September 3rd, 2019

Dear parents, families and caregivers,

It is with great excitement that I welcome you to the 2019-2020 school year. The beginning of a new school year always carries a special feeling of anticipation, hope and opportunity as each student embarks on another year of growing and learning in our schools.

To our newest students starting their first day with the WRDSB, I want to say welcome. Whether you are beginning your educational journey with us in Kindergarten, or are continuing your learning, I want each of you to know you are welcome and will be supported and equipped with the skills needed not only to succeed in school, but also in life. My greatest hope is that every student wakes up in the morning excited to go to school – to learn, to connect with caring friends and adults, and to build the life skills necessary to navigate their futures.

Waterloo Region is a diverse and culturally rich community. We are committed to ensuring that our students and families are represented and supported in our schools. As a school district, building equitable, inclusive and safe school communities and workplaces is a priority. As a learning organization, we will navigate this process with an open-to-learning stance, empathy, compassion and respect.

I am excited to share that we now have more students graduating than ever before. While there is more work to do as we strive to ensure each and every student graduates on to their chosen pathway – it’s important to celebrate how far we have come. For these students, graduating means improved life outcomes and improved quality of life. For everyone in Waterloo region, this translates into a more prosperous, healthier, happier more inclusive community.

These results signal we are on the right path and this year we will build on our successes with the implementation of our strategic plan and maintain our focus on students reaching their full potential and graduating from our schools and programs onto their chosen pathway.

To help you prepare for the coming school year, we have compiled a number of resources designed to assist you in becoming familiar with school programs, communicating with your child’s teachers and school, and to support you to play an active role in your child’s experience at school.

The Parent Involvement Committee (PIC) and the Waterloo Region Assembly of Public School Councils (WRAPSC) and School Councils are integral parts of our education system. These parent-driven committees advise on issues related to student success and parent engagement. We invite you to get involved and visit the PIC website for resources and supports.

In addition to focusing on learning, we want our students to experience a sense of belonging and connection in a caring learning environment. Our staff are united in our goal to provide the excellence in education you have come to expect from the WRDSB.

We want all of our families to know that they are a valued partner in their child’s education and being informed is a key part of this. We encourage you to stay connected through school websites, and to follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

We have much to celebrate as we head into another school year in the Waterloo Region District School Board. It is our privilege to prepare, challenge, and inspire our learners to be engaged, connected and contributing global citizens.

I look forward to another successful school year inspiring and enabling our students to achieve their full potential – each and every one.

Sincerely,

John Bryant
Director of Education