Happy New Year: Message from Superintendent Mark Pearmain

Happy New Year! I hope you had a restful break and your first week back to school went smoothly.

This January we are seeing a return to many of the activities and events that were put on hold or altered during the pandemic for the health and safety of our community. This includes the secondary dance and choral festivals, the Surrey Fire Fighter’s Sr. Girls Basketball Classic, and the Surrey RCMP Classic Basketball Tournament, which this year will allow spectators. It’s so great to be able to provide these experiences for our students and our larger community, and I hope to meet many of you at these and other events scheduled throughout the year.

And while we are excited to bring these events back, I also know there are varying levels of comfort, particularly during this cold and flu season. The health and safety of our school communities is always our first priority, and we will continue to provide disposable masks at all our sites for those who wish to use them. The safety of our classrooms is a team effort, and we will continue to encourage staff, students and visitors who are not feeling well or experiencing symptoms of any illness, to stay home.  We thank you in advance for your patience, kindness and thoughtfulness.

The start of the calendar year is also when we start planning for the next school year, including compiling enrolment, staffing and budget projections. In early February, the Surrey Board of Education will launch its annual budget consultations which seek community input on budget priorities for the next school year via an online survey.

We have also begun working on a five-year plan outlining how the district will begin to strategically address racial equity in our system. In December, we announced the appointment of JB Mahli as the district’s Director of Instruction, Racial Equity. While JB will be leading this department and the five-year plan, racial equity is our collective responsibility and a key priority for our board.

While January is an exciting time and marks new beginnings, it can also be a very stressful time. We are all resuming school routines and schedules and balancing an array of responsibilities. This is not an easy task, and it can be particularly difficult for students. The well-being of our school communities is of utmost importance, and I encourage you to reach out to your school if your child needs any additional support.

Thank you for your continued support and I wish you all the best in 2023!

Sincerely,

Mark Pearmain

Superintendent, Surrey Schools