WELCOME BACK!
"Each child is a gift entrusted to us by her/his family."
Dear Glen Families,
“……to increase the life chances of every child.”
Learning Success, Every Learner, Every Day, No Exceptions
It is the Friday morning before our annual Labour Day long-weekend; the weekend before our first day and week of the 2011/2012 school year. I hope that you all have enjoyed this amazing summer and have a wonderful and restful weekend with family and friends.
The Staff and I are extremely excited to begin, yet, another school year. I strongly believe that we, the Glen Staff, are very fortunate and blessed to be in a profession of service to others; in our case, children. The vocation of teaching and supporting children in our public education system is, daily, filled with endless moments of child understanding and knowing that they are cared for deeply; are treated with the respect and dignity just as we, the adults, expect to be treated.
Our students will be afforded the opportunity, from us, to learn according to their individual and unique learning style; the knowledge that they are always the ‘lens’ through which we make all of our decisions; that they are secure in the knowledge that every adult who works at Glen models those virtues and values we expect from our students; and, most importantly, the knowledge that every single adult at Glen BELIEVES in every single student and her/his potential.
As a father of two beautiful children, one about to begin Grade 7and one about to begin Grade 5…my wife and I are afforded a ‘front-row seat’ to their anticipation, excitement, trepidation, possibilities, wishes, dreams and hopefulness at what the school year ahead holds for them. We have approximately 500 students ~ your children ~ many of whom are or will be feeling these emotions over the next three days.
On Tuesday morning approximately 500 students will walk through our doors; 74 new Kindergarten students wide-eyed and so excited to be at school; approximately 40 new Grade 1 – 5 students who, this summer, left neighbourhoods, schools and friends and walked through our doors with some doubt, hesitation and wonder about what Glen is all about; and approximately 400 returning students eager to say hello to staff, reestablish friendships and make new friendships.
Whether new or returning, the common thread for each and every child who walks through our doors is the desire and excitement to learn……to hope, to experience new possibilities, to accomplish new things, to make new friends, to be respected, to feel safe and welcomed……to dream!!
Make no mistake, that the impact we, the entire Glen Staff, have on your child (and every person who walks through our doors) is profound. Our individual and collective actions and words have the power to lift spirits and inspire a child to feel she or he matters and is important in this world.
I would like to thank you all for your commitment, care and LOVE for your children and your care and support for our school.
I look forward to the journey ahead of us that is the 2011/2012 Glen school year!
I wish you all a healthy, happy, fulfilling and successful school year!!
Sincerely,
Mr. D. Passaglia