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Youth

ᐅᔅᒋᓃᒎ

Youth - Elementary & Secondary

The Cree School Board's Youth Sector offers education at 15 schools in nine communities ranging from Pre-Kindergarten to Secondary V. In all communities, the Board supports students through focused leadership, best practices and collaboration with partners.

The Youth Sector of the Board falls under the leadership of the Deputy Director General (Pedagogical), the Director of School Operations, and the Director of Education Services. 

Teaching & Learning

FAQ

Is today a PED Day?

Our school employees take part in PED (Pedagogical) days each school year. These are used for training workshops and other professional development activities for teachers. They are listed on the school calendar and in the Upcoming Events section of your school's website.

Are the buses running?

We know you rely on bus transportation, especially for younger children. We have created an alert system on each school's website to alert you when buses are not running. You can also tune into the radio or check your school's Facebook page or group.

Where I can find homework info for my child?

Your first point of contact should always be the teacher; however, if you are not receiving information about homework expectations, you may wish to discuss this further with the principal or vice-principal.

How can I rent the school gym?

Rentals of school facilities are handles through the Community Education Administrator. Please contact the CEA for your community.

Does my child need a backpack?

We encourage students of all ages to carry a backpack to and from school. If you make it a habit to check the backpack when your child returns home from school, you will be less likely to miss important communication from your child's teacher or the school office.

My child is being bullied at school; who should I call?

The Cree School Board does not tolerate bullying. Please contact your School Principal if you have a concern.

Beyond the Classroom

Environmental Stewardship

Respect for our environment is one of the values of Cree culture. We encourage students through curriculum content and socially to develop this value and practice it. For us, environmental stewardship means preserving our surroundings (earth, air, and water), ensuring we make as small a footprint as possible. We encourage a home-school-community partnership to reinforce this value. 

Cree Culture Classes

Cree culture classes ensure that students receive essential teachings of the Cree way of life all the way through their education as youth. Our classes help to develop Cree life-skills in hunting, fishing and trapping. Every effort is also made to extend the teachings to full-day (or several-day) sessions such as in our Caribou Teachings partnerships with local cultural centres. 

Mental Health

Each child's social-emotional well-being can affect his or her ability to succeed in school. The popular term for this is mental health, and we know, as Cree, that a state of positive mental health is characterized by balance, self-confidence, and kindness. We offer programs in our schools aimed at helping students develop these essential aspects of well-being. If you have a concern about your child's well-being, we invite you to approach your child's teacher or principal.

Specialized Programs

Mikw Chiyâm

Mikw Chiyâm is an interdisciplinary arts program that pairs students with Canadian Indigenous and non-Indigenous artists to learn techniques of creative expression in a variety of media.

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Aboriginal Youth Entrepreneurship Program

In 2008, the Martin Family Initiative launched the Aboriginal Youth Entrepreneurship Program (AYEP), a program for Secondary IV and V students. It was designed specifically to introduce Indigenous students to the wide range of business opportunities available to them. 

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Resources

Youth Fusion

We partner with the award-winning learning-enrichment provider Youth Fusion in order to ensure our students are offered a range of opportunities. 

Youth Fusion supplements Cree School Board programming with enrichment in the arts, science and engineering, design, and leadership and entrepreneurship. Our students are given opportunities such as Robotics and Healthy Living through this partnership, which is offered before and after school, as well as during lunch periods. 

SNAP

Though a partnership with Cree Justice and Correctional Services, a custom-designed behavioural enrichment program - SNAP (Stop Now and Plan) - has been offered in each of our elementary schools since 2014.

The programming is comprised of interactive lessons offered by a trained SNAP Coordinator in the classroom setting. Teachers and students take part. It is research-based and is supported by the National Child Development Institute.

SNAP also offers one-on-one programming and also initiated a SNAP for Parents program to help encourage parents to mimic the program at home.

Youth Enrichment Services

Through a partnership with Cree Justice and Corrections, our secondary school students and staff are offered a range of support.

The Cree Alternative Suspension Program offers support to at-risk youth in three high schools. Students whose difficult behavior disrupts the classroom or escalates in nature are offered the option of taking an alternative to at-home suspension. Students participate in facilitated culturally relevant workshops designed to teach them skills and build their self-esteem. After five days, they re-entered the classroom with support.

Students are also given opportunities to attend other events such as an annual WE Day celebration, summer camps, and other enriched opportunities.

Elephant Thoughts

Staff from Elephant Thoughts visit each school regularly to help enrich the learning experience for youth. The goal is to support our youth to graduate and develop excitement around learning. Elephant Thoughts provides after-school and lunchtime tutoring that is particularly valuable as students prepare for final exams.

Literacy Camps

Cree School Board partners with Frontier College to provide a free four-week summer Literacy Camp in each community. The camps have been specifically developed for children ages six to twelve to develop literacy skills and engage students in reading. 

Regional Events