SPRING

A MAGAZINE FOR THE FAMILIES OF NANAIMO LADYSMITH PUBLIC SCHOOLS

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BUILDING STRONGER COMMUNITIESWritten By:

Shauna Debodt

2017 is destined to be a year to be remembered. Nanaimo Ladysmith Public Schools (NLPS) has been working with

partners throughout the community to build stronger rela-tionships with our Aboriginal communities. With the many projects, resources and staff, NLPS has been making great

strides towards this goal.

Currently, the Career Technical Centre’s (CTC) Trades Trailer has been working in

five First Nations schools on the Island. The Trades Trailer and staff have been creating awareness and interest in the

potential for careers in trades while bringing resources into Aboriginal communities. The five schools are Qwam Qwum (Nanaimo), Haahuupayak (Port Alberni), Ahousaht (Tofino), Stz’uminus (Ladysmith) and Ditidaht (Nitinat).

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Teacher and Carpenter Alex Floucault, has been delivering the lessons to students in the five communities for several weeks.

Lessons include building bird houses, wood boxes and even a shed that is intended to serve as a sweat lodge. At times, parents participated in the lessons with their children.

At Qwam Qwum, students, parents and staff members were building bird houses. From pre-schoolers to older siblings and parents, everyone was engaged in this learning process. Once completed, the students proudly showed off their carpentry skills and were eager to take their projects home.

Qwam Qwum School (QQS) Principal Roxanne Harris said, “The students, staff and parents at QQS were really happy to have a day of carpentry offered at our school. The students were remarkably happy to work with the hand tools. They were especially happy with the bird houses that they built that day! We are so grateful for the NLPS CTC Trades Trailer staff for coming out to our school. We look forward to more opportunities for collaboration in the future! Huy’ch’qa.”

While at Stz’uminus Community School, students were excited to share their experiences about the lessons their instructor Floucault taught them. “It was great to be part of a program where students were able to experience the satisfaction of creating with wood! These creations are things that they can take pride in and ownership of for years to come, certainly leading to greater confidence in their personal abilities and future opportunities,” said Floucault. The students also shared what was their favourite part of the building process and about the tools used and skills gained. Grade 10 student, Olivia talked about her woodworking class being helpful when she was measuring and sanding during this project.

Stz’uminus Teacher Cameron Park said, “Bringing a partnership in like this really gives an opportunity to go that extra distance in ways that we haven’t been able to provide yet. Having a carpenter come out and frame a sweat lodge really lets us take that next step in bringing an Elder in to help explain the cultural meaning of the sweat lodge.”

NLPS is proud to be able to share resources to expand and build on healthy and stronger communities.“

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Another exciting project on our journey towards reconciliation was the Elder Project at NDSS. Poet and Facilitator Wendy Morton showcased her project with Aboriginal youth. Aboriginal students interviewed Elders and learned about their stories and experiences firsthand. Afterwards, the students turned these conversations into beautiful pieces of poetry that honour the Elders.

District Vice-Principal of Aboriginal Education Anne Tenning said, “There was a lot of laughter and there were also tears. The stories that our Elders had to share were not always easy, but the youth were able to see in the Elders what resilience and strength really look and feel like. This is undoubtedly going to be a life-changing experience for these youth.”

This project created a rare, but invaluable opportunity for Aboriginal youth to spend quality time with local Aboriginal Elders and hear about their stories and experiences. The Elder project was inspirational! Youth and Elders together – bridging generations, creating genuine connections, establishing trust and ultimately, building a stronger community.

And yet another healthy and integral partnership for NLPS students is the relationship with Vancouver Island University (VIU). VIU offers the Indigenous Learning and Recognition Portfolio 100 course. This Indigenous Learning and Recognition Portfolio course is an excellent opportunity for students to get introduced to the world of university and gain valuable course credits at the same time! This opportunity is ideal for any Aboriginal student interested in pursuing post-secondary studies, whether they are a top achiever or a more reluctant learner.

The course is a reflective process where students assess their prior learning experiences through the development of a personalized portfolio. Ultimately, it validates the knowledge and skills that come from family, community and cultural backgrounds. Not only is the portfolio a way for students to tell their story, but also provides students with an insight into their strengths and values as they map out their education and career path.

These partnerships and relationships with organizations, communities and individuals are integral to attain stronger, healthier communities. Exciting times ahead for sure, as we venture a new path together building stronger communities.

The Elder Projectby the First Nations students

at Chemainus Secondary School

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The project will be unveiled on Friday, April 28 at 2 p.m. at Nanaimo District Secondary School (NDSS). Please contact NDSS Principal Geoff Steel 250 740 2000 should you wish to attend.

Everyone is welcome!

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As a part of their place-based learning, Gabriola’s Grade 6/7 class has been leading some zero-waste initiatives.

BEING THE CHANGE

Gabriola students have been encouraging zero-waste alternatives for

lunches in the school and on January 15, students got the community involved by hosting a “Chili on a Chilly Day” fundraising event.

Students showcased the 4 Rs of zero-waste throughout the event:

ReducingStudents served up locally sourced chili that they prepared themselves

ReusingThe public was invited to vote on their favourite logos for cloth shopping bags

RecyclingThey hosted a bottle drive

RethinkingThey demonstrated ways to pack a lunch without bringing prepackaged items

As well, the Grade 6/7 class informed others about reducing waste and conducted surveys regarding habits and views on reducing waste.

The day was a great success, with almost 200 hundred bowls of chili served and an amazing number of bottles and cans collected.

The funds raised will be used to continue to promote zero-waste initiatives in the community as well as for some eco-adventures celebrating the group’s accomplishments.

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As technology evolves, it continues to change the

approach for how teachers teach and students learn.

CLASSROOMS ARE CHANGING

For students in Grades 5 to 9, coding will become part of the new BC curriculum, phased

in over the next three years. Coding allows learners to process information; it inspires curiosity and teaches learners how to think.

Virtual Library Coordinator Val Martineau said, “Coding is one tool in computing literacy. It is often the buzzword used to describe computational thinking skills. It allows students to problem solve, expand their mathematical skills and provide critical thinking opportunities.”

Students in Nanaimo Ladysmith Public Schools (NLPS) are learning coding through a variety of ways, including CODE.org, Hour of Code, ScratchJr, Scratch, Raspberry Pi, Coding Quest and Spheros. NLPS is using Spheros as one of its coding tools. A Sphero is a small robotic, programmable ball that offers beginner to advanced programming opportunities.

Written By: Shauna Debodt

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This year, NLPS has 13 district Sphero kits rotating through 31 schools. Schools book the kits for a two or three month period. Spheros arrived at Seaview Elementary on January 16. Principal David Cooper and Teacher Gerry Davis’ Grade 3 class were introduced to them shortly after. The first lesson included simple commands so students could experience how the app and device worked. As the lessons progressed, students were provided a task to make the Sphero travel in a rectangle so that it started and stopped at the same place.

Students were engaged and eager to show their success. Soon after, they were given the chance to explore other tasks including making the Sphero follow lines in the gym. This introduced students to a new feature of programming where students were able to set specific degrees so that the Sphero stayed on the lines.

During the third lesson at Seaview, the students were asked to create a Spark obstacle course which the Sphero would travel through. This required students to have the Sphero make both right and left turns and adjust the speed and time it was moving. Students were in teams collaborating with their classmates coming up with ideas for the obstacle course.

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In total, four classes at Seaview were introduced to the Sphero. Students loved the Spheros – they were excited to program them to run a certain pattern; to code different colour sequences; and make them spin and bounce. While it seems like a game to students, they are learning great skills. Spheros provide an opportunity for collaboration between students; it encourages critical thinking skills; and teaches Math and Science.

These are great for children of all ages, from Kindergarten to Grade 12. At the secondary level, students can code using Bluetooth, with their smart phones. Once an app has been downloaded, students can immediately begin programming the Spheros. They can constantly and quickly change the program or adapt the coding as needs are determined.

At Ladysmith Secondary, Durwin Pye’s Grade 8 students were coding Spheros to do a variety of tasks. Students set up a ramp, and programed the Spheros to jump over it. Also, a soccer field was assembled where students competed to see who could score more goals using their Spheros to direct soccer balls into a net.Pye said, “The Sphero is a deceptively simple robot. It seems to be just a ball, but the clear housing of the educational version allows us to see inside to the motors, lights, circuitry and charging coil that make it work. It has an amazing ability to engage

students and continuously keep them interested. On one level, there is the seemingly endless list of “missions” to complete to unlock additional “abilities” like jumping and dancing. Beyond that, it is super-easy to program (with a Scratch-like, drag and drop interface) that has students quickly customizing and extending the abilities of the robot. I have been pleasantly surprised by the interest in programming that Sphero has inspired in my students. It is definitely a good investment.”

To determine which device would be used, multiple coding devices were reviewed and analyzed by educators around the province. The Sphero tested at the top of the evaluation for its ease in use, ability to differentiate for learners and its affordability.

NLPS, is supporting teachers through a variety of workshops, access to district coding kits and collaboratively building on each school’s experience. As the Sphero kits are rotated, each group is given a digital folder and encouraged to add, share and collaborate lessons, ideas and challenges they have experienced. The folder is growing and new ideas are emerging from both students and teachers.

In May, students and teachers involved in Coding Quest will take part in a ½ day arcade, showcasing games they have created through coding.

The Sphero is a fantastic device that helps to teach pro-gramming. It includes the ability to create lightshows, perform obstacle course, etc. I performed several tests with it and jumped it over boards and ramps. Overall, it was a very fun experience to use this amazing robot.- Jacob B.

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What is a Sphero? Designed to inspire curiosity, creativity, and inven-tion through connected play and coding, SPRK+ is far more than just a robot. Powered by the Lightning Lab app, you can easily learn pro-gramming, complete hands-on activities, and share your creations with the community. Navigate a maze. Program a painting. Mimic the solar system. Swim across the water. Have a dance party…. The only limit is your imagination.” From Sphero.com

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WorkBC’s Find Your Fit

FIND YOUR FIT

The interactive student-based event provided students with real life experiences for their

career planning. Students were able to access different information about the skills required for certain careers which are in demand across the province.

The event was hosted at Island ConnectED and students came from across the district for hands-on opportunities and to connect with WorkBC’s labour market information, tools and services.

Throughout the day, students rotated through stations of interest. Stations included carpenters, truck drivers, nurses, electricians, computer programmers, pipe fitters, concrete finishers, mechanical engineers, tech jobs, accountants and electrical engineers. Students were engaged in the hands-on and research-based stations.

The Find Your Fit Tour also presented an after school event intended for parents and family members looking for ways to educate and support their children in their career exploration.

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Organizer Derek Beeston said, “We were excited to bring this event to our district. Often our students are only exposed to careers their families are involved in. This opportunity allows them to broaden their career possibilities.” Find Your Fit!“

Written By: Bobbie-Jean Taylor

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The vision of the Soccer Academy is to provide a formal training program

within the school day.

A typical week at the soccer academy at NDSS includes: 1 gym workout, 3 on-field

sessions, 1 classroom session- with a commitment to excellence in student achievement. The intent of the program is individual development, not team development or success. The academy does not play in a formalized league but we do collaborate with other academies, such as the Ballenas Soccer Academy, to play informal small sided games.

With a focus on the Four Corners of Soccer Development (Physical, Technical/Tactical, Social and Psychological) players are expected to demonstrate their involvement in community soccer, commitment to high standards, and willingness to make a superior effort in the academy and their entire school program.

SOCCER ACADEMY

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Community coaches contribute to the excellence of the program with their certified expertise. Curtis Vizza is our fitness coach, Daragh Fitzgerald (Harbour City Football Club Head Coach) is our on field head coach in addition to Michael Brown, Gunnar Myhrer and myself coaching on field.

The Soccer Academy Inquiry project aligns with our philosophy of tapping into the four corners of the game: Physical, Technical/Tactical, Social/Emotional and Psychological. Having a classroom session once per week provides the opportunity for students to learn about the game in a wholistic way. The inquiry project guided them in learning about themselves with regards to player habits. Students chose a path that they wanted to explore; nutrition, cross training, mental training, leadership development and systems of play.

Creating a vision with a college search in mind is another area that players explore. This allows students to brainstorm and be curious about career opportunities that may align with their sport vision.

The inquiry project is capped with all students composing a written reflection and completing a self-assessment rubric. The genuine feedback we received reinforced that when students genuinely commit to a process they are proud to speak about their learning.

Over my time in this soccer academy program, I have learned that I am capable of anything, as long as I go into it with a positive mind set...Now I know how much more effort and time I need to put into my school work and studies, if I want to be successful in my time in high school.

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Community SchoolsThere will be a variety of Spring Break programs, such as cooking, art, hip hop, gym games and more! Please contact a community coordinator for more information.

specialty programs Get ahead in your reading and writing while having lots of fun. All newcomers and English Language Learners welcome!

Ready, Set, Learn EventsThis free program is for three and four year olds and their families. It provides assistance for parents to support their child’s early learning and also provides a networking system to meet other families.

Healthy Start to LearningChildren up to six years old and their families can participate in Healthy Start Fairs. There will be family resources, music, face painting, stories, games and specialists to help parents prepare their children for lifelong learning.

bookfestVancouver Island Conference Centre & Diana Krall Plaza.

SPRING BREAK

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NLPS AND ITS PARTNERS HAVE YOU COVERED

ART STUDIOFeaturing local artist Cassandra Smith from Yeosmith Art Studio

Preschool GymnasticsSpace still available.

BABYSITTER’S COURSERed Cross certification course. Basic first aid and child care training. Manual included. Bring a lunch and dress comfortably.

Body Talk Spring BREAK WORKSHOPSLearn and Perform Dance with OURO collective.

Nanaimo Museum Self-Guided Family Discovery, Night at the Museum. Drop-in Programs, Medieval Times, Bugs life.

City of nanaimo programsTree Frog Camp, Camp Firefly, Camp Action, Lego Robotics, Art Attack Art Camp, Junior Lifeguard Camp, Minecraft 1.0, RecSkate Spring Break Camp, Cycling Made Simple, All-Inclusive Swim.

ladysmith Parks Recreation & CultureSpring Break Day Camp, Toonie Swims.

Nanaimo Conservatory of MusicBroadway Beat – a musical theatre workshopLearn confidence, vocal technique, stage movement, characterization and teamwork.

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You Should Know

68 HOORAYS

My class had the pleasure of sharing a bus from ICE to Fairview recently with Perry as our

driver. He was fantastic: playing great music for the students, respectfully explaining safety concerns, and sharing his positive energy.

Special thanks go out to Grant Talkington and Doug Anderson for their hard work beautifying

the reception area at the District Administration Centre. Come in and have a look – it looks great!

Did you know the Senior Boys Basketball Team from Wellington Secondary recently participated in

the Provincial Championship? The boys finished 10th – Congratulations!

68 Hoorays! go out to community member, Sunny Easton, who volunteers her time to teach a yoga class

to staff members at John Barsby every Monday. Thanks for sharing your health and wellness tips!

Shout out to the Rutherford Grade 7’s who swept the VIU Skills Canada spaghetti bridge

competition, placing first, second and third. The students will be heading-off to the provincial contest at the Tradex Centre in Abbotsford this April.

Shout Out to the following amazing Dover Bay student artists (Katie Brown, Morgan Heese, Brianne

Knowles, Taylor Patenaude, and Sophie Scobie). These students created Hokusai’s Wave that was recently put up in the Board Office.

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Shout out to Ron Membery and his FIRST Tech Challenge students, who finished 8th in a recent robotics challenge down in Victoria. The team, under the support

and guidance of Mr. Membery, is learning how to design and code a robot that completes challenges on a shared game area. The event includes both team and collaborative challenges. Team members include: Josh D., Alister L., Aidan P., Thor Z., and Ryan M.

Shout out to administrators, who respond and assist with requests so courteously, especially considering the many demands asked of them. From our house

to yours – thanks for your continued teamwork and dedication!

68 Hoorays! To Wellington’s Grade 9 Jazz Combo and Senior Band who recently won gold at the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival in Moscow, Idaho.

68 Hoorays! to Andrew Tuck, who was recently awarded the Vancouver Island Wrestling Association’s Volunteer of the Year. Coach Tuck is the primary reason

there is wrestling in our Nanaimo schools. He has developed a diverse club team that includes male and female students from Grades 5 to 12. Coach Tuck received the award for his ongoing dedication to the sport of wrestling. Congratulations on the award!

68 Hoorays! to Louise Massey and her FIRST Lego Challenge Team. Mrs. Massey guided a group of students who participated in this unique robotics

challenge that incorporates team work, collaboration and creativity while coding a lego robot to complete specific challenges. The team won the “Rising Stars” award for great accomplishments by a First-Year team. Team Members include: Morgan K., Ryan S., Max C., Pascalle L-B., Brendan M., Sydney N., and Lochlan S.

The Hometown Hockey School visit brought 600 elementary students together for this special event. Paz, the Hockey Circus Show performed puck tricks, juggling, comedy and even juggled 3 hockey sticks while standing on a hockey net – impressive! Students were fortunate to touch Olympic medals, thanks to Paralympian and MLA Michelle Stilwell. There was a cheer-off to see who would win Clippers tickets. Mascots from VIU Mariners, the RCMP, the Nanaimo Clippers and Hank from Hometown Hockey showed off their dance moves and excitement.

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sd68.bc.caDale Burgos

Director of Communications

Shauna DeBodt Executive Assistant - Communications

Tiffany Skibinsky Multimedia Designer/Specialist