Dear Families:

It is hard to believe that I am already well into my second month as the new Director of Education here at Simcoe Muskoka Catholic District School Board. These months have been filled with many warm wishes from all of you and I thank you for welcoming me into your Simcoe Muskoka Catholic family. I have already made my way to half of our schools and I will continue my visits when we return in the New Year. 

Getting out into the schools and meeting the students and staff who make this Board so special has been such a positive and affirming experience. It was especially important for me to witness first-hand how schools have adapted to the challenges and opportunities we have faced since returning to school in September.

I know many of our staff, students and families are feeling the emotional and spiritual weight of this pandemic. There is no denying that it has transformed our daily lives, our world and our school board. This Christmas will look and feel very different for most of us.

And yet, as the candles on our Advent wreaths remind us, there is still plenty of light in the darkness, and plenty of reasons for hope. As we look around our schools and board office buildings, we see the tremendous generosity of our staff, students and communities, especially towards those who are less privileged. We have not stopped sharing the light and joy of Christmas - whether it is clothing drives, food collections or fundraising for local charities, SMCDSB is showing incredible generosity, compassion and care. 

As we prepare to celebrate Jesus’ coming into the world, we want to reach out in love to our sisters and brothers. I would like to offer my prayers and best wishes for you and your loved ones at this special time of year. Thank you for all the hard work you have done over this past year and for the many ways you put our SMCDSB mission, vision and values into practice each and every day. I hope that you will enjoy some well-deserved rest over the coming two weeks and that you continue to remain healthy and safe. 

Please take some time to enjoy the short video below featuring our Christmas Card Artwork Contest winner and honourable mentions as well as this month’s Faith Matters Newsletter.

May your celebrations be blessed with joy and peace, and may the coming year hold good health and renewed hope for all of us.

Yours in faith,

Frances Bagley

Director of Education