RIFFEL RECOGNIZED FOR CREATING AN EXCELLENT LEARNING ENVIRONMENT

Today Premier Lorne Calvert congratulated Michael A. Riffel High School in Regina on being an excellent example of the provincial government's SchoolPLUS initiative and how it can create a positive learning environment in which students can excel.

"Our government is committed to SchoolPLUS and we strongly believe it is the way of the future in the field of education. It is a new way of thinking about education and a new way of working together with our partners," Calvert said. "By encouraging student leadership development, Riffel High School and the surrounding community are on a quest for success. Much of their success is attributed to working closely with parents and developing strong community partnerships which is what SchoolPLUS is all about."

SchoolPLUS actively engages students, educators, human service associations, families and communities as well as seven government departments to support the well-being and learning success of children and young people.

Among the many accomplishments Riffel has achieved, it is one of eight schools recognized for creating an excellent learning environment.

"Regina Catholic Schools have been embracing school improvement projects in a Catholic context for over a decade," Regina Catholic Schools Board Chair Donna Ziegler said. "All of our schools understand the importance of nurturing relationships and building strong partnerships with communities – all key ingredients for student success and community achievement. Regina Catholic will continue to review the framework of SchoolPLUS to ensure its alignment with our school division's established and successful history of community involvement and school partnerships."

Riley Sisco, Michael A. Riffel High School SRC President is thrilled with Riffel's commitment to the community. "Riffel strives to uphold the tradition of being a loving and welcoming community," Sisco said. "Our success has a great deal to do with inclusion – even though inclusion is a part of our faith, every student is encouraged to go beyond the Riffel community by volunteering time in the larger community of Regina. We are often amazed at how our community embraces students and how good we feel about being of service to others."

SchoolPLUS will evolve over time and will be implemented in every school and community across Saskatchewan. Through SchoolPLUS, parents in rural communities will have a stronger voice and opportunity to provide input within the new restructured school divisions.

SchoolPLUS recognizes that schools have two primary functions. The first function is to educate and develop the whole child and young person. The second function is to provide services and supports. Through SchoolPLUS, schools today and in the future will serve as centres of the community for the delivery of appropriate social, health, recreation, cultural, justice and other services for young people and their families.

The Regina Roman Catholic School Division is one of 39 school divisions actively involved with the SchoolPLUS School and Division Improvement projects.

To find out more about SchoolPLUS visit http://www.schoolplus.gov.sk.ca/.

(A media backgrounder is attached – Michael A. Riffel High School: Community Connections – SchoolPLUS.)

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For More Information, Contact:

Jacquie McLean Learning Regina Phone: (306) 787-5609