Kayden Buchko is a Grade 10 student at R. F. Staples Secondary School. She was nominated for the Citizenship Award by Teacher Lalenya Gasse.

Kayden knows that when working with a team, you are only as strong as your weakest link. During her school’s production of Mary Poppins, Kayden offered support to others, often stepping up to side coach other cast members with choreography. It is apparent to her nominator that Kayden works towards goals. Wanting to gain a more significant role in the school productions, she sought out a vocal trainer and worked for two years to build her singing voice. Through her dedication, she achieved her goal by being cast as a main character in the school’s production of Fame. Although the production was cancelled, Kayden demonstrated her ability to work towards goals. 

Kayden is also described as being dependable. Recently her English 10-1 teacher and most of her classmates were required to isolate at home. Kayden was one of four students who did not have to isolate. Every day she would ensure that there was a chromebook logged onto the google meet at the front of class so her teacher could lead the class for those who were in school, as well as those online. Her teacher says, “Knowing that Kayden would be there to set up the communication link, I was able to successfully continue teaching and didn’t require additional supervision at a time when our school was running on a skeleton staff due to isolations.”

The school board is pleased to present Kayden with the Citizenship Award for recognition of the positive contributions she makes in her school and community. Congratulations!