Grand Erie Families,
It has been an exciting start to the 2024-25 school year, with many celebrations and initiatives happening across Grand Erie. Last month, we unveiled The Grand Welcome Centre, a dedicated location where all students new to Canada, entering the Ontario school system for the first time, and their families are welcomed into the Grand Erie community.
This month, we open the Innovation Hub @ Grand Erie at North Park Collegiate and Vocational School, located at 280 N Park St. in Brantford. The Innovation Hub will provide an experiential learning space where students in grades 7 to 12 can use cutting-edge STEAM tools to find inspiration to ideate, build, test and refine innovations. Join us on November 21, from 4 to 6 p.m., to hear from Mark Daly, Chief AI Officer at Western University, and Curtis Carmichael, a certified teacher and instructional coach, along with a tour of the Innovation Hub and STEAM Showcases. *Space is limited to 200 people.
As we look at how innovation can empower students and staff to augment their work and apply a critical thinking lens to this rapidly evolving field, the Grand Erie District School recently released an Artificial Intelligence in Education Strategy. The document will provide a proactive stance to ensure the safe, effective and responsible use of Generative AI in the classroom. It will be continually updated to reflect as new regulations are developed and introduced, such as Bill 194.
You Belong Here. Grand Erie high schools have everything students need to prepare for the next stage in life. Visit and learn more at an upcoming Future Grade 9 Student and Parent/Caregiver Information Night.
Was your child born in 2021? Kindergarten registration for the 2025-26 school year is now open. Kindergarten classrooms across Grand Erie are vibrant, engaging, inclusive spaces that lay the foundation for literacy and numeracy skills and foster children’s creativity and problem-solving abilities, with educators dedicated to helping learners develop a strong sense of themselves in the world.
In October, we received formal approval and funding from the Ministry of Education for the Elgin Avenue Public School project. Elgin Avenue and many other projects mark significant investment across the district. Two of those exciting projects include new school builds in Caledonia and West Brant, and the community will have an opportunity to provide input on the names of each location. Details are coming soon.
Did you know that 19 absences equal 10 per cent of the school year? Research shows that academic success in school is directly related to student attendance. The Grand Erie Attendance Strategy will increase parent and caregiver awareness and engagement in supporting and promoting attendance, and support robust, inclusive and collaborative strategies to address complex barriers to student attendance.
As math learning and achievement continue to be a focus, we will share the Family Math Newsletter each month. The newsletter includes resources, tips and practice math equations to support math learning at home.
Next week is Bullying Awareness and Prevention Week. As we foster a sense of belonging by creating an equitable, inclusive, and responsive environment where all students feel safe and valued, I encourage you to read How to Talk with Your Child About Mental Health from School Mental Health Ontario. Together, we can support the mental health of every student.
Dr. JoAnna Roberto, Ph.D
Director of Education and Secretary of the Board
Grand Erie District School Board
