Jennifer WilliamsJon Macpherson

My first year as a supply teacher is something I’ll always remember—the blend of excitement and nerves I felt with each (very) early supply call was unlike anything else. The flurry of racing thoughts as I scrambled to prepare: "What will I be teaching today? What are the students and staff like? How will I fit in? Will they notice I'm new to this? Do I need to bring anything?

"... sport holds the power to change lives, transform communities, inspire individuals, heal and teach." - Beckie Scott, Founder and CEO of Spirit North To foster inclusive and effective learning environments, PHE Canada acknowledges that creating spaces where Indigenous students can thrive is crucial (Toulouse, 2021). It is also essential that both Indigenous and non-Indigenous students are taught to honor each individual and embrace diverse ways of knowing and understanding (Davis et al., 2023).

And just like that, summer vacation has come to a resounding halt and teachers are back in classrooms getting ready to welcome students! Every year it is remarkable how July seems to meander by and how August rolls by full throttle. Regardless of how slowly or quickly vacation has come and gone, one thing remains constant in the PHE teacher world – prepping for back-to-school start-up.