Blog Posts

One of the things I love most about this time of year is seeing the many ways we celebrate the season.  Visit any one of our schools and you’ll see snowflakes and Christmas trees and happy faces all around. If you are lucky, you might even catch sight of Santa and his elves. And it’s not just in schools and classrooms. The Abbotsford School Board Office is a veritable winter wonderland thanks to the goodwill and creative energy of our folks here. 

Dear Parents and Caregivers,
We are on the verge of winter and the holiday season is just about upon us, which comes with much excitement, events and activities to take part in. This time of year is also when many of us are feeling run down and can catch the flu or other respiratory illnesses like Covid-19.

With its impressive high ceilings and huge windows, showcasing a spectacular view of our back field, forest area and even some mountains, students and staff alike love to descend upon the Library for teaching, meeting and learning. There is a warmth about it, and a sense of comfort and belonging because of the clean physical space with its soft lighting and quiet, engaging activities, but at the true heart of our love for the Library, is Mrs. Erickson. 

For 14 years, Margaret Stenersen Elementary School has been privileged to partner with Living Hope Church to host a Community Breakfast every Thursday morning. This program has become a cherished tradition, offering families a chance to gather, enjoy a meal together, and build connections within our school community.

I spoke with an elementary student recently. He was a hockey fan and could easily recite NHL players' names. He knew their jersey numbers, the positions they played, and sometimes the number of goals and assists they scored. I suspect you might know a sports fan like this, too.

Dear Parents and Caregivers,

Most of us understand that time is a precious commodity. There is no going back when a moment, a week, or a year has passed. So how we spend our time ought to be a key consideration. What is more, the demands of life and career are such that it can often feel as if there is not enough time to do the things we want or need to do. Time pressure is real, and I am certainly not immune.

At École Clearbrook Elementary, we understand that students’ emotional well-being is the foundation of learning and success. When a student feels regulated, safe and has a sense of belonging at school, building literacy and numeracy skills takes flight. Teachers at Clearbrook intentionally target and teach social-emotional learning skills and strategies that positively impact our students’ social-emotional well-being.

Dear Parents and Caregivers,

The school year is well underway, and most of us are feeling settled into our routines and feeling comfortable with the day-to-day happenings of school and family life. Reconnecting with the people we know and care about is reassuring as we get to know community members that we aren’t yet familiar with and create new connections and friendships with those around us. Our hope is that all students are finding their comfort-zone and are feeling that sense of belonging that is so important to Bondar.

At Semá:th Elementary, we encourage all our students to become lifelong learners and take responsibility for their learning. A big part of what we do here is build strong literacy skills through engaging and interactive activities. We also focus a lot on self-regulation, teaching kids how to understand and manage their feelings and actions. In our classrooms, we use group discussions, teamwork, and personalized feedback to help students see what they’re good at and celebrate their achievements.