Each day, our staff inspire success, confidence and hope in each student. This is the Peel District School Board’s new mission statement. Our mission, and our vision and values, are not just a set of words on a page or a website. They are our shared collective and public commitment to student success. How, as always, we will not just teach, but inspire. You can find out more about this commitment on
www.peelschools.org/inspire.
Last week, we launched the board’s new website—www.peelschools.org—with an improved search engine, rotating images that highlight key initiatives and a designated area for parents. If you haven’t already done so, please subscribe to receive Peel news—look for the “Subscribe” chiclet on our website, and remember to sign up for school news on your school’s website as well. It’s the best way to stay up-to-date. You can also “like” us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter @PeelSchools and subscribe to our “Peel Schools” YouTube channel.
We will reach out to parents throughout the school year to let you know about our journey to 21st Century learning—driven by our Vision for Learning and Instructional Technology and commitment to becoming a Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) board. We will also continue to provide the resources parents need to work with us to boost learning and success.
Actor Christopher Reeve once said that, “Once you choose hope, anything is possible.” When children and teens believe in themselves, when they trust in the caring adults around them, when they choose hope, they’re free to explore their passions and potential. They’re free to write their own success stories. At my start-of the-year presentation to staff, I spoke about the enormous influence each of us has—you included—on shaping student well-being.
Together, we must promote positive student mental health because our students matter—success, confidence and hope matter. To help each of us with this very important work, we’ve posted a number of student mental health and well-being resources on
www.peelschools.org/standup. Be sure to watch our Stand up for student mental health video on the webpage or on our YouTube channel at
www.youtube.com/Peelschools. You may have seen and/or heard it featured in the Globe & Mail and on Canada AM, Metro Morning and other media outlets.
As we head into our best year ever to inspire, I invite you to share in our excitement and enthusiasm. You can view our staff’s excitement as featured in a video we created to Enrique Iglesias’ song “I like how it feels.” It too is available on the Peel Schools YouTube channel.
I have every confidence that we will continue to do exceptional things to inspire success, confidence and hope in each student. As partners, we welcome and value your involvement in your child or teen’s school experience.
Remember that the most powerful action you can take as a parent to support your child’s success in school is to hold high expectations that your child view education as his or her number one priority. Together, our collective, daily efforts make a positive difference in the lives of our students.
Best wishes,
Tony Pontes
Director of Education