Dear Grand Erie families...

WEDNESDAY, AUG. 30, 2023

A

s summer begins to wane and new opportunities await, we want to wish all Grand Erie learners and families a wonderful start to the 2023-24 school year! 
Summer is an important chance to break from routine – to go on adventures, explore new places, delve into hobbies, and discover new interests, free from the start times and due dates that tend to punctuate our fall schedules. Most importantly, it’s a time to rest and recharge as we get set to put our best foot forward for the year ahead. We hope the past months have brought that much needed chance for downtime, and that you’re as excited as we are for what’s to come. 

Grand Erie’s educators and support staff can’t wait to welcome learners back to our schools and classrooms, and we’re thrilled to share some of the plans in the works as we gear up together. As a board, we continue to focus our work on the collective goals and priorities outlined in our multi-year strategic plan, which moves into year 3. Guided by our vision – to learn, lead and inspire – and our mission to build a culture of learning, well-being and belonging, this plan guides our goals and provides the framework that informs everything we do.  

Of course, it’s normal to have first-day jitters, too. But please know that we are all here to support your success and ability to thrive. We will continue to plan and deliver on what’s needed to ensure each learner can reach their full potential, recognizing the social, emotional and cognitive needs that make each of us unique, and prepare us to take on new challenges on our learning paths.  

On behalf of Grand Erie’s Board of Trustees and Senior Leadership team, welcome to the new school year! Together, we are ready to learn, lead and inspire. 

Susan Gibson & JoAnna Roberto
 

Grand Opening of the Snoezelen Room

Elgin Avenue Public School welcomed staff, students and community to the Grand Opening of the Snoezelen Room on Tuesday, Sept. 22.

On hand for this special occasion was Chair of the Board Carol Ann Sloat, Trustee Rita Collver and Superintendent Liana Thompson as well as several members of the community that contributed to the fundraising, and Elgin staff members.

Allie Richardson (teacher of students with autism), Lori Minarik (EA working with students with autism) and Samantha Nicholson (Principal) worked together for over three and a half years to fundraise for this $30,000 project. The Elgin community, parents, local charities and the Grand Erie District School Board all came together to make this project a huge success.

A Snoezelen Room is a multi-sensory environment that provides a controlled, safe, relaxing space for individuals with a variety of sensory needs. The room is set up to give individuals a positive space where they can meet their specific needs in a calming atmosphere. This atmosphere helps in reducing fear, anxieties, repetitive behaviour, self-abusive behaviour and aggressive behaviour so that students are better able to learn. Students at Elgin in both self-contained classes and in the regular classes will be able to access the room to help meet their sensory needs.

According to Seth, a student who accesses the room daily, “It is the best room ever!!!”