Every year, the English education community comes together at the annual LCEEQ conference to engage in rich professional learning around a specific theme. This year's theme was “Mattering - every action counts”.  I was very fortunate to be able to attend this two-day conference and learn from experts as well as educators in the field as to the importance of mattering for students and staff.

My report this month will be in this same vein as I will highlight some of the ways in which we emphasize the importance of being seen, heard, and appreciated across our school board community. There is much evidence of mattering in the work we do daily!

Les journées de la persévérance scolaire (JPS) or Hooked on Schools Week took place from February 16^th to 20^th. This is a time when, throughout the province, we celebrate the determination and resilience of students and send messages of support to emphasize the importance of staying in school.  The theme of this year’s Hooked on Schools Week was Perseverance will take you far with many activities and messages around the importance of staying in school and persisting through challenging moments.

On the island of Montreal, the JPS week was launched with a special ceremony at Montreal City Hall on the morning of February 13^th.  Montreal Mayor Soraya Martinez Ferrada and Christine Black, vice-chair of the executive committee, along with other dignitaries, were on hand to welcome a large group of education, community and business partners to the event. Also joining us were students and staff from each of the 5 on-island school boards and services centres. Representing Lester B. Pearson was a student and staff member from PACC Adult Education Centre. Edmund and Fanny spoke eloquently about the ways students are encouraged and supported at PACC and how their extra curricular art activity plays an important role in student engagement and motivation.  This is but one example of how our schools and centres work diligently to foster engagement and support student success.

We marked Staff Appreciation week from Feb 9 through 13^th. This is a longstanding annual tradition at our school board. Each year in mid-February, we designate a week to formally recognize our personnel and thank them for the work they do. This year our teachers, support staff, caretakers, trades people, professionals and administrators each received a message of appreciation as well as some student tributes that were featured on our social media outlets. Many home and school associations also took this opportunity to provide food and other gestures of gratitude to school staff. I myself received a few words of gratitude from staff in return, thanking me and the entire administration for taking the time to appreciate them.  Helping people feel significant and that they matter does not require large actions. A smile, a note, or a kind word go a long way to helping people feel seen and valued. Again, I wish to reiterate my deep appreciation for all that our staff do to make our learning environments as stimulating, safe, and welcoming as possible.

Finally, I will say a few words about Black History Month which is being widely acknowledged across our system. I invite you to read the latest issue of the Pearson News or go scroll through the social media pages of our schools and centres; there you will learn all about the various assemblies, cultural and artistic celebrations taking place in our schools and centres. We value these opportunities to not only learn more about the history of Black Canadians, but to also participate in these expressions of joy and pride focused on Black culture and identity.

We know that racism and discrimination are realities we must continue to confront and condemn, but the events that take place during Black History Month and beyond are so important to help us to continue to move out of the shadows of hate and oppression and progress toward the light of equality and justice. If you wish to learn more about the work we have been doing around Equity, Diversity, Dignity and Inclusion, please go to our website and watch the latest videos highlighting the EDDI efforts and activities of the Lester B. Pearson School Board (https://www.lbpsb.qc.ca/equity-diversity-dignity-and-inclusion).