May 2025 Newsletter

Hello and welcome to a brand-new school year! We would like to welcome all new students to Burkevale – some are new to education, while others have moved into our area part way through their educational journey. We are thrilled to have you choose our unique board and school. We would also like to welcome back Ms. Charlebois and Ms. Sisson who are returning from a year off, Ms. Pellarin, our new Mental Health Lead, Ms. Hunt-Miller our new office administrator and Ms. Koopman, Ms. Huson, Ms. McIvor, Ms. Laurin, Ms. Zucchiatti, Ms. Pihl, and Ms. Crawford who will be filling in for staff on leaves.
All staff are looking forward to partnering with you to ensure a fun and successful year for your child. Let’s make this year one to remember!

The 2024-2025 school year was one that required staff, students and families to dig a little deeper, show a greater level of empathy, and come together to support one another in times of sorrow. Never in my 20+ year history in education have I been a part of a school that has lost a staff member, and this year, Burkevale lost two amazing staff – Ms. Hamill and Ms. Archer. When tragedies like this occur, it causes us to re-examine the important things in life and to ‘not sweat the small stuff’. Hopefully, we all have time to hug those we love a little more, spend some quality time with friends and family, and appreciate the memories and moments that we create over the summer.

At Burkevale, we are continuing to work hard to ensure that all of our students are supported, feel safe and have a sense of belonging. We are using our Mental Health Strategy and this year’s action plan to focus on positive mental health for everyone in the school community. We have been providing opportunities for staff and students to learn more about positive mental health and well-being.