A former graduate of A.E. Peacock Collegiate in Moose Jaw (Go Toilers!) and Minot State University, Jennifer Larocque began her teaching career in Black Lake, in Saskatchewan's far north (yes, I had to Google Maps it too!). Now in her 24th year in education, she entered administration 4 years into her career and hasn’t looked back! Tune into this first episode of season 2 of NBCHS Over Coffee to get to know our newest member of the NBCHS administrative team and to find out the preferred method of transportation for teachers travelling to school in Black Lake!

Episode Credits:

Producing, Recording, Tech - Ryan Kobelsky

Podcast Cover Art - Elizabeth Millard

Staff Photography - Mark Kotchorek

Music - Madison Hemmerling (The Galdstone) 

Host - Jeremey Verity

With over 1,000 total listens, season 1 of NBCHS Over Coffee surpassed expectation in every category, especially in fun and how interesting and amazing our NBCHS staff is! We are so excited to be back for Season 2 and the experiences we had preparing for its launch have only continued to affirm why we set out to do it in the first place - to get to know our exceptional staff a little more behind the scenes and build connection around both common and uncommon ground (and to have some fun along the way)! Everyone has a story and a set of gifts, talents and abilities that  may remain unknown until you sit down with them...over coffee. 

Season 2 launches MONDAY, DEC 5th, and WOULD NOT be possible without an amazing and talented group selflessly helping out!

Producing, Recording, Tech - Ryan Kobelsky

Podcast Cover Art - Elizabeth Millard

Staff Photography - Mark Kotchorek

Music - Madison Hemmerling (catch him on Apple Music as The Gladstone)

Born in Vancouver, BC and having graduated from Kyle Composite School in Kyle, SK, Jeff Gibson began his work life at the Robin Hood Mill in Saskatoon. Thanks to Jeff’s uncle and mentor, a teacher and basketball coach at Evan Hardy Collegiate, Jeff made the transition to education that countless numbers of students are grateful he made. And, thanks to Jeff’s girlfriend Christine, he was quickly wooed to the Battlefords from Saskatoon!

Fast forward to today and Jeff has spent the last 8 years at NBCHS living in his sweet spot, connecting and pouring into the lives of middle years students and athletes through his work as a middle years phys. ed. teacher, basketball coach and volleyball coach.

However, even with all the amazing work he has done with students and athletes, those who have spent any time around Jeff know it pales in comparison to who he is as a family man.

Listen in to this final episode of season one of NBCHS Over Coffee to get behind the scenes of an amazing man, a model teacher and an inspiring husband and father.

Episode Credits:

Producing, Recording, Tech - Ryan Kobelsky

Podcast Cover Art - Elizabeth Millard

Staff Photography - Mark Kotchorek

Music - Madison Hemmerling

Host - Jeremey Verity

At Battlefords Union Hospital in North Battleford, SK, Shawn Poitras was given 24 hours to live after being born with severe asthma. After surviving those first crucial hours and beginning his young life in North Battleford, Shawn’s parents moved the family to the higher elevation climate of Calgary, Alberta to help with his Asthma. He stayed until the age of 12, at which point his family moved back to North Battleford. A graduate of NBCHS, Shawn quickly made his mark on the workforce, excelling in his roles and receiving a number of promotions, often at a quick pace.

It doesn’t take long after getting to know Shawn to believe that his life is marked by a core value of hard work. This is a quality that he has lived out on a daily basis over the course of his entire work career, often working multiple jobs tirelessly. Presently, Shawn works at installing flooring in the “off hours” from his custodial role at NBCHS, just to give a sample of how Shawn has operated over the course of his life.

Listen to this episode of NBCHS Over Coffee to get behind the scenes of a fantastic individual who carries out one of the toughest and most essential roles on our staff.

Episode Credits:

Producing, Recording, Tech - Ryan Kobelsky

Podcast Cover Art - Elizabeth Millard

Staff Photography - Mark Kotchorek

Music - Madison Hemmerling

Host - Jeremey Verity

Lindy Bell Gatzke was born and raised on a farm near Baildon, SK, 13km south of Moose Jaw, SK. Her upbringing was a steady diet of horses, horses, and horses along with the occasional free fighter jet/helicopter show courtesy of CFB Moose Jaw, a little west of her farm. Most notable of all, she had the privilege of graduating from the best high school in the city of Moose Jaw (...maybe the world, NO!...except for NBCHS), A.E.Peacock Collegiate!

An avid potter and an experienced world traveler, Lindy possesses a wealth of knowledge and experience to compliment her optimistic personality and her bright sense of humor that we all know and love. As Vice Principal, Lindy uses her firm but genuinely loving approach to student relationships to live out her educational core value of providing a student first environment.

After announcing her retirement earlier this year, Lindy plans to squeal the tires on her Vespa scooter as she rides into that glorious June 30th sunset! Listen in to this episode of NBCHS Over Coffee as Lindy reflects on a full career, highlighting her time at Alexander Junior High, and her transition in 2001 to NBCHS where, prior to becoming Vice Principal in 2017, she served as a grade 9 teacher, Academic Advisor and …Mud Wrestling instructor!

Episode Credits:

Producing, Recording, Tech - Ryan Kobelsky

Podcast Cover Art - Elizabeth Millard

Staff Photography - Mark Kotchorek

Music - Madison Hemmerling

Host - Jeremey Verity

Following his graduation from Asquith High School, Bryan Cottini found himself right where he wanted to be: in the College of Education at the University of Saskatchewan with his sights set on becoming an early elementary teacher. Bryan interned in grade 1 and then took on the adventure of heading north to La Loche, SK.  where, for the first three years of his teaching career, he tackled a challenging grade 1 teaching assignment.

Today, the Bryan Cottini we know and love has over 30 years teaching experience, including the past 15 years where he has taught at NBCHS.  A successful coach and immensely respected Phys. Ed. teacher by both staff and students, Bryan is a model educator with a very natural relational style.

Tune into this episode of NBCHS Over Coffee to find out Bryan’s weapon of choice for playing “war” in the yard with your buddies, the secret to building and sustaining an incredible basketball program, and how experiencing a tragic loss in his early years of teaching eventually brought forward something wonderful and unexpected.

Episode Credits:

Producing, Recording, Tech - Ryan Kobelsky

Podcast Cover Art - Elizabeth Millard

Staff Photography - Mark Kotchorek

Music - Madison Hemmerling

Host - Jeremey Verity

Hailing from Langham, SK, Andrew Sneddon knew he wanted to be an educator from his early high school days where a couple of his teachers left an unshakable positive influence on his life. Like all of us, Andrew is no stranger to setbacks. Having been diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy after experiencing an incident during his delivery, navigating through several surgeries as a child, and choosing to withdraw early from his first internship placement, Andrew is a testament to perseverance and a “no quit” attitude. It is this attitude and his caring demeanor that have led him to be the exemplary professional, gifted Tri-West Teacher’s Association Representative, and model educator that we know today. Listen into this episode of NBCHS Over Coffee to learn more about Andrew, how many pieces comprise the Lego Star Wars Death Star and how to break up a poker game in the washroom of the SK Science Centre…at 3:00am.

Episode Credits:

Producing, Recording, Tech - Ryan Kobelsky

Podcast Cover Art - Elizabeth Millard

Staff Photography - Mark Kotchorek

Music - Madison Hemmerling

Host - Jeremey Verity

Born in Moose Jaw, SK, Rochelle Bullerwell moved to eight different locations in Saskatchewan until she settled in North Battleford during the eighth grade. A former graduate of NBCHS and NorthWest Regional College, Rochelle began her journey as an EA in 1996 and has been investing into the students of NBCHS for the past 17 years. Not only does she bring a wealth of educational knowledge and experience to our building, but also a gentleness, laughter and approachability that is second to none. Listen in to this next episode of NBCHS Over Coffee to get to know more about Rochelle and the invaluable work of an Educational Assistant.

Episode Credits:

Producing, Recording, Tech - Ryan Kobelsky

Podcast Cover Art - Elizabeth Millard

Staff Photography - Mark Kotchorek

Music - Madison Hemmerling

Host - Jeremey Verity

Ask Lynne Thompson, as a young child, what she wanted to be when she grew up and she wouldn’t have said doctor, lawyer or astronaut. She would have said teacher. Born and raised in Saskatoon, Lynne went from rounding up her neighborhood friends to play “school” as a child to officially starting her teaching career in Humboldt, SK . She quickly transitioned to NBCHS where she has taught the remainder of her 30 year teaching career, specializing in Law, Business Ed, Accounting and as a later addition, Psychology. With unquestionable professionalism, intelligence, and competence, Lynne has blessed countless numbers of students throughout her teaching career. Listen in to this next episode of NBCHS Over Coffee and learn from Lynne how to build and grow a teaching legacy year after year after year.

Episode Credits:

Producing, Recording, Tech - Ryan Kobelsky

Podcast Cover Art - Elizabeth Millard

Staff Photography - Mark Kotchorek

Music - Madison Hemmerling

Host - Jeremey Verity

Born and raised in Brampton/Mississauga, ON, Kyle Palmer was brought up with strong values in a family that embraced their Jamaican heritage. Taught to see people simply (and profoundly) as human beings, he enjoyed growing up in a deeply multicultural part of our country, and sports quickly became a go-to pastime for him. Fast forward a few years and you will see Kyle taking the mound for the Bacone College Warriors (Muskogee, OK, USA) , the Graceland University Yellowjackets (Lamoni, IA, USA) and best of all (for NB fans!) the North Battleford Beavers. Listen in to this episode of NBCHS Over Coffee as we dig into the life of an outstanding school counselor, fantastic coach and an all around great individual!

Episode Credits:

Producing, Recording, Tech - Ryan Kobelsky

Podcast Cover Art - Elizabeth Millard

Staff Photography - Mark Kotchorek

Music - Madison Hemmerling

Host - Jeremey Verity