From the Principal

Bonjour à tous, and Wanju

Well it has been a sad start to the week with the passing of Queen Elizabeth II late last week. Together we mourn the passing of an exceptional woman whose life has been dedicated to the service of the public. We have marked her passing by flying the flags at half-mast. She is quoted as saying “Grief is the price that you pay for love”. They are beautiful words and ones I will always remember.

Recently at a Principal network meeting our attendance practices have been singled out. We are one of the secondary schools closest to our pre-COVID attendance levels.  Attendance structures and processes play a big part; recording, monitoring and following up each and every absentee. However, the biggest impact on student attendance comes from what happens in every classroom. Engaging and relevant lessons; strong relationships with a sense of belonging and a culturally responsive school that welcomes all students are the key ingredients to students attending school.

As learning online becomes more and more accessible we must ask what is the primary role of a school. If we can’t focus on relevance and a sense of community, it will be very difficult to provide a reason for students to attend. Congratulations and please keep up the good work in these areas.

Have a great week

En Avant

Mike Sinagra