Jennifer Ratt, centre, sits next to Lt-Gov. Russ Mirasty during a special ceremony in La Ronge. (submitted photo/Office of the Lieutenant Governor)

By Derek Cornet

Student achievement

Six northerners including La Ronge student earn award of excellence

Sep 30, 2019 | 5:00 PM

Six students from across northern Saskatchewan, including one from La Ronge’s Churchill Community High School (CCHS), received the Lieutenant Governor’s Award of Excellence last week.

Lac La Ronge Indian Band member Jennifer Ratt completed Grade 7 at CCHS last June and, according to information provided by the Office of the Lieutenant Governor, she had strong academic marks and a 91 per cent attendance rate. She is also an athlete in several sports and represented Team Woodland at the latest Tony Cote First Nations Games in golf. Ratt is known for her volunteer work and for mentoring younger children in how to deal with bullying in a positive manner.

“We have quite a few strong students, but when you look at attendance and academics, they just go hand-in-hand,” CCHS Math Teacher Douglas Preikschat said. “She was pretty much here every day last year and put in a good effort, so the academics fell into place.”

Preikschat also described Ratt as “a good kid” and someone who has a good attitude towards school. He also stated that Ratt winning the award shows there are good educational opportunities for students in La Ronge.

“It does look good for Jennifer, obviously, but also for the school just to show we do have good programming and we do have a lot of students who are performing at a high level,” Preikschat said.

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Ratt is also knowledgeable in traditional skills, which she’s learned for her family and community members. She has participated in winter camps, canoe trips and has learned about fish, moose and elk preparation, as well as snaring animals and fish. Ratt is also able to identify most plants and trees in the region.

Joseph Desjarlais of Île-à-la-Crosse, not pictured, graduated from Grade 12 with an academic average of 96% and 100% attendance. (Office of the Lieutenant Governor of Saskatchewan/Facebook)

Other students to receive the Lieutenant Governor’s Award of Excellence include Payton Chandler for Miniahik Waskahigan High School in Pinehouse Lake, Peyton Cook from Southend’s Reindeer Lake School, Joseph Desjarlais from Île-à-la-Crosse’s Rossignol High School, Emily Hanson from Twin Lakes Community School in Buffalo Narrows and Shannon Williamson from Creighton Community School.

The Northern Student Achievement Awards were established in 1989 by the Saskatchewan Ministry of Education. The Lieutenant Governor’s Award of Excellence recognizes one student at each grade level from Grades 7 to 12. The award criteria include academic standing, school attendance, and involvement in cultural activities.

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derek.cornet@jpbg.ca

Twitter: @saskjourno