I am pleased to welcome everyone back to school and work following what I hope was a joyful and restful holiday break and New Year celebration. Time spent resting and connecting with loved ones is invaluable, and I hope it provided a positive start to the year ahead.
Students and staff across the Greater Essex County District School Board have begun the year engaged and enthusiastic, with a wide range of academic and extracurricular activities underway and many more opportunities to look forward to as the school year continues.
Kindergarten Registration and Open Houses
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.!
Kindergarten Open House is always a special time as we invite future students, parents and caregivers into our schools to see why the Greater Essex County District School Board is a great place to be! Our teams are proud to work alongside families to ensure every child feels welcomed, supported and ready to thrive in their learning journey.
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!
Holiday Donations
The generosity of our students and staff continues to inspire me each year, and this year we were especially moved by the overwhelming number of stories highlighting donations, food collections, and fundraising efforts. Schools from across our district shared countless examples of their communities coming together in remarkable acts of generosity, reflecting a deep commitment to caring for and supporting others.
I would like to specifically recognize students from Sandwich Secondary School, Vincent Massey Secondary School, and Riverside Secondary School. CBC Windsor has shared that the majority of food donations collected this year came from these three schools. Of the 114,000 pounds of food donated, more than 105,000 pounds were contributed by their school communities.
Please join me in applauding the students and staff at these schools for their extraordinary efforts and their shared commitment to making our community a more welcoming and supportive place for all.
Riverside Relay for Life
Speaking of generosity, students at Riverside Secondary School organized a Relay for Life event in 2025, raising an incredible $10,000.00. I received a letter of gratitude from Relay for Life, and they shared the following, "The dedication shown by the schools within your school board, by hosting a Relay For Life event is inspiring; you have become a source of hope for people with cancer and their loved ones. For this, we are immensely grateful."
Please join me in congratulating the students of Riverside Secondary School for their admirable commitment to philanthropy and the power of helping others.
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Green Bins Partnership with the City of Windsor
We have partnered with the City of Windsor to introduce the green bin organic waste collection program in our city-based schools. The program is already underway in select schools as of January 12, 2026, and will be fully implemented across all city schools by September 2026. The Administrative Building and Facility Services Building have also adopted the program.
Through this partnership, our schools will help create renewable energy and fertilizer, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and foster a shared sense of environmental responsibility across our school communities.
Welcoming Students from Tenerife, Spain in September 2026
We are excited to welcome a group of 30 short-term high school students from Tenerife, Spain, who will be studying with us from September to December 2026. These students will be placed across approximately eight of our secondary schools, bringing new perspectives and cultural experiences into our classrooms.
This opportunity is made possible through a collaboration with MLI Student Services and their Spanish partner, with MLI Homestay coordinating host families within our community. Director Vicki Houston is looking forward to visiting the schools this fall to personally welcome the students and connect with them during their time with us.
Express to the Trades Skilled Trades Expo
Enhanced Police Record Check Requirements
Amendments have been made to the Ontario Regulation regarding Collection of Personal Information. Key updates are as follows:
- School boards are now required under the updated regulation to collect police record checks from volunteers and students on educational placements.
- School boards must collect a new police record check from employees, service providers, and volunteers every five years, and any time an individual is charged with, or convicted of, an offence under the Criminal Code of Canada (as soon as reasonably possible).
- Individuals in a position of trust or authority in relation to students will require a vulnerable sector check (VSC).
- Individuals not in a position of trust or authority in relation to students will require a criminal record and judicial matters check (CRJMC).
Significant Dates
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Secondary exams will take place from January 23 to 29. We wish all students the very best as they prepare and write their exams during this period. As a reminder, School Mental Health Ontario offers helpful resources and tips to support effective studying and manage stress throughout exam time.
- January 30th is a Secondary P.A. Day. Professional Development activities for this day have been shared on our website.
- Elementary Parent/Teacher Interviews will take place on February 12th.
- February 16th is Family Day. All of our schools and offices will be closed on this day.