Superintendent’s Report to the Board | February 2025

This report highlights key updates and events from the past month, all grounded in our core values of learning, belonging, integrity, and equity.

Black History Month

Each year, Black History Month provides an opportunity to celebrate the achievements of Black communities in Canada, listen to their stories, and deepen our understanding of Black history and contributions to Canadian society.

The Honourable Kamal Khera, Minister of Diversity, Inclusion and Persons with Disabilities, announced this year’s Black History Month theme: “Black Legacy and Leadership: Celebrating Canadian History and Uplifting Future Generations.” The theme was unveiled on Lincoln Alexander Day (January 21), which honours Canada’s first Black Member of Parliament and Cabinet Minister, Lincoln Alexander.

February is a time to recognize the diversity and accomplishments of Black Canadians. It is also a moment for reflection—acknowledging Canada’s painful history and the systemic barriers, racism, and discrimination that Black communities continue to face.

Staff and student leadership groups are engaging in meaningful Black History Month activities in classrooms and school-wide. For more, visit Government of Canada – Black History Month:
https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/campaigns/black-history-month.html

Kindergarten Registration

Kindergarten registration opened on February 10. This year, current kindergarten students helped showcase the excitement of kindergarten by sharing their experiences in a special video. Watch it HERE!

Elphinstone Student’s Psychology Research Published in Academic Journal

Elphinstone Secondary student Levi Cotrell has achieved an exceptional academic milestone with the publication of his Psychology 11 study titled “The Impact of Facial Characteristics on the Face-Naming Effect Through Human and AI-Generated Faces” in the online journal Neuronotebook.

This accomplishment is a remarkable example of student achievement and may be among the first instances of a high school student publishing in this field. As our District Student Leadership Team (DSLT) representative for Grade 11, Levi exemplifies the spirit of curiosity and dedication we celebrate in SD46. Join us in congratulating him on this outstanding success!

2024 TD Grade One Book Giveaway

• The 2024 TD Grade One Book Giveaway featured Violet Shrink, which was distributed to all Grade 1 students, as well as Kindergarten and Grade 2 students in split classes in early January.
• This marks the final year of the giveaway. Thanks to TD Bank Group’s 25 years of support!

DELI (District Elementary Leadership Initiative) Youth Conference

Leadership students from all district elementary schools joined the first-ever DELI Youth Conference on Friday, January 24, at Chatelech Secondary for a fun-filled, inspiring day of learning on inclusion, diversity, and equity in our schools. Chatelech Secondary Teacher Mr. Kudaba played a significant role in planning this event with his Grade 10 and senior leadership students. Secondary leadership students led breakout group learning sessions on themes including bullying and teasing, inclusion, SOGI, positive relationships, slur language, leadership, and compassionate systems. It was an incredible day of connection and learning.

Family Literacy Week (January 27-31)

Children and families across the Sunshine Coast celebrated Family Literacy Week from January 27th to 31st! Here are some of the highlights:

• The Myrtle Sisters Performance: Thanks to the Sunshine Coast Literacy Coalition, hundreds of students enjoyed a lively performance by the Myrtle Sisters at the Roberts Creek Hall.
• Author/Illustrator Visits: Elementary schools welcomed visits from talented authors and illustrators Kallie George, Sara Gillingham, and Grant Lawrence. These visits were made possible through the support of Celebration of Authors, Books, and Community (CABC) and the Festival of the Written Arts.
• Intermediate Lunch & Learns: These sessions focused on mini-lessons and personal narratives, reaching every elementary school. Each school received a curated stack of books designed to help teachers demonstrate writing techniques used by authors when crafting personal narratives.
• Imagination Library Support: The Sunshine Coast Lions Club generously donated additional funding to support the Imagination Library. SD46 holds the distinction of being the longest-standing affiliate of the program in all of Canada! To date, over 61,000 books have been mailed to Sunshine Coast children.

Thank you to everyone who made Family Literacy Week such a success!

Chatelech Secondary Capstone Showcase

Students recently presented their Capstone projects at Chatelech Secondary’s Showcase, highlighting their creativity, innovation, and interests. The event featured a diverse range of projects and sparked engaging conversations, celebrating the remarkable efforts of the next generation of thinkers, doers, and innovators.

Elphinstone Secondary Students Participate in North America’s Largest Model UN Conference

In late January, Elphinstone Secondary’s Model UN Club, led by Mr. Cavasin and Ms. Sanders, traveled to Vancouver to take part in the largest Model United Nations conference in North America. Over the past five months, students dedicated significant time and effort to preparing for this prestigious event. Their participation provided an invaluable opportunity to develop diplomatic skills, collaborate with peers, and deepen their understanding of global issues. It was an enriching and memorable experience for all involved.

Sunshine Coast Teachers’ Association’s (SCTA) New Website

The SCTA has launched a wonderful new website that celebrates the incredible work of teachers. Visit: https://www.scta46.org/

Sunshine Coast Educators’ Day

Friday, February 7th, Elphinstone Secondary was abuzz with energy as staff gathered for the Sunshine Coast Teachers’ Associations ‘Sunshine Coast Educators’ Day’, a powerful professional development opportunity centred on The Responsive Educator. From thought-provoking keynotes to interactive workshops, staff engaged in meaningful learning on topics ranging from AI in the classroom to Indigenous perspectives, student well-being, and climate education. This day showcased the dedication of our staff to continuous growth and excellence in their professions. A heartfelt thank you to all presenters, organizers, and participants for making this a truly inspiring event!

Dr. Dustin Louie Visit
Dr. Dustin Louie, a renowned Indigenous educator and Director of NITEP (Indigenous Teacher Education Program) at UBC, led several days of deep learning focused on transformative Reconciliation.

• January 15: Morning session with principals and learning guides; afternoon session with the Indigenous Learning Team.
• January 16: Session with Indigenous students.
• May 16^th Pro-D Day: Session is open to all staff, with limited seating available. Registration will open soon!

Middle Years Development Instrument (MDI) 

The Middle Years Development Instrument (MDI) is a vital questionnaire designed for children in Grades 4 through 8, focusing on their thoughts, feelings, and experiences both inside and outside of school. This instrument is not intended for individual assessment but serves to gather data on the collective well-being of students, encompassing areas related to social and emotional health, academic achievement, and overall development.

For the current school year, our district is actively engaging Grades 5, 6, and 8 in the MDI survey, with collection efforts already underway and expected to conclude before spring break. The insights gained from this survey are instrumental for our school communities in understanding the health and well-being of children during the pivotal middle childhood years, ages 9 to 13.

This developmental phase is crucial as children navigate significant changes in cognition, physical growth, and social connections. Research indicates that experiences during these years profoundly impact a child’s ability to focus, cultivate positive relationships, and make responsible decisions as they transition into adolescence and adulthood. By utilizing the MDI, we aim to better support our students in this important period of their growth.

Enhancing Support for Neurodiverse Families: A Collaborative Approach

We would like to highlight the impactful work being undertaken by Karys Foley, one of our dedicated Family Support Navigators, as part of the District Inclusion Support Team. Karys has been facilitating monthly Support Groups for Parents and Guardians of neurodiverse children and youth, including those with FASD, ASD, ADHD, Down Syndrome, and other neurodivergent learners.

These sessions are proving to be an invaluable networking opportunity, allowing families to connect, share experiences, and access vital resources. The school district has committed to providing the necessary time, space, and facilitation for these gatherings, while community agencies such as Sunshine Coast Community Services and Child and Youth Mental Health are disseminating referrals. This fosters a robust cross-referral system between agencies, enhancing collaboration and support for families.

The program is also bolstered by the support of CYSN Support Worker, Katja Strauss. Originally designed for families with complex neurodevelopmental needs, the new format of these support groups has broadened our outreach, enabling more families to benefit from the resources and supports available in our community.

Student Engagement Project Resource Hub

The District Inclusion Support Team is proud to share the continued enhancement of our Student Engagement Project through the development of a comprehensive online resource hub for students, families, and staff. This hub serves as a vital tool in supporting student attendance and engagement, hosting a wide array of resources designed to address the multifaceted challenges our youth face today.

https://sd46.bc.ca/families-and-students/every-day-counts-hub/

Key resources available on the hub include:

• Importance of School Attendance: Informational materials for parents that highlight the significance of consistent attendance.
• Tips and Tools for Improving Attendance: Practical strategies to encourage regular school participation.
• Frequently Asked Questions: Answers to common queries regarding attendance policies and procedures.
• School Anxiety & Attendance Challenges: A webinar series aimed at helping parents and caregivers navigate school-related anxieties.

This resource hub is an integral part of the School Engagement Project, which seeks to understand and address multiple factors affecting attendance including School-Related Factors, Family-Related, Individual Student Factors and External factors.  By enhancing our resources and understanding the wide range of factors influencing attendance, we aim to provide better support for our school community.

Career Programs Update

As we welcome a new year, it was a month of both endings and new beginnings in the Career Education Department.

• The Pro Cook Train in Trades program came to a successful conclusion on January 22nd with a program celebration. Students, their families, School Trustees Amanda Amaral, Stacia Leech, Ann Skelcher, Pammila Ruth and Sue Girard, as well as Superintendent Kate Kerr and Assistant Superintendent Jennifer Roberts were all in attendance to celebrate. Each of the ten students in the program earned 16 credits toward their graduation and undoubtedly left with skills and knowledge that will serve them throughout their lifetime. A massive amount of thanks and gratitude to Chef Ken Hookham and Chef Krissy Seymour who were instrumental in delivering and supporting an engaging and inclusive curriculum. Congratulations to our 2024/25 Pro Cook students!
• The Automotive Service Tech program also successfully wrapped up on January 21st. Instructor Brenda Masich took the students out for lunch and presented each one with individualized gifts, highlighting a funny event or unique trait that each student demonstrated in the class. These students gained 16 credits toward their graduation. Two of the students have been hired by their Work Experience sponsors and will be starting their apprenticeship next semester with their respective company. Much appreciation and gratitude to Ms. Masich, the fearless leader of the program, who encouraged and supported each student on their journey throughout this course. Lastly, to Ryan Lee, the VCC instructor, who regularly made the trek to the Coast to evaluate and assist the students with their theory work. Congratulations to our 2024/25 Automotive Service Technician students!
• The Carpentry Program began at Chatelech Secondary on January 27th, under the leadership of instructor Jonathan Powell. Jonathan has already lined up guest speakers from industry, including employees of PCL construction, and those from our local construction companies, such as Jenkins Construction. The students will also be going to the St. Paul’s Hospital jobsite in Vancouver on February 11th to see carpentry and construction skills in action. The students will receive a safety orientation and tour of the site by PCL employees. An exciting start to this very popular Train in Trades program!
• The 2025/26 Train in Trades applications are now available on SD46 Career Programs website and hard copies will be available at each secondary school’s office. There has been much promotion of these programs through parent nights, class visits, hallway presentations at lunch and staff recommendations. The number of students across the district indicating an interest in one of these programs is high, which will hopefully be reflected in the number of completed applications that are returned. Due date for completed applications is March 7^th, 2025.
• After careful and detailed scrutiny, the Fire Academy final selection has been made. It was a very difficult decision as each of these candidates ranked high throughout each category. As a result, Deputy Chief Steve Achterberg has decided to increase the number of students accepted from 12 to 14. All of these students demonstrated amazing perseverance and responsibility in completing each section of the application process. Deputy Chief Achterberg personally reached out to each applicant to either congratulate them or to provide feedback and suggestions for those who did not make it this time – encouraging them to apply for next year’s Academy. A huge thank you to Deputy Chief Achterberg for his dedication and commitment to this program!! The next step is the parent/student night on Feb. 20 at the Sechelt Fire Hall. Congratulations to all of the Fire Academy candidates!!