Dear Students, Parents/Guardians,
Families and Staff : First, and most importantly foremost, I hope this letter finds you safe, remaining hopeful, positive and healthy. We are almost coming to the end of the second month of the COVID-19 global pandemic and the closure of all our schools and offices. We realize and accept with the very real recognition that these past number of weeks and months have not been easy for anyone.
Today we mark the start of two important commitments during May 4-8, 2020.
This is “Education Week 2020,”always an important week-long commemoration of why public education is so important, and what public schools can represent for so many young people and their families. The other important recognition is “Mental Health Week” as identified and endorsed by the Canadian Mental Health Association.
Both of these weeks are important for so many people: Education Week is significant for some, and Mental Health Week for others, and likely for very personal reasons. For us in the Hastings and Prince Edward District School Board, we are using Education Week 2020 to focus on the collective strength we have together, and that together we will emerge from this crisis, resolved, confident and committed to all our community members.
It is important to publicly reaffirm that our priority, after our health and the health of our loved ones, is the relationship and connection we have with you, and that you have with your child’s school. Curriculum expectations, teaching, assessment and a student’s grades remain very important, but only after the care and security of our families and communities. Our kids need us and we need to be there for them, especially now. Therefore, our focus remains on learning and ensuring we are reaching all our students.
Our website, www.HPEschools.ca contains the most current information we have about COVID-19, including tips sheets for families and educators, links to public health agencies, and perhaps most important, contact information for Kids Help Phone.
Keep in touch with your child’s teacher(s) because they care about your child’s learning and engagement. Stay safe, be well and remain optimistic that better days are ahead. The HPEDSB community will see its finest hour together and with all of you.
Sincerely,
Sean Monteith
Director of Education
