There are three schools in Moosonee, each of which is administered by a separate School Board. The Moosonee Public School, grades JK-8, has approximately 275 students and is overseen by the Moosonee District School Area Board; the Bishop Belleau School, with a population of 75, operates under the Northeastern Catholic District School Board; and Northern Lights Secondary School, has about 180 students, and is managed by the James Bay Lowlands Secondary School Board. A NEW DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION In April 2022, Ontario’s Ministry of Education appointed Angela Tozer as Director of Education for both the Moosonee and James Bay Lowland districts. “We used to be two separate entities in all aspects,” Angela recounts.“Approving a Director of Education permitted us to align between JBLSSB and MDSAB to try and do as much as we can with the Boards and our trustees collaborating. This is the 73rd Director position in the province, and with this position being approved, the message to all is that our students and our schools do matter. We’re part of the provincial education system.And we now have a voice, which is very important. We’re included, which didn’t always happen in provincial education initiatives.” THE SAME, YET DIFFERENT For Tozer and the two Boards, there’s a delicate balancing act in play. On the one hand, having a seat at the table means that they no longer consider themselves distinct from all the other school districts in Ontario.“We always thought that we were different,” Angela reveals. “And we’re not different. We’ve got awesome students, staff, and schools up here.” In fact, in many ways, the two schools are very much in line with modern pedagogic practices elsewhere. The learning opportunities in Moosonee have unique character, challenges, and possibilities, which means our education system will reflect those components. “It’s a different context, for sure, but different doesn’t mean better or worse. And what we’re really about here is learning preparedness and well-being. And our two main priorities are meaningful, authentic, valuable connections, and powerful learning opportunities and environments.” One aspect, in which the schools are “different” in this remote section of Indigenous Canada, is their focus on authentic and meaningful teaching when it comes to the culture and history of the area. “We work with our staff to ensure that any learning that’s happening in our schools takes into account the cultural aspects of our work up here,” says Carman Tozer, Indigenous Lead for James Bay Lowlands 3 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 05, ISSUE 07 JAMES BAY LOWLANDS SECONDARY SCHOOL BOARD & MOOSONEE DISTRICT AR
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