Superintendent's Message - December 2008

“Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for see – I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord.”

(Luke 2: 9-11)

The birth of Jesus Christ, in a stable, witnessed by shepherds, heralded the beginning of a new world. It is a time when God came to be with us and created a reign of peace and goodwill. The birth of Christ brought a message of hope that continues to inspire all of us today.

This Christmas, as we enjoy the benefits of the progress and achievement that our school district and community have shown, let us renew our commitment to one another, especially to those among us who are struggling and for whom a helping hand could make a difference. The central message of Christmas has always been one of peace and goodwill. By renewing our commitment to one another we will truly experience the true meaning of this holy season.

Here are a few highlights of the past month. “Setting the Direction for Special Education in Alberta” is a major project to create a new framework for students with special education needs. You can provide valuable input into this provincial initiative by completing the on-line consultation survey which is available at www.settingthedirection.alberta.ca .

Construction has begun on our new schools in south Terwillegar, Rutherford and The Hamptons; our new high school in Terwillegar is in the design process. The modernization of St. Francis Xavier High School is nearing completion and the construction of the St. Francis Xavier Sports Centre, a joint initiative with the City of Edmonton, will begin in December. These building projects provide our school community with much needed room to accommodate the growth we are experiencing and to provide students with world-class facilities.

Edmonton Catholic Schools 2007-2008 Annual Education Results Report is a review and celebration of the last school year. This report details the wide variety of programming in our school district and discusses the successes and areas of growth we have experienced. It will be available on-line after December 9th at www.ecsd.net/annual_reports/about.html.

Please accept my sincerest wishes for a joyful and restful Christmas, filled with the blessing and love of those around you.

Sincerely,

Joan Carr
Superintendent