Earlier this morning, staff from Peace River School Division met online for a virtual Kick-Off to the 2024-2025 school year. During the kick-off event, staff heard from Deputy Superintendent Jeff Thompson who welcomed everyone back for a new school year. 

Board of Trustees Chair Crystal Owens then spoke to staff and asked those present to "collectively commit to providing a world class education with an emphasis on literacy and numeracy for our students, in positive and inclusive environments."

"The Board knows this high bar will only be achieved through the collaboration of all staff to our common goals. Thank you for your efforts on Collaborative Response to collectively reach those goals."

During her address, Owens also spoke about the successes the board achieved as a result of their advocacy work in the 2023-2024 school year. 

"The Board of Trustees is proud of the advocacy work completed last year on behalf of the Division. Specifically, we were successful in advocating for the extra space we knew our staff and students needed in the new school building for Red Earth Creek School. We also successfully advocated for continued supports to address the mental and emotional wellness of our students. We did receive confirmation recently that our Mental Health in Schools pilot project will continue to be funded through to the end of this school year," she said. "Our board will remain committed to advocating for additional mental and emotional wellness funding for the entire division. We also remain committed to listening to the needs of the division as relayed to us through Central Operations staff, and through our annual Student Engagement process."

From the Superintendent

Following Owens, Superintendent Adam Murray greeted the staff. During his address, Murray shared a personal story about attending the many graduation ceremonies during the Spring of 2024. Murray shared that many of the students who walked across the stage this past spring, were some of the very young students he taught in PRSD classrooms between 2011 and 2018. 

"Their success is an example of our collective effort to support students, right from office managers to educational assistants, teachers and Principals all the way through now to our North Peace Commercial Driving Academy driving instructors," Murray said. "Thank you for making sure PRSD students have a place to call home."

Murray continued by encouraging the staff to continue their efforts in working alongside the Division's Indigenous Education Coordinator and Indigenous Support Workers, local Elders and Knowledge Keepers.

"It is important that our students know the history of this land to help them connect with their learning and belonging in their school," Murray said. "This act of reconciliation will ensure all students feel included and supported within our school."

Finally, Murray touched on the topic of attendance, bringing to mind the Board of Trustee's Attendance Matters awareness campaign that ran during the Spring of 2024. 

"This year we must double our efforts and our collective resolve to encourage all students to attend school on a regular basis so they can reap the rewards of an excellent education, positive  relationships, and personal growth," Murray said.

Following the opening remarks, all staff members attended virtual professional development sessions.