Circle of Care: Students
- Careers: BCIT Trades Program Tour – Students from Elphinstone Secondary and Pender Harbour recently embarked on an enriching tour of BCIT. This excursion, involving 43 enthusiastic learners, allowed them to immerse themselves in the dynamic environments of the School of Construction and the Environment, the School of Transportation, and the School of Energy. The students observed live classes, were impressed by the advanced training equipment, and engaged in discussions about potential career paths. The experience was rounded off with a group lunch in the lively student cafeteria. Special thanks are extended to Tony Avila, Jay Walls, and Cathy Gordon for their instrumental roles in organizing this insightful trip. (1l)
Circle of Care: Staff
- HR Update: The Human Resources Department has been in the midst of a hiring initiative to fill vacant positions and add staff to the TTOC and on-call support staff lists. The objective has been to reduce fail-to-fills amongst teacher and support staff positions in schools that impact on student learning and on the workload and morale of other staff in the school when staff are absent. In addition, new initiatives are underway in 2024 to hopefully further reduce education assistant fail-to-fills that continue to be an ongoing challenge. (2a)
- Nature-Based Learning Program Graduates: Congratulations to the recent graduates of the Nature-Based Learning Course on the Sunshine Coast. This significant achievement was made possible through the collaboration of School District 46 – Sunshine Coast and the Centre for Imagination in Research, Culture & Education at Simon Fraser University. The graduates’ commitment to integrating nature into their learning process is commendable and serves as an inspiration for future educational initiatives. We look forward to continuing to foster nature-based learning opportunities within our district! (2b)
Circle of Care: Community
- Strategic Plan Update (3a, 3c)
- Educational Staff Survey: Available until January 12th, this survey invites educational staff to share their insights and opinions. The collected data will inform the development of our new strategic plan, ensuring it reflects the needs and perspectives of our educators.
- Parent/Caregiver Survey: Parallel to the staff survey, we are engaging parents and caregivers through a similar process. Their feedback on their children’s educational experiences is crucial as we shape the new strategic plan, which will guide our district for the upcoming five years.
- Classroom Visits: Our team is actively visiting various classrooms throughout the district. The purpose of these visits is to observe and gather direct feedback from students, ensuring their voices contribute significantly to the creation of the new strategic plan.
- Staff, Parent/Caregiver Forums: In January, we are hosting forums at all school sites for both staff and parents/caregivers. These forums are designed to facilitate open dialogue and collaborative input, crucial in co-creating a strategic plan that resonates with our entire district community.