On behalf of the staff at St. John’s, we welcome you to a truly vibrant school community that puts the needs of children first. It is my privilege to serve as Principal and be part of a school team focused on developing the whole child — mind, body and spirit — through a commitment to high expectations, collaboration, and inclusivity for all. Students are at the heart of everything we do: they are the very reason we exist as a school system.

We have the privilege of educating our children in a Catholic school system; this is a truly awesome responsibility and one which we will not take for granted. We place great value on our three cornerstones of community– school, home, and church. As adults, we must teach, model, and live the Gospel values in all our actions. Students need to experience and witness our faith, not only in Religion and Family Life classes, but in the day-to-day life of the school. Our Ontario Catholic School Graduate Expectations are central to all our conversations and planning at St. John’s. Each month, a different grade level will highlight one of the seven Ontario Catholic Graduate Expectations across the school community. Students provide examples of how we can emulate these qualities and live our lives like Jesus. We will continue to recognize and celebrate these qualities in our students through daily recognition of WWJD: What Would Jesus Do? at St. John’s Catholic Elementary School.

We are blessed to be located adjacent to St. John’s parish which allows us to experience a rich faith life with the support of our pastor, Father Cruz. Under his guidance and servant leadership, our students will have the opportunity to grow in their daily lives, and celebrate the Sacraments. Our school is blessed with a caring, talented staff who are committed to creating opportunities for students to share their wonderful gifts. Together, we can prepare our learners for a productive, meaningful life, accepting of differences, while working together in the image of Jesus Christ.

Parents and guardians, friends and community helpers, all play an important role in helping us at St. John’s. Support from home, involvement and participation at school, and contributing to the school community are all aspects of the partnerships that keep us true to our board’s vision of our school being the “Heart of the community– success for each and a place for all”.

Clear, consistent, and timely communication is critical in today’s world. The realities of virtual learning have taught us the importance of staying connected online. We use multiple forms of communication to help you stay connected with important information as well as all the activities that will be taking place at St. John’s CES. You will also begin to receive email messages through School Messenger. However, you need to ensure the school has your updated contact information in order for all these forms of communication to reach you. Classroom teachers will only be using D2L for class wide communication. It is important that you stay connected with your child’s teacher through their virtual learning management system.

Finally, we are proud to offer many opportunities for your child to become involved in activities beyond academics at St. John’s. We look forward to sharing a fantastic year with you and your family at St. John’s.

Wishing you continued health & wellness…

Tonya Reesor

Principal