Rainy River District

Former Rainy River DSB (RRDSB) Trustee and Chair Raymond Roy was honoured with the Ontario Public School Boards' Association’s (OPSBA) Bernardine Yackman Memorial Award on January 27 in Toronto.

Yesterday, it was announced that 171 potential grave sites were discovered at the former St. Mary’s Residential School site in Kenora. Five former residential schools covering six sites were located within Treaty #3 territory, including St. Mary’s, which operated from 1897 to 1972 and was attended by children from across the Treaty #3 territory and beyond. The Rainy River District School Board wishes to express our heartfelt sorrow and sympathies to everyone affected by this discovery, especially our students and families who may be directly affected.

The Rainy River District School Board and the Town of Rainy River are pleased to announce that the Ministry of Education has approved the Board’s request to acquire 12.18 acres of vacant land from the Town of Rainy River. The land, located to the east of the running track, will support the construction of the new Rainy River K-12 School, 39-place child care facility, and Best Start Hub.

The Rainy River District School Board is pleased to announce that elections for the office of Chair and Vice Chair were held at the inaugural Board Meeting on November 22, 2022 in Fort Frances. Trustee, ¬¬Jeff Lehman, who represents the Township of Atikokan and surrounding area, was acclaimed as Board Chair, while Trustee, Kathryn Pierroz, was acclaimed as Vice Chair.

At the June 20, 2022 Special Board Meeting, the Rainy River District School Board approved the 2022‐2023 balanced budget of $58,365,458.

The name of the new consolidated K-12 school in Atikokan will be named Northern Lakes K-12 School. The name received unanimous approval by Trustees at the regular Board meeting on June 7, 2022. The other option up for consideration was Atikokan K-12 School.

At its June 7, 2022 regular Board meeting, the Rainy River District School Board announced the recipients of the Recognition of Service awards, honoring the 2022 Employees of the Year, Bus Driver of the Year, Volunteers of the Year, and Community Partner of the Year.

The Rainy River District School Board is pleased to announce Beth Fairfield as the new system leader, effective June 1, 2022. She will be replacing Peg Keffer, who will be retiring at the end of the school year.

A total of 18 students from across the district participated in the Rainy River District School Board Speech Contest on May 12, 2022, hosted at J.W. Walker School in Fort Frances. Students delivered outstanding speeches on a wide variety of topics to educators, families, peers, and community members.

The Rainy River District School Board is pleased to receive Approval to Proceed in the amount of $23,541,549 from the Ministry of Education for a 311-pupil place JK-Grade 12 school, a two room 39 place child care centre and a one room EarlyON Centre in Rainy River.

The Rainy River District School Board is pleased to be receiving $2.6 million through the Ontario government’s 2022-23 Capital Priorities Program for a new Nestor Falls School. The investment, announced last week by Greg Rickford, MPP for Kenora-Rainy River, will support the creation of 46 elementary student spaces.

Nominations for Recognition of Service are accepted annually in the spring to recognize the Employee of the Year, Bus Driver of the Year, Volunteer of the Year, and Community Partner of the Year. The awards are a way to celebrate the exceptional and outstanding contributions that staff members, bus drivers, volunteers, and community partners make to the school community.

The Rainy River District School Board recognizes its partnership with local pharmacies to support the distribution of Rapid Antigen Tests to our secondary students.

The Rainy River District School Board is pleased to announce that elections for the office of Chair and Vice Chair were held at the Board Meeting on December 7, 2021 in Fort Frances. Trustee, Raymond Roy, was acclaimed as Board Chair, while Trustee, David Kircher, was acclaimed as Vice Chair. Both trustees represent the Town of Fort Frances and unorganized territory east of Fort Frances.

At Rainy River District School Board, every 3-5 years we engage in a strategic planning process that results in the establishment of priorities to focus our efforts on student achievement and success. As we begin the process for developing our new Strategic Plan, we are asking all of our stakeholders - students, staff, parents and community members - for their involvement in shaping our direction.

At the June 22, 2021 Special Board Meeting, the Rainy River District School Board approved the 2021‐2022 balanced budget of $56,461,881.

At its June 1, 2021 regular Board meeting, which was held remotely, the Rainy River District School Board announced the recipients of the Recognition of Service awards, honoring the 2021 Employees of the Year, Bus Driver of the Year, Volunteers of the Year, and Community Partner of the Year.

Rainy River District School Board has been allocated $2,068,000 for facility upgrades through the COVID-19 Resilience Infrastructure Stream (CVRIS) to help reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission.

Rainy River District School Board, Seven Generations Education Institute, and SayITFirst partnered to implement the Ojibwe Language Strategy Anishinaabemodaa in 2017, with the main goal of helping to awaken the language that has seen fewer and fewer speakers over time. Now in 2021, the Ojibwe Language Strategy continues to forge ahead with clear evidence that Anishinaabemowin is being taken back by the Anishinaabe people.

At a Special Board Meeting on December 8, 2020, the Rainy River District School Board appointed Carla Magisano to fill the vacant seat in the west end of the District, previously held by David Loewen.

The Rainy River District School Board is pleased to announce that elections for the office of Chair and Vice Chair were held at the Board Meeting on December 1, 2020 in Fort Frances. ​Trustee, Raymond Roy, was acclaimed as Board Chair, while Trustee, David Kircher, was acclaimed as Vice Chair. Both trustees represent the Town of Fort Frances and unorganized territory east of Fort Frances.

At its regular Board meeting on November 3, 2020, the Board accepted Trustee David Loewen’s letter of resignation and declared the Trustee seat vacant for the Townships of Morley, Morrison, Lake of the Woods, McCrosson-Tovell, Rainy River, Dawson and unorganized areas, vacant, effective November 4, 2020.

At the August 18, 2020 Special Board Meeting, the Rainy River District School Board approved the 2020‐2021 balanced budget of $54,556,282, with a draw from accumulated surplus for Board funded capital and retirement gratuities obligations.

The Rainy River District School Board is pleased to announce that we have received approval from the Ministry of Education on three of our projects and are now moving forward on the Rainy River K-12, Child Care and EarlyON Child and Family Centre Project; the Atikokan K-12, Child Care and EarlyON Child and Family Centre Project; and the Donald Young School Child Care Project.

On July 8, 2020, the Rainy River District School Board reached a tentative agreement at the local level with the Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario (ETFO) Rainy River Teacher Local (permanent teachers).

Lessons in art, science, math and music have been more easily accessible thanks to Connected North, a program run by Canadian charity TakingITGlobal. Rainy River District School Board (RRDSB) schools are generously supported by New Gold.

At its June 2, 2020 regular Board meeting, which was held remotely, the Rainy River District School Board announced the recipients of the Recognition of Service awards, honoring the 2020 Employees of the Year, Bus Driver of the Year, Volunteers of the Year, and Community Partner of the Year.

The Rainy River District School Board is now accepting registrations for the 2020-21 school year online at www.rrdsb-registration.com. While schools remain closed due to COVID-19, families who have children to register for Kindergarten can register virtually, if they haven't already done so. In addition, students who are new to RRDSB can register online now, as well.

Lessons in art, science, math and music have been more easily accessible thanks to Connected North, a program run by Canadian charity TakingITGlobal.

The Rainy River District School Board is pleased to announce that elections for the office of Chair and Vice Chair were held at the Board Meeting on December 3, 2019 in Fort Frances. Trustee, Raymond Roy, was acclaimed as Board Chair, while Trustee, David Kircher, was acclaimed as Vice Chair. Both trustees represent the Town of Fort Frances and unorganized territory east of Fort Frances.

Students at the Rainy River District School Board (RRDSB) are getting a rather unique learning experience this year. Following a visit from author Sigmund Brouwer during the last school year, the board announced at its last monthly meeting that Brouwer would serve as the writer-in-residence for the school board for the 2019-2020 school year. Brouwer will be using aspects of the Story Ninja program to help students across the board with their writing and literacy skills.

The 2018-2019 Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO) results have been released. School and system leaders of the Rainy River District School Board have met to analyze and interpret the results. These results, along with other assessments, help the School Board to develop and refine strategies for achievement in all areas of the curriculum, including Literacy and Math. The 2018-2019 results show continued success in specific areas, as well as assist in identifying areas where further growth and improvement are needed.

Prior to its September 3, 2019 regular Board meeting, trustees and administration of the Rainy River District School Board met in-camera to receive a report on the tender for the Rainy River Consolidated School project. The project, which received Approval to Proceed (ATP) from the Ministry of Education on June 7, 2019, would include a complete interior and exterior renovation of the existing Rainy River High School, with the addition of a large gym, two child care rooms and an EarlyON centre.

The Rainy River District School Board now has two student trustees instead of just one. Bjorn Van Der Loo and Olivia Kreger, the two new student trustees for the 2019-2020 school year, took their Oath of Office at the Sept. 4 Board Meeting.

At the June 25, 2019 Special Board Meeting, the Rainy River District School Board approved the 2019‐2020 balanced budget of $53,354,540, which represents a 5% decrease over the 2018-2019 budget.

Ontario's government is protecting what matters most by investing in new local schools to help provide our students with a world-class education system that ensures they have the skills they need to succeed. The province has approved addition and renovation at Rainy River HS. The addition will add 222 new pupil places to the school, as well as two child care rooms and an EarlyON Child and Family Centre.

At its June 4, 2019 regular Board Meeting held at the Education Centre in Fort Frances, the Rainy River District School Board announced the recipients of the Recognition of Service awards, honouring the 2019 Employees of the Year, Bus Drivers of the Year, Volunteer of the Year, and Community Partner of the Year.

A total of 10 students from seven schools participated in the Rainy River District School Board Speech Contest on May 29, 2019 hosted at Robert Moore School in Fort Frances. Students delivered outstanding speeches on a wide variety of topics to educators, family, peers, and community members.

The Rainy River District School Board (RRDSB) is partnering with a national advocacy organization to help spread education and awareness around LGBTQ2 issues in the district.

Grade 7 and 8 students from Robert Moore School will be going to Fort Frances High School this fall.

The Rainy River District School Board (RRDSB) is currently in the process of determining whether or not the Grade 7 and 8 students from Robert Moore school will join their peers at Fort Frances High School (FFHS).

How much is too much when it comes to time spent playing video games?

Rainy River District School Board, Seven Generations Education

The Rainy River District School Board is looking for the 2019 Employee of the Year, Bus Driver of the Year, Volunteer of the Year, and Community Partner of the Year.

The public school board currently is working on several capital projects throughout the district, with some of them slated for completion this fall.

Rainy River District School Board has implemented several different programs and campaigns to help both students and staff with their mental health.

Rainy River District School Board trustees heard a presentation from Special Education Administrator Char Bliss during their regular monthly meeting here last Tuesday.

Indigenous Education is a top priority at the Rainy River District School Board and work is constantly being done to increase students' knowledge, understanding, and awareness of First Nations, Metis, and Inuit histories.

With schools across the district now halfway through the year, the director of education for the Rainy River District School Board says there's lots to celebrate and look forward to.

The Rainy River District School Board is pleased to announce that elections for the office of Chair and Vice Chair were held at the inaugural Board Meeting on December 4, 2018 in Fort Frances.

Outgoing chair, Dianne McCormack, who served as a trustee for eight years, really enjoyed her time on the Board and wishes the new trustees all the best. She noted she is most proud of the Board's work to revise its Strategic Plan and will miss seeing the successes, which was the most rewarding part for her.

At their most recent meeting, the Rainy River District School Board's Student Senate discussed their input for the province's education consultation. They wanted to provide a student perspective on many of the topics, including how to better prepare students with life skills, improve standardized testing, address cell phone use on the classroom, deal with mental health needs, and more.

The Rainy River District School Board is committed to providing a safe and positive learning environment for all of its students. The School Board recognizes that Ontario Bullying Awareness and Prevention Week – November 18 to 24, 2018 – highlights an issue of critical importance, and as such, students and school staff will be engaged in various activities throughout the week to learn more about bullying and its effect on student learning and well-being.

Mike Lewis, Atikokan's trustee on the Rainy River District School Board since December 2011, is stepping down effective Sept. 30.

The 2017-2018 Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO) results have been released. School and system leaders of the Rainy River District School Board have met to analyze and interpret the results. These results, along with other assessments, help the School Board to develop and refine strategies for achievement in all areas of the curriculum, including Literacy and Math.

The Rainy River District School Board has taken a stand for diversity and inclusivity in its classrooms. Last Tuesday, it passed a motion to write the premier an minister of education a letter in support for the recently-scrapped 2015 sexual health curriculum.

Katelyn Bruyere took the Student Trustee Oath of

The Rainy River District School Board chair and vice chair raised concerns about the premier's co-called "snitch line" at last Tuesday night's regular monthly meeting here.

The Rainy River District Transportation Services Consortium is pleased to announce that following an extensive procurement process, all routes have been awarded for the 2018-2019 school year. As a result, a new school bus transportation provider,

At the June 19, 2018 Special Board Meeting, the Rainy River District School Board approved the 2018‐2019 balanced budget of $56,337,753, which represents a 4% increase over the 2017-2018 budget.

At its June 5, 2018 Board Meeting held at the Education Centre in Fort Frances, the Rainy River District School Board announced the recipients of the Recognition of Services awards, honouring the 2018 Employees of the Year, Bus Driver of the Year, Volunteer of the Year, and Community Partner of the Year.

Work on the development of a new consolidated K-12 school in Atikokan could begin as early as this winter,

The School Board will dip into its accumulated surplus to fund an Indigenous Education Coordinator for a third year,

The inaugural hockey academy program at Fort Frances High School saw 28 Grade 7 and 8 students (10 girls and 18 boys) enrolled for the 2017-18 school year.