Safety remains the top priority for School District 47, according to chairperson Dale Lawson.
At the February 10 school board meeting, Lawson said recent updates to guidance and requirements help to reiterate safety as the top priority for the district, as well as supporting good mental health and well-being for everyone in these challenging times.
In her monthly remarks to the board, Lawson said although February is the shortest month of the year, there are many activities going on.
“We’ve settled in to spending more time at home than we’re used to and many of us are finding new ways to engage with each other, learn new skills, or reflect on how we appreciate things differently than we did before the pandemic began,” said Lawson.
February marks the start of term three and this can be an exciting time for students as the school district closes in on the home stretch of the school year, said Lawson.
“This February, our staff will focus their learning together on building community in an exciting, jam-packed, professional development virtual event,” she added.
February saw the launch of wellness bingo to support and engage staff in a little fun and friendly competition of wellness challenges, where goals can be set and achieved together while remaining separate.
“For me, that provides inspiration for each of us to consider how we might connect while we celebrate Family Day on February 15 differently than we have in the past,” said Lawson.
She added that students, staff and community members are invited and encouraged to wear pink on February 24 to build each other up and take a stand against bullying.
“Any pink shirt will do,” said Lawson.
She said there are many activities going on, and luckily, each day in February adds about two and a half minutes of daylight.
“Despite what the groundhog may have indicated on February 2,” said Lawson, “we can all welcome and appreciate those additional minutes as we march toward spring together.”
