Superintendent’s Update

Dear Parents & Caregivers:

Developing positive relationships and connections is a core value in the 2022-2027 District Strategic Plan. At events like District Honours, school celebrations, or graduation ceremonies, it is evident how much students appreciate friends, family, and staff as they move to a new grade, school, or a post-secondary/career pathway after graduation.

Sa-Hali Secondary 50th Anniversary – May 23, 2025

I visited Sa-Hali Secondary’s 50th Anniversary Open House last Friday and it was spectacular. They had taken the time to gather decades worth of sports jerseys, yearbooks, pictures, and even found vinyl records of songs recorded at Capitol Records in California by students and staff. Present and past staff got together to have a picture taken.

Drama students performed a play, and art students had taken art from murals over the years and created the letters of the school’s name using the artwork. Thank you to Sa-Hali staff and students for going the extra mile to commemorate the traditions of their school community over the years. Read more.

Westsyde Elementary School – May 27, 2025

Principal Scott and I visited classes, and our first stop was to see Ms. Huva, Learning Assistance Resource Teacher who was sharing a new card game as part of the Orton-Gillingham approach to teaching reading (structured literacy approach including the reading and writing of letters, sounds, blends, words). In this case, the card game was similar to Uno, where the students are dealt cards and they are to match them to the sounds in the dealer’s card (e.g., bin). The object is to get rid of cards, and Reese and Izzie enjoyed the game.

Ms. Murray’s Kindergarten students were doing “Cosmic Yoga” when we observed. It was dark and they were each on mats and watching and copying a yoga instructor online.  After that, they were going to have story time.

Ms. Dunn’s Kindergarten class was watching her measure different objects on a screen and they were sharing the length in cm of each object.

Ms. Glassel’s Grade 1-2 class was engaged in different literacy activities. Some were reading alone or gathered at the listening center. Others were practicing numbers, letters, or spelling. Ms. Boulter’s Grade 2 class was engaged in independent reading and responding to texts. One student, Jameson, explained that he loves “Albert Einstein” and he was learning about the theory of relativity.

Ms. Leblanc’s Grade 2-3 class were reading independently while Ms. Leblanc engaged in guided reading in small groups. Paisleigh showed me how their class had many of Mo Willems’ “Elephant and Piggie” books, and we shared favourite titles.

Mr. Martin’s Grade 7 class was just about to head out to go biking, and they had just finished working on their skateboards.

Ms. Kristjanson and Ms. Schneider’s Grade 4-5 classes had been learning about Secwépemc cultural traditions and histories. From that learning, they got together in partners and small groups to create scenes in a Secwépemc village. Ms. McCleaf, Indigenous Education Worker, supported this activity and commented that it is an excellent way to have students be creative and to talk about what they learned while making their village.

Two Grade 5 students, Aleigha and Mikaela, shared their idea of creating a “diversity book shelves” in their library. They got the idea from being in the school’s inclusive club. They had a range of easy to higher level reading books, including graphic novels.

Ms. Flamank, librarian, was with the Grade 5 students in the library as they created a planet to land on and learn about. Onyx, Tanner, and Jayde were working together to study Saturn as their destination planet. Our last class was Ms. Chretien’s Grade 3-4 class who was reviewing sentence punctuation as part of their writing lesson.

In the hallway, we met Aaron Goldade and his teammates who had just returned from Track and Field. Aaron won First Place for running the 1,000m race. They were so proud of how well they had done, and Aaron said, “I didn’t pay attention to anything, I just ran my hardest.”

Thank you, Westsyde Elementary for a warm welcome and amazing visit!

Haldane Elementary School – May 29, 2025

Principal Simpson had started his day playing hockey with a group of students before school started. He shared, “I do this to have a positive way to get to know the students, and we have a connection when they need a break.” We started our visit in the gym, where Vice Principal Wielgoz was teaching Kindergarten with half playing hockey and half playing basketball and hoops.

Ms. Huddart was teaching sight words and students were on the carpet and reading them together. One student came over to share the names of animals in Secwepemctsín. We then went to Ms. Kreutzer’s Grade 1-2 class who was engaged in calendar activities and included sharing time. One student shared how much he enjoyed going to hockey tournaments in Kelowna and then Surrey.

Ms. Hebert’s Grade 2-3 class was at literacy stations including technology, reading, hands-on, and small group reading. Everyone was highly engaged and enjoying their literacy activities. Ms. Liz Charleyboy was supporting one student with reading, and she was dressed up for medieval days and was wearing a suit of armour.

We visited the sensory rooms and how the activities and space had been redesigned with the support of District Principal Brady and Haldane staff working together. They have created activities and added equipment such as a “squeeze machine” for students who need them.

Ms. Fraser’s Grade 5-6 class was creating French menus and designing their plates, food, and even had Visa machines to be able to process orders for their French cafe. Ms. Fraser also shared how they have used “tableaux” to create frozen drama scenes to depict what happens in history (i.e., students study about World War II and then work as a team to create a scene and have a narrator share what is happening).

Mr. Craig Adams shared what he was teaching students in Secwepemctsín, including using a calendar to teach numbers, sequence, colors, and seasons. He also explained the alphabet chart. He teaches at both Haldane and Chase Secondary and I later saw his class in Chase Secondary. I ended my visit by meeting Danny who is one of the community members who serves breakfast daily in Haldane. He showed how he picks up donated bread as well as using Feeding Futures funding to make sandwiches and fruit snacks for students.

Chase Secondary School – May 29, 2025

Principal Gartrell and I started in Mr. Adams’ Secwepemctsín class, and students had integrated language and arts. Graydon and Aiden shared their beading work. Graydon said, “I made UBC because I like going there for basketball and I made ‘KD’, which represents Kevin Durant, a basketball player.”

Ms. Cash shared a picture of her grandmother, Catherine Kenoras, and said, “We have Elder Doreen come in and teach students how to use cedar root and birch bark to make baskets.” These activities inspire language use while creating and sharing about them.

Mr. Bakker’s Grade 7 band played “Fire Edge” that had a lot of energy with chanting, stomping, percussion, and full band instrumentation to depict a fire ball’s energy at the edge of Earth. Mr. Bakker had taken the students to Whistler to play and explained how the band program has grown to include more than half of the students in Chase Secondary.

Ms. Swain took time to share what she had developed with grant funds from “Book Dreams”—multiple mobile book shelves and hundreds of books. Ms. Swain had also designed a mobile seating unit that housed books. She had designed and made cushions for this unit based on her background in upholstery. Her commitment and dedication to the development and support of the library in both Haldane and Chase Secondary is commendable and much appreciated by students and staff.

Mr. Kanigan’s Chemistry 12 class was studying organic chemistry. They had also gone on a field trip to a water treatment plant as part of their studies. Mr. Seibel’s Grade 9 Inquiry class had taken part in investing as part of Junior Achievement. They were competing against some local schools including Valleyview and Brocklehurst Secondary. They were at a high ranking because of their acumen in investing wisely.

National AccessAbility Week – May 25–31 2025

This week was National AccessAbility Week and this year’s theme was “Breaking barriers together: Paving the way for an inclusive future.” École Lloyd George Elementary celebrated National AccessAbility Week with their annual Duchenne Walk, honouring classmate Jude with a ‘Hats Off to Jude’ theme. Students and staff wore their favourite hats and walked to SKSS, where Jude will be attending next year. Read more.

District Honours – May 29, 2025

I had the honour to attend the 47th Annual District Honours reception last night. It was a wonderful evening celebrating this year’s top graduating students who have not only achieved academic success but have also demonstrated commitment and excellence in extracurricular activities such as sports, fine arts, trades, and volunteering. Read more.

Celebrating Pride Month – June 2025

As we prepare to enter June, we are excited to celebrate Pride Month. As a District, we are focused on creating safe and inclusive spaces where all students and staff can thrive. Pride Month is a time to honour and celebrate the two-spirit, lesbian, gay, bi-sexual, transgender, queer, questioning, intersex, asexual, and other (2SLGBTQIA+) communities. Read more.

Board Notes – May 26, 2025

To learn more about the Regular Public Board meeting on May 26, 2025, please read Board Notes here.

As we prepare for end of year recognitions, awards, and graduation ceremonies, I look forward to connecting with many of you at these upcoming celebrations.

Rhonda Nixon, PhD
Superintendent