Grand Opening Public Tours:

Thursday May 24: 4:00 - 7:00 PM

Friday May 25: 3:00 - 5:00 PM

In this issue of the Superintendent's Newsletter:

• Supporting Our Teachers
• Thanking our Administrators and Support Staff
• Balanced Budget and Two-Week Spring Break
• Student Leadership and Free the Children

At its special public meeting of Wednesday May 2, 2012 the Board of Education passed a balanced budget for 2012/13. In Saanich we continue to face ongoing challenges due to the effect of the funding formula on declining enrolment districts, but we appreciate that those challenges are offset to a degree by what is known as "funding protection".

We are pleased to let parents and families know that on or before May 1, 2012 all Saanich parents will have received report cards for their children. Secondary report cards were prepared and distributed as per the 2011/12 schedule of reporting, with all student marks and other information being sent home to parents around the third week of April. Elementary and middle school student progress reports will be distributed on April 30 or May 1. Please note that these will be abridged report cards.

Assistant Superintendent Marlene Dergousoff is retiring in July after 41.9 years of uninterrupted service to children and families in BC, with the past 18 years being in Saanich. Marlene was principal of Durrance, Brentwood and Bayside before moving into district level leadership as Assistant Superintendent - Student Services. Within this role Marlene was responsible for elementary leadership, all district special education, early learning, and indigenous education. She is a friend to us all and we are going to miss her wisdom, energy, passion and winning personality.

There will be a Public Budget Consultation Meeting at 7:00pm Wednesday, April 25th, 2012 at Bayside Middle School in the Multipurpose Room