Archived News

RRDSB Presents Balanced Budget for 2023-24

06/23/2023

Trustees passed a balanced budget for the 2023-2024 school year.

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Multiphase renewal project to begin at FHS

06/02/2023

RRDSB announces the beginning of a multiphase renewal effort at Fort Frances High School.

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Pride Progress Flag Raised at FHS

05/31/2023

Borderland Pride and Fort High students reflect on the importance of Pride in our community.

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Students demonstrate excellence in public speaking at Speech Contest

05/12/2023

A total of 20 students from across the district participated in the Rainy River District School Board Speech Contest on May 11, 2023, 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.

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Education Week

05/01/2023

This week is Education Week in Ontario and the theme is Education for a Brighter Future. Schools will be celebrating with different events and activities over the course of the week. We would also like to thank all of our families, staff, and community partners for working together to empower and support our students and for helping to put them on a path to a successful and brighter future.

Read More about Trustee vacancy

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RRDSB awards construction contract for Atikokan K-12 School

11/04/2020

At its November 3, 2020 regular Board meeting, the Rainy River District School Board awarded the construction contract for the Atikokan K-12 School, Childcare and EarlyON Child and Family Centre to Finn Way General Contractor Inc. in the amount of $26,124,170 + HST.

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RRDSB passes balanced budget

08/18/2020

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.

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Capital projects moving forward

08/04/2020

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.

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Rainy River District School Board and ETFO Permanent Teachers reach tentative agreement

07/29/2020

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).

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Connected North@Home Adventures

06/17/2020

Welcome to Connected North@Home Adventures! These FREE live adventures will engage our young adventurers to connect, explore and create while at home!

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Connected North Announces Partnership with New Gold Inc. and Rainy River District School Board

06/09/2020

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.

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Feedback wanted on return to school

06/05/2020

We want to hear your ideas on what the RRDSB should consider in order for students, parents/guardians, and staff to feel safe and supported as we plan for an eventual return to the classroom?

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RRDSB recognizes volunteers and employees

06/02/2020

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.

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Online registration now available for 2020-21 school year

05/27/2020

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.

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Virtual learning opportunities for K-12 students during the COVID-19 pandemic

04/23/2020

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

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RRDSB Statement regarding EQAO Grade 9 Math Assessment

01/09/2020

Yesterday, the Minister of Education announced that the decision with respect to the administration of the EQAO Grade 9 Math Assessment for Semester One would be left to individual school boards. Students in the Rainy River District School Board will not be participating in the EQAO Grade 9 Math Assessment this January.

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Co-op Display Day at FFHS

12/11/2019

Fort High students showed their classmates and teachers the work they’ve been doing at their coop placements during “Co-op Display Day” on Dec. 5.

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RRDSB re-elects Chair and Vice Chair

12/04/2019

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.

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FFHS students tackle firefighting program

11/20/2019

For the past few months, some students at Fort Frances High School have been taking part in a unique learning experience designed to give them valuable real world experience. The school, in partnership with the Fort Frances Fire Management Headquarters (FMH) of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF), has run a specialized version of the SP100 Forest Firefighter Training course.

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School Bus Safety Poster Contest Winners 2019

11/15/2019

School Bus Safety Week was October 21st to 25th. To promote school bus safety, the Rainy River District Transportation Services Consortium held its annual School Bus Safety Poster Contest with the theme, “My School Bus, the Safest Form of Student Transportation.” A total of 229 posters were submitted for the contest. The winners for each category are as follows: Division 1: J/K – S/K – Carter Parisien SK Robert Moore School Division 2: Grades 1-2 – Lillian Krukoski Gr 1 Nestor Falls School Division 3: Grades 3-5 – Khloe Laur Gr 3 J.W. Walker School Division 4: Grades 6-8 – Kale Henttonen Gr 6 Robert Moore School

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Canadian author helps to promote writing skills

11/13/2019

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.

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Student Travel Scholarship application process now open

11/08/2019

The Student Travel Scholarship is designed to give high school students the opportunity to travel to a developing country to learn first-hand about the importance of education, clean water, alternative income and agricultural projects. Students in Grades 9 to 11 are able to apply for this scholarship of $1,000, to help offset the cost of attending a Me-to-We trip during the summer months. Eligible students must be returning to their high school the fall after their trip and must be willing to bring back and share their learning with their school and other schools within the Board.

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New child care rooms approved for RRDSB

11/01/2019

Ontario has approved the tendering of two new child care projects to make high-quality child care easier to access for families in Northern Ontario. The child care addition at Donald Young Public School in Emo and the child care retrofit project at Robert Moore School in Fort Frances will each create three child care rooms conveniently located in an existing school setting, and each will offer local families an additional 49 child care spaces.

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FFHS students tackle cardboard boat challenge

10/30/2019

A handful of students from Fort Frances High School took part in a unique competition last week. Eight Grade 7 students from Angela Petsnick's science class travelled to Dryden to take part in a cardboard boat competition.

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FFHS play aims to scare audiences silly

10/23/2019

Fort Frances High School will be presenting “Scared Silly" Oct. 24-26 at the Townshend Theatre. The fall play is a spooky and funny collection of nine short skits bound together in an anthology style like "Creepshow" or "Tales from the Crypt.”

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Cafeteria open once again at FFHS

10/15/2019

Fort Frances High School (FFHS) administration is pleased that students there are once again able to purchase healthy lunches from the cafeteria, which is now operating as The Caf Co. – a not-for-profit enterprise headed by NCDS. The Caf Co. opened Friday with a soft launch, offering a menu of fruit smoothies, chicken caesar wraps, meat and cheese snack bowls, yogurt parfaits, and more.

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Author Eric Walters visits schools

09/27/2019

A Canadian author shared his love for reading with students across the Rainy River district. Eric Walters visited three schools in the district Sept. 23-25 - Donald Young School, Crossroads School, and Robert Moore School.

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RRDSB announces 2018-2019 EQAO results

09/25/2019

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.

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RRDSB focusing on concussion education

09/18/2019

On Wednesday, September 25, 2019, the Rainy River District School Board will recognize Rowan’s Law Day to help raise awareness about concussion safety.

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A Kindergarten Adventure

09/11/2019

It’s back to school again and that means a whole new batch of kids are learning what it means to get up early, hop on a bus, and carry a backpack on their shoulders.

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Two Student Trustees for RRDSB

09/04/2019

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.

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RRDSB to apply for funding for a new K-12 school in Rainy River

09/04/2019

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.

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Lunch to return to FFHS cafeteria

08/26/2019

Students and staff attending Fort Frances High School this year will soon see the return of a long-lost option for lunches. NCDS announced that through grant funding, they are overseeing the creation of “The Caf Co.”—a not-for-profit enterprise that is aiming to bring lunch service back to the high school cafeteria.

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Board passes balanced budget

06/26/2019

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.

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Another strong step forward for AHS band

06/17/2019

Five years of steady progress was in evidence Wednesday afternoon when the AHS band took to the stage. They filled the school auditorium with a full, rich sound for 45 minutes, covering everything from the classics - both classical and rock varieties - to traditional band pieces and modern hits, under the direction of bandmaster and teacher, Eric Arner.

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Province Approves Rainy River Project

06/10/2019

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.

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Fort High class helps protect watershed

06/05/2019

A local group of students has been working hard to raise awareness on the impacts of pollutants going into storm drains throughout the town.

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RRDSB recognizes volunteers and employees

06/05/2019

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.

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Students participate in speech contest

05/30/2019

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.

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RRDSB to offer Pride workshop

05/29/2019

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.

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Students share knowledge, skills for display day

05/29/2019

With another school year drawing to a close, students at Fort Frances High School got to flex their creative muscles and show off some newly developed skills to their classmates.

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Secondary students successful in DELF testing

05/21/2019

During Education Week earlier this month, 16 Grade 12 students from Fort Frances High School and Atikokan High School took the Diplôme d’études en langue française (DELF) exam. The Rainy River District School Board is pleased to announce that all students passed.

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RMS Grade 7/8s to move to FFHS in the fall

05/08/2019

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

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Board gathers input on Grade 7/8 student move

04/11/2019

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).

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Ojibwe Language Strategy Launched

04/10/2019

Rainy River District School Board, Seven Generations Education

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District students protest cuts

04/10/2019

Students from Fort High and Rainy River recently took a stand for their education.

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Parents get educated on gaming addiction

04/10/2019

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

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Author visits Crossroads

04/03/2019

Crossroads School students ended out last week both inspired and motivated to become better writers.

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Voyageur Robotics team returns from competition

04/01/2019

The Voyageur Robotics team came back from the district competition at York University fired up … to say the least.

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Local students among top at Regional Science Fair

03/30/2019

Michael Redford (FFHS) and Tatum Ronmark (RMS) finished second and third, respectively, in the Sunset Country Regional Science Fair on March 30, 2019.

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Nominations now open for Recognition of Service Awards

03/29/2019

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.

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Capital Project update given

03/27/2019

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

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Revived science fair a hit at North Star

03/25/2019

Seven Grade 5 and 6 students at North Star Community School accepted the challenge of participating in the school's first science fair in many years.

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Board outlines mental health support efforts

03/13/2019

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

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Builders Club back at Robert Moore

02/27/2019

The student-run Builders Club has returned to Robert Moore School earlier this year after a lengthy hiatus and is ready to make its community a better place.

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RMS Grade 7/8s may go to FFHS

02/27/2019

Grades 7 and 8 students from Robert Moore School could be moving into Fort Frances High School this September.

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Special Education program touted

02/14/2019

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

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K-12 school on track for September 2020 opening

02/11/2019

The Rainy River District School Board released the latest update on the Atikokan K-12 school project last week.

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Board focused on creating 'Culture of Caring'

01/30/2019

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.

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Indigenous Education top priority for Board

01/30/2019

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.

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House Groups launched at FFHS

01/30/2019

A fun idea has returned to Fort Frances High School to boost morale and build community, as well as help students develop a sense of belonging and “Muskie Pride.” The “House Groups” program divides students into 20 teams, who then are given opportunities to earn points for their team through participation, involvement, leadership, and succeeding in various activities.

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Dave Small sends updates from the jungle

Student get a close up look at life in the jungle

01/30/2019

At the beginning of the year, SCAP teacher Wilma Kooistra brought in Dave Small to speak with her class. He’s been working with Free Burma Rangers for several years, bringing aid and good news to Burmese refugees and those deep in the jungle in need of help. Little did she know that bringing him into the classroom one time would turn into an ongoing relationship for the class.

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AHS students learn about e-cigarettes

01/28/2019

Just because it's less harmful than smoking doesn't mean it is harmless. That was the central message in a discussion about vaping at Atikokan High school led by the Northwestern Health Unit's youth engagement coordinator, Catherine Kiewning, on Jan. 16. She lived up to the job title, fully engaging a big group of senior students during a one-hour session.

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MicroWorlds Jr. available in Ojibwe

01/17/2019

Canadian students can now develop their computational thinking skills while reinforcing their knowledge of the Ojibwe language, thanks to a new Ojibwe language version of the award-winning MicroWorlds JR software released today. TakingITGlobal’s Executive Director Jennifer Corriero joined students and educators at Mine Centre School in Mine Centre, Ontario to demonstrate the new coding software.

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Regional Kindergarten Registration 2019

01/16/2019

The school boards in Northwestern Ontario have teamed up to once again offer families a Regional Kindergarten Registration Week for 2019.

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SCAP sings carols around Emo

12/19/2018

Students from Sturgeon Creek Alternative Program have found a way to bring the festive sounds of carols to residents of Emo. Three groups, made up of students from Kindergarten to Grade 12, make their way to different locations around the town to spread good cheer.

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Bike repair as an introduction to the trades

12/17/2018

Grade 7 and 8 students at Atikokan High School and across the Rainy River District School Board are developing a new set of skills: bike repair. The Techways Program aims to encourage students to consider the trades as a potential career pathway.

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Co-op Program can help students find a career

12/13/2018

To help high school students determine their interest in certain careers, Fort Frances High School runs a Co-op Program each semester, in which student get first -hand experience at a workplace to each school credits.

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Christmas Concert Season

12/10/2018

It's Christmas Concert season! Please join us for any of the school's performances or events!

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Dianne McCormack outgoing chair of the board

Outgoing Chair will miss being a trustee

12/05/2018

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.

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Rainy River District School Board elects new Chair and Vice Chair

12/05/2018

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.

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Students provide input on province's education consultation

11/28/2018

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.

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RRDSB recognizes Bullying Awareness and Prevention Week

11/19/2018

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.

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Mike Lewis to leave Board Sept. 30

09/20/2018

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

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Rainy River District School Board announces Grade 3, 6, and 9 and OSSLT EQAO test results

09/19/2018

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.

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Katelyn Bruyere takes student trustee oath

09/13/2018

Katelyn Bruyere took the Student Trustee Oath of

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Public board pushes back on sex-ed issue

09/13/2018

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.

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Premier's 'snitch line' concerns Board Trustees

09/12/2018

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.

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Transportation contract awarded to new provider

06/25/2018

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,

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Rainy River District School Board passes balanced budget

06/20/2018

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.

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Rainy River District School Board recognizes volunteers and employees

06/06/2018

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.

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RRDSB reaches tentative agreement with OSSTF District 5B Occasional Teachers

10/14/2017

On October 12, 2016, the Rainy River District School Board reached a tentative agreement at the local level with the Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation (OSSTF) 5B occasional teachers.

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Musical Stories of the Heart coming to RRHS

05/04/2017

Students from Rainy River High School and Riverview School will be performing "Musical Stories of the Heart" next Thursday

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FFHS presents Mary Poppins

05/04/2017

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PROJECT PROVIDING TEACHERS WITH NEW WAYS TO TEACH PHYS ED

05/04/2017

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Jump Rope for Heart

05/03/2017

Students at Robert Moore School participated in Jump Rope for Heart yesterday. Several RRDSB schools are joining the 4,000 schools across Canada to embrace the fundraiser that helps support the Heart and Stroke Foundation.