In the Loop – February 9, 2023

February 9, 2023

KEY RESOURCES IN LANGLEY

HONOURING TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION

Odyssey 2023! February 10 | Odyssey 2023 Program Guide
As part of the Langley School District’s ongoing commitment to Truth and Reconciliation, Odyssey will once again be our Indigenous focused Professional Development Day!  All staff – teachers, support staff and exempt staff have been invited to participate in this day of rich learning!  Staff will engage in this learning at their school or work site to allow for conversation and collaboration with colleagues. The day will open with a keynote session featuring representatives from the four local First Nations who will provide all staff with more knowledge and insight into their culture, history and people.  This will be followed by a second keynote session featuring Len Pierre from Katzie First Nation who will speak to all of our staff about anti-racism, cultural safety and alliedship. In the afternoon, staff will have an opportunity to continue their own journey around Indigenous learning by choosing from a variety of different presentations, videos, books and resources that we have available to staff and are outlined in the Odyssey program which can be found at the link below.  Your school or site admin or manager will be providing guidance on how the day will be structured at your site. 

DIVERSITY AND RESPECT WEEK – FEBRUARY 20-24

Diversity and Respect Binder
February 20 to 24 is Diversity and Respect Week in the Langley School District. To support classroom teachers and staff with this week, the school district has created a Diversity and Respect resource binder filled with activities, lessons and resources that can be used to support learning on this week and throughout the year.  You can access the binder at this link: Diversity Resources.

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

Career Spotlight – The Aviation Industry | On-Demand Learning Feature
Learn about different careers in the Aviation industry! Presenters from various backgrounds in Aviation will talk about their occupation/role as well as their career journeys. Note: These nine sessions will only be available to us from Explore Learning until mid-March, so enjoy them while we have them!

NEW: Read-Speak-Champion Virtual Author Series | February 28 Register
As contemporary educators, we have a responsibility to share diverse stories and varied perspectives with our students. The Read. Speak. Champion Virtual Author Series is dedicated to spotlighting Canada’s BIPOC and LGBTQ2IAS+ authors. Calling all intermediate and middle school teachers! Sign your class up for a virtual, interactive session with Indigenous author & musician Leslie Gentile! She will be sharing about her book Elvis, Me, and the Lemonade Stand, her writing process and answering student questions.

ACT CPR and AED Training Workshop | May 19 Register
Local CPR instructors will train phys. ed teachers in CPR-A followed by our Opioid Overdose Response Training and train-the-trainer session, enabling teachers to deliver the ACT High School CPR and AED program at their schools. Certificates provided by the training agency and ACT Foundation.

EXTERNAL PROFESSIONAL LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES

Bursaries available for BC Teachers | Learn French Online or In-person with UBC Extended Learning this Summer | More info
Applications are now open for certified BC teachers to attend the attend our 2023 Online or In-Person French Summer Institutes at UBC Extended Learning. One, two or three-week options available in either format to suit your summer plans. Eligible teachers and non-certified teachers classified under Group 3 can apply for a bursary that covers the full tuition amount for our one, two and three-week Summer Institutes. Register in Beginner 2/Lower Intermediate to Intermediate/Advanced levels. There will be a placement test before the programs start to place teachers in a more specific level.

Simon Fraser University Graduate Diploma in Education (GDE) | Fall 2023 Programs for Teachers | More info
Graduate Diploma in Advanced Professional Studies in Education (GDE) programs are designed in collaboration with BC school districts for educators whose primary focus is school-based practice. It provides educators with an extended professional learning opportunity focusing on inquiry and professional questions of interest. These theme-based specialized programs are experiential and participatory and focus on educational practice within school-based settings. They allow educators to “live the work” in a collaborative learning community, with the support of colleagues, mentors, and instructors. Completion of the two-year diploma allows teachers to upgrade their TQS category. There are several themed programs, please see info on poster here.

February Free Live Events | Educator PD | Learn to Code and Create

  • February 15, 2023 – Teachers can learn how easy and fun it is to teach coding with an introduction to Codingville and its self-paced student learning features!
  • February 21, 2023 – Teachers can explore how a virtual coding environment can help you learn and apply programming skills using the FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) Simulator (SIM)
  • February 22, 2023 & February 27, 2023 – Teachers experience how Minecraft Education supports game-based teaching and learning through a creative, collaborative, and problem-solving immersive learning environment!

FOCUSED Education Resources | Digital Resources Webinar Series | February 17, 2023 & After school Webinars | Register
As BC educators, you have direct access to World Book, EBSCO, Gale, IDÉLLO, Live it Earth, and more… Whether at school or home, you and your students have use of these resources to support teaching and learning. Join our Professional Learning Team and explore these tools, accessibility features, and rich visual medias. We present in English, French, and even offer a bilingual session! Session descriptions and schedule can be found here.

LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES FOR STAFF/STUDENTS/CLASSES

Middle: Read, Speak Champion Book Series on February 28 | Register
The next Read, Speak Champion Book Speaker Series with class participation is set for Tuesday February 28 and features a local Indigenous author (see poster here) While the targeted audience is grades 5-8, the times of this specific event have been aligned with the Middle School bell schedule to encourage more class participation. Teacher Librarians at Middle Schools are able to share resources to engage classes prior to the visit. Registration is now open and classes are invited to sign up.

February Free Live Events | Student Workshops | Learn to Code and Create

  • February 9, 2023 & February 24, 2023 – Grade 4-8 – Teachers & Students create their own video games, complete puzzles and more with this beginner-friendly game design platform!
  • February 16, 2023 – Grade 4-6 – Teachers & Students learn how easy it is to code using Codingville’s program through a live and engaging learning experience!
  • February 24, 2023 – Grade 4-8 – Teachers & Students learn how to program within a virtual environment and apply your coding skills using the FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) Simulator (SIM)!

Youth Inspiring Action for Mental Health Video Toolkit | February 15, 2023 | Register
Join us for a free virtual premiere featuring the new Balancing Our Minds Inspiring Action Toolkit Videos on February 15, 2023 from 3:30 – 4:30pm PST. The webinar will showcase the experiences of young people in BC school communities advocating for change in mental health. Check out the trailer here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y7v4nwb5gec&t=1s
The new resource – Inspiring Action & Creating Change for Mental Health, a toolkit for youth, by youth –  aims to support youth wanting to make changes for improved mental health and well-being in their schools and communities. The toolkit videos feature the experiences of young people, some who are early on their advocacy journey and some who have years of experience. The toolkit was created alongside our Youth Advisory committee, who provided input and led action during the development process.

The 2023 Great Big Crunch is coming up | March 9, 2023 | Register
This year, throughout the month of March, many thousands will gather in person in their school, at home, at work and online with friends and colleagues to highlight the importance of healthy food at school and call for a Healthy School Food Program for Canada. You are invited 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 9, 2023 at 1:00 pm EST. More info.

Call for Students – Office of the Information Privacy Commissioner Youth Privacy Forum | March 9, 2023
The OIPC wants to hear directly from youth about the privacy issues that affect them and to better understand how help can be offered. MediaSmarts and the BC Civil Liberties Association will discuss privacy on social media, at school and more. This virtual youth forum is open to BC high school students in Grades 10-12. To nominate a student or for more information, email: youthforum2023@oipc.bc.ca.

YOU dance Livestream on April 21, 2023 | Register
The National Ballet of Canada is pleased to offer school boards across Canada the opportunity to join us for a livestream direct from our residency at York University in Toronto on April 21, 2023. Students will enjoy repertoire specially selected for grades four to six (however, any grade is welcome to join) performed by the National Ballet’s talented RBC Apprentices. The livestream will be hosted by Lisa Robinson, Senior Manager, Education and Community Engagement. More info.

HUB Cycling Education | Winter 2023 | More info
We’re back in the saddle this Spring to deliver our 18th season of Bike to School programs! The Spring Season runs from March 27th to June 23rd, 2023. Our courses boost knowledge, skills, and confidence through theory and hands-on training. We provide bikes and helmets and courses are offered at no cost to public schools. We have also expanded to reach even more of BC with the Everyone Rides Grades 4-5 program. Interested in having HUB Cycling visit you school? We are now booking Spring 2023 school programs here.

Lunar Rover Research Challenge | Grades 6-9 | Register
Students can be a part of Canada’s Space Program and have a chance to win an opportunity to virtually control a Canaden sys rover in a lunar-like environment. Another benefit is that they can leverage space to help students develop vital communication, scientific thinking and collaboration skills with this cross-curricular experience. This is curriculum aligned and bilingual lesson plans all available for free.

 Financial Literacy Fest by Chatter High | More info
This month-long event has been put together to increase youth financial literacy across the country. This event, called “Financial Literacy Fest” is a set of concurrent competitions, in French and English, available for grades 6-12, and free for all districts and schools to participate in.

  • Learn About Your Taxes Competition – by the CRA | Feb 15 – Mar 15, 2023 | More info
    This competition is an opportunity for Canadian middle and high school students to become more confident about doing their own taxes while having fun competing for their school. This competition will be based on the 6 bilingual Learn About Your Taxes courses by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA). This is for all middle school and high school students nationwide (English and French).
    A total of 17 top ranking schools on our four leaderboards will receive a piece of the $5,000 prize pot. Students will also receive a certificate for completing the Learn About Your Taxes: Completing a Basic Tax Return course. Note: If students miss the competition dates, the courses and certificate will continue to be available following the competition.
  • Insurance Literacy and Me Competition –  Feb 15 – Mar 15, 2023 | More info
    This competition is an opportunity for Canadian middle and high school students to understand and become more confident about insurance that will serve them. This competition will be based on the Insurance Literacy modules by the Insurance Institute, Career Connections, the Insurance Bureau of Canada, and the Institute for Catastrophic Loss Reduction. This is for all high school and middle school students in Canada (English Only). A total of 17 top ranking schools on our four leaderboards will receive a piece of the $5,000 prize pot. Note: If students miss the competition dates, the courses and certificate will continue to be available following the competition.

TECH TIPS

Secondary Staff | Gas App
This app allows teens to complement each other anonymously, but some warn it monetizes their anxiety. Gas is designed for high school students, and users under 13 years old are prohibited and should not use or download Gas. Gas also offers in-app purchases for a range of subscriptions that unlock extra features. The app’s name comes from the slang phrase “gassing your friends up” — the idea of boosting confidence with compliments or encouragement. One in-app purchase is God Mode, for $8.99 which includes:

  • Unlimited Hints — See the first letter of someone who voted for you
  • Two Bonus Reveals — See the full name of someone who voted for you twice
  • Double Coins — Earn double coins when voting on polls
  • Crush Alerts — Get notified when someone adds themselves to your polls
  • Anonymous Mode — Send Polls 100% Anonymously

To date, Gas has earned $7 million in consumer spending since its launch in summer 2022. Discord has recently purchased Gas but will have the app remain a stand-alone for the time being.

Parents can approve what their children buy or download: If parents or guardians are concerned about their child’s purchases,  Gas advises setting controls on phones/iPads to prevent access to social media applications: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201089 or prevent in-app purchases from the App Store: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204396

Instructional Services | #Think35

4875 222 Street, Langley
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Phone: 6045347891
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