YELLOWKNIFE - Tears and thanks marked the end of an eventful year for the Yellowknife Catholic School Board last week, as well as assurances it will continue to pursue its Supreme Court appeal.

The board wrapped up the school year at its June 14 meeting, setting future agendas and reflecting on a year marked by a court case, a school destroyed by fire and battles over space.

"It's been a hard year for everyone," said YCS chair Shannon Gullberg at the meeting.

Early on, the board revealed it would be moving forward with its appeal concerning the religious make-up of its membership.

"The motion was carried to appeal the decision of Justice Richard," said Gullberg.

The board is appealing the Chief Justice Ted Richard's ruling, which prevents YCS from banning non-Catholics from its board.

During the meeting, Gullberg explained the Alberta Catholic School Trustees' Association, YCS's overseeing body, was to meet later this month to put forward a formal motion to fund the appeal.

The bulk of the meeting featured year-end presentations from the principals of each of YCS's four facilities: St. Patrick high school, Weledeh Catholic school, Kimberlite Career and Technical Centre and Ecole St. Joseph school.

St. Pat's principal Johnnie Bowden spoke of the growing arts program at the school and the success of Students Against Drunk Driving, while Weledeh principal Merril Dean focused on her students' social justice work, and the $150,000 grant the school received from Indigo Books and Music.

Kimberlite head Larry Connelly, meanwhile, let pictures do the talking with a slideshow of students' projects from the year.

It was St. Joe's principal Flo Campbell who took centre stage, however, describing how the school was coming to grips with last year's devastating fire.

"Paradoxically, it was our most difficult year of loss and our most fulfilling year of growth," she said, calling St. Joe's a "community of hope."

"Next week, we're going to totally uproot our school," she said of the upcoming restructuring to make way for a series of $1.25-$1.5 million portables on St. Joe's land, as well as a massive retrofit of the building.

"Do I hear grumbling from our staff? No."

The presentation elicited an emotional response from the board.

"It's been truly an amazing year for St Joe's," said trustee Debbi Ross.

"I don't know how you did it," Gullberg said to Campbell, while wiping tears from her eyes. After the meeting, Gullberg said despite the problems YCS has faced in the last year, she and the board were trying to maintain a positive outlook.

"It's been an interesting year and obviously a very challenging year for our district," Gullberg said. "I look at all the positive stories that we heard during the meeting and all the good stuff that went on."

"Those are the things that we need to focus on."