February marks the halfway point in the school year and provides an opportunity to reflect on all that we have accomplished so far, while also looking ahead to the many milestones still to come. With this in mind, I wish all of our students and staff a successful and positive second half of the school year. With that said, I am pleased to share the following highlights from across the Greater Essex County District School Board for the month of February 2026.
Black History Month
On February 3rd, 2026, employees at the Greater Essex County District School Board Administration Office gathered to raise the Pan-African Flag and mark the beginning of Black History Month. The Pan-African Flag has also been raised at all of our schools and work sites.
This moving ceremony was hosted entirely by students, who did an exceptional job speaking, reading poetry, and sharing personal reflections on the meaning of Black History Month and their own connections to honouring Black history. We were also honoured to hear members of Sandwich First Baptist Church, perform the Black National Anthem, “Lift Every Voice and Sing.”
Natalie Browning-Morgan, Black Graduation Coach and Amina Abdulle-Butcher, Teacher Consultant for Equity both shared meaningful speeches about the significance of the Pan-African Flag and tomorrow’s visionaries and emerging leaders, many of whom were present at the ceremony.
As I stated that day, raising the flag reflects our commitment to creating learning and working environments where Black students and staff feel seen, valued, and supported – and where conversations about identity, history and systemic barriers are part of our shared responsibility.
Project Search
On January 29th, I had the honour of visiting our eight Project SEARCH interns at their work placements across St. Clair College’s campus.
These outstanding students are thriving in departments such as marketing, culinary, computer labs, hairstyling, esthetics, and tooling. It was wonderful to share lunch and hear about their hands-on learning and workplace experiences.
This meaningful initiative is made possible through a partnership between the Greater Essex County District School Board, St. Clair College, and Community Living Windsor.
Project SEARCH is an internationally recognized transition-to-work program that promotes inclusion, meaningful employment opportunities, and successful transitions into adulthood.
Math Achievement Action Plan
Last week we had staff from the Ministry of Education join us to visit some of our Priority Schools as part of our Math Achievement Action Plan monitoring.
They were able to visit grade 3, 6 and 9 math classrooms and also spend some time meeting with some of our staff including myself, Superintendent Roberts and Superintendent Castellano.
It was wonderful that they acknowledged the great work that is happening in our Priority Schools and asked specific questions about how some schools have shown amazing improvement in cohort data.
Bus Cancellations and Exam Rescheduling
We recognize that the winter weather created challenges for our planned secondary exam schedule. We are sincerely grateful to our students and families for their flexibility, patience and understanding as we worked through the necessary adjustments.
Thank you as well to our school administrators and local media partners for helping to communicate these updates clearly and efficiently. Your support ensured that students and families received timely and accurate information during a time of uncertainty.
Kindergarten Open Houses and Curriculum
We are excited to welcome families and their little ones to our Kindergarten Open Houses at all of our elementary schools on February 19, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m.!
Learn more at publicboard.ca/kindergarten and register today at publicboard.ca/register. We look forward to welcoming new faces on February 19 and again in September 2026!
We would also like to remind parents, families and caregivers that the Ministry of Education has provided an overview of the new Kindergarten curriculum specifically for parents. You can find this guide on the Ministry of Educations Website under “Kindergarten: an overview for parents (2026)”.
Express to the Trades
As Chair Hatfield shared, for the fifth year in a row our school board proudly participated in Express to the Trades on February 11.
Once again, I was impressed by the many local organizations and businesses that dedicated their time to connect with students in Grades 7 to 12 who are eager to learn more about careers in the skilled trades.
I would also like to extend my sincere thanks to our Student Success staff for their outstanding efforts in organizing and supporting this experience. Their dedication to expanding career exploration opportunities opens doors and helps shape the future pathways of our students.
Leslie McCurdy's "The Spirit of Harriet Tubman"
On Friday, February 6, I was invited to attend a performance of “The Spirit of Harriet Tubman” at Gosfield North Public School. In this captivating one-woman show, Leslie McCurdy brings to life the story of Harriet Tubman, spanning many years of her life and often incorporating Tubman’s own powerful words.
The performance was engaging, emotional, and poignant from start to finish. Students were engaged and asked many thoughtful questions following the show. Thank you to the administrators at Gosfield North for inviting me, and to Leslie for her powerful performance.
Carnaval at LaSalle Public School
We were also thrilled to visit LaSalle Public School to help celebrate Carnaval! It is always a joy to be in our schools during these special events, watching students play games, dance, and learn more about the rich history behind Carnaval.
With the unusually cold temperatures and generous snowfall this year, Bonhomme must have felt right at home! It was wonderful to see the excitement that a visit from Bonhomme brings to students’ faces. Thank you LaSalle Public School for inviting us.
Significant Events and Cultural Observances
Lunar New Year
February 17th marks Lunar New Year! This year, we welcome the Year of the Horse, a symbol of energy, confidence, independence, and perseverance. Happy Lunar New Year to all those who are celebrating!
Ramadan
Ramadan, one of the holiest months in the Islamic calendar, begins February 18th. During Ramadan, many Muslims will abstain from food and water from sunrise to sunset for 30 days. We wish all Muslim students, staff and community members a blessed and peaceful Ramadan.
Ash Wednesday and Lent
Tomorrow marks Ash Wednesday for many Christians, signifying the beginning of Lent. Lent is a 40-day period leading up to Easter focusing on reflection, prayer and renewal.
Pink Shirt Day
February 25th is Pink Shirt Day! The day is acknowledged in many countries and serves as a reminder that everyone has a responsibility to speak out against hate and discrimination, particularly against 2SLGBTQIA+ people and other marginalized groups who experience disproportionate levels of bullying and harassment. We encourage everyone to wear a pink shirt on February 25th in support of this important cause.
- Elementary and Secondary PA Day – Friday, February 27th
- March Break Reminder – March 16th – 20th
- OSSLT Spring Opportunity begins March 23rd