We have all returned to "The Ridge" after a wonderful, spring break! Much has transpired prior to our time off! Our entire school community certainly enjoyed the opportunity to follow the Sochi Winter Olympics which generated a lot of school spirit and pride in our Canadian Athletes as they sought "best-ever" performances! As a school which emphasizes "lofty goals" and "high expectations" for performance and achievement it was perfectly fitting to watch some of our Olympians aspire to greatness. Every one needs a "role model" or "exemplary performance" to aspire to and our Winter Olympians provided much inspiration and motivation for us all personally as we all seek to be the best that we can be!
Speaking of excellence, we were thrilled during this time to hear that we were identified by the Fraser Institute that we moved significantly in the Ontario Provincial Secondary School Rankings. Iroquois Ridge
moved to a #11 ranking in the province (out of 740 schools)and achieved #1 status in Halton (which includes both Halton District Public and Halton District Catholic Secondary Schools. The "School Report Card" is based primarily on our EQAO Results for Literacy & Numeracy in which we received a 9/10 score based on the Fraser Institute ratings...up from an 8.4/10 score in 2011/12. As mentioned in the "Toronto Sunday Sun" article earlier on in March, there really is a "culture of high expectations" at our school for everyone in our school community, but the foundation of this is really a personal approach we take with all of our students in building strong relationships, trust and support to enable our students to feel the confidence to be the best that they can be! The support network includes all of us...staff supporting students, staff supporting staff, students supporting students, students supporting staff and our "ace in the hole" is our parent and caregiver community who are highly invested in our school ...engaged in all of what we do here at 'The Ridge!"
We could not be more proud of our school and the success of all of our vested stakeholders! Our students are remarkable, our staff...the very finest and our parent/caregiver community absolutley "second to none!"
We can all share in this success as it is not easy to have an excellent school achieve even more excellent results and we are committed to ensuring that we remain more than excellent as we go forward!
Congratulations to everyone who make this school such an awesome place to learn, work and play in!
Other achievements prior to our Spring Break included a high level of success "outside" of the classroom.
Ridge "student/athletes" were represented at the OFSAA Swimming, Snowboarding Provincial Championships while both our Boys' and Girls' Hockey Teams played in Halton Play-off action. Our girls'
secured the Halton Tier 2 Championship with a win over Burlington Central High School and were treated to
a "gauntlet" in our street upon their return to school from their Gold Medal victory! 100's of staff and students lined our street as they cheered on our newest, Halton Champions as they walked the gauntlet!
Well deserved and much appreciated by the team and Coach Scott Phillips. In addition, our Curling team also secured the Halton Championship title under Coach Kristen McCoy's fine leadership.Well done, Trailblazers..yet another two championship banners to be showcased with pride in our athletic facility!!
So you see...we continue to dedicate ourselves to "excellence" whether it is in or outside of the classroom. I am humbled by the incredible accomplishments by our students, staff and parent/caregiver community and am extremely proud to continue to serve you all as the Principal of Iroquois Ridge!!
