Year-End Message from Director of Education

You did it! You made it through a school year like no other.
Posted on 06/25/2021
Director Paul White Year-End Message for the 2020 - 2021 School YearDirector Paul White

You did it! You made it through a school year like no other. Take a moment to congratulate yourself and breathe. This year, we have had many successes. We collectively re-opened schools safely, launched a virtual school, pivoted to remote learning, safeguarded our students’ and each other's safety, made sacrifices, juggled priorities at home and work, took on new and unexpected roles, and did it all with grace, gratitude and kindness.

The pandemic has brought us together as a community. It has shown how resilient we can be in the face of adversity and has revealed that Kenora Catholic is an incredible team that feels like a family.


HIGHLIGHTS OF THE 202O - 2021 SCHOOL YEAR

  • Our staff focused on meeting our students' physical, social and emotional needs in addition to their academic needs. 
  • Supports ranged from Kenora Catholic making weekly food deliveries to our participating Nutrition on Weekend families, to providing packages of materials and supplies to all of our Early Years families during school closures, to partnering to provide Emergency Childcare for frontline workers and an Early Childhood Educator to support children and families with the online learning component in that setting.
  • In a year when well-being became even more of a concern and priority than ever before, we found a way to ‘flip’ our Early Years Arts Festival into four separate virtual events in an effort to bring an added infusion of joy into our families’ households, with an incredible 500 participants.   
  • Our Board invested close to $100,000 in health and safety measures, including improvements to our ventilation processes, and we added seven full-time custodian positions system wide to support enhanced cleaning protocols.
  • Our Kenora Catholic community, came together to support one another during a school year like no other.

A SAFE START TO SCHOOL

The first day of school for the 2021 – 2022 school year for students is Thursday, September 2, 2021. Kenora Catholic is preparing for a safe return to school in September, and we are hopeful for a gradual return to regular learning and more normal routines. We are planning for a conventional, in-person school opening of teaching and instruction, with enhanced health and safety protocols to keep schools safe.

In early August, we expect to receive more information from the Ministry of Education regarding any health and safety restrictions that will need to continue when students return to school in September. Once we know this information, we will share it with families and staff.

MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORTS

Our Mental Health Team is working incredibly hard to meet the needs of our students. Students who are currently connected to a Mental Health Worker can continue to access support virtually. Support will continue throughout the summer as needed. To access mental health supports, please email Sue Devlin, Mental Health Lead, at [email protected]

Tap this link to read Summer Wellness – tips to stay mentally and physically well this summer.

MINISTER LECCE'S GRADUATION MESSAGES

The video links below are from the Ministry of Education and are tailored to students celebrating milestone graduations:

Kindergarten graduates https://youtu.be/TqQpdpIOHOQ
Grade 6 graduates https://youtu.be/RLgpeYzm38M
Grade 8 graduates https://youtu.be/DG1Kucu-DaM
Grade 12 graduates https://youtu.be/O9HFaTFo2XE

THANK YOU 

As we end the school year 2020-2021, we do not know what September will bring, but we know we will be here for each other, and we will all work together, just as we did this year, for our students.  

I sincerely thank you for your incredible perseverance this year. I am grateful for your enthusiasm to rise to the challenges, your willingness to change direction at a moment’s notice and do things differently in almost every aspect of your life.

My prayer for our students, families, and staff is that everyone has a safe, restful, and joyful summer.

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