Dear HWW Students, Families, and Community members, 

It is lovely to reconnect with you after Fall Break!  We hope it was a restful and relaxing time for our students and families. 

We would like to highlight our upcoming School Council meeting on Monday, November 25 at 6:30 pm, in person or available online. Attending the council meeting is always a great way to learn more about what is happening at the school.  At this upcoming meeting we will also have an informative presentation regarding scholarships and scholarship applications given by Ms. Little, Learning Leader of the Guidance Department.

In other news, Warrior staff participated in an excellent day of professional learning on November 8. We learned more about the background behind the recently updated CBE Acknowledgement of the Land.  We then had the opportunity to engage in talking circles where we reflected on and shared our own personal connections to the land.  Later, Warrior staff engaged in the Mind and Body domains—’To Know’ and ’To Do’ - by taking action on our school’s TRC Commitment to identify places across our curriculums where Indigenous Ways of Being, Belonging, Doing and Knowing can be weaved into our practice through the learning tasks we design for all students.  Teachers began exploring the concept of ’ethical space’ between Indigenous and Western knowledge systems and the framework that can foster dialogue and mutual respect between different worldviews, allowing each to contribute its own unique insights without dominance or hierarchy.  This approach encouraged teachers to thoughtfully incorporate both pedagogies, making room for practices that support all students’ learning and cultural identities.

On Friday, November 29 our next non-instructional day, Warrior staff will continue our professional learning related to our ongoing work related to Outcomes-based Assessment. As we examine our Term 1 student data, we continue to collaborate to build flexible and supportive learning structures, being responsive to student learning needs while continuing to help students be as successful as possible in their learning. Thank you for your continued support for your students in their studies.

Yesterday, we carried out our third scheduled fire drill of the year which went very smoothly despite snow and cooler weather. We are also wrapping up our food bank drive in support of the Veteran’s Association this week and our Agents for Change student group are hosting their French Bake sale in support of Wise Wood Families in need.  Henry Wise Wood School community continues to be a place where the wonderful spirit of caring and generosity continues to be ever present in the many aspects of school life.

With gratitude for your continued partnership and support, 

Teresa Martin

Principal