Blog Posts

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.

Dear Parents and Caregivers,

The holiday season is upon us, which comes with much excitement, events and activities to take part in. This time of year is also when family members can be feeling run down and can catch the flu or other respiratory illnesses like Covid-19.

Dear Parents and Caregivers,

Dear Families,

We have officially moved into fall, and the start of October signals that the school year is well underway. Students have settled into their classes and school routines, and learning, discovery and fun are in full swing.

Dear Families,

Dear Families,

Jayde and Skyla are twins in grade 5 who started school at McMillan in Kindergarten. The girls have a designation, due to cerebral palsy, and are confined to wheelchairs. They were nonverbal when they started school, and their learning and growth over the past six years has been remarkable to watch. Even more inspiring, though, has been watching them grow in their relationships with their peers.  I sat down with Jayde, Skyla and several of their friends to talk about their learning journeys as they get ready to move on to middle school.

With my last blog post as superintendent (I still have a few more to write in my retirement), I would like to close with gratitude and appreciation for the many people with whom I have travelled this thirty-six-year path. I mentioned in my last post that it was because of the inspiration and encouragement of teachers, and one in particular, why I chose to become an educator. The journey to finding and fulfilling my purpose, particularly in leadership, has been filled with meandering adventures and learning. What resonates most with me are the people who have been on the journey with me.