Report to Board [October 1, 2012]

Chairperson Patti Bacchus and Superintendent Cardwell attended and presented at the Select Standing Committee on Finance and Governance on October 1st.

School news:Killarney students and staff are on a mission to collect old cell phones and chargers in order to redistribute them to the rural poor in Africa.

Each morning students at Renfrew Elementary head out into the sun (or clouds) for a quick guided Tai Chi session to relaxing music on a gravel field next to the school. Teachers say the Tai Chi helps many focus during the day and allowing students to be that much more engaged and productive.

A week and a half ago, McBride Elementary primary teachers made a pitch for the five strands of the primary program and the power of play to the school’s parent community. On the evening of Thursday, September 20th, the teachers brought this message to their parent community as part of the school’s Meet the Teacher Night. One parent let the teachers know that their Meet the Teacher Night was the best she'd ever attended.

Point Grey Secondary Teacher Dean Long wanted a platform to show off some of the amazing work created by his students. So he decided to create the Point Grey Art Blog.

This year the Edith Cavell Elementary school community raised funds for the Terry Fox Foundation. In return for their fundraising efforts and prior to the annual run, students were given a very special treat. Great seats and the opportunity to cut the hair of their favorite teachers with an electric razor. Principal Mike McEwan and four teachers had their heads shaved by the students after the student body raised $11,948 for the Terry Fox foundation. The gym was packed with the entire school body to watch and celebrate the shavings of the beloved staff.

JO centennial: alumni and students put on a grand musical show to

celebrate 100 years of Jo history. Drumlines, choirs, contemporary hip hop dance was centre stage for a packed auditorium. Decade rooms were open for the alumni to reminisce about past glories and stories. Mark Pearmain got to see my grandfather on the wall who was Principal from1956-1961!

William Zhou is a Grade 12 student at Britannia with a deep and unabiding love of particle physics. His greatest inspiration is Ernest Rutherford, a nuclear scientist who in the early 20th century, first probed the atom. William’s commitment to science earned him a trip to the Deep River Science Academy in Ontario, where he and other brilliant minds studied the Chalk River nuclear reactor and conducted 6 weeks of experiments and labs. I predict William will be going a very long way in the world of science. Jilliane Vina is a Grade 12 student at Britannia Secondary with a background in Brazilian Jujitsu and Mui Thai Kick Boxing. This summer, Julliane made the transition to wrestling where she represented her school at the BC Summer Games – a provincial level tournament. She placed third overall, a fantastic achievement considering she just started wrestling last year. JC Ayque is a Grade 9 student at Britannia Secondary. JC has always been strongly encouraged in his basketball by his father. JC and the rest of the Britannia team took first place (gold) in this year’s BC Summer Games.