​Wow – I can't believe we are in year four already. And, I can't believe that we haven't had a “normal" year yet. Year one, we only had grade 10 and 11 students. Year two was interrupted by Covid and from mid-March on, I was alone in the building as students and staff attempted to adjust to schooling on-line. Year three was a mixture of isolations, lock-downs, in-school classes, and on-line classes. Now, we find ourselves at the start of year four, challenged by rising Covid cases, full hospital ICU beds, and discussions around vaccines tearing families, communities, and the world apart; it looks like another less-than-normal school year. However, in the midst of whatever this might be called when it is over, there are some huge positives that we need to focus on.
More important and inspiring than all else, there is a positive vibe in our school – our students are happy, smiling, and enjoying reconnecting with their peers and their teachers. There is excitement as preparations are being made for the school play and band and choir concerts. Students are thrilled to be competing in athletics once again, some for the first time ever, despite parents and siblings being unable to attend. We've also been able to get together in our community groups to continue to build relationships. All of this positivity will go a long way to help us through the things that are still strange – not being able to see student faces completely and the ever present fear that we will return to schooling on-line…
As the Principal of a large school, I am proud to work with 1600 strong, resilient students who are starting to use their voices to make change and capture what they need or want out of this world. They are working with peers and staff to build their legacies and make JCS a place for all students – all of the time. This school is their school and I am so excited to continue to build the culture and community here at JCS into what I hope will be our first step towards our new normal.​
Go Ravens!