Celebrating Milestones

by Craig Coutts, Head of School

It's that time of year again when we come together to celebrate all the wonderful milestones at our school: Grade 12 Graduation, Grade 8 and Grade 5 Celebrations, end of year concerts and performances, and of course, the many farewells that are part of our vibrant and ever changing community. It’s been a busy 12 months, but as we pause to celebrate, we also get a chance to reflect. When we're caught up in the hustle and bustle, we sometimes forget to look back at all the achievements and connections we've made throughout the year, and what a year it has been!

Our Impact Strategy has been a driving force as we continue our journey of growth and improvement. Focusing on diversity and inclusion has made a huge difference for us individually and as a community, and I am particularly excited about the leadership our students have shown in this area. This ties in beautifully with the growth in leadership opportunities through service and the autonomy our students have demonstrated in shaping their own learning paths. We've harnessed the incredible expertise within our community to learn from one another and grow together. We've also made strides in sustainability by creating better systems and platforms to operate more efficiently for the benefit of both our organization and the environment. These efforts have paved the way for even greater opportunities next year as we continue to implement our action plans and make a positive impact on learning and our community.

As we say our farewells, there are a couple of staff members I'd like to acknowledge. Russel Brown is retiring this year after an amazing 36 years of service to YIS. Thank you, Russel, for all your contributions over the years. Similarly, Jacquie Pender, our Elementary Principal, is retiring after 12 years of leading the Elementary School with expertise and kindness. Jacquie will be greatly missed by students, staff, and parents across our school.

I hope you all find time to relax and enjoy family time over the summer, reflecting on the year that has passed. For those leaving our community, I wish you all the best in your future adventures. Please stay in touch and always feel a part of our strong community.

Next year is a special one for YIS as we celebrate our 100th year. There are many events planned throughout the year, with special gatherings in October. We'll have the chance to come together as a community, along with many past students, teachers, and families, to celebrate what it means to be a Dragon.

Have a safe and wonderful holiday, and I look forward to seeing many of you next school year!

Cheers,
Craig