May 7, 2013

The first full week in May is traditionally Emergency Preparedness Week in Canada. Throughout the week, national, provincial and territorial agencies promote three simple steps to help Canadians become better prepared to face a range of emergencies:

• know the risks
• make a plan
• get an emergency kit

Not sure where to begin? This straightforward presentation from Public Safety Canada can help you to create an emergency preparedness plan for yourself and your family.

Visit GetPrepared.ca for more information.

The Board of Education has now completed its final review of the proposals for the Keith Lynn facility and site and has identified North Shore Studios Ltd. as the lead proponent for the redevelopment of the Keith Lynn site.   The Board will now engage in discussions with North Shore Studios Ltd. (a wholly owned subsidiary of Bosa Development Corporation) to develop the terms and conditions of an agreement for the consideration of the Board of Education.

The Board of Education also expresses its sincere appreciation to the Transformation Education Society and the Gulf Islands School District for their interest in the potential re-use of the Keith Lynn site to support the continued operation of the Windsor House Program in North Vancouver.  The Board will consult with the Gulf Islands School District to facilitate a short-term extension to their current lease at the Lucas Centre.

As the proposal of the North Shore Studios Ltd. involves the redevelopment of the Keith Lynn site, a public information meeting will be arranged for neighbouring residents. Community input and consultation will also occur through the established Municipal process in the coming months.

As a result of legislative changes to the School Calendar Regulation, the North Vancouver School District has established a School Calendar Steering Group to develop the School District’s 2013/14 Calendar.

The School Calendar Steering Group is comprised of representative members of the Board of Education, North Vancouver Teachers’ Association, Canadian Union of Public Employees – Local 389, North Vancouver Parent Advisory Council, North Vancouver Administrators’ Association (both elementary and secondary representatives), North Vancouver Student Leadership Council, and District staff members.  Dorli Duffy is the Steering Group’s facilitator.

The Steering Group, totaling 20 representatives, held its first meeting on December 11, 2012.  The School Calendar Steering Group’s second meeting was held on January 8, 2013.  The presentation and summary notes are available here:
School Calendar Steering Group Presentation – January 8, 2013

School Calendar Steering Group Summary Notes – January 8, 2013

January 7, 2013

A warm welcome to 2013. We hope your holiday offered all the best of the season and that you’re feeling rested and ready for the continuation of the school year.

The tragedy in Connecticut remains at the forefront of our thoughts. We thank all our staff for their professional, compassionate responses to the questions and concerns of students and parents. We would also like to provide reassurance that our safety and security procedures are reviewed regularly as we work to create schools that are safe and welcoming. This balance requires constant attention and we will keep you informed of any new procedures that might be required.

Many supports are in place for students struggling socially or emotionally, and we are helping to promote initiatives to help students become more involved in expressing their concerns. Reporting programs like erasebullying.ca are part of the answer, as well as additional training for our staff. Our upcoming January 18th Curriculum Implementation Day will include a presentation by Dr. Stuart Shanker, the author of Calm, Alert and Learning.

Aligned with this second year of implementing our Strategic Plan, this spring will see an increased focus on instructional skills to raise our literacy teaching capacity. New techniques and resources make this an exciting time to be an educator, and we are committed to seeing that our staff and students have access to the resources that can help promote continuous learning and inquiry.

Looking ahead, we’ve established April as “Learning in Nature” month in the North Vancouver School District. Please watch for details on our website of various initiatives and special events leading up to Earth Day on April 22nd.

We’re pleased to continue the community engagement work of “Land, learning and livability” in 2013. It’s anticipated the Board will make decisions regarding the Plymouth and Ridgeway Annex school properties before Spring Break. We will also facilitate community awareness and input to open the dialogue and engage with our municipal partners regarding the Cloverley and Lucas Centre sites.

We made excellent progress on our seismic review at Argyle Secondary in 2012, and have recently communicated with the Ministry of Education a recommendation that the building be considered for full replacement. We look forward to a response from the Ministry by early Spring.

As you may be aware, new flexibility has been provided by the Ministry regarding local school calendars. A School Calendar Review Steering Group, with representatives from all our partner groups, has begun the process to consider our calendar for 2013/14. A survey will be launched in late February to solicit your thoughts on next year’s calendar.

In reviewing this message, it’s clear to see that education is full of progress and achievement, but also challenges. We hope you share with us the feeling that 2013 offers many reasons to be hopeful and appreciative. We must never lose sight of the good that happens every day in teaching and learning.

Sincerely,

NORTH VANCOUVER
SCHOOL DISTRICT

John Lewis
Superintendent of Schools

NORTH VANCOUVER
BOARD OF EDUCATION

Franci Stratton
Chair

On behalf of the Executive Committee and the North Vancouver Board of Education, I wish each of you a very happy holiday season. We hope that you will be able to spend quality time with family and friends, that you will enjoy good health, safe travels, and that you will be refreshed for the return to school in 2013!

Adam  – Brooksbank student

 Enjoy a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

The student online reporting tool of the Ministry of Education is now active for the North Vancouver School District.  Everyone should be safe from bullying.  eRase is a private and anonymous online reporting tool for targets of bullying or those that witness it taking place.  Any report made on this site is confidential.  If a report occurs, school district staff will ensure that the respective school Principal receives the information in a timely manner.

The link is:  http://www.erasebullying.ca/

Please share this link with your others that you feel should have this information.

Some secrets aren’t worth keeping.

Don’t let them control you and keep you down. Help eRase bullying starting now.

Our Land, Learning and Livability process is continuing this fall.  Community Meetings are now featuring the presentation of proposals for consideration by the Board and for input from the public.

Four proposals for the re-use, or redevelopment of Ridgeway Annex were presented at a Community Meeting held at the former Ridgeway Annex on Tuesday, November 20.  Nearly 100 people attended and participated in this information session.

More detailed information regarding each of the proposals is available using the links below.

Land, Learning and Livability blog

http://blog44.ca/landmanagement/#.UK0dHaWbJhM

and the North Vancouver School District’s Home Page

http://www.nvsd44.bc.ca/sitecore/content/Updates/RFPOct26Update.aspx

The next Land, Learning and Livability Community Meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, December 4 at the former Plymouth School.

We were delighted to host a conversation with students, parents, educators, employers, post secondary partners, civic leaders and others on Monday, November 19th that will help inform the development of future graduation requirements.  Lynn Archer, Ministry of Education representative, engaged table groups in discussion related to five key questions.

Question #1
What do you think are the core or essential things all students should know, understand and be able to do by the time they leave secondary school?

Question #2
Beyond the core, how could pathways for choice or exploration be provided?

Question #3:
Research is underway with a focus on the following five cross-curricular competencies*: a) Communication, b) Critical Thinking, c) Creative Thinking & Innovation, d) Personal Responsibility and Well Being, and e) Social Responsibility. (* currently being developed)

How do you think students could demonstrate these competencies?

Question #4:
How could student learning be communicated to: a) Students, b) Parents/Guardians,  c) Post secondary Institutions/Employers?

Question #5:
How would you design an awards program to recognize student success in a personalized learning environment?

The Ministry of Education is seeking input from around the Province to develop recommendations for new graduation requirements and will be providing further opportunities for feedback. Our sincere thanks go to the nearly 90 people who joined and actively participated in this important dialogue session.