Division

The Christ the Teacher Catholic School Division has a strong dedicated staff of teachers, administrators, professional and paraprofessional support staff, caretakers and maintenance personnel who embrace the challenge of providing the students and families we serve with the best possible educational experience.

The staffing needs of our division are continuously changing and evolving and therefore, we invite applications from interested candidates in all employment areas at any time - whether positions are advertised or not.

(Resumes can be emailed by clicking on "Contacts"  in the Main Menu or by emailing your application to the email address indicated in the attached ad provided below).

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Mission Statement

As a Christ-centred learning community, we…

engage and challenge all learners,
model and form character,
know Christ and make Him known.

Motto

“Believe…Belong…Become”

Our Core Values

In the fall of 2005, the five Catholic school divisions in the area made the decision to amalgamate and form one larger full-service regional Catholic school division. The legacy divisions included Yorkton Catholic School Division #86, St. Henry’s RCSSD #5 in Melville, St. Theodore RCSSD #138 in Theodore, and the two newly formed rural Catholic divisions in the attendance areas around the cities of Yorkton and Melville.
On midnight December 31, 2005, by order of the Minister of Learning, the five legacy boards of education were disestablished and on January 1, 2006, the new amalgamated Catholic school division was established in their place. The new Board of Education, seeking a name for the division which truly represented its vision for Catholic education, requested submissions of appropriate names for the amalgamated division from students, staff, parishoners, and the community at large.
Choosing the name “Christ the Teacher” for the new amalgamated division:
There were so many names submitted for consideration; all with tremendous merit. However, as the board members worked through the process of selecting the one name which would truly represent their vision of the new regional Catholic School Division – it soon became clear that the life of Christ and His teachings had to be the foundation upon which the new school division was to be built. In selecting the name “Christ the Teacher”, the board acknowledged that:

“Christ Is Our Greatest Teacher”
From His death and resurrection, Christ’s life was spent teaching us the way
to the Father and eternal life.
Christ became one of us to bring the Good News to His people – to teach us,
through living example, the Gospel Values.
By emulating Christ’s life and living His teachings, we bring the Gospel Values to life
and continue His mission to transform the world in God’s image.
The Byzantine Rite of the Catholic Church has strong roots in East-central Saskatchewan
and the icon of Christ the Teacher is one of its most revered. The name of our school division
honours this rich history and guides our focus to the future by acknowledging
that it is only through His teachings that we can truly come to know our God.
As Catholic schools, we are called to create a learning environment
which holds as its central focus Christ’s teachings –
in all that we do each and every day.

History of Catholic Education in Yorkton:
1904 – Fr. Achille Delaere founded St. Gerard’s Parish.
1906 – Fr. Delaere celebrated his first Divine Liturgy in the Ukrainian Byzantine-Rite.
1910 – Fr. Delaere founded St. Mary’s Ukrainian Catholic Parish.
1916 – Fr. Delaere initiated plans for a school/orphange in Yorkton.
1917 – On January 11, Sacred Heart Institute was opened by the Sisters Servants of Mary Immaculate.
1919 – Bishop Nicetas Budka, D.D.,Ukrainian Catholic Bishop of Canada, requested a Catholic school for boys.
1920 – On October 11, St. Joseph’s College opened under the direction of the Brothers of the Christian Schools.
1927 – Girls of high school age were accepted as boarders at Sacred Heart, but attended the Yorkton Collegiate Institute.
1934 – First high school classes were included at Sacred Heart Institute.
1945 – Grades 1-8 were transferred from Sacred Heart Institute to St. Mary’s Parochial School at the Redemptorist Monastery at St. Mary’s Ukrainian Catholic Church.
1945 – Sacred Heart Institute became a Grade 9-12 boarding school for girls and was renamed Sacred Heart Academy.
1957 – Fr. John Spicer and Fr. Stephen Shawel, pastors of St. Gerard’s Church and St. Mary’s Church respectively, with the strong support of their parishes, initiated the formation for the separate school district in Yorkton.
1958 – The formation of the Yorkton Ukrainian Catholic and Roman Catholic School District #32 was approved by a vote of 524 to 17. The first Board of Education included Andrew Kindred (Chair), Leo Perron, W.B.O’regan, Michael Katerinich, Wm. Kozakewich, and Joseph Sotski. The Board Chaplains were Fr. Spicer, Fr. Shawel, and Fr. George Gunnip.
1959 – The school division’s first K-8 elementary schools, St. Alphonsus’ and St. Mary’s, were opened.
The Sisters Servants of Mary Immaculate began teaching at St. Mary’s School and assumed the principalship and the Ursuline Sisters of Prelate began teaching at St. Alphonsus School.
1967 – St. Paul’s School, a new K-8 elementary school, opened its doors.
1973 – St. Joseph’s College was closed after 53 years of service. Sacred Heart Academy became co-educational.
1975 – Sacred Heart Academy was renamed Sacred Heart High School.
1979 – The Yorkton Catholic School Division assumed responsibility for the instuction and delivery of the high school programs at Sacred Heart High School.
1983 – A major renovation at St. Alphonsus School to provide a gymnasium and much needed additional classroom space.
1986-7 – In May 1986, the Board terminated the agreement with the Public Board to jointly own and operate St. Joseph’s Junior High School effective June 30, 1987.
1989 – The Board operates a K-12 system entirely within its own jurisdiction. The Board hires its first full-time Secretary-Treasurer in Mr. Wilfred Maier. Major renovations are done at St. Mary’s School providing a gymnasium and additional classroom space.
1990 – Major renovations to St. Paul’s School include a gymnasium and additional classrooms.
1991 – A new Division Office was purchased at 259 Circlebrooke Drive in Yorkton.
1998 – St. Michael’s School, the fourth Catholic elementary school in Yorkton was opened as a K-8 dual track English/French Immersion school. Erollment was 254 students.
2003 – The culmination of much hard work by staff, board, and supporters came when the Yorkton Catholic School Division opened the doors to its new high school – appropriately named Sacred Heart High School – in honour of the rich heritage of its (predecessor) Sacred Heart namesakes in the community and in acknowledgement of the contributions of the Sisters Servants of Mary Immaculate to Catholic education in the area.
2005 – December 31st at midnight, the five legacy Catholic school divisions in the area – Yorkton Catholic, St. Henry’s – Melville, St. Theodore, and the two recently formed rural Catholic Boards in the Yorkton and Melville attendance areas – were disestablished.
2006 – January 1st- The new Christ the Teacher Roman Catholic Separate School Division #212 was established by order of the Minister of Learning – Hon. Andrew Thomson. To accommodate the greater demands in business and instructional support that come with the formation of the larger school division, a new division office was purchased on Palliser Way in Yorkton.

History of Catholic Education in Melville:
The records of Saint Henry’s R.C.S.S.D. # 5 tell a story of serious hardships in the growth of the “separate school.” They tell of many incidents that demanded strong convictions and persistence by those in the Parish who were determined to have Catholic education for their children in a Catholic Elementary School.

​Catholic Education is education that is based on the teachings and example of Jesus Christ.  It is education where the spiritual development is recognized as being critical to each child’s growth, development, and education.  Our schools strive to include this focus in all aspects of school life including classroom instruction, the administration of the school, discipline, and the general school community and atmosphere.

Christ the Teacher Catholic Schools believe that the daily experiences in a student’s school life should be consistent with and support what is taught at home.  Catholic schools work in partnership with the family and the Church to help teach and continually reinforce the values, morals, and beliefs, our parents hold for their children.

Is Catholic Education for your family?

Our students are required to participate fully in the religious education program including regular classroom instruction and liturgical celebrations.

If Christian values and morals taught in the context of Catholic tradition are what you want for your children, then we would encourage you to contact the school in your area to find out more about Catholic education and Christ the Teacher Catholic Schools.

Families of all faiths are welcome in Christ the Teacher Catholic Schools provided parents express a sincere desire to have their children taught in an environment where the development of Christian values is intrinsic to all aspects of everyday school life.  Catholic traditions and values are the essence of our schools and it is essential that they be respected and supported by all members of our school community.

“You call me Teacher…
And rightly so, for
that is what I am.”
John 13:13
Why Catholic Schools?

Catholic schools have a lengthy and rich heritage.  Universal education was one of the great gifts of the many men and women from religious orders.  Centuries ago education was seen by these religious orders to be part of the great Christian mission to develop the whole person.  Their gift has enriched Canadian society and culture.  While fewer religious orders exist today, their legacy and mission has been taken up by a great number of other men and women.  Here are some of the reasons why this work is still so important.

• The existance of Catholic schools is an expression of the desire, first put in place by the religious orders, of educating the whole person.  The Catholic tradition has always been wary of dualism, of splitting the spiritual from the material.  We hold that the material is sacramental to the spiritual.  All education addresses the whole person.  Not to attend to the religious dimension of the person is not to educate fully.
• Catholic schools do not exist to isolate or protect Catholics from others.  They exist to make a contribution to the world.  They are to embrace the world, just as God embraced the world and desired that it be.  Catholic schools are defined not by what they are against but by what they are for.
• The teachings of Jesus are for all peoples and nations.  God has no favourites.  “Anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him.” (Acts 10:35)  Catholic schools are ecumenical, discovering and welcoming the good that is in all.  It means schools must work together with and be open to other Christians and all who seek God.
• As publicly funded Catholic schools partake in the dialogue with culture and contribute to the well-being of civil society, Christians may be justly proud of the contributions they have made in shaping human self-understanding, setting standards for learning, and enhancing the human spirit. (The Catholic School #10)
• Vatican Council II in the document The Church in the Modern World #31 said, “The future of humanity lies in the hands of those who are strong enough to provide coming generations with reasons for living and hoping.”  For Christians the centre of living and hoping comes from Jesus Christ.  Catholic schools set a high value on the teaching of religion centred on Jesus Christ.  Religion is not a private affair; it is public, permeating all life.  In Catholic schools all curriculum is shaped by His revelation of God and life. (Canadian Catholic School Trustees Association)

Distinctiveness of Catholic Schools – A Parents’ Perspective

The following are some of the distinctive characteristics of Catholic schools as shared by parents:

• Their Catholicity, defined as the visible signs of the faith within the school, the reality of a caring Christian school community, the shared faith of all members, the freedom to express the faith, and the important, cooperative relationship between the home, the school and the parish.
• Their relatively strict discipline policies that are based on the principles of forgiveness and reconciliation.
• Their vision of the need for education of the whole child – body, mind, and spirit.
• Their emphasis on social justice teachings.
• Their Gospel and family values that reinforce those taught at home.

What Parents Value About Our Schools…

• Our traditions and history: They want students to share the positive experience they associate with their own Catholic education.  They want the history of Catholic schools and the rich traditions of the church preserved.
• The freedom our schools afford for expressing and sharing our faith in prayer, teaching, and celebration.
• Our holistic education in which the Gospel values taught mirror those in the home.
• The sense of community evident in our schools.
• The opportunity Catholic schools provide for evangelization of students and parents.

Catholic Education…
Comments, Thoughts, and Feelings from the students in our Catholic schools …

“Catholic Schools provide outstanding education.  They provide an understanding of God’s ways…and help you see the good in everyone.”
“Catholic Education to me means being with those with similar beliefs and having more time to be with God openly.  It is a great privilege and we are lucky to have it available to us.  We learn and are closer to God than some get to be.”
“To me Catholic Education is a privilege.  It helps us understand about more things in the world.  It helps us to be a better person.  It gives us a chance to learn and believe, because if we understand more we’ll have more faith.”
“My favourite thing about attending a Catholic School is you don’t have to be afraid to ask about God.”
“The liturgical services are very special.  When we gather as a community to celebrate our faith, it seems that a greater presence is among us.”
“The friendly atmosphere is priceless… it allows people to be open and become involved in the school.  As a school we seem to live out God’s Word in our everyday lives.”
“In Catholic schools Jesus sets the example.”
” We learn to give, to care, and to teach one another.  We learn to share, help, and to respect each other.  And most of all we learn about God, and His LOVE for us!”
” I like being Catholic and going to a Catholic school because we can be free to believe and every day we learn about God and how to pray to Him.”
“Students are taught that God loves us all, we are special, and we can turn to God in any situation.  It is a great feeling to know that God will be with us when we are stressed or scared and we can always ask for his help through prayer.  When faced with a difficult decision, or stressed over an exam, we know God can help us because that is what we have learned in school.  Even in after school activities, students are reminded to turn to God for help and to thank God for the talents we are blessed with.  Before a big game, an S.R.C. meeting, or even a drama play, we gather to pray and ask God to guide us and take away our fears.”

“The image of Christ the teacher was stamped
on the spirit of the Twelve and of
the first disciples, and the command
‘Go…and make disciples of all nations’,
(Mt. 28.19) set the course for the whole of their lives.”
Catechesi Tradendae
Pope John Paul II; Rome 1979
We Have Catholic Schools …

• to make Christ known to each child
• to arouse the child’s inner spiritual dynamism
• to discover the value of each human person: loved by God, with a mission on earth and a destiny that is immortal.
• to awaken the light of faith so each child may discover God’s presence in their lives, and God’s work on earth through the actions of others.
• to bring faith, culture, and life into harmony.
• to incorporate the message of Christ in the educative process.
• to form, good, responsible citizens.
• to be an instrument of the Church.
• for parents to have their children nurtured in the Catholic Christian faith.
• for staff to provide a strong witness our faith to our children.
• for community to share in the evangelizing mission of the Church.
• to adopt school activities, policies, and rules which are based on the gospel message of Jesus Christ, a message of freedom and love.
• to provide places of hope arising from our belief that Jesus lived, died, and rose from the dead.
• to discover the mystery of salvation.

All persons involved in the work of Catholic Christian Schools have the noble task of transmitting the Christian message.  They are called, in imitation of Christ, to be a living witness and an ambassador of their faith.

These distinctive attributes of the Catholic school
ensure that it is not “self serving.”
Rather, Catholic education serves the whole society,
enriching the lives of people everywhere.
Through its unique nature,
the Catholic school benefits us all.

The Christ the Teacher school division was formed from the amalgamation of five pre-existing Catholic divisions:  St. Henry’s RCSSD #5 in Melville (Est. 1913 A.D.), Yorkton RCSSD #86 (Est. 1958 A.D.), St. Theodore RCSSD #138 (Est. 2003 A.D.),  Melville Rural RCSSD #217 (Est. 2005 A.D.) and Yorkton Rural RCSSD #216 (Est. 2005 A.D.) These boards amalgamated to form the new Christ the Teacher Roman Catholic Separate School Division #212, effective January 1, 2006.

Board members are elected by school division electors to represent each of the jurisdictions.  The total number of board members is now 10.

The Board is committed to ensuring the success and continued benefit of Catholic Education in the division and in the province.

• Mission Statement – As a Christ-centered learning community, we…
  • engage and challenge all learners,
  • model and form character,
  • know Christ and make Him known
• Core Values –
  • Faith – We develop a relationship with Christ, following his example by loving and serving others.
  • Respect – We value all people and treat one another with dignity and compassion.
  • Learning – We continually grow in our expertise and proficiency to support the learning of all students.
  • Integrity – We adhere to moral principles in our words and actions.
  • Stewardship – We use the gifts God has given to us to do the work God is calling us to do.
• Motto – Believe…Belong…Become

We Believe…

The Creed is a declaration of our Catholic faith and articulates clearly what we believe as Christians.

Visitors to each of our schools will be welcomed by this beautiful testament to our Faith and mission.  The original picture was taken by a student from Sacred Heart High School while on the annual Outdoor Education canoe trip on the Churchill River System in Northern Saskatchewan.

The words of the Nicene Creed were chosen to represent and affirm the commitment of our schools, students, staff, families, Board, and communities to the mission of the Catholic Church.