Success Stories

Supporting Student Success: A Decade of Impact

Each spring, Every Student, Every Day, in partnership with Yukon Education, opens applications for funding to support student attendance initiatives across the territory. A selection committee, composed of department representatives, educators, and Every Student, Every Day champions, carefully reviews each submission and awards funding for the upcoming school year.

Since our first $50,000 in funding was raised and distributed in April 2013, more than $2.6 million has been invested in over 240 grassroots projects, directly impacting schools and communities across Yukon.

From Old Crow to Watson Lake, and nearly every Yukon community in between, these initiatives have tackled critical barriers to attendance, enhanced mental wellness, and created meaningful opportunities for students to succeed both in and out of the classroom.

New for the 2025-2026 school year, Every Student, Every Day has introduced a food infrastructure funding category, ensuring schools have access to small kitchen equipment and appliances to help better support students with nutrition needs. This change reflects our ongoing commitment to adapt, innovate, and maximize impact in Yukon schools.

Most importantly, over a decade of project funding has shown that Every Student, Every Day, together with your ongoing commitment, is producing tangible and positive results. Your support is helping Yukon students stay in school, build stronger connections, and achieve their potential—every day.

BUILDING MOMENTUM: 2013-2016

In its first years, Every Student, Every Day laid the groundwork for lasting change. In 2013-2014, 64% of funded schools saw improved attendance, reinforcing the importance of community-driven support. The following year, a project at F.H. Collins High School led to a 36% attendance increase in just one year. By 2015-2016, all 10 funded schools—from Carmacks to Whitehorse to Pelly Crossing—reported higher attendance, demonstrating the power of grassroots initiatives to keep students engaged and in school.

EXPANDING IMPACT: 2017-2018

With momentum growing, Every Student, Every Day continued investing in student success. In 2017-2018, schools introduced new ways to engage students, including a 360-degree virtual reality learning program at Christ the King Elementary and an attendance rewards initiative at Elijah Smith Elementary. These efforts encouraged students to participate more actively in their education, setting the stage for further growth.

STRENGTHENING CONNECTIONS: 2019-2020

The following years saw deeper community collaboration. In 2018-2019, attendance-focused programs at the Teen Parent Centre in Whitehorse helped young parents balance education with personal responsibilities. By 2019-2020, partnerships expanded to include the Ta’an Kwäch’än Council and Kwanlin Dün First Nation, emphasizing cultural connections in education. Programs like Gadzoos’daa Attendance for Success further reinforced the importance of tailoring support to student needs.

ADAPTING TO CHALLENGES: 2021-2023

The pandemic years brought new obstacles, but Every Student, Every Day remained committed to supporting students. Schools adapted by implementing hands-on learning programs such as Robert Service School’s skills development workshops in Dawson and makerspaces at Del Van Gorder School in Faro. In 2022-2023, initiatives like the iDea Lab at Aurora Virtual School and Creativity Lab at École Whitehorse Elementary helped students stay engaged through interactive and problem-solving activities. Nutrition-based projects, including school kitchen renovations, reinforced the link between student wellness and attendance.

INVESTING IN INNOVATION: 2024-2025

This past year, Every Student, Every Day continued to support creative, hands-on projects that encouraged student participation and success. The 2024-2025 school year saw a blend of outdoor, technological, and applied learning opportunities across Yukon schools.

Students took part in FIRST LEGO League and FIRST Tech Challenge robotics programs through Robotics North Society, gaining hands-on experience in engineering, coding, and problem-solving. Meanwhile, the Mountain Bikes project at Centre Scolaire Secondaire Communautaire Mercier promoted outdoor engagement and student well-being. At Del Van Gorder School, funding for applied design, skills, and technology (ADST/STTEAM) resources helped expand real-world learning opportunities, while arts-based attendance initiatives at École Émilie-Tremblay strengthened student connections to creative expression.

Through these initiatives, Every Student, Every Day provided students with active, experiential, and community-driven opportunities, ensuring they stayed engaged, supported, and inspired throughout the school year.

Looking forward: 2025-2026

As we approach the 2025-2026 school year, Every Student Every Day remains steadfast in its mission to support Yukon students. Thanks to a three-year Memorandum of Understanding with the Yukon Government, beginning in 2024/25, $100,000 annually has been secured to help fund critical projects that improve student attendance and success.

Over the past decade, the community’s response to ESED’s funding opportunities has continued to grow, with innovative and impactful projects making a tangible difference in schools and communities across the territory. While we remain cautious about overall funding levels due to recent challenges, this commitment from the Yukon Government underscores the importance of our work and provides a foundation for continued support.

Together with our partners, educators, and community champions, we look forward to empowering more students, fostering resilience, and helping build a brighter future for Yukon youth.

List of projects