SD52 mentorship between Senior and Middle Schools, FSA program in the schools among themes for November Board gathering

A welcome return for Superintendent Andrew Samoil 
who is back to duties at the Board Office

The Prince Rupert Board of Education hosted their monthly meeting on November 20th, with Board Chair Kate Toye opening  up the session with two notes of acknowledgement, the first for Roberta Edzerza for her recent award from the Province of British Columbia, as well as the PRMS Middle School Band for their recent City of Prince Rupert award.

The Chair also welcomed back Superintendent Andrew Samoil who has returned to his duties following an extended absence.

The Agenda that the Board worked off on the night can be reviewed here.

The first order of business for the near forty minute Board session was a presentation from Teacher Tom Kertes who provided an overview of a mentorship program that brings Senior and Middle school students together in the study of Journalism.

His review provided a wider look at the connections that are being built at both schools through the program, his slideshow highlighted the work of the Senior school students and their coaching for the middle schools as part of program.

The hopes for the future of the program is a student magazine that will be put together by students at both PRMS and CHSS.

"This is just one of many many ways that we weave this tapestry tougher at the Board" -- Teacher Tom Kertes

A few of the Board members shared their enthusiasm for the project, noting how it is building connections.

"I've been able to see this weaving happen first hand recently, just at the debate club ... the middle school and the high school students mixing and working off of each other during the debate program that is being done extra-curricular. I applaud the leadership that you have taken and I just want to tell the Board that we have a fantastic person whose belief in the students can overcome an awful, and it is a really really unique situation with this Building bridge piece" -- Trustee Michael Pucci

Acting Superintendent Sandra Pond outlined the current status of enrolment at the Board, with the Board now up to 1,828 students as of October 31st. Observing that for now the Board is remaining constant at enrolment from recent years, with hopes of growth in the future

There was also an update on some other school activities who noted of the Kids Play Café at Lax Kxeen Kindergarten.

Ms. Pond also provided a review of the current cycle of provincial assessment work that has taken place in the Schools.

Noting of the snapshot that the results provide towards where work is required with students.

Students in grades 4 and 7 have finished the FSA’s and last month grade 12 students wrote the Literacy 12 assessment. Students will write Numeracy 10 and Literacy 10 Assessments in January.

A quick overview of a transition project that is in place followed, a three year program for Indigenous students which introduces Grade eight students to the high school program.

A recap of the Remembrance Day observations at local schools brought the prevention to a close.

Trustee Pucci followed up with a question related to the participation rate of the Foundation Schools Assessment program.

"I'm just wondering if maybe there could be a comment around if maybe under fifteen percent or over fifteen percent of parents withdrew their children from the assessments, I'm aware of a letter that went around" -- Trustee Michael Pucci

Ms. Pond observed that they did not have final numbers towards the testing program, but highlighted how it was recommended that students take the assessments.

The next element of the session had the Secretary Treasurer provided an overview of the financial variance report and how those variances would be analyzed as part of the amended budget process.

On Operations, trustees had questions related to transportation as well as an issue related to warning detectors at Charles Hays Secondary.

The Board also note of the work in the Technology department.

A review of Committee and Council reports followed, among those Trustee Maier provided an update on changes to the Provincial Council program.

Board Chair Toye provided an overview of the latest items of note from the Indigenous Education Council, speaking to themes of Food Security and how the Boards curriculum and policies fit into the Provincial commitment to UNDRIP.

Towards their ongoing policy work, the Board noted the status of the items as follows:

The Board of Education approved the policies: 

3360 – Multimedia Devices Policy
1140 – Student Reporting Policy 

The Board of Education is seeking input from partner groups on 2 policies:

1220 – International Student Policy
1110 – Learning Resources Policy

The wrap up to the session included a shout out to the CHSS production of Something Rotten at the Lester Centre. 

For the last item on the night's agenda there were no questions from the Gallery in the ten minute discussion opportunity.

You can review the full Board session from the SD52 Video archive

The final Board of Education for 2023 will come on December 18th at the Booth Building Gathering space.

The Christmas Break for the Schools will take place from December 25 to January 5, 2024

The Prince Rupert School Board recap of their session can be explored here.

More notes on education in Prince Rupert can be reviewed here.

Cross posted from the North Coast Review.