No one after lighting a lamp hides it under a jar, or puts it under a bed,
but puts it on a lamp stand, so that those who enter may see the light.
~Luke 8:16
We are glad you are here! You are our special guest guaranteed to be captivated by all we have designed especially for you. On behalf of the administrators of the Windsor-Essex Catholic District School Board (WECDSB), we welcome you to the 2010 CPCO conference. We are excited to have the opportunity to share bread and connect with fellow principals and vice-principals as we collectively embrace our role as Catholic administrators. Your presence has lit the lamp and thanks to you, it will radiate brightly over the next two days!
Our very supportive director, Joseph Berthiaume, the chair of the board, Fred Alexander, and the senior administration and Board of Trustees, extend a gracious welcome to all members of the Catholic Principals’ Council of Ontario as we learn together in faith and service on our journey to holiness.
We are particularly proud to shine the light on more than 300 elementary and secondary students who will be featured in various roles throughout the two-day conference. Join us in embracing our Catholic vocation as these students, through music, song, art, and dance, honour the diverse cultural heritages and traditions of our Ontario Catholic schools.
During registration on Thursday, we will showcase many of our elementary school choirs who will greet you with their musical talents. We will officially open the conference with a parade of multiculturalism highlighting our journey to holiness. This procession of students will provide you with an opportunity to feast your eyes and sharpen your senses as you prepare to join us for the Liturgy of the Word.
Following dinner, the Hon. Leona Dombrowsky, minister of education will speak to us about current educational issues. We look forward to the opportunity to dialogue with her about issues important to Catholic school administrators.
Thursday evening will culminate with hospitality hosted by the Windsor-Essex Principal/Vice-Principal Association. Get your dancing shoes on as Bigg Wiggle will draw you onto the dance floor the moment you arrive and MarzMedia will light up our night. Yes, it’s gonna be a good, good night! (Black Eyed Peas)
Friday will bring a host of exciting learning opportunities, beginning with keynote speaker, the Doon Wilkins. He will entertain us on the topic of If Life Is A Maze, Then You Are Amazing. Doon Wilkins is the author of Stumbling Toward Enlightenment – a pathway to better and a contributing author of Awakening the Work Place, a book for leaders who wish to stay inspired, build staff cohesion and build a learning organization.
Join us as we celebrate the Eucharist together with Most Reverend Ronald Peter Fabbro, CSB, bishop of London, Episcopal Vicar of Essex Deanery, Reverend Lawrence Brunet and Episcopal Vicar of Windsor Deanery, Reverend James Roche. Our elementary and secondary musicians, singers, and liturgical dance team will enhance our celebration throughout the mass. Nino Palazzolo, a WECDSB teacher, will perform an original song he has composed based on our theme, Embracing Our Catholic Vocation.
After lunch, participants are invited to take part in a number of excellent workshops on a wide variety of topics. Each presenter was carefully chosen to ensure the best learning experience for Catholic school administrators.
The vendors help to support the CPCO conference and will be accessible to participants all day Friday. We encourage you to visit their displays and talk to the representatives about their products. Remember to have your passports signed by the vendors you visit and to enter the draws at the end of the day. Your generosity in purchasing the passports will support the Society of St. Vincent de Paul and Autism Ontario. The missions of both charities reflect our conference focus of bringing light unto others in need.
Our 2010 conference committees are comprised of more than 35 principals, vice-principals and retired principals who have worked together to provide you with two days of embracing our Catholic vocation. It is our hope that we will help you shine the light on your own personal journey to holiness as you serve the students and families of your individual school communities.
Thank you to our liturgical, program and hospitality committees who have worked diligently and creatively during the past year. Heartfelt thanks to the student choirs, musicians, dance team and their leaders who helped us visibly shine our light on the lamp stand of Ontario schools. The lamps are now lit. Go forth and Embrace Our Catholic Vocation.
Karen Drago JoAnne Shea John Ulicny
Co-chair Co-chair Co-chair