hope on the horizon with a new vaccine. on rock. (Luke 6:48) We nurture a shared belief in theWe have overcome many challenges with great successes importance of ongoing learning for all. You will see in thethis year: we have a new virtual school St. Isadore; we have pictures and explanations in this report how the importancea fantastic partnership with the Kenora Youth Wellness Hub of servant leadership, building a culture of trust, developingto provide educational opportunities to at-risk youth, and leadership strengths, and promoting stewardship is andSt. Louis Living Arts School inspires me with the incredible continues to be highlighted. arts programming and opportunities they are providingto students. Kenora Catholic also won the Trophy Bowl for Engaging - Therefore encourage one another and build upthe Canadian Catholic School Trustees Association Charity each other as indeed you are doing. (1 Thessalonians 5:11)Toonies for Tuition. Our Directors Team connected and In this report, you will see and read about multiple opportunitiesengaged directly with families on Microsoft Teams, always our students have had and continue to have to: name andremaining transparent to answer the many questions about claim their strengths and their paths and foster partnershipsour COVID-19 school year. that extend beyond the walls of our schools. The 2021 Catholic Education Theme is nurturing hope. In addition to clearly illustrating how our staff and studentsThis is a time of opportunity, kindness and compassion. bring growing, investing engaging to life, the staff, family,Nurturing hopeInfecting our community with compassion! community, and student actions documented in this reportThe importance of hope in the face of unprecedented global effectively demonstrate how we are always nurturing hopepandemic impacting our world.as we better look after the earth, practice gratitude always,We are ending our year by saying goodbye to our Director, cultivate relationships, harvest new fruit and marvel in theDr. Derek Haime. We have been blessed to have Director wonder of Gods creation. These happen to also be theHaime with us for just under two years. During his time with theme and subthemes of Catholic Education Week 2021. us, he has built strong relationships with our students, staff and It is so easy to see how this strategic plan, which was createdcommunity partners. We want to thank Derek for the positive by and belongs to all of us, celebrates all of us, especiallyimpact he has had on our board, and we know Kenoraour students. Enjoy and God Bless. Catholic has gained a lifelong friend. Good luck, Derek, on your new endeavours, and God bless you on your life journeys.I want to offer my sincerest gratitude to my fellow trustees for their continued support, trust and guidance. I am proud to be apart of the most incredible board of trustees. Our student trustees Julia Tkachuk and Maxwell Froese are a stellar combination, and we truly enjoy having them as part of our trustee team.I would like to conclude by thanking our teachers, education workers, staff, families and Catholic school councils for making this unparalleled year the best it could be. I look forward to 2021 with a real sense of nurturing hope as we see a community filled with compassion, kindness and hope.2 2020 ANNUAL DIRECTORS REPORT'