Dear Parents / Guardians:
I write with great enthusiasms of my placement as Principal. I have grown up in small towns around the North and am pleased to have been offered this opportunity to serve you as Principal.
I welcome any and all conversations you may wish to have with me regarding your child’s educational and social progress as we navigate the 2021-2022 school year. A strong school / community and parent / guardian partnership will ensure that your child receives the best care possible this year. I thank you in advance for your on-going understanding regarding our present health and safety regulations around COVID. Our combined efforts and diligence will ensure that all staff and students are as safe as possible.
I am fortunate to have the opportunity to work with such a great staff and know that they are very committed to build a strong school culture that supports all student academic and social needs. My focus is to build authentic relationships with students, staff and the wider community and continue to build on the already strong ‘family’ culture that exists in our school.
I close by thanking you for your support and guidance and welcome you to contact me should you have any questions regarding your child’s educational journey.
Todd Gribbon,
Principal FJ McElligott and Mattawa District Public School
Mattawa District Public School is located in the town of Mattawa, Ontario. It is situated on large piece of land that offers a beautiful playground for its students, to play outdoors and to participate in many outdoor experiential learning activities. MDPS is the home of the Mattawa Voyageurs.
Educational programming at Mattawa District Public School is offered from Junior Kindergarten to Grade 6. There is a regular English track system, as well as a French Immersion track system. Student support for learning is offered by quality, experienced classroom teachers. Special supports are also available for students who require special education accommodations, and literacy/ math intervention at either the primary or junior level.
Nutrition and physical activity are important aspects of the students’ learning abilities. Through partnerships with Community Living, we are able to offer a Student Nutrition Program daily for any/ all students.
Mattawa District Public School is vibrant with special events and extra-curricular activities going on for students of all age levels. Primary students are exposed to intramural sports within the school that teach them not only skills, but also how to cooperate as a team member. This is in preparation of the extra-curricular competitive sports that they may participate in their Junior years at the school. Staff and students also organize and participate in special events each year such as the Terry Fox Walk, book fairs, a Christmas Concert, Winter Carnival activities, outdoor play days, Indigenous Day, and school year end field trips. While Covid-19 Health & Safety Protocols have temporarily changed the way we do things, or have put a hold on some of these special activities mentioned, we hope to one day resume them.
In closing, Mattawa District Public School is tight knit community within itself. The students know one another, and look out for one another. At MDPS, we pride ourselves on the premise that each student matters, we know them all by name, and everybody is welcome. Parents and caregivers are an integral part of our team to providing a balanced approach to learning at MDPS. With parents’/caregivers’ support and involvement with their children’s education, success is inevitable.
On behalf of our staff, best wishes to you in this new school year.
Tracy Bellaire
Vice-Principal