North Vancouver School District #44

Notes from the desk of John Lewis, Superintendent of Schools

North Vancouver School District #44

North Shore Credit Union Environmental Learning Centre – official opening

Posted by  on Monday, June 25th 2012     

We were pleased to welcome our partners with the North Shore Credit Union, the Squamish Nation, staff, friends and supporters of the Outdoor School to the official opening of the Environmental Learning Centre in Paradise Valley on June 20. 

Building exterior adjacent to the canoe pond

This remarkable structure reflects the environmental principles it will convey through the educational programs and events that will be held in this fabulous building.  The facility, set in a magnificent forest with a tree-house aesthetic, includes a welcoming space, featuring a nature gallery, exhibition space; assembly/dining hall, and classroom/learning spaces.  The building is both energy and water efficient fitting into the area’s ecosystem, and befitting of the centre’s purpose for environmental leadership and learning. 

Hereditary Chief Ian Campbell providing a blessing

The opening of the North Shore Credit Union Environmental Learning Centre complete Phase 1 of a multi-phase revitalization process of the North Vancouver Outdoor School.  Subsequent phases include the replacement of the accommodations for adults and students, as well as the establishment of additional instructional spaces suited for on-site environmental research. 

Inside the assembly / dining area of the 'treehouse'

The Outdoor School has provided exceptional instructional programs for 43 consecutive years.  The new North Shore Credit Union Environmental Learning Centre will help ensure continued operation of this educational centre for future generations!

To get a view of the new building, both inside and out, use the YouTube link below. In cooperation with the Province of BC, the Canadian Wood Council / Wood WORKS! BC program provided the filming.

The sun shined on our very special event!

NSCU Environmental Learning Centre Opening

category: Facilities Revitalization, Instructional Practice

National Aboriginal Day – June 21

Posted by  on Friday, June 22nd 2012     

In recognition of National Aboriginal Day, many of our schools arrange for special assemblies and events to acknowledge the contribution of our First Nations people to our local communities and to our country. 

I was pleased to be able to join the celebrations at Sherwood Park Elementary where students shared their learning about the Pow Wow and danced the Wolf dance and the Eagle dance.  Les George, provided words of welcome, sang and drummed.  Dancers from Takaya joined the festivities that were coordinated by Rosie Dapp. 

Our school communities are enriched by the cultural gifts and history of our First Nations people!

category: Integrated Communities, Sharing & Celebrating Success

Developing Neighbourhood Learning Centre at Ridgeway

Posted by  on Wednesday, June 20th 2012     

The Neighbourhood Learning Centre at Ridgeway is a great example of collaboration between the North Vancouver School District, North Shore Neighbourhood House (NSNH) and the North Shore Multicultural Society (NSMS).  This partnership is enabling us to progress towards fulfilling our mandate to create a true ‘neighbourhood of learning’ at Ridgeway. 

The ELSA program (English Language Services  for Adults) funded by the Ministry of Jobs, Tourism and Innovation approved child care on the North Shore this year.  NSMS and MOSAIC deliver the ELSA program in partnership at the NSMS location. 

With approval of funding for 8 child care spaces we sub-contracted with North Shore Neighbourhood House pre-school that operates at Ridgeway School, to dedicate 8 spaces for the children of ELSA students.  North Shore Multicultural Society offers settlement support and translations when needed.  MOSAIC manages the contract with NSNH. Clients register for ELSA and are tested at the ELSA testing centre, who then refers them to the North Shore ELSA program. Children remain in the program only as long as their parents remain in English classes.

Through this partnership arrangement, we hope to introduce newcomers to a community based pre-school and to have them become familiar with a school setting. 

In collaboration with our partners, we are making tremendous progress in developing our Neighbourhood Learning Centre!  Many thanks to our partners!

 

category: Community Connections, Integrated Communities

Home of Champions!

Posted by  on Monday, June 18th 2012     

Our North Vancouver Schools and students have an outstanding record of accomplishments in BC High School Sports.  In addition to excellent sportsmanship and active participation in Provincial Championships, our schools are regularly competing for the Championship title.  I am pleased to highlight two of our more recent Championship teams.   

 The Seycove Senior Girls Soccer Team qualified for their first ever AA Provincial Championship and proceeded to the Championship game, winning the Provincial Title!    Congratulations, Seyhawks!

Carson Graham Secondary Girls Rugby Team completed an unprecedented run, winning their seventh consecutive AAA Provincial Championship.   This was the eighth Provincial Championship for the Carson Graham Girls in the past nine years!  Congratulations to the Carson Graham Eagles! 

The accomplishments of our students and schools are the result of the tremendous support of teachers, parents and coaches.  We sincerely appreciate the contribution of so many people to our highly successful athletic programs. 

A special note of congratulations to Carson Graham Eagles Champion coaches Baker, Pimlott, Kee and Harden.   Thank you!

category: Program Diversity, Sharing & Celebrating Success

Carson students carve for City Hall

Posted by  on Friday, June 15th 2012     
 

Welcome figure at City Hall

Our Carson Graham students gained tremendous experience working with Squamish Nation carver, Ray Natraoro, in preparing this welcome figure for North Vancouver City Hall.  Ray has also done other fabulous welcoming figures for the School District at both Windsor and Seycove schools.

 
 
Students carved alongside Ray to transform the log from the Stanley Park storm, revealing the figure contained within the tree.  Wade Baker also assisted with the work to prepare the carving for installation at the new entrance to City Hall on 13thStreet, one block west of Lonsdale.  
Many hands make light work!

 

Students carved alongside Ray to transform the log from the Stanley Park storm, revealing the figure contained within the tree.  Wade Baker also assisted with the work to prepare the carving for installation at the new entrance to City Hall on 13th Street, one block west of Lonsdale.  

 

 

We are pleased that our students and community continue to benefit from the strong partnership and collaboration between the Squamish Nation and the North Vancouver School District.

Hoy Chewx a!

Thank you!

category: Community Connections, Integrated Communities

District Student Leadership Council Forum

Posted by  on Wednesday, June 13th 2012     

A few months ago, the District Student Leadership Council held a forum at Windsor Secondary. An invitation was extended to all high-school students within the district and we were pleased to see some 50+ students in attendance. We enlisted the help of the ever-so-talented Alex Ross, whom we met through BC Student voice, to film the event. 

The video was finalized and uploaded last week:  http://vimeo.com/43585065

We look forward to a continued partnership with the North Vancouver School District!

courtesy of Anna Simmons, DSLC Member for the Youth Learning Centre

category: Communications, Integrated Communities

We’ve moved to 2121 Lonsdale!

Posted by  on Monday, June 11th 2012     

category: Communications, Sharing & Celebrating Success

Free the Trees at Cleveland Elementary

Posted by  on Thursday, June 7th 2012     

 

Lea Carpenter cutting the ribbon

Along with MLA Ralph Sultan, I was pleased to be able to join the Free the Trees Celebration on May 25 at Cleveland Elementary.  Students, teachers, parents and the administration of Cleveland Elementary can all be proud of their accomplishments over the past few years, removing invasive plant species, restoring the forested areas, and establishing two separate outdoor classrooms.

The focus of this year’s project was the removal of invasive lamium.  Large piles of these plants were removed by 325 students.  In addition, 12 yards of mushroom manure was spread and almost 450 hot dogs were consumed by the hungry students after school!  The event culminated with the ribbon-cutting for the new outdoor classrooms. 

Clevelandparent, Lea Carpenter has been the driving force behind the Free the Trees initiative.  Her dedication and commitment to this project is exceptional.  But it’s much more than just pulling weeds.   

“Restoring the wooded area has helped students learn about the habitat surrounding the school and its place in the larger ecosystem. One of the outdoor classrooms consist of a teacher’s rock and three rows of large boulders, the other is a large circle in an open space.”

For more details go to the article in the North Shore News,

http://www.nsnews.com/life/Green+space+revitalized/6699991/story.html

Thank you, Lea Carpenter and the Free the Trees team at Cleveland!

category: Integrated Communities, Sharing & Celebrating Success

Cabaret Nights!

Posted by  on Tuesday, June 5th 2012     

Argyle sings from the 70s!

One of the great traditions of our exceptional school music programs is Cabaret Nights.  Through the dedicated work and passion of our choral and instrumental teachers, our students have developed outstanding musical talents.  Cabaret Nights provide the students with an opportunity to perform for family, friends and neighbours in an environment that has been transformed into a venue that enables them to showcase their talent.  These evening events also feature dinner and dancing – with tickets always selling out quickly!

I was delighted to attend the Argyle Cabaret Night in May to hear and thoroughly enjoy the music of  the choral groups of Frances Roberts and the many bands of  Chad Smith.  With the assistance of Janet Warren and the helping hands of the Argyle Parents Music Association, the Cabaret Night was a huge success!

Seycove's Cabaret Night

Just this past week I was able to join the Seycove School Community for their Cabaret Night.  With more than half of the student body actively participating in the school’s choral and instrumental music program, Seycove has a passion for Music!  The choral ensembles of Frank Lee and the many bands of Rob McLeod treated the crowd to exceptional music and were thoroughly entertaining.  Solo performances and duets in the Library Lounge were a fabulous hit, too! 

We are fortunate to have such outstanding teachers in our School District who work with our students to bring out their best.  With the support of active and involved parents, Cabaret Nights are an excellent tradition to continue!

category: Community Connections, Program Diversity

Concours d’art oratoire

Posted by  on Wednesday, May 30th 2012     

Secondary finalists

The Canadian Parents for French Concours d’art oratoire (French public speaking competition) is a long-standing tradition in our school district. On April 5th over 30 French Immersion and FSL students from across North Vancouver participated in the North Vancouver School District Concours d’art oratoire http://learningservicesnvsd44.edublogs.org/2012/04/06/students-speak-out-en-francais-concours-dart-oratoire-2012/

Winners from the district competition then went on to compete with students from across BC in the Provincial Concours d’art oratoire held at SFU Surrey Campus on Saturday May 5th 2012.

We are proud of the effort and dedication of all students who competed in both the district and provincial competitions.  The speeches were well written and well presented to an audience of the students’ peers, teachers and parents.

Congratulations to the following winners from North Vancouverat the Provincial Concours d’art oratoire on May 5th:

Parsa Seyed Zehtab       1st   Place in the Grade 6 French Immersion Category

Mathea Heindricks        2nd Place in the Grade 8 Francophone Category

Austyn Jasper                 1st Place in the Grade 8 French Immersion Category

Gillian Lonergan             1st Place in the Grade 9 French Immersion Category

Alexandra Kropova      3rd Place in the Grade 10 French Immersion Category

Maya Guttmann              1st Place in the Grade 12 French Immersion Category

Maya is heading off to the National Concours in Ottawa!

 Félicitations à tous!

For more information about Concours d’artoratoire, please visit the Canadian Parents for French website. (Link http://www.cpf.bc.ca/site3/index.php/events/concours-dart-oratoire)

category: Communications, Program Diversity
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