Education: St. John’s High school

In addition to supporting St. John’s Kitchen, Terra Bay Food Services Inc. funds weekly food hampers for 150 families in need. Valued at $30-$35 each, the hampers provide essential items like bread, proteins, grains, breakfast cereals, and canned goods, ensuring families can prepare nutritious, balanced meals. Designed to ease financial hardship, the hampers offer consistent support, alleviating food insecurity. Terra Bay also includes seasonal items to meet special occasions or dietary needs. This initiative enhances community well-being, fostering care, stability, and support for families in need.

The Schroeder Foundation employs 3 full-time and 2 part-time community outreach workers at St. John’s High School, providing crucial support to students and families. Initially focused on reducing absenteeism, the role has evolved to include essential navigation support for families in need. The outreach team now helps families with practical tasks such as setting up bank accounts, connecting them to local community support networks, and providing clothing and other essentials. They also ensure families’ safety and well-being by connecting them to vital resources. In addition to offering mental health support, academic advising, career planning, and life guidance, the team fosters an environment where students feel safe, supported, and empowered to achieve both academic and personal goals. By working closely with families, the outreach workers identify challenges and create solutions that improve educational outcomes, mental well-being, and overall success, ensuring no student falls through the cracks.

The Schroeder Foundation has committed $1.25 million over five years to fund the Build from Within initiative, in partnership with the WSD and the University of Winnipeg. This program is specifically designed to inspire Indigenous students at St. John’s High School to pursue careers in education, with the goal of increasing the number of Indigenous educators across Winnipeg. By focusing on Indigenous youth, the program seeks to create a lasting impact on the educational landscape, helping to diversify and strengthen the teaching profession.

The funds support a range of initiatives designed to guide and empower Indigenous students as they explore careers in education:

• Mentorship Programs: Indigenous students will be paired with experienced educators and community leaders who can offer guidance, encouragement, and insight into the field of education.
• Scholarships: Financial support will be provided to help cover tuition and other educational expenses, easing the financial burden for students pursuing teaching careers.
• Internship Opportunities: Students will gain hands-on experience in educational settings, providing them with valuable exposure to teaching and leadership roles.
• Workshops and Community Events: These will foster leadership skills, build professional networks, and expose students to various teaching and educational leadership opportunities.

The program not only offers financial support but also creates a comprehensive pathway for Indigenous youth to pursue and succeed in careers within education, laying the foundation for future generations of Indigenous educators.

The Schroeder Foundation is committed to providing educational opportunities for students, particularly those from underserved and Indigenous communities, ensuring they have the resources and support to pursue higher education and career goals.

The Foundation allocated $212,500 annually to support students in Grades 7 through 12 at St. John’s High School. The funding was distributed as follows:

• $75,000 for Grades 7 and 8, helping younger students stay engaged in their education and build a strong foundation for future academic success.
• $137,500 for Grades 9-12, with a particular focus on supporting Indigenous students, working towards the goal of awarding at least 60% of bursaries to students of Indigenous origin. Bursaries were awarded based on academic merit and dedication to education.

The Foundation hosts annual banquets to celebrate the achievements of bursary recipients. At the events, students receive custom jerseys branded with both the school and donor logos, symbolizing their accomplishments and fostering pride in their success.

In response to the growing concern of chronic absenteeism, The Schroeder Foundation committed $18,000 to launch a transformative leadership program at St. John’s High School. This initiative was born out of a pressing need to reengage students who were struggling with absenteeism, offering them the support and guidance required to overcome personal and academic challenges. Launched in 2024, the program has already yielded impressive results, significantly improving student attendance, fostering deeper engagement, and driving academic achievement. By addressing both the immediate barriers to education and providing long-term solutions for personal development, the program offers a comprehensive approach to breaking the cycle of absenteeism. Through OVOT, students are not only empowered to succeed in the classroom but also equipped with the tools to thrive in life beyond school.

The OVOT initiative offers personalized, multi-faceted support for students with high absenteeism, focusing on:

• Mentorship: Providing one-on-one guidance to help students navigate personal challenges, build resilience, and stay focused on their academic goals.
• Counseling: Addressing the root causes of absenteeism, such as mental health issues, family dynamics, and socio-economic barriers, offering students the emotional and practical tools to succeed.
• Family Coordination: Working closely with families to create supportive structures that encourage consistent school attendance, foster positive habits, and ensure long-term engagement.

This comprehensive support system has enabled many students to overcome obstacles, re-engage with their education, and set new goals for the future. Success within the program has also opened doors for students to transition from mentees to leaders: those who excelled in overcoming their challenges were hired as camp counselors for the Schroeder Foundation’s summer program, gaining valuable leadership experience and the opportunity to give back to the community.

To further support student development, The Schroeder Foundation allocated $53,000 to pilot a Summer Program at St. John’s High School, which was launched last year. The program provided a safe, educational, and recreational environment for students during the summer months, helping them stay connected to learning while offering a structured, engaging experience.  Additionally, the program offered targeted workshops and enrichment activities designed to boost leadership and communications skills and expose students to new interests, talents, and experiences. Through these efforts, the program enhanced students’ overall development, empowering them with the tools they needed to succeed both in and out of the classroom.

As part of the Summer Program, the Foundation funded both breakfast and lunch for all students enrolled, recognizing that many students depend on school-based food programs during the regular school year. The initiative was designed to ensure that students continued to receive nutritious meals throughout the summer, preventing food insecurity during the break. Prepared by the school’s kitchen staff, these meals provided the essential nutrition students needed to stay energized, focused, and engaged, enabling them to fully participate in both educational and recreational activities.

The Schroeder Foundation, through Terra Bay Food Services Inc., has funded two dedicated tutors to provide personalized academic support to Grade 9 students across all core subjects, including English, science, social studies, and mathematics. These tutors work one-on-one with students to address learning gaps, reinforce key concepts, and offer additional practice. Sessions are scheduled after school to accommodate students’ availability, ensuring consistent, focused support. In addition to helping with homework, the tutors teach essential skills like study strategies, time management, and test-taking techniques. This tailored approach boosts academic confidence, fosters a love of learning, and sets students up for future success. Terra Bay’s support has led to improved grades, enhanced problem-solving skills, and a deeper understanding of core subjects, laying a strong foundation for continued academic achievement.

To enhance academic support, Terra Bay Food Services Inc. funds a dinner program for Homework Club participants. Meals, prepared by Terra Bay’s kitchen staff, are nutritious, varied, and culturally appropriate to meet students’ diverse needs. Beyond providing nourishment, this supportive environment fosters belonging, boosting engagement and creating a positive outlook on academic progress.

To improve accessibility for students and their families, The Schroeder Foundation funded the purchase of a school van, covering costs for maintenance, fuel, insurance, and repairs. The van transports students to off-site learning opportunities, such as field trips, conferences, and workshops, and supports school events that promote extracurricular development and engagement. It also facilitates community outreach programs, ensuring students in need can access essential services. In addition, the van helps improve student attendance and reduce absenteeism by providing pick-up and drop-off services for those in our care. By removing transportation barriers, the van ensures all students can fully participate in enriching educational experiences.

In September 2024, The Schroeder Foundation announced a $15 million donation to RRC Polytech for the creation of The Schroeder Institute of Entertainment and Media Arts in the heart of Winnipeg’s Exchange District. This transformational gift is the largest in RRC Polytech’s history. 

The Schroeder Institute is RRC Polytech’s direct response to the dynamic growth in Manitoba’s creative arts sector – a booming economic engine contributing $1.6 billion to the province’s GDP, with more than 3,400 businesses and 20,000 workers. As the industry continues to expand, there is a pressing need for a new wave of local talent to sustain its growth and position Manitoba as a leading creative arts hub in North America.

The Schroeder Institute was launched with 12 core programs, including two new programs – Animation and Entertainment Production Management. The programs have been developed by an impressive 14-person advisory committee entrenched in the creative industries. Learn more at https://www.rrc.ca/schroederinstitute/programs/

In 2018, the Schroeder Foundation established the $2 million Schroeder Scholarship fund to break down financial barriers and provide greater access to higher education for students. To date, the fund has supported 213 students from across the WSD, including St. John’s High School, Daniel Macintyre Collegiate, Sisler High School, and most recently, Elmwood High School. The Schroeder Scholarship fund covers full tuition for nearly all programs at RRC Polytech, along with textbooks and essential wraparound supports, such as the college’s transition-to-college program.

Building on this success, the Schroeder Foundation recently contributed an additional $1.25 million to the fund, adding to the $15 million donation made just three months prior to support the Schroeder Institute for Entertainment and Media Arts.