Dear Staff and Families:
I hope you had a restful and enjoyable March Break. As we return to school, I want to provide you with an important update on the progress of our new Strategic Plan for 2025-2030.
We sincerely thank all who participated in the recent in-person consultations and all who submitted their thinking through our ThoughtExchanges. Your feedback has been instrumental in shaping our priorities moving forward. Here is a summary of key themes that emerged from your valuable input:
- Practical Life Skills: There was strong support for teaching students essential life skills, including financial literacy, budgeting, and basic personal care. Participants highlighted these as critical for preparing our students to successfully navigate adult life.
- Foundational Academic Skills: Ensuring strong foundational skills in reading, writing, and mathematics continues to be recognized as a core priority. Your responses emphasize the necessity of mastering these basics to support long-term academic and professional success.
- Adaptability and Critical Thinking: Many stressed the importance of equipping students with adaptability, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills to better navigate an ever-changing world. Incorporating real-world, experiential learning and Indigenous perspectives was particularly highlighted.
- Emotional and Social Skills: Teaching emotional intelligence, resilience, and social skills was identified as crucial for students' overall well-being and future success. There is a clear call to further embed emotional and social learning within our curriculum.
Additionally, you expressed strong support for advancements in technology and digital literacy, enhanced safety and respectful learning environments, deeper commitments to Indigenous education and equity, and an increased focus on supporting staff excellence and well-being.
Over the next few weeks, we will continue developing our strategic plan, ensuring these priorities and your voices are clearly reflected. We look forward to sharing the new strategic plan this spring in preparation for the 2025 - 2026 school year.
Thank you again for your ongoing support and partnership.
Best wishes,
Katherine MacIver
Director of Education
Family/Staff Letter, March 2025 PDF