A large crowd of students, staff and special dignitaries gathered for Tuesday’s farewell celebration. (Nigel Maxwell/ paNOW Staff)

By Nigel Maxwell

Closing a chapter

‘It’s breaking my heart to say goodbye’: final days approaching for Sask. Rivers distance learning centre

Jun 14, 2023 | 12:00 PM

Prince Albert’s Ella McBride was overcome with emotion when sharing the personal journey she has travelled for the past three years.

The grade 11 student was among the special guest speakers during Tuesday’s farewell celebration for the Saskatchewan Rivers Public School Division’s Distance Learning Centre (SRPSD DLC)

“It’s breaking my heart to say goodbye,” McBride shared to the large crowd in attendance.

The SRPSD DLC will not operate in the next school year because the Saskatchewan government has created a provincial online school system – the Saskatchewan Distance Learning Centre. The announcement was made last October, thereby leaving staff and students months to prepare and digest the news.

Ella McBride has been both a student leader and strong advocate for the DLC. (Nigel Maxwell/ paNOW Staff)

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McBride explained that during the dark time of the pandemic, the centre was a pillar of light for many students by offering them support.

“No other school has turned each of my struggles into successes and my weaknesses into opportunities,” she said.

McBride added when she first came to the DLC she was struggling with her classes and shy, but through the support of the DLC, she was made to feel like part of a community and capable of doing amazing things.

“It was the staff who truly brought this school together and turned it into something that will be remembered forever,” she said.

Jenna Cross has been the school’s principal for the past year.

“The time has come to say goodbye but we have so much to be proud of,” she told paNOW. “We’re walking out at the top of our game.”

Cross noted that during the pandemic, people were left with no choice and had to stay home. So the centre played a crucial role not just in the school system but also in society.

“This really provided an opportunity for students to still connect and be a part of that school system and to be a part of the community when many of us were sort of isolated,” she said.

Board member Alan Nunn applauded staff and students for the work they have done and also expressed his own frustration with the centre’s closing. He explained the centre was able to provide a new and valuable select type of learning, and the student numbers and success rate were proof it worked.

Since it started in August 2020, the school has served 750 primary students and 338 secondary students and employed 17 teachers and eight support staff. It currently has students in grades 7-12 and offers more than 60 courses. Roughly 20 students will graduate on June 23.

“And it’s a shame that this is coming to an end,” Nunn said. “I still can’t understand why it’s ending. Something this good, this proven and it’s gonna be taken over.”

Director of Education Robert Bratvold also noted that while the school’s time has been short, the impact it made will be never-ending.

Speaking with paNOW Bratvold explained the reasons given by the ministry for the centre’s closing, which had to do with the consistencies, structures and efficiencies sought.

“That was the decision made. We discussed that with them for quite some time but in the end that was the decision and they have the authority to make that decision,” he said.

With respect to the staff, Bratvold confirmed they’ve all been offered other positions within the school division. In the case of Jenna Cross, she has been named the new principal at John Diefenbaker School. A couple of the staff have also opted to move to Sask DLC.

Elder Liz Settee was invited to provide remarks during the farewell celebration. (Nigel Maxwell/ paNOW Staff)

Liz Settee, who has been involved with the school division since 2010, also noted the challenges brought on by the pandemic as well as the humble beginnings of the school. She reminded the students in attendance for the farewell celebration that they are all superstars.

“You really have to admire the inner strength that each of you have for being able to navigate a whole new system of learning through a whole new time period that I don’t think any of us ever expected to see,” she said.

During Tuesday’s celebration, a special presentation was made to the board of education.

The painting represents the faces of every student and staff at the school. Jenna Cross expressed her desire to see the painting hung up at the education centre, as a permanent reminder of all the school’s success stories.

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nigel.maxwell@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell