“A little over a year ago, Tracy came to St. Francis, and what an impact she has made. Tracy is a prime example of how the office really is the heart of the school. From her love of decorating that changes for every holiday, that makes everyone feel festive, her smile that greets visitors each day and the kind gestures she is well known for , she truly is a blessing to have at St. Francis. Tracy is an excellent multitasker/mind reader and is always willing to lend a helping hand. Her love for her family is also something that puts a big smile on her face and she positively shines when she gets to talk about them.”

“Shawna is a kind, caring and passionate teacher. She goes above and beyond for students both in her class and in the school. She is always willing to help out. She took over the school choir, giving up countless lunch hours for practices; helping students get ready to sing at school masses and to sing the national anthem at the Oshawa Generals game. She runs most of the choir practices on her own which is a lot of work. In addition to that, Shawna is also one of the teachers that has re-started the school eco-club. Shawna has also committed one lunch hour per week to help with a student art club. Shawna also helped plan the school Terry Fox run and leads the school United Way campaign. She will help anyone in need, including colleagues.”

“Christina is our Special Education Secretary and our SEA Clerk, but to us she’s our SEA-Super Hero! One of Christina’s many duties at PVNC is to process, order, and distribute essential SEA equipment. This equipment assists our students to access the Ontario curriculum, school grounds, and the community during class outings. This part of her job, as well as her other tasks, is a detailed process that requires attention to detail, organization and involves communication with many vendors and board staff. She has all of these skills and more. Christina is committed to her job and by extension to the students who will receive the equipment she orders. Christina is a highly efficient, organized worker who keeps everyone on their toes. She pays great attention to detail, which makes her stellar in her role in Special Education. She is always smiling, has a good sense of humour and treats everyone with such kindness and respect. She willingly takes initiative to locate equipment or source new providers to ensure students have everything they need to be successful. Christina is always willing to help and problem solve with us no matter how many other things she may have on her plate. Christina always accepts our stacks of paperwork to be filled with a smile. Christina is so invested in her work that if you sneak up too quickly and quietly when getting the key for the filing cabinet, you often will scare her. She is always calm, friendly, and patient. She is never flustered by the many different requests and interruptions that we might bring. We feel so lucky to have her with our department.”

“When you enter our school’s front office, Amanda Gordon is the first person you will meet. She always has a smile for you and is quick to see what she can do to help. She must get interrupted hundreds of times per day, but she always makes you feel as though your query is deserving of her full attention. Whether she is delivering news of a bus that is running late or a colleague’s class that she needs you to cover, Amanda always tries to put a positive spin on the message. Our weekly staff email always ends with her wishing us a wonderful weekend or a great break. Amanda is a ray of sunshine for both staff and students and we are incredibly lucky to have her in our school community.”