Queen’s Park Day

Last week, our Provincial Executive held our annual Principal’s Day at Queen’s Park. We met with 22 MPPs from all parties and engaged in productive discussions about the challenges principals and vice-principals are facing in schools. We also shared this policy paper, outlining the factors leading to additional work intensification and the consequences of this workload. If we met with your MPP and you have the opportunity to do so, please express our thanks for their participation in this important day.

EDI Update

Our second demographic survey reinforced the need for the OPC and school leaders to continue ongoing work focused on recruitment, retention and advancement of under-represented identities in education and school leadership. Mentorship, sponsorship and affinity groups can support these efforts, but we also need to consider the intentionality of hiring practices and the need to make working environments more welcoming, inclusive and supportive of diverse identities. We will be partnering with Chris D'Souza of Diverse City Strategies to host a conference on Supporting Racialized and Indigenous Employees for Leadership in May 2025. More details to come!

Starling Minds Resources for 2025

Starling Minds, the organization we partner with to provide free mental health and wellness supports to our OPC Members and your families, will be offering a number of new programs in 2025. The initiatives include

• Deeper Connections: How to cultivate happier authentic relationships – February 18-25
• Hormones and Health: Supporting yourself through life’s changes – May 20-27
• Mindfulness for Stress Relief: Habits for healthy living – August 5-12
• Anxiety and Burnout: Tools to reset and recharge – October 14-21.

Register for these workshops through Starling Minds. You will need to register for Starling Minds first to register for these workshops.

Quote to Ponder

“Power concedes nothing without a demand. It never did and it never will.” – Frederick Douglass

Media

• MPPs pass motion encouraging return of community school liaison officers (Note this was a motion only, with no legislative requirement at this time)
• MPP calls on emergency committee to look at problems in child welfare
• Ways to tackle disrespectful behaviour in schools
• 7 education trends for 2025
• Auditor General’s report highlights violence in schools and needed capital repairs
• My next parent-teacher meeting will focus on the teacher
• How structured literacy will upend education 

Queen’s Park Update

There were questions in the House last week about funding shortfall for children and youth in care, affordable child care, increasing wages for child care workers and school repairs noted by the Auditor General.

The Minister introduced our executive in the House during our Advocacy Day.

“I’m pleased to welcome the Ontario Principals’ Council. This will be their 25th annual Principal’s Day here at Queen’s Park. A warm welcome to president Alison Osborne, Nadine Trépanier-Bisson, Jeff Maharaj, Hillary Howe, Eryn Smit, Amy Johnson, Greg Arkwright, Emily Samuel, Meshell Lynch-James and Patsy Agard. Thank you for being here today and I look forward to our meeting later this afternoon.”