A Message from the Director of Education: Lead, Learn & Inspire Monthly Bulletin

Friday, Jan 16, 2026

Grand Erie Families, 

January is a time for fresh beginnings, renewed focus, and setting goals for the months ahead.

We are in the final year of the 2021-26 Multi-Year Strategic Plan, a milestone that invites both celebration and reflection. The future of Grand Erie is still being written, but together, we are building it, step by step. To prepare for the development of the next strategic plan to build on successes and open new doors of opportunity for students, we have compiled a summary of the Annual Learning and Operating Plans from 2021-25 to highlight successes and identify ongoing initiatives.

We’re here to support every learner’s journey, beginning with attendance. The Grand Erie Attendance Strategy will increase parent and caregiver awareness and engagement in supporting and promoting attendance, as well as support robust, inclusive and collaborative strategies to address complex barriers to student attendance.

If you or someone you know has a child born in 2022, they can start Kindergarten in September 2026 and registration is now open. In the spring, we will host Kick-Start to Kindergarten events for registered families to help with the transition to school for the first time. The Brantford Bulldogs’ mascot, Bruiser, recently visited a Kindergarten classroom to help with Ready, Set, Kindergarten!

On January 29, the Grand Erie Parent Involvement Committee welcomes Dr. Cathy Marks Krpan, a professor at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, to provide practical ways families can joyfully support rich mathematical thinking at home for Kindergarten to Grade 5 learners.

A new Cybersecurity pathway was launched at the Innovation Hub @ Grand Erie at North Park Collegiate as part of Grand Erie's broader STEAM initiatives. The pathway is six one-hour sessions focused on cryptography fundamentals and practical cybersecurity tools.

International Holocaust Remembrance Day is January 27. Grand Erie has an ongoing partnership with the Toronto Holocaust Museum, where all employees can experience an immersive experience to understand the Holocaust and promote civic education and dialogue in an interactive environment for all.

Paris District High School is hosting its annual Women in Trades Workshop on January 28, from 6 to 9 p.m. Students will participate in a hands-on session and learn about the different pathways that lead to a career in the skilled trades. Register now.

The Innovation Hub @ Grand Erie is hosting a free Family Night on January 29, from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. Families with students in Kindergarten to Grade 3 are invited to explore, play and create through interactive stations, collaborative challenges, and playful learning experiences. RSVP Now.

Each year, Project SEARCH provides school-to-work training for students with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities or neurodiversities. Recently, Grand Erie caught up with former student who has landed full-time employment with Blue Star Ford in Simcoe after graduating from the program.

See the latest math resources and literacy resources to foster your child’s learning and support their growth at home.

As temperatures dip below freezing and to prepare you for our return in January, we are reminding families of its operational plans for dealing with hazardous winter weather.

Course selection for high school has started. The involvement of parents and caregivers is a vital part of the formula for success as young people navigate their next steps. Watch how you can get involved.

Here's to an inspiring 2026.

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Dr. JoAnna Roberto, PhD

Director of Education-CEO and Secretary of the Board
Grand Erie District School Board

Important Upcoming Dates

View a full list of days of significance and Grand Erie events.

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