Now that the wishes for a happy and healthy 2026 have been exchanged, we get set for the second half of the school year. That also signals that we are already beginning the planning process for the next school year.

Registration for the 2026-2027 school year is now underway. Earlier this month, our elementary schools hosted open house events. This is a time for us to welcome prospective parents to see all that we have to offer in our elementary schools  – caring and welcoming learning environments for students as young as four year of age, high quality instruction in English and French with program offerings that include bilingual, early immersion and Francais Plus options, as well as rich SEED daycare services. The acronym SEED explains our philosophy well because daycare is seen as a social and educational experience that extends learning beyond traditional classroom time. We were very pleased with the turnout this year at our various open house events, and we thank our Elementary school principals, Regional Directors and our Communications and Community Development Department for helping us plan and advertise these promotional events.

We have also recently completed our Annual Report for the 2024-2025 school year and are ready to share with it the Ministry of Education and our community at large. We are very proud of our accomplishments; our staff work very hard to create the best learning conditions possible and support all learners on their journey of educational and personal success. We continue to make progress on a variety of indicators that speak to academic achievement, student well-being, staff wellness all in a context of learning and work environments that prioritize equity, diversity, inclusion, and respect for all all.

The January Blues may be a contested concept for some, but there is no denying that the cold, dark days of winter are a reality in Quebec. We are fortunate that many of the artistic and cultural events that take place in our schools help to brighten these winter days. Arts Education is critical to the student experience, and there is ample evidence in our schools as centres as well as at our Head Office that the arts are alive and well!

Earlier this year, we received a wonderful gift from a local artist, Marc Walsh. He created a miniature scale model of Soulanges Elementary, our K-6 two-room elementary school in St. Telesphore. This replica will be on display at our Head Office, and we are most grateful for this gift.

Another art project that has brightened up the hallways here at 1925 Brookdale is a series of colourful murals inspired by the blues, oranges and yellows contained in the Lester B. Pearson School Board logo. Artist Beverly Landry and Arts Education Consultant Frank Caracciolo are adorning our walls with designed to evoke feelings of welcoming, belonging and inclusion. In fact, Mr. Caracciolo has shared with me that we have many exciting arts and culture projects in the works. We have over 14 mural projects that Ms. Landry is coordinating with a number of our schools, including a Garden Legacy Mural at Margaret Manson. Coming later this spring are art shows, theatrical productions, and the School Board Dance off.  Frank Caracciolo also hosts a podcast called The Blank Canvas which speaks to many of the musical, fine arts, and theatrical creations on display in our schools. It is my hope you get to experience some of these directly as you frequent our schools and centres.

As we head into Black History Month, we look forward to welcoming many guests into our schools for assemblies and events that celebrate African and Caribbean culture.  I wish to thank Ms. Landry, Mr. Caracciolo and all of our teachers and staff who go above and beyond to support the arts in our schools throughout the year.