The Leader - 28/04/2025

Regular Meeting of the Board

Monday, April 28, 2025

All reports for this meeting can be found HERE.

Learn Lead Inspire: Kaejaun Samuel-Bascoe and Sara McMillen

 

It is with great pride that we share a story of quick thinking, calm under pressure, and a deep awareness of the safety and well-being of others. Last month, Kaejaun Samuel-Bascoe, a Grade 6 student at J.L. Mitchener, was onboard the bus for the usual trip home. But it wasn't a usual day; Kaejaun noticed a fellow passenger, a student in Kindergarten, was in distress. Recognizing that this was a potential emergency, he acted fast, informed his bus driver, Sara McMillen, who suspected the student was likely choking. Sara was maneuvering the vehicle through a roundabout when this occurred, and in the crucial seconds it would take to navigate it to a safe spot to pull over, she simultaneously talked Kaejaun through administering the appropriate first aid procedures. Their teamwork that day saved the younger passenger during a medical emergency; as Kaejaun followed Sara's instructions, a marble was dislodged from the Kindergarten student's airway. The swift and calm actions each of them demonstrated led to a remarkable outcome — one that is a shining example all of us can hope to live up to if faced with a similar situation.

 


Student Showcase: Thompson Creek Elementary School’s Skipping Club

Thompson Creek Elementary School’s Skipping Club is building well-being and belonging by getting a jump-start on each school day, and inspiring the rest of their school to commit to a great cause in the process. Each day, the club - which includes students in grades 3 to 8 - meets for practice before school and during first break. Last month, they performed a 45-minute set for the entire school to promote Jump Rope for Heart, getting everyone hopping to take part in the fundraiser supporting life-saving heart and brain research. The club members’ commitment to physical activity, building confidence, fostering teamwork and inciting creativity has had a positive effect on the entire school.

 


Grand Erie Announces Names for New Elementary Schools

A natural feature that traverses the region and a local trailblazer in the history of education will inspire learners for generations to come as the Grand Erie District School Board announced the names for two new elementary schools currently under construction. During last night’s board meeting, Trustees made Grand River Public School and Blanche E. Williams Public School official. The process of determining a name for each school began last year, with suggestions and an accompanying rationale gathered from community members this winter. Submissions for each school were then taken to a Special Ad Hoc naming committee. The committee members reviewed submissions and sought input from staff, students and community members to narrow the list, and provided a recommendation to the superintendent overseeing each school, followed by the Board of Trustees’ approval. Grand River Public School is on track to welcome learners this September, and Blanche E. Williams Public School will open its doors to learners in 2026.


Annual Learning and Operating Plan

The Annual Learning and Operating Plan is intended to propel momentum while charting progress on collective goals related to Learning, Well-Being and Belonging each year. The mid-term update, presented Monday, highlighted achievements in math, literacy, graduation rates, school culture and mental health, Indigenous Education and operational administration. The highlights, and the work completed towards realizing these vital goals, will remain a strong focus as the end of the school year approaches, and the strategies and collective commitment behind all of this work lights the route into next year. The Annual Learning and Operating Plan can be found here.

Director’s Report Highlights

Ontario Skills Competition

Earlier this month, Brooke-Lynn Criddle-Brown and Patel Wishv, both students from Pauline Johnson Collegiate and Vocational School, competed in the Ontario Skills qualifier at Niagara College, placing first and fourth, respectively. Both earned a spot at the provincial Ontario Skills competition, taking place later this spring. The annual competition aims to inspire leadership and learning in the skilled trades and technologies.


Renaming Elgin Ave Public School

With renovations starting at Elgin Avenue Public School in Simcoe, we’re building a new school community and asking for the public’s help in suggesting a new name to reflect its evolution. The upgraded school will welcome learners from West Lynn Public School and Elgin Avenue. Recently, Simcoe-based radio station MyFM and its news supplement Norfolk Today got in on the action, asking West Lynn students their thoughts on what would make an ideal name. Aria Crouch, Keira Kourieh, Adam Atkinson and Emraan Nacino stepped up to offer their suggestions for the on-air segment.


Coding en français

A few weeks ago, Junior French Immersion classes from across the board took over the Innovation HUB at North Park to show off their skills in coding en français. Their teachers have been participating in a project named "eSTIM de soi en FLS", which is a play on words combining STEAM and ‘esteem,’ signifying confidence in French through STEAM learning. This project was made possible through a grant from the Ontario Public School Boards' Association, which provided funding for coding activities and materials in French.

 


April is Autism Awareness Month

April is Autism Awareness Month, with World Autism Day taking place on April 2 each year. To mark the occasion, the New Visions Autism class at James Hillier Public School made tie-dye T-shirts as colourful as the school’s Snoezelen room. Educators at the school are creating an atmosphere where every student feels valued and supported, celebrating a commitment to understanding and embracing diversity every day.

 


In Memoriam

Statements were read to honour Julie Vlieger, a student at Pauline Johnson Collegiate and Vocational School, and Andrew Nicholson, a teacher at Brier Park Public School. Our sincerest condolences to Julie’s and Andrew’s families, friends, the staff members who worked with them, and everyone connected to these losses.


Multi-Year Plan Stories

In 2021, Grand Erie approved a new strategic direction to guide the work that the school board is doing. 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