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—made up of department representatives, educators, and Every Student Every Day champions—reviews submissions and awards funding for the upcoming school year.

Since our first $50,000 in funding was raised and distributed in April 2013, Every Student Every Day has raised over $3 million and supported more than 270 grassroots projects, directly impacting schools and communities across the Yukon.

From Old Crow to Watson Lake, and nearly every Yukon community in between, these initiatives continue to tackle barriers to attendance, strengthen student wellness and belonging, and create meaningful opportunities for students to succeed both in and out of the classroom.

Over more than a decade of community-led project funding, one message remains clear: when students feel supported, connected, and seen, they show up. Together with our partners, educators, and champions across the territory, Every Student Every Day is helping Yukon students stay engaged in school and build brighter futures—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: 2024-2026

Over the past two school years, Every Student Every Day has continued to support creative, hands-on projects that encourage student participation, connection, and success across Yukon schools. The 2024–2026 period saw a strong mix of outdoor learning, applied skills development, technology, and student wellness supports — all designed to strengthen engagement and reduce barriers to attendance.

Students took part in FIRST LEGO League and FIRST Tech Challenge robotics programs through Robotics North Society, building real-world skills in engineering, coding, teamwork, 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 practical learning opportunities, while arts-based attendance initiatives at École Émilie-Tremblay strengthened student connection through creative expression.

In 2025–26, schools continued to bring forward innovative and practical ideas to support attendance. Projects included improvements to learning environments and hands-on engagement spaces such as a Makerspace at F.H. Collins Secondary, and additional classroom supports like projectors and screens at École Whitehorse Elementary. Wellness and food-access supports also remained a meaningful theme, including initiatives such as a mobile kitchenette at Golden Horn Elementary School Council and kitchen infrastructure supports at Del Van Gorder School.

Through these initiatives, Every Student Every Day continued to provide students with meaningful, experiential, and community-driven opportunities — helping Yukon youth stay engaged, supported, and inspired.

Looking forward: 2026-2027

As we prepare for the 2026–2027 school year, Every Student Every Day remains steadfast in its mission to support Yukon students and strengthen school attendance through practical, community-led solutions.

This year, a total of $300,000 will be available to support attendance-focused projects across the territory — combining $200,000 from Every Student Every Day with $100,000 in annual support from the Government of Yukon. This funding will continue to support initiatives that improve student engagement, belonging, wellness, and the conditions that help students consistently show up and succeed.

Over the past decade, the community’s response to ESED’s funding opportunities has continued to grow, with innovative projects making a tangible difference in schools and communities across the Yukon. Together with educators, First Nations, partners, and community champions, we look forward to supporting another year of strong, student-centred projects that help build a brighter future for Yukon youth.

List of projects