This past Friday was a great day for student participation at David Cameron. After weeks of working with students in PE classes and in groups during academic time, we held our Intermediate Track Meet. Students had been practicing and learning about running events, as well as field events and were excited to try them out in some friendly competition. In year's past our Intermediate Track Meet was held at the beginning of May, from which, our Track Team was selected. Students did not have the opportunity to learn and practice the events before the competition. Our staff spent lots of time trying to teach the students how to do the events as well as trying to give everyone a turn during the track meet. It meant that for some students, it was their first and last time trying the event. Our new plan, gave everyone many chances to practice and try out the events.
The energy and enthusiasm on Friday was fabulous, with lots of excitement from our students. At one point, we had two high jumpers still competing in the grade six boys group, when a grade one and a grade two class showed up to the gym to begin their PE. "No problem", said the teachers, the kids would love to watch. What an incredible environment with the ones, twos, and grade six boys cheering every jump. The two boys were buoyed on by the enthusiasm and rhythmic clapping.
We are now ready to head to the District Field Events Meet on June 2 and the Track Meet on June 4 with a great group of student athletes whom we know will represent our school well.
Monday, May 24, 2010
Sunday, May 16, 2010
Our On-Going Commitment to School Culture
Over the past two years our school community has been working hard to build a new school culture. We have seen many successes in this regard, but we still have a ways to go. Our continued growth has to take into account the needs of our students, parents, and staff. As well, we must come to an understanding of what it means to be a "big school". With a student enrollment around 340 students it becomes more difficult to have the intimate connection that a small school allows. It becomes harder to know all of the students and their families and for students to know all of our staff. These are things that we need to continue to work on. How do we make a large school seem small? What processes and procedures do we have in place to recognize student success and to make it a place where people feel welcomed and engaged?
These are some of the challenges that we continue to face as we work together on behalf of our students. As we look forward to next year, there continues to be a commitment to the culture of our school. Celebrating student success, encouraging a sense of exploration and engaged learning, as well as clearly understood expectations for behaviour are some areas that will allow us to continue our growth together.
We have come a long way as a school and have made several positive strides forward in our quest for student success. A continued focus on developing culture will allow us to fine tune our work and address some new areas that relate to how we want to be seen by our community. Things are great at David Cameron and we want to continue that trend. The only way to do that is to continue to pay attention to the things we want to "grow" and get more of. Our Planning Council, PAC, staff, and students all strive for the best that we can be.
These are some of the challenges that we continue to face as we work together on behalf of our students. As we look forward to next year, there continues to be a commitment to the culture of our school. Celebrating student success, encouraging a sense of exploration and engaged learning, as well as clearly understood expectations for behaviour are some areas that will allow us to continue our growth together.
We have come a long way as a school and have made several positive strides forward in our quest for student success. A continued focus on developing culture will allow us to fine tune our work and address some new areas that relate to how we want to be seen by our community. Things are great at David Cameron and we want to continue that trend. The only way to do that is to continue to pay attention to the things we want to "grow" and get more of. Our Planning Council, PAC, staff, and students all strive for the best that we can be.
Sunday, May 9, 2010
Planning for Next Year
Sorry I missed last weeks blog, there were just too many exciting things going on during the weekend. Happy Mother's Day to all of our David Cameron Parents. I hope you had an enjoyable day and that your children treated you well.
This time of year keeps us busy with a number of things on the go at the school, key among them is the planning process for next year. The District is finalizing its 2010-2011 budget and trying to deal with a million and a half projected deficit. This will have impacts in many aspects of our school and across the District. The Board has made a commitment to protect positions close to the classroom and to try to keep as many resources in front of children as possible. As this process unfolds, the District is also trying to deal with future spaces for students as Sooke is one of only a few Districts province-wide with a growing population. In particular, the District continues to pursue plans to replace Belmont Secondary with two new schools (one at Royal Bay and one at the former Glen Lake site). There will be a public consultation meeting on this at John Stubbs School on May 18 at 7:00pm.
At David Cameron we are now in a position to begin thinking about our class configuration for next year and how we will staff for that. This is always a difficult time for staff as the possibility of lay-offs loom. We are hopeful that as student numbers solidify and positions become available, most people will find positions for next year. Our school is projected to be down slightly in numbers for next year going from our current head count of around 340 to 320. This will likely mean the reduction of one division for next year, although, the last two years have seen us add divisions in September.
Regardless of all of these difficult decisions we will always look at what is best for students and how we can use the resources available to support them the best way possible. If you have any questions please don't hesitate to contact me at the school.
This time of year keeps us busy with a number of things on the go at the school, key among them is the planning process for next year. The District is finalizing its 2010-2011 budget and trying to deal with a million and a half projected deficit. This will have impacts in many aspects of our school and across the District. The Board has made a commitment to protect positions close to the classroom and to try to keep as many resources in front of children as possible. As this process unfolds, the District is also trying to deal with future spaces for students as Sooke is one of only a few Districts province-wide with a growing population. In particular, the District continues to pursue plans to replace Belmont Secondary with two new schools (one at Royal Bay and one at the former Glen Lake site). There will be a public consultation meeting on this at John Stubbs School on May 18 at 7:00pm.
At David Cameron we are now in a position to begin thinking about our class configuration for next year and how we will staff for that. This is always a difficult time for staff as the possibility of lay-offs loom. We are hopeful that as student numbers solidify and positions become available, most people will find positions for next year. Our school is projected to be down slightly in numbers for next year going from our current head count of around 340 to 320. This will likely mean the reduction of one division for next year, although, the last two years have seen us add divisions in September.
Regardless of all of these difficult decisions we will always look at what is best for students and how we can use the resources available to support them the best way possible. If you have any questions please don't hesitate to contact me at the school.
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