North Vancouver School District #44

Notes from the desk of John Lewis, Superintendent of Schools

North Vancouver School District #44

Family Literacy Week

Posted by  on Friday, February 8th 2013     

Family Literacy Day across Canada is officially January 27th but Susan Danieli, teacher-librarian at Lynn Valley Elementary, was busy planning an entire week’s worth of activities! This year’s theme “15 Minutes of Fun” was incorporated in the students’ art project for the week – a bookmark showcasing an activity they plan to do with their families at home. In addition, students and staff at the school have been participating in Stop Drop and Read: 2 times per day at the sound of the bell, everyone must stop what they are doing, pick up their book, and read.

As a guest reader at Lynn Valley, I was honoured to be invited along with members of the fire department, our police liaison office, and various other community members to read to classes this week.

Reading to a Grade 3 Class at Lynn Valley School

Family Literacy Week at Lynn Valley Elementary wrapped up with a school-wide assembly on Friday where Student Council organized a fundraiser to support Team Finn Cancer Pyjama Day.

Susan Danieli reading a bedtime story at the assembly

At Queen Mary, at the conclusion of Family Literacy Week, I was pleased to read to Mr. Beckmann’s kindergarten class. It’s a pleasure to be able to share good stories with the children!

 

category: Instructional Practice

Carson Graham Blessing Ceremony

Posted by  on Wednesday, February 6th 2013     

I was deeply honoured to serve as a witness to the Blessing Ceremony held at Carson Graham Secondary on Monday, January 28.  The entire school population assembled for the blessing and demonstrated great respect and attention throughout this special event.

Audrey Rivers
photo courtesy of Rob Walker

 

Elder Audrey Rivers provided a prayer and blessing to the community, bringing good wishes for the students, staff and community.  Alroy Baker brought greetings on behalf of the Squamish Nation and provided an explanation of the protocols associated with the ceremony.  This included: the singing of special songs, handed down from generation to generation; the importance of dance, and the significance of wrapping the carvers in blankets.

Carvers Ray Natraoro and Victor Harry worked with Carson students over the preceding months to prepare the Eagle carving that was unveiled and blessed.  The Eagle will be mounted in a prominent location for everyone to see.

Carson welcome figures
photo courtesy of Rob Walker

A special thanks goes to Brad Baker, Deborah Jacobs, Tracy Williams, and Alroy Baker for their leadership in working together as a School District and as the Squamish Nation Education department to coordinate this very successful event.  The support of the Carson Graham staff and students and the active involvement and participation of our students of aboriginal ancestry was also greatly appreciated by all.

category: Community Connections, Sharing & Celebrating Success

Designs 2013 In-service

Posted by  on Monday, February 4th 2013     

On Tuesday, January 29th over 120 teachers and administrators attended the first session of the Designs 2013 in-service series.  This professional development opportunity builds upon the school district’s 9 year Instructional Intelligence initiative, and the success of previous ‘Designs’ series, by examining the growing interest in Project-Based Learning (PBL).

Project-based learning is based on principles of Understanding by Design (UbD), an inquiry-based model for teaching and learning that has been presented at previous Designs series.

PBL prioritizes learning outcomes into Enduring Understandings and Driving Questions related to authentic, real-world issues, and helps students develop the cross-curricular competencies emphasized in BC’s new Draft Curriculum Framework:

  • Thinking Competency (critical, creative and reflective thinking)
  • Personal and Social Competency (positive personal and cultural identity, personal and social awareness and responsibility)
  • Communication Competency (in language, symbols and digital literacy)

The Designs 2013 series, which continues next month with sessions at the ESC on February 19th and 26th, is just one example of the School District’s comprehensive in-service program focusing on Four Pillars of Educational Practice: Curriculum Design, Instruction, Assessment and Social Emotional Learning.

 

 

 

category: Program Diversity

Late French Immersion Meeting

Posted by  on Thursday, January 31st 2013     

Presentation for Late French Immersion

 

Over 150 students and parents attended the Late French Immersion Information Night held on Wednesday, January 23rd at the Education Services Centre. The evening was a huge success as parents and Grade 5 students learned more about Grade 6 Late French Immersion, which will be offered at Ecole Boundary Elementary School and Ecole Braemar Elementary School in September 2013.

 

North Vancouver French Immersion teachers

Thanks to all who contributed to the success of this well-attended evening: Stephanie Weller (meeting coordinator), Susan Owens, Laura Hall, Ellen Knight, Vickie Vinaric, and Joan Reader (Late French Immersion teachers), Polly Lim (Canadian Parents for French representative), and students from Boundary and Braemar who ran the student panel.

category: Program Diversity

HYAD Society breaks ground

Posted by  on Tuesday, January 29th 2013     

Photo courtesy of BC Housing

On behalf of the North Vancouver School District, it’s my pleasure to congratulate the HYAD Society on the progress they have made towards creating a new affordable housing development for young adults with disabilities. On January 18, HYAD broke ground on HYAD Place at 2130 Chesterfield Avenue. The land, valued at over $1.1 million, was awarded to HYAD by the North Vancouver School District as part of the redevelopment and revitalization of the 2100 block of Lonsdale.

Once complete, HYAD Place will include 14 residential apartments for young adults with developmental disabilities and two apartments for an onsite residential manager and life skills worker. The building will also have a common lounge and kitchen for residents.

The B.C. government will provide approximately $5.3 million to HYAD Place. The school district’s contribution to HYAD was secured and made possible through the City of North Vancouver’s Official Community Plan amendment and rezoning approval. The HYAD Society will provide $166,000 in equity and will manage and operate HYAD Place when complete. Construction is expected to be complete by the end of 2013.

We look forward to welcoming the residents of HYAD Place to this newly revitalized area along the Lonsdale/Chesterfield corridor and we congratulate HYAD on developing and managing this innovative housing project to provide affordable, safe, age in place co-operative housing for its residents.

category: Community Connections, Sharing & Celebrating Success

Land, Learning and Livability Community Engagement Update – Ridgeway Annex

Posted by  on Thursday, January 24th 2013     

Following the Community Meeting of November 20, the proponents for the redevelopment and/or re-use of the Ridgeway Annex and site were evaluated.  The input received at the Community Meeting and submitted in writing was one of the important criteria considered in the evaluation process.

The Board of Education was pleased to receive four quality proponents for the future use of the Ridgeway Annex and site.  Upon the application of the evaluation criteria and the consideration by the Board of Education, the Board determined that it will proceed with a final phase of the selection process with Anthem Properties and Darwin Properties.

The Board of Education expresses its sincere appreciation for the interest of both the Atti Group of Companies and KidsLand Childcare Centre in the Ridgeway Annex site.  Both proponents provided interesting proposals for the potential redevelopment and re-use of Ridgeway Annex and site.

As the proposals of Anthem Properties and Darwin Properties both involve redevelopment options for the Ridgeway Annex site, the Board will continue to examine either long-term lease and/or sale with both proponents. There will be further community input and consultation through the Municipal process, once the final proponent is selected.

The outcome of the final phase of the selection process will be provided in our next update on the Ridgeway Annex site, prior to the spring break.

category: Facilities Revitalization

Curriculum Implementation Day – January 18

Posted by  on Thursday, January 24th 2013     

Dr. Stuart Shanker addressing district staff at the Curriculum Implementation Day at Carson Graham

On Friday, January 18th, teachers, administrators, support staff, parents, and community partners were invited to attend two Curriculum Implementation Day keynote sessions with Dr. Stuart Shanker, a distinguished research professor at York University and Canada’s leading expert on the topic of Self-Regulation.   Self-Regulation is defined as the ability to monitor and modify emotions, to focus or shift attention, to control impulses, and to tolerate frustration or delay gratification.

Through his presentation of research, clinical studies, and engaging anecdotes, Dr. Shanker reminded us all of the important role we play as educators in helping students of all ages develop self-regulation.  The support of parents was also identified as crucial to the success of children in our classrooms and schools.

To learn more about Dr. Shanker’s work and the Canadian Self-Regulation Initiative (CSRI), please refer to the following site: www.self-regulation.ca

category: Instructional Practice

School Calendar for 2013-2014 – Consultation process

Posted by  on Tuesday, January 22nd 2013     

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

category: Communications

A full house at Grade 7-8 Transition Information Night

Posted by  on Friday, January 18th 2013     

Over 600 parents, students and staff filled the Carson Graham Secondary gym on January 15th for an energetic evening of presentations and displays showcasing the range of programs, services and opportunities that students can consider in preparing for secondary school.

I’d like to congratulate all the staff and students who helped host this event. The information you provided will help families in their decision-making, and you offered valuable reassurance to students preparing for a major transition in their educational lives. Given the enthusiastic turnout, we may have discovered a new event for our annual school district calendar!

 

category: Communications, Program Diversity

Supporting the Grade 7 – 8 transition: staff prepare for January 15th information meeting for families

Posted by  on Friday, January 11th 2013     

Banners promoting our enhanced programs
for secondary students

 

January 11, 2012

Our staff are hard at work preparing for next week’s information night for families of students preparing to enter Grade 8 in September of 2013. Parents and students are welcome to come and learn more about the Enhanced Programs being offered at our secondary schools. Academies, French Immersion, International Baccalaureate and supports for students with special needs are some of the many areas of interest for families to learn more about. If there’s a Grade 7 student in your family, please plan to attend this informative evening event:

Where:  Carson Graham Secondary, 2145 Jones Avenue

When: January 15, 2013, 7 pm

category: Program Diversity
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