Circle Of Care: Students
- SD46 Virtual Student Forum: Groups ofGrade 8 of 12 students from each secondary school recently met virtually to discuss important and relevant topics for youth and their learning experience with trustees and leadership staff in the annual student forum hosted by the District Student Leadership Team (DSLT).(1a)
- Youth Development Instrument(YDI): We have been selected as one of 5 districts in the province to pilot the YDI. Based on theMiddle Years DevelopmentInstrument(MDI)it will be a student self-report for grade 11. Studentsacross the district will be participatingduringthe first week of May. (1a, 1f)
- Out in Schools is presenting student sessions district wide. Out In Schools is BC’s award-winning education program that uses film and video with facilitated group discussion to engage students on issues of homophobia, transphobia and bullying. (1f)
- April is Earth Month: The SD46 Environmental Education Action Committee has prepared Earth Month activities to engage in! Naomi Klein, co-author of ‘How to Change Everything’, will be ZOOMing in for a Staff event on April 15th and a Student event for intermediate studentson April 23rd. Also, during the week of April 19th, schools have been invited to participate in our Students on Shorelines Beach Cleanup. A ‘Grow your Green’ Grant (GGG) has also been created by this team to support all schools’environmental initiatives this spring. (1i)
Circle of Care: Staff
- Staffing: we are currently in our budgeting and staffing planning for the 2020-2021 school year and continue to work with the SCTA and CUPE to confirm our processes. The Post and Fill process will start early May for teachers and support staff. (2a)
- Ensouling our Schools: Beginning the Braid: In recognition of supporting a learning vision district wide which places equity and inclusion for our students at its core, we have organized a working group who will be represented by district staff, principals, SCTA, CUPE, and our local shíshálh nation. The teamswill work through the spring, facilitated by Kevin Lamoureux, to build a co-created learning vision and plan for our district to start in the 2021/2022 school year. This learning visionwill bebuilt on the “universally designed framework for mental health, well-being and reconciliation.” (Affirmation, 2c)
- On the April 12th Pro D Day we had a variety of workshops to continue our learning in inclusive practices(2c):
- Shelley Moore presented two sessions: one on Competency Based Individualized Education Plans (CBIEPs) and one on Inclusive Planning in Action.
- District Inclusion Team staff provided a workshop on Challenging Behaviours: “You are the Key”
- BCTF SOGI Workshops: Reach out, Speak out on Homophobia and Transphobia and Creating a Gender Inclusive School Culture
- Our district is being highlighted on April 22 for our innovative work with the Middle Years Development Instrument – Engaging Student Voice. Dr. Kimberly Schonert-Reichl has asked us to share our experience and learning journey as we built and piloted lesson plans to provide purpose and deepen engagement for students with the MDI (2d).
- Ed Leadership Team Assignments for 2021-2022 School Year: We are pleased to announce the principal, vice-principal and district position assignments for the upcoming school year. (2d)
Circle of Care: Community
- Covid-19 Updated Protocols: This month, we received updated direction from the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Education regarding the important things we can all do to help manage the risks of COVID-19 in our school communities. All adults and students from grades 4 to 12 are expected to wear masks inside a school building to add another layer to the protections that are already built into the comprehensive health and safety plans that are keeping our schools safe. It is also strongly encouraged for all kindergarten through grade 3 students to wear masks when inside a school building.(3a, 3c)
- Transitions to Secondary | support for students and parents: A new United Way grant offered through Community Schools means that students in every elementary school who are moving into Secondary School next September can participate in a 7 week ‘Check It Out’ program hosted in their Secondary School. A sports or arts expert leads the students in fun games and arts activities and a SEL Navigator supports their Social-Emotional transition. Secondary school staff and teachers visiting the programs get to know students, and all students in grade 7 can submit anonymous questions to have answered. In addition, all parents in the district with a child moving into Secondary can participate in our virtual ‘SPARK! to Secondary’ program! (3a, 3c)