Blog Posts

Like many people, I enjoy a good podcast.  I was listening to Tetragrammaton the other night, and the guest was Pulitzer Prize-winning author and playwright David Mamet. During the interview, Mamet referenced his novel, "Recollections of St. Ives." More specifically, he spoke about one of his characters, Mr. Ruskin, a teacher, who suggests an innovative way of teaching history by giving students a few dollars and sending them to a vintage store to buy an item, then having them return to class and do a "show and tell" about it. You can imagine how this could work.

Each year the Abbotsford School District must approve a balanced budget by June 30^th.

A few weeks ago, I shared my thoughts on the benefits of physical activity for both our minds and bodies. As we approach March Break, it feels timely to highlight the importance of rest and relaxation. Taking a break is something I personally struggle with, and I know many of you do, too. Our principals and vice principals, in particular, often find it challenging to take a lunch break when there are hundreds of students to supervise. Despite our best intentions to take a moment "later" to eat and catch our breath, sometimes "later" never comes.

True confession: I enjoy physical activity. I start most days with vigorous exercise. I wake up at 5:00 am Monday to Friday so I can be unrushed in my morning ritual, which includes fresh espresso, a scroll through various social media feeds, CBC radio, and yes, a fitness workout.  

Ready or not, 2025 is here! While I am not one for resolutions, I like setting personal and professional goals. A new year brings with it a sense of hope and opportunity. No matter what happened the previous year, a new year feels like another chance to step closer to a dream, an aspiration, or even start something entirely new.

One of the things I love most about this time of year is seeing the many ways we celebrate the season.  Visit any one of our schools and you’ll see snowflakes and Christmas trees and happy faces all around. If you are lucky, you might even catch sight of Santa and his elves. And it’s not just in schools and classrooms. The Abbotsford School Board Office is a veritable winter wonderland thanks to the goodwill and creative energy of our folks here. 

For 14 years, Margaret Stenersen Elementary School has been privileged to partner with Living Hope Church to host a Community Breakfast every Thursday morning. This program has become a cherished tradition, offering families a chance to gather, enjoy a meal together, and build connections within our school community.

I spoke with an elementary student recently. He was a hockey fan and could easily recite NHL players' names. He knew their jersey numbers, the positions they played, and sometimes the number of goals and assists they scored. I suspect you might know a sports fan like this, too.