community report 2020

A Second Step lesson is taught to kindergarten students in Leigh Koenigsfest’s class at Boundary Elementary School. Second Step is a Social Emotional Learning initiative.

The North Vancouver School District would like to thank the Coast Salish people, specifi cally the Skwxwú7mesh Nation and Tsleil- Waututh Nation, upon whose unceded traditional territory the North Vancouver School District resides. We value the opportunity to learn, share and grow on this traditional territory. sd44.ca 2 - NORTH VANCOUVER SCHOOL DISTRICT 2020 COMMUNITY REPORT LEARN • SHARE • GROW

VISION We provide world-class instruction and a rich diversity of engaging programs to inspire success for every student and bring communities together to LEARN, SHARE AND GROW. VALUES TRUST - We act with integrity. We are open and honest in our communication with one another.

Bronwyn Wellenbrink, student at Seymour RESPECT - We relate to each other with care and appreciation. Heights Elementary, sold fl owers at her school We honour diversity and recognize the exceptional in everyone. to raise money for The Pad Project, a non-profi t that provides girls in India with the skills and RESPONSIBILITY - We are accountable for our actions. We support machinery needed to make their own feminine positive change, continuous improvement and the pursuit of excellence. hygiene products. COLLABORATION - We develop relationships and affi liations to achieve shared goals and consider each other in our decisions and actions. SIX STRATEGIC GOALS GOAL #1: EXPAND Expand the availability of best instructional practices and enriched curriculum.

GOAL #2: ENCOURAGE Encourage the growth of collaborative, adaptive and personalized learning Capilano Elementary students, staff and parents enjoy taking their learning outdoors. On select environments. Wednesday afternoons, many primary classes, along with parent volunteers, enjoy getting GOAL #3: NURTURE outside and exploring the local wilderness, Nurture an inspiring and healthy including McKay Creek and Murdo Frazer Park. work environment. Montroyal Elementary is an inclusive school where everyone belongs. GOAL #4: DEVELOP Develop and promote innovative and sustainable programs. GOAL #5: PROVIDE Provide leadership in environmental education and sustainability practices. GOAL #6: STRENGTHEN Strengthen and expand reciprocal community relations.

Students at Sherwood Park Elementary display Students at Eslha7an support Pink Shirt Day. the tight-knit, community feel of the school.

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Message from the Chair and Superintendent

Having entered a new decade in 2020, it is time to refl ect back on what we have achieved over North Vancouver Board of Education 2018-2022 the past 10 years. In 2011, North Vancouver became one of the fi rst school districts in the province to create a Strategic Plan. This plan established six strategic goals that have been guiding us toward realizing our Vision and Values.

CHRISTIE SACRÉ As our current Strategic Plan is coming to an end next year, we are now refl ecting on how we have done and where we want to go. Since November we have been undertaking a comprehensive strategic planning process. We have met with students, employees, parents and community members. More than 700 people engaged in the process, sharing more than 1,200 ideas. Over the next few months, we BACK ROW (left to right): Christie Sacré, Mary Tasi Baker, Devon Bruce, will synthesize the results. We will then present George Tsiakos the collated results back to the community to FRONT ROW (left to right): Megan Higgins, Kulvir Mann, Cyndi Gerlach MARK PEARMAIN gather further feedback. The new Strategic Plan will be completed by June 2021. and comfortable for students and staff. The new Argyle Secondary School In the meantime, we continue our efforts toward realizing our current is pushing into the last leg of construction, the Mountainside Secondary strategic goals. Each year, we report back to the community about these School seismic upgrade is well underway, and shovels are hitting the ground efforts in our annual Community Report. Over the last school year, our for a new Handsworth Secondary School. instructional practices were enhanced by focusing on fi ve educational By the end of last school year, we had reached 18.2 per cent energy priorities: modernizing the curriculum, supporting complex learners, reduction since 2011. We are now pushing to get to a 20 per cent energy bringing Indigenous Education to all staff and students, creating a reduction target by the end of this school year. This school year we are kindergarten to grade 12 continuum for Social Emotional Learning and asking all schools to do their part by running energy reduction campaigns mental health, and career development. In November, we brought together to help us get to 20 per cent. The North Vancouver Board of Education also our 2,500 employees to hear from Dr. Niigaanwewidam Sinclair and to declared a climate emergency. collectively work on our commitment of reconciliation. We have continued to expand our social emotional learning education for all students. We have Our connections to our community continue to grow. Whether it is working introduced new career planning software for secondary school students with North Vancouver RCMP, City of North Vancouver, District of North and have expanded our work experience programming. The professional Vancouver, local public libraries, North Vancouver Recreation and Culture learning staff have undertaken in relation to supporting complex and unique Commission, Vancouver Coastal Health, ICBC, the Vancouver Aquarium, learners has been vast. or Sport for Life; our partnerships continue to develop. An initiative we are particularly excited about is the Power 5 program with the RCMP, focusing We continue to create learning opportunities for students that are varied in on building closer connections between students and police offi cers. We content and structure, to ensure we meet students’ unique learning interests are also an active participant in the North Shore Housing Lab, led by the and styles. Our 10 academies, International Baccalaureate programs and City of North Vancouver, exploring opportunities to support affordable other programs of choice continue to be popular. Distributed Learning and housing initiatives that will keep our community vibrant and diverse. We Summer Learning are reviewed annually to meet the needs of students. extend a warm ‘Thank you’ to all of the organizations and individuals in our Our arts education, technology integration and elective options also community who support our schools. evolve along with student interests, yet we maintain the strong foundation of programs unique to our school district such as Artists for Kids and We would like to thank all of our staff, students and parents who have Elementary Band and Strings. French Immersion and Cheakamus Centre worked hard to enhance our school district. Much has been accomplished both reached milestone anniversaries this past school year at 40 years and over the past year, and over the past decade. Creating meaningful change 50 years respectively. takes time and a lot of energy. We are proud of what we have accomplished, and acknowledge that there is more we can achieve. ■ We undertook our second Employee Engagement Survey last year to ensure that we are offering inspiring and healthy work environments. We will be moving forward with further workplace enhancements based on these results, including collaboration, communication and resource sharing across the school district. Schools will be using their school-based results CHRISTIE SACRÉ MARK PEARMAIN from the survey to help with planning at the school level. We also continue CHAIR, NORTH VANCOUVER SUPERINTENDENT, NORTH to invest in our school buildings to ensure learning environments are safe BOARD OF EDUCATION VANCOUVER SCHOOL DISTRICT

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GOAL #1: EXPAND the availability of best instructional practices and enriched curriculum.

Outstanding work is happening here! outdated resources. and SEL skills, supports diversity SOCIAL EMOTIONAL CHEAKAMUS CENTRE and provides career connections. LEARNING AND MENTAL Cheakamus Centre offers PHYSICAL LITERACY HEALTH rich, place-based, curriculum Physical literacy was offi cially INCLUSIVE EDUCATION experiences that support SEL, Social Emotional Learning (SEL) launched. Two physical literacy There are three priority areas that inclusion and Indigenous education. and mental health formally became conferences were hosted. More the inclusive education team is NVSD’s Outdoor School and an educational priority area for the than 40 hours of workshops were working on: consistency of practice, Skw’une-was programs continue school district. A video and website offered. home-school partnerships, and to thrive for students in grades were created (sd44.ca/sites/SEL). modernizing curriculum, instruction 3, 4 and 6. Professional learning INDIGENOUS EDUCATION Professional development is being and assessment. Individual opportunities are also offered at the Indigenous education is for all Education Plan planning has provided. Second Step, an SEL centre. students and staff. We are now changed to be student-centred. curricular program, is now being involving parents more. As a There has been a shift to trauma- taught in 12 elementary schools. EARLY LEARNING result of this universal approach, informed practice and Ukeru. ■ Mental Health curriculum is taught Partnerships are continually graduation rates of students of to all Grade 9 students. enhanced with community Indigenous ancestry have improved. organizations. The Kindergarten CURRICULUM Network has been reinvigorated and ACADEMIES Dr. Sinclair It has now been fi ve years since early learning curricular programs There are 10 academies comprising the new B.C. curriculum was were revised. of 20 classes and 532 students. inspires staff introduced. The shift in curriculum has been a major systemic change LITERACY ARTISTS FOR KIDS Integrating Indigenous perspectives from a content focus to a skills Literacy Centre resources have There are various district arts and celebrating student achievement focus. Professional development, been updated. An Assessment festivals – music, dance, drama yields positive returns. This is the collaboration and the Curriculum Committee formed and completed and visual arts. The professional key message Dr. Niigaanwewidam Hub have all been paramount research. Effi ciencies were created art collection owned by Artists for James Sinclair imparted on staff to supporting new curriculum in Library Services with electronic Kids is an incredible learning tool. and students during his visit to sites implementation. cataloguing and by removing Programming teaches visual arts around the school district in October 2019. A University of Manitoba associate professor, Dr. Sinclair is North Van students ahead of curve a prolifi c writer and sought-after commentator on Indigenous issues. BY MARIA SPITALE-LEISK two high schools in May 2019. were of interest to the 200 delegates Ridgeway Elementary and NORTH SHORE NEWS Argyle and Mountainside were two from the Organisation for Economic Handsworth Secondary hosted Dr. of four B.C. schools selected to Co-operation and Development, Sinclair during the day on October North Vancouver public schools are be showcased for the world’s top comprised of almost 40 member 3. That evening, Dr. Sinclair spoke to ahead of the curve when it comes education policy-makers. Recent nations. school district administrators about to student engagement. That was changes to B.C.’s curriculum, the value of Indigenous education the consensus among international including a focus on student choice At Mountainside, the education for all learners. On October 4, the education delegates who toured and cross-curricular connections, envoy learned how community partners, including counsellors eve of World Teachers’ Day, Dr. and doctors, are integrated into Sinclair capped off his visit with an the programs at the school. At inspiring speech to roughly 1,600 staff members gathered at Carson Argyle, principal Kim Jonat extolled Graham Secondary. As staff fi ltered the academic, arts and athletic out of the gymnasium, they were qualities of the school. Jonat drew gifted with a bundle of white sage the delegates’ attention to Argyle’s – considered a sacred plant by Digital Media Academy – an Indigenous peoples. ■ enriched hands-on program that regales tech-savvy students from across the district because of its

PAUL MCGRATH PAUL industry connections. The Vancouver conference marked the fi rst time the OECD has met in North America, as it undergoes an PHOTO NS NEWS NEWS NS PHOTO international rethink about the goals Argyle Secondary Digital Media Academy students explain a game and competencies students need to they created to visiting OECD delegate Joy Hu Jun from China. thrive in a rapidly changing world. ■

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GOAL #1: EXPAND the availability of best instructional practices and enriched curriculum.

guitars, and proving that any solid mass can become a drum set if it’s Supporting treated the right way. executive Jake Rubin, a Grade 12 student at Argyle Secondary, has been playing functioning classical piano since he was fi ve BY JANIS MANN years old, but he really took to jazz DISTRICT VICE-PRINCIPAL, music a few years ago. INCLUSIVE EDUCATION “I love the atmosphere behind it, all Roughly 80 North Vancouver School the harmonies you can make out District employees recently came of it, and the fact that you can play together to hone their strategies for any note along with any chord and it supporting students with executive usually sounds good,” he jests. “It’s functioning skills. Executive really cool.” functioning refers to the ability to Rubin was one of approximately plan, organize and complete tasks. 130 students from all six North These are skills that can be taught. Vancouver high schools who turned By supporting students in this Jazz festival up on a Saturday for the fi rst North manner, our staff help students Vancouver School District Jazz reach their full potential. Executive BY BEN BENGTSON once, the kids are being encouraged Festival. Organized and founded by functioning skills can be harnessed NORTH SHORE NEWS to be loud – but it’s not the usual Carson band director Kevin Yang in all students, and students with sounds of youthful laughter and A fl urry of sound echoes through and Argyle band director Diana special needs benefi t greatly from rip-roaring energy produced by a this learning. the hallways of a North Vancouver Chan, the purpose of the one-day high school. Although it’s a healthy dollop of teenage rebellion event was to get students out of Over two days, various employees Saturday, students dressed in sharp that are making soundwaves here. their usual classroom environments partook in a seminar presented by black attire can be seen bustling These students are all musicians. and interacting with their fellow Sarah Ward, a well-known Speech from one room to the next at They’re walking around tuning big young musicians on the North and Language Pathologist and Carson Graham Secondary. And for brass instruments, strumming Shore. ■ expert in the implementation of practical strategies to improve executive functioning. The seminar was hands-on and offered practical Students visit residential school memorial strategies for supporting executive BY BEN BENGTSON functioning for all learners. ■ NORTH SHORE NEWS

Students at Carisbrooke Elementary Dorothy are walking to walk, even though there’s still a long way to go. A group Lynas robotic of kids in grades 4 to 7 walked from their school to St. Paul’s Indian champs Residential School Memorial, at the corner of Forbes Avenue and Sixth

Street, as part of an ongoing truth WAKEFIELD MIKE and reconciliation effort. “Last year we became a Downie Wenjack Legacy School,” said Carisbrooke principal Lisa Upton. NEWS NS PHOTO “In addition to learning about the Carisbrooke Elementary students observe a memorial for true history of Canada and the residential school survivors in North Vancouver. Team Marvel Robotics from truth of residential schools, we do a Dorothy Lynas Elementary reconciliation action.” to write down what they were going Carisbrooke to the memorial, they won big at the regional First In honour of the legacy of Chanie to bring with them – what they’d were asked to consider: “What do all LEGO League championship Wenjack, who was just nine years need – for a long walk. Wenjack was of us need to bring on our journey on Jan. 19, 2020. They had old when he was taken from his found frozen to death in 1966 after moving forward on reconciliation?” he ran away from residential school to solve a tricky mission – family and sent to a residential Kids wrote down ideas such as looking to get back home. created out of Lego – with school hundreds of kilometres away “hope,” “patience,” “honesty,” and the help of a robot. in the 1960s, students were asked As students walked from “courage,” according to Upton. ■

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GOAL #2: ENCOURAGE the growth of collaborative, adaptive and personalized learning environments.

technology is transforming our lives Windsor drag Professional learning and requires organizations to constantly adapt, and employees to constantly club breaking collaboration are essential learn. This is also true within the education sector. down barriers In addition to the need to learn and BY MARIA SPITALE-LEISK adjust as the world rapidly changes, COMMUNICATIONS ASSISTANT, education research continues to NVSD grow. Better understandings of how students learn are being revealed, A new generation of Greasers along with increased awareness of are getting an adrenaline rush at what learning environments need Windsor Secondary – while breaking to encompass. As a school district, stereotypes. Student Kaitlyn Clark we place strategic efforts into grips the steering wheel of the white supporting change that will spur 1980 Camaro Z28, one hand on the student success. Staff professional shifter, anxiously anticipating the development is the foundation of green light. At the fi rst fl ash of green, these efforts. it’s pedal to the metal for Clark as she takes off down the quarter-mile Professional development days and dragstrip at Mission Raceway Park. BY CHRIS ATKINSON AND PIUS RYAN education assistants, offi ce support, collaboration days are essential to ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENTS, administrators, custodial staff, this continued growth. Employees The automotive program at Windsor NVSD need the time to focus on areas and maintenance professionals has always included female where they want to learn and grow – everyone is constantly learning students, but last school year saw The North Vancouver School in their professional practice and and growing, with the purpose of a shift in the school’s drag racing District team is phenomenal. The they need to be able to connect with ensuring students reach their full club: no male drivers. The purpose effort, dedication and care placed colleagues to share best practice and potential. of the club is to give students a into supporting student success learn from one another. There is deep real application of the skills they is inspiring. Throughout the entire Within any profession, it is essential employee learning that takes place are learning in the auto program, organization, staff members are that employees are constantly on professional development days explains Windsor automotive teacher constantly striving to improve learning and developing their and collaboration days. This learning Stephen Lonsbrough. their practice to better meet practice. This is true now, more than is then applied directly to support “The responsibility of maintaining a student needs. From teachers, to ever before. The rapid rate in which students. ■ vehicle, the safety aspects of driving, and the camaraderie of being part of a large project that spans the Game Ready is making a difference province,” says Mr. Lonsbrough. BY REGAN RANKIN a 40-minute research block on Windsor’s drag race club is TEACHER, EASTVIEW ELEMENTARY computers and sparked excellent associated with the British Columbia questions and conversation, which Secondary Schools Motorsport Recently my students played football. then sparked MORE research! All Association, which has been running Out on the school fi eld, we learned of the students demonstrated 100 since the early 1990s. The racing how to throw a football, and catch a per cent engagement and remained season starts in mid-April and goes football, and kick the ball. And while calm, focused and regulated for the until the end of June, with a test-and- this may not seem like that big of a entire time. They were very proud of ■ tune day in September. deal – it was. It really, truly was. themselves – and of course, we were Some students cannot focus as well very proud of them too. as others. They become engaged During another session, Mitch taught in their learning in less common us how to throw a football and do ways. Game Ready has been able some kicking. Again, there was to provide that engagement for my full participation and the students students. demonstrated a willingness to try On one visit, BC Lions player Mitch something new and perseverance Regan Rankin, NVSD teacher, Barnett from Game Ready gifted my when things got challenging. Pushing and Mitch Barnett, BC Lions class with a signed football. past challenges and insecurities player can be very diffi cult. The fun, active He recommended that the kids Washington Foundation for making approach of Game Ready enables Windsor student Julia Sikich research a bit about the player this fun and unique experience students to challenge themselves. is excited for another season who signed it (Drew Bledsoe). possible and for supporting students of drag racing. This recommendation prompted Thank you to Game Ready and the to succeed! ■

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GOAL #2: ENCOURAGE the growth of collaborative, adaptive and personalized learning environments.

Summer Learning connects Ancient craft Westview concepts uncovered at receives in the summer. Cove Cliff Indigenous Just like during the regular school year in classrooms across the books school district, students at Summer Learning make discoveries as they explore new ideas and master new skills. In the school’s science labs, menacing bacteria was grown and BY MARIA SPITALE-LEISK

examined closely, young biologists WAKEFIELD MIKE COMMUNICATIONS ASSISTANT, NVSD dissected pigs, and chemists in Mr. Bulger’s class explored polarity Studying mathematics in the while making soap. Expository

summer is time well spent for many essays took shape in Mr. Murphy’s NEWS NS PHOTO students across North Vancouver. English Studies 12 class as students explored how storytelling deepens Westview Elementary student “Having the course condensed understanding of ideas and the Jordan Noble joins One makes it easier. I don’t forget as world. to One executive director much because I’m taking the class Carol Neuman, volunteer every day,” said Will, a Sutherland Physical and Health Education 10 Kamy Zargarpour, TD bank

Secondary student who signed up was a new addition to the Summer MCGRATH PAUL for Pre-Calculus 11. Learning lineup last year. Students representative Rick Chou enjoyed this alternative way to earn and One to One school co- The diverse suite of course credits – from climbing Quarry ordinator Leslie Tarves in offerings at North Vancouver diving into a selection of new Rock, swimming at Whyte Lake and NEWS NS PHOTO School District’s Summer Learning rowing in Deep Cove, to planning a books from Strong Nations attracted 1,200 students to Carson healthy personal workout routine. Tsleil-Waututh weaver Kiki Publishing, donated by the Graham Secondary in July 2019. Whitebear shows one of her children’s literacy program One Summer Learning programs support Registration for 2020 Summer English language learners, students Learning will be open from May 1 - woven shawls during a Cove to One, as part of a project transitioning to high school, those June 19, 2020. Foundation Courses Cliff Elementary celebration to include books with more in Grade 8 and 9 looking to enhance will run from July 2 - July 23, 2020, of Coast Salish weaving at Indigenous stories in local core math, literacy and language and Full Credit Courses will run from the school. The entire student elementary schools. skills, and those who aim to earn July 2 - July 30, 2020. For full course body learned how to weave, advanced credit towards graduation. offerings visit sd44.ca/school/ while working on a legacy The elementary program runs later summer. ■ project.

Lacrosse academy produces well-rounded players

BY MARIA SPITALE-LEISK North Vancouver School District’s COMMUNICATIONS ASSISTANT, lacrosse academy, offered through NVSD Carson Graham Secondary and which Joseph helped shape. “It’s a medicine game,” says His teachings go beyond skill Tewanee Joseph, of the sport development – catching, carrying, richly steeped in North Vancouver’s passing, and shooting the ball. Indigenous history. Joseph twice Honouring the history and culture of the Squamish Nation and their helped lift the legendary North Shore in Grades 8 to 12, is to instill in the and as a family,” says Joseph. “The connection to Canada’s pastime Indians, pioneers in the sport of box young players values, skills, attitudes is intertwined with skills training players are learning the skills and lacrosse, to national glory. and knowledge needed to be healthy, required for success at fi eld and box concepts. Through the game it’s active and global citizens. Beginning in 2018, Joseph has lent lacrosse. An overarching goal of the inspiring them to do other positive his experience and talent to the unique academy, open to students “We set goals to aspire to as a team things in their lives.” ■

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GOAL #3: NURTURE an inspiring and healthy work environment.

Sage gift fosters curiosity in Eastview students BY NICKY MEY related to plants and smells, TEACHER/VICE PRINCIPAL, and then learned that it is one of EASTVIEW ELEMENTARY the sacred medicines used by Indigenous peoples. We sat in a circle and shared the wonderful dried sage that was At “tell my story” time, the children given to each of the teachers to wrote about sage and their celebrate World Teachers’ Day. connections to it – unprompted. We smelled it, and told stories Thank you for this amazing gift. ■

Artistic enhancements Outdoor and hard on the murals. Donating More than encouraging healthier, MURAL ENLIVENS LYNN Learning hours of her time, the murals are pollution-free commutes to school, VALLEY ELEMENTARY a true labour of love and gift to Sandra Singh, Principal of Braemar Carisbrooke Elementary. The murals Elementary, said she feels the are place-based. One is the forest at mural itself is representative of the the back of Carisbrooke Elementary. Braemar community. The other is part of the forest on the “It’s an open, free space with that west side of the school property. beautiful circle that signifi es unity and equality and the lines within it represented interconnectedness. I see that representing the Braemar Many schools now have school community – who we are Hastings Creek holds a special dedicated outdoor learning and who we strive to be every single place in the hearts of Lynn Valley spaces. Check out the day,” she said. ■ Elementary students – even after new space at Brooksbank they leave. So, when last year’s Elementary. Grade 7 class started to imagine a legacy gift for their school, the creek came to mind. Chosen to bring their beloved creek to life inside the library Accessible was local artist Caroline Chao, who BRAEMAR MURAL GIVES spent 120 hours this past summer SCHOOL CUL-DE-SAC BACK TO playground meticulously painting every frond STUDENTS opens at and ripple around the creek. BY BRENT RICHTER NORTH SHORE NEWS CARISBROOKE LIBRARY Xwemélch’stn NOW HOME TO TWO AMAZING, At Braemar Elementary, they get the HAND-PAINTED MURALS big picture. Specifi cally, a massive BY CHERYL TOMS mural that now adorns the cul-de- TEACHER-LIBRARIAN, sac outside the main entrance, CARISBROOKE ELEMENTARY MCGRATH PAUL welcoming students. More than 100 Braemar students and parents The Carisbrooke Elementary library turned out on a Saturday to help is now home to two stunning designer Rob Zylstra paint the murals that will have you feeling NEWS NS PHOTO street. as though you’ve escaped into the lush North Vancouver forests. “It’s a way of symbolizing that Martyn Schmoll, a Safe Taking two months to complete, the this is a public space and that Routes Advocates member, murals were painted by community it belongs to everyone, not just Braemar Elementary Principal Norgate Community member Caroline Chao and funded drivers,” said Martyn Schmoll, a Sandra Singh and District Elementary – Xwemélch’stn – by the generous Carisbrooke PAC. A Braemar parent and Safe Routes of North Vancouver Coun. celebrated the completion of proud past North Vancouver School Advocates member who lobbied for Jordan Back celebrate atop a its new, accessible playground District parent, Caroline worked long the project. new mural outside the school. on September 27, 2019.

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GOAL #3: NURTURE an inspiring and healthy work environment.

Summer of work Celebrating BY MARK PEARMAIN combustion equipment within QUEEN MARY ELEMENTARY SUPERINTENDENT, NVSD classrooms were removed. LGBTQ2S+ SCHOOL: PORTABLE I want to share my immense A new portable was installed. UPPER LYNN ELEMENTARY history New ventilation units in the east gratitude to our school district’s EASTVIEW ELEMENTARY BY DENEKA MICHAUD facilities and maintenance team. The wing were installed. COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER, New double-glazed windows NVSD amount of work they accomplish throughout the older sections of LYNN VALLEY ELEMENTARY is immense. This work makes our the school were installed. The A retaining wall was installed and the In a fl owing pink dress and pink wig, schools safer, more sustainable school now has enhanced thermal back outside stairs were replaced. Conni Smudge performs to a packed and more comfortable for students comfort, improved energy effi ciency, COVE CLIFF ELEMENTARY house at Seycove Secondary School. and staff. Every summer they dive and operable windows for natural The room erupts with positive into getting projects done. Here is A new ramp system was installed to ventilation. enter the portable. energy, as students, staff and guests the work that was completed over clap along with the show. It was CAPILANO ELEMENTARY summer break last year: LARSON ELEMENTARY not that long ago, however, that a Installation of new windows, ARGYLE SECONDARY SCHOOL: A window renewal project was performance such as this would rainscreen building envelope, new REPLACEMENT UPDATE completed on the upper south side never have occurred in a school. central heating plant, and classroom of the school. Construction continued on the ventilation upgrades in older “I was only in a school a decade new replacement school with a sections of the school. The school DISTRICT-WIDE ago, and could not have imagined completion date of September has improved thermal comfort, Installation of new water bottle anything like this taking place with such acceptance and celebration,” 2020. indoor air quality, energy effi ciency, fi lling stations in pre-1990 said Kas Baker, a North Vancouver daylighting, and operable windows elementary schools. This project MOUNTAINSIDE SECONDARY native who began transitioning while for natural ventilation. included dedicated piping to reduce SCHOOL: SEISMIC UPGRADE potential lead in water concerns. in secondary school. “While I had a Seismic mitigation work SEYMOUR HEIGHTS The installation of carbon monoxide lot of support from friends, family commenced in July 2019, with ELEMENTARY detection and monitoring systems and the school, I was still referred to demolition in Phase 1 of the project New ventilation units in the north in all locations that have gas-fi red as a science experiment at the time.” completed in the summer. wing were installed and gas-fi red combustion equipment. ■ On April 10, 2019, an event hosted at Seycove Secondary kicked off the start of a new educational initiative Process and protocol called Our History. The program is offered by the Canadian Centre for WORDS AND TEACHINGS FROM speakers according to protocol, and Gender and Sexual Diversity with SWALKLANEXW, DALLAS GUSS females are the fl oor managers. The the purpose of educating youth INDIGENOUS SUPPORT WORKER Indigenous Education team works and Canadians about the history of closely with knowledge keepers from LGBTQ2S+ rights in Canada. ■ The Indigenous Education team’s the Squamish Nation and Tsleil- offerings of Educating the Educator Waututh Nation to ensure that we need to follow protocol. In some are following protocol. instances, the traditional offering might include separation of events, This school year, the NVSD or roles, by gender. For example, the Indigenous Education Team has “Shukwem” (spiritual cleansing bath) been sharing teachings about does not allow males and females Shukwem. Shukwem dates back to be together for the ceremony. thousands of years and is a process is a powerful cleansing moment. At Another example: when ceremony of cleansing oneself of negative this time, the spirits can give an extra occurs that involve speakers, it is energy. The Coast Salish ancestors hand in carrying away the harmful created a community culture of only males that are allowed to be the energies. Depending on the purpose, removing negative thoughts, feelings different waters represent different and energy through multiple different energies. Rapid waters for energy, facets: brushing-off with a cedar ocean for power and still waters for bough, smudging with sacred plants, calm feelings. The reason we do ho’oponopono cleaning thoughts, this is because we would not dare and bathing in water. to bring negative feelings into our Shukwem at sunrise symbolizes communities. The ancestors realized spirits returning from their earth that even one ounce of negative Kas Baker speaks to Seycove sleep back to the spirit world, which energy will affect the entire circle. ■ students.

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GOAL #4: DEVELOP and promote innovative and sustainable programs.

NVSD celebrates 40 years of Cheakamus Centre celebrates French immersion 50th with time capsule

BY CHRISTOPHER SUN BY KEILI BARTLETT letters from the school district, CONTRIBUTING WRITER, SQUAMISH CHIEF the ministry of education and NORTH SHORE NEWS students. Khapquolanogh (Henry) Since 1969, hundreds of B.C. and Siýámken (Matthew) Williams It was halfway through his fi rst week students have crossed through added devil’s club salve and a as a teacher at Delbrook secondary WAKEFIELD MIKE the Cheakamus Centre, picking traditional cedar bark bracelet to the school when Don Fraser received up valuable environmental and capsule. Each student, from Lynn a phone call, telling him he was not outdoors knowledge during their Valley Elementary and Queen Mary going back. It was 1974 and the stay in the wooded area north of Elementary, wrote refl ections on high school teacher had recently NEWS NS PHOTO Squamish. At the centre’s 50th their experience at the centre. The returned from Europe with his anniversary celebration on Dec. Teacher Michelle Didier founder of what was then called the family after spending some years 6, 2019, more than 100 North works with student Mila Neff North Vancouver Outdoor School, teaching there. He was puzzled at Vancouver students gathered to Don Robertson, added his own letter on a French comic book at fi rst, but not about to argue with witness the burial of a time capsule, to the capsule as well. ■ the superintendent. That phone call Cleveland Elementary. set to be opened in another 50 became a pivotal moment for public years. Christie Sacré, now the chair and Ross Road – and seats were education in North Vancouver. of the North Vancouver Board of available on a fi rst come, fi rst Education, fi rst visited Cheakamus “The superintendent said, ‘Don served basis. North Vancouver’s Centre as an elementary school Fraser, you are not going back to French immersion program started BARTLETT KEILI student. So did her children. She’s Delbrook,’” Fraser recalls. “‘You’re in September 1978 with about 20 learned fi rst-hand — as a student, going to come to the school board kindergarten students in each class. offi ce and you’re going to start the parent and trustee — the value of the “There was tremendous interest,” immersive program that focuses on French second language program.’” Fraser remembers, adding that place-based learning. French was offered in high school after each school year, a new “It’s nice for our students to be able CHIEF SQUAMISH PHOTO only, at that time. Fraser was fl uent French immersion grade had to be to come here, get into nature, put in French and in his new role as introduced until there were classes NVSD Superintendent Mark away the phones. Put away all that modern languages co-ordinator, from kindergarten to Grade 12. More Pearmain, Board Chair part of life, and it’s back to basics,” was tasked to introduce 20 minutes elementary schools and eventually Christie Sacré, Cheakamus she said. of daily French education into the high schools were added. Centre founder Don school curriculum at the Grade 6 Mark Pearmain, the superintendent Today, 15 per cent of the North Robertson, Cheakamus level. Soon after, he was keen to of the North Vancouver School Vancouver School District’s Centre Project Manager Cathy expand the program. District, said the capsule will give a approximately 15,700 students are Jenkins and Squamish Nation snapshot of what learning was like To start, two French immersion enrolled in French immersion, from Coun. Chris Lewis threw dirt in 2019. classes were proposed at two kindergarten to Grade 12. That’s onto the 50th anniversary elementary schools – Cleveland 2,500 students. ■ The capsule includes mostly time capsule. Good things brewing at student-run café BY ANDY PREST serving up coffee and baked goods give them enough skills that they The café is scheduled to run every NORTH SHORE NEWS out of a nifty little hole in the wall can land on their two feet outside Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. at NVSD headquarters. The project after high school.” during the school year – Thursdays If you’re ever in the Central Lonsdale was created as a way for Inclusive when Friday is a professional Everything at the café is sold area on a Friday and get a craving Education students from Sutherland development day – at 2121 by-donation – there are no price for a mid-morning snack, a and Carson Graham to experience Lonsdale Ave. ■ tags – and supplies so far have wholesome new endeavour running a work-like environment and get a been donated by North Vancouver’s taste of what life will be like after out of the NVSD offi ce has got Moja Coffee and Two Daughters high school. you covered. The Higher Grounds Bakeshop. Money collected at (Chílhinup) Café opened for the “It gives them a lot of skills,” said the café will be used to buy extra fi rst time Friday, Oct. 11, 2019, with Neeru Parmar, the school district’s supplies, with anything left over at Grade 12 and 13 students from work experience facilitator. “I want the end of the school year going the district’s Inclusive Education these kids to feel that they can towards a year-end outing for the program for complex learners contribute to the community, and students.

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GOAL #4: DEVELOP and promote innovative and sustainable programs.

Artist for Kids celebrates three decades of student success BY ALLISON KERR artists – provides a venue to share, not only support every elementary DIRECTOR OF ARTISTS FOR KIDS build and grow our identity and and secondary school in North belonging as people, as Canadians. Vancouver, but all educators Artists for Kids is now thirty years Thirty years later, our Gordon Smith in British Columbia through old! Affectionately called AFK, Gallery of Canadian Art boasts our extensive interdisciplinary this program refl ects what can more than 650 pieces of original curriculum and resources shared be possible when our community Canadian art from some of our on our website. has a vision. This vision places most noted Canadian artists. Our kids, teachers and artists front Artists for Kids’ team supports The vision for AFK continues to be and centre. AFK knew intrinsically students through outreach, gallery bright, supporting kids, teachers that learning through the arts and programs, enrichment, after and artists locally and nationally – learning through relationships with school programs, and spring and continuing a legacy of possibility and each other – kids, educators and summer camps. These efforts support for each other. ■ International student program Indigenous For more than 20 years, students “It’s the diversity of our programming to lifelong friendships. Education: from around the world have come that makes it very rich,” says Lynne “We are exceptionally grateful to our to North Vancouver to learn and Bolen, International Program host families – the fact they open New Logo grow under NVSD’s International Administrator. The program their doors and their hearts to our Education program. Approximately consistently attracts students hailing international students,” says Bolen. 650 international students, enrolled from 30 countries worldwide. While from kindergarten to Grade 12 at living in homestay, international There are many reciprocal benefi ts, sites across the school district, enjoy students immerse themselves in as the students physically broaden the smorgasbord of high quality, Canadian culture and develop their their horizons and bring along a vibrant education programs the English language skills in a caring, cultural taste of their homeland to school district has to offer. comfortable family setting – leading their host families. ■

Social Emotional Learning (SEL) BY JEREMY CHURCH We recognize that social and Curriculum for all Grade 9 students. DISTRICT PRINCIPAL, emotional skills can be taught and Twelve of our elementary schools SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING are increasingly important in today’s are implementing the Second Step AND MENTAL HEALTH world. Presently, we are extremely program, which is SEL curriculum ■ Introducing the new In the North Vancouver School proud of the work of Mountainside from kindergarten to Grade 7. Indigenous Education logo District, we believe that the Social Secondary School, Choices Emotional Learning Continuum Program, Counsellors, District designed by Jaimee Thomas, is central to student development Resource Team, Social Tsleil-Waututh Nation member and the educated global citizen. Responsibility Support and a student at Lynnmour Intentionally enhancing a student’s Program, School Elementary School. Jaimee’s sense of belonging while teaching Based Resource design includes Wolf for social emotional skills and positive Teams, and our the Tsleil-Waututh Nation mental health enables student relationship and Thunderbird for the with Foundry engagement and enhanced learning. Skwxwú7mesh Nation. The In partnership with parents and in supporting our students. water represents Coast Salish community, we share the role in the Peoples and has the Métis intentional development of students. In addition, we are teaching SEL sash running through it. The A joint committee of district and mental health colours green, yellow, blue and leadership, principals, classroom from kindergarten orange are the NVSD colours. teachers, counsellors, specialist to Grade 12. We have Jaimee drew her logo, which teachers, and support staff are been national leaders was then digitized by graphic helping to set future direction as in the implementation designer, Olivia George, Tsleil- a school district related to SEL. of a Positive Mental Health Waututh Nation.

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GOAL #5: PROVIDE leadership in environmental education and sustainability practices.

North Van students harvest life lessons in school garden BY MARIA SPITALE-LEISK “Sustainability comes into the NORTH SHORE NEWS science aspect of things, and looking at climate change and how we A special friendship between a can grow our own food in our own senior and students blossomed after backyard,” explains Highlands Grade the harvest at Highlands Elementary. 4/5 teacher Jennifer Sherlock. “The The original plan called for fl owers to children take some of their skills brighten up four empty garden beds home and we’ve found that some by the gravel fi eld, when the school families start growing their own reopened in 2009 after a rebuild. vegetables in their own backyards, as a result of this.” I see a change “Then we discovered the kids were way more interested in vegetables,” The green project at Highlands is BY DENEKA MICHAUD into the weekly outing. exclaims former Highlands teacher sustained through support from COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER, the school’s PAC and grants from NVSD Meanwhile, up the hill at Carson Edie Rustemeyer, who routinely Graham Secondary, Laurie Louwe, comes out of retirement to help community partners including Vancouver Coastal Health. Parents “I see a change!” exclaims a a science and biology teacher, students fi nd their green thumbs. also play a vital role in keeping the kindergarten student, pointing to a was looking for an opportunity The school’s vegetable garden is garden growing – especially when newly blossomed fl ower on a bush for her students to go out into the thriving with potatoes, garlic, berries school is out for the summer. ■ along the sidewalk on Mahon Ave. community in a meaningful way, to and greens in late May. Grade 4 and 5 share their growing knowledge of Students in Paul Wright’s the natural world around them. students are eager to get outside for kindergarten class at Queen Mary their monthly, hands-on sustainability Community Elementary School “I was trying to create a community lesson from Edible Garden Project. are walking from their school up to of learners where my students could Today, the students play plant Wagg Creek Park. Along the way become the teachers, and build their detectives – using magnifying PAUL MCGRATH PAUL they are looking for changes in leadership skills,” said Louwe. glasses to comb through kale in nature that they notice compared to Willow Mumford, the teacher leader search of pests and pollinators. Off last week’s walk up to the park. for the Carson Graham family of to the side, another group of students

“Change!” another student yells. “The schools, introduced Wright to Louwe, is sorting and cleaning lettuce NEWS NS PHOTO cherry blossoms are falling off the and the three of them created a plan seeds harvested from a crop they tree,” she explains. for each of Louwe’s Grade 11 classes planted last year. Below the surface Highlands Elementary to be partnered with a kindergarten of their leafy exploration are myriad students exercise their Every Friday throughout the entire class from Queen Mary Elementary curriculum connections – that not green thumbs during their school year, Wright has walked his School. Paula Jasek and Christina only benefi t the students but also class’ monthly, hands-on class up to Wagg Creek Park. The Empey, kindergarten teachers at result in positive global impacts they sustainability lesson from weekly ritual started as an adventure Queen Mary, agreed to take part are making. Edible Garden Project. out of the classroom to check out in the pilot project, with the help of local nature, and has transformed parent volunteers to accompany into a powerful place-based learning the kindergarten students to the experience connected to the local park. The kindergarten and Grade Together to 20 municipality and secondary school. 11 students started to meet at Did you know that the North Shutdown, and Print and Copy After the fi rst class trip to the park, Wagg Creek Park each week. The kindergarten students then visited Vancouver School District has a Challenge. Ask your school what students had questions about how ■ their older partners at Carson target – set in 2011 – to reduce campaigns they are undertaking. the creek is managed. Wright asked its energy consumption by 20 per the City of North Vancouver about Graham Secondary in the science lab. cent by 2020? And…did you know it. As a result, an environmental we have almost reached that technician from the municipality “It was amazing to see how well the target! We have reduced our energy came to visit the class. Students kindergarten and Grade 11 students consumption by 18.2 per cent! learned about all of the efforts that connected,” said Wright. “They really are undertaken to keep the creek came together to explore science The Together to 20 campaign asks healthy, such as a rain garden, questions collaboratively. They felt schools to take part in one of fi ve drainage basins and garbage connected to the project because challenges that will help reduce cleanup. As the year progressed, it was directly related to our local energy use: Winter Fashion, Lights science lessons were incorporated creek and park.” ■ Out, Energy Education, Winter

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GOAL #5: PROVIDE leadership in environmental education and sustainability practices.

Schools do their part! is needed to manage the rats, of greenhouse gases from being ARGYLE CLOTHING SWAP A secondary poisoning of wildlife released into the atmosphere! SUCCESS can occur. After receiving this BY OLIVIA BRENNAN The grade 3/4 class was invited information, the Windsor Green STUDENT, ARGYLE to attend a ceremony on Monday, Team quickly mobilized and took ENVIRONMENT CLUB June 17, 2019, at the City of North action to remove all of the litter from Vancouver City Hall to celebrate their the forest and prevent more harm to The Argyle Environment Club hosted dedication and stewardship. copy overfl ow “Schools” a clothing swap in October. We didn’t the local wildlife. CANYON HEIGHTS CLEANUP prioritize money, instead focusing One of the Green Team’s main CREW on reducing clothing waste. Our goal priorities is litter reduction. Each year Last year, three grade 7 students at for the year is to focus on reducing they organize an annual community Canyon Heights Elementary saw waste, whether that be plastic waste, cleanup to help clean up unwanted food waste, or even clothing waste. that there was a large amount of trash throughout the community. Students brought in donations. litter and discarded items behind 2019 marked Windsor Secondary’s We received a variety of clothing the school. On their own accord, the ninth year of community cleanups. pieces such as accessories, shoes, students darted home and gathered outerwear, jeans, shirts and sweaters. LARSON CLASS WINS COOL IT! supplies for their mission. They Last spring, Cynthia Whyte’s Grade returned to the site and cleaned up Approximately 50 to 100 students At Queen Mary, following our Earth 3/4 class at Larson Elementary every piece of trash. Thank you to participated in the event. Following Day assembly where we talked won the Cool It! Climate Leadership these remarkable students who took the event, there were 129 clothing about the purpose of the shoreline Training Challenge for North time to lend a helping hand to the items left. Mr. Cheng volunteered to cleanup, students in grades 1, Vancouver. The Sustainable Energy environment. transport these leftover donations to 2, 3 and 5 headed out cleaning the Salvation Army. Association, in partnership with B.C. down Chesterfi eld Ave. and then municipalities, puts on this challenge at Waterfront Park. We found lots each year. The program develops of cigarette butts and foam pieces and empowers young sustainability in the rocks along the shore. Two champions in grades 4 -7 in schools student groups from Jen Aragon’s throughout the province through Grade 7 class sorted, classifi ed, and workshops and contests. tallied the garbage. As part of an environmental This event is always fun and really stewardship inquiry project related educational for the students, who to marine animals, the students are amazed at how much garbage BLUERIDGE KIDS CARE there is along our shores. NVkidscare started in 2017 by KUDOS TO WINDSOR students at Canyon Heights GREEN TEAM FOR TARGETING Elementary, with the help of their PERSISTENT PLASTIC LITTER teacher, Stephanie Reynolds. It has since continued to grow at Blueridge QUEEN MARY – KEEPING The issue of litter was brought Elementary. Their mission is to make OUR SHORES CLEAN forward from a community partner North Vancouver more sustainable who shared how plastic trash in BY CHERYL DAY by educating people about the TEACHER, QUEEN MARY the forested areas nearby Windsor impact single use plastic has on the COMMUNITY ELEMENTARY Secondary School was attracting SCHOOL environment. ■ rats and, in turn, creating the discovered how many of their day- potential to harm wildlife and the On Tuesday, April 23, 2019, as part to-day actions can affect, directly of Earth Day celebrations at Queen fi sh bearing stream. If rodenticide and indirectly, the planet’s health. Mary Community Elementary School, The students spent a full month students from nine classes put on monitoring their daily activities gloves and got to work cleaning up and those of their families, as a the shoreline at Waterfront Park. This way to become more aware and was the fourth year that our school to integrate ‘greener’ ways of participated in the Great Canadian doing simple things. The program Shoreline Cleanup. The program is scientists calculated that if the offered by Ocean Wise (Vancouver students continued their amazing Aquarium) and the World Wildlife efforts throughout the year, the Fund - Canada. class would save 21.772 tonnes

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GOAL #6: STRENGTHEN and expand reciprocal community relations.

North Van students receive CPR and defi brillator training BY BEN BENGTSON The school district phased in Rotary Club of Lions Gate, whose materials – such as mannequins NORTH SHORE NEWS defi brillators at all seven of its North sponsorship allowed the foundation and training defi brillators – as well Vancouver high schools starting in to offer North Van teachers and as provide the know-how to then In the event of a medical emergency, September, noted school district administrators the necessary training educate students. ■ North Vancouver secondary spokeswoman Deneka Michaud. students might be a good group to turn to for help, following With some teachers and a demonstration of student administrators having now been profi ciency at CPR and use of an trained on the life-saving devices, AED held at Sutherland Secondary. North Van high school students The demonstration was part are starting to receive their own of a launch event for the North training on how to use AEDs Vancouver School District’s new and administer CPR through a MIKE WAKEFIELD MIKE life-saving training program. The new program established by the program covers the administration Advanced Coronary Treatment of cardio pulmonary resuscitation Foundation, a national charity as well as the use of an automated devoted to getting such life-saving PHOTO NS NEWS NEWS NS PHOTO external defi brillator, which can training into Canadian high schools. jump-start a person’s heart using an The foundation initially partnered Alex McDonald, a Grade 10 student at Sutherland Secondary, electric shock. with the Deep Cove Lions Club and performs a CPR demonstration.

North Van band students North Vancouver RCMP “Power 5” North Vancouver RCMP understand encouraged to approach the police called up to big leagues the importance of positive offi cers when they see them on the BY MARIA SPITALE-LEISK to perform with great musicians interaction with youth from an playground. Each visit is expected to NORTH SHORE NEWS and play more challenging music. early age and, as a result, are last 15 - 30 minutes depending on For fellow honour band member implementing a program where calls for police service that day. Select North Vancouver band Atrisa Tashakorinia, a Canyon uniformed police offi cers attend North Vancouver RCMP already students have qualifi ed for the Super Heights Elementary Grade 6 student local elementary schools during have a Youth Intervention Unit, Bowl of the symphony world. Every with aspirations of becoming a recess, lunch hour or after school which includes a corporal and three year for the past two decades, the professional violinist, performing to interact with students. The Vancouver Symphony Orchestra has alongside the VSO musicians is a uniformed police offi cers aim to constables, who regularly liaise performed a joint concert with the thrill. greet the students with a fi st bump, with students and school offi cials. North Vancouver School District’s which may then lead into a game The Power 5 initiative will involve all honour band and honour string “It feels great hearing myself play of pickup basketball, soccer, ball uniformed members of the North orchestras. Entry is by audition- with professional players and I have hockey, four square, or simply Vancouver RCMP taking time to only and each year only a select learned a lot from them,” she says. a conversation. Students are build a rapport with our youth. ■ number of local elementary students Upper Lynn Elementary band successfully make it into the honour teacher Bill Piggott is the rehearsal bands. conductor of the school district’s Ridgeway Elementary Grade 7 honour band comprised of Grade student Marea Belleville tried out for 6 and 7 students. This special honour band because she thought program, says Piggott, offers the it would be an amazing experience students a chance to play much more challenging music than they would ever see in their regular school band programs. The honour band students meet for several weeks and rehearse alongside top-notch VSO musicians in close quarters, guided by VSO assistant conductor William Rowson. Then comes the real treat for the precocious musicians: a joint concert with their VSO counterparts North Vancouver RCMP Superintendent Ghalib Bhayani gives at Centennial Theatre. ■ ‘power 5s’ to students at Ridgeway Elementary School.

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GOAL #6: STRENGTHEN and expand reciprocal community relations.

North Van choir connects students and adults living with memory loss BY BEN BENGTSON opportunity arose to join the new NORTH SHORE NEWS intergenerational choir, directed by Windsor’s Adam Kozak. The singers are gathering. It’s late in the afternoon on a recent Friday and “I was super interested, fi rst of all, a mix of people are hustling to fi nd because my grandmother, before their seats at Windsor Secondary. she passed away, she had severe Energy is high because it’s the Alzheimer’s,” says Di Salle. “One of early goings of a new choir with a the things that’s been stressed … is unique twist. Composed of roughly the importance of this not only for the people who are struggling with 10 students, 10 people living with memory loss, but for their caretakers memory loss, and 10 caregivers, the and their loved ones who are taking choir is calling itself the NoteWorthy Choir leader Adam Kozak conducts a group of students, adults care of them now.” Singers. living with memory loss, and their caregivers during a recent They’re all mainly strangers here – “One of my favourites that we’re practice of the NoteWorthy Singers, a new intergenerational there’s teenagers and older adults, doing right now is ‘Country Roads,’ choir that rehearses at Windsor Secondary. seniors living with mild to moderate which is so much fun to sing,” says memory loss, and in some cases, Coastal Health’s older adult mental will help bridge the gap between Chloe Di Salle, a Grade 12 student at family members who have become health team, and Pam Havens, different generations, foster a more Windsor. caregivers to their loved ones. But supervisor of dementia services dementia-friendly community and, Di Salle loves to sing in general. everyone fi nds common ground at Parkgate Community Services perhaps most crucially, the choir She’s already a member of four through music. The NoteWorthy Society. The purpose of the choir could provide welcome respite for separate high school choirs, but Singers are a project devised by is multifaceted, according to people living with memory loss, and didn’t pause for a second when the Cindy Bouvet, part of Vancouver Havens. She hopes the new choir their caregivers. ■ Experiential learning at the Polygon Gallery BY DENEKA MICHAUD the ocean is serene and the is not yet open. Upstairs, in a room supportive of one another,” said COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER, view to downtown Vancouver is that overlooks the ocean and city, Duncan. NVSD breathtaking. Things are quiet with an entire class of grades 5 and 6 Throughout the week, the students barely a soul or travelling boat in students sits calmly in a circle on The morning is slightly crisp, and sight. the fl oor. The tranquility envelops did a wide variety of learning unbelievably clear and calm – the room. activities. They visited the exhibits not only outside, but also inside Inside the Polygon Gallery things and engaged in writing based on the Polygon Gallery. Along the are much the same. There are no “I enjoyed going into the exhibits and their perceptions of the art. They waterfront at the base of Lonsdale, public guests because the gallery journaling about the art – what we took a guided walk with Cease thought of it and the thoughts the art Wyss to learn about Indigenous triggered for us,” said Taylor, a Grade plants, history and local Indigenous 5 student. ways of life. They had a visit from It is the last day of a weeklong artist Hannah Rickards. They drew. learning in place experience at the They made videos with iPads. They Polygon Gallery. For the entire week also engaged in deep refl ection by students have been coming to the journaling about their experiences. gallery instead of going to their school, Queensbury Elementary “I have enjoyed everything!” said one School. Their teacher, Heather student as he sat in the circle on the Duncan, has been using the gallery fl oor at the gallery on their last day. space to deepen her students’ With the sun shimmering off the learning. water in the background, another “The experience is rich. As a class, student added, “I just wish I could they are becoming closer and more make it two weeks.” ■

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The Educated Citizen Live a Good Life “Attributes of a Modernizing the Make a Good Living Complex Graduate” learners curriculum

Goals of Public Human and staff Schooling Intellectual Social Career 587 members who 100s Development Development Development specifi cally of teacher support students support with special needs >60 unit documents plans School District Modernizing Complex Indigenous Social Career Curriculum Learners Education Emotional Development Priorities Learning 2,116 students with special needs designations 79% 68.1% (grad rate) 106,022 (inclusive of all learners pageviews of Indigenous ancestry) 632 students of 10 Indigenous Indigenous specifi c ancestry 62 programs 10 80 education professional professional learning learning participants 6 sessions sessions in the New taking part in 15 50 focused on Teacher the Gord have learned professional assessment Network learning Downie & Chanie the Coast $250K curriculum Wenjack Fund Salish Anthem sessions provincial grant to support

professional member Career Social learning 16 16 sessions career development Emotional 25 focused on SEL specifi c Learning committee courses Work experience SEL facilitators at all 11 Second 1,200 8 secondary schools “Resilience” Step pilot students professional (fi lm screening) schools mental GRADE learning 15school staff 229students enrolled + health 9 sessions in career programs >100 parents curriculum

Windsor Argyle Enrolment Westview 88.5% Upper Lynn Blueridge Success rates Boundary ( Provincial rate ) Sutherland 92.9% rates Braemar Completion Rate: 6 Year Model Sherwood Brooksbank Park Secondary Seymour Canyon Elementary 100% Heights Heights NVSD Capilano Seycove Caris- 80% brooke Ross Road Enrolment breakout Province by school 97.7% 60% Ridgeway Carson successful June Graham 81.72% course completion 2019 Queensbury meeting/ 40% Queen Mary Cleveland exceeding total enrolment Norgate 550+ 80.38% $ & 20% Mountainside Cove Cliff expectations Montroyal Dorothy Lynas for graduating students, Lynnmour

0% 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018 Lynn Valley Eastview 84.49% valued at 15,553 Larson Highlands Handsworth > $1.9 Million

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