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Superintendent’s Report September 22, 2020
Submitted by: Dr. Christine Perkins, Superintendent/CEO
Superintendent’s Report
LEARNING CRESTON FAMILY OF SCHOOLS
ADAM ROBERTSON ELEMENTARY
● ARES basement renovations are fantastic!! Almost completed. We added a washer and dryer to support the cleaning of the rags used throughout the classes daily as well as the jersey’s and pinnies.
● 2nd water filling station will be installed shortly on the top floor. This was a PAC purchase for our school!
● Staggered recess breaks and lunch breaks are allowing for a calmer outdoor setting. The students have been fantastic.
CANYON LISTER ELEMENTARY
● We are excited to kick-off the Late French Immersion pilot program at Canyon-Lister! It has been a great start, with a wonderful group of students and a dedicated new teacher.
● We have two new classrooms with lots of new students this year, and the staff and students are positive and looking forward to learning.
● The new flooring in the main wing brightens everything up, as does the new pavement at the front entrance. The new water bottle filling station really helps us work towards our litter-less lunch goal.
ERICKSON ELEMENTARY
● The new gym floor, new flooring in some classrooms and some new pavement outside has cleaned up the overall look of the school as well as generated excitement in the staff and students
● Our classes are excited to use our wetlands more for outdoor learning. The invasive species that was present is getting under control, garden boxes were moved to make them more visible to the students while they are playing.
PRINCE CHARLES SECONDARY
● Phase two of the computer lab upgrade has been completed. Each programming bay is equipped with dual monitors, one vertical and one horizontal, as well as a high-powered CPU.
Superintendent’s Report
● From a health and safety standpoint, arrival, breaks, transitions and implementation of the modified schedule have all been well executed.
● As a community the PCSS staff has been exceptional in adapting to the emergent needs of the modified bell structure and overall school learning environment in efforts to maintain a high level of learning and engagement.
WILDFLOWER CRESTON
● Grateful to our custodial staff for all of their diligent work throughout the day. ● The entire Wildflower staff are excited to be inviting the students back and learning alongside them.
Feels great to have the energy of the students back in the building. ● A big welcome to all our new families this year to the Wildflower Community ● Linda F. K-3 class is exploring doing a walking field trip with Creston Museum staff (with health/safety
protocols followed) to explore the history of the City of Creston and local landscape. An exciting local field trip to support the learning and projects happening in the classroom.
HOMELINKS CRESTON
● Staff have been working beyond capacity to help facilitate all the new registrations, and field dozens of daily inquiry calls.
● Student Learning Plans are well under way for the majority of our students. ● Ms. Adams Grade 10 cohort program began this week, and all students are keen and fully engaged!
CRAWFORD BAY FAMILY OF SCHOOLS
CRAWFORD BAY ELEMENTARY-SECONDARY
● The Secondary classrooms have now been set up to compliment the new curriculum with cross-curricular course offerings. The Math curriculum is being taught using thinking classroom strategies with excellent student response so far.
● The 5 - 6 classroom is welcoming a new teacher to the elementary side of the school. They are kicking off the year with a social-emotional focus and learning in nature.
Superintendent’s Report
● We have many new families moving into the area, with 10 new kindergarten students in the K/1 classroom! All students have been respectful of the new safety procedures and even the kindergarteners came to school with their own masks for the halls.
SALMO FAMILY OF SCHOOLS
SALMO ELEMENTARY
● We are so grateful for all of the work that maintenance put into our building. A huge thank you from the SES staff, students and parents.
● This year we have a new learning commons.
● PAC has made and donated to the school some very radical picnic tables.
Superintendent’s Report
● Music programs have flourished this year with music for either of our learning groups, primary and intermediate. Salmo will continue to rock on.
● Three learning groups have collectively decided upon, complete with animals.
K/1 class owning their Learning Group: Fox
SALMO SECONDARY
● A big thank you to our custodial staff for their wonderful work over the summer and the diligence and patience they display on a daily basis.
● A big thank you to the operations department for having our school in such great shape for start up - and a beautiful new gym floor
● Interactive full school zoom game on who kidnapped Mr. Francis was a huge success. Collectively the school discovered that it was the past graduates that were the culprit.
Superintendent’s Report
● Kids were in awe of our new computer lab!
● It has been a great startup - over 95% of students have returned - kids are happy and leading the way when it comes to safety and new guidelines in the school.
Superintendent’s Report KASLO FAMILY OF SCHOOLS
JEWETT ELEMENTARY
● We had most of our parents attend a parent meeting before school started with lots of great questions and support for this unique program
● We are working with the community to harvest our Tipi poles and will get our beautiful new Tipi up very soon
● Students got right into the garden - keeping our hands clean while getting really dirty!
J.V. HUMPHRIES ELEMENTARY-SECONDARY
● With the big storms lately we have been able to get lots of branches to make forts in our primary area - we are making our very own Sticks and Stones Play area
● Students and staff are working together to make sure we have healthy snacks and lunches for students now that they aren’t able to go to town or home to make lunches.
● Our school is beautifully cared for as you can see in this picture - we just hope our custodians don’t
mind a bit of hallway biking!
SLOCAN VALLEY FAMILY OF SCHOOLS
BRENT KENNEDY ELEMENTARY
● We are excited to begin this year with two multi-age classes for Grades 1-3. This is a play-based, project-based and student led learning model that focuses on sound foundations of literacy and numeracy.
● We now have an outdoor classroom in our forest thanks to the generous support of Kalesnikoff Lumber. They donated and assembled multiple benches as well as two butcher block tables. We hope to create two more outdoor classrooms in our forest in the coming months.
● New flooring was installed in two of our intermediate classrooms and we are grateful to Operations for all of their hard work this summer!
MT. SENTINEL SECONDARY
● Wildcats are celebrating our new logo at center court! The gym floor was refinished this summer and the final touch was the traditional Wildcat paw print. Thank you to our District staff, custodians and maintenance and operations team for their efforts all summer to make our “welcome home” to school so inviting - and safe!
Superintendent’s Report
● Our first bus load of students arrived for orientation day with their masks on, ready to support our school community in following the COVID Health and Safety Protocols. We are incredibly proud of how committed our learning community is to keeping each other safe and healthy.
● Our staff summer professional learning days provided our team an opportunity to reconnect, reorientate and prepare for the new year. Our teacher leadership team and administration came together to plan two days of inquiry focused learning to explore the themes of wellness, community, environment, and justice as key focus areas. We look forward to making our learning visible with our students this year.
W.E. GRAHAM ELEMENTARY-SECONDARY
WEG started up with 95% of our students ready to return to the classroom. We have Four Classes. Primary Outdoor Program (POP) is a K/1/2 led by Madame Rexin. Our WILD (Wilderness Intermediate Leadership Development) class 3/4/5 is taught by new teacher Raina Gardner. The Outdoor Education Leadership Program (OELP) is led by Ben Porteous and the VWP program taught by Sean Marechal.
We are following protocols for COVID by having much smaller “Bubbles” than mandated by the Ministry….but we a small town where many children and families have been together over the summer. Our students are being very respectful as they maintain physical distancing as best as they can, and washing their hands. Many students have chosen to wear mask when in common areas.
Despite COVID, our children appear eager to get back to school to be with their classmates.
WINLAW ELEMENTARY
• A huge shout out of gratitude to our Winlaw Staff, Students, and Families for their amazing teamwork in providing such a positive and safe return to school!
• Students and Staff love our new playground which was installed in July. We can’t thank our PAC enough for their dedication to the process. It is also wonderful to see it being used by the greater Winlaw community as well.
• Besides our new playground, Winlaw Elementary had major upgrades this summer: a new gym floor, a new roof
NELSON FAMILY OF SCHOOLS
BLEWETT ELEMENTARY
● New staff are settling in nicely and fit into the tight-knit community at Blewett. Staff have been amazing at adapting to the new needs of our school.
● We are leveraging our outdoor space for this school year (once the smoke clears!) and will focus on student mental and social wellness as we recognize how many have not been in school since March 2020.
HUME ELEMENTARY
● Shout out to the custodial support staff who have done a wonderful job of getting the school ready. Thanks to staff.
● We are looking forward to celebrating Terry Fox and all his accomplishments in fighting cancer. More than ever, we are remembering his Marathon of Hope and emulating Terry’s courage and compassion. Our school will continue the tradition of walking in Terry’s honour.
Superintendent’s Report L.V. ROGERS SECONDARY
● Our amazing LVR staff welcomed students back to school under very different circumstances with our priority on health and safety, establishing relationships with students at the center of everything we do.
● A huge thank you to our Operations team for making our school beautiful and a safe learning environment.
● The picture below shows the adaptability and ingenuity of our staff and students in the midst of a pandemic and the addition of smoky skies
● LVR students have shown commitment to keeping our community safe and are adapting to the new way of learning, socializing, and being.
● The Catering class, under the leadership of Ms Naz, completed their Food Safe and started their year off baking treats under the principle of FIKA for the staff on Wednesday. LVR is lucky to have delicious food at our fingertips.
REDFISH ELEMENTARY
● We have welcomed students back with some musical handwashing and gentle transitions for the school year 2020. This year, we have welcomed students up to grade 7!
● We are excited to have the spawning channel across the way from our school for natural learning about life cycle and the connections we have here to water and land.
● Principal Higginbottom met with PAC in August and we are planning our September PAC meeting for the end of the month.
Superintendent’s Report
ROSEMONT ELEMENTARY
● Students and staff are settling in nicely to a new year of learning here at Rosemont School. During the month of September, we are focusing on our first ‘C’ - Caring. Our students are doing a great job understanding that handwashing shows caring for others!
● Rosemont School is looking forward to celebrating Terry Fox and his ongoing legacy to fight cancer. We will be hosting our own Terry Fox run and students in their learning groups will run/walk in support of cancer research on September 25th.
● We are so grateful to the amazing Operations department for the new gym floor! It is beautiful and we are so appreciative of the hard work that went into the installation.
Superintendent’s Report SOUTH NELSON ELEMENTARY
● Focus on relationships and safety ● IEP process and organizing supports for all students ● Strong interest from PAC on starting up lunch program, starting outside of hours school care, shade
structure for outdoor classroom on-site ● Completion of heating upgrade
TRAFALGAR MIDDLE
● We are very proud of our community here at Trafalgar. Our Custodians, Teachers, EAs, and Clerical have been working together to give a warm welcome for our students. Safety has been our priority and it’s taken the whole team to make it happen. Way to go!
● A big thank you to the good people in the Operations dept. for enriching our gymnasium with a new floor!
Superintendent’s Report WILDFLOWER NELSON
● Grateful to our custodial staff for all of their diligent work throughout the day.
● The entire Wildflower staff are excited to be inviting the students back and learning alongside them. Feels great to have the energy of the students back in the building.
● A big welcome to all our new families to the Wildflower community.
● The multi-age classrooms have all begun to introduce their themes for the year. Many of the classrooms use a knowledge building circle to introduce the years theme, get a sense of what the students already know, what they want to know and potential directions for the groups year long inquiry into the theme. Here is an example of one of the classes themes: “The Art of Change” a beautiful topic at this time.
ABORIGINAL EDUCATION
● 1701 Process for all Ab Ed students - welcome back to students and introduction to families! ● Orange Shirt Day - District Wide - Including participation in Webinar with Phyliss Webstad and
participation in the national online gathering hosted by the National Center for Truth and Reconciliation
● Organizing and planning forward for Metis Awareness Month Initiatives - virtual offerings for all students and staff across the district (jigging, language, beadwork, music, etc)
● District staff ISPARC (Indigenous Sports, Physical Activity, and Recreation Council) Healthy Living Leader training to support staff and student wellness initiatives.
~Erickson Elementary, Traditional teachings and COVID-19 Protocols.
Superintendent’s Report DISTRIBUTED LEARNING
● The Elev8 staff having been fielding an average of 25 calls per day, inquiring about programs for all grades, but a significant number for our grades K to 9 program.
● Staff are busy contacting families and sending out resources, getting students started on their learning. ● The Elev8 program has been working closely with all schools in the district to support all our district’s
learning needs, including transitional students and any students who may be medically compromised or at risk in any way.
INTERNATIONAL PROGRAM
● We have welcomed Shannon Ellis to the International Program to replace Michele LeLievre who has retired. We look forward to having her part of our team.
● The Kootenay Lake School District international staff were involved in developing the “Fit to Fly” protocols that were adopted by IRCC (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada) and shared with all other provinces across Canada.
● Students who were eligible and approved to enter Canada, followed IRCC requirements, were monitored daily and have now cleared their 14 day quarantine.
INCLUSIVE EDUCATION
● We welcome staff new to our department this year. Each person brings with them a wealth of expertise and experience, and we are thrilled to have them on our team:
○ Karen Nadler - Inclusion Support Teacher for Creston and Crawford Bay ○ Javier Gonzalez - Mental Health and Addictions Coordinator ○ Scott Rothermel - Manager of SafeSchools
● Inclusive Education is working from an Equity perspective this year, as well as with Health and Safety at the forefront. Our Focus Schools for the fall (until Winter Break) are: ARES, Canyon Lister, Crawford Bay, Rosemont Elementary, Salmo Elementary and Secondary, and Winlaw Elementary. Staff will be working in these schools consistently, to provide support to students and to consult with and train staff. Other schools will be supported during the fall through a consult model. We will switch our set of schools twice this year to address needs in other schools as well.
● Inclusive Education staff are key to the implementation of the Literacy Coherence Project with Innovative Learning and through SD23 (Central Okanagan). We will be supporting Kindergarten/Grade 1 teachers in the implementation of the project and working side by side in classrooms as we focus on inclusion for all students.
Superintendent’s Report
● Our overall goal this year is 100% graduation for our students, and our key focus is Inclusion. We are working with Shelley Moore again this year to help us further understand and implement Inclusive practices. Additionally, we are learning from Sarah Ward (Executive Functioning), Alyson Oshurst (Competency Based IEPs), ARC-BC, and a variety of other specialists in Inclusive Education.
INNOVATIVE LEARNING SERVICES
● Tamara Malloff joins the Innovative Learning Services team as District Principal, Middle, Secondary, and Post-Secondary; she is looking forward to working with the team in the areas of the Graduation Program, Numeracy, Literacy, and Career Education/Capstone.
● Our SD8 Literacy Coherence professional learning series for Primary teachers is underway. Donna Kozak, Lisa Wilson and Faye Brownlie, all renowned BC educators, will be facilitating virtual workshops in SD8. In addition, we have a number of SD8 teachers who will also be facilitating workshops for staff.
● Our Numeracy Community of Practice series is also underway. Carole Fullerton and Vanessa Finnie will be facilitating workshops for both primary and intermediate teachers in virtual and face to face formats.
● Middle and Secondary will begin the year with several “Think Tanks” in the areas of literacy, numeracy, Career Education & Capstone, and Trades and Technology
● Mohamed Kone is the new Odyssey French Language Assistant. Mohamed comes from Quebec, and will be supporting French language and culture at Trafalgar and LV Rogers under the supervision of the classroom teacher until May 31st this year.
ORGANIZATIONAL EXCELLENCE SECRETARY-TREASURER
● 2019-2020 Financial Audit completed ● Looking forward to:
○ Operations & Finance Focus at the Student Symposium! ○ Supporting Capital Operations Plan Execution - improving learning environments ○ Formalizing various new administrative procedures - making financial services and supports
smoother and easier throughout the district
HUMAN RESOURCE SERVICES
● Medical and duty to accommodate issues.
Superintendent’s Report
● EA staffing and hiring. ● Teachers’ staffing and hiring. ● EA wage arbitration. ● On-going engagement with the leaders.
OPERATIONS
Custodians have done an outstanding job of getting schools ready for school start. Custodial shifts have been adjusted to provide required cleaning/disinfecting to support district students and staff.
Major Projects (completed)
• ARES – renovation of lower floor (millwork to be completed)
• Hume window/door project
• Paving – Erickson, ARES, Creston Operations
• Creston Operations – repairs/replacement of perimeter drain system
• Fire alarm systems & extinguishers have had annual service (includes district fleet)
• Blewett – exterior painted
• LVR – Garavanta lift replaced
• LVR – 4 main recirculation pumps for heating system replaced
• Classroom flooring replaced – Erickson (3), ARES (3), LVR (2), Brent Kennedy (3), Winlaw (office, classroom)
• Corridor flooring replaced – Canyon (40%), WE Graham (25%)
• Gym floors refurbished – Erickson, Salmo Elementary, Salmo Secondary, Rosemont, Blewett,
Mt. Sentinel, Winlaw, WE Graham
• LVR – weight room flooring replaced
• LVR – shop floors recoated
• Salmo Elementary – interior painting (corridors walls & ceilings)
• Brent Kennedy – water treatment plant installation (commissioning scheduled for Sept 27/28)
• Salmo Elementary – lighting upgrade (corridors)
• JVH – demolition/removal of music building
• Bottle fill stations – Jewett, Crawford Bay, Canyon, Brent Kennedy, Winlaw (all district sites complete)
• Blewett – furnace replacement (venting complete by Sept 30)
• Rosemont – furnace replacement (venting complete by Sept 30)
• Trafalgar - asbestos abatement (ceiling tiles)
• Winlaw – exterior doors replaced
Superintendent’s Report • Winlaw – new playground installed
• Winlaw – roof replacement
Major Projects (ongoing)
• Asbestos Management Program (includes staff training)
• Interior painting – ARES, Canyon, Erickson, PCSS
• PCSS – music room flooring replacement
• Design of mechanical systems for PCSS Fieldhouse, WEG classrooms, Central gym
• South Nelson mechanical upgrade (completion mid October)
• Trafalgar mechanical – gym upgrade (design complete)
• Winlaw modular
• Roofing audit (all district sites)
• DDC (Direct Digital Control) district upgrades
• Mount Sentinel mechanical upgrade (project development)
Transportation
• All bus routes reviewed for efficiencies
• Student online bus registration
• Purchase of new cube van, service van and trailer (replacements)
• New bus scheduled to arrive mid September
• Kindergarten bussing orientations
• International Student bussing orientations
Goals for 2020/21
• Implement ongoing training opportunities for Operations staff
• Transportation – purchase and implementation of Zonar system
• Continuing upgrading of technology for maintenance staff to improve efficiencies
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
● Every classroom in the district has access to upgraded, high speed internet! ● Microsoft Office 365 is available to all staff and students ● MyEdBC Parent Portal is LIVE for all schools
Superintendent’s Report
ENGAGEMENT & RELATIONSHIPS
COVID – 19: Please see our website for all current information re: Learning and District Business during COVID -19 – www.sd8.bc.ca
BCCPAC – https://bccpac.bc.ca/ - please check the website often. September 1 - Membership Fees are due by Sept 1, the start of the 2020-21 year. Renew online now!
Please mark your calendars for next year’s AGM and Conference - April 30 to May 2, 2021. The first DPAC meeting will be September 17, 2020. (See below)
BCSSA – (BC School Superintendents’ Association) All meetings will be virtual this year.
BCSTA – Planning for Academy 2020, which is scheduled to run from November 26 - 28, is currently underway. More info to come.
BCPSEA – The BC Public School Employers’ Association (BCPSEA) - The Fall Symposium is cancelled.
CAPSLE – The Canadian Association for the Practical Study of Law in Education 2021 conference - Rivers of Change: Trans Canada Trends in Education Law will be held from May 2-4, 2021. More info to come.
DIRECTORS & SENIOR LEADERSHIP TEAM – Thank you to all Directors and Senior Leadership Team members for their hard work over the summer in preparation for the 2020-2021 school year.
DISTRICT COMMUNICATION
For up to date information, we encourage you to follow us:
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/sd8kootenaylk/
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/sd8kootenaylake/
Twitter - https://twitter.com/SD8KootenayLk
Vlogs – In person Video updates from the Superintendent – see website www.sd8.bc.ca
Website – https://www.sd8.bc.ca/ As well as information directly on the site, check under the top tab - COVID 19
School websites: All site specific Back to school plans have been posted.
DPAC and PACs – The first DPAC meeting is Thursday, September 17th at 6 pm.
Join Zoom Meeting
https://sd8.zoom.us/j/94510372308?pwd=U2xiSUZ5Si9VcHNieGFjbmt0N3h2dz09
Meeting ID: 945 1037 2308
Password: 304408
Superintendent’s Report
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GRADs – All Grads, at this point and time, will be virtual.
LEADERSHIP TEAM (PVPs) – Thank you to all PVP for their work in the summer in preparation for COVID-19 Stage 2. All PVP are working on increasing their awareness of Equity, Inclusion, and Diversity this year.
Pro-D: A huge thank you to the entire district for a hugely successful professional development day on Friday, September 18th featuring keynote, Ivan Coyote.
MINISTRY OF EDUCATION – The Ministry of Education continues to monitor COVID-19 and will, under the leadership of Public Health, notify all districts of any updates.
