Principal's Message

It is an honor to join the Forest Trail community as your new Principal. I am deeply grateful to our dedicated staff and families for cultivating such a warm, supportive environment. Together, we will continue to live out our core values “Care, Create, and Connect”—guiding how we learn, grow, and succeed every day. 

Care guides us to lead with kindness, empathy, and mutual respect. Across our classrooms, hallways, and outdoor environments, we are dedicated to ensuring that every individual feels safe, valued, and heard. Establishing high academic and personal expectations relies on this foundation of trust and safety; when students know they are genuinely supported, they gain the confidence required to reach their goals and succeed. 

Create encourages us to think boldly and embrace curiosity. Across all areas—French, Math, English, STEM, the arts, athletics, and critical problem-solving—our students practice innovative thinking. By pairing high expectations with creativity, we empower students to take intellectual risks, learn resilience through mistakes, and turn ambitious ideas into meaningful action. 

Connect highlights the fundamental importance of strong, positive relationships. Deep connections between students, staff, families, and the broader community enrich a shared educational experience. When students are grounded in a deep sense of belonging within these relationships and see themselves reflected in their learning, we help students to feel safe, welcome and respected.  

I am deeply grateful for the gracious welcome and honored to join a school community with such a strong foundation. While I step into this role with high ambitions for our students, I do so with genuine humility, recognizing that meaningful progress is always a collaborative effort. I look forward to partnering with our staff, students, and families as we build upon the exceptional work already underway—fostering continuous student growth through high expectations and a shared commitment to care, create, and connect.

Sincerely,

Kelly Gray

Principal