A Reading Confession

My two favourite things in life are libraries and bicycles. Both move people forward without wasting anything. Peter Golkin (1966~) [I have a confession to make.] I just started middle and secondary school reading guru Kelly Gallagher's Reading Reasons to help me to better answer the ultimate question many young readers ask: Why should I … Continue reading A Reading Confession →

Power to the Collective

Last fall, the BC Ministry of Education began its push for educators in our province to work towards indigenizing (a term that still alludes a satisfactory definition) their curriculum. As expected, many of our colleagues shared their well-founded trepidation, reticence, and fears around what teaching from an indigenous perspective actually looked like. Where do we start? How … Continue reading Power to the Collective →

Canoe, Culture, and Connection

Last week, twenty-two students from our Aboriginal Education program had the very unique privilege of working with self-admitted 'junior' elder, Wayne Louie of the Yaqan Nukiy (Lower Kootenay) Band of the Ktunaxa Nation. The keen group, under Wayne's mentorship and guidance, completed the first of two procedures to build a seven foot replica model of … Continue reading Canoe, Culture, and Connection →

Letting Go, Trusting the Process

I remain continually grateful (and amazed!) each time I have needed support, guidance, mentorship in professional relationships it seems to be readily available. Indeed, friends, colleagues, and mentors all serve to help us maintain balance, and more importantly, perspective in our lives. But it often is the first step of letting go of others’ expectations of … Continue reading Letting Go, Trusting the Process →

Givin’ Errr…

The past week, the school was entertained by The Inferiors, a four-piece band from Kimberly, BC. I have seen a lot of concerts in different genres of music, in different venues, at different times of the year, and among different crowds, but what made this fifty-two minute show in our acoustically-anihilating fifty-four year old gymnasium … Continue reading Givin’ Errr… →

What Does a Teacher-Librarian Do?

I have recently returned to a role as teacher-librarian. I have missed it dearly. It's not been easy to explain to colleagues that haven't really worked with a teacher-librarian in nearly fifteen. But, for the record, here's some of the responsibilities of the 'teacher'-librarian (emphasis on the former)...

Finding Our Boys

This week, Vancouver-based facilitator, David Hatfield, worked with our Grade 8 boys as part of our Health Relationships, Healthy Living workshops. Hatfield's long-standing areas of focus including masculinity, conflict transformation, and rites of passage were on display as he worked with small groups of boys ages 13-14 year olds. The purpose of David's visit was twofold: start … Continue reading Finding Our Boys →

Getting out of the Box

I recently finished The Arbinger Institute's, Leadership and Self-Deception: Getting out of the Box. Truth be told, it was more out of curiosity than pure interest that led me to indulge in this relevant book. A relationship between leadership and self-deception? Huh? The book claimed to be written for "every situation from leadership, accountability, human … Continue reading Getting out of the Box →

Teacher Evaluation as a Shared Professional Learning Experience

The British Columbia Principal and Vice-Principal's Association (BCPVPA) is the support network for school leaders in the province. To assist with the work done by school leaders, the BCPVPA publishes an important, and essential, document called the Leadership Standards for Principals and Vice-Principals. The Standards are not intended to "be prescriptive in nature", but rather "[t]he Leadership Standards are … Continue reading Teacher Evaluation as a Shared Professional Learning Experience →