For many, January is a month filled with new resolutions, fresh starts, and renewed energy to tackle personal and professional challenges we have prioritized. I wish everyone in our community a happy and healthy 2024. Students and staff in our schools have now returned to classes, filled with optimism and energy to face the second half of the year. Students and staff in our adult and vocational centres have also begun new terms and new programs, working hard towards their academic and training goals.

We are very focused on capitalizing on this renewed energy as we finalize our plans to help students return to their learning. Last fall, the entire province experienced disruptions in our school calendar due to job action, and we are all now focusing our efforts on assisting students. The government’s Plan de rattrapage funding enables us to put in place additional tutoring and other supports for students who are struggling and those with identified learning and behavioural needs. I wish to thank our departments and Head Office as well as the school and centre teams who have been hard at work identifying areas of focus and responding to the call for this intensification of services.

The midway point of a school year also marks a transition. As we head into the second half of this academic year, our thoughts and actions are already moving toward planning for next year. In my report this evening, I will make mention of some of the activities to help us prepare for the 2024-2025 school year.

First, our elementary schools have continued the Lester B. Pearson tradition of hosting open houses. The elementary open house period ran from January 10th through 25th and afforded new parents an opportunity to visit schools, have their questions answered, and meet the dedicated staff and administration who work hard to make our elementary spaces such welcoming and stimulating learning spaces. This year, we have also been busy updating our school websites and videos so that parents have the most current information about our programs and services.

Second, registration for the next school year is also now underway. Registration for siblings and new students has already begun, and reregistration via the Mozaik Parent Portal for current opened as of January 29th. We are excited about welcoming new and returning students to our schools.

This year we are placing special emphasis on the high-quality French instruction we provide to our students at all levels. We know that parents and students have many choices available to them, and we are proud of our array of French second language offerings, and the bilingual environments in which we operate. A notre commission scolaire, apprendre en français c’est investir dans l’avenir. This is the message we wish to send out to our community. As a minority language community in Quebec, we are working hard to equip our students with the skills they need as a citizen of this province while honouring our pride in contributing to a vibrant and bilingual Canada.

In closing, I wish to return to my remarks for a happy and healthy new year. In a few days, many in our community will celebrate the Lunar New Year. Recently, I attended an event with some of our international students and staff as well as some local dignitaries to mark the Lunar New year. I wish to thank the Confucious School of Montreal and the West Island Chinese Community Centre for organizing such a delightful evening of song, dance, and culture. May this year of the Dragon bring everyone strength, prosperity, and good fortune.