Educating Against Intolerance - bcpvpa

In this issue …

eNews

the BCPVPA’s weekly electronic newsletter December 12, 2014

Pro Learning survey MediaScan Secondary resource Register: Connecting Leaders Gordon Li at the Trustee Academy

Deadline to participate in the BCPVPA Professional Learning survey More than 500 members have responded. As part of our ongoing needs assessment, the BCPVPA Professional Learning department is surveying members to help determine directions and initiatives. If you haven’t already completed the survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/bcpvpafeedbacklearn

Early bird deadline ends December 19 • May 11-14, Chateau Whistler

Connecting Leaders: Inspiring Learning 5 keynote speakers More than 30 sessions Cultural dinner Relevant exhibitors Cross-Canada networking

Conference guide http://bit.ly/1rq36vW

Online registration http://bit.ly/1utETY2

Secondary Resource

Educating Against Intolerance

Dedicated to providing students with access to information on issues regarding human rights, prejudice, and hatred, Voices into Action provides a wealth of information, videos and activities for secondary students. The curriculum-based program is free-of-charge, entirely online, mobile-ready and teacherfriendly. Developed at OISE-UT, the program provides a comprehensive resource for students. The portal for educators (My Dashboard) allows teachers to access lesson plans, customizable handouts that can be sent to students, curriculum connections, rubrics, and assessments. The six units are designed for use in many secondary level subject areas (such as language arts, drama, visual arts, First Nations studies, world issues, Canadian law, world religions). Sample chapters include: The Aboriginal Experience, The Holocaust, Gender Issues, Rights of the Disabled, Cyberbullying, and Rwanda. For information visit www.voicesintoaction.ca or email Jodi Derkson at [email protected] eNews/1

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On the move?


If you’ve moved or changed schools, please click and let us know.

Leadership opportunities Vancouver invites applications for Superintendent. Beyond the usual re-

sponsibilities of achieving the District’s goals, administering policies and providing leadership in instructional practice, educational administration and student learning, this role requires a sharp focus on the complexity of operating in a tight fiscal environment where innovative solutions to address learning need to be brought to the table. Applications must be received by 11 pm on December 20. For information click or visit http://bit.ly/10yTyUF Greater Victoria is seeking dynamic leaders with proven records of exemplary teaching and administration at the elementary, middle and secondary levels. Short-listed candidates will be interviewed for the District Eligible Administrator Pool (DEAP). Successful candidates selected for the DEAP will be assigned to specific schools depending upon available vacancies and the suitability of the candidates. Applications are due by 1 pm, January 9. Click or visit http://bit.ly/1rVdChq for information.

Cairo (K-12) BC Canadian International School invites applications for ‘experienced administration for elementary and secondary positions for the September 2015-16 school year.’ Email [email protected] for information.

Science World wants to hear from you

Unconference in Delta January 17 • Sands Secondary

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egardless of whether or not your school makes trips to Vancouver’s Science World, staff at the organization are encouraging educators to participate in a 20-minute survey. The survey explores Science World’s role in supporting teachers, students and schools with science education, in relation to the BC’s upcoming curriculum redesign. Participants will be entered in a contest with 8 prizes: 1 free Science World field trip (2 classes) or a Science World on the road show at your school; a $100 gift card to the Science World store; one of two $50 gift card to New Horizons; or one of four $25 Apple Store gift cards. The survey, which closes December 15th can be accessed at: http://www.scienceworld.ca/schoolsurvey Delta will be held at Sands Secondary on January 17. Edcamp is an unconference and topics will be proposed on the morning of the conference. Discussion sessions will be facilitated by participants. Edcamp is open to educators, students, and parents who have a passion for teaching and learning. Edcamp is free and lunch will be provided. For information visit https://deltalearns.ca/edcamp

Edcamp

On the move? If you’ve moved or changed schools, please email [email protected] who will update your records.

BCPVPA MediaScan is on the next page > eNews/2

Call for articles

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Adminfo Email your article to [email protected]

BCPVPA MediaScan Principals & vice-principals & the BCPVPA in the news

SD68 VP Shannon Apland: incorporating lessons so students think about seasonal shifts that add $ stress to families http://bit.ly/1AmSDTw SD61 Principal Gord Mitchell on Colquitz’s charitable students: stuffing a police cruiser full of toys, food & cash http:// bit.ly/1yVjIim SD67 P/VP Terry Grady/Sandra Richardson on addressing student anxiety & mental health issues & boosting achievement http://bit.ly/1GdrFSh Penticton Principal Todd Lindsay on running on Dec 13 to raise funds to provide outdoor activities for students http://bit.ly/1vAk0FB SD70 VP Rob Souther on school’s Breakfast Club: getting kids something to eat & able to focus on math/science, etc http://bit.ly/12YNqat SD82 Principal Phil Barron on breakfast for 8% of his students: ‘Eating together sets a tone, a positive climate’ http://bit.ly/15SRCd2 Dec Adminfo @Surrey_Schools Holly Elem’s P/VP on great staff & programs: outstanding learning for its 500 students http://bit.ly/1vSFIcH Businessman Rodger Upton & SD38 P&VP Jason Higo & Chris Marin on offering breakfast, starting school w/ a full belly http://bit.ly/1zIBWSk SD63 VP Ken Bergeron & teacher Angus Stewart bring community back to Royal Oak Middle school for its150th anniversary http://bit.ly/12fFiAV SD61 Principal Leslie Lee & team transform George Jay E into safe, inclusive community & improve student performance http://bit.ly/1ympHwi Central Coast’s SAMS at 65: a legacy that rests in the partnerships between the community and its students http://bit.ly/11nrcNM 7-min interview with Brad Baker, SD44 District Principal, bringing Aboriginal culture into the classroom http://bit.ly/1yzrQTo Dist Principal @NVSD44 @bradleyrbaker Brad Baker earns Indigenous Educator Award: ‘mission to change school system from within’ http://bit.ly/1xzTTFf

2590+ Followers & 1100+ Tweets Click to join them on Twitter and for short, timely updates from the BCPVPA MediaScan is published in the second eNews of the month. We try to monitor stories of interest, but if you have been in the news, please forward the story or a link to [email protected] eNews/3

Call for articles

eNews


Adminfo Email your article to [email protected]

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Connecting Leaders early bird deadline ends December 19

n updated conference guide for the Canadian Association of Principals/ BCPVPA conference in Whistler is now available online. The 18-page guide has session descriptions, bios and more (including links to transportation and other offers from Whistler area companies). Conference guide Connecting Leaders: Inspiring Learning http://bit.ly/1rq36vW (May 11-14) has confirmed five keynote speakers, including Simon Breakspear, Wab Kinew, Jesse Miller, Frederick Online registration Brown, and Stephanie Hamilton. In http://bit.ly/1utETY2 addition, there are more than 30 breakout sessions addressing all conference strands. Many of the breakout sessions feature BC-based educators, while others will give participants the opportunity to learn about initiatives in other parts of Canada. The registration fee includes a remarkable dinner at Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre (in Whistler) featuring perfomances and cultural demonstrations. Early bird registration is open until December 19 — fees increase thereafter. Call for Proposals Celebrating K-12 Aboriginal Education in British Columbia: for new book, Successes in Curriculum, Pedagogy, and Policy a BCPVPA/UBC partnership The editors, Drs. Jo-ann Archibald and Jan Hare, of the UBC Faculty of Education, invite submissions of up to 500 words that address the Aboriginal K-12 curriculum, pedagogy, and/or policy through stories, teaching exemplars, policy demonstrations, essays, visual representations of success through experiences and/or research. Theory; rationale about the importance of including Aboriginal perspectives, content and approaches; innovations in curriculum; Aboriginal language; the development of teaching approaches and assessment; policy; partnerships; parent/family engagement; Aboriginal Enhancement Agreements; and professional development are examples of topics. Proposals should include a description of the practice, policy, or curriculum area, and outline its contribution to K-12 Aboriginal education. Proposals will be reviewed and authors of successful proposals will be invited to develop a contribution for the book to a maximum of 5000 words. • Read a complete rationale & submission information at http://bit.ly/15Rk6DX

BCPVPAEducator

is the Association’s listserve and allows members to share their expertise, connect with each other, and establish a network of colleagues all across the province. This is an email-based service and membership currently stands at approximately 410. Recent areas addressed include: Mission, Vision, and Values;Linear vs Semestered Timetables. To subscribe email Richard Williams ([email protected]) eNews/4

On the move?

eNews


President Gordon Li on the Trustee Academy

2014 — 2015 Board of Directors President Gordon Li (Burnaby) [email protected] Directors Susan Clough (Surrey) [email protected] Darren Danyluk (Rocky Mountain) [email protected] David DeRosa (Kootenay-Columbia) [email protected] Heidi Grant (Nechako Lakes) [email protected] John Horstead (Surrey) [email protected] Brett Johnson (Greater Victoria) [email protected] Bryan Johnson (Sooke) [email protected] Lee Karpenko (Prince George) [email protected] Carol-Ann Leidloff (Kootenay Lake) [email protected] Brian Leonard (Coquitlam) [email protected] Kevin Reimer (Comox Valley) [email protected]

If you’ve moved or changed schools, email [email protected] who will update your records

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his past Friday, I attended the BCSTA 2014 Trustee Academy (Board Governance: Characteristics of Effective Boards of Education). At this event, Trustees learn about the statutory foundations of their role and are schooled in how to better understand Board budgets and provincial funding. I participated on a panel, Who’s Who, Who Does What and Why? Along with myself, the panel included Kelvin Stretch, Vice-President, BCASBO; Rennzo Del Negro, Interim CEO, BCPSEA; and Sherry Elwood, President, BCSSA. I was honoured to represent the public school principals and vice-principals of BC. On your behalf, I shared our appreciation of the importance of our relationship with the communities which Trustees represent. I talked about our responsibilities as in loco parentis, and the positive impact we have on student achievement. I explained our multifaceted roles as lead learner, change agent, and developer of school culture. I referenced some current initiatives in schools, from Assessment for Learning to uses of technology, and our skill and devotion to meeting the needs of every learner. I made clear the importance of school-based leadership in the implementation of the BC Ed Plan and a new accountability framework. I also had the opportunity to tell them about the Association’s commitment to leadership development and our work in the Short Course, Leadership Standards, and Supervision for Learning, as well as our engagement with partners such as the Ministry, BCSSA and the BC Deans of Education to develop new programs to meet the needs of educators throughout their careers and across the province. I also prompted their consideration of compensation issues for exempt staff and spoke of compression and inversion and their effects on morale, retention and recruitment of school leaders. I reiterated the importance of an investment in leadership to move the new education agenda forward. This past week, I also had the opportunity to visit colleagues in the Sea to Sky school district. I learned a great deal about their leadership, particularly in implementing the many elements of the BC Ed Plan in their day-to-day work. Intermediate students explained how the Pathways to Learning helped them frame their work and I heard primary students use Learning Competencies to plan their Polar Express winter theme. My thanks to everyone for their hospitality. You can check my Tweets on this visit at http://twitter.com/principalgli All the best for a great weekend and an inspiring lead-up to Christmas, Gordon eNews/5