Review-Mirror

•Continued from page 1 tion from teacher to prin- cipal was encouraged by her colleagues. "Other people see things in you which you don't see. Other people saw it in me and encour- aged me," she said. After serving as vice- principal at Duncan J. Schoular Public School in Smiths Falls she had her first principal job at West- minster School in Brockville for three and a half years. The school was hon- ored with its improvement in academic performance with a Garfield Weston Award after Halladay and her staff turned academic performance of the school around. "A lot of it was we real- ly stuck to the curricu- lum," said Halladay who saw that with the children success breeds success. When an opportunity arrived mid-year to join the staff at Rideau District High School Halladay applied. "I enjoyed coming in February," said Halladay who appreciated learning about the school before making decisions about its operation. With the transition of the school from a 9 to 12 school to 7 to 12 Halladay benefitted from her ele- mentary school back- ground. She was also at the school for preparation for its 50th anniversary celebrations. "People came from everywhere to celebrate their time at Rideau," she said. Halladay has been impressed by the commit- ment of staff at the school. "It's a well-established staff. They all have their things. There was some- one in charge of every- thing. The reason this school does so well is staff contribute their time and talents," she said. Halladay has enjoyed working with her col- leagues but it's the stu- dents which drive her. "If you don't look after the kids the learning is not going to happen. "When decisions are made or calling parents I always go back to the kids – as long as I've done the right thing for the stu- dents. They have kept me sane and made me smile many times a day. They are the reason I've done what I've done," said Hal- laday. Halladay isn't sure what is coming up next for her. At 53, she has the opportunity to try some- thing new but she's going to take a break for the summer. "I've got the whole world ahead of me and I'm excited to what is going to happen. I've been going to school since I was four. That's all I've ever done. I'm open to options," she said. By Margaret Brand The Review-Mirror South Crosby Princi- pal Monique Antoine- Hartley was recognized with the Ontario Princi- pals' Council Award of Character, an award to remember Ted Kennedy, a well-respected. princi- pal and superintendent. Antoine-Hartley is touched to be remem- bered with an award hon- oring Kennedy which is a regional Ontario Princi- pals Council award. "He was one of those people who supported you and guided you. That kind of support is so important, especially since I was a new princi- pal," said Antoine-Hart- ley. Among her leadership accomplishments which were cited for the award was the Terry Fox run top collector status of the school. She skillfully man- aged the illness and death of a student in her school this year and pioneered the project to honor Park- er Simpson with an addi- tion to the school yard. "I was at the school the day after the student passed away and mar- veled at her strength and character as she led the students, staff and a com- munity through a healthy grieving process," said fellow principal Sharon Halladay, at the awards cemetery. Halladay also cited the leadership Antoine-Hart- ley has provided this year through the Accommoda- tion Review Committee process which will see Rideau Centennial stu- dents join the South Crosby School. Rideau Centennial was Antoine Hartley's school for 14 years. Other stops along the way included the Bever- ley School in Delta, the Lansdowne School and TIES in Lansdowne which was where she began here administra- tive career as a vice prin- cipal and then a princi- pal. She moved to South Crosby seven years ago. "I do love my job. I feel blessed to have been able to have a career which I can come to work every day and have something within the first few minutes that makes me laugh or smile. I love working with the staff and the community. This community is pretty special," she said. South Crosby Public School Principal Monique Antoine-Hartley, centre, was hon- oured Monday night in Kemptville at the UCDSB awards night with the Ontario Prin- cipal Council Award. There to join her was RDHS Principal Sharon Halladay, who also received an award. Principal Sharon Halladay's retirement gift at her request was a time capsule which will be buried at the site of the school's soon-to-be-installed new sign. Halladay looking for something new Board honours South Crosby Principal with Council Award of Character The Review-Mirror June 8, 2017 – 16

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