February 27, 2025

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

The DLC is your one stop shop for useful resources to enhance your teaching available to all school staff in the Langley School District. You don’t need to buy everything for all of your lessons yourself! You can check it out in person in the basement of the School Board Office or have kits and resources delivered directly to your school! We deliver and pick up all the items you request through district mail twice per week (Tuesdays and Thursdays). Links to all the info below:

• View and book online through Insignia Library system | Here
• Find instructions, an area to check out new resources, request new resources and report lost or damages kits | Here
• Sign out instructions | Here

Featured DLC Resource:

• Mystery Lit Kit | More info
  Add a little mystery to your class literature circle sets with these new and exciting mystery books. There are six copies of each book with varying reading levels, designed to help support all learners. One e-book copy of each book is available on Sora.

Featured Focused Ed Resource:

• Exciting Digital Resource for Early Learners! | More info
  Teachers, are you looking for a fun, interactive way to build early math and literacy skills? Early Learning is designed just for that! Developed alongside early childhood educators and grounded in evidence-based practices, this engaging platform creates a safe, highly visual, and playful environment where young learners can explore independently while building key skills.
  Encourage curiosity, confidence, and a love for learning—check it out today via our SD35 Digital Resource Page Here.

MENTORSHIP PROGRAM

Interested in Becoming a Mentor?
We are in great need of experienced teachers with five or more years in the profession to support and guide newer educators as they transition into their roles.

We have many brand-new or early career teachers looking for a mentor. We need mentors at all grade levels but especially primary (K-5) and middle (6-8).

Time Commitment as a mentor: Mentors need to commit to ONE 45-minute learning-focused conversation every 3-5 weeks. There are optional workshops, networking and learning sessions available.

New to the District or a New Role?
If you’re a newer teacher looking for mentorship, please fill out the Mentee Information Sheet here. Once completed, email it to teachermentorship@sd35.bc.ca to join our program! 

Ongoing: Classroom Library Kits – let us know if you would like one! Fill your classroom library by borrowing books from us – Kits for K-2, 3-5, and 6-8 available!

HONOURING TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION

Enter the Indigenous Youth Art, Photo, Video Contest | FORED BC | Deadline: May 23, 2025
To celebrate the rich cultural and heritage traditions of the Indigenous people of Canada, FORED is sponsoring its annual artwork, photography and video contest. $150 cash prizes available for Indigenous youth, aged 5-18. This contest is a wonderful opportunity to find a mentor in the Elder community to pass down this important knowledge to Indigenous youth. Previous award winners are sometimes even featured in local community newspapers. No commercial use of entries is permitted.
The theme is Indigenous Traditional Knowledge & Medicine. The Prize is: 4 x $150 with at least one national winner. Group work shares prize.

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

Introduction to the Coast Metro Numeracy Teacher Resource Website l On-Demand Learning Feature
The Coast Metro Numeracy website is a completely free resource for classroom teachers from grades K to 7 to access for all of their math and numeracy planning and teaching needs.  The website includes weekly overviews, lesson plan ideas and access to a multitude of excellent math and numeracy resources to help classroom teachers with developing a strong numeracy program in their classrooms.  In this webinar, Christine Wozney, Vice-Principal at R.C. Garnett Elementary School, walks staff through all of the excellent resources available to them and provides tips and ideas on how teachers can use the website effectively to assist their numeracy instruction.

Save the Date: CUPE 1260 Spring Conference | May 16, 2025
Registration to open after Spring Break.

EXTERNAL PROFESSIONAL LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES

UVic Call for Proposals for October 2025 Pro-D |  Deadline April 11, 2025 | Submit Here
On the provincial ProD Day in October, the University of Victoria’s Division of Continuing Studies hosts a Teacher professional development day for both pre-service and in-service teachers. They plan to offer half-day workshops that focus on relevant topics for teachers. This year, the themes being focused on are:

• Backwards Design
• Diversity, equity, and inclusion
• Data literacy & AI in the classroom

Anyone interested in submitting a proposal to offer a workshop on the October 24, 2025 provincial ProD Day at UVic, can submit a proposal through the online form above. The UVic Teacher Professional Development advisory committee will review proposals and will be in touch once the review process has been completed.

LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES FOR STAFF/STUDENTS/CLASSES

The Great Big Crunch is coming up! | March 6, 2025 | Register
This year, throughout February, March and April, thousands will gather in person in their school, at home, at work, and online with friends, family and colleagues to highlight the importance of healthy food at school and call for a Healthy School Food Program for Canada. We invite you to host your own crunch or join the Coalition for Healthy School Food and students from coast to coast to coast for a Virtual Great Big Crunch on March 6, 2025, at 1:00 pm EST. Get your apples, a crunchy and delicious fruit or vegetable ready to crunch or munch LOUD!

Beaverbrook Vimy Prize | The Vimy Foundation | Deadline to Apply March 12, 2025 | More info
This immersive program offered by The Vimy Foundation, gives young people aged 15 to 17 from Canada, France, Germany, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom the opportunity to follow in the footsteps of those who shaped history. From August 1 to 11, 2025, recipients visit key historic sites, former battlefields, museums, cemeteries, and memorials in Belgium and France, gaining new perspectives on well-known and under-told aspects of the wars. They see first-hand the consequences and lasting impacts of the war on the natural and human environment. They connect with youth across multiple regions and nations, and learn about the sustainable actions being taken by their peers to make a positive impact now and in the future.

March Math Mania | Mathletics | March 10-28, 2025 | More info | Access Launch Kit
Encourage your students to strive for more in Mathletics and keep working towards that Legend status with March Math Mania! Schools are invited to compete with other Mathletics schools across North America during March Math Mania from March 10th to March 28th, 2025!
As a current Mathletics subscriber, no registration is required–you’re already entered! Encourage students to earn as many participation points as they can and the top three schools with the highest average participation points will win up to $500 in technology grants, a special trophy, and Mathletics swag!

This Month in the Arts – March 2025 | More info
The Arts are alive and well in Langley schools!  Please check out the poster at the link below for a quick glance and overview of all of the amazing Arts events and activities happening across schools in the Langley School District in March!

Huge Writing Competition | Be an Author Tell Your Story Competition | More info | Templates
Get students engaged in writing in March. Use the guides to help students craft personal narratives that amplify their voices. There are three categories: Elementary (ages 5-9), Middle (ages 10-13) and High (ages 14-18) and a winner will be selected from each.
We want to amplify students’ voices through their personal narratives! To support this, we’ve created writing guides for both elementary and secondary students, providing the tools and strategies needed to help students craft and share their stories with the world.

LEARNING RESOURCES

Arts Matter | Curio.ca |  Log-in | More info
Arts education is not just important for fostering skills like creative thinking and even presentation or public speaking skills, it also offers young learners the opportunity to strengthen and evolve critical thinking, and find new ways to engage in local and global citizenship. Browse Curio’s extensive arts selection for content ideas to help reimagine your arts curriculum. Curio is free for all Langley teachers to access.

• Exhibitionists | Arts, Culture | Secondary | Series
  Exhibitionists explores the diverse artists who are refreshing, reframing and revolutionizing art in Canada.
• Digiart | Arts, Technology | Secondary | Series
  A look at the tech innovations that artists are using to digitize, disrupt, and reimagine their creative visions. Hosted by Taelor Lewis-Joseph.

TECH TIPS

Unlocking Student Independence with Microsoft Tools
Every student deserves the chance to learn independently. Microsoft’s inclusive technology empowers diverse learners while giving you valuable time back in your busy teaching day.

3 Benefits of Microsoft’s Inclusive Technology:

• Seamless Integration: Microsoft tools are seamlessly integrated across platforms you already use (Word, Teams, and Microsoft Edge)

• Powerful Tools: Tools like Dictate foster student independence with their speech effectively

• Ease of Use: Our new comprehensive SharePoint site makes these tools easy to use and apply

2 Ways Our Inclusive Technology Resource Hub Can Support You:

• Visual Guides and Video Tutorials: Access visual guides and video tutorial for all Microsoft 365 inclusive tools

• Complete Instructions: Find complete instructions for both iPad and Windows devices

1 Tool to Try Now:

• Discover Dictate: Transform spoken words into text for students who express themselves better verballyClick here for the Inclusive Technology Resource Hub and the Dictate Tool

Want to See Real Impact? | Read how Caida Mendelsohn uses Dictate and working through her dyslexia and ADHD

MY BLUEPRINT SPACES EDU

Announcements

• Spring Training Opportunities: Register for engaging live webinar sessions!
  • SpacesEDU’s 30-minute webinar sessions are great PD opportunities. Join the Getting Started with SpacesEDU: Your First Class Webinar on Wednesday, March 26th at 6:30 pm ET. Be sure to sign up to join live and receive the recording.
    • Principals, does this date/time align with your staff meeting? Sign-up as a group! Let your SpacesEDU leadership team know – they’ll connect with their Success Specialist to communicate that a group is joining.

• Growth Over Grades Podcast: Cynthia Ritchie on Flexible Learning Models and Student-Centered Change
  • In episode ten, SpacesEDU’s Jordan Lewis sits down with Cynthia Ritchie, Superintendent of New London Schools in Connecticut, to explore innovative instructions and flexible learning models.

Implementation Strategies for Teachers

• Partner Story – Personalizing Learning with Ease: On Track Academy, an alternative high school in Spokane, Washington, has implemented SpacesEDU Portfolios to enhance documentation across its diverse programs. Students actively track their educational progress, reflect on growth, and build a showcase to share with post-secondary institutions, employers, and families. Read their story here!
• Design Thinking: Support learner-centered education by promoting student creativity and problem-solving with Design Thinking. Check out this helpful resourceto get started with a Design Thinking 1:1 Space.
• Young Learners Resource:This newly created resource is perfect in supporting independent use of SpacesEDU for K-3 students. From making a Post to leaving Comments, students can navigate SpacesEDU with confidence! Check out the accompanying Teacher Toolkit for helpful prompts and activities.

Learner-Centered Education

A learner-centred educational approach places the learner at the centre of the learning process. This moves away from the traditional teacher-led model that emphasizes the teacher’s instructional role of sharing knowledge, and instead provides learners with a more active role in their learning – making choices, working autonomously, and actively self-reflecting.

Whether you are attempting a learner-centred approach through models like project-based or inquiry-based learning, SpacesEDU is here to help you!

• Consider setting up a 1:1 Space for Student-Led Conferences where students can take the lead in showcasing their learning.
• Does your school or district use Portfolios for Portrait of a Graduate or other district-wide competency-based initiatives? Portfolios empower students to take ownership of their growth by actively documenting and reflecting on their progress toward developing essential skills.

Want to learn more about the benefits of learner-centred education with concrete strategies for implementation? Check out this blog post to read more on how shifting the focus to competency-based education and integrating technology can get teachers started on their pathway to a learner-centred approach.