PREFERRED VENDOR/PARTNER n Intellimedia www.intellimedia.ca grade nine program is performing well, the emphasis is now on enhancing high school performance. “Our big focus now is on high school,” Lewis says, specifically improving attendance and academic outcomes. This includes a targeted push on STEM education and career readiness, ensuring students fully know their options beyond graduation. On her part, Karpluk reflects on the district’s rural identity as both a point of pride and a guiding principle for its educational mission. “We’re proud to be rural, and we’re proud to be a public school division,” she says. After exploring post-secondary options, there’s a hope that students will return to their communities, contributing to the vibrancy and strength of rural life. “The rural students, for the most part, appreciate the benefits of growing up in the rural areas,” she notes. The vision is for students to graduate ready to pursue their dreams, equipped with the understanding that their rural upbringing is an asset, not a limitation. At the heart of these efforts is a shared belief in the transformative power of education. “It’s the most important work in the world,” Karpluk affirms, reflecting on the district’s efforts to prepare students for a future filled with possibilities. As Grande Yellowhead District Schools forge ahead, excellence and innovation within a rural context remain a guiding light, driven by the conviction that educating youth is indeed the most significant investment in our collective future. 386 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 05, ISSUE 10
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