The Leader - 27/01/2025

Regular Meeting of the Board

Monday, January 27, 2025

All reports for this meeting can be found here.

Caledonia Elementary School Boundaries Approved

Commencing in June 2024, and with the construction of a new elementary school underway in Caledonia, Grand Erie embarked on a comprehensive process aiming to ensure equitable and effective distribution of student spaces across schools in the area, while considering public input and long-term community needs. The recommended boundary changes that resulted from that process were presented to and approved by the Board of Trustees on Monday, pursuant to the steps outlined in Grand Erie’s Boundary Reviews Policy.

Completion of the new Caledonia elementary school is intended to alleviate over-enrolment at other Caledonia elementary schools, including Caledonia Centennial Public School. New students registering within this boundary were directed to J.L. Mitchener Public School, which served as a holding school while construction took place. The new boundaries will include the Avalon housing development and parts of Seneca Central Public School's current area. Consequently, students from Caledonia Centennial, Seneca Central and J.L. Mitchener Public School will transition to the new Caledonia elementary school next fall.

Director’s Report Highlights

Centre for Excellence Celebrates Grand Opening

A vibrant event encouraging participation and reflection took place earlier this month as educators and learners gathered for the official opening of the Centre for Excellence: Teaching, Learning and Belonging, a unique space designed to foster inclusion, community connection and professional learning opportunities. The theme of the opening event was Black Joy, celebrating strength within the Black community, and providing resources and inspiration ahead of Black History Month. The event featured a keynote by Ellen Ocran, a community engager and advocate for Black youth, who got participants thinking about the connections between music, movement, resistance and collective strength. The evening also included a workshop virtually connecting participants to the Josiah Henson Museum of African-Canadian History in Dresden, Ont. Look for more programming and events this year, as the Centre for Excellence is animated with the intentions of teaching, learning and belonging, in line with curriculum learning and Grand Erie's collective priorities.

Above: Guest speaker Ellen Ocran (far right) poses with Grand Erie staff and administrators during the grand opening of the Centre for Excellence.

Conestoga Partnership Will Launch College-Within-a-School Program

A partnership between Grand Erie and Conestoga College Institute of Technology & Advanced Learning will redefine educational collaboration in Ontario. Starting September 2025, the two institutions will launch the first College-Within-a-School (CWAS) program in the province, building on the success of existing School-Within-a-College initiatives and the Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program.

The licensed agreement between Grand Erie and Conestoga will allow for significant renovations at the Tollgate Technical Skills Centre (TTSC), including a dedicated wing of the school, additional parking and storage facilities. Conestoga will invest $5 million in renovations, incorporating technology and resources to ensure a high-quality learning experience at TTSC. Delivering hands-on practical training to an increasing student population in the Brantford/Brant County community will help address local needs and support the area’s economy through a variety of Ontario college certificate and diploma programs.

Logos of Conestoga College and Grand Erie District School Board

Learn Lead Inspire Award: Carrie Swartz, Toronto Holocaust Museum

The Learn Lead Inspire award celebrates students, staff members, volunteers and community members who have made outstanding contributions and shown steadfast commitment to our school communities, aligning with the Board’s mission to build a culture of learning, well-being and belonging for each learner.

On Monday, Grand Erie recognized the outstanding contributions of Carrie Swartz, Director of Museum Experience at the Toronto Holocaust Museum, and the entire museum team, who have been instrumental in shaping a partnership that perfectly aligns with Grand Erie’s mission to build a culture of learning, well-being and belonging. This partnership has transformed Holocaust education for Grand Erie students, staff, educators, trustees and community partners through immersive learning experiences. By bringing history to life, the Toronto Holocaust Museum helps attendees understand the importance of empathy, resilience and standing up against hate in all its forms.

Through this collaboration, more than 250 Grand Erie attendees have engaged in powerful lessons that extend far beyond the classroom and office walls. Carrie and her team have created an environment that teaches history and inspires critical thinking, compassion, and an unwavering commitment to equity and justice — values at the heart of our work here at Grand Erie.

Learn Lead Inspire Award: Carrie Swartz, Toronto Holocaust Museum

Above: Trustees (shown here), staff members and learners across Grand Erie have visited the Toronto Holocaust Museum this year.

Showcase: Staff Members Share Learning Experience at Toronto Holocaust Museum

Judy Gardner, principal at Banbury Heights Elementary School; Meghan Cameron, teacher at Cayuga Secondary School; Brian Wilson, teacher at Cedarland Public School; and Jackie Watkins, teacher consultant, shared their experiences visiting the Toronto Holocaust Museum, and how they are drawing on those experiences to transform learning in the classroom.

Ford Donates Auto Parts to Grand Erie Secondary Schools

Secondary schools across Grand Erie are benefitting from Ford of Canada’s Automotive Career Exploration program, with a donation of vehicle parts to increase hands-on learning opportunities in automotive service courses. Parts included engines, transmissions, turbochargers and more.

Dunnville Secondary School students surround a recent engine parts donation from Ford Canada

In Memoriam

A statement was read to honour Gayle Book, a member of Grand Erie’s School Culture and Well-Being team. Gayle was energetic and passionate about supporting students, families and schools and took great pride in helping others. She was a member of the Traumatic Emergency Response Team and provided board-wide training in suicide intervention and Restorative Justice. Our deepest condolences to Gayle's family, friends, staff members and everyone connected to this loss.

Multi-Year Plan Stories

In 2021, Grand Erie approved a new strategic direction to guide the school board’s work. At the centre of this multi-year plan is the vision to Learn, Lead and Inspire, and a mission to build a culture of Learning, Well-Being and Belonging for each learner.

The following stories showcase some of the most recent stories related to the Multi-Year Strategic Plan.

Learning

Belonging

Student Trustee Elections: Your Time to Learn, Lead and Inspire