Jeff Colbourne
Northern News Services

NNSL (Jun 19/98) - Yellowknife Catholic schools recognized their many partners in education Wednesday night at the Dennis R. Crane Gymnasium.

Each partner in attendance was called forward to receive a certificate of appreciation for their contributions.

"We have 34 partnerships at the high school and we have multiple ones at the two other schools -- well over 100 partners within the whole district," said board superintendent Loretta Foley.

"As we said before, it takes a whole community to educate a child."

Weledeh Catholic school and Ecole St. Joseph began the certificate presentations recognizing a number of local businesses including Ronald McDonald Children's Charities who donated $13,000 to St. Joseph for a special-needs computer and software.

Weledeh thanked more than a dozen school sponsors, including the Elks, Lions, RCMP and Crime Stoppers.

Crime Stoppers over the last two years has sponsored the Caught Real Program, which rewards students for good deeds at the school. The school receives an annual donation of $500 for this program.

The district went on to recognize its partners, which include Stanton Regional Hospital, the federal government and its contribution to the Weledeh toy library, the Yellowknife fire department Hero's Program and the city of Yellowknife for its capital contribution to the St. Patrick's gym.

"I think they're good professional corporate citizens. Once you become involved you get hooked. Once you see the benefit of your contribution whatever it is, whether it's RCMP, health and social services or McDonald's," said Foley.

"Once you see the results, there's nothing that succeeds. Success breeds success. It becomes like a spiral," said Foley.

St. Patrick stole some of the limelight Wednesday night when it received a plaque from the local branch of the Royal Bank for winning the 1998 Conference Board of Canada Partnership in Education Award this spring.

The school, which has more than 34 partnerships, also received two cheques totalling $2,002 from school architect Pin-Matthews and constructor Clark Builders to support educational efforts at the school.

"I'm overwhelmed and speechless. These kind of things (awards) rarely happen," said Von Hagen, who was quick to recognize the partners and offered them a St. Pat's T-shirt and certificate.

To wrap things up for the evening St. Pat's new pastor, Patrick Murphy, was given the chance to sum up the night.

"I see a great respect for people and boldness and imagination in dealing with the needs and possibility of each person," said Murphy.