The appearance of Spring during the month of March is always a welcome event. To quote some lines from the Emily Dickenson poem:

A light exists in spring,
Not present on the year,
At any other period
When March is scarcely here.

There is a sense of renewal and productivity that comes with the arrival of this new season. Upon our return from March break, the schools, centres and departments that make up the Lester B. Pearson School board have been very busy and productive. Here are some of the highlights from the last few weeks.

The Montreal St. Patrick’s Day parade took place on March 16th. It was an overcast but mild day on which to hold this parade which happened to be celebrating its 200th anniversary this year. The Lester B. Pearson School Board was again well represented at this event, with the Terry Fox Elementary School band and the St. Thomas High School drumline entertaining the crowds. For the 3rd year running, our school board was named Best Amateur Float in the parade. Special thanks are extended to Principals Doug Stewart and Dean Graddon for ensuring student participation in the parade. A grand time was had by all!

The 1st ever week for the prevention of violence and bullying in schools was held across Quebec March 17-21. The government of Quebec created a number of resources for the education network, including a message for students by Minister Drainville. At Lester B. Pearson, we created a banner with links to these resources on our webpage and also shared them directly with our schools and centres. As well, a message was sent out to parents since they are important partners in helping to prevent and address bullying and aggression in schools. In addition to the ministry’s materials, we also included resources compiled by our Student Services Department. Promoting safe and caring schools is a continuous effort, and I wish to commend our schools and centres for planning activities all year long to send the message that kindness, civility and respect are at the heart of healthy relationships and a positive school climate.

March 17-21 was also the Semaine Québecoise de la déficience intellectuelle, Quebec Intellectual Disability Week. This is a time to raise awareness about the lived realities of individuals with cognitive disabilities and promote their unrealized potential. Last Friday evening, I was honoured to participate in an event held at Place Cartier Adult Education Centre in recognition of this important week. The evening was organized by the West Island Table for Intellectual Disabilities (WILT), a local committee of various agencies and organizations across the West Island, including the Lester B. Pearson School Board, the Centre de services scolaire Marguerite-Bourgeoys and other community partners. The event featured the sharing of information about local services offered to those with developmental disabilities, a powerful testimonial from a Lester B. Pearson alumnus, and a series of workshops designed to tap into creativity and foster community connections. Many of our Endeavour students and their families took part in this evening, and it was wonderful to meet students and reconnect with graduates. Thank you to Centre Director Jennifer Kurta and Consultant for Social Participation and Sociovocational Integration Matthew Kennedy for including several members of the senior administration team and commissioners in this incredible and empowering event.

Showcasing student achievements is also an important part of my monthly report. There are so many wonderful things to which our learners aspire, and I wish to highlight two examples. First, congratulations to two of our vocational training students who were medalists at the recent regional trades Olympiad. Gil DeMelo, a student in the Electricity program at Pearson Electrotechnology Centre won the gold medal, and Nik Deychman, a student in the auto mechanics program at the West Island Career Centre, took home the bronze in their respective programs. Now, each of these students will move on to the Provincial Olympiad that will take place this May in Quebec City. I wish them every success!

Second, the annual Montreal Regional Science and Technology Fair is taking place this week. Students from local high schools and colleges from around the greater Montreal area have gathered at Pierrefonds Community High School to display their projects and have judges evaluate their submissions. This year, Lester B. Pearson has representation from Lakeside Academy, Macdonald High School, and PCHS. Yesterday I had an opportunity to tour the science fair and talk with some our students about their projects. Winners will be announced on March 25th, and I am eager to learn who will move to the next level of competition. I wish our budding scientists the very best of luck!

To return to the poem I quoted at the start of my report, we indeed see the lights that exist in spring and observe that these lights are shining brightly throughout the Lester B. Pearson School Board.