A message from the Superintendent:
As you are aware, the BC Teachers’ Federation (BCTF) and the BC Public School Employers’ Association (BCPSEA) reached a tentative agreement yesterday (Sept.16), which, if ratified by teachers and Boards of Education, will bring an end to the labour dispute. <Note: Agreement was ratified by Teachers on Thursday> This is great news! We expect that our schools will be ready to welcome students on Monday, September 22. School next week will then begin as it normally would in early September, with a shortened first day on Monday, and regular hours of instruction on the next day (Tuesday, September 23). Parents should check school websites and posted notices for school-specific schedules. If parents have additional questions, please consult the school administration.
Our main priority has always been to have our students back in school, and schools back to normal operations as soon as possible. To accomplish this, our principals and vice-principals have been working diligently over the past several weeks to prepare schools to welcome students and staff. That being said, it is important to keep in mind that a great deal of work still needs to be done. We want to return to the traditional routines of schooling with as little disruption as possible, however we might see some need for school re-organization as we get underway, especially at the secondary level. There are still a number of unanswered questions about the nature of the school year, such as whether we will make up lost time, the dates for provincial examinations, etc. More details will be provided in coming days either on the district website (www.sd34.bc.ca), or in a letter home to parents when it becomes available.
It is important for parents of kindergarten children to know that our district will maintain its gradual kindergarten entry timelines. If you are the parent of a kindergarten child, please read information here to get further details about school start-up for your child.
We recognize that this has been a challenge for families and our staff, and would like to thank you for your patience and understanding over the last few weeks. As I have mentioned before, Abbotsford is a wonderful school district with very caring and professional staff. We take tremendous pride in the quality of the educational opportunities we provide for our students. On behalf of the Board of Education and all our staff, I would like to extend a warm welcome to our students, and wish them the very best for the upcoming school year.
Kevin Godden
Superintendent of Schools
Abbotsford School District