In 2017-18, as I experienced my first school year as Principal at AY Jackson Secondary School, I came to realize the impact that the school students and staff had on our immediate community through our outreach initiatives.

This realization inspired this year's school slogan to become “Putting Others First”. On a daily basis this motto is exemplified through the acts of our students and staff within and around our school community.

For the last five years, AY Jackson SS has partnered with Toronto Police Services (TPS), 33 Division to service a group of pre-identified families during the holiday season with gifts for their children and donations of food and clothing. Holiday Hampers has become an annual tradition and has assisted dozens of families over the years.

This year, through the assistance of Toronto Police Services, twenty one families were selected from surrounding neighbourhoods of need in the AY Jackson/33 Division area. AY Jackson SS home form classes worked together to gather gifts, dry foods and clothing to create in over 150 packages that were made available to our neighbourhood's families in need. TPS, 33 Division worked with us to collect and deliver the boxes to the identified families!

This collection was extra special for long time AY Jackson and 33 Division lead officer, P/C Mike Bradford who after many years of service will officially retire. We thank him and his colleagues for working with AY Jackson this year and in the past to provide for our community. His leadership will be missed!

We want to thank every member of the AY Jackson School Community for their efforts and we want to inspire all individuals and communities around the TDSB to Put Others First this holiday season (and beyond)!

Wishing everyone a very happy Holiday season!

Peter Paputsis
Principal
AY Jackson SS