Superintendent's Report to the Board | November 2024
This report highlights the past month’s updates and events, all grounded in our core values of learning, belonging, integrity, and equity.
Student Strategic Plan Launch – November 4th
On November 4th, over seventy leadership students from grades 6 to 12, from across the district, participated in the Student Strategic Plan Launch event at Kinnikinnick Elementary. The event introduced the new Strategic Plan and empowered our youth to play an active role in shaping the future of education in the district. We are eager to see how these young leaders will share this vision with their peers across the district!
Qwalena ArtStarts Secondary School Performances
The school district arranges for annual arts performances in each school funded by an ArtStarts grant and district dedicated funds. This year’s featured presentation at the secondary schools is titled Qwalena – The Wild Woman Who Steals Children and was performed at each of the secondary schools in the last week of October. Produced by 3 Crows Productions, Qwalena is based on a well-known story among Northwest Coast First Nations. In this performance, Indigenous storyteller Dallas Yellowfly brings the character of Qwalena to life through a carved mask, theatrical lighting, and sound, symbolizing a time in Canada’s history when Indigenous children were removed from their families and sent to residential schools. Through a blend of oral storytelling, multimedia, and open discussion, Yellowfly addresses the intergenerational trauma linked to the Indian Act, fostering student understanding of its lasting impacts on Indigenous families. We remain deeply committed to Truth and Reconciliation and anti-racism, and supported this presentation as a powerful means of deepening emotional and historical awareness in students.
Chatelech Student Wins CNIB Braille Creative Writing Contest
Congratulations are in order for grade 12 student, Anika George. Her poem, Home, which she wrote using a Perkins Brailler, tied for first place in CNIBs annual creative writing contest. Anika has been learning to read and write braille for several years and is passionate about the tactile writing system used by individuals who are visually impaired. In fact, Anika is planning to attend university with the dream of being a teacher and may even pursue training as a Teacher of Students with Visual Impairments (TSVI). Anika is thrilled about her win and is going to save the prize money towards university.
Grade 7 Annual Sugar Bowl – A Great Success!
On November 1st, we celebrated the district-wide Grade 7 Sugar Bowl in Sechelt, bringing students and staff together for a fantastic day of soccer, leftover Halloween candy, and connection. The weather cooperated beautifully, making way for a great day of soccer and fun!
Special thanks go to the shíshálh Nation for the use of Ted Dixon Park, Elphinstone and Pender Harbour Secondary student volunteers who served as referees and helpers, and the WSES PAC for running a well-stocked concession stand.
We are grateful to the teachers and staff, and a special shoutout to Chair Glen Smith from the Elementary Sports Working Group, for their hard work in preparing students for the event and making the day a memorable one.
SD46 + D(PAC) Engagement Event – October 29, 2024
The Board of Education recently hosted a collaborative event at the Sunshine Coast Golf and Country Club, bringing together PAC Chairs, Vice-Chairs, DPAC Executives, Principals, and Trustees. Facilitated by Caroline Picard through a Compassionate Systems Leadership lens, the evening focused on enhancing meeting effectiveness and fostering collaborative engagement and working collaboratively with the Board of Education. The event was well-attended, with engaging discussions and a shared commitment to strengthening our school community relationships.
New Staff Orientation
On October 21st, SD46, along with SCTA and CUPE 801, welcomed new staff members with an orientation event. This gathering introduced new hires to the district’s culture and resources, creating a foundation for a supportive and collaborative work environment. Attendees connected with colleagues over appetizers and received valuable insights into our learning community.
SD46 Aspiring Leaders Series Update
The SD46 Aspiring Leaders program kicked off on October 30th, gathering educational staff eager to deepen their leadership skills. This program emphasizes compassionate systems leadership, focusing on personal wellness, strengthening relationships, and applying systems thinking to enhance leadership practices. It offers valuable tools for both seasoned and emerging leaders to foster positive transformation in our schools and community. Future sessions will continue to build on these foundational skills, supporting our team’s growth and collaboration.
CUPE Pro D Day
On October 25th, CUPE’s Professional Development Day brought together over 100 staff at Chatelech Secondary School for a day of learning and connection. The day opened with a thought-provoking keynote from hiwus Calvin Craigan of the shíshálh Nation. In the afternoon, participants explored a variety of sessions, including a tour with Talaysay Tours, a finance workshop for admin assistants, a Public Education Benefits Trust Workshop and a strategic plan launch for custodial staff and bus drivers.
2nd Collaborative Care Conference: A Connected Community for Children and Youth for Mental Health and Substance Use
On November 6th, representatives from various organizations, including Vancouver Coastal Health, the shíshálh Nation, School District 46, Sunshine Coast Community Services, the Division of Family Practice, the Ministry of Children and Family Development, Child and Youth Mental Health, SCRD Recreation, and Restorative Justice, convened for a Collaborative Care Conference. This event brought together nearly 100 participants who engaged in two fictional case scenarios aimed at enhancing multiagency collaboration for child and youth mental health and substance use treatment on the Sunshine Coast.
The conference focused on providing accessible, timely, and seamless support for children, youth, and families by fostering connections among participants and promoting a shared understanding of the complexities and challenges faced by different agencies. Key outcomes included increased knowledge of local resources, improved capacity for collaborative work, and strengthened teamwork among community-based services. The event was organized by a dedicated sub-team from the Child and Youth Mental Health and Substance Use Local Action Team, who meet monthly to strategize on supporting the community’s children and youth.
Learning Guides
In an inspiring start to weaving the new strategic plan throughout our district in a meaningful and human way, the two Learning Guide teachers from each school joined our Educational Leadership Team at Camp Byng on November 6th. Together, we began our shared journey of fostering a culture of learning and collaboration, with a focus on developing students’ core competencies and creating irresistible futures. This collaborative time laid a strong foundation for the meaningful work ahead in our district.
Compassionate Systems Leadership (CSL)
All teacher, administrators and CUPE that have taken CSL Foundations level one met for an afternoon to continue the work on ‘self’ and had time to collaborate on how we will continue to move CSL forward in our areas of influence district-wide.
SFU Practicum Panel
Panel of administrators and district staff presented a 2-hour session showcasing our district to over 80 education practicum students from SFU. This was very well received, and we hope to see a few students on the coast to complete their practices as well as applying to our district.
CACE Conference – Bravo Awards
We are thrilled to share that our district’s communications efforts have been recognized on a national level. We were selected as recipients of a BRAVO! Award, which celebrate outstanding work in school public relations, communications, marketing, and engagement. This prestigious recognition was formally announced at the 2024 BRAVO! Awards Ceremony for the ‘Strategic Plan Consultation and Engagement Video’ and received by Stephanie Murawsky during the national Canadian Association of Communicators in Education (CACE) conference in Calgary on October 26.
Careers Updates
- On October 16, the Automotive Service Technician students went on a field trip to VCC’s Broadway Campus. They were given a tour by Ryan Lee, our AST VCC instructor. The definite highlight was the Rivian electric truck that VCC had recently purchased and the (intentional; all safety precautions taken) exploding of the airbags that definitely got everyone’s attention. It was an excellent day overall and a great reminder to the students that they are indeed not just SD46 AST students, but VCC students as well.
- Much promotion of the Career programs occurred during this month, specifically at the Parent Info Night on October 17 at Elphinstone, and the Post- Secondary Institute Day at both ESS and CSS on October 21, as well as at the Indigenous Career Fair at the Band Hall on October 29. A list of potential Train in Trades students for next year has begun.
- The Fire Academy applications have been submitted! There are 27 applications in total, representing each secondary school on the Coast. Next steps involve reviewing the applications and short -listing students for the physical testing that occurs in January.
- Lastly, new Work in Trades and Work Experience students continue to register. The word is out!!
Community Schools Collaboration: Updates from October 30th Joint Meeting
Highlights from the reflection sheets completed by participants:
- Community schools are such a valuable support! – they are an integral part of the braid.
- We are so appreciative of the support Community Schools provides to schools.
- Community Schools help us expand to new areas – to pilot innovative ideas and explore new ways of doing things. (which will help us to not do business as usual!)
Paddling Together: People expressed appreciation for how community schools support our work through all of the strands. Moving forward, there is interest in collaborating to support:
- Food Security
- Nature Based Learning
- STEM Learning
- Flexible Learning Environments
People expressed interest in working collaboratively with Community Schools to expand Volunteer support in our schools, and to build connections with PACS
- Teachers (i.e. use a staff meeting to help teachers connect to community school coordinators)
- Intergenerational community volunteers (volunteer readers, supporting food, etc.)
- Students (Peer Mentoring; Elementary Students working with Secondary Students)