Updates

July 19, 2023 by cycworker 1 Comment

I have been remiss in writing again, and for that, apologize. I am working on getting into a groove with keeping this blog up to date. As I’ve mentioned in the past, I don’t want this blog be used to debate board agenda items. I have come to realize how important it is to keep debate to more formal channels. And yet I want to remain accessible & accountable.

It was a good year; I was active in educational matters both within our district and within our province. On a provincial level, I had the privilege of being part of the peer review process related to the Foundation for Enhancing Student Learning. It was a great opportunity to visit another school district on the Island & see different ways of approaching literacy, numeracy, social responsibility, support for students with diverse learning needs, and mental health.

Locally, I enjoyed being part of the NDSS zone with Trustee Lee. I admittedly had difficulty getting out to all my schools this year; I will ensure that I get caught up & get in a better groove for the 2023-2024 school year. I did have the opportunity to visit Mountain View a few times, and I got to see the work of their youth leadership group first hand. These students are passionate about sustainability! I also visited Ecole Quarterway & Ecole Pauline Haarer. In all the schools I visited, and in all the presentations I saw throughout the year, there was a recurring theme: our district is staffed by dedicated people who are committed to doing their best for students, and who care about not just their academic achievements, but their overall wellbeing.

In the fall we will be discussing the current status of our strategic plan. We will need to decide whether to update it, change it, or simply ask staff to focus on different aspects of our operational plan, while focussing on the same broad goals.

One of the core principles of our board which I am very proud of is our commitment to inclusivity & respect for diversity. As such, the following public statement was sent out today:

http://surl.li/jgkyy

Board & staff discussed this in great depth prior to making the decision & I believe it is the right course of action.