This year’s theme, Celebrating Rural Schools, focuses on the success of rural and remote schools inmeeting head-on themany challenges in providing a quality education for students in rural settings. These schools have not been deterred by the challenges of rural depopulation, increased centralization, economic downturns or competition for scarce resources. Although the context may be different from province to province in both provincial and First Nations schools, throughout Canada there are many rural schools that have taken advantage of their smallness in providing a close knit, inviting atmosphere for children and youth. They have developed a strong sense of community and comments such as having a family-like atmosphere is a common refrain in describing rural schools.

The Congress this year will celebrate how rural schools have taken advantage of their culture to provide rich educational experiences through increased student involvement, attention to student individual learning needs, enriched programming, advanced technology, unique partnerships and organizational arrangements that allow rural schools to prosper.

• Celebrating Diversity in Rural Schools
• Innovative Partnerships for Enhanced School Programming
• Engaging Students in Rich Leadership Opportunities
• Celebrating First Nations Education
• Teaching and Learning at Its Best in Rural Schools

• School Councils thatMake a Difference
• Meaningful Parent and Community Involvement
• Effective Governance and Trustee Leadership
• Recruitment and Retention of Staff
• Technology in Rural Schools