Kenora Catholic District School Board

Greetings Kenora Catholic community,

Thank you for the warm welcome so many of you have given me as I begin my new vocation as Director of Education. Over the past few weeks, I have loved learning about all things that pertain to the faith development, achievement (heart, mind body and soul) and overall well-being of our students. It's my priority and commitment to continue to engage in face to face conversations as I embrace my new community and seek to fully understand everything that makes Kenora Catholic such an amazing school system.

I will continually be visiting and working with our community partners, schools and families. Thus far, I have met with many of our child care providers, the Northwestern Health Unit, and parents, staff and students at our Meet and Greet in late January with many more of these visits to come over the next several weeks! I have been blessed to learn more about the excellent work students, families and staff are doing by participating in class lessons, special events, school staff meetings and Catholic School Council Meetings. I've been at a Start Me Up Assembly and cross-country skiing with the students at St. John School, 'schooled' by the biblical scholars at Ecole Ste-Marguerite Bourgeoys in a Bible Challenge, and I had an opportunity to read with children at St. Louis School during Literacy Week. I also got to go fishing with St. Louis School at their Fishing Derby on the Family Day weekend. I look forward to many more opportunities to spend time in our schools.

Regularly, I will be using Twitter to post and respond using the hashtag #KCDSBlearns, and I invite you to join me, start a conversation and share your ideas. You can find me on Twitter @Derek Haime. I'm also eager to connect in our Facebook community and will be following, liking and commenting on the excellent work of our schools. Social media will be one of the ways we will soon introduce our new strategic planning process. We will be relying on all of you to help shape and guide the future of Kenora Catholic through identifying goals and priorities so we can support every student in achieving their dreams.

At Kenora Catholic, we have a dedicated and caring Board of Catholic Trustees. I am blessed to be advised and guided by this team, and I am grateful to be able to serve our system under their leadership. Our trustees truly live the mission of preserving, proclaiming, and protecting the precious gift of publicly funded Catholic education.

I have enjoyed getting to know you, listening to your ideas and learning more about why Kenora Catholic is such an amazing Board to pray, learn, work and play in. I will continue to find ways to celebrate all of this excellence and seek to use my charisms, knowledge and experience to keep enhancing the faith development, achievement (heart, mind body and soul) and overall well-being of all of our students. I am humbled and privileged to be on this journey with you.

Thank you for welcoming me as your new Director, and God bless you all!