Superintendent’s NewsJUNE 2009

NEWS & HAPPENINGS WITHIN THE CAMPBELL RIVER SCHOOL DISTRICT

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CALENDAR OF EVENTS

June 23Board Meeting 7:30 p.m.Agenda online: www.sd72.bc.ca

June 25Last Day of School

September 1, 2 & 3Pro-D DaysSchools Remain Closed

September 8First Day of School

As another school year comes to a close, it’s important to step back and reflect on the changes and events that highlighted the year, and what a remarkable year it has been! Below is a list of just some of the year’s highlights. Wishing all district staff, students and parents safe and happy end of year wrap-ups and summer holidays.

Carihi and Timberline’s musical theatres proudly presented “Grease” • and “Seven Brides for Seven Brothers”. Both productions received a great deal of acclaim from the community.

The Missoula Children’s Theatre once again showcased the talents of • district and Edaus students with their production of “The Adventures of Robinson Crusoe”.

The district’s third StrongStart BC Centre was opened at Sayward • Elementary / Junior Secondary.

The EFAP Wellness Committee organized the first Wellness Fair on • October 20 and 21 at Robron Centre.

School District 72 graduates Thomas Beulah (Carihi) and William • Sun (Timberline) were awarded the BC Innovation Council’s Science Achievement Awards.

Southgate student Rhianna Martin won the sophomore category of the • North American Braille Challenge in Los Angeles.

Carihi’s music program got a boost with a $10,000 Band Aid musical • instrument grant from MusiCounts. Music teacher Jim Vining applied

Highlighting a Stellar Year

Honouring Retiring District Staff: Guests of honour at the district’s annual retirement reception pose for a photo at the Community Centre on June 10. Congratulations and thank you all for your contributions to our district and students during the course of your career. See the district website at www.sd72.bc.ca to download a larger photo. (See page 2 for a list of this year’s retirees)

School Board Office and Education Centre Summer Closure

The school board office will be closed from July 20 to August 21 and the education centre will be closed from June 26 to August 31. During the week of August 31 the education centre will be open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The last delivery date to the schools is June 26. Please ensure that all materials that need to be returned to the education centre are in the delivery for that day. The regular delivery schedule will resume on September 9.

For emergencies, please phone the maintenance department at (250) 287-8808 and check the local newspapers and school district website towards the end of August for school opening information.

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photo courtesy of Janet-Ann Mahoney

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on the school’s behalf.

School District 72 said goodbye to two Superintendents, Julie MacRae • and John Spry, but welcomed Tom Longridge back to the district as the new Superintendent of Schools.

Work got underway on the district’s precedent setting third Aboriginal • Education Enhancement Agreement. School District 72 was the second district in BC to develop an initial Enhancement Agreement and the first to sign a second agreement.

École des Deux Mondes’ library got a face-lift in the form of a new • computer lab, new paint and flooring and improved lighting.

With the municipal and school trustee elections, the district said good-• bye to two trustees, George MacLagan and Ted Foster, but welcomed Ted Thorburn and Joyce McMann to the Board of Education.

SD72 achieved a school completion rate in the top 20 percent of all • school districts province-wide.

The Aboriginal Education Department hosted an Aboriginal • community forum, giving parents and community members an opportunity to provide feedback and direction in establishing the district’s third Aboriginal Education Enhancement Agreement.

The artistic talents of SD72 students were once again showcased • through a successful two-evening Taste of the Arts. Twenty-nine groups participated and Taste of the Arts raised a record $1,413 for the Campbell River Food Bank.

Secondary schools piloted online course selections through a new • CIMS product, Parent Connect.

Over 30 youth from Carihi and Timberline’s Youth 4 Diversity groups • were awarded the Nesika Award. The award recognizes excellence in a diversity initiative that successfully educates others on inclusion.

The Aboriginal student recognition dinner honoured 43 students from • Kindergarten to Grade 12 for their leadership and exceptional work in the areas of academics, social responsibility, athletics and citizenship.

Over the last year, School District 72 has invested approximately • $35,000 to ensure that each school has an emergency preparedness kit. Bins have been installed in all the elementary schools and will be installed in the middle and secondary schools next.

Sixty-two students participated in the district’s annual chess • tournament, the last to be organized by Dave Friederich who is retiring. Dave has organized the tournament for the last 15 years.

The EFAP and Wellness Committee challenged SD72 employees to • “Step-It Up a Notch” with this year’s pedometer challenge and the committee themselves delivered, with the event culminating in a celebratory walk/run through Beaver Lodge Lands.

Expansion work began on École Willow Point Elementary. When •

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Honouring Retiring District StaffAs another school year comes to a close, we celebrate the year’s triumphs, the nearing of a well deserved summer break, and mourn the change in relationships as students and colleagues move on to other grades, schools or roles.

To all those district staff retiring this year, on behalf of the senior management team and the Board of Education, thank you. Thank you for all that you’ve given of yourselves for our students, their parents, and your colleagues.

Best wishes to this year’s retirees:Donna Bayne• Ingrid Boon• Roy Brooks• Jan Clark• Doranne deMontigny• Wayne deMontigny• Bruce Davies• Pat Denne• Paula Douglas• Ron Dworski• Linda Dwyer• Diana Eckford• John Elson• Marion Franklin• Richard Franklin• Dave Friederich• Judy Greenius• Pat Grono• Dennis Harrison• Manfred Hensel• Jerry Horton• Bill Johnston• Jan Johnston• John Kerr• Mary-Ellen Lang Collura• Janice Langley• Manfred Laube• Heather MacKenzie• Ruth Niedziejko• Marlene Noble• Eileen O’Reilly• Marilyn Peterson (CRDTA)• Doug Phyall• Doug Puritch• Coleen Ray• Janice Rickey• John Ringstead• Jeffrey Roe• Brian Slater• Barb Staton• Jan Titus•

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School District 72 has been named the recipient of the Julia Award, a national Cystic Fibrosis (CF) award, for the district’s ongoing efforts and support of the Canadian Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. School District 72 is the only school district across Canada to ever receive this honour.

The Julia Award is named after a young girl who lost her battle with CF. It is awarded to non-chapter individuals or groups in recognition of a significant, ongoing contribution to the Canadian Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

Retired SD72 principal, Bill Black, on behalf of the Canadian Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, and Risa Brachi, the Campbell River chapter’s vice-president, presented the award to board chair, Helen Moats and superintendent, Tom Longridge at the board’s public meeting on June 2.

According to Black, there were several reasons why SD72 was nominated including: district employee involvement,; the district’s annual support of such important CF events as the Bowl for Breath, the Frightlite campaign, Christmas dance fundraisers, and the Great Strides Walk; and the involvement of student volunteers through the leadership and Interact programs.

For the past 20 years, teachers, staff, administrators and students have supported the Bowl for Breath event, raising in excess of $250,000 and also educating students about CF, charitable giving and volunteering. Annually, the Frightlite campaign also raises between $3,000 and $5,000.

Several past and present school district employees have also held leadership positions at the chapter, provincial and national levels of the Canadian Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. For example, Grant Stewart and Bev Ready help organize the annual Rod Brind’Amour Golf Classic at Storey Creek Golf Course. Stewart is the co-chair of this annual tournament, dinner and auction for CF. This year’s tournament is scheduled for June 27 and tickets are still available for the dinner and auction.

“This positive relationship and support from the school district has been instrumental in the success of our

chapter,” said Black. “It is with sincere thanks from us to School District 72 board members, past and present teachers, CUPE employees, administrators and the thousands of School District 72 students who have helped make the life of children and young adults who live with Cystic Fibrosis better.”

On accepting the award on behalf of the Board of Education and School District 72, board chair Helen Moats said, “This is a great recognition of how people in our district come together and we really have to acknowledge the efforts of Chris Black, a retired district employee, in her tireless work to draw awareness to Cystic Fibrosis.”

Chris and Bill Black’s daughter, Kim, a graduate of Carihi Secondary, was diagnosed with CF as a baby and is now a nurse. In light of their family’s struggle with this disease, Chris and Bill formed the Campbell River chapter of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and Chris is the past chair of the provincial association and past national president of the Canadian Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

Another Campbell River high school graduate with CF is Michael Hamilton, a Timberline graduate who is now an honours science student at the University of Victoria and aspires to be a doctor or researcher.

Cystic Fibrosis is a genetic multi-organ disease, which affects primarily the lungs and digestive system. According to the CF Foundation, approximately one in every 3,600 children born in Canada has the disease.

SD72 First Ever to Receive National Cystic Fibrosis Award

Bill Black, on behalf of the Canadian Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, and Risa Brachi, Campbell River chapter vice-president, presented the Julia Award to Board chair Helen Moats and Superintendent Tom Longridge.

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While students and many district employees are enjoying a well deserved summer holiday, there are several capital projects slated for the summer months.

Below is a list of the scheduled projects, along with the associated cost projections and target dates.

Cortes: Boiler replacement ($60k). Work scheduled for late June / early July.

École Phoenix: Building envelope restoration ($900k) BC Housing is managing this project and the contract is expected to be awarded by the end of June. Work could start as early as summer and carry on into the new school year.

École Willow Point: Roof replacement and expansion ($3.2m) Expansion work will begin in the summer and continue into the new school year.

Ocean Grove: Building envelope restoration ($1.3m) BC Housing is managing this project and the contract is expected to be awarded by the end of June. Work could start as early as summer and carry on into the new school year.

Pinecrest: Fencing ($35,300) completion for end of August.

Southgate: The seismic upgrade is on track to be completed in August. Roof replacement of six sections ($511k). Partial re-cladding ($61,500)

Timberline: Fire alarm panel replacement ($20k)

Bathroom Renovations: Cedar, Pinecrest, Carihi, École des Deux Mondes, Phoenix, Penfield, Oyster River, and Southgate. ($30k). As many as possible will be done during summer. No work will be done during the school year.

Entrance Ways: Pinecrest and École des Deux Mondes ($242k). Pinecrest work will be done the end of June. EDM is targeted for completion at the end of August.

Exterior Painting: Oyster River and part of Southgate ($35k). Work to be done during July and August.

Lighting Upgrades: Pinecrest, Ocean Grove, Discovery Passage, and Sayward. ($185,500). Work to start in the summer and will continue into the fall.

Transportation: Replace four school buses ($580k). The bus deliveries are expected late summer/early fall.

No Shortage of Projects Slated For Over Summer

Over 300 student athletes invaded Campbell River a couple weeks ago in a bid to claim the provincial senior girls AA soccer title.

Carihi Secondary played host to the championships and while the home team wasn’t successful in winning the title, they did receive great accolades as a gracious hosts and skilled tournament organizers.

Over 400 spectators turned out to watch Vancouver’s Notre Dame Jugglers win an exhilarating final with a wonderful goal to claim a 3-2 victory over Kalamalka Lakers.

On the field our local Tyees had a highly successful tournament. Their first game saw them take on Valleyview, the second place team out of the Okanagan zone, and win 2-0.

The second game was against Archbishop Carney, the number one team out of the Fraser Valley zone. Carihi fought valiantly against this very strong team before losing 3-1.

On the second day of the tournament, the Tyees squared off against Duchess Park. A win would secure

second place in the group play. Our Tyees started out in tremendous fashion and raced to a 2-0 lead within the opening 15 minutes of the game, Carihi continued on to win 3-0.

Next up, Carihi faced Broklehurst out of Kamloops. Despite dominating the play, Carihi finished with a 1-1 tie. A shoot out followed and Broklehurst secured victory with a 4-3 shoot out score.

On the final morning, the Tyees took on St. Thomas Moore of the North Shore zone and with a win secured seventh place, the best finish ever for Carihi at the provincial championship.

Hopes are high that the team will once again grace the provincial championship next season in what would be the school’s eighth appearance in the past 15 seasons.

Kudos to tournament chair, John Jepson; the Tyee players for all their hard work and graciousness as hosts; all the parents for their support; Barry Kegler, Linda Nagle and the grounds crews of SD72 and the city of Campbell River; Carihi administration; Bill Rasmussen; Carihi media; and the Carihi PAC.

Carihi Hosts Successful Provincial Soccer Tourney

see page 5 for some of the tournament accolades

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finished, the school will be able to accommodate up to 75 more students.

The Ministry of Education announced funding to repair and prevent • water damage at École Phoenix and Ocean Grove.

Work began to improve the entrance to Pinecrest Elementary.•

Southgate and École Willow Point underwent seismic upgrades to • make these structures safer for students and staff.

District and several community groups partnered to create a new • workbook to help special needs students’ transition from Grade 12 to adulthood.

Locally developed Liqwala / Kwakala Language Integrated Resource • Package (IRP) was provincially approved as curriculum for Grades 5 to 12. This achievement was the culmination of 30 years worth of work by many within the Campbell River Aboriginal community and School District 72.

School District 72 was presented the Julia Award, a national Cystic • Fibrosis award given to non-chapter individuals or groups in recognition of a significant ongoing contribution to the Canadian Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. School District 72 is the only school district across Canada to ever receive this award.

Tchadas Leo, a Grade 12 student at Carihi, was one of five students • from across BC chosen as a winner of the BC 150 Youth Video Contest.

The Board of Education signed the BC Climate Action Charter, which • commits that the district will become carbon neutral by 2012.

Carihi Tyees secured their first North Island high school senior girls’ • AA soccer championship title in 12 years.

Timberline Secondary media student, Nikki Blondeau won first place • in the documentary genre at the BC Student Film Festival for her documentary entitled, “The Sober Choice.”

Carihi hosted the Subway Cup BC provincial high school senior girls’ • AA soccer championship, receiving high praise from coaches and parents for a skillfully organized event.

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SOCCER CHAMPIONSHIP ACCOLADESThe following are some of the thank you notes tournament organizer John Jepson received following Carihi’s hosting of the provincial soccer championships:

“Who chose the officials? • Please thank them! Finally a group of refs who allowed the girls to play!”

“In all my 19 years of • coaching boys and girls I have never attended such an incredible banquet. My girls didn’t want to leave!”

“Thanks a heap for a very • memorable time. You have outstanding fields and what a memorable banquet!”

“Thanks for putting on such a • great tournament. I’ve been to a few national championships at the university level and this tournament was by far the most organized and well run event I have been to.”

“It was the most amazing • tournament, most amazing banquet, most amazing weekend! Thank you so much!”

“The officials would like to • commend the organizing committee, under the leadership of John Jepson, for a first class tournament, both on and off the field of play. The officials, to a man, had a most enjoyable experience, throughout the three days, as part of what can only be described as a true celebration of the beautiful game.”

“On behalf of the soccer • community, I would like to thank you and your committee for promoting soccer in our community, developing young soccer players, and for doing such a good job of hosting tournaments.”

“Thanks for the great work.”•

Left: Ken Zaharia of the Courier-Islander newspaper shot this picture of Discovery Passage’s Ryan Smith, left, and Willow Point’s Grady Kennelly racing towards the finish line in the 1997 boys 400m heat at the district track meet on June 2. The meet saw new records set in girls shot put by Sandowne student Michelle Laslo; boys 400 metres by Penfield student Andrew Schopp; 1998 boys shot put by Penfield student Seever Rondquist; and 1997 boys high jump by Sandowne student Josh Nelson. There were also six aggregate winners: Olivia Knowles, Tyrone Martin, Cassidy Hinsberger, Tyler Cathey, Megan Nuttall, and Dennis Jang.

photo taken by Ken Zaharia of the Courier-Islander

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On Thursday, May 22, 166 students participated in an Aboriginal science fair celebration at Robron Center. Since January, grade 3-6 students from Georgia Park, Cedar and Pinecrest schools had been hypothesizing, researching, experimenting and concluding in order that they could present their scientific findings to their peers, parents, and family members on this special day.

Many of the scientific inquiries were Aboriginal-themed. Students studied the medicinal qualities of plants; creating paint form natural products; the optimal displacement of different canoe designs; cedar bark harvesting and weaving; and sound experiments with different types and sizes of drums. As one might also expect to see at a science celebration, there were also inquiries focusing on modern “science” topics, such as aerodynamics, but these were often connected to traditional Aboriginal science.

This science fair celebration came about as a result of a partnership between the school district, the B.C. Science Fair Foundation and MISTIC (Mid-Island Science, Technology & Innovation Council). The purpose of the partnership was to increase student participation and interest in science, particularly the number of Aboriginal students. The partnership exceeded everyone’s expectations. Patti Leigh, executive director of the B.C. Science Fair Foundation, was thoroughly impressed with the students’ projects.

“Typically when students do these science projects the first time they are quite basic. These projects are fantastic. They have graphs, tables and some students have used and discussed independent, dependent and controlled variables. The teachers have done an outstanding job of teaching their children the scientific method.”

Teachers and students involved in the science fair celebration had access to Cape Mudge elder, June Johnson, as well as language and culture department teachers Patti Lamothe and Lisa Johnson to help the students learn about traditional Aboriginal science.

Teachers Hendrick Horsthuis, Stacey Noren, Beth Kingston, Mary Deagle, Cathy Macfarlane, Daryl Stevens, Selma Kennedy, Tom Kennedy, and Walt Klassen all found the experience a “roller coaster” and were extremely happy with the students enthusiasm and level of learning. Having met every two months to plan and share information and assessment practices, they also enjoyed the professional development aspect of the project.

Unlike a science fair where students are judged by adults, all assessment occurred in the classroom and involved peer, teacher and parent feedback, which allowed students to set goals and improve their projects and oral presentations right up to the day of the show.

Students were welcomed to the traditional territory of the We Wai Kai and We Wai Kum First Nations by Pam Lewis and Jason Price. Following words of appreciation by Patti Leigh, students shared their topics with the other students at their tables. There was also drumming, a scavenger hunt and a draw for an indoor/outdoor microscope provided by Paris Gaudet of MISTIC. Students from the Laichwiltach Learning Program provided lunch for all participants and, in the afternoon, Science World came and did a science demonstration for all the students.

Based on feedback from students and teachers the day and learning throughout the project were very successful!

Aboriginal Science Fair Celebration

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written by Greg Johnson

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Campbell River School DistrictLearning to Be Our Best

Superintendent’s News is published regularly for employees of the Campbell River School District.

Feedback is always welcomed.

For more information, please contact:

Jennifer PatrickT (250) 830.2333E jennifer.patrick@sd72.bc.ca

www.sd72.bc.ca

For all the latest news in the Campbell River School District:

Planning for next year?Download the 2009/10 school calendar from www.sd72.bc.ca

The calendar features three non-instructional Pro-D days before Labour Day and a two-week Spring Break in April.

School District 72 will once again be offering a variety of programs to support learning through the summer. Academic programs for middle and secondary students will be available through Summer School 2009, which is being held at Timberline Secondary School from July 2 to July 31.

All core academic courses through Summer School will be offered at no charge to students. A $50 refundable textbook deposit is however required upon registration. A limited number of non-credit programs, such as summer band and computer animation, will be offered as well, but have a fee attached to them, as noted on the application forms.

For elementary students, there are also a couple of summer programs being offered through the month of July at Georgia Park Elementary.

School District 72 is also offering entrepreneurial and arts in education summer programs.

The registration deadline for Summer School 2009 is June 26. Application forms are available at the school board office, Continuing Education, each of the middle and secondary schools, or the district website at www.sd72.bc.ca

For more information on summer learning opportunities in Campbell River, check out the district website or contact John Bowers, Summer School principal, at (250) 923-4253.

Summer School Applications

School District 72 was well represented this year in the North Island Network of Performance-Based Schools. The Network of Performance-Based Schools is a voluntary action research community designed to improve student learning and to strengthen public education. Network schools represent the diversity of public education in BC with small remote rural schools, large urban secondary schools, schools serving vulnerable populations, and schools in affluent communities all being part of this learning community.

Participating school teams of teachers and principals develop a question that becomes the focus for their school improvement work on an annual basis and commit to collecting baseline data, working over the course of the year on their key question, assessing students using the BC Performance Standards, attending three meetings and displaying their findings at a year-end celebration of learning, and writing a two-page report of their inquiry work including suggestions for other schools.

The following Campbell River schools participated this year: Timberline, Phoenix, Southgate, Ripple Rock, Willow Point, Discovery Passage, Quadra, Penfield, and Sandowne. Be sure to check out the presentations prepared by Campbell River educators at the September Pro-D days.

Network of Performance-Based Schools

photos courtesy of Kim Padington