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Passion and Purpose:
Making it Real
Innovative Leadership BC and Beyond
A symposium sponsored by the Networks of
Inquiry and Innovation.
Friday, May 8, 2015 - 8:30 am to 4:30 pm
Saturday, May 9, 2015 - 8:30 am to 12:30 pm
HILTON VANCOUVER AIRPORT HOTEL
5911 Minoru Blvd, Richmond BC
“Every learner crossing the stage with dignity, purpose and options.
All learners leaving our settings more curious than when they arrive.
All learners gaining and understanding of and respect for indigenous ways of knowing.”
PROGRAM DAY 1
Friday May 8, 2015
7:30 - 8:30
Breakfast
8:30 - 9:00
Acknowledgement of Territory
Shane Pointe, Elder, Musqueam Band
Welcome to the Symposium
Debbie Leighton Stephens and Lynne Tomlinson
Introduction of Student Participants
9:00 - 9:15
Passion and Purpose: Making It Real
Linda Kaser & Judy Halbert, Vancouver Island University
9:15 - 9:30
Grounding Our Work:
The First Peoples Principles of Learning
Jo-Anne Chrona, Curriculum Coordinator,
First Nations Education Steering Committee (FNESC)
9:30 - 9:45
Write To Read Project - A unique grassroots project
bringing libraries to isolated First Nations communities
Bob Blacker, Rotary Member and Aide-de-Camp to the
Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia, Judith Guichon
9:45 - 10:15
Coffee, Network & Stretch
10:15 - 11:15
Flash Chats Rounds One and Two
11:15- 11:30
We Can’t Get There From Here ...
Sherry Elwood, Superintendent of Schools,
SD71 Comox Valley
11:30 - 11:45
Making Positive Differences ...
Suzanne Hoffman, Superintendent of Schools
SD 35 Langley
11:45 - 12:15
Flash Chats Round Three
PROGRAM DAY 1
Continued
12:15 - 1:00
Lunch
1:00 - 2:00
Passion and Purpose - Making It Real
Break out sessions #1
2:00 - 2:15
Stretch & Network
2:15 - 3:15
Passion and Purpose - Making It Real
Break out sessions # 2
3:15 - 3:30
Stretch & Network
3:30 - 3:45
Action - My favourite part of the spiral!
Scott Benwell, Superintendent of Schools,
SD85 Vancouver Island North
3:45 - 4:00
Aboriginal Transitions
Gordon Yusko - Irving K Barber Learning Centre UBC
4:00- 4:30
Hearing From Our Learners
Jacob Martens, Brooke Moore, and Lynne Tomlinson
PROGRAM DAY 2
Saturday May 9, 2015
7:30 - 8:30
Breakfast
8:30 - 8:45
Welcome to Day 2 - Passion and Purpose: Making It Real
Lynne Tomlinson
8:45 - 9:00
Be Present in the Moment
Maureen Dockendorf, Superintendent of Reading
BC Ministry of Education
9:00 - 9:15
If you can’t see it - it’s not there
David Sim, Assistant Director, Early Learning and
Primary Education
NSW Department of Education and Communities
9:15 - 10:00
Flash Chats Round Four
10:00 - 10:30
Coffee, Network and Stretch
10:30 - 10:45
Making Connections, Making it Real
Whole Education Network, England
10:45 - 12:15
Global Perspectives - Teacher Professional Learning and
Innovative Process in BC
What are we Learning? How is it Going? Where to Next?
Anthony Mackay, CEO of the Centre for Strategic
Education, Melbourne, Australia
David Istance, Senior member of the OECD’s Centre for
Educational Research and Innovation (CERI)
Ben Jensen, CEO, Learning First, Melbourne, Australia
12:15 - 12:30
Moving forward with Passion and Purpose
Judy Halbert and Linda Kaser
Networks of Inquiry and Innovation
FEATURED SCHOOL SESSIONS
1:00 - 2:00
Making It Real Part One
Gillespie Room
1. Our Learning Journey Together: Aboriginal Student Transitions
An initiative focused on Aboriginal students as they enter the graduation
program with a sense of belonging, academic success, and options for
advanced education and careers. Discussion: Learning Journey, Transition
Coach Program, and course structures for traditional indigenous learning.
It is a journey just beginning but we are hopeful, encouraged and willing to
share.
Kim Boettcher, Jodi Hickey, and Pat Jansen, SD 60 Peace River North
2. Our Masks ... Our Stories
The Nala’atsi students, the Wachiay Friendship Centre Elders and
members from the Comox Valley community worked collaboratively on
an intergenerational Mask and Story Telling project. Our plans were that
during the creation of these masks, we would be able to explore and
discover personal stories and feelings in a creative way.
Toresa Crawford, SD 71 Comox Valley
Fitzgerald Room
1. Looking at Math Differently
A.J. Elliott Elementary has changed the way they are teaching math.
The staff found that teaching in units from the text book was not
meeting the needs of the learners in their multi age classrooms. Their new
approach focuses on big ideas and teaching concepts cyclically throughout
the year.
Melody Watson, SD 85 Vancouver Island North
2. Social Emotional Learning: A School Community Approach
Okanagan Falls Elementary School’s vision is to create connected, capable,
responsible, resilient learners. Come learn how this school community is
using a variety of social emotional programs to create a culture of inclusion
and mindfulness. Our efforts are helping students develop engagement
skills and self-regulation skills needed to flourish as successful learning
citizens in school and life.
Lisa McCall and Jenna Keyes, SD 53 Okanagan Similkameen
Marsalis Room
1. Yuman’s T’sakalamuxw: Building student identity as authors,
speakers, and designers
At Eke Me-Xi Learning Centre, student created films have allowed
students to learn interviewing, videography and film editing skills. A
strong community partnership has enabled our students to work with
Our World film mentors for the past two years. In 2014, digital shorts
made by Ricky Johnny and Mariah Walkus received awards at the
Cowichan Film Festival. Student films made last year have been entered
in a number of film festivals for the 2015 year including Vancouver, Nelson
and the Cowichan.
Jillian Walkus, SD 85 Vancouver Island North
2. Learning to Walk in Two Worlds - Responding to the Professional
Learning Needs of non-Indigenous Educators (K-12)
In response to requests from educators in the Richmond School
District to support their learning journeys toward developing a better
understanding of how to incorporate Indigenous perspectives and
Aboriginal ways of being, knowing and doing, the presenters designed a
five session professional learning series titled “Walking in Two Worlds”.
This presentation will recap the series that focused on the beginning steps
to building knowledge and confidence for non Indigenous people being
asked to concurrently learn and become teachers of Indigenous
perspectives and content.
Andrea Davidson and Leanne McColl, SD 38 Richmond
Benton Room
1. The Joy of Reading
At Squamish Elementary, we have been focusing on reading for the past six
years. Last year we asked “Will we see a difference in students’ reading
skills if we focus on the joy of reading?” This presentation is about our
ongoing inquiry and case studies.
Margaret Paxton and Tina Sherlock, SD 48 Sea to Sky
2. Inquiry into School Culture and Student Connectedness: The
Possibilities and Complexities
Cariboo Hill Secondary School staff will discuss how the spirals of
inquiry deepened their understanding of school culture and
strengthened student connectedness to the school community. In this
conversation the staff will speak to the complexity and possibilities of a
whole staff inquiry based approach.
Susan Montabello, Wendi Palmer, Sandra daSilva,
Dave Gaudet, Daryl Goeson, Norman Jansen, SD 41 Burnaby
FEATURED SCHOOL SESSIONS
2:15 - 3:15
Making It Real Part Two
Gillespie Room
1. Rocking the Page: Building a Community of Writers
SD10 Arrow Lakes multi school, cross province project. Discover the
wonders of collaborating with professional writers, teacher colleagues, and
students in an online multi-district Virtual Writers Community as we “rock
the page”. Learn about our five month journey using technology as a
medium to connect and extend community, and to engage students in
writing for authentic audiences and giving feedback to peers. Five months,
nine classrooms and seven professional writers collaborate to build
passion for the written word and transform teaching and learning
environments for students and teachers alike!
http://rockingthepage.sd10.bc.ca
Terry Taylor, SD 10 Arrow Lakes
2. First Peoples Principles of Learning
What do classrooms look and sound like when they are grounded in the
First Peoples Principles of Learning? Participants will work collaboratively
to explore the FPPL in some detail, and determine how these can be used
to support learning that is personal, holistic, embedded in relationship,
authentic, and relevant.
Jo-Anne Chrona, First Nations Education Steering Committee (FNESC)
Fitzgerald Room
1. Inquiry in a Community of Learners
How do we create an inclusive community of learners within complex
environments where inquiry can flourish? Participants will examine the
foundational underpinnings to create learning environments where
learners feel socially and emotionally comfortable in taking their steps
forward as learners to engage in deep learning inquiry questions. What are
the patterns that emerge amongst learners in these environments, why is it
important and how does it connect to current learning theory?
Mary-Lynn Epps, Vancouver Island University, and Gary Chantrell, Fairview
Elementary School, SD 68 Nanaimo Ladysmith
2. Follow Your Passion!
Through the lens of communication, students inquired into their passion.
Students had a personal website to document their learning. They
interviewed experts in the field, formed new allegiances with like-minded
peers, challenged their skill level, blogged and shared through action.
Engagement was incredible; the results were beyond our expectations.
Morag Kelpin, West Bay Elementary School, SD 45 West Vancouver
Marsalis Room
1. STRIVE
This cohort is designed for students who are interested in approaching their
studies on a different path. Teachers work as an inquiry team, making
thematic connections between their subject areas through experiential
activities, thus improving student understanding and wellness in school by
reconnecting them to their natural communities.
Christine Oliver, Carol Lingham and students from South Delta Secondary
School (STRIVE Program), SD 37 Delta
2. Perfectly Imperfect
Norma Rose Point School is an innovative K-8 learning environment based
on the OECD Principles of Learning. Teachers co-plan and co-teach in
communities of three and four multi age classes. Come hear our story of the
ongoing process of staff and students learning to work and learn through
inquiry and collaboration.
Rosa Fazio, Karen Noel-Bentley, and Jacob Martens, SD 39 Vancouver
Benton Room
1. SEL at The Park: A Road Trip in Progress
At Brentwood Park, we are using the Spiral of Inquiry as a framework to
guide our professional development in Social Emotional Learning. With the
intent to enhance self-regulation in our students, and ourselves, our journey
has included explorations in mindfulness, emotional Literacy and the
intentional design of the learning environment.
Jillian Lewis, SD 41 Burnaby
2. Inquiry - How and Why we Drank the Kool-Aid
After a five-year journey, we consider ourselves a learning school. Inquiry
and Formative Assessment serve as the underpinnings of how we go about
the business of working and learning. It has become our Kool-Aid. We will
share the recipe that engaged our teachers.
Yrsa Jensen, Carla Bruce, Ryan Hong, Anne-Marie Middleton,
Hillcrest Elementary School, SD 36 Surrey
SPEAKERS
Scott Benwell
Bob Blacker
Superintendent of Schools,
SD 85 Vancouver
Island North
Rotary member, retired Police
Officer, and Aide-de-Camp to
the Lieutenant Governor of
British Columbia,
Judith Guichon
Sherry Elwood
Suzanne Hoffman
Superintendent of Schools,
SD 71 Comox Valley
Superintendent of Schools,
SD 35 Langley
Anthony Mackay
CEO of the Centre for
Strategic Education,
Melbourne, Australia
Jo-Anne Chrona
Maureen Dockendorf
Curriculum Coordinator,
First Nations Education
Steering Committee
(FNESC)
David Istance
Superintendent of Reading
BC Ministry of Education
Senior member of the
OECD’s Centre for Educational
Research and Innovation (CERI)
David Sim
Assistant Director, Early Learning and
Primary Education NSW Department
of Education and Communities
Judy Halbert and Linda Kaser
Vancouver Island University
Networks of Inquiry and Innovation
Ben Jensen
CEO, Learning First,
Melbourne, Australia
Gordon Yusko
Irving K Barber Learning
Center, UBC
NOTES
NOTES
Passion and Purpose:
Making It Real
We gratefully acknowledge the financial support of the Province of British Columbia
through the Ministry of Education