Students across the city, province, and country are returning to school this week; however, teachers and other faculty have been at work preparing throughout August. Keith Keating, Director of Education with Southeast Cornerstone Public School Division, says the week leading up to the students' arrival was a flurry of activity.
"They've been preparing for students through staff meetings, professional development, and setting up classrooms to welcome students back. Our bus mechanics have been busy readying our buses for the year, and schools have been cleaned and floors all polished up by caretakers to get ready for students to start."
Many students will be transitioning into school, through school, and out of school, and Keating says they work to ensure the transitions are as smooth as possible for the success of every student.
If any parents have concerns or are looking for additional supports for their children, he says the best point of contact is the student's teacher.
"There are many methods of communication that schools use to talk to parents, but if any parent has a question or concern, it's always best to pick up the phone and call your child's teacher directly. For students who require additional supports, there's many meetings and conversations to make sure that we're doing what's best for children and families."
Keating reminds parents that it's a busy and exciting time for students, and they should take extra care to keep an eye out for students and buses while dropping off and picking up their children.
He also highlights some changes to staff across the division, including the addition of a classroom complexity teacher.
"With the addition of the classroom complexity teacher as a result of the collective bargaining process, we're really looking forward to the impact that might have on supporting students across our system."