Yellowknife (Feb 23/05) - The vital partnership between school and community is highlighted during Education Week, Feb. 21-25.

At St. Joseph's school in Yellowknife, vice-principal Gillian Dawe-Taylor said it is important to raise awareness around partnerships with the school.

"Our whole focus at the school is threefold: respect yourself, respect others and respect the environment. It's important to celebrate what other people do for you," Dawe-Taylor said.

When children attend school, teachers are not the only ones providing education.

"It's everybody in the community," Dawe-Taylor said.

During a school assembly Monday for Grades 4-6, children honoured of all the area businesses, groups and resources that help make the school a success.

Charles Dent, minister of education, culture and employment, visited the school and also participated in Monday's assembly.

"Partnerships are important for education because it adds a lot of things to the education system we can't otherwise provide," he said.

Dent provided the example of the Kimberlite Centre for the Yellowknife Catholic school system.

"That was all done through partnerships," he said.

Throughout the NWT, Dent said, businesses and organizations are actively involved in schools, such as through attendance award initiatives.

"Whether it is a lunch program or a healthy snack program, we are all looking for partnerships in the schools," the education minister said.

"The more the community is involved, the better the education system is," Dent said.

Education Week activities at St. Joseph's school will include family night, a bridge building contest and a fine arts celebration.