May is a busy time in our world as it is the last full month of the school year. In this report, I will highlight some of the notable achievements that took place in the Lester B. Pearson community this month.

First, the Annual Spring Conference that brings together administrators and commissioners from the 9 English School Boards was a smashing success. We thank our colleagues from the Eastern Townships School Board for organizing this rich professional learning opportunity. At this conference, it is customary for the Quebec English School Boards’ Association (QESBA) to present a series of awards to salute excellence in education.

I am proud to report that the Lester B. Pearson School Board was recognized in several categories this year. First, our Student Services Department under the direction of Stephanie Stever and the Family and School Support and Treatment Team, was awarded the prize in the Innovative Program Delivery category for its Strong is Confident Program, a pilot project running at Lakeside Academy that twins physical and mental health through a CrossFit training program for adolescent girls. This program was featured by CBC news back in April.

Second, in the category of Community Engagement, our Student Services Department was again recognized for its Communication Stations initiative, a visual system that serves as an augmented and alternative means of communication. These communication boards were first created and installed in Lester B. Pearson School Board elementary schools and playgrounds, and thanks to a collaboration between our Centre of Excellence for Autism Spectrum Disorder and LEARN Quebec, these communication stations will be made available to English school boards throughout the province. This initiative was featured on Global News last month.

The final QESBA award received this year by Lester B. Pearson was in the adult education and vocational training category. The Thrive program at Place Cartier Adult Education Centre was celebrated for the innovative ways it is meeting the needs of adult learners with special needs. I offer words of appreciation to Centre Director Peggy Grant, Pedagogical Consultant Matthew Kennedy, and the rest of the Place Cartier team for promoting lifelong learning for our students with diverse learning and socialization needs.

The awards did not stop there; the Association of Administrators of English Schools in Quebec (AAESQ) also has an awards program to acknowledge the achievements of in- school and board level administrators. Congratulations to Rachel Chua-Wilson, Principal of Beaconsfield High School, who was a recipient of the Outstanding School Leadership award. Congratulations to Mathieu Canavan, Director of Educational Services, who was recognized with an Outstanding Leadership award for his work at the board level. Awards of merit were also given to Christie Brown, Director of Pearson Electrotechnology Centre, and Kathleen O’Reilly, Director of Schools for Region 1, each of whom were recognized for their outstanding service to AAESQ. What makes these four awards even more meaningful is that they are based on nominations from their peers, so it is clear that the contributions of our colleagues Rachel Wilson, Mat Canavan, Christie Brown, and Kathleen O’Reilly are very much appreciated by our leadership team here at Lester B.

Last week, CBC Quebec announced their list of this year’s Black Changemakers. I congratulate Commissioner Malik Shaheed on being applauded for the difference he is making in our school board community and beyond. Mr. Shaheed’s commitment to equity, social justice and Black excellence has been a catalyzing force in the Lester B. Pearson School Board’s EDDI journey, and this designation as a community changemaker is most deserved. Congratulations Commissioner Shaheed!

Accolades have also been directed to our students, many of whom are being recognized locally and provincially for their achievements. Last Friday evening, the 2024 Vaudreuil-Soulanges Youth Gala took place with over $8000 in bursaries being awarded to Lester B. Pearson students living in this part of our territory. Last week was also Adult Learners’ Week, a time when we honour the courage, resilience and perseverance of Lester B. Pearson students who are working toward secondary high school leaving credits or learning a trade. Again this year, we held a virtual gala to celebrate our students in Continuing Education. 10 students from each LBPSB centre were highlighted, and one student per centre was selected to receive a modest bursary and provide a brief testimonial about their journey as an adult learner. Witnessing the challenges these students have faced while pursuing their dreams is very touching and a reminder that learning at any age has the power to transform a person’s life. The recording of the gala is available on line, and I invite everyone to watch and hear their inspiring stories.

One of the recipients who was featured at the Adult Learners’ Week gala is Danae Josaphat. Ms. Josaphat has been nominated for a provincial award as part of the Chapeau les Filles! (Hats off to you!) contest. This is an annual provincial competition held by the government to recognize and encourage women studying in fields that are still predominantly represented by men. Ms. Josaphat is a student in the Computing Support Technical program at Verdun Adult and Career Centre and is the Lester B. Pearson finalist in this year’s competition. Provincial winners will be announced on June 17th at an event in Quebec City, and we offer our congratulations to Ms. Josaphat and wish her the very best of luck!

There are many students at all levels of our organization, too many to name, who are being presented with awards, bursaries, and medals for their many achievements in the areas of academics, community engagement, and athletics. Know that we are so very proud of your accomplishments. As educators, we delight in seeing students attain and even surpass their goals. Félicitations à tous nos élèves!

Last week, we held our Retirement Celebration in honour of our retirees who have given so much to our educational community. It was wonderful to see teachers, administrators, aides and technicians, support staff, and caretakers to acknowledge their careers, and thank them for their contributions to public education. We wish the retirees of the class of 2023-24 our very best wishes for a happy and healthy retirement.

Another important spring ritual in our school board is School Daycare Week. Every year Quebec chooses a week to highlight the importance of daycare services in education. The theme this year was “We play as a team”. Our daycare team in Educational Services brought this theme to life by linking it to the image of trees that take root and grow, all with the help of teamwork. This is most appropriate because we now refer to our daycare service as the SEED program with the acronym referring to a Social, Educational Extended Day. We start by planting a seed, and the shoot grows into this beautiful tree with many branches filled with leaves or needles of different colors and shapes. Our school SEED teams and students created specular and colourful pieces of artwork in the form of three-D trees that are currently on display at Head Office in the first floor hallway linking the east and west sides of the building. I invite anyone visiting Brookdale to stop by and visit this enchanted forest!

So, the energy is high, and the vibes are positive as we move into the final weeks of the school year. There is still so much to do; there are many concerts, performances, graduations, and retirement evenings to attend in these remaining days of the year. Everyone is working at full speed to bring the year to a successful close. Students are busy preparing for exams and final assignments, and staff are there to encourage and guide them across the finish line. My advice to everyone, students and staff alike, is: remember to take a breath, take a beat to savour the feel-good moments and appreciate those in your circle of support. Although achievements may be bestowed on specific individuals or departments, we know that all success is indeed a collaborative endeavour. Together we are stronger from the support we receive from others. This is one of the many strengths of the Lester B. Pearson School Board of which I am most proud.