Celebration!

We are very fortunate at "The Ridge" to come together at this time of year to celebrate 2013 while also looking forward to 2014. Today at lunch our Parent Engagement Team and Social committee honoured our staff with a Holiday Luncheon. We are so privileged and thankful to be learning, working and playing together at IRHS, as we truly do believe we could not be in a better place! This is my fourth year at our school and each and every day I am very proud of how hard our staff work on behalf of our students, families and extended community. We couldn't have a more supportive group of parents & caregivers and our relationships with our community are very strong and supportive. This past week we had 30 members of our staff and community partners meet together for our Community Net working Meeting. This is a forum where we share current trends and issues representative of students, staff, our Safe School Action Team, our service side (Administration,Personal Career Counselling, Student Success, Social Worker & Public Health Nurse) as well as vested members of our community. Tom Adams attended representing the Town of Oakville, our local community library was represented as well as other members of the Oakville and Halton Region of Health and Recreation Services. Our parents were also represented during this morning of information sharing, networking and  relationship building. It is particularly gratifying to have so many folks engaged, all with the hopes of assisting and providing positive opportunities for our youth. We are very lucky that this group of individuals really believes in the importance of continuing to build and provide for the building of the 40 Developmental Assets which contributes to our young people's positive health, success and achievement.This partnership is extremely important for Iroquois Ridge High School and continues to be a very, strong union as we move forward. Our hope is to include our Feeder Schools next year to increase our membership and hear from very important voices that have not been heard as of yet. This Town Hall format really can make a difference in the actions, plans and next steps that all of us can immerse ourselves in, as a follow-up from important information shared. Next steps can and will make a difference for our students. So....soon it will be holiday time for all members of our "Ridge Family"...we all take this time of year to be thankful and reflect on all that we have, all we have done and all we have given.
On behalf of our admin team (Andrew Bigham, Jim Noble and myself), we wish all of you a safe and happy holiday with those you love and care for. We also wish you a very happy and prosperous 2014!!