Dear KPR Families,
With cooler temperatures starting to set in, I am looking forward to the many new beginnings and fun learning opportunities the fall season holds for students, staff and families. It has been inspiring to see the many ways our school communities have welcomed students and families back to school over the past few weeks, hosting open houses, parent/teacher nights, school assemblies, and special events.
Tomorrow, September 30th is National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. This is a solemn day of remembrance, and a time to recognize the harm caused by residential schools, honour survivors and their families, and remember those who never returned home. Our school communities will be recognizing this day in age-appropriate ways, and engaging in discussion, reflection and learning that supports our collective journey towards reconciliation.
As part of this observance, staff and students are invited to wear orange this Friday, and flags will be flown at half-mast at KPR schools and education centres from sunrise to sunset.
It is important to remember that reconciliation does not focus on one day alone. Last year, KPR’s Indigenous Education team launched the Passport to Reconciliation program as a way for school communities to work together and actively engage in broad-based collective learning and action year-round. I urge everyone to learn more about the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and consider how the tools in KPR’s Passport to Reconciliation program can further support this learning, and our broader commitment to Indigenous knowledge, culture and perspectives. I also invite you to reflect on the following #WeAreKPR story, that highlights some of the ways our students and staff have engaged in the program to date. Follow @KPRIndigenous on social media for more information and to access the Passport to Reconciliation program from home.
Lastly, I’d like to share a reminder to visit KPR’s events calendar and follow @kprschools on social media for information on upcoming days of significance next month, including Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls and Two-Spirit Peoples (MMIWG2S) Honouring and Awareness Day on October 4, and Yom Kippur on October 5.
Wishing everyone time for rest and reflection with your families.
Sincerely,
Rita Russo
Director of Education
KPR News
2022 Parent Conference
Registration is now open for KPR’s Annual Parent Conference! Join us on Saturday, October 15, 9:30am – 12:00pm at Adam Scott CVI, 175 Langton Street, Peterborough or virtually. This year’s conference will focus on Building Skills and Resilience in a Supportive Environment of Risk-Taking, featuring keynote speaker Dr. Colin King. Attend in-person or online to learn about practical parent-led strategies that build resilience and hear from a panel of educators and professionals about how these skills can be supported at school and at home.
For more information about this FREE event, and to register, please visit our website.
COVID-19 and Illness Protocol
To help maintain a healthy and safe school environment, we remind all staff, students, and visitors to self-screen daily before attending school, using the provincial screening tool.
We are continuing to monitor daily absence trends and sharing this information with local public health units. For more information about COVID protocols, please see our Return to School Plan, which reflects the latest provincial guidance.
