Specialized classrooms & the power of belonging

January 15, 2026

Specialized classrooms & the power of belonging

The Saskatoon Public Schools Board of Education held its regular monthly meeting on Jan. 13, 2026, beginning with a powerful presentation on new, specialized support classrooms and the impact they're having on students.

Holliston School shared its experience with a program unique to the school — Regulate, Identify, Support and Empower (RISE). Principal Tammy Wuttunee said she has watched students who enter the RISE program re-engage with learning, noting that the smiles and laughter heard in the classroom each day reflect the strong sense of belonging being built.

Trustees and meeting attendees also heard from a parent whose child is enrolled in RISE. After watching her child’s anxiety escalate last year, she gradually had to scale back her work schedule and ultimately leave her job to stay home and support them. She shared that the program has changed the trajectory of her child’s life — and their life as a family. Her child no longer needs or wants to stay home, and she is now seeing their confidence and love of learning grow every day.

Learn more about specialized classrooms.

Other Board Business

The January meeting also included the following reports:

Next Meeting

The next Regular Meeting of the Board will take place on Tuesday, Feb. 10 at 6:30 p.m. Board meetings are open to the public, with two options to attend:

In person at the Saskatoon Public Schools Central Administrative Office (310 21st St. E.). Please use the entrance off 3rd Avenue.
Virtually via the Microsoft Teams Livestream link posted here.

Please note that all questions and/or concerns must be submitted in writing by noon the day prior to the meeting. Submissions can be made here.

PHOTO: (from left) Trustee Napper (Ward 1), Trustee Rollo (Ward 8), and Trustee Schmidt (Ward 9) speaking with meeting guests.