As we begin the 2017-2018 school year, I want to take this opportunity to welcome all of our new and returning students and families. This is an exciting time of year and I hope you are starting this new school year as trustees are - with optimism and a commitment to working together to continue advancing student achievement and well-being.
An important part of that commitment is working together with staff members, families and communities to ensure our schools provide an environment that is safe, welcoming and inclusive. This takes on increasing importance given recent local and global events. We take pride in the diversity of our communities and will continue striving to uphold the values of equity and inclusivity in our system.
An important part of the director selection process includes collecting input from students, staff, families and community members - input that will be used to shape the job description, interview questions and more. I encourage everyone to share their thoughts through the survey available in September. We will continue to keep you updated as this work progresses.
Our schools are stronger when we work in collaboration with families and communities. Partnerships with parents and families are essential to achieving the goals we have for our students, and I hope that you will find opportunities to get engaged with the school and your child’s learning this year.
I wish you all the best for the upcoming school year.
Sincerely,
Juanita Nathan - Budget Committee Chair - Markham Wards 7 and 8