Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I want to congratulate Ms. Lois Philipp, principal of the Deh Gah Elementary and Secondary School in Fort Providence, on being recognized as one of Canada’s outstanding principals for 2013. The Learning Partnership announced Ms. Philipp was one of 51 exceptional educators to receive the Award for Excellence in Public Education.
Through her leadership at the Deh Gah Elementary and Secondary School since 2004, the school has evolved from a community school with cultural inclusion to a school that is truly culture-based. In the last few years, 28 students have graduated from the school, and registered secondary school students have doubled the number of credits previously obtained in a year.
Ms. Philipp… [English translation not provided]
[Translation] …she wants to be a good leader in the community of Fort Providence. She also grew up in Fort Providence. To help young students, she had become principal. Because of that, we have a lot of young people that are well educated and become good people. This is why Ms. Philipp took this avenue in her career. This is why I am speaking up it today. She is a good role model for young students. [Translation ends]
… when she led the planning of a four-day river trip from Fort Providence to Jean Marie as the cultural component of the program. The trip was such a successful learning and a bonding experience that it became a metaphor for all classroom-based learning to follow. She is always asking, what will make a difference in the life of a student, and she has that uppermost in her mind when introducing new approaches and programming. She truly understands the strength of combining education, culture and community into a solid foundation for her students, an effective tool for her colleagues and an open door for the community. Please join me in congratulating Ms. Lois Philipp. Mahsi.
Thank you, Mr. Nadli. The honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre, Mr. Hawkins.
