Belmont secondary principal Ray Miller has a good way to make a connection with Grade 9 and 10 students.

At an assembly Monday morning, he offered the teens two personal facts about himself: one, that heB次元官网网址檚 a huge Toronto Maple Leafs hockey fan; and two, that on his next birthday, heB次元官网网址檒l be 14, the same age many of them are now (his birthday is Feb. 29).

In his office on Tuesday, the first full day of school for all students, Miller acknowledged the teachers strike created challenges for everyone involved, from educators to students to parents.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e all lost something. This is like a grieving process and we have to help people go through it,B次元官网网址� he said, adding that good communications are key. B次元官网网址�(As administrators) we support our teachers and itB次元官网网址檚 really important that we keep a good relationship with our staff.B次元官网网址�

Miller and his fellow administrators did their best to simplify things for the startup, he said, to enable students and staff to have less time to adjust to the schedule. He voiced pride in the fact the school pulled together the necessary components of a school year startup in just two days.

B次元官网网址淲e wanted to hit the ground running so the kids could get into a healthy routine, and that goes for the adults in the building as well.B次元官网网址�

Miller is fond of walking around the school on occasion to ensure things are running smoothly. He likes to say he B次元官网网址渉as the finger on the pulse of the school.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淎nd right now IB次元官网网址檓 hearing a healthy heartbeat,B次元官网网址� he said.

Part of that health is in the students, who Miller said make the place tick.

A group of Grade 12s sat down to talk a little about how they felt being back at school for the first time in three months.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 very excited. ItB次元官网网址檚 good to see the grad class back together,B次元官网网址� said Jordan Ywork, who spent much of the summer abroad.

Added Monique Lutyk, B次元官网网址淪ummer got real boring real fast. We just want to get back to work.B次元官网网址�

For some Belmont students, getting back down to business and completing mandatory courses is critical.

Mackenzie Parker, who plans to study fashion design in London, England, is one of those students who is very anxious to graduate.

Grace Kirkpatrick pointed out this group is part of the final graduating class from the old Belmont school.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 glad weB次元官网网址檙e back. I think we all wanted to get out grad year started,B次元官网网址� she said.

editor@goldstreamgazette.com