We get to December and through the snow and chilly temperatures, we also get a chance to look back at our school year up to this point and search for ways to improve and also to celebrate. Those improvements and celebrations can take many forms, and the reality is we want our school to be a wonderful place for everyone. Our year has been another strange one with so many other pieces to consider, and I always appreciate your help and support with the day-to-day items and working with you on how best to support your student at our school. No school is perfect – there are just too many moving parts and personalities, but the important thing is the working together to do the best we can. I know your own lives are just as busy and sometimes just as difficult. Please remember that our job of helping your students learn the curriculums and be successful in those courses is always improved when we continue to work as a team of students, parents and school.

We used an online opportunity at the end of November for students in grades 11 and 12 to participate in a Career Fair of many colleges and universities. Access was online as is so much for details about those post-secondary schools. Transcripts of marks for applications are requested online as well from the Ministry of Education.

One of our continuing struggles this fall continues to be the COVID regulations and how best to keep student-teacher relationships strong at the same time. I think we are all longing for this to look different as soon as we’re told it can, but until that time we’re still expecting masks on everyone and used correctly. Please have a quick talk with your student about that and helping us with those expectations.

A big “way-to-go” to the SRC this fall for their work on making school fun for students! The Spirit Week plans, candygrams and the catered Christmas Lunch this week are examples of thinking outside the box to make things great! Thank-you parents for your support on this as well and for your donations to the Christmas lunch meal.

I know that students and staff and families are looking forward to the upcoming break and the chance for families to get together and celebrate with each other and find time from all the hustle and bustle of the year and our jobs to rest, relax, rejuvenate and be thankful of so many things. From my family to yours, have a Merry Christmas and and Happy New Year! That’s all for now.  For further information and updates from the students and classrooms, check out our school website at http://blogs.spiritsd.ca/hanley/.  As always, Mr. Hindmarsh and I would love to talk to you if you have time to send us a message or give us a call. We’ll talk to you soon.