Announcements

Current Maple Ridge – Pitt Meadows School District No. 42 Deputy Superintendent Harry Dhillon has been selected for the top job of Superintendent of Schools.

Dhillon, who has been with the district for more than 32 years, will take over for Superintendent Sylvia Russell, who is retiring on Jan. 31, 2021.

“I am proud to serve this incredible community in which I have lived much of my adult life and where I have spent my career,” said Dhillon, who holds a Master’s in Educational Leadership from San Diego State University and a Bachelor of Education from Simon Fraser University. (more…)

The December 9, 2020, regular meeting of the board will be live-streamed at https://www.sd42.ca/online-board-meetings/ starting at 6 p.m.

The Maple Ridge – Pitt Meadows Board of Education re-elected trustee Korleen Carreras as chairperson and trustee Elaine Yamamoto as vice-chairperson during its November 18, 2020 regular meeting. Both positions are elected annually.

Dear families,

Halloween is just around the corner and I know that our school communities are looking forward to celebrating this holiday in creative ways. To ensure that all members in our school communities are able to enjoy this holiday, I wanted to reach out with a gentle reminder to please be thoughtful in the selection of costume being worn to school. 

While our school district does not have an official policy on Halloween costumes, we must always be guided by the expectations set out in school codes of conduct and our district Safe, Caring and Healthy Schools policy. As such, we must always ensure our learning environments remain safe, welcoming, inclusive, and affirming for all students, families, and staff. (more…)

The October 21, 2020, regular meeting of the board will be live-streamed at https://www.sd42.ca/online-board-meetings/ starting at 6 pm.

After six years with the Maple Ridge – Pitt Meadows School District, Superintendent Sylvia Russell announced she will retire by January 31, 2021. The Board of Education has engaged executive search firm Boyden and will immediately begin the process of selecting a new superintendent.

“I have been blessed to work with highly competent, engaged and talented teams of people,” Russell said in a message to staff. “I am very grateful for our collective focus on the collaborative building of systems and structures in our district and have full confidence in your ability to address future challenges and lead our district forward.” (more…)

Dear families,

I am writing to provide you with some important updates and to thank you for your support in helping us begin this unique school year in as safe a manner as possible.

We are seeing evidence across our schools that the Daily Health Assessment checklist is being followed, and are deeply grateful for your diligence in assessing your child(ren) before they leave the house and keeping them home if they show signs of possible illness. This daily health assessment is one of the most important health and safety layers we have in our schools. (more…)

The September 23, 2020, regular meeting of the board will be live-streamed at https://www.sd42.ca/online-board-meetings/ starting at 6 pm.

The air quality advisory for our region currently remains in effect. We are monitoring the situation closely and will continue to consult with and follow the guidance of our local public health experts at Fraser Health. 

Although air quality is expected to improve this week, our schools are prepared to take additional steps as needed. Depending on the quality health index measure, these steps may include keeping exterior windows and doors closed, allowing students who are sensitive to smoke to remain indoors during lunch/breaks, and reducing strenuous outdoor activities. 

Our school district continues to have effective Covid-19 health and safety measures in place, including daily health checks, frequent hand hygiene, the practising of respiratory etiquette, student learning groups, enhanced cleaning protocols, and maximizing physical distancing measures. These measures will continue to provide important layers of protection as we wait for the smoke to clear.

Dear families,

As we head into orientation week, I wanted to reach out to provide an update on our return to school planning.

As you know, our district posted an online survey on Friday, August 28, to determine how many students would be returning for in-classroom instruction in September. This survey closed on Tuesday, September 1, and the results have been shared with individual school principals. (more…)