A new vice principal has started the school year with Vankleek Hill Collegiate Institute. Mr. Bradley, coming from the High School in Russell in the Upper Canada District School Board, began at VCI on September 6, with a fresh outlook. Hoping for a successful year, Mr. Bradley is willing to put in all the effort he can muster for VCI to succeed. Coming from a worldly background of travel, he knows the importance of education, community, and participation.

On his way to become a lawyer, Mr. Bradley wasn’t thinking about being a teacher. But when his Geography elective teacher proposed the opportunity to teach American English at a University in China, Mr. Bradley took it. He enjoyed his time there. When he came back to Canada, Mr. Bradley decided to apply to teacher’s college in Australia. He got accepted.

With Welcoming Day approaching at VCI, welcoming the new school year with hope of success, VCI is planning a wonderful year of activities for their students. With a new vice principal and student council there are signs of rapid expansion in school activities for the year. It is great that Mr. Bradley is on board in believing that student involvement is key to optimal success.

“Some (students) simply think of success academically, so they do well. Of course we hope every student does well,” Mr. Bradley said during an interview. “But the other success might be small improvements, whatever that may be. Whether that means through organization or fitness, whatever goals they might have. So I guess my overall hope for VCI is that people get involved and the school takes on a family mentality.”

There are only 269 students this year, and most would look at this as a negative, but Mr. Bradley sees this as an opportunity to bring the school together in events and ceremonies. Bringing the school together as a family, like Mr. Bradley mentioned, has its opportunities to become closer-knit community.

VCI is bound to have a great year with a vice principal ready to reach all students’ goals. With a worldly background and a desire to make success a priority, Mr. Bradley will be a wonderful addition to the VCI staff.

This article was written for The Review by Madeleine Fortin, a student at VCI.