June 30th, 2017

It is hard to believe that another academic school year has come and gone. As our students prepare to move on to their next chapter, I’d like to take a moment to reflect on the past school year.

This year we asked you to help us define what public education in Waterloo region means, by helping us create our new purpose statement. We asked, and you provided us with great feedback. Thanks to your input, our Strategic Plan has come to life, and together, we are “Innovating tomorrow by educating today.”

We also set ambitious targets for us to monitor and implement strategies to make sure our students are realizing their full potential. We have finished our first year of monitoring our EQAO scores, graduation rates and student and staff well-being and are actively implementing strategies to help us reach our goals.

At our first Town Hall meeting in February, we asked for your feedback on our goals and Strategic Plan. Your input is essential to our success. We believe that parents and caregivers are our partners in their child’s learning journey and working together is how our students will achieve.

While we accomplished a great amount this year, we still have an exciting and ambitious road ahead. Reaching our goals will take time and we are well on our way to continued success.

This summer will offer us all a chance to recharge and prepare for September. Many of our staff are retiring and starting a new career in their lives; thank you for all you have contributed to the WRDSB and public education. To our students who are starting university, college or an apprenticeship, I wish you success as you continue your education. To all of our students and staff returning this fall, I hope you take time over the summer to relax and recharge. And finally, to our staff working through the summer, thank you for your hard work to make sure our schools are ready to welcome back students and staff for a new school year.

I look forward to our continued work together and welcoming you all back in September.

John Bryant
Director of Education