Education, Citizenship and Youth Minister Peter Bjornson today congratulated three Manitoba schools selected among the top 25 in Canada in the Today’s Parent magazine Great Schools 2008 competition.
The magazine’s fifth annual survey of Canada’s “stellar schools” featured in the publication’s September 2008 issue includes the Lakeshore School Division’s Alf Cuthbert School in Moosehorn, the Pembina Trails School Division’s École Dieppe School in Winnipeg and the Winnipeg School Division’s Luxton School.
“It was exciting to learn that three public schools were selected by an independent publication and characterized as excellent on a national scale,” Bjornson said. “This news supports our view that Manitoba has one of the highest-quality public education systems in Canada and I congratulate the schools and divisions for their exceptional work.”
The minister noted the Manitoba government has significantly increased public school funding over the past nine years and will fund 80 per cent of the total cost of public education through general revenues by the 2011-12 school year. The 2008-09 investment in public school grants was more than $1 billion for the first time in Manitoba history.
Alf Cuthbert School in Moosehorn, a Manitoba Interlake community, won in the Real Respect category. The magazine quoted one parent as saying there is “an unwavering expectation of good citizenship” at this school. Students from higher grades pitch in to help younger students with breakfast programs and lunch preparation. Older students help to run intramural sports programs. Christmas dinner is served by support staff each year.
École Dieppe School, located in west Winnipeg, won in the Terrific Teachers category. As one example, music teacher Andrea Wicha helped her students bring home a large number of awards from the Winnipeg International Music Festival. Her music students also performed a composition they wrote with the Manitoba Chamber Orchestra.
In central Winnipeg, Luxton School won in the Community Commitment category. A school family centre is organized and staffed by parents and volunteers who hold activities for students and their families. The school offers adult upgrading programs, English courses evenings and weekends, and a recreational program for children. According to Today’s Parent, this award is about helping students learn they belong to a wider community capable of handling cultural, recreational, social and emotional enrichment programs.
“As a former teacher, I know first-hand that it takes more than a building with desks and books to make a great school,” Bjornson said. “The real credit belongs to the teachers, students and families who have made their schools clearly stand out against a backdrop of thousands across the country.”
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