On Tuesday, May 20th at the Central Office in Peace River the Holy Family Catholic Regional Division (HFCRD) Board of Trustees, Superintendent Betty Turpin, and student representatives from each school gathered for the last Student Engagement Session of the year. Students were treated to a Subway lunch and were able to share their insight on school-based issues and events.
In the previous meeting, which was held virtually on February 25th, students gave their feedback on musician & inspirational speaker Eric Reinhart's recent tour of the schools, describing his session as "fun, interactive, and inspiring." Many students appreciated his ability to make them feel comfortable and how he encouraged them to express themselves. "Eric's session was a great way to bring everyone together, especially for those who are typically shy," said one student representative. "We hope he comes back soon!"
The group continued to reflect on the success of the HFCRD Cyber Awareness Week. Students highlighted the importance of understanding the risks, but many students also shared that most of the information is already known, and they’re practicing a safe online presence. Discussion centered around focusing on social media next year, and to include a speaker presentation.
Adding more Divisional Competitions was brought up. Students feel that HFCRD has a strong presence with athletics, and do a great job with the Indigenous Hand Games, however there is interest in having academic and fine arts competitions for math/science, computer/tech, and others.
It was also brought forward that inappropriate language/swearing seems to be more prevalent. A lot of it was attributed to current social media culture, popular music, and societal acceptance. The issue has been discussed in meetings this year with administration and plans are in place to continue to curb use of inappropriate language/swearing in school.
Board Chair Kelly Whalen expressed his gratitude and enthusiasm for Student Engagement, saying, "The feedback from our students is invaluable. It helps us improve their school experience and assists us in continuing to create a welcoming, supportive environment across the division.”
