Superintendent's Message - March 2009

The Way that Leads to Unity

“Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths.”
Psalm 7:1

On February 3rd more than 3,000 Edmonton Catholic Schools staff gathered at the Shaw Conference Centre to celebrate Faith Development Day. Our day was filled with music, song, and prayer which provided a wonderful setting for our guest speaker, Sister Alexandra Kovats. She challenged us to make a positive difference in our world through social justice actions. Her encouragement to us was to “see with new eyes and a new heart,” and to keep in mind that we must “save the earth and savor it.”   Her message of environmental stewardship provided all of us with much to reflect on personally, in our school communities and in the world. 

The Board of Trustees has approved our District Plan for Continuous Growth 2009-2010. These goals are:

1. Celebrate and Promote Catholic Education
   • This goal emphasizes the distinctiveness and advantages of a Catholic education and identifies strategies that identify, honour and protect our history and traditions.
2. Provide High Levels of Student Learning
   • Emphasis is placed on meeting the learning needs of a diverse student population which includes new Canadians, English as a Second Language students, International students and First Nations, Metis and Inuit students.
   • Strategies that improve high school completion rates, enhance access to technology for learning and teaching and develop enhanced methods for communicating student learning and identifying progress.
3. Be a Highly Responsive and Responsible Catholic School District
   • Emphasis is placed on our school district’s role in developing community partnerships that enhance learning, to promote safety, wellness choices and healthy lifestyles, as well as offering a variety of focus and alternative programs.

The complete plan is now available on our website at http://www.ecsd.net/aboutus/about.html.

A free internet symposium is being held to identify the challenges parents and students face in our technology-driven world.  Edmonton Catholic Schools, in partnership with the Edmonton Public Library and Edmonton Public Schools, is offering parents a session called: Raising a Digital Childwith Steve Dotto.

When: Saturday, March 21, 2009, 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Where: Stanley A. Milner Library, Lower Level, 7 Sir Winston Churchill Square,
Parking is available in the Library Parkade.
Please bring your parking stub to the registration table.
Registration:  Visit http://partners.epsb.ca or call 780-429-8040.  
Seating is limited.

Alberta Education is engaging Albertans in two major reviews of education.  “Setting the Direction for Special Education” is moving into the second phase of consultation.  (Information on this provincial initiative can be found on www.education.alberta.ca ).  Inspiring Education:  “A Dialogue with Albertans” is beginning this spring. 

We have begun our Lenten journey in preparation for the great feast of Easter.  May we all come to know the ways of the Lord, so that we, too, may join in the Resurrection.  

Sincerely,

Joan Carr
Superintendent