Have a Safe and Amazing School Year!
Dear Parents/Guardians, Students, and Staff:
As we begin a new school year, I am pleased to welcome all new and returning students, staff, and families back to our schools. I hope that your summer break was safe, restful, and filled with meaningful time spent with loved ones. With the break behind us, our classrooms are once again ready to be places of learning, care, and connection. I know our dedicated teachers, staff and administrators are excited to engage and learn with students again.
Celebrating New Spaces and Managing Growth
Thank you to all District staff in various departments who worked hard over the last two months to get our sites ready for the new school year. I know students in some of our schools will look forward to updated indoor and outdoor spaces such as playgrounds. I also extend my gratitude to all staff who have played a role in ensuring our new school, Josette Dandurand Elementary, and the two new modular additions at Nicomekl Elementary and Lynn Fripps Elementary open to students and staff this week. The completion of these capital projects is an exciting milestone for the District and will help us meet the enrolment demands across Langley. Last week, Minister of Infrastructure, Bowinn Ma was at Nicomekl Elementary to celebrate all of these new spaces. You can read more in the media release here.
The Langley Board of Education, Chair Candy Ashdown, is sharing words of excitement, gratitude, and reflections on the District’s Strategic Plan in her back-to-school message that can be read here. The Minister of Education and Child Care, Lisa Beare, is also welcoming everyone back to classrooms which can be read here.
National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation will be observed on Tuesday, September 30th. As schools will be closed on this day, students and staff across the District will spend time in the days leading up to it learning, listening, and reflecting on their Truth and Reconciliation journey. Orange Shirt Day serves as a reminder of Canada’s shared history and the ongoing trauma and impacts of the residential school system on Indigenous peoples and cultures. The District encourages all members of our community to observe the day in their own unique way - whether by attending a local event, reading books by Indigenous authors, or exploring stories that elevate Indigenous voices. As has been done in the last few years in our District, educational activities in schools focused on Aboriginal Worldviews and Perspectives will continue throughout the year. The District remains committed to supporting all staff and enriching their learning through professional development opportunities focused to help deepen our understanding and renew our collective commitment to the journey of Truth and Reconciliation.
Encouraging Parent Involvement and Communication
Families play an important role in helping create a safe, inclusive, and compassionate learning community. Just as students are expected to follow the District’s Student Code of Conduct, there is an expectation for parents/guardians to uphold the District’s Parent/Guardian Code of Conduct. These guidelines can be reviewed here. We recognize that strong relationships and active parent involvement are also essential to student success. To support open and effective communication, we encourage families to review the Communicating with Your School resource, which outlines helpful guidelines on who to contact when questions or concerns arise.
As always, the District and our schools share information with students, staff, and families through a variety of channels, including email, SchoolMessenger notifications, phone calls, and in-person meetings. We also invite all members of our community to stay connected by visiting the new District website, school websites, reading newsletters, and following social media channels - that’s where important updates and positive stories from our schools are shared with the community.
As we all get settled into the new school year, I’m proud to be part of our collective effort to ensure all students achieve success. September is a busy and exciting time for setting goals and creating the structures to build on student strengths. We encourage all of you to be on that learning journey with them throughout the year.
On behalf of the District, we wish all of you a safe and amazing new school year!
Sincerely,
Mal Gill
Superintendent of Schools