Students come first at Hastings and Prince Edward District School Board-that's the message to all from Sean Monteith, the new Director of Education.
Greetings, She:Kon, Bonjour, Welcome Back!
As the proud and excited new Director of Education for the Hastings and Prince Edward District School Board, I wish to acknowledge our families, communities, Elders, staff and most importantly, our students. It is the time of the year when we open our schools, our classrooms and our hearts to young people across this beautiful district.
"Welcome," if this is your first day of school, or "Welcome Back," if you are returning for a new school year. Regardless of whether you are sending your little one to their first day of Kindergarten, or are a student entering your final year of high school with graduation now less than a year away, there is certain to be some feeling of trepidation.
Moms and dads, you too, will have a feeling of excitement mixed with emotions seeing your child or children begin a new school year and being a year older. As a father myself, I relate to how you might be feeling, hoping that this year's experiences will be full of learning, achieving and memory-making. As a dad, I hope for the best for my sons in a world full of potential and self-awareness. As the Director of Education, however, I hope the very same for your children-our students in the Hastings and Prince Edward District School Board.
To all HPEDSB employees, I wish you also a sincere welcome back! I am grateful to all of you, regardless of your role at HPEDSB, and express my admiration to each and every one of you, who in your own unique way contribute to the lives of young people. Our common goal together for the 2019-2020 school year is to make the lives of our students-the region's youth-extraordinary! I call on you to find the very best in our students, reminding them that this world has a place in it for each and every one of them. Our job will be to facilitate helping our kids find their place and to enable them to become their best. We are all better together.
Every decision we make as HPEDSB employees must be through the lens of what is best for students, regardless of how difficult or challenging a situation may be. We must always remind ourselves that our work is in pursuit of making the lives of young people better.
I am excited and hopeful for what lies ahead, and I look forward to meeting you all very soon. Best wishes for 2019-2020!
Che-Miigwech, thank you.
Sincerely,
Sean Monteith
Director of Education