Last November 17, 2022, PAREF Woodrose School hosted the official signing of the Memorandum of Understanding between Rosedale Global High School and the Parents for Education Foundation Inc, more commonly known as PAREF. With this Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), PAREF students are given the opportunity to apply for the Ontario Secondary School Diploma program (OSSD) which opens up new opportunities for the students to apply to top universities abroad.

The event was hosted in PAREF Woodrose School’s Audio Visual Room, with opening remarks from PAREF Board Chairman, Daniel Moran. He began his speech by reiterating the mission of PAREF stands on two key statements. This includes the commitment, support and collaboration of the school with the parents who are referred to as the primary educators of the children and the teachers must also encourage the students to pursue the personal integral education.

“With these two legs, we stand. With these two legs, we walk. With these two legs, we run.” Moran added, believing that the two key statements are the pillars that hold up PAREF’s mission to instill a life of virtue and academic excellence in every PAREF student. Moran also highlighted PAREF’s strategy of dealing with students “one at a time” with the use of the mentoring program that allows the schools to see the needs of each individual and to be able to view each student’s personal and academic formation.

Moran showed a deep amount of support towards the signing of the MoU as he believed that the PAREF students have something to offer on an international level. While he added that one must first stand firm locally, Moran believes that by implementing the OSSD program in PAREF schools, it is an opportunity for the students to upgrade what they have and establish international lineages that allow the students to give back to the community.

Following a performance by the Woodrose Chorale, Senior Academic Executive of the Global Education Partnerships of Rosedale Global High School, Dr. David Burpee was called to the stage to share his own message regarding the partnership. As the one who had reached out to PAREF Southcrest first, Burpee stressed his belief that the most important school element is the student body. “Students come first” he stated, citing that the students were the biggest factor as to why they, the teachers, had worked tirelessly on the project in hopes that they could offer more opportunities to the students.

Burpee proceeded to share a significant experience he had in August 1973 when he first began his five-decade-long career in the education sector, highlighting the topic of change and how he could have never prepared himself for the changes in society 50 years into the future. He alluded this story to the truth that all students will have to face; there is no predicting what they will encounter in their daily lives years from now. With this in mind, Burpee hopes that the lessons in Rosedale High School and the opportunities offered by the OSSD program will equip students with the skills they need to face unexpected challenges in the future.

Expressing his excitement and optimism regarding the successful implementation of the MoU in PAREF schools, Burpee, along with Moran and Southcrests’s Chairman, Vicente Verallo, proceeded with the main event: the ceremonial signing of the Memorandum of Understanding. While only Southcrest was able to sign officially during this historic event, other PAREF schools are expected to follow in their own time.

The ceremonial signing of the Memorandum of Understanding marks a significant event in PAREF history. With this, the future students of PAREF schools will be offered an opportunity to enhance their skills and give back to their community both locally and internationally. While the schools can never fully prepare students for what awaits them in the future, they can equip them with valuable lessons and good habits that will allow the students to live out PAREF’s goal: a life of both virtue and academic excellence.