Pictured L-R: Following Their Voices Lead Teacher, Lisa Cowell; FTV Facilitator, Brittany Fedler; Vice Principal, Emilie Wolfe. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Martin Martinson

Starting Fall 2021

St. Mary selected as first ‘Following Their Voices’ elementary school in community

Jun 2, 2021 | 5:05 PM

St. Mary School has been selected as the first elementary school to take part in the “Following Their Voices” initiative in the community.

Following Their Voices (FTV) is an initiative designed to raise the educational achievement and participation of First Nations, Métis and Inuit students in the province, focusing on enhancing relationships between students and teachers and creating supports for staff to work together with students to create safe, well-managed learning environments.

Brittany Fedler, who teaches Grades 6 and 7 at St. Mary also serves as the school’s Following Their Voices facilitator. She said they are looking forward to implementing the initiative after seeing how it’s made a positive impact already in the community since being started at John Paul II Collegiate High School back in 2017.

“We’d heard so much success from John Paul II using this, so we had been asking about how this could possibly work with the elementary school [too]. So we’re really excited about it,” Fedler said.

“This fits perfectly with our school’s vision for next year, and we’re excited to be the first elementary school in North Battleford to have it. We have an awesome team ready for it, and our staff is really looking forward to seeing what it’s going to look like in the fall.”

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Lisa Cowell, who will teach Grades 5 and 6 next year serves as the FTV lead teacher, alongside Fedler. She too said she is pleased to be involved with the initiative, which should only help students as they progress through their school years.

“It’s something that should really benefit the students, and it’s great that it’s going to carry on through JPII at the high school level as well. So starting from the ground up it will be there to benefit the [next generation] of students,” Cowell said.

“I’m really grateful I was chosen to be the lead teacher on this and look forward to working with Brittany [Fedler] and Emilie Wolfe, who is our admin on this program.”

Following Their Voices is based on research that was conducted with First Nations and Métis students, parents/caregivers, teachers and school administrators about what is needed in order to be successful as a First Nations or Métis student in school.

Words and insights, along with international research and guidance from Elders and Knowledge Keepers, formed the foundation of the initiative.

A release from the Light of Christ Catholic School Division stated teachers who have participated in FTV report their planning becomes more reflective of student needs through inclusion of individual ways of knowing, leading to greater trust, both in the classroom and throughout the school. Students have said they feel like they matter more.

Vice-Principal Emilie Wolfe added in the release that the school takes pride in ensuring their students feel understood and supported.

“At St. Mary School, our staff shares in the belief that we are able to achieve collective goals and overcome challenges to support student achievement,” Wolfe said.

“Following Their Voices will provide the necessary resources and tools to develop a deeper understanding of Indigenous culture, actions to implement joyful learning and culturally affirmed ways to support students in creating real choices in their futures.”

St. Mary School was selected for the initiative by the Priority Action Team in the Ministry of Education. To keep up to date with what’s happening at St. Mary School, visit their Facebook page.

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Martin.Martinson@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @MartyMartyPxP1