September 15, 2023

Looking ahead to a great fall season

Welcome back to the start of the new school year!

I hope you had a wonderful summer break, and were able to rest and recreate with friends and family as well as taking some time for yourself.

This year, we took August PSBC on the road to Medicine Hat. It was wonderful seeing so many of our members in person. Our professional development and PSBC meetings are second to none, and we had an excellent discussion about how local boards engage with their stakeholders. Ongoing community feedback is so important to ensure we are serving our communities well. On behalf of the PSBAA board, deep appreciation and thanks to the Medicine Hat Public School Division and board Vice Chair Pat Grisonich for being such wonderful hosts and event organizers.

September is always a busy month for our school communities, and it’s such a joy to visit our schools and experience the excitement of new and returning students. We are truly thankful for all the hard work of our teachers, administrative staff and leadership for their dedication and passion to equipping each student for academic success.

Looking ahead, check out all the great events coming up in the pages of the Advocate. Registration is open for all events on the PSBAA website, please don’t forget to register. We hope to see you there.

As we settle into the new school year, we also renew our focus on our primary role as locally-elected school board trustees: creating the optimal conditions for all students to learn, grow and thrive. The PSBAA is committed to supporting this work through professional development, research and advocacy. We look forward to a new year of continuing this work with all our members and education partners. Equity and equality of opportunity is also a key priority, including how we respond to the full diversity of student learning, while still being accountable to deliver on provincial standards.

While the fall season will be busy for everyone, we know it is made richer by the collaboration and support of our colleagues and friends. The PSBAA is your Association, and we are here to support each of our members with resources, information and expertise. We wish you all the very best for a productive and enjoyable 2023-2024 school year!

Dennis MacNeil, PSBAA President