Blog Posts

In our vibrant district, every day brings new stories of innovation, achievement, and collaboration. Whether it’s an inspiring school event or remarkable accomplishments by our students and staff, these stories deserve to be shared and celebrated.

At the Communications Department, we are dedicated to broadcasting these positive stories to enhance the spirit of our district and inspire others. Understanding that these moments truly shape the identity of our school community, we actively seek to highlight the incredible work happening across all our schools.

In today's ever-evolving digital world, social media's role in fostering connections and building community is undeniable. For us in the Communications Department, we're all about embracing these channels – it's our digital playground, after all.

There are no guarantees in life, but wherever you want to go or can imagine going, education is probably the best way there. How does a child in Kindergarten one day become an architect? How does a grade nine student become an arthroscopic surgeon or an agriculturist? How does one become an electrician or a chef? You guessed it - education. This is why I often describe education as the bridge to anywhere.

In today's digital age, where attention spans are short, and information overload is a constant challenge, organizations continually strive to implement innovative ways to connect with their audience. One strategy we've focused on in the Communications Department over the last few years has been our video storytelling initiatives supporting our work related to the school district's Strategic Plan.

With all the recent retirement festivities I have had cause of late to reflect on my journey in the education system.  One of the frequent questions I have been asked is why I decide to become a teacher “all those years ago.”  I have had occasion over the years to mention it on World Teacher Day, but for me, the decision had everything to do with my school experiences, and a challenge extended to me by a very special human being.

Families, students, employees and community members of the Abbotsford School District are experiencing increased functionality and accessibility with the launch of upgraded websites across the district this month. At the end of February, all district and school websites throughout the organization showcased a new look and feel as the large-scale web migration project concluded.

I had the pleasure this week of meeting with around fifty of Yale Secondary’s Leadership 12 students. They are an amazing and diverse group of go-getters who help to make their school and community better through service. In addition to the work they do, they are also curious about leadership and routinely invite leaders from various parts of the community to talk about their roles and perspectives on leadership. This week I was the invited guest. Among the things they wanted to learn more about were my background, how I became superintendent, as well as the joys and challenges of the job.

Our school and district websites are the first places families, stakeholders, and community members go to get the latest information about our school district. These communication tools are the foundation of our information to external and internal audiences and serve as our 24-hour customer service team and virtual front desk.

Many of you will know that I am a student of the World Wars, and that over the years I have written about the profound respect I have for our veterans who have put their lives on the line for the cause of freedom. As a teacher I carefully curated stories for my students about pivotal battles and Canadian heroes who helped to pave the way for the freedoms we sometimes take for granted. It was always a treat to welcome veterans into my classroom, and students always came away with a greater appreciation for the courageous lives of our service men and women, as well as the horrors of war.

One of the lasting legacies of the COVID-19 pandemic will be its exposure of pre-existing societal inequities to a wider audience. While inequities have existed in society and schools since they were created, the pandemic has caused many of us to see them with greater clarity. The murder of George Floyd perhaps served as a catalyzing moment, but I suspect there were more forces at play.