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.
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Anything Worth Doing, Is Worth Doing Well
Today was the TC10K race, with over 13 000 runners. It is a run that I love to do every year, and somewhere in the middle of doing it, I wonder why I like it. Today, I felt good until the 5K mark, but kept going, at the 8K mark I started to think how I had ruined a great morning, but I persevered and reached my goal. On Friday night, we had our PAC sponsored Fun Fair. When the skies opened and the rain fell, it would have been easy to say "call it off", but our PAC persevered, by adjusting their plans and staging a hugely successful "indoor" Fun Fair. This quality is one that we want to instill in all of our students.
It seems that giving in when things get tough is too easy a choice these days. At school, we work to help our students understand the message that if it is worth doing, it is worth putting our best effort forward and working until we complete it. The staff at David Cameron School continually push our students towards their best work and to ensure they finish what they start. Persevering under difficult circumstances is a great life skill and one that will help our students in their future careers. We as adults need to be great role models for this, and we are.
It seems that giving in when things get tough is too easy a choice these days. At school, we work to help our students understand the message that if it is worth doing, it is worth putting our best effort forward and working until we complete it. The staff at David Cameron School continually push our students towards their best work and to ensure they finish what they start. Persevering under difficult circumstances is a great life skill and one that will help our students in their future careers. We as adults need to be great role models for this, and we are.
Sunday, April 18, 2010
School Spirit
This year, Student Voice has offered suggestions on dealing with garbage on the school grounds, how to hand out play equipment at recess and lunch, and what to do on our "spirit days". The photo attached to this blog shows our recent "Crazy Hat Day" with a few of the selections on display that day. These days are important parts of our school community and help engage students. They show students that pride in your school and fun can go hand-in-hand with a focus on academic work. Showing school spirit is an important part of making stronger connections which ultimately lead to greater student results.
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Fair and Equal: The Same Thing?
I think that I have mentioned before that in any situation their are a variety of perspectives, including the students, staff members, parents, and even the broader community. With that in mind, it's fair to say that no two situations are ever the same. Which brings me to my point this week, that is, fair does not necessarily mean equal. Equal means that everyone gets the same thing, fair means that people get what they need.
At the essence of fairness is determining the circumstances of each situation and the people involved. What is going to stimulate the greatest amount of learning and move the person forward strengthened? This is how we would want to be treated if we were in a situation where we had made a mistake, and its where students should be so that they can make mistakes and learn too.
A few years ago, the notion of "zero tolerance" emerged as a necessary component of most school codes of conduct. To many, zero tolerance meant that everyone got the same consequence regardless of circumstance. The notion has evolved to the point now where zero tolerance means that something will always be done when rules and beliefs are broken, but the consequence will be fair and in relation to the needs of the individual.
I believe this notion of, what's fair is not necessarily what's equal, is important in allowing students to take risks in their learning and still be held accountable when they make mistakes, but in a way that strengthens them, rather than blaming or shaming them.
At the essence of fairness is determining the circumstances of each situation and the people involved. What is going to stimulate the greatest amount of learning and move the person forward strengthened? This is how we would want to be treated if we were in a situation where we had made a mistake, and its where students should be so that they can make mistakes and learn too.
A few years ago, the notion of "zero tolerance" emerged as a necessary component of most school codes of conduct. To many, zero tolerance meant that everyone got the same consequence regardless of circumstance. The notion has evolved to the point now where zero tolerance means that something will always be done when rules and beliefs are broken, but the consequence will be fair and in relation to the needs of the individual.
I believe this notion of, what's fair is not necessarily what's equal, is important in allowing students to take risks in their learning and still be held accountable when they make mistakes, but in a way that strengthens them, rather than blaming or shaming them.
Monday, April 5, 2010
Why Do We Care So Much?
I watched the movie "The Blind Side" last night, for which Sandra Bullock won a best actress Oscar. The movie was great and got me thinking about disadvantaged people and why we care so much. In the movie, a family ends up taking in a total stranger who has suffered a life of neglect and poverty. They nurture and support him towards his own ultimate success.
As we each go through our day-to-day world we come across so many people that have less than us, and yet, there are a few that we truly "connect" with and want to help. Dan Gardner in his book "Risk" talks about the numbers of people in need as being overwhelming to the average person, we can't relate. However, when these numbers are reduced to a single story or person, it links more easily to our emotions, as a result it is easier for us to act when it is one person than 1000. It still doesn't answer the question of why we do it.
In teaching, there are so many students that cross our paths, that at times the need can be overwhelming and yet, we do what we can for each one of them. Still, there are some students that truly "catch" us and pull us into their story for whom we want to do more, and in doing more, we gain. I think it is as much what we get out of the relationship as what the other person does that makes us care. It is in this shared sense of growth, support, and nurturing that we gain as well. I see first hand examples every day from students, parents, and school staff caring for other individuals.
There is a little boy at school with whom we have struggled over the years. This year has been a standout year for him as many staff have reached out and provided the support and understanding that he needs to be successful. In extending that understanding we too have benefited. I saw him and his father in the school hallway a while ago and stopped them both to say thank-you for helping me to learn the value of patience. In this relationship, we have both gained.
So, why do we care so much? It is in our capacity as human beings that we have the unique gift of empathy. Beyond simply caring for others, it is also a bit selfish as we realize that in giving we also gain.
As we each go through our day-to-day world we come across so many people that have less than us, and yet, there are a few that we truly "connect" with and want to help. Dan Gardner in his book "Risk" talks about the numbers of people in need as being overwhelming to the average person, we can't relate. However, when these numbers are reduced to a single story or person, it links more easily to our emotions, as a result it is easier for us to act when it is one person than 1000. It still doesn't answer the question of why we do it.
In teaching, there are so many students that cross our paths, that at times the need can be overwhelming and yet, we do what we can for each one of them. Still, there are some students that truly "catch" us and pull us into their story for whom we want to do more, and in doing more, we gain. I think it is as much what we get out of the relationship as what the other person does that makes us care. It is in this shared sense of growth, support, and nurturing that we gain as well. I see first hand examples every day from students, parents, and school staff caring for other individuals.
There is a little boy at school with whom we have struggled over the years. This year has been a standout year for him as many staff have reached out and provided the support and understanding that he needs to be successful. In extending that understanding we too have benefited. I saw him and his father in the school hallway a while ago and stopped them both to say thank-you for helping me to learn the value of patience. In this relationship, we have both gained.
So, why do we care so much? It is in our capacity as human beings that we have the unique gift of empathy. Beyond simply caring for others, it is also a bit selfish as we realize that in giving we also gain.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)