Good morning RETTA members,
I hope this email finds you healthy and well.

We’ve almost made it to the end of another school year! It has been quite the year, and this has been quite the finish. As I’m sure you have heard by now, the Province has declared that teachers are to return to work this fall on Wednesday, September 2nd, and students will return on the Tuesday immediately after Labour Day, September 8th. Some of you have had some questions on this and I thank you for sending them to me. I’ve spoken with some other Local Presidents, as well as MTS, and they have been receiving similar inquiries. MTS has put up FAQs regarding the school re-entry plan on its website. You can find the MTS response to the Province’s plan there as well.

This is likely to be my last communication with all RETTA members this school year, so I will leave you with this; I know this is not the way we planned for our year to end. Nobody could have foreseen this pandemic that would forever change public education around the world. I want to commend you all for the dedication, professionalism, and strength you have shown through all of this. It’s been messy, uncomfortable at times, frustrating, emotionally draining, and professionally challenging. But you need to know that you make me proud to be your president and every day I’m impressed with example after example of the amazing work we do as teachers. You all are an inspiration.

On behalf of Kirsten and myself, and the entire RETTA executive, I ask you to please take some time this summer to relax and – as the “teachers are solar-powered” meme says – recharge the batteries. Next year will bring new challenges, and we will be ready.

–  C