In the Loop – September 26, 2024

September 26, 2024

KEY RESOURCES IN LANGLEY

HONOURING TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION

Lunch and Learn for Truth and Reconciliation Week | More info
In advance of National Day of Truth and Reconciliation and Orange Shirt Day on September 30, the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation offers free virtual educational programming for teachers and students grades 1-12, and invites the public to join online sessions from September 23 to September 27, 2024. Online sessions are aimed at an adult audience and can contribute to increasing knowledge about Indigenous history and worldviews. Simultaneous English-French and ASL interpretation will be provided. Please visit Lunch and Learns – Truth and Reconciliation Week for details and registration.

Resources for Truth and Reconciliation
As we continue our journey towards truth and reconciliation, we are pleased to share that our district has a wealth of resources available to support this important work. Our commitment to fostering understanding and respect for Indigenous cultures and histories is reflected in the diverse materials we offer. These resources are available to help enhance your understanding and to support your teaching and learning activities. Should you need any assistance in accessing or utilizing these materials, please do not hesitate to reach out to your school’s teacher librarian.

Digital Resources:

  • SORA: Our digital library platform provides access to a wide range of audiobooks and eBooks that cover various aspects of Indigenous history, culture, and contemporary issues. You can explore these resources at your convenience.
  • Curio: Curated by CBC and Radio Canada, Curio offers a rich collection of documentaries, news reports, and educational videos that provide valuable insights into Indigenous experiences and perspectives.
  • 4Canoes: This Canadian-created set of digital resources shares stories, traditional knowledge, and experiences of Indigenous communities across Canada and North America in a magazine format.
  • Live It Earth: This bilingual suite focuses on place-based, hybrid learning experiences. It offers hours of programming, informed by Indigenous perspectives and supplemented by instructional supports. Available in both English and French.
  • NFB (National Film Board): A collection of documentaries, animated films, interactive productions, and short films in English and French. The three key themes are environment and sustainability, Indigenous voices and reconciliation, and diversity and inclusion.
  • All digital resources can be found here.

Library Collections:

  • Our school libraries are stocked with numerous books that delve into the themes of truth and reconciliation. These include both fiction and non-fiction titles suitable for all age groups. Be sure to connect with your school’s teacher librarian.
  • Aboriginal Education Library- Can also be found via the tab “Indigenous Resource Library” within Insignia library software. Resources are sent to your school via Interoffice mail on Tuesdays and Thursday.
  • To search your school’s library collection, click here: https://sd35.insigniails.com/library/login

District Learning Commons (DLC):

  • The DLC offers kits designed to support Indigenous education for students from Kindergarten to Grade 12.
  • Please visit this link for more information about accessing the DLC

Reconciliation in the Classroom | Curio | Video
CBC Kids News contributors Isabel DeRoy-Olson and Ainara Alleyne chat with Indigenous youth about Orange Shirt Day, reconciliation and how the classroom can be a place for change. Eli Rowe, Ryleigh Todd-Moore and Sophia Smoke offer their perspectives and answer questions from classrooms sharing their ideas, insights and personal experiences.

PROVINCIAL PRO-D DAY FRIDAY OCTOBER 25, 2024

NEW! Middle School Literacy Conference | October 25, 2024 I Register
Come join your Middle School colleagues from around the District as we gather together to discuss best literacy classroom practices, resources, supports and intervention strategies for middle school learners!  We are excited to have keynote speaker, Robin Bright, kicking off our day followed by 18 different breakout sessions on a variety of literacy related topics.  Staff attending will be able to attend 2 breakout sessions throughout the day.  Lunch will also be provided as well as snacks and coffee, tea and water throughout the day! Literacy is the responsibility of everyone in a Middle School setting, but teaching literacy is also hard work. Let’s work together to explore how we do that together and what that looks like in our Middle School in Langley!

Connecting the Pieces: The Early Years Conference | October 25, 2024 I Register
Connecting the Pieces: Pre-K and Kindergarten Conference is our annual conference dedicated to professional development for kindergarten teachers and early childhood educators.
Our workshop line-up includes local and internationally recognized experts selected to share their innovative and practical ideas for working with young learners. Featured Speaker Raffi!

Educating Students with Down Syndrome Conference | Oct 25, 2024 | More info
The Greater Victoria Down Syndrome Society is hosting a conference Embracing Success: Educating Students with Down Syndrome on Friday, October 25th, 2024. This conference explores strategies for supporting students with Down syndrome and other disabilities. There’s a virtual option for attendees who aren’t able to travel to Victoria.

BCHSBBA Super Clinic | Oct 25, 2024 | More info
The BC High School Boys Basketball Association will once again be offering their Coaching Super Clinic at St. Thomas More on the Provincial Pro-D Day, Friday October 25.  Join other coaches from around the province for a day of learning the game, whether it’s x and o’s, team culture it doesn’t matter. This is the biggest and best clinic in BC!

Crosscurrents 2024 Online | Teachers of Inclusive Education BC (TIE-BC) | October 25, 2024 | More info | Register
TIE-BC is pleased to announce that registration is now open for Crosscurrents 2024! They have a wonderful selection of speakers lined up for their 49th annual Crosscurrents Conference taking place online on Friday, October 25th. Their keynote speaker is award-winning and best-selling author, speaker, and consultant, Monique Gray-Smith who is well known for her storytelling, spirit of generosity, and focus on resilience. They also have a wide variety of breakout sessions on topics relevant to inclusive education such as emotional health in our schools, understanding FASD, the importance of belonging, neurodiversity, trauma-informed classrooms, inclusion for deaf or hard of hearing students, selective mutism, and more. There should be something for everyone who is passionate about inclusion!

Literacy Treasure Chest Explosion | October 25, 2024 | More info
In celebration of Joyful Literacy’s 10th Summit Anniversary, educators are invited to a planning and preparation event as a gift for early learning teachers (Pre-K to Grade Three)! Staff are invited to join this unique October 25th Summit event for a celebration and presentation of hundreds of the best literacy games, activities and resources collected over the years. There will be enough pre-planning offered to fill the rest of the literacy year, providing teachers with concrete research-based resource support. At the end of the day participants will be able to download all resources into their own personal collection. The Zoom Summit is limited to 500 attendees so please book early to ensure a spot.

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

A Conversation with the Nations: Matsqui, Kwantlen, Katzie & Semiahmoo | On-Demand Learning Feature
The Langley School District is situated on the traditional, ancestral, unceded territories of the Matsqui, Kwantlen, Katzie and Semiahmoo First Nations. We are guided by the Aboriginal Enhancement Agreement (EA), a working agreement between a school and all local Aboriginal communities to enhance the educational achievement of Aboriginal Students.
The first step in establishing a trusting, respectful partnership is getting to know each other. The opening session of Odyssey 2023 was an opportunity to have a conversation with representatives from the local land-based nations.

Co-teaching: A Professional Learning Dinner Series | October 9, 2024 – April 8, 2025 I Register
Itinerant teachers, invite a content or classroom teacher to join you, or come on your own, and be a part of this dinner series focused on co-teaching. Learn how to develop professional co-teaching relationships, strategies for teaching in tandem, planning and assessing in a partnership, and more. Each session provides time to work together or work on your professional growth plan. Must register prior to first session.

Learning in the Primary Years: A Four Part Series | October 10, November 4, December 3 2024, and January 20 2025 I Register
Curious educators are invited to learn and think together about the newly released “Learning in the Primary Years” Ministry document with connections to playful practice. Register for one session or all, just select the appropriate pass during registration. Dinner will be provided to those who attend in person.

Connecting the Pieces: The Early Years Conference | October 25, 2024 I Register
Connecting the Pieces: Pre-K and Kindergarten Conference is our annual conference dedicated to professional development for kindergarten teachers and early childhood educators. Our workshop line-up includes local and internationally recognized experts selected to share their innovative and practical ideas for working with young learners. Featured Speaker Raffi!

NEW! Middle School Literacy Conference | October 25, 2024 I Register
Come join your Middle School colleagues from around the District as we gather together to discuss best literacy classroom practices, resources, supports and intervention strategies for middle school learners!  Literacy is the responsibility of everyone in a Middle School setting, but teaching literacy is also hard work. Let’s work together to explore how we do that together and what that looks like in our Middle School in Langley.

Basic First Aid (New Name for OFA Level 1) | October 25, 2024 I Register
The WorkSafeBC Basic First Aid 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.

EXTERNAL PROFESSIONAL LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES

Provincial ADHD Education Day | October 18, 2024 | More info
This year’s ADHD Education Day for parents, caregivers, teachers, counselors, and mental health professionals is taking place exclusively virtual on Friday, October 18th, 2024. Please see the attached flyer for more information and the registration link.

NEW! How to Become a Better Writing Teacher: Supporting Engagement, Composition, and Quality in Students | October 28, 2024, November 25, 2024, January 27, 2025, & February 10, 2025 I Register
Join Matt Glover in this incredible Zoom series hosted by the Provincial Outreach Program for the Early Years.

LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES FOR STAFF/STUDENTS/CLASSES

Children’s Author Library Visit – David A. Robertson | October 8, 2024 | More info | Register
David A. Robertson is a popular and award-winning author who has written several books for children, teens, and adults. In this upcoming virtual author visit he will discuss his career as an author and his middle-grade fantasy series The Misewa Saga. Fraser Valley Regional Library will host this virtual event on Tuesday, October 8 between 11 am and 12 pm. The event can be enjoyed by classes or by families at home. Teachers and families can register via Zoom from the website at the link above.

SFU Faculty of Environment Discovery Day for High School Students | October 25, 2024 | More info
Do you have a child, niece, nephew or neighbour that is starting to consider their university options? Help them discover SFU’s Faculty of Environment by joining their annual Discovery Day. This year’s mini lectures include:

  • Learning From a Mountain: An Exploration of Geography Disciplines
  • Crime Scene Investigation: Exploring Archeology and Forensic Anthropology
  • Paper or Plastic? The answer is more complicated than you think.

Micro-Grant Opportunity for Youth | Progressive Intercultural Community Services Society (PICS) | More info | Brochure
The Intercultural Youth Micro-Grant Services Corps (IYMSCorps) is a free community needs-driven, skills enhancement, and volunteering micro-grant program to empower Canadian youth aged 15-30 (inclusive) in British Columbia by providing them with the opportunity to engage in community-driven projects. Participants can receive micro-grants of $1,000, $2,500, or $3,000 to support their youth-led initiatives, which must align with one of their seven themes. Participants will gain valuable skills and experience, earning 120 volunteer hours, a reference letter, and a completion certificate upon project completion.

National Forest Week Youth Art, Video, Photo Contest with $150 in prizes | More info
This educational charity is once again offering its annual National Forest Week art, photography and video contest for Canadian youths aged 5-18, with $150 cash prizes. This year’s theme is: Two-Eyed Seeing: Welcoming all knowledge to sustain our forests, meaning how we implement Indigenous traditions with modern technologies to ensure healthy trees for future generations. Blending Indigenous traditional knowledge, Western science and economic innovation can help us adapt to ever-present climate challenges such as wildfires, forest pests/diseases and more. Explore our interview with an Indigenous leader who explains cultural burning of forests to keep them healthy here. Subscribe to the channel for more facts and insights to share with classes.

Artstarts in Schools Motivational Performance: The FloWarrior | More info | Video
This ArtStarts presenter offers professional Performances and Instruction that is especially well suited to connecting with kids (lightsabers, martial arts etc…) while also imparting valuable knowledge relevant to their lived experiences. The shows are an exciting mix of circus performance / martial arts, combined with elements of cultural identity, popular culture, themes such as critical thinking / creativity / intuition / authenticity / mental health and more! Last year they performed at 41 primary schools with a show called “How to Unlock your Superpowers”.
There are also two shows specifically targeted towards middle/high school students:

  • The Game of Life (Grades 7-12)
    This show was created to address the growing impact of time wasting distractions in a digital age on our society and youth (cell phones, tik tok, Instagram etc…). Using the relatable analogy of video games, they teach students how to consciously spend their limited ‘experience points’ (i.e. time) in ways that contribute to their growth, and impact the world in positive ways.
  • The Power of Purpose (Grades 9-12)
    This show is designed to inspire the next generation to discover/choose their own unique Path of Purpose, and to empower them to create a life of meaning, fulfilment, and success. Themes  include critical thinking, digital literacy, intuition, innovation, social responsibility, peer pressure, stereotypes, privilege and more!

LEARNING RESOURCES

The Memory Project | Historica Canada | Video | Article
The new video “The Forgotten Navy: The Merchant Navy in the Second World War” highlights the experiences of Canada’s Merchant Navy through first-hand accounts from Chief Steward Percival Smith and Captain Earle Wagner. Unofficially known as the “Fourth Arm of the Services”, the Merchant Navy helped support the war effort in Europe. Merchant seamen risked their lives crossing the Atlantic with limited air support to ensure weapons, food, and soldiers made it to England and beyond. Through the stories of these two Merchant Navy veterans, the Memory Project brings a new video sharing the dangers faced in the Black Pit of the Atlantic Ocean and the decades-long fight to receive proper recognition.

TECH TIPS

Building Privacy Education Into Your Lesson Plans | 4edu.ca | More info | Resources
Educators play a critical role in preparing students for the complexities of the digital world they are growing up in. By incorporating privacy education into lesson plans, teachers can help learners build critical digital literacy skills to keep their online activities safe. The Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada has bilingual materials available to support classroom discussions on reducing privacy risks. Please see the link above for resources to use in the classroom around teaching privacy to students.

 

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