Manitoba's Top Employers

22 MANITOBA'S TOP 25 EMPLOYERS 2015 WWW.SJR.MB.CA Performsasolotoday, Performs surgerytomorrow. W hen St. John's-Ravenscourt School hosted its annualHoldBacktheSnowUltimateTournament at Assiniboine Park this fall, teachers and parents turned out in generous numbers to maketheteamdisc-sporttournamentasuccess. InSeptemberwhenCraigKielburger,children'sadvocate and co-founder of international charity Free the Children, challenged students at SJR to "Scare Hunger" this Halloween,studentsrespondedbycollectingfoodtodonate toWinnipegHarvest. Over the Thanksgiving weekend, Grade 3 student Ayesha could be found donating her time at Siloam Mission so people in the community could enjoy a good Thanksgivingdinner. These generous acts of sharing by young people in KindergartentoGrade12arepartoftheeverydayheartbeat at the independent university-preparatory school that has beennamedasoneofManitoba'sTop-25Employers(2015) fortheseventhyearinarow. While there is always a focus on academic excellence at the school, that is not the only focus for SJR that also aims tohelpdevelopwell-roundedcompassionatestudentswitha senseofresponsibilitytothewidercommunity. It's a culture enshrined in the school's Vision, Mission & ValuesandonethatHeadofSchoolJimKeefeisconvinced makesSJRagoodplacefortheemployeeswhoworkthere andthestudents. "I think the fundamental strength of the school is that we are committed to the welfare of all members of our community,anditisacommunity-basedschool,"saidKeefe. "That'sthecentralmessage."AndKeefecreditsoutstanding cooperationbetweenparentsandstaffwithhelpingtoreach theschool'sobjectives. "This school is a phenomenally close-knit community. What is unique is that many of our current students have parentsandgrandparentswhowenttotheschool.There'sa tremendous affinity to the school from the alumni, the staff, the parents and a strong sense of working together. I think that'swhatmakestheschoolspecial." Creating that rich culture starts with taking care of the school's140employeesfirst,saysKeefe. "We realize if we want to deliver a first class education to ourstudents,wehavegottonurtureouremployees." EmployeesenjoyarangeofbenefitsatSJR,fromfinancial tothetopfacilities. Beinginvolvedwiththecommunitymeansteachersmust sometimes be away from the school, but that doesn't mean they need to sacrifice their pay. Andrew Robertson is SJR's Information Systems Support Specialist by day and soccer coach after hours. SJR ensures compensation for the days he must be away to attend team tournaments and for all his socceractivities.That'soneofmanywaysthatSJRprovides financial support to employees who want to take part in studentactivitiesoutsidethecampus. There is also support for employees as they prepare for lifeafterworkwithretirementplanningassistance,phased-in work options and contributions to a defined benefit pension plan.Numerousemployeeshaveusedthisprogramtoease outoftheirfull-timeworkinglives. SJR offers generous maternity and and parental leave top-up payments foremployeeswho arenew parents:up to 90percentofsalaryfor27weeksformomsand90percent ofsalaryfor10weeksfornewdadsandadoptiveparents. SJR encourages continuous learning in its employees withtuitionsubsidies,in-houseandonlinetrainingprograms, apprenticeshipsandskilledtradesprograms. Teacher Rebecca Powell recently graduated with an MA in Leadership from Royal Roads University in Victoria, supportedinpartbytheschool. Shehasplayedanintegral partinimplementingaleadershipprogramforseniorschool studentsatSJRandhasconductedresearchforhermasters incollaborationwiththeschool. SJR also offers academic scholarships for children of staff.Thisprogramprovides50percenttuitionreductionfor childrenofstafftoattendSJR. Top facilities also make SJR an attractive workplace. SJRhasjustopenedtheRichardsonSeniorSchoolandthe Riley Fitness Centre. Teachers get the opportunity to work in inspirational learning spaces that promote collaboration and all employees are permitted to use the fitness centre to maintainandimprovetheirownhealth. "Theschool'sfacilitiesarereallycuttingedge,"saidKeefe. "Allcolleagueswillhaveaccesstoourstateoftheartfitness centre,whichreinforcesourcommitmenttoactiveliving,not onlytostudentsbutfacultyandstaff." ByG.A.TaylorforTheFreePress ST.JOHN'S- RAVENSCOURT St.John's-Ravenscourta ManitobaTop-25Employer forseventhconsecutiveyear StafffromSJRintheschool'snewFitnessCentre. PhotobyDarcyFinley

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