Riverside principal receives national praise

Markwart said while she doesn’t feel she’s the only one deserving of recognition, she was humbled to be chosen.

“I was quite honoured and grateful. It’s rewarding to know others recognize your work,” said Markwart. “We all learn best when we have a relationship of trust with our educators, when we start of at a point of success and when we are engaged in our learning. I would hope that I won this award because that has always been my goal in all the schools and with all the families that I have had the privilege to work for.

“Many principals could be recognized, I think I was just lucky and it was me.”

She said the children, families and staff all play a role in success when it comes to education.

“It’s been always a group effort, to engage and be involved with the people in the community, and I think they’ve all been part of it as well,” said Markwart.

According to Markwart, educating children of different cultures is something to consider but not to dwell on.

“I think all children are the same, it’s just understanding where the children are coming from,” she explained. “I think all children learn at a different pace and they all have different needs, but they also all have different strengths, so just trusting that we look for the child’s strengths and what they will succeed at.”

As a way to get families more involved in education, Markwart said the staff makes an effort in making everyone comfortable in the school. This is where culture can play a role.

“We have a wide variety of people and cultures,” said Markwart. “Education of a child is for everyone, we need everyone on board. We need families, we need parents, and I think by including culture, the building is more welcoming so people know they’re welcome and part of that child’s progress.”

The Saskatchewan Rivers School Division has implemented new indigenized programs such as Help me tell my story, a survey for pre-kindergarten and kindergarten students involving both parents and children.

Markwart said the program is a positive step for early literacy at their school and others.

“It promotes a high literacy at an early age,” she said. “I think what’s special about it is it involves engaging parents.”

“I plan on continuing doing what we can to make it an engaging, literacy (focused) school, because that’s what the kids need.”

Markwart said she encourages her staff by making the school a positive atmosphere.

“Everything we do makes a difference no matter how small it is.”

asoloducha@panow.com

On Twitter: @alex_soloducha

by Alex Soloducha

Riverside principal receives national praise

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