Instructional Capacity

<p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">During our February staff meeting this Tuesday, Charlotte Lundeen joined the MSE staff to present on the TD Snap system, also known as “Talkers.” Staff had the opportunity to explore the system firsthand using iPads that Charlotte provided. These communication tools support students who experience challenges with verbal expression, and Charlotte helped us better understand not only why students use them, but how they benefit the entire classroom community.</span><br><br><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">We learned about normalizing the use of Talkers, the importance of consistent modeling, involving all students in the process, and demonstrating that making mistakes is part of learning. It was an engaging and informative session that gave us practical strategies we can begin using right away.</span><br><br><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Thanks to Charlotte’s guidance, we are also working toward installing two Inclusive Communication Boards, one on our main playground and one in our outdoor classroom. We are hopeful that these boards will also be translated into Secwépemc. We are incredibly excited about the increased accessibility and inclusion these additions will bring to our school community.</span><br><br><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Thank you for investing so much time with us this week, Charlotte. We are grateful for your expertise and are excited to put what we learned into action to better support our students.</span></p><table class="editor-table"><colgroup><col><col></colgroup><tbody><tr><th class="editor-tableCell editor-tableCellHeader" style="width: 350px; background-color: rgb(242, 243, 245); border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top;"><p class="editor-paragraph"><img src="/images/1f9c4fa6-5f50-4e20-ab8a-f43e2a479afa" alt="TD Snap, Talkers, &amp; Communication Boards with marina campsall" width="100%" height="inherit" style="width:100%;height:inherit;display:inline-block"></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><br></p></th><th class="editor-tableCell editor-tableCellHeader" style="width: 350px; background-color: rgb(242, 243, 245); border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top;"><p class="editor-paragraph"><img src="/images/252624a9-51f2-4b6d-9e8c-fb30ef28b611" alt="TD Snap, Talkers, &amp; Communication Boards with 2 marina campsall" width="100%" height="inherit" style="width:100%;height:inherit;display:inline-block"></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><br></p></th></tr></tbody></table><p class="editor-paragraph"><br></p>

<p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">What a fantastic workshop run by Calvin Williams during our February 13 Professional Development Day!</span><br><br><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">We got to learn about the process of tanning leather from start to finish and the different ways of Tanning, Chrome and Vegetable.</span><br><br><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">We got to sew a medicine bag and learned where to source them if we want to do it with our students. We also learned how to use tools to carve and make designs on thicker leather.</span><br><br><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">What a fulfilling and educational day for all. Thank you Mr. Williams!</span></p><table class="editor-table"><colgroup><col><col></colgroup><tbody><tr><th class="editor-tableCell editor-tableCellHeader" style="width: 350px; background-color: rgb(242, 243, 245); border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top;"><p class="editor-paragraph"><img src="/images/1c477f76-bff1-455f-9d44-3e4d759d7392" alt="Learning How To Work With Leather 2 marina campsall" width="100%" height="inherit" style="width:100%;height:inherit;display:inline-block"></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><br></p></th><th class="editor-tableCell editor-tableCellHeader" style="width: 350px; background-color: rgb(242, 243, 245); border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top;"><p class="editor-paragraph"><img src="/images/0f717adc-2b5f-4594-b8ee-c95e39b5a2a7" alt="Learning How To Work With Leather 1 marina campsall" width="100%" height="inherit" style="width:100%;height:inherit;display:inline-block"></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><br></p></th></tr></tbody></table><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><br></p>

<p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Mrs. Merth, Ms. Apryl, Ms. Pagé, and Ms. Sukaroff participated in "The Giving Tree: A Retelling of</span><br><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">a Traditional Metis Story" Pro-D this Monday!</span><br><br><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">What a fantastic way to spend a day developing professionally and increasing their instructional capacity!</span><br><br><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Thanks for the photo Mrs. Merth!</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><img src="/images/ffc7750a-6715-424c-8fe8-a1b651648b70" alt="The Giving Tree Traditional Metis Story ProD" width="412" height="549" style="width:412px;height:549px;display:inline-block"></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><br></p>

<p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Many SD27 educators recently participated in a four-week Outdoor Learning course designed to strengthen Social Emotional Learning (SEL) practices. Each 60-minute session offered practical strategies to support student wellbeing through nature-based experiences.</span><br><br><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Over the four weeks, educators explored:</span><br><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">-Mindfulness and self-awareness through sit spots, nature observation, and journaling.</span><br><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">-Social awareness and communication through cooperative outdoor play and group activities.</span><br><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">-Emotional regulation and perseverance through outdoor challenges that require patience and problem-solving.</span><br><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">-Ethics, stewardship, and community-building using Indigenous pedagogies and land-based learning.</span><br><br><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">This learning series expanded instructional capacity by equipping teachers with simple, powerful routines that connect SEL and the outdoors—strengthening both classroom practice and student engagement.</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><br></p><table class="editor-table"><colgroup><col><col></colgroup><tbody><tr><th class="editor-tableCell editor-tableCellHeader" style="width: 350px; background-color: rgb(242, 243, 245); border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top;"><p class="editor-paragraph"><img src="/images/8bc725e3-8479-48f0-ba37-56d1d04107f5" alt="Outdoor SEL kimberley ikebuchi" width="100%" height="inherit" style="width:100%;height:inherit;display:inline-block"></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><br></p></th><th class="editor-tableCell editor-tableCellHeader" style="width: 350px; background-color: rgb(242, 243, 245); border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top;"><p class="editor-paragraph"><img src="/images/e2c06472-82a6-4430-bb57-6126fd91a38d" alt="Outdoor SEL 2 kimberley ikebuchi" width="100%" height="inherit" style="width:100%;height:inherit;display:inline-block"></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><br></p></th></tr></tbody></table><p class="editor-paragraph"><br></p>

<p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Teachers gathered after school to collaborate on literacy assessments across all grade levels. Thoughtful, professional conversations lead to plans to take the information back to the classroom so that all students benefit. Special thanks to Marianne O., district helping teacher, who joined in and offered her insightful expertise.</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><img src="/images/b8d56342-d664-4794-829c-2d376bb12b49" alt="Collaborative Assessment heather mckinnon" width="452" height="603" style="width:452px;height:603px;display:inline-block"></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><br></p>

<p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Ms. Katsura, Mrs. Campbell, Ms. Soichuk, and Ms. Campsall, along with many other educators from Cariboo Chilcotin School District, took part in a tour of the grounds where St. Joseph’s Mission once operated. Thank you to Whitney Spearing, Kendall Halfnights, and Danikka Murphy for hosting us at the site, sharing your abundant knowledge, and helping us all to deepen our understanding.</span><br><br><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">The St. Joseph’s Mission Investigation, which began in 2021, is being led by the Williams Lake First Nation as part of the ongoing work to learn the truth about the children who never returned home from the Mission. The project brings together several approaches, including the use of ground-penetrating radar and other technologies, the careful study of photographs and historical records, interviews with Survivors, and conversations with families, community members, frontline staff, and leaders at many levels.</span><br><br><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">During this workshop, we had the opportunity to walk the Mission grounds and connect directly with the history of this place. The experience encouraged us to link the physical site to the stories of those who lived through it, to see how science and technology are being used to support the search, and to understand the importance of oral testimony and archival work in building a fuller picture of truth and accountability. Thank you for answering all of our questions, for sharing your understanding not just of St. Joseph’s Mission but of other residential schools in British Columbia and across Canada, and for allowing us to take part in the offering, songs, and smudging led by Danikka. This experience was invaluable to our practice as educators and leaves us hopeful for the future of education in our area.</span><br><br><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Kukwstsétselp.</span></p><table class="editor-table"><colgroup><col><col></colgroup><tbody><tr><th class="editor-tableCell editor-tableCellHeader" style="width: 350px; background-color: rgb(242, 243, 245); border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top;"><p class="editor-paragraph"><img src="/images/c15891da-cc91-4987-a4a0-4e85c86c9398" alt="St.Josephs1 marina campsall" width="100%" height="inherit" style="width:100%;height:inherit;display:inline-block"></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><br></p></th><th class="editor-tableCell editor-tableCellHeader" style="width: 350px; background-color: rgb(242, 243, 245); border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top;"><p class="editor-paragraph"><img src="/images/d83aa9cd-ad10-4eef-9de8-8d2184232767" alt="St.Josephs2 marina campsall" width="100%" height="inherit" style="width:100%;height:inherit;display:inline-block"></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><br></p></th></tr></tbody></table><p class="editor-paragraph"><br></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><br></p>

<p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Kaarina Fichtner, teacher from Marie Sharpe, is leading the primary collaboration group literacy book club this year. Over 20 teachers and administrators throughout Cariboo Chilcotin School District have enrolled to read Strive for Five Conversations, and will meet regularly to discuss each section of the book.</span><br><br><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Kaarina is excited to contribute to this collaborative effort once again, working alongside colleagues to strengthen instructional capacity and support literacy development for primary students.</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><br></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><img src="/images/e878c300-1908-42ab-b32b-02db355c39a8" alt="Strive For Five Conversations marina campsall" width="489" height="596" style="width:489px;height:596px;display:inline-block"></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><br></p>

<p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Natalie Craig's class is working on setting goals for themselves to improve in our district's key focus areas of literacy and numeracy. Dedicated work by both the students and teacher have led to great growth and progress this school year.</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><img src="/images/e60d7811-aa1e-4a5f-8031-623d3463a7e3" alt="Teaching with Intention" width="473" height="630" style="width:473px;height:630px;display:inline-block"></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><br></p>

<p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">This year our entire primary group has dedicated themselves to teaching literacy intentionally and purposefully. Students work in small groups with EAs, Indigenous Support Workers, and teachers to work on literacy skills that target their level. Staff also work behind the scenes learning new ways to teach literacy, and collaborating with each other to move all students forward.</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><img src="/images/f8499814-7d33-4434-987c-67f90c6e994a" alt="Collectively Working on Literacy" width="506" height="768" style="width:506px;height:768px;display:inline-block"></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><br></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><br></p>