The New Education Plan

Well, on Friday, the government announced it's new plan for educational change.  BC's Education Plan is "based on the principle that every learner in the province will realize his or her full potential" and consists of five key elements:

• Personalized learning for every student

• Quality teaching and learning

• Flexibility and choice

• High standards

• Learning empowered by technology

To learn more about the plan, I went to www.bcedplan.ca, where you can read the specifics as well as how schools around BC are moving to implement parts of the plan already.

As I look through the plan, many aspects makes sense, but of course like any great idea, the proof is in the pudding.  Personalized learning for every child is a great start but will definitely take some time as we work towards more completely defining the vision.  Reducing curriculum outcomes should allow teachers more flexibility in how they engage students with opportunities for deeper learning.  In many courses currently, the race for curriculum completion often leaves little time for exploring in more detail the questions and interests of students.  I am excited about the move towards greater flexibility and choice, but there needs to be caution in ensuring all students, particularly those in rural areas, have access to similar opportunities as their urban peers.
The other area of the plan where we are already making progress is the move to empower learning through technology.  With wireless access and increasing availability of personalized electronic devices, we need to ensure that technology is used to engage students and increase the variety of ways students can demonstrate their learning.  We also need to keep in mind that technology does not replace good instruction but rather should be used to supplement learning and provide students access to collaborative opportunities with peers both locally and globally.
The other issue of concern around technology is related to access for all learners.  This is an area where the school will hopefully be able to assist in order to ensure that students who lack the resources to obtain their own devices will be able to participate as well.  Just as we have seen with the advent and influx of cell phones, we still have students that do not have one.

To read the entire plan, click on the following link http://www.bcedplan.ca/assets/pdf/bc_edu_plan.pdf

To watch the video, see below

We look forward to further discussions with students and parents as we move forward within the new educational model.

Opportunity for Student Feedback

A few years ago when the Provincial Guidelines for Healthy Eating came into schools, the GFSS lunch program lost its vendor as they were no longer able to sustain their business at the school.  While the school has an active breakfast program and a snack machine, the service at lunch has never really been replaced.  
Lately we have been looking at trying to reinstate a healthy choices lunch program where students could purchase fresh made items along the lines of pizza, wraps, lasagna, etc.  What we are looking for is some feedback from students on what kind of items they might prefer.  I have added a poll link to this blog update that should allow students to text their choices based on the information below.  If you have a moment, please try this system so we can determine what students may want, as well as whether or not this type of survey is an easy, accessible way to get information on issues as they arise.

Replace audience response hardware with Poll Everywhere

Mentoring For Learning

Over the past couple weeks, one of our new teachers, Mrs. Rymer, has been working with Mr. McKinlay's grade 6/7 class from Perley.  The elementary students came over to observe some real life physics as the senior physics class was demonstrating catapult devices they had built.  The goal of the assignment was to design a mechanical, self powered device that could launch a projectile (tomatoes in this case) a great distance but also be able to attain accuracy in hitting a specific target.
Today, the 6/7's came to GFSS and participated with a science 10 class in a chemical reactions lab working alongside a partner from the older class in a learning partnership.  While I didn't get into see the action, the reports were very positive.....kudos to Mrs. Rymer and Mr. McKinlay.

It is great to see these positive opportunities for both the elementary and GFSS students.  The research is clear that one of the more powerful strategies for helping students learn is a mentoring relationship where an older student is paired with a younger student.  Younger students in these partnerships benefit from increased confidence and connectedness with an older peer.  Older students also benefit from the confidence they receive from helping a younger student as well as the learning that takes place in order to be able to teach a skill to someone else.  In addition, sometimes these activities are just plain fun.

I'm looking forward to more opportunities to watch these type of positive interactions!

Following Your Dreams

Each year we say goodbye to a great group of grads and herald in the next crop of grade 8's.  One of the things we emphasize with our incoming students is to get involved in school activities, whether it be music, drama, sports or other school groups.  The research is clear that student achievement is positively affected by participation in school activities. This is due to the connections students make with their peers, teachers, coaches, and sponsors, as well as the collaborative skills they develop through the team work it takes to accomplish a goal as a unit.

One of the highlights for us is often the visits or communication we receive from past students who are out in the real world pursuing their passions.  Not only do we have past students excelling in a variety of careers but we have some students that have gone on to pursue sport at a more elite level.  Just recently, we have received feedback from a few of our recent grads who are now in different corners of the country each pursuing their own athletic dream.

Tanner Kopan, who graduated last year (June 2011), is now attending Westminster College in Utah taking Business Management and playing varsity golf, currently ranked #2 on the team with an average scoring round of 75.

Tanner teeing off on the US College circuit

Tanner felt well prepared heading off to school and is doing well in his classes.  Tanner recognized the support he received from both GFSS and the Christina Lake Golf Club in helping him achieve his goal.  His advice for GFSS graduating students is to pursue schooling and experience the world outside of Grand Forks.

2010 grad Ashley Christman is also living her dream. Ashley, a sophomore, was awarded a full scholarship playing volleyball for the University of Idaho Vandals in NCAA Division 1, with the team currently ranked 3rd in the Western Athletic Conference.

 

(Photos taken by Zach Edwards)

Ashley played volleyball at GFSS from grade 8-12 and also honed her skills while playing for Kelowna's Elite club, Team BC, and the U16 Team Canada Prospects.  Ashley is working towards her science degree which takes a lot of commitment balancing both her academic and athletic endeavors. 

A third former grad who we recently heard from is 2011 grad Maya Wold.  After playing basketball for the Wolves from grade 8-12, Maya is currently a member of the Dalhousie Women's Tigers basketball team as a red-shirt freshman.  Maya is in her first year of sciences at Dal and spending many hours a week going to class and attending practices.  Maya is finding university athletics a jump up in intensity but is loving every minute of it.  Maya is learning a lot and hopes to make the full playing squad next year as a sophomore.

As you can see, even a small town like Grand Forks can produce it's fair share of elite athletes which is a testament not only to their coaches, but their parents who made countless sacrifices to give their children the opportunities to develop their passions and skills.

Hats off to all those who had a part in making these dreams comes true.....Go Wolves Go!

21st Century Literacy Skills

This past week the school received some criticism in the media due to the relocation of our library (and reduction in books) and its subsequent replacement with a fitness facility.  Although there have been discussions surrounding the merits of physical fitness and the move towards personalized learning as one of the key drivers in this move, one of the pieces that warrants further dialogue is the evolving face of literacy.  The way in which our students are accessing information is quickly changing.  I was reminded of this yesterday as I walked through a couple of classrooms that just happened to be engaged in silent reading.  While most of the students were reading softcover novels, some students were engaged with e-books downloaded on their smartphones and ipods.  With the implementation of a school-wide wireless network, students now have access to Google and You Tube at their fingertips.  As students engage in project work and assignments, many are able to access resource information within seconds. 

While reading and comprehending this information  are still key components of what we teach, we also now need to teach our students about the value of critical thinking, which is a necessary skill in  navigating such a wide array of readily available information. 
Along with critical thinking, the Ministry of Education has identified several skills that they have been termed key competencies for being successful as a 21st Century Learner (in addition to the traditional three of numeracy, reading and writing).
These 21st Century Foundational Skills are called the Seven Cs:

• Critical thinking and problem solving

• Creativity and innovation

• Collaboration, teamwork, and leadership

• Cross-cultural understanding

• Communications, computing and ICT literacy

• Career and learning self-reliance

• Caring for personal health and planet earth.

With an increased emphasis on these "new age" skills, students and teachers are increasingly looking towards social media as a means to participate in collaborative learning and to engage students in these key competency areas.  I was reading an article recently that outlined the fact that Facebook has now overtaken all other pursuits as the leading free-time occupation.  According to digitalbuzzblog, "with over 500 million users, Facebook is now used by 1 in every 13 people on earth, with over 250 million of them (over 50%) who log in every day with 48% of 18-34 year olds checking Facebook when they wake up, and 28% doing so before even getting out of bed." 

This is staggering information: it impacts the way businesses recruit new workers, but also how they use social networking to advertise and collect information about the end user.  This is why it is so crucial for our school to not only continue to pursue traditional skills (reading, writing, and math) but to engage our students in activities and technology that allow them to keep up with our changing world, and to support them becoming responsible citizens able to critically evaluate the volume of data hitting them on a daily basis.  As we move forward in this pursuit, not only is the school changing the way it accesses and presents information, but also the way in which we engage outside sources as part of our global learning network.  More to come on the use of technology in the coming weeks.

On a separate note, this week would have seen the first mail out of student progress reports.  With the current job action in place, this will not occur.  We are encouraging parents to contact teachers directly via phone to find out how your son or daughter are doing.  (250-442-8285)
Have a great week and please check in regularly at our website for updated information and announcements.

September is Gone

Well, the month of September is gone.  It's hard to believe that Halloween is just around the corner.  This is also normally a time when we would be looking at our first set of parent interviews, but due to job action, they will be delayed.  Parents who wish to find out how their student is doing, are encouraged to contact teachers directly by phone, as there will be no progress reports going home at this time.

School spirit was in full force last week with the annual grade 8 barbeque put on by the counselling department and peer counsellors.  Grade 8 students were hosted for lunch on Thursday where they were provided hamburgers and hotdogs and given an opportunity to mingle with their friends and some older students.  The Peer Counselling group completed their training session last weekend at Jewel Lake with Mrs. Webster and will now be starting to meet with their grade 8 groups on a regular basis.  Thanks to those who helped with the food preparation!

Also last week, a small team of teachers took on the senior girls volleyball team Wednesday at lunch.  The teachers took the lead early in the match by winning the first game, but the girls came back in the second game led by Paige Kopan's massive block on yours truly.  Word has it we are looking for a re-match with the girls in the next couple weeks.

To end the week, our Educational Assistants and principal/vice-principals attended a session on "Non-Violent Crisis Intervention" all day on Friday.  This training session focused on how to work with students experiencing high levels of anxiety and possible physical/verbal outbursts.  I'm glad to say, that our Student Services team including our teachers, EA's and Child Youth Workers, do a great job on a regular basis of keeping our students in a good place both physically and mentally.  Through their ongoing commitment to maintaining a good learning environment, most of our students are able to cope even when faced with a multitude of challenges both at school and home.

And on a sad note, this coming week will see us say goodbye to our science guru Mr. Behl as he sails (or rides his bike) off into the sunset of retirement. 

Mr. Behl has meant a lot to the students at GFSS and will be missed not only for his expertise, but his lasting commitment to excellence and high standards in the classroom.  Through his Socratic approach to questioning, Mr. Behl has continually challenged his students to think and solve problems for themselves.   We look forward to roasting....I mean, saying goodbye to Mr. Behl on Thursday at his retirement luncheon.  Cheers.