Volume 02 | December 03, 2018

Welcome to Board Notes!

Dear Parents and Colleagues, Many of you may be familiar with Board Notes but not with this delivery method. While the traditional PDF version is still available, we are hoping to move away from that format and have our community enjoy this regular update from the Board as a digital newsletter. SD73 Board of Education meets every alternate Monday. Expect your next issue of Board Notes after the December 17, 2019 meeting.

EDUCATION TOPIC

Strengthening Learning Teams through Diversity and Inclusion

An Innovation through Inquiry project, led by Sherry Stade, District Coordinator for Health Promoting Schools and Carly Herman, (former) District Coordinator for Diversity Education, set out to enhance the culture of schools by embracing diversity through teacher professional learning. Throughout the month of February, these teachers built on the metaphor of team to demonstrate that diverse teams are strong teams. District-wide activities included a film festival, keynote speakers, workshops and engagement activities with partners throughout the community. In addition, Dallas Elementary teachers  Cecilia Brar  and  Andrea Mangell  engaged their   Grade 6/7 classes in problem-solving projects that celebrated diversity. The students shared their thinking in an exhibition of learning that demonstrated how to achieve inclusive environments in their school.

SUPERINTENDENT REPORT

Foundational Skills Assessment Results 2017-2018

Director Lisa Carson reported that Grades 4 and 7 students in SD73 continue to perform above the provincial average on the annual Foundation Skills Assessment. The percentage of students meeting or exceeding expectations in the Kamloops-Thompson school district has been relatively consistent over the last five years in the areas of writing, reading and numeracy. Writing performance remains a solid strength and reading results, while good, have plateaued in recent years. Aboriginal student results require improvement in order to reach our district goal of achieving equity and excellence for all students. Therefore, the District Learning Plan will continue to focus on foundational skills in all three areas for Aboriginal students and reading and numeracy for all students in order to improve student achievement.

SD73 Compared to All BC Public / Independent School Results – All Students (Percentage of Students On Track or Extending) More information on the Foundation Skills Assessment can be found on the Ministry of Education Web Site .

Out-of-Province Field Trip Approvals (as per Policy 518.1) Twenty-five students in NorKam Senior Secondary’s choir and band will be going Louisiana from March 17 to 22, 2019 to experience the culture, history, food, architecture and geography of New Orleans. Two students in grades 11 and 12 from Sa-Hali Secondary will be in Ottawa March 18 to 21, 2019 to make a presentation to Senate on their work as part of the UNESCO Group on Ocean Plastic. The students are looking to inform and persuade policy makers for sustainable change. Twenty-five students in Westsyde Secondary’s choir and band will be going New Orleans from March 17 to 23, 2019 to participate in a Mississippi plantation tour and see a variety of performances including the Jazz Band at Preservation Hall.

CHAIR REPORT

A Commanding Recognition The Kamloops RCMP recognized District Principal Sheryl Lindquist with a Detachment Commander Award. Her dedication and contribution to the youth of the community through the development of the RCMP Youth Academy and the RCMP Youth Advisory met the Forces’ highest levels of tradition and expectation.   Read the full story here.

MOTIONS

Policy Change 906.1 Alcohol Beverages and Narcotics policy has now been replaced by 906.1 Substance Use – Employee which is intended to support the health and safety of students, employees, volunteers and the public from the potential adverse effects of inappropriate use of alcohol and drugs, and impairment generally. Read the full policy here .