Happy New Year to all the parents, students and staff of our learning community!  I hope everyone had a safe and restful Christmas break.  I would like to thank you for all the Christmas and New Year’s wishes.  Also, I want to take this opportunity to thank everyone who volunteered to support the many activities throughout the busy month of December, including our weekly Advent celebrations, various social justice projects, Gr. 2 and 3 Choir Performance, elementary Christmas Fun Afternoon, and Jr. High Christmas Formal and Dance.

2020 offers many challenges, especially with looming budget cuts, and many opportunities.  Through these challenges and opportunities, we can be thankful for our school.  To me, Catholic Education is a gift. Every day we get to live our school motto of “Many Hands Building A Better World.”

At a past New Year’s Eve celebration, I was visiting with some family and friends. At one point, I asked someone how his year went and received a warm, pleasant response.  I expected a generic question back, but instead, the gentleman asked, “At the end of each day, did you get closer to your life’s dream?”  Wow, what a question!  Since then, I have often reflected on my past, and if I am getting closer to my dream.  The answer is yes.  I have a loving family, I am part of an active faith community, and every day I have the pleasure of working with the talented staff of Father Leonard Van Tighem School, the terrific students, and the supportive parents.  Upon reflection, I realize that I continue to get closer to living my dream.  The journey is often just as important as the destination.

Happy New Year to everyone and may 2020 be a blessed year for everyone at Father Leonard Van Tighem School.

Greg Kostiuk