Working Together for Successful Student Transition
April 26-29, 2018
Sheraton Vancouver Airport Hotel, Richmond, BC (map)
Continue Reading “BCSTA Annual General Meeting – First Look”
Media Release: BCSTA Supports Chilliwack School District’s Decision
[Vancouver – January 19, 2018] In response to the media statement from the Chilliwack School Board today calling for the resignation of a trustee from their board, BCSTA President Gordon Swan shared the following statement.
“As trustees, we take an oath ‘not to allow any private interest to influence my conduct in public matters’ and it is imperative that a public school trustee represent and protect the safety of all students. When one allows personal beliefs to infringe on their ability to do so, and when those beliefs conflict with the policies of the board that they represent along with the laws that govern the province, there are consequences. In this case, it has resulted in a loss of confidence from the Chilliwack Board of Education and the Minister of Education in the trustee’s ability to adequately fulfil the duties of office that he was elected to perform. The BCSTA supports the Chilliwack board’s decision as it has become apparent that this has proven to be a distraction for the board in running the school district and focusing on student achievement for all students in the district.”
Continue Reading “Media Release: BCSTA Supports Chilliwack School District’s Decision”
Advocacy: School Property Use Conflicts
[Received January 8, 2018]
A/Deputy Minister McCrea to BCTF President Hansman:
“Thank you for your letter dated November 27, 2017, to the Honourable Rob Fleming, Minister of Education, regarding the use of school property by organizations whose views may conflict with the BC Human Rights Code…”
Thanks for Joining us at Trustee Academy 2017
We hope you enjoyed and found this year’s Academy useful to your important work as a trustee.
Trustee Academy 2017 was planned to inspire delegates as they assemble under the theme of “Education Evolution: Student-Centred Governance.” The goal of this year’s academy was to highlight the important role students play in the governance of our public education system.
We are hoping you could take a few minutes to provide valuable feedback to the Professional Learning Committee (PLC) and BCSTA staff who plan your professional development events.
Trustee Academy 2017 Feedback Survey
Continue Reading “Thanks for Joining us at Trustee Academy 2017”
Trustee Academy 2017 Photo Gallery
Thank you to everyone who participated and made our 2017 Trustee Academy such a success.
New Trustee Learning Guide Launched
Attendees at this year’s Trustee Academy were provided an overview of BCSTA’s great new learning resource for boards, individual trustees, senior district staff and partners – The Learning Guide. This very extensive on-line learning resource covers a myriad of topics that are of interest and/or applicability to trustees, boards and senior staff in their roles governing, leading and overseeing school districts. Our intent is to provide everyone involved with a ‘one stop’ resource covering all of the basic information as well as supporting materials for any topic applicable to K-12 education.
BCSTA previously published learning modules for our members, but the materials were expensive to produce and often quickly went out of date as circumstances changed. By providing the Learning Guide on-line, we are able to update, expand or improve it on a regular basis at minimal cost. We are also able to provide active links to numerous additional outside resources as well as school district examples of programs, policies and processes that bring the information to life for students and staff.
BCSTA HUB Now Open for Business
BCSTA’s new members-only area of our website, the BCSTA HUB, is now open for business. The HUB will provide a number of new features and services aimed at providing improved services and communications for all members.
Included within the HUB will be:
- The BCSTA Events Calendar
- Member notifications and information updates
- Discussion Groups (i.e. Listservs) for committees and board chairs
- Access to our new Trustee Learning Guide and other resources
- Work areas and information for all Branches and Standing Committees
Trustee Academy 2017 Concurrent Sessions
Trustee Academy 2017 is just around the corner, featuring a variety of concurrent session that are set to inspire trustees as they assemble under the theme of “Education Evolution: Student-Centred Governance” this November. The goal of this year’s academy is to highlight the important role students play in the governance of our public education system. Have a peek at what’s in store:
Raising the Valuation of Traditional Ecological Knowledge
In the spring of 2016, I had the privilege of hearing Mr. Tom Child recount the story of a Kwakiutl elder, Ms. Sara Sampare, who described her experience during the Great Depression of the 1930s. She had spoken of how during this time of national hardship, when everyone across North America was always hungry, the Kwakwaka’wakw peoples never experienced that same scarcity. Rich and sophisticated traditional ecological knowledge had resulted in more than enough food to meet the needs of the community.
Continue Reading “Raising the Valuation of Traditional Ecological Knowledge”
Our Journey of Awareness and Understanding of Aboriginal Culture
On September 18, 2015, the culture of the Squamish People came to life at Eastview Elementary School in North Vancouver. Our year long journey of awareness and understanding of Aboriginal ways was witnessed and celebrated through a presentation ceremony of our Welcome Figure. Over the year, every Eastview student contributed to the pole under the guidance of distinguished Aboriginal carvers Ses Siyam (Ray Natroaro), and apprentice Haat With Wayaanus (Josh Watts).
Continue Reading “Our Journey of Awareness and Understanding of Aboriginal Culture”