Submitted by Chair Amanda Amaral
March 8, 2023
Collaboration & Equity are the focus of the month of March. What do these values mean in the context of education and in our district? What does our description of “meaningful connections through working together” mean in our daily work? And how do we interact with the community around us to keep these values alive?
Schools, as buildings, have a history of being community gathering places and community hubs. Beyond the physical building, schools also have an important role in creating, incubating and growing the culture of a community. From the one room school house to the multi-story school with a commercial kitchen, industrial shop and a TV studio, we have seen schools evolve. How has the role of the school in community evolved along with the building? At the heart of it, the role of the school has evolved alongside the buildings and the changes in our communities. The importance of schools as gathering places, welcoming places and a community resource has not diminished over time; we grew up together with our communities. Our continued place at the heart of community is something to celebrate and continue to hold close.
As we move forward our meaningful connections through working together, we hold the idea that schools have a place in the heart of the community. As we consider our district braid, we see how our facilities contribute to a compassionate, equitable, inclusive and transformative experience for not only our immediate learning community, but also the community at large. It is in the use of our facilities by community where we see our contributions and our community identity take shape. The community groups and events hosted in our schools create meaning and belonging for the entire Sunshine Coast. With our shared space and use by community, our schools become community assets across our lifespans.
SD46 celebrates the contributions that our facilities can make to the community when schools are not in session or are being used by our learners in classrooms. Check out the information presented in our infographic that showcases the dynamic and cohesive contributions made by our schools within the broader community.
