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John Dolan School
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News Archive

Board of Education meeting recognizes bravery of staff, students

December 09, 2021
The quick reaction to keep students safe when a moose crashed into Sylvia Fedoruk School was recognized during the Dec.7 meeting of the Saskatoon Board of Education.
Two staff members of the Boys & Girls Club of Saskatoon ensured students were able to exit the building after the moose burst through...

Trustees learn about science kit program, COVID-19 response

December 01, 2021
A connection to science and hands-on learning at Montgomery School is being shared throughout the school division, trustees were told during the Celebrating Excellence portion of the Board of Education's Nov. 23 meeting.
The school's maker's lab offers learning activities in three forms: tinkering to learn, making to learn, and application...

MacPherson to serve third term as Board of Education chair

November 09, 2021
The challenge of educating students during a global pandemic has highlighted the strength of Saskatoon Public Schools, according to the Saskatoon Board of Education's chairperson.
Colleen MacPherson, who was acclaimed to a third term as chair during the board's inaugural meeting Nov. 9, said the past year has shown that Saskatoon...

Flag raising honours partnerships with First Nations, Métis communities

November 03, 2021
The sight of the Treaty 6, Whitecap Dakota First Nation, and Métis flags flying above Saskatoon Public Schools' Board of Education office was a welcome sign for Chief Mark Arcand.
Arcand, chief of the Saskatoon Tribal Council, joined representatives of the school division and Whitecap Dakota and Métis communities on Nov....

Board of Education hears how outreach workers help students Reconnect

October 26, 2021
The creation of six outreach worker positions designed to support staff in re-engaging students and supporting student mental health was highlighted during the Celebrating Excellence portion of the Board of Education's Oct. 12 meeting.
The primary work of an outreach worker is reconnection with families and support school staff and the...

Employee vaccination procedure approved by Saskatoon Public Schools

October 25, 2021
Saskatoon Public Schools has approved an administrative procedure that will require employees to be fully vaccinated or provide regular negative COVID-19 test results.
 
Administrative Procedure 415 COVID-19 Vaccination and Testing was approved by the division's administrative council on Monday, Oct. 25. While the procedure has been adopted by the administration, it is...

School division will require staff to show proof of vaccination or test status

October 07, 2021

Saskatoon Public Schools is committed to protecting the health and well-being of our students and staff members. As such, the school division is currently developing an administrative procedure on employee vaccinations. This administrative procedure will require all staff members to show proof of full vaccination against COVID-19 or provide...

Every Child Matters flag flies over board office

September 28, 2021
On a sunny September morning, a small group of school division employees gathered on a rooftop to make history.
In a ceremony led by Don Speidel, the cultural resource liaison for Saskatoon Public Schools, the school division raised the Every Child Matters flag atop the Board of Education office. Located at...

Saskatoon Public Schools recognizing National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

September 10, 2021
Saskatoon Public Schools is committed to recognizing the importance of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on September 30. The school division is moving the professional development/planning day for teachers scheduled for Oct. 8 to Sept. 30. This means there will be no classes for all prekindergarten to Grade 12...

School community councils holding annual meetings

September 08, 2021
Saskatoon Public Schools' school community councils (SCC) hold annual meetings to elect representatives for the 2021-22 school year.  Annual meetings are held in either the spring or fall of the school year.
The SCC acts in an advisory role to the school, the Board of Education and other agencies and organizations. The...

Saskatoon Public Schools releases back-to-school handbooks

August 23, 2021
Saskatoon Public Schools has released its plan that outlines the school division's commitment to providing safe learning and working environments for our students and staff members. "Guidance from local public health officials continues to provide necessary guidance for our operational decisions at both the elementary and collegiate levels," said Director of...

Board of Education approves operating budget for 2021-22

June 16, 2021
The Saskatoon Board of Education has approved its operating budget for the upcoming academic year, which will see expenses of $287.7 million, an increase of $9.4 million over last year.
Provincial government operating funding increased two per cent ($4.6 million) for the year, which mainly covers the provincially negotiated salary increase...

​Division's pandemic response highlighted for Board of Education

April 27, 2021
Information about the school division's ongoing response to the COVID-19 pandemic was shared with trustees during the Board of Education meeting held April 20.
Senior administration continues to meet regularly with medical health officers regarding the pandemic and its impact on learning and school communities. The division is in possession of...

School-year calendar set for 2021-22; first day of classes Sept. 1

February 10, 2021
All students will begin the 2021-22 school year on Wednesday, Sept. 1, 2021, according to the 2021-22 school year calendar approved by the Board of Education.
The calendar represents a total of 185 instructional days for elementary students and 182 days for collegiate students, with a minimum of 950 hours of instruction.
...

Trustees hear about creative approaches to mark Remembrance Day

December 15, 2020
Honouring those who served took on a unique look in schools this year.
All schools typically observe Remembrance Day prior to November 11, however due to COVID-19 health guidelines and a significant winter storm, school ceremonies in schools looked different this year, trustees heard during the Celebrating Excellence portion of the...

Report to Community highlights year of learning, challenges

December 14, 2020
Saskatoon Public Schools' 2019-20 Report to the Community is a snapshot of an academic year that was filled with much joy and many triumphs and accomplishments, but also unprecedented challenges.
The division's highlights the work done by staff and students to continue to learn and celebrate community while facing the uncertainty of...

Three new trustees join Board of Education; MacPherson named chair

November 16, 2020
​ Three new trustees were welcomed to the Saskatoon Board of Education during the inaugural meeting held Nov. 16. New trustees joining the board following the recent civic and school board elections are Michael Pidwerbeski in Ward 1, Kim Stranden in Ward 4, and Angela Arneson in Ward 10. Incumbent trustee...

Sensory playground offers unique experiences to John Dolan students

October 10, 2018
A new sensory playground at John Dolan School was expected to create a welcoming atmosphere for the school's students and children of all abilities, but Charmaine Bellamy says the profound effect it had on both her son and herself came as a surprise.
Bellamy, a John Dolan parent and board of...

First day of school for all division students is Thursday, Sept. 1

August 15, 2016
The first day of September will also be the first day of school for all Saskatoon Public Schools students as they head back to classes on Thursday, Sept. 1. Elementary school students will attend for registration during the morning only on Sept. 1 and will be dismissed for the day at the...

Therapeutic swing space enhances student learning and wellness

April 19, 2016
Our Therapeutic Swing Space was developed in collaboration with our physical therapist and occupational therapist.   Swinging is not only a fun physical activity, it can also be very therapeutic in terms of sensory regulation and overall wellness. We have a variety of types of swings to ensure access and comfort for...

Mary Vinish Snoezelen Park provides a sensory environment

March 09, 2016
The Mary Vinish Snoezelen Park at John Dolan School is a multi-sensory environment creating a magical world of sensory delights to foster relaxation, cooperation and participation through sensory-based stations based on Snoezelen concepts and philosophy.
Inside a Snoezelen room you can expect to experience a soft, safe, and stimulating environment with...

Board of Education meeting recognizes bravery of staff, students

December 09, 2021
The quick reaction to keep students safe when a moose crashed into Sylvia Fedoruk School was recognized during the Dec.7 meeting of the Saskatoon Board of Education.
Two staff members of the Boys & Girls Club of Saskatoon ensured students were able to exit the building after the moose burst through...

Trustees learn about science kit program, COVID-19 response

December 01, 2021
A connection to science and hands-on learning at Montgomery School is being shared throughout the school division, trustees were told during the Celebrating Excellence portion of the Board of Education's Nov. 23 meeting.
The school's maker's lab offers learning activities in three forms: tinkering to learn, making to learn, and application...

MacPherson to serve third term as Board of Education chair

November 09, 2021
The challenge of educating students during a global pandemic has highlighted the strength of Saskatoon Public Schools, according to the Saskatoon Board of Education's chairperson.
Colleen MacPherson, who was acclaimed to a third term as chair during the board's inaugural meeting Nov. 9, said the past year has shown that Saskatoon...

Flag raising honours partnerships with First Nations, Métis communities

November 03, 2021
The sight of the Treaty 6, Whitecap Dakota First Nation, and Métis flags flying above Saskatoon Public Schools' Board of Education office was a welcome sign for Chief Mark Arcand.
Arcand, chief of the Saskatoon Tribal Council, joined representatives of the school division and Whitecap Dakota and Métis communities on Nov....

Board of Education hears how outreach workers help students Reconnect

October 26, 2021
The creation of six outreach worker positions designed to support staff in re-engaging students and supporting student mental health was highlighted during the Celebrating Excellence portion of the Board of Education's Oct. 12 meeting.
The primary work of an outreach worker is reconnection with families and support school staff and the...