Blog Posts

Dear Parents and Caregivers,

Term Two has absolutely raced by and we are once again headed into a break. It has been a short but very busy stretch of the school year, and we hope that you take the time to celebrate your child’s successes and achievements from the past few months. Learning Updates were sent home yesterday afternoon; we encourage you to read these documents and to let your child know how proud you are of their progress. We are SO impressed with the hard work of all students at Bondar!

Literacy is the focus of our School Plan at Bondar for the 2023-2024 school year, and in support of this plan, we have been inviting Bondar Special Guest Readers into the school. These adults in our community have been selected to read a story of their choosing to show and to share their love of reading with our students. In January, Constable Neil Cole, our school Liaison Officer, shared a story about dealing with feelings of frustration and anger as well as a story about Terry Fox.

At Harry Sayers Elementary, one of our goals is to strive to “Increase parent and community engagement” as part of our School Plan and the School District Strategic Plan. During the pandemic, parents were not able to volunteer or be part of the school community like they once were.

I think it is important for a Superintendent to try and stay connected to what is happening across the district and the broader community. While there are never enough hours in the week, I do my best to make regular rounds and to take in community events. And wherever possible, I like to share the good things I see.

I had the opportunity to head outside with Nature Kindergarten this week and was so pleased to be able to get my hands dirty and to experience Forest Time with our Kindies. Mrs. Jones clearly has our youngest students well-versed in their daily routines, and opened outside time with a review of the discussion that was had earlier that morning in the classroom, about the cold temperatures and whether or not students believed the creek behind the school would be frozen. Students had time to share wonders and thoughts, and then, with Mrs.

In the pursuit of fostering a more equitable and inclusive society, schools play a pivotal role. We envision leading a school that values equity, diversity, and inclusion, emphasizing the importance of providing comprehensive student support. Drawing inspiration from "The Spirit Level: Why Greater Equality Makes Societies Stronger" by Kate Pickett and Richard Wilkinson (2011), we believe that creating an equitable educational environment contributes to a stronger and more cohesive society.  

Dear Parents and Caregivers,

There are no guarantees in life, but wherever you want to go or can imagine going, education is probably the best way there. How does a child in Kindergarten one day become an architect? How does a grade nine student become an arthroscopic surgeon or an agriculturist? How does one become an electrician or a chef? You guessed it - education. This is why I often describe education as the bridge to anywhere.

As we start each school day at McMillan Elementary, we seek connections with colleagues to chat about how we are feeling, the Netflix show we watched the night before, or how our kids' team performed at last night's game. We seek a morning connection to ground us for the emotional, social and mental demands of our day. Our students are no different. They, too, need this foundation to set them up for a successful day of learning.

Dear Parents and Caregivers,
I hope that you have all enjoyed a two week break from the routines and the grind of the school year. I’m certain that it was a busy and bustling stretch of time, but with any luck, there was also a bit of rest, relaxation and fun for all family members.

As we embark upon a new year and a new term, I would like to take the opportunity to give some friendly Bondar reminders.