KAMSACK — Getting back to normal after the educational disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic characterized the past school year, according to Mark Lucas, principal, and Laura Reilkoff, vice-principal of the Kamsack Comprehensive Institute.
They head the staff of about 35 in the school which currently has a total of 290 students from Grades 5 to 12.
“It was a different year and now we’re able to return to extra-curricular activities,” Lucas said last week.
Lucas was hired to succeed Tracy Forsythe who has left KCI to work at the Bear Stream Hutterite Colony.
Originally of Richmond, B.C., Lucas graduated from high school in Windsor, Ont. in 1989 and lived in several locations across Canada. He attended Trent University in Peterbourgh, Ont., where he received a bachelor’s degree with honours in biology, studied environmental science and obtained a bachelor of arts degree. He moved to Denare Beach where he taught for the past 10 years. In 2019 he obtained his master of education degree from the University of New Brunswick in Fredericton, N.B.,
Lucas moved to Kamsack with his wife Leeah, who works at Affinity Credit Union, and three children: Kayden, 16; Rhyanna, 14, and Mackendra, 7.
Lucas, who spent 29 years as a firefighter in southern Ontario, Manitoba and Saskatchewan, said his main interest outside of his family and the school is being outdoors. He enjoys kayaking and hiking and is “thankful that Madge Lake is so near.”
His family volunteers to look after rescued animals and is affiliated with the Paws and Claws organization.
“Kamsack felt like home very quickly,” he said. “The school staff has been super and very supportive, and working with Laura has gotten me through the year.”
Originally of Prince Albert, Reilkoff is the daughter-in-law of the late Delmar and Terry Reilkoff of Kamsack, and is married to their son Scott. As vice-principal, she succeeds Ryan Gareau who has moved to Prince Albert.
A 1996 graduate from Carlton Comprehensive High School in Prince Albert, Reilkoff attended the University of Saskatchewan where she obtained a bachelor of arts degree in sociology and her bachelor of education degree in 2007. Currently she is enrolled at the U of S taking a two-year course towards a special education certificate.
She worked in Prince Albert with the Roman Catholic School Division for 12 years before moving to Kamsack in 2019 when she began working as a teacher at KCI.
She and her husband have three children: Carter, 16; Tanner, 13, and Anna, 8.
Asked what her interests include, Reilkoff said that she likes to be creative and enjoys writing and sewing. She began a Pinterest group which meets once a month.
“The kids are all in sports, so that takes up much of my time,” she said.
During this school year Reilkoff taught senior English and Indigenous studies 10, but come September she will succeed Claire Bishop, who is to retire, and will head the school’s student support services.
“We moved to Kamsack for the opportunity to be closer to family members,” she said, adding that in Prince Albert her husband had been working “on the road” and now is at home more since he works at a potash mine in Rocanville.
The 2021-22 school year will end June 30, and the next term begins Sept. 2 for students.
