Submitted by Chair Amanda Amaral
February 11, 2026
This month, I would like to highlight two important initiatives that create meaningful opportunities for the Board to engage with our learning community: the Board term-in-review and our annual school tours.
Both processes reflect our commitment to mission, vision, affirmation and values. They provide structured time for reflection, dialogue, and connection. Together, they strengthen our governance work by ensuring that our decisions are informed by both data and lived experience and grounded in the realities of our schools.
Term-in-Review
As the Board launches its term-in-review process, we are taking time to reflect thoughtfully on both our accomplishments and the lessons we have learned. With the 2026 municipal election approaching, this review provides an important opportunity to share our work with the community, ensure transparency and accountability, and help inform the priorities of the next Board.
Beyond our responsibilities related to the strategic plan, finance, and student achievement, we have invested significantly in engaging our broader learning community in our governance work. This process allows us to highlight those efforts, assess their impact, and consider how they can be strengthened in the future. We are excited to share our achievements and reflect on what we have learned together as we look ahead.
School Tours
In March, Trustees will begin our annual school tours at our fourteen schools. Each school has thoughtfully selected two to three strands from our strategic plan to guide their work toward our shared goal:
“We believe that when we create authentic and inclusive learning environments, we enhance each student’s development of the Core Competencies over time.”
Building on our experiences from previous years, this year’s visits will focus on the culture and uniqueness of each school, as reflected through the experiences of staff, students, and the wider learning community.
As a Board, we recognize the significant work that goes into preparing school tours and hosting these visits. We extend our sincere thanks to the principals, teachers, staff, and students who invest such care and thought into this process. Each visit is unique, with the culture and spirit of each school beautifully expressed. These experiences allow us to celebrate successes and acknowledge challenges. They stay with us and meaningfully inform our decision-making—more than you may realize.
Together, the term-in-review and school tours remind us that strong governance is rooted in reflection, relationships, and responsiveness—principles that align closely with the First Peoples Principles of Learning. They help us remain connected to the people and places at the heart of our work and ensure that our decisions continue to reflect our shared values.
As we move through these final months of the term, we remain committed to learning alongside our community, celebrating what is working well, and addressing challenges with honesty and care, so that we continue to move forward in a good way.
Amanda Amaral
Chair