April 25, 2024

KEY RESOURCES IN LANGLEY

• Clickable PDF to Key Resources in Langley
• Instructional Services Website: For all your district-vetted resources K-12!  Check it out!
• Aboriginal Resources vetted by the District
• TCS Sites (TCS SS-grade 3, 4-8, Secondary): Key resources are still being placed in these Teams. If you need access to one of these Teams, please email dzurbuchenjonker@sd35.bc.ca
• District Learning Commons is a lending library of classroom and teaching resources available to all school staff in the Langley School District. All of our items are available to view and book online through the Insignia Library system. Find instructions, an area to check out new resources, request new resources and report lost or damages kits here: https://sway.office.com/qbfcZW739otNIwLe?ref=Link
  We deliver and pick up all the items you request through district mail twice per week (check with your admin assistant to see which days your deliveries are on).

HONOURING TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION

The world’s first Digital Indigenous Sport Gallery | BC Sports Hall of Fame | More info
The world’s first fully immersive Digital Indigenous Sport Gallery is now live. The digital experience is now live for the world to experience with the 360-degree virtual reality tour of the gallery, featuring Indigenous athlete interviews, 3D captured artifacts, and additional interactive components.

DISTRICT PROFESSIONAL LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES
To see our full calendar of offerings, visit www.thinklangley.com

RC Garnett Demonstration Day | Friday May 17 | Register
As part of the District’s Professional Development offerings on Friday May 17, we will once again be offering Dem Day at RC Garnett on the morning of Friday May 17.  Demonstration Day at RC Garnett is an opportunity for classroom teachers to visit RC Garnett while it is in session, and observe RCG teachers in action with students. Classroom teachers from grades K to 5 will be providing instruction on a variety of relevant topics and will be demonstrating a multitude of instructional strategies and practices for attendees to take with them. Participants will be able to sign up for two different classroom sessions in the morning and then will be able to return to join the afternoon activities at their home school.  Space in each session is limited so be sure to sign up early and not miss out!

NEW! CUPE 1260 Spring Conference | May 17, 2024 I Register
Join us for a day of learning and professional development open to CUPE 1260 staff in the Langley School District. Begin your day with an amazing keynote presentation from Len Pierre! Learn the ins and outs of the District from payroll to clerical services to benefits and leave. Get a Microsoft Office certification, and so much more. You’ll also have a chance to connect with your colleagues in CUPE 1260. Snacks and a catered lunch will be provided!

Occupational First Aid Level 1 (OFA1) | May 17, 2024 I Register
The WorkSafeBC Occupational First Aid Level 1 course is an 8-hour program, including coffee and lunch breaks and is designed to provide life-saving first aid skills to workers in industry. Successful candidates must demonstrate competency in practical skills and achieve 72% or higher on a multiple-choice exam. Certification is valid for three years.

Lessons on the Land | May 17, 2024 I Register
Our climate is changing and so is education. Be a part of the shift to learning from the land, on the land, with your students. This workshop will empower educators to teach about climate change by including experiential outdoor learning. Langley Environmental Partners Society (LEPS) and Langley Environmental Educators Provincial Specialists Association (LEEPSA) have teamed up to provide this Professional Development Day workshop because we both believe that knowledge and nature connection can lead to positive action for the environment.

Career Spotlight – Trades: Construction, Piping/Plumbing & Transportation | On-Demand Learning Feature
Learn about different careers in the Trades industry! Presenters include members from various trades backgrounds. Listen to speakers as they talk about their occupation/role in the Trades industry as well as their career journeys.

EXTERNAL PROFESSIONAL LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES

Fostering Literacy in Multi-Age Primary Classrooms | Register
The Edith Lando Virtual Learning Centre, with support from the Ministry of Education, BC’s Rural Education Advisory, and the Greater Victoria School District, have been offering a webinar series around literacy learning in the primary years. The third and final session in the series is coming up next Tuesday April 30 from 3:30 pm to 5:00 pm on Zoom.  The session will be recorded for those who can not join the session live. To register, go to the link above.

LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES FOR STAFF/STUDENTS/CLASSES

Local Farms Offering Tours for Classes
There are two local farms, Academy Farm and Stable Harvest Farms, that both offer unique educational farm tours for schools and classes right here in Langley.  Check out the write-ups below for more information on each of the tours available.

• Educational Tours and Programs | Stable Harvest Farm | More info | Register
  Stable Harvest Farm is a local farm located across from the Langley Airport near Langley Secondary School.  They offer immersive, hands-on educational programs for classes grade 1-12 where students can explore topics such as soil health, pollination, water conservation, greenhouse farming and invasive species.
• Discovery Farm Tours for K to 12 | Academy Farm | Academy Farms School Tours Info & Study Guide.pdf
  Academy Farms is a local and one-of-a-kind farm that has been operating in the Township of Langley since 2021. In addition to raising unique animals such as bison and water buffalo, the farm also takes great pride in their innovative, sustainable and modern approach to agriculture.  Academy Farms is now offering Discovery Farm Tours for classes at all grade levels – K to 12 – that is directly linked to the provincial curriculum. To learn more about the Tours and what is available as well as for information on the pre and post tour resources available to teachers, please check out the full Academy Farms brochure found at the link above.

PROFESSIONAL AND PERSONAL READINGS AND RESOURCES

10 Podcast Recommendations Spring 2024 | Screenagers | More info
Screenagers’ Filmmaker and blogger Delaney Ruston has some recommendations on episodes that focus on family and tech. The first one “Vaping is it really that bad?” follows up so nicely with the most current Screenagers film, Screenagers Under The Influence: Addressing Vaping, Drugs, and Alcohol in the Digital Age.  The focus is on episodes that will be wonderful to listen to with youth. Parents and Educators can pre-listen, find a section they like, and ask kiddos to do a 7-minute post-dinner listening session on the couch. Or, perhaps Sunday breakfast to spark some good conversations for the rest of the day.

LEARNING RESOURCES

Curio | Culture, Society and Social Science | Log in 

Curio is your go-to site for CBC/Radio-Canada content carefully selected for its relevance to every subject area.  In addition to being a great resource that helps make learning come alive in your classroom, Curio is free to access for all teachers in the Langley School District.

• Inappropriate Questions | Culture & Society | Secondary | Audio
  Have you ever wanted to ask a question that might be intrusive or too personal for other people?
• Small Talk | Individuality | Elementary (4-7) | Video
  Host Dave Keystone sits down with spirited kids to chat one-on-one about a variety of topics that cover both the serious and silly.(with guides).
• Surviving the Teenage Brain | Behaviour | Secondary | Video
  Renowned neurologist Dr. Frances E. Jensen offers a revolutionary look at the brains of teenagers, dispelling myths and offering practical advice for teens, parents and teachers.

Compassion and Mental Health in the Classroom | Log in
Everfi provides free resources for teachers built around themes – this year, the theme is centered on the healing power of compassion. Below are a range of free resources to help promote the conversations around compassion and mental health in your classroom. If you need help, email k12north@everfi.com and in the subject line write “Set my class up with the SEL resources”.

K-6 resources

• The Compassion Project: This course introduces core SEL competencies to teach students how to practice compassion and empathy, identify emotions, and developing a growth mindset. There is a course for Grade K to 3 & another for Grades 4 & 6.
• Ignition: Digital Literacy & Wellness: This course teaches students modern digital health concepts such as digital emotional intelligence, digital dependency, online privacy, and internet safety . Perfect for Grades 5 through 9.

6-12 resources

• Character Playbook: This free digital course sponsored by the NFL teaches students how to establish and maintain healthy, supportive relationships with their classmates. Perfect for Grades 6 through 9
• Honour Code: Bullying Prevention:  This course helps students identify their unique talents, grow resiliency skills, and build strong connections with others to create positive school communities. Perfect for Grades 7 through 10.
• Understanding Mental Wellness: This course introduces students to mental wellness concepts like stress coping strategies, stigma, emotional health, and how to find help for themselves or others. Perfect for Grades 8 through 12.

Getting started for teachers

• Choose one (or more) lessons to start with, then head to your teacher dashboard and click +Add to Class to assign to students. All of these resources are no cost for schools to use

TECH TIPS

Digital Literacy and the use of AI in Education – support materials for BC educators | More info
The Ministry of Education has recently released some supports and materials for BC Educators, schools and school districts around Digital Literacy and the use of AI in education. Still lots of the materials to be developed but a starting point – please see the link above for the website.