Yellowknife Catholic Schools is moving into the second year of its Collaborative Response implementation with Jigsaw Learning, continuing a multi-year effort to make collaborative practice a stronger part of how schools and the division support students. The 2026–2027 partnership will connect school-based learning with divisional planning, giving leaders and staff opportunities to build on what has already been established while addressing the evolving needs of their schools.
Throughout the year, school and senior leaders will participate in four leadership sessions supported by Kurtis and Lorna Hewson, alongside in-school support, collaborative team meeting observation and feedback, and individualized consultation for school leaders. A division-wide learning session will give all staff an opportunity to deepen their understanding of Collaborative Response, while onboarding resources will help new staff enter the work with a common foundation. At the system level, senior leaders will work alongside Jigsaw Learning to shape a divisional approach that connects school practices and priorities. Schools will also have access to Jigsaw Learning's Collaborative Response Membership and the WeCollab platform to support the ongoing documentation and coordination of collaborative team work.
“Year two is an important opportunity to look at what has taken root and ask how we can make the work even more purposeful and sustainable,” said Kurtis Hewson, Lead Learner and Co-Founder of Jigsaw Learning. “With Yellowknife Catholic Schools, we are able to work simultaneously with school teams and divisional leaders, connecting what happens in classrooms and collaborative meetings with the broader systems that support them. We are excited to continue learning with the YCS community as they deepen this work and shape it to meet the needs of their students.”