Hello Families:
As we enter the final weeks of 2024, I reflect on the amazing learning, opportunities and support in our classrooms and schools. Recently, I have had the privilege of attending holiday celebrations and events in schools across the system. The sense of community that is built in each of our schools and the efforts of staff and students to make memories together is heartwarming. While every day of learning is important, it really is the special opportunities that make the year memorable!
Through the fall, there have been exciting things happening at HPEDSB in partnership with the HPE Learning Foundation (HPELF). While we are always thankful for the work through Food for Learning, we’re seeing other exciting projects take shape. First, the HPELF’s financial support to bus elementary students to the Humane Society of Hastings Prince Edward to participate in Rescue Readers that has young readers practicing their reading fluency to animals in the shelter. Second, HPELF’s support to continue the Minds in Motion activities in partnership with Loyalist College and the Grade 7 and 8 Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) carts. Finally, it is through the HPELF’s support for a new focus on fundraising for soundfields in our classrooms—more to come on this one in the new year! We are grateful for the HPELF’s support of our students in many ways.
In November, we asked for your input into the mission and vision for the new HPEDSB Multi-Year Strategic Plan. We had 561 people participate in a ThoughtExchange, the majority of whom were parents, followed by students. Certainly, through the answer to the survey question and the 380+ thoughts shared, it is clear that our mission must be focused on educating and skilling students while preparing for an evolving and unknown future. While we haven’t started setting priorities and goals, we heard that certain things were very important to you, including financial literacy, emotional intelligence, life skills, basic reading and math skills, digital skills, problem solving skills and having consequences.
On November 27, we had a chance to meet with a group of 70 student leaders from Grades 7 to 12 during a Student Leadership Symposium. When asked about what was important for the future of education, they shared topics such as financial literacy, specialized courses for career preparation, real world skills, and discipline and accountability. We are well on our way to identifying what is needed for the future and appreciate the feedback from you to do this. In the new year, we’ll be back with another ThoughtExchange so that you can share specifically where you want HPEDSB to focus for the next few years.
Also in January, we will be hosting another online workshop in the Together to Learn series. This one will be about self-care and how to deal with stress, including normalizing it, how to know when it becomes problematic and healthy habits to manage it. The date is Thursday, January 16, 2025 from 6:00 to 7:00 PM. Register online for this free workshop.
Until then, I wish you a healthy and happy holiday season. Enjoy the holidays and the time with those near and dear to you. I look forward to welcoming all students back to school on January 6, 2025.
Best wishes,
Katherine MacIver
Director of Education
Family Letter, December 2024 (PDF)