The Leader - 25/11/2024

Regular Meeting of the Board

Monday, November 25, 2025

All reports for this meeting can be found here.

Learn Lead Inspire Awards

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

Sara Darling

Sara Darling recently served as the Grand Erie Parent Involvement Committee (GEPIC) chair, a role she held since 2022. She was previously a member of GEPIC and the Cobblestone Elementary School Council, advocating for and inspiring parent/caregiver involvement in young people's educational journeys as a vital link to success. Part of this work included supporting all school councils in Grand Erie so they could lead strong, effective parent engagement in their communities.

Sara has worked closely with the senior leadership team and trustees to ensure funding opportunities were maximized, to plan relevant and engaging meetings and events that drew on the expertise of the committee's members, and has consistently incorporated the voices of all parents, ensuring they knew their input was valued. Her efforts have brought significant resources, learning opportunities, and supports to parents and families across the region. Through this dedication, Sara has consistently fostered a culture of learning, well-being and belonging.

From left: Grand Erie Director of Education JoAnna Roberto, Learn Lead Inspire award winner Sara Darling, and Grand Erie Board Chair Susan Gibson.

Lorraine DeJong

Lorraine DeJong is a dedicated and inspiring community leader. For many years, she has sat on Grand Erie’s Special Education Advisory Committee (SEAC), representing the local association Lansdowne Children’s Centre. For the past two years, we have been privileged to work alongside Lorraine as she's served as SEAC's chair.

Lorraine exemplifies an inspiring passion for supporting students with diverse needs. She is knowledgeable of and responsive to services, supports and programs within Grand Erie and holds the unwavering belief that all students — particularly those with disabilities and neurodiversity — will succeed with the right support. Lorraine is a champion of fostering positive, reciprocal partnerships, and seeks to build relationships that engage families and schools through her work at Lansdowne Children’s Centre and as SEAC Chair. Lorraine is a shining example of an individual who learns, leads and inspires.

From left: Grand Erie Director of Education JoAnna Roberto, Learn Lead Inspire award winner Lorraine DeJong, and Grand Erie Board Chair Susan Gibson.

Student Showcase

Heather Hall, who attends Pauline Johnson Collegiate and Vocational School, and Elijah Liverpool, who attends Brantford Collegiate Institute and Vocational School, visited the Board room to share the You Belong Here video series. In the videos, Elijah and Heather, along with recent BCI graduate Abby Foster, guide families and soon-to-be high school students through a variety of topics related to the secondary school experience to help make it a successful transition.

From left: Grand Erie Director of Education, JoAnna Roberto with students Elijah Liverpool and Heather Hill.

From left: Grand Erie Director of Education, JoAnna Roberto with students Elijah Liverpool and Heather Hall.

Director’s Report Highlights

Innovation Hub Opens to Inspire STEAM Learning

Last week, students, staff, families and trustees cut the ribbon to officially open the Innovation Hub, a first-of-its-kind space for STEAM learning in Grand Erie. Housed at North Park Collegiate and Vocational School, the purpose of the multifunctional hub is to cultivate an ecosystem of exploration, imagination and future-ready skill development for learners in grades 7 through 12. The space will also become a hub of collaboration for educators, researchers, entrepreneurs, and industry and community partners to support the development of innovative educational tools. The Hub supports the Board’s multi-year strategic plan in learning, well-being and belonging by providing students with opportunities to advance their global competencies in critical thinking, communication and collaboration and equip them with the life skills to optimize their educational achievement and well-being.

The Grand Erie Innovation Hub opening - Nov. 22, 2024

Above: Grand Erie Innovation Hub Grand Opening on Nov. 2024

Congratulations, Graduates!

This month, Cayuga Secondary School, North Park Collegiate and Vocational School and Delhi District Secondary School hosted graduation ceremonies, and Grand Erie staff and trustees were pleased to be able to be a part of those celebrations. Grads can take pride in what they’ve accomplished and have confidence in the path ahead having honed the skills and strength needed to achieve big dreams.

In Memoriam

A statement was read to honour Alexis Hill, a Grade 12 student in the Nations/NewStart program. Staff members and fellow learners remember Lexi as fun, friendly, and with a great sense of style. She attended the Nations/NewStart alternative education program on Six Nations. Our deepest condolences go out to Lexi's family, friends, the Nations/NewStart school community 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

Innovation Hub @ Grand Erie Officially Opens

Belonging

Elgin Avenue Project Moves Forward After Approval from Ministry