Have a Wonderful School Year
Dear Parents/Guardians, Students, and Staff:
As we start a new school year, I am pleased to welcome new and returning students, staff, and families to our schools. I hope you were all able to have a fun and safe summer and had opportunities to spend time with family and friends. I want to acknowledge that some in our community may have been impacted by wildfires in the interior and would have experienced a challenging time. As we return to schools and reconnect, I encourage everyone to support each other and work together to create an inclusive, caring, and compassionate learning environment. I know our education and operations staff, including myself, are looking forward to another year of learning, and are committed to meeting the goals of the District’s Strategic Plan and Framework for Enhancing Student Learning (FESL), and continuing to build a community where every child matters.
Commitment to Truth and Reconciliation
The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation will be observed on Wednesday, September 30th. While schools will be closed, students and staff across the District will engage in learning and reflection in the days leading up to this important day. Orange Shirt Day reminds us of the lasting impacts of the residential school system on First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Peoples and is an opportunity to honour and remember those who never returned home and deepen our understanding of our shared history. We encourage students, staff, and families to observe the day in meaningful ways and to learn from Indigenous voices and perspectives. The District’s commitment to Truth and Reconciliation extends throughout the year. Through ongoing learning and professional development, we will continue to move forward in our path to reconciliation.
Celebrating Spaces and Supporting Growth
The District is thrilled to celebrate the completion of the addition at Langley Secondary School. We recognize the 12-classroom expansion that is ready for students this week will help meet the demands ofincreasing enrolment in that family of schools. In Willoughby, we are also excited to see the progress of thenew stɑtl̓əw̓ Middle and Emery Dosdall Secondary schools. We are grateful to District staff and ourconstruction partners for their ongoing work on this historic campus project.
Getting Sites Ready for School
Aside from capital projects, I want to highlight the hard work of our staff who worked over the summer to get our indoorand outdoor spaces ready for the new school year. From custodians and trades staff in Facilities and Maintenance, to technicians in Information Technology, and staff in Finance and Purchasing, we appreciate the efforts of our operational departments while students and school-based staff were on break. Some of the projects include adding playground equipment, paving, painting, roofing replacement, refreshing devices and replacing projectors, among other enhancements. Please take the time to thank those who have worked to improve our sites for the return of students.
The start of the school year is a busy time but it is also a time to set goals, build on strengths, and create connections to help students be successful. The Langley Board of Education, Chair Candy Ashdown, is wishing students, staff, and families success in her back-to-school message that can be read here. The Minister of Education and Child Care, Lisa Beare, is also sharing words of excitement and positivity in her statement which can be read here. Thank you to everyone for your ongoing collaboration and partnership in supporting students in their learning journeys. Have a wonderful year!
Sincerely,
Mal Gill
Superintendent of Schools