When the bell rang to end the school week May 25, signaling the weekend, many teachers and staff members gathered at the Tropical Inn in North Battleford instead of heading home for some time to relax and recharge.
The reason - the 24th annual Light of Christ Catholic School Division appreciation night was held to honour years of service, retirees and award winners. One of the larger crowds the event had hosted in over two decades shared a meal and paid tribute to their co-workers and teachers from the division.
"It is important to show our appreciation for the excellent work in the school division," said board chairperson Glen Gantefoer, as he welcomed the guests to the event.
The first awards presented were the Lumen Christi Awards. Yvonne Arsenault was the recipient of the alumni friend award. Arsenault, along with her late husband, are long time supporters of Catholic education. The Arsenaults instilled those values in their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Arsenault volunteered countless hours to Catholic education and was an amazing advocate who helped share and spread the faith.
"Our family put great emphasis on education, especially Catholic education," said Arsenault, who was proud and humbled by the award she received.
The faculty Lumen Christi Award winner was David McQuaid, a teacher at John Paul II, faith role model in the community and member of the St. Vital Church in Battleford.
Following the Lumen Christi Awards, 53 LOCCSD teachers, central office employees and support staff members were honoured for their monumental years of service.
Rose Balfour was honoured for 35 years of service.
In the 30-year category were Pauline Bingham, Pauline Dewan and Maurice View.
Gisele Blais, John Chipak and David McQuaid were honoured for 25 years of service to the school division.
The 20-year honourees were Sandra Burns, Nancy Caird, Kelvin Colliar, Tom Hawboldt, Nadine Keller, Laurie Letrud, Pat Loweryson, Sylvie Masich, Doug Sieben, Cheryl Thompson, David Weber and Vivian Zimmer.
The 15 years of service employees were Laureen Booth, Stacey Delorme, Laurie deMontigny, Jerry Duchscher, Shelly Fransoo, Nancy Fullerton, Debra LaFreniere, Yvonne Loehndorf and Val Yockey.
Dana Alexander, Becky Anderson, Darlene Baer, Trina Bahrey, Janet Benoit, Gary Boechler, Roxanne Brandle, Marianne Cardinal, Loralee Cawood, Cheryl Dunits, Rena Fauchon-Smockum, Caralynn Gidych, Tammy Iverson, Donna Jackson, Donald Johnson, Rita Kappel, Irene Lascelle-St. Cyr, Agi McQuaid, Nicole Michelman, Deanna Poitras, Joyce Polard, Marion Schell, Lori Spanier, Rhonda Turgeon and Jodie Westwood were honoured for 10 years of service.
Eight employees who will be retiring at the end of the school year were acknowledged.
Gary Baecholer taught in five major cities in Saskatchewan as well as Alberta and British Columbia before finding his way into the LOCCSD and serving as either a teacher or administrator. Baecholer has been in involved in education for 33 years and was also instrumental in several football programs at the schools he taught at - most recently Baecholer was one of the coaches of the John Paul II Crusaders, who played in their first season in the school's history in 2011.
Murray Zakresky started teaching in 1979 at St. Thomas College and since has moved to John Paul II. Zakresky's best advice for his fellow teachers was, "you need to determine when to laugh with the students and when to wait for them to leave the room to laugh."
The other John Paul II teacher to retire at the end of the school year is Pauline Dewan.
Holy Family principal Shane Hosegood was also honoured as a retiree. Hosegood graduated from Radisson School before going to the University of Saskatchewan from 1974 to '79 and quickly starting his teaching career in the Battlefords.
Carol Oke a member of the Notre Dame Elementary School staff is retiring after this school year. Oke stated reasons in her top 10 list as to why she is retiring and some included that the students she first taught are now over 40 and some of her students are now her colleagues.
Liz Duncan has been a teacher and administrator spanning four decades and spent many years in small town schools. She is now the principal of St. George School, which will be closing at the end of this school year. Duncan commented in her biography, "the journey is more important that the destination," and she looks forward to her journey after retirement.
Another St. George employee, Helen Miller will be retiring this year as well. Miller worked for 17 years as the librarian at St. George School in Wilkie and says she will miss the students and staff at St. George greatly.
The final retiree is Candice Brownlee, who worked in a private pre-school position before becoming an educational assistant, a substitute and learning assistant in Unity. Brownlee will retire from St. Peter's at the end of the school year.
