Welcome to Hillcrest High School, Home of the Hawks!
Ottawa as we know it today is rich in Indigenous history and modern traditions of many First Nations, Métis and Inuit people. We gather daily on the unceded and unsurrendered lands of the Algonquin Nation; we have the responsibility to honour and respect the four directions, land, waters, plants, animals, ancestors that walked before us, and all the wonderful elements of creation that exist. I would like to thank the Algonquin First Nation for stewardship activism in care of their ancestral and traditional territory and acknowledge our role in honouring honest and authentic relationship building toward truth and reconciliation.
I am excited to be entering my third year as the Principal at Hillcrest. I am very excited to be working alongside our Admin team made up of myself and our two Vice Principals, Mrs. Marcelin and Mrs. Jones, and the awesome staff of Educators, Educational Assistance, Office Staff, and our Care staff who are all truly committed to your child’s success inside and outside the classroom.
I truly believe that all students can be successful. I believe in working closely with all in our Parents and Guardians and community partners, to ensure we have a safe, caring, and educationally stimulating environment which fosters learning and a sense of belonging to all who walk through our doors. I believe strongly in implementing a Community Hub approach to education. I have engaged many community groups, services, and organizations such as the Wabano Health Center, the Ottawa Inuit Children's Center, and the Somali Teachers Homework Club in schools over the years. I have also worked with local Indigenous community members to bring about change as recommended by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Calls to Action. My approach to conflict resolution is through a Restorative Justice approach that relies on community social interactions and crosses cultural boundaries to help increase understandings amongst all involved. We continue to support our students in their pursuit of excellence in their educational pathways and with wellness in mind.