Yellowknife (Dec 22/04) - Kern Von Hagen wiped his brow in mock relief as old business was attended to at the regular December meeting of the Yellowknife Catholic School Board Dec. 15.

A motion to approve his CEO Evaluation report was passed unanimously by the board just moments earlier.

The motion automatically extends his contract as board superintendent for another year, according to district administration.

Von Hagen has been with the district since 1995, with the past six and a half years in his current position.

Trustees learned about helping to heal children through clay, paint and scribbling.

Teacher Judy Whitford made a presentation at the meeting on art therapy, a new program installed at Weledeh Catholic school this fall.

Whitford, a former YCS student, was hired in September as a therapist and lifeskills teacher at the school.

She currently sees about 30-40 students a week for art therapy.

Following Whitford's presentation, superintendent Kern Von Hagen called the program the only one of its kind in the NWT.

The board of trustees are behind Ecole St. Joseph school's request to move the city's skateboard park.

Staff from St. Joe's made a presentation to city council in September to ask that the park, which is located in a corner of the school's playground, be moved to another location. In a memorandum included in December's meeting, the facilities committee for the board noted it is requesting funds be put aside for the move in the city's 2005 budget.