Reflections and Thanks

After a very busy week filled with amazing events at incredibly diverse schools in the District, I was in a reflective mood today.  I was thinking about how fortunate we are to work education in this District. 

This past week I served lunch to students and staff at Tremblay Elementary in Dawson Creek.  There I was impressed by how closely staff members work with students and the positive relationships they have in supporting some of our most vulnerable children.  Students made their way through the food line expressing their thanks and smiled, laughed and responded positively to the strangers in their midst.  Teachers and educational assistants mixed in to support those who needed more encouragement or assistance along the way. The positive rapport between adults and children was evident as they sat together and chatted openly, enjoying the meal provided. 

I traveled with Christy Fennell and Melissa Panoulias on Tuesday out to the Saulteau First Nation to watch the Moberly Lake Elementary School Christmas concert and have lunch with the community.  Along with the wonderful concert put on by the students and staff, I was impressed with the obvious close connection between school and community.  There was strength in the partnerships that were evident throughout the event.  Anneli Duncan has worked very hard to forge those relationships that are making a difference for the learning of her students. Parents and community members reached out to express their thanks to the school and the District for the support being provide for their children.

On Wednesday and Thursday I traveled with Candy Clouthier to watch the Christmas concerts and Peace View and South Peace Elementary Schools on the two Hutterite Colonies served by our District.  It was here, at both colonies where the culture is so foreign to most of us, that I witnessed the importance of family support and connection to others.  At each school the concert space was full and most in attendance were related to one another.  Watching the children perform and the adults respond to the wonderful singing, the short skits and the smiles of the children on stage reinforced for me how closely connected each of these communities are. It also had me thinking about how each child is supported by not only their parents, but by the community as a whole.  How fortunate we would be if this was the case in all of the communities we serve. 

I spent part of the morning today attending the Christmas Talent Show at DCSS-Central Campus, where I was principal last year.  Here I watched students, and staff, step out of their comfort zones and put themselves out there.  With close to 400 people in attendance, students were able to perform wonderfully, extending themselves in areas they previously would have not thought possible.  It was the supportive environment created by teachers, staff, student, and parents that made this possible. I was impressed by the growth shown in students I remember from last year, whom I would not have expected to see up on stage. 

My last stop of the day was at the Northern Lights College classroom on campus at DCSS-South Peace Campus.  Here the NLC staff was hosting a bar-b-q for students in the Heavy Duty Mechanics, Auto Service, and Esthetics Dual Credit Programs on site.  I had the opportunity to talk to school and college staff and also with students.  A question I often ask students, and I did today is, “What’s the most important thing you are getting from this program?” For two of the students I talked to the answer seemed to be a sense of hope for the future.  Both are students who have had struggles in their high school lives and who may have ended up dropping out and having diminished life chances.  Both are now on their way to careers in trades.  One is currently working and will continue to work with the same company after graduation and the other is on his way to a wonderful apprenticeship opportunity. It’s the hard work and support of an amazingly dedicated Career Education Team, along with support from school and college staff who make this possible. 

As the day comes to a close, my reflections on the last week have me feeling extremely thankful.  At my position in the School District 59 Board Office, I am surrounded by people who care passionately about the education, and social-emotional success of children in our District.  I am honored and thankful to be part of that team.  I want to thank you all for your commitment to children and for the difference you are making in their lives.  Merry Christmas to all of you and may you have a wonderful holiday in the company of family and friends.