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A Message from Wilma de
Rond, Director of Education:
Thank you for another wonderful year in
Catholic education. Each student, parent, teacher, support staff,
and administrator contributed to the successful year that is now
drawing to a close.
You should have a tremendous sense of pride
in what you have accomplished. Over the past ten months, you have
touched the lives of thousands of students. There have been many
joys and also some sadness, but we have come through it all together
as a family of faith.
Our theme this year was "Good News for
All." We celebrated the Ontario Catholic School Graduate
Expectations as we marked the tenth year of their implementation.
Catholic education is distinctive in its role to form the whole
child through faith formation and we are led and guided by the
Catholic Graduate Expectations. They are our guide for planning,
instructional strategies, evaluation and assessment. The
Expectations build our life roles, skills and attitudes.
I am very fortunate to be able to travel to
all of the schools in our district. It provides me with a unique
perspective of the whole system. Not a day goes by when there is not
something significant to celebrate among the remarkable achievements
of our staff and students.
Students and staff excelled and received
numerous honours at the highest levels. They were honoured for their
accomplishments in the classroom and in the arts and in music. They
were successful on the field of sports and on stage, winning local,
regional and provincial championships.
The past year saw the blessing and opening
of many improved and expanded facilities across the District. The
coming year will see the opening of a new school, St. Anne's
Catholic Elementary School in St. Thomas. We will be making major
moves toward a new Catholic secondary school, the expansion of St.
Joseph's High School and the building of a new elementary school in
Delaware.
Everything we do, we accomplish together.
As educators in the Catholic Faith, we work together with our homes
and parishes to form the human person emerging within each of our
students. We have an enormous responsibility as educators, parents,
parishes and students to teach and follow the example of Jesus and
the Gospels each day.
It was author Hal Borland who said,
"Year's end is neither an end nor a beginning but a going on,
with all the wisdom that experience can instil in us."
The end of a school year is a time of going
on and a time of transition. Many of our students will be leaving
our system bound for college, university or the world of work. Our
Grade 8's are preparing for the transition to high school. We
recently said goodbye to many staff members who are retiring and
beginning new chapters in their lives. The rest of us will be going
on to a new year and all of the challenges and opportunities it will
bring.
I hope that you will enjoy a lovely summer
with your families and friends. Let us pray that God watches over us
all and brings us back together with renewed energy and purpose in
the new school year.
Wilma de Rond
Director of Education
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