​At the 28th annual Yes I Can! Awards, hosted by the Manitoba Council for Exceptional Children, two individuals from SJASD received honourable recognitions.   

The Manitoba Council for Exceptional Children is a non-profit organization dedicated to advocating for children and youth with disabilities. The Yes I Can! Awards are hosted to highlight the outstanding achievements of those students in an array of categories including: school and community activities, academics, arts, athletics, self-advocacy, technology and transition. The event also highlights students and adults who assist in supporting children and youth with exceptionalities. 

On Thursday, February 22, hundreds of guests from across Manitoba gathered inside the Victoria Inn Convention Centre to celebrate the Yes I Can Awards! With two recognitions in our school division, the first was received by Grade 2 student Jaycee R. from Strathmillan School. Jaycee received his award for outstanding athletic achievement. While he requires adaptations for almost all school activities, he approaches all tasks with a positive attitude. Jaycee participates fully in his physical education class and has become skilled at cycling with his Freedom Concepts bike in the school and community. He is becoming increasingly independent in managing his needs and advocating for himself.  Jaycee demonstrates his ability to excel and flourish on a daily basis due to his perserverance and unwavering "Yes I Can" attitude! Congratulations, Jaycee!

The second award of the night was presented to Gail B., an educational assistant at Strathmillan School. Gail received a Certificate of Recognition for her outstanding work in assisting and supporting children in the school environment. She has been working with exceptional children for the past 28 years and her impact on the lives of the students she works with is visible every day. Although these students face many challenges on a daily basis that many of us can't imagine, she does not let her students use this as a reason to give up or stop trying. Gail sets the bar high for all her students and works with the mantra, "You can do this, you've got this, don't give up!" Before long, her students are motivated, determined, and working their hardest to achieve and often surpass their own goals. Great work and congratulations, Gail! 

St. James-Assiniboia School Division is extremely proud of these two award recipients for their achievements to date and is glad to see their hard work highlighted at the provincial level. Thank you to the MCEC and the Yes I Can! committee for organizing such an inspiring and uplifting event, and thank you to all the staff, family members and friends who attended to cheer on and congratulate our award recipients this year!