Welcome Message from NPSC Director of Education Paula Mann (2023-2024)
August 30, 2023
Dear Parents/Guardians, Students and Staff:
On behalf of our Board of Trustees and Senior Administration team, it is our honour to welcome all of our students, families, and staff back for the 2023-2024 school year! We hope you enjoyed a safe and restful summer, filled with lasting memories made with family and friends.
All of us at the Nipissing-Parry Sound Catholic District School Board (NPSC) look forward to the upcoming school year with great optimism and hope as we build upon the successes of the last school year and work together to provide learning opportunities that inspire, nurture and celebrate each student to reach their full potential and live the richness of their faith.
At NPSC, we are committed to nurturing safe and inclusive learning environments where every student and every member of the community is welcomed, valued, and respected. We look forward to building strong collaborative partnerships with our students, parents, staff and community to ensure the success of every student.
Our Board continues its commitment to achieving our strategic ENDS focused on the priorities of Faith, Well-Being, Learning, Equity, Indigenous Education and Innovation. We look forward to working collaboratively to live our mission and vision and provide a rich Catholic education that is Rooted in Faith and Alive in Spirit.
This September, we are extremely excited to launch the first year of our three-year NPSC Pastoral Plan based on the theological virtues of Love, Hope & Faith. During this school year, we will celebrate with the spiritual theme of Love in alignment with the 2024 Catholic Education Week theme: We Are Called to Love. We look forward to bringing the virtue of love to life with our students, staff, parishes and families throughout the year.
As we renew foundational learning skills and priorities in the areas of Reading, Writing, Mathematics and Well-Being through our Board’s Student Achievement Plan, we will share progress with our parents, students and staff, and will seek your input throughout the year.
We would like to provide you with some highlights as we prepare for the new school year:
The first day of school for Senior Kindergarten to Grade 12 students is Tuesday, September 5. Families of Junior Kindergarten students will be contacted with their confirmed start date by their home schools very soon. NPSC schools will be open beginning Wednesday August 30 to assist with any registration or transportation inquiries.
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Mental Health & Well-Being
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All students will continue to have access to mental health services and supports provided by our outstanding Student Support Services team. We invite parents to review the following School Mental Health Ontario resources and timely tools to support a mentally healthy return to school for your child:
School Mental Health Ontario - How to Support a Mentally Healthy Back to School for Your Child
School Mental Health - Read Alouds for Parents and Children
School Mental Health - Helping Your Child Manage Digital Technology
School Mental Health - We Care
Additional resources are available on the School Mental Health website.
Our plant services and custodial staff have been working diligently over the summer months to prepare our school facilities for the arrival of our students. We extend our gratitude to them for their amazing work in preparing safe and healthy school learning environments. Ventilation has been enhanced and improved at all of our school sites over the past two years.
As the school year approaches, we encourage parents to keep connected to your school’s EDSBY for back-to-school information. Be sure to follow us throughout the school year on our website and social media channels for news, upcoming events and stories featuring our Catholic school communities!
As the new school year begins, we invite our staff, parents and families to share their back-to-school memories on our Board’s social media channels via #WelcomeBackNPSC
We express our sincere gratitude to our incredible education and support staff, for their unwavering commitment and dedication to our students and the support they provide to our families, as they prepare to welcome our students back to school this September.
To our parents and families, we deeply value our strong relationships and the important role you play in your child’s education. We extend our heartfelt appreciation to all our parents and families for choosing the Nipissing-Parry Sound Catholic District School Board and Catholic education. We are humbled and privileged that you have entrusted the care of your child to our Board. We look forward to our continued partnership to ensure the success of your child.
Whether you are new to our Board or returning, we look forward to welcoming your child to our inclusive Catholic learning centers of excellence and to working with you in partnership to support your child’s Catholic education journey.
Should you have any questions regarding the new school year, we invite you to contact your child’s school Principal.
On behalf of our Board of Trustees and Senior Administration team, we extend our prayerful best wishes for a safe, exciting, and successful school year ahead!
We look forward to seeing you soon!
Sincerely,
Paula Mann Shawn Fitzsimmons
Director of Education Chair of the Board