Principal Jenna Cross hands off a diploma to Coltin Chicoine at graduation for the SRPSD Distance Learning Centre students. (Rob Mahon/paNOW Staff)

By Rob Mahon

Final Graduating Class

Bittersweet day as distance learning centre salutes final graduating class

Jun 23, 2023 | 4:02 PM

Family, friends, and supporters flocked to Plaza 88 to celebrate what was the final graduating class of the Saskatchewan Rivers Public School Division Distance Learning Centre (DLC) on Friday.

The centre will be shut down after this final class so it was a last hurrah for the school.

“Every year it’s amazing to get to this place where we see our students having such great success after a year of work,” said Jenna Cross, principal of the Distance Learning Centre. “But this year is really bittersweet, of course, it being the last year for the Distance Learning Centre.”

Though it is the last year for the Distance Learning Centre, they are going out on a high note. This year’s class has 26 graduates, nearly double the size of the previous graduating class.

“It’s a much bigger class this year, and we have more students at the distance learning centre as well,” Cross said. “It’s still an incredible number for a small school to have 26 graduates. We’re really proud.”

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The learning centre has offered the same courses available through more traditional schooling but what has made them different is the ability to provide that learning in a non-traditional setting. For some students, that makes a huge difference.

“Distance learning has proven to be really successful for a variety of students,” said Cross. “We have students who struggle with larger class sizes and being in a bigger school setting, so a distance learning centre is a really great option for them.”

The Government of Saskatchewan has a distance learning centre of its own starting up in the fall, resulting in the closure of the Saskatchewan Public Rivers learning centre in Prince Albert.

“We’ve known this was coming for a long time, so we’ve kind of been through that phase of grieving for the distance learning centre and all the great work it’s done,” said Cross. “Really, this is a celebration for us, a celebration of student success, and of our staff and all the work they’ve done to get our students to this place.”

Cross added all staff members have positions for the fall in either the new Saskatchewan Distance Learning Centre or elsewhere within the school division.

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rob.mahon@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @RobMahonPxP