Black Gold School Division hosted its annual Welcome Back & Long Service Awards Ceremony at Leduc Composite High School. The morning event brought together approximately 700 teachers and support staff to officially kick off “back to school” and celebrate service achievements and recognize special award recipients.
Grade 8 French Immersion students, Quinn O’Dwyer and Sammy Kharfan, from École Leduc Junior High School, as well as Grade 10 French Immersion students, Liam Bolton and Madeleine Dufour, emceed the morning event which included acknowledgement of ancestral and traditional territory of Indigenous peoples and recognized the hard work of all Black Gold School staff.
Board Chair Devonna Klaassen and Superintendent Bill Romanchuk also provided opening comments. Klaassen reminded staff in the words of Conan O’Brian to, “work hard, be kind and amazing things will happen.”
Representatives Kim Mason, ATA Local No. 8; Jamie Onslow, CUPE Local #1674; Natasha Warnock, CUPE Local #3484; Cheryl Taylor, TEAMSTERS Local Union 987; and Lynn Ohlmann and Trish Forster from the Bus Contractors’ Association also brought greetings from their unions and or associations.
Later in the event, new staff were welcomed to the Division. Retirees and employees who provided 25 and 30 years of service were also officially recognized as part of the Long Service Award Presentations. To conclude the event, video presentations recognized the Superintendent’s Service Award of Excellence recipient – Janet Sarvas as well as the Inspiring Success Award of Distinction recipient – Kathy Timmons.
On behalf of the Division, thank you to all those that organized and supported this year’s event, as well as Jo-Anne Hendriks, Teacher, École Beau Meadow School for leading the national anthem and the Black Gold House Band for their musical rendition of Joan Jett’s “I Love Rock’n Roll”..
The Welcome Back & Long Service Awards Ceremony is followed up annually by a Professional Development Day for teachers and support staff in the afternoon.
2019 Welcome Back Long Service and Retiree Recognition List
Long Service Award Presentations
Staff New to Black Gold School Division
Superintendent’s Service Award of Excellence
Award of Distinction – Inspiring Success
Welcome Back & Long Service Award Ceremony Program Photos
Morning Mingles at the Welcome Back & Long Service Award Ceremony
