TOGETHER tinu ed to
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Central Okanagan Public Schools
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Together We Learn
LEARN
www.sd23.bc.ca CAPITAL news
In this issue: · Pg. 4:
Letters of Gratitude
· Pg. 8:
The Power of Kindness
· Pg. 11: Inspiring from a Distance · Pg. 14: Welcoming the Next Generation · Throughout the Issue: Videos, music and art from our students!
Alisa Danienyan, Class of 2020, collects her diploma to the applause of students and staff at the Rutland Senior Secondary Virtual Graduation Ceremony. Staff and student volunteers organized the ceremony as well as videography and photography to make sure graduates could still cross the stage as part of alternate graduation celebrations.
Jayson Talbot, a Kindergarten learner at Quigley Elementary, shows off his dance moves on the first day back in class after COVID-19, June 1. Jayson and his friends were thrilled to be back on the playground. In the background you can see students physically distancing as they safely line up to head back indoors.
SUPERINTENDENT’S message working and learning remotely to respect the physical distancing recommendations of the Provincial Health Officer. During these eight weeks we accomplished a lot. We learned how to safely use Zoom to meet and connect while remaining apart. We provided remote learning to 96% - or 21,600 - of our students. Parents and guardians also stepped up to provide educational assistance at home. It was hard work for everyone as teachers had to learn to deliver quality learning and keep students connected – remotely. District teams rushed to provide best practice and tutorials to support this work.
Kevin Kaardal Superintendent of Schools / CEO As we end this year and look toward a well-deserved break, we should reflect on what we have all accomplished since the beginning of Spring Break, and the announcement by the Minister of Education that in-class instruction was suspended until further notice due to the rapidly spreading COVID-19 Pandemic. Since that announcement, the District completely changed how we delivered services to our 23,500 learners - twice. We developed a pandemic plan and comprehensive safety plans, and we enacted human resources practices to support our team through this crisis. You should be proud of your efforts these past months whether you are staff, students, or parents and guardians. We started off in Stage 5: no school while staff planned the Stage 4 response. Safety comes first and there were a lot of us
We also provided on-site learning services for about 330 Essential Services Workers Grades K - 5 students and supported approximately 250 vulnerable learners and about 30 students with complex needs. We learned a lot and we improved our delivery of learning services every day as our teams shared newly developed resources on a newly developed webspace. We fed over 1,500 students, providing over 7,500 meals a week with the help of our community. Food for Thought and the Brown Bag Lunch teams really stepped up to help us deliver meals to families. The ARC Team, the Foundry Kelowna, and Interior Health added support services to enhance what our school counsellors and district support teams could provide to help with the mental wellness of our students. Then on June 1, 2020, we changed our services again to meet the requirements of Stage 3. The work has been very successful. We
have had over 9,500 students return to onsite instruction. This includes over 1,200 students with designations and 570 students with complex support needs. Students who returned and their parents or guardians are thrilled with our efforts and their children’s experiences. I have heard staff express this same joy. Our work is to support students’ learning and help them grow into responsible citizens. Recent events remind me that our work has never been more important. We continue to offer quality remote learning services for 13,000 students thanks to you. Beginning in Stage 4, we provided over 2,800 devices to keep those students who need the support connected. Custodial and transportation teams have done stellar work keeping our buildings safe and clean. Operations has worked steadily as they prepare for an incredibly busy summer, working to complete seven million dollars in school improvement and maintenance projects. Our partner groups have contributed to planning these 3 stages we have experienced – especially regarding our safety plans which have been reviewed by the Ministry of Education, Interior Health, and WorkSafeBC. Senior staff and District leaders have been working hard planning for each new reorganization as we move from stage to stage. They have also been planning for the closure of this school year and the start of 2020/2021 in September. I am extremely grateful for the work of our Principals, Vice Principals and our Managers as they collaboratively planned
what each response would look like for their school or department. Finally, our Board of Education has provided sage advice every step of the way. They continue to do their governance work in ensuring appropriate planning occurs for budgets, facilities, and educational programs, including attending two extra Board meetings a week to support all of our efforts. Over the past three months you have been asked to play an important role in the province’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. I witnessed innovative teaching that will continue to be of benefit to learners. Parents and teachers have never been more connected. Students have demonstrated their learning in a variety of ways showing their tremendous potential. We found innovative ways to celebrate our graduates and provided personal cultural family experiences during our Indigenous Graduates Blanketing Ceremonies. I am grateful for the remarkable work you all accomplished. This work is very impressive and, as I said at the beginning of this message, you should be proud of your role in supporting our community’s children and families during COVID-19. Collectively, we are providing the Central Okanagan Public Schools’ community hope and reassurance during very complex and difficult times. We will need courage to plan for the fall. There are still many unknowns. I know we are up to the tasks as we have already proven we can think critically, innovate our practices, adapt, and do our part to fight this pandemic. Together we plan. Together we adapt. Together we learn!
BOARD CHAIRPERSON’S message
Moyra Baxter Chairperson, Board of Education
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It’s certainly been a remarkable school year. Remarkable may be putting it a bit mildly, but what single word describes a year in which we experienced such a prolonged suspension of in-class instruction? Unprecedented? Unexpected? Unbelievable? I’m sure all of those fit one aspect or another of these past months, but everything about them was remarkable, so I offer these thoughts. What I know for sure is that the amazing response to the sudden change in learning from staff, students, and families in the Central Okanagan was not unexpected or unbelievable. When the Province of BC said that all in-class instruction would be suspended until further notice, the Board of Education trustees knew that there was no need to panic. There were certainly challenges ahead,
COmmUNITYCONNeCTION • June 2020
but trustees had full confidence in the kindness, courage, and resilience of the people in our District. The Board is grateful to work with leaders and learners who face adversity with courage, eager to do their best. It was with both pride and humility that we witnessed the rapid response in planning, the flexibility of employees, the outstanding efforts to ensure all our sites were safe and welcoming, and the adaptive expertise of educators. The engaging and creative work of our staff and students, as they immediately began to demonstrate the care for one another that our whole community needed during a very challenging time, left us proud to be part of this school district. I want to express my gratitude to every volunteer who helped students get the meals on which they rely, to every staff
member who made sure a continuation of learning was possible, and to every family who did their best to play parent, teacher, and worker all at once. From the students who donated the popcorn from their fundraiser to first responders, to the teachers who met families at the end of their driveway with learning materials, to the graduates who took an alternate walk across the stage for the safety of others, thank you. I know I speak for the entire Board of Education when I say your dedication to learning safely and kindly is an inspiration. We know that whatever September brings, we are well prepared thanks to your proven ability to work, teach, and learn in the face of adversity. Heartfelt thanks to everyone. Have a safe and joyful summer break.
what we Created at hoMe Ms. Paley’s StrongStart Class
Our StrongStart Centres continued to provide early learning services to students across the district during remote learning. Ms. Paley’s class spent the entire month of May learning about the butterfly life cycle. They watched their caterpillars grow from very tiny caterpillars, into the chrysalis stage, and then emerge as butterflies. They released them on a Zoom meeting circle and finished up with this art activity. Thank you to Mikayla, Zuri, Wyatt, and Emmett for sharing their work!
EcoFun A big part of what makes Silver Lake special is our hands-on EcoFun programs, where we explore our forests and discover cool things about the trees & plants, water, critters both big and small and rock & soils. With our cohorts, we will unlock some of the forest’s secrets and investigate how forests are connected with our everyday lives, both in and outside of cities! This is the time that puts the “wow” of the natural outdoor environment into your time at Silver Lake Camp!
BUS STOPS - DROP OFF & PICK UP Kelowna Downtown – Westbank – Peachland Morning Drop Off • If your camper, a member of your household, or social bubble/group has any signs of Covid19 symptoms please: o Keep your camper home until the symptomatic person as been tested and received a “Non Covid19 test result” o Please inform camp staff as early as possible with the details. o This will likely mean your camper misses 2 or more days; these days will be credited to future camp days. • Parent/Gaurdian MUST accompany camper to the bus to complete basic health screening daily. • Staff are required by Provincial Health Standards to check off specific questions about your household and campers health DAILY, please allow time for staff to speak with each family.
6:45-7:00 Prospera Place (North side Bus Zone, along Water St @ Sunset) • Staff will be onsite to check campers in at 6:45am, the bus will depart at 7:00AM
7:25
Save On Foods complex (2475 Dobbin Rd, West Kelowna)
• Depending on Traffic the bus may arrive as early as 7:20am or later, please be ready when the bus arrives.
REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN
www.silverlakecamp.net
7:45
Pentowna Park Boat Launch (Hwy 97 @ Princeton Ave.)
• Depending on Traffic the bus may arrive as early as 7:35, please be ready when the bus arrives.
Evening Pick Up It is important that you arrive on or before the stated time so as not to slow the bus schedule. If you are not present to collect your camper at the designated spot, the camper will proceed with staff to the next stop. Staff will call you to advise where to meet your camper. Campers are not released to individuals not listed as parent/guardians or Emergency contacts. ID is required. If carpooling at pick up points please email camp the week before to arrange.
5:30
Pentowna Park Boat Launch (Hwy 97 @ Princeton Ave.)
• Bus may arrive as early as 5:20, please be ready.
5:45
Save On Foods complex (2475 Dobbin Rd, West Kelowna)
• Bus may arrive as early as 5:40, please be ready.
6:10
Prospera Place (North side Bus Zone, along Water St @ Sunset)
• Bus may arrive as early as 6:05, please be ready.
TOGETHERWELEARN • sd23.bc.ca
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LETTERS OF graTITUdE We are all grateful to our staff and students for their hard work to make sure learning could continue, but it’s always nice when our communities reach out directly to share their gratitude. Here are just a few selections from the many kind words of encouragement schools received.
To: Shannon Lake Elementary
Thank-you so much for your time and energy in organizing your students to send heart-warming messages and drawings to our Nursing staff at Kelowna General Hospital for Nurses Week. I’m sure it would have taken extra work on your part in this unusual school environment to get everyone organized – we are grateful for your effort! In all seasons and especially during this covid-season, our nurses are greatly encouraged when they receive inspiring messages from our community. This was a special year because the World Health Organization (WHO) designated 2020 as the Year of the Nurse and Midwife in honour of the 200th anniversary of Florence Nightingale’s birth and so your students helped make this celebration extra special. Please pass along our thanks to everyone who contributed. Your students are very creative, and their appreciation was well-received here at KGH. Sincerely,
Derek Koch
Spiritual Health Practitioner, PFCC Lead, KGH
To: Rutland Middle School
“I want to thank the school for the support you have provided to both Dy, myself and our girls. With both of us working through these uncertain times it has given us comfort and ease to move forward. My girls have also felt very supported by two staff members in the school. Carey and Rochelle have created a very safe and welcoming environment for our girls. They come home and talk about these two folks daily. They make it fun and decrease the stress involved in the “new” now. I am grateful for people like this at any time. But presently they are making a huge difference for children.”
Kari Schneider
To: Okanagan Mission Secondary Re: Alternate Graduation Ceremony Hello! I just wanted to send a quick thank you message to you all. Yesterday was the most fun day for me and I know it was for a lot of other students too. I got to see so many classmates, as well as staff, that I didn’t think I would get the chance to see again for a long time. Thank you so much for taking the time and patience to plan everything out; I know it was extremely difficult to organize! It was so lovely to be able to walk across the stage and see Mr. McKay smiling at each of us. I can’t wait to see the video and watch all the funny, little mishaps here and
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COMMUNITYCONNECTION • June 2020
there. It seems to be quite a tricky task to move our own tassels from right to left using our left hands! I think that makes it more special and authentic though, and even more unique, just like this school year. So I guess that’s all I really wanted to say. This event alone made me, and lots of others, incredibly happy and thankful, and I hope you know that. This year will forever be a bit of a crazy one and I’m so glad we had an amazing admin team to help us get through it. Thank you for all that you do!
Esmee Class of 2020
FROM TEACHER ON CALL AND TL/PREP TEACHER
TO pROvidiNG LEARNiNG sERvicEs fOR cHiLdREN Of EssENTiAL WORkERs By: Angela Macritchie We acted as both teacher and parent to each of our students. For a large part of the day we’d help them access their Zoom meetings and do their school work and for the rest of the day we’d head to the beach (nice to be in Oyama!) or to the boat launch to check on the osprey nest, play frisbee golf, charades, “man-tracker”, collect sticks or rocks, and experience or observe nature through focused walks and adventures.
Since April 1st, during the pandemic, Cory Rublee and I have been looking after children of Essential Service Workers (ESW) at Oyama Traditional School. We started out tentatively, as the pandemic was in its early stages and we weren’t clear on how it would develop over the weeks ahead of us. In 29
years of teaching I haven’t experienced a pandemic or any other crisis that can close schools and shut down an entire province, country...world. These are unprecedented times. School would be different. To begin, additional protocols for physical distancing, handling materials,
A Big CUPe thAnk yoU! Whether your week was an hour or forty, at home or on site, or had to change your shifts, CUPE wants to acknowledge all its members for persevering through these tough COVID times. Your flexibility and adaptability show your true devotion to your job and the students you serve. Many times, you have had to think outside the box, but the work always got done. Thank you to all of you, you are an amazing group of people who should be very proud of what you have been able to accomplish in only a few months!
handwashing, and sanitizing were put in place. We felt confident that our environment was safe. It quickly became clear to both Cory and I that the most important aspect of our jobs, physical distancing and handwashing aside, would be to help our students stay emotionally healthy. They missed their normal life, their friends, extended family members, teachers, playdates, activities and routines. It wouldn’t be easy to keep a positive outlook, to stay happy. And so, we began a daily check-in with “Good News” - positive stories about good things that were happening in the world around us. The students followed that with creating lists of their own daily gratitude’s, things they were thankful for and/or proud of. It was a positive way to start the day and had an uplifting effect on the kids and on us.
An important goal for us was to make sure the students had their school work done for the day so that when they went home to their parents (ESW) they didn’t have to spend time on school work but rather on enjoying some family time. We were as successful at that as we could be, focusing on maintaining the students’ positivity and getting their work done. Being in this role has helped Cory and I understand, to some extent, what both teachers and parents were experiencing. Both have earned our utmost respect and admiration for their adaptability, patience, and kindness. We are also proud of our students, pioneers of the small “COVID classroom,” who will welcome this next phase as their friends and classmates begin to return to school. All of this helps us look forward to the coming weeks with confidence that our students’ well-being and safety is a priority to everyone.
TOGETHERWELEARN • sd23.bc.ca
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KEEPING THE COMMUNITY alIvE Even though learning methods changed, high school students across the district have taken it upon themselves to keep their school communities alive and thriving. Alongside the help of their grad sponsor, grad council students from Mount Boucherie Secondary School organized a variety of committees to help those in their school and community during this difficult time. One of the most successful committees was “Grad Theory.” Inspired by the YouTube channel “Yes Theory,” this committee creates weekly challenges to push participants out of their comfort zone, as they believe that that is when life’s greatest moments happen. These challenges range from sharing your biggest fears to trying something new, but they all helped the students stay connected during this challenging time. To learn more about this committee, check out their Instagram page @
mbsstheroy. Another committee that helped keep the MBSS grad class united was “Grad Bonding.” This committee organized a variety of virtual events where grads could make a few more memories before they moved on to the next chapter of their lives. For example, on “Take-out Wednesday” students were invited to dine together (via Zoom) while supporting local restaurants. In addition to helping their peers, the MBSS grad council students also organized committees where they could lend a hand to community members who may have been struggling. For example, the “Elementary School Connection Committee” wrote personal letters to the primary students who were at school while their parents were working on the frontlines. Another group of students organized a variety of projects to spread positivity to seniors who were isolated in long-term care homes. One of their most significant
By Paige Reekie, Grade 12, Mount Boucherie Secondary projects was decorating Westwood initiatives or created their own unique Retirement Resort with the flowers that projects. This just goes to show that they never got to use for their Spring the spirit of Central Okanagan students Fling. and staff is a force to be reckoned with, and they will not let anything stop them Mount Boucherie Secondary School from having a memorable learning was not alone in its efforts. Schools across the district participated in similar journey.
what i crEatEd
at homE “Afternoon Hike” -black ink and watercolour
Sadie Berzins Grade 12 George Elliot Secondary
MBSS Grad Council students decorate Westwood Retirement Resort.
MBSS grads attend the student-organized “Take-Out Wednesday” event on Zoom.
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COMMUNITYCONNECTION • June 2020
This piece stemmed from an art class assignment and was inspired by my favourite place during quarantine. I was challenged to closely observe my subject and recreate it as realistically as possible. I utilized ink pen and watercolour while focusing specifically on my attention to details to reproduce this landscape.
VIDEO ON THE FLY Grade 8 and 9 Video Production classes at École Dr. Knox Middle had to innovate during their remote learning experience. Teacher Bruce Watts came up with some new projects so learners could continue to flex their creativity. Students shot and edited on their mobile devices, and many students produced very strong examples of what artists can do with existing tools, when given enough time. Enjoy some gorgeous timelapses, hyperlapses, and special effects clips from various students in this highlight reel. Middle school video production has come a long way!
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THE POWER Of kINdNEss By Andrea Strang, Classroom Support, Davidson Road Elementary
Grade 2/3 students in DRE’s community in collaboration with the Instructional Leadership Team (ILT) have been exploring children’s rights and the guiding question of how can we bring hope to the world? Through the use of thinking materials and meaningful, collaborative dialogue, the students explored empathy, imagining what life might be like without access to basic human rights such as food, water, shelter, and medicine. The community decided to create 10 kits for people experiencing homelessness to donate to the Kelowna Gospel Mission. They wrote a letter to Peter Boyd at Peter’s Independent Grocer and he generously donated all of the items for their 10 kits. He hosted a kindness breakfast for us, discussed the heart of community service, and inspired our children to become citizen world-makers.
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In addition, the students hosted a bake sale which raised $1005 thanks to the generous support of our school community.
time to acknowledge our feelings surrounding the change. Then we asked, can we still bring hope to the world in a different way? We used similes as the vehicle to help articulate hope.
Once they donated the kits and the money, we discussed how helping others and spreading hope is never finished. When the world shifted online, we took
We encouraged the students to write those similes on rocks, drop them along a path around Lake Country and then drop a pin on Google maps so that others could
COMMUNITYCONNECTION • June 2020
find them. Uploading places of hope in our community helped to share joy and we inspired each other to spend time outside safely. It has been inspiring for us as educators to watch 7 to 9 year-
olds feel that no obstacle is too great to help a fellow human and that by working together and focusing on a common goal rooted in hope, great change can occur.
“Kindness is a power, it is the strongest power”
- Kenna, age 8
WHERE SCIENCE
mEETs ART Ms. Emslie, Grade 1/2 Teacher, South Rutland Elemenatry
Our class was trying out a Science/Art experiment by mixing baking soda with liquid paint as we are learning about chemical and physical reactions. We painted a picture and then used eye droppers to drop vinegar on our paint mixture. We watched the chemical reaction occur; fizzy paint was a success! We were so excited about the reaction that we decided to take some of our paint mixture outside and add a cup of vinegar to see what would happen! We created “colourful volcanoes” and enjoyed watching the reactions. “I used baking soda and vinegar to make a volcano explosion. It was an active explosion! It looked purple and black.”
- Julian Kraft, Grade 1, South Rutland Elementary.
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GIFTS THAT kEEp ON grOwINg In addition to prepared meals and food supplies, staff and volunteers distributed nearly 250 “Living Salads” to families, offering healthy food and a learning opportunity.
staff, volunteers, and organizations like Food for Thought, Central Okanagan Public Schools was able to distribute over 7,500 meals each week to families.
Cheryl Hoffman from Food for Thought is a true community leader and demonstrated an incredible work ethic and unwavering willingness to serve students and families. With the help of District
The District also wants to thank the many sponsors of the Living Salad project: Art Knapp, Kel-Lake Greenhouses, The Greenery, Paynter’s Fruit Market, Sunshine Farm, RONA, and Walter’s Baskets.
wHAt i CreAted
wHAt i CreAted
At HoMe
At HoMe
Abigayle Hudson Grade 6 Constable Neil Bruce Middle School
I wrote this song because it was a school project. The song turned out to be more than just a school project though; I am currently making a music video for the song with my auntie. I have no idea what it looks like yet (because if I did it would never get finished!). However, we are hoping to work on it when she comes from Vancouver Island to visit!
Janine Matter Grade 10 MBSS Student
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For this project we were asked to make a DNA model with stuff we find around our house. At first I was stumped on how I should put the model together and after trying different methods I came up with the idea of using beads and pipe cleaners. I used the beads as the phosphate and sugar backbone and used different colours to represent the different bases.
INSPIRING FROM A disTANcE practice on a specific outcome.” Innovation has taken hold of the district as staff discover new ways to keep students involved in learning. Kevin Low, a Math and Science teacher at Mount Boucherie Secondary, found success in “creating asynchronous learning materials, which means students have access to quizzes, pre-recorded lectures, and other materials at any time of the week.” He is also building problem-based learning modules for his Science classes. The modules are relatable and applicable activities for both younger and older students. Mr. Low explained that “most jobs rely on teamwork,” so it’s important to add collaborative elements to his assignments. Kevin Low and Milo
To teach is to inspire others to overcome adversity. Despite the challenges brought on by the pandemic, Central Okanagan Public Schools teachers created a collaborative community that will empower students to become who they want to be. Teachers have adapted their practices to actively engage students from a distance, using online resources such as Zoom, Google Classroom, and websites. For teachers not as familiar with technology, this has been a good source of professional development. Although it cannot fully replace classroom learning, online learning has instilled human connection into a time that can see little.
Education extends beyond what is taught in textbooks. Leadership is a huge part of the school district culture and can be difficult to teach remotely. Mrs. Wowchuk is fascinated by her adaptive grad council class, as many of the tasks have been altered. She’s thankful for the flexibility and creativity of her students who “have focused their attention on ways to create unity within the grad class; providing support to residents in care homes, making connections with the kids of essential workers, and developing character and resilience in students.”
Melanie Wowchuk, an English teacher, and graduation sponsor at Mount Boucherie Secondary, relayed the importance of focusing on the needs of individual students and tries to personalize their learning experiences.
Mr. Low is opening conversations about our changing world. He “tried to make [his] students aware of the pandemic happening around us and the science behind this rather than not speaking about it at all.” Mr. Low has taken this time to prepare students for their future, even starting the Capstone project with his Career Life 11 students. In the future, he looks forward to returning to coaching Senior Girls rugby and seeing his students in person again.
Where completing the original curriculum isn’t feasible, Mrs. Wowchuk is instead “tailoring projects and assignments for students who need either enrichment or extra
Both students and staff learned valuable lessons during this time. To Mr. Low, the most important lesson was to slow down and find time for yourself in a busy world.
By: Mckinley Kemp, Grade 12, Mount Boucherie Secondary ways in hopes of recognizing the He’s currently taking time to learn new instruments! Some teachers have achievements of the Class of 2020. begun to accept more challenge and Teachers remain immensely proud change, as Mrs. Wowchuk has been of their students’ accomplishments, focusing on. many only wishing they could play a larger role in the celebrations. She has learned that she must be “more open, adaptable, and grateful for the changes that come with teaching.” This is a lesson that can be applied not only to teaching, but to every aspect of our lives. We’ve all faced adversity during this time, but Mr. Low describes his biggest challenge as not being able to be there for his usual roles in graduation. A deeply supportive teacher, he has found it “extremely tough not to be there for this year’s graduates in roles such as name calling for the stage crossing and chaperoning the graduation walk.” Milestones this year are being celebrated in smaller, more intimate
One MBSS teacher said “I can speak for many of my colleagues in that there are some graduates we have taught for 3+ years and it’s almost like our own family crossing a milestone.” Graduating students remain thankful for every effort teachers made to demonstrate their support. Many teachers look forward to returning to the classroom, to engage with their students and to provide more hands-on learning experiences. In her own words, Mrs. Wowchuk “can’t wait for that opportunity to have the noise, the organized chaos, and the fun of the traditional classroom again!”
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VIRTUAL SENIOR jazz band Okanagan Mission Secondary To keep making music together during COVID-19, some of the members of the Grade 11/12 Jazz Band at OKM worked to create this virtual performance of Duke Ellington’s Cotton Tail. It took an incredible number of hours to complete and some serious dedication from Ms. Frederick’s students. Ms. Frederick said, “It doesn’t even come close to playing together live, but was a cool experience to do together in this crazy time! Thanks to everyone who worked to submit a recording when so many things made this incredibly challenging!” Soloists: Julius Brooker - Drums, Azeen Maleki Trumpet, Francisco Rubio - Alto Sax, Joseph Sauve - Guitar, Jacob Shaw - Tenor Sax, Sam Herbert - Tenor Sax, Kai Trottman - Trombone, Camryn Haw - Piano Saxes: Francisco Rubio - Alto 1, Jamie Ropotar - Alto 2, Sam Herbert - Tenor 1, Jacob Shaw - Tenor 1, Sam Bekkering - Tenor 2, Omer Kaynak - Tenor 2, Liam Friesen- Tenor 2 Clarinets: Julia Burget - Clarinet 1, Juliet Webster Clarinet 1, Shaina Brown - Clarinet 2, Michael Gill Clarinet 2, Amelie Hodge - Clarinet 2 Trumpets: Azeen Maleki - Trumpet 1, Alizon Littleton Trumpet 3 Flutes: Alyssa Kong - Flute 1, Rachel Yee - Flute 2 Trombones: Markkus Widing - Trombone 1, Kai Trottman - Trombone 2, Saharrah Henry - Trombone 2, Katherine Littleton - Trombone 3, Grayson Bell Trombone 3, Megan Allan - Bass Clarinet Rhythm Section: Julius Brooker - Drums, Kurtis Knodel - Bass, Joseph Sauve - Guitar, Camryn Haw - Piano, Charlie Benwell - Vibes
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COMMUNITYCONNECTION • June 2020
what i cReated at hoMe Brooke produced this video of the RSS Company Dance Class as one of her independent film projects.
Brooke Malesan, Grade 11, Rutland Senior Secondary
This is a project the RSS Company Dance Class worked on during the remote learning phase, and Brooke edited it to look like a Zoom session. The remote dance learning was called “The Rainbows Project” and it served as their personalized “thank you” to Jessica Le for choreographing their hip hop piece this semester. Jessica is one of the RSS alumni dancers, as well as a talented musician and singer. This is her cover of the Kacey Musgraves song “Rainbows”. In the end, this amazing labour of love became much more than a “thank you” to Jessica!
TOGETHERWELEARN • sd23.bc.ca
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WELCOMING THE NExT gENEraTION We know school will look different in September, but we hope to welcome everyone back to classrooms. Whether they’re entering Kindergarten or advancing to the next stage, it’s important to ease anxieties and let students know about their options. Here are a couple of innovative examples of how staff are making the next generation of learners feel welcome and safe. South Rutland Elementary Kindergarten Welcome
Rutland Middle School Music Program Tour
what wE crEatEd at hoME Ethan Van Eerten, Grade 9 École Glenrosa Middle School Ethan is a very industrious and hardworking student. Ethan has a very bright future ahead of him, using his intelligence and great hands-on skills to create, develop, and fix anything mechanical. Ethan has ambitions to work in heavy duty and/or aviation mechanics as a technician or engineer. He is also interested in becoming an elevator technician. Ethan has learned most of his skills and knowledge from his father and has been working during our remote learning period on buying and rebuilding old dirt bikes and other mechanical vehicles. Ethan will also soon be working on race cars at Area 27, the racetrack in Osoyoos. Everyone at GMS is exceptionally proud of Ethan and wishes him the best this summer and next year at Mt. Boucherie.
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COMMUNITYCONNECTION • June 2020
what wE CrEatEd at hOME Mrs Ogg’s Kindergarten Class Peachland Elementary Mrs. Ogg regularly walks her students to the Peachland Regional Library to hear a story and borrow books. During these unprecedented times, Librarians Raphael and Judy have been sending videos of them reading stories for Mrs. Ogg to continue to share with her students. This is such a great example of the strong community connection in beautiful Peachland! Here is a short video Mrs. Ogg created with students to say thanks!
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TOGETHERWELEARN • sd23.bc.ca
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THE GREAT, THE BAD AND ThE gOOd!
what wE cREatEd
at homE
By: Ethan Duncalfe, Grade 12 Mount Boucherie Secondary
By: Liam L., Kindergarten, South Rutland Elementary School
My brother (left) and I walking to where we planned to hike.
Being cooped up in quarantine hasn’t been fun. That’s why when my older brother found a hike, I was quite interested. My brother, his friend Mat (behind the camera), and I drove far to this logging road. Not one kilometer away from the trailhead sat an inconspicuous patch of snow. Lo and behold, a trench lay hidden beneath that snow. Soon, the truck whirled helplessly in this pit of despair. So, we attempted to free the truck, first with our hands, then with a pot. Yes, we’d forgotten a shovel and resorted to using a pot. We spent hours on MacGyver-esque solutions, but none worked. We ran out of time for the hike, and I was pretty bummed. All that effort, planning, and excitement for...this? The three of us hunkered down near a great view of the mountain range. Oddly enough, I found myself warming up to the scenario. We played a few rounds of Uno and ventured towards the trailhead on foot. We all had a
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decent time by the end of the day.
Over several days Liam worked at home with the support of his family to create a community. He named it ‘Liamsville’. He likes to have mom and dad colour with him. Liam is very proud of his idea to put the tall building pictures together to form a 3D tower.
After a horrid sleep in the truck, our deus ex machina arrived, another truck. With a second truck, we tore the other from its would-be icy grave. Then, we drove the long way home, preparing for the beginning of another quiet week. Honestly, this tale of mine doesn’t have many profound lessons, but there’s a minor takeaway I’d suggest maybe hearing out. Days, weeks, or even months will not be yours. Some days, a coin is flipped, and it lands on “enjoy your nightmare.“ Even so, sometimes the best thing you can do is laugh at the absurdity of it with a few buds because there’s always next time. For every day bad, there’ll be one good. Especially with cancellations and delays becoming the new norm with a pandemic on the loose, it might be a good mindset to adopt. In the end, that mountain’s still there, and I can always go back. Still, it wouldn’t hurt to bring a shovel.
COMMUNITYCONNECTION • June 2020
By: malcolm c., Kindergarten, South Rutland Elementary School
Malcolm began his community project during his two days at school, then continued his learning at home with the support of his family. He named his community ‘Rainbow City’.
what wE crEatEd at homE I (Jazmin) got into ventriloquism when I went to my friend’s house. He had had a puppet and did not know what to do with it. And then a couple years later on America’s Got Talent there was a girl with a puppet named Darci Lynne and she knew how to use her puppet. So I thought that was so cool and wanted to get one, too. And now I got my brother Jesse involved and we both make videos together.
Jazmin and Jesse Zaufenberger - G. 5/6 Peter Greer Elementary
Choose sweet instead of a suite! When you welcome an international student into your home, you get more than a mortgage helper. You get an amazing new family member who inspires your children, exchanges cultures with you, and appreciates the support of a family while they’re far from home.
Hosts receive $900/mo.
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Together We Learn
Are you looking to try something new? Elevation Outdoors programs focus on mentorship and life skill development, while helping participants learn and develop a passion for outdoor recreation. We offer programs focussed on: Snowboarding | Rock Climbing | Hiking Mountain Biking | Leadership Development Small Groups Full and Partial scholarships available for eligible families Transportation and Equipment provided for all activities
Central Okanagan Public Schools
www.elevationoutdoors.ca
International Education
Donate | Participate | Volunteer
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TOGETHERWELEARN • sd23.bc.ca
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KEEPING EVERYONE CONNECTEd By John Morrone, District Vice-Principal, Learning Technology The shift to remote learning required educators and families to pivot quite quickly to a new way of teaching and learning. In many cases, this included an increase in digital learning opportunities and consequently, the demand for technology in homes is very high. We also recognize that access to devices may be more challenging for some families, especially with the potential for multiple family members also working and learning from home. Learning Technology staff preparing Chromebooks for distribution to learners.
To support greater equity for each learner, Central Okanagan Public
Schools facilitated the loans of over 2,800 digital devices to any family in need. Community service providers also offered free or subsidized internet access in homes. In addition, technology staff provisioned a variety of new communication tools, including internet-based phones for staff, as well as created dozens of learning resources, including video tutorials, websites, instructional materials and webinar training opportunities.
what we created at home #bearsinhibernation Joelle Haug (Grade 12) & Natalie Barrow (Grade 11) wanted to bring Mount Boucherie Secondary students together to showcase what fellow students were doing at home during COVID times. Students were to post their photos to our @ mbssbears Instagram and tag #bearsinhibernation for a chance to win prizes.
Here are some of the weekly posts: Joelle haug Grade 12 mount Boucherie Secondary
Natalie Barrow Grade 11 mount Boucherie Secondary
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COMMUNITYCONNECTION • June 2020
what i created at home welding deck Project
PLANNING
cole macdonald, Grade 9, mount Boucherie Secondary
THE BUILD
In the beginning I had come up with a few ideas about the general design and direction of the project. I made multiple drawings as guidelines for the build. The idea was very rat rod inspired, and fitting a theme of “Repurposing” different materials and objects I could find. An example of repurposing would be the use of cut semi truck tires as rear fenders.
FUNCTIONALITY REPURPOSING Some material had to be custom made from a local metal fabrication shop in downtown Kelowna. These pieces would serve as the box bed, and an extension to the gas tank. The tank extension would add an extra 72 litres of fuel space. We used steel tubing to connect the tanks. A cap for the tank was made from the top of an old oxygen bottle.
The tire fenders were a challenge but turned out functional and added a cool aesthetic. They were bolted in with self tapping screws and attached to the body with chains.
FRAME
THE BODY
We started out by creating the frame using 2’’ angle iron and 1’’ x 2’’ rectangle tubing. The frame is offset to accommodate the asymmetrical welding machine. The frame was then bolted to the truck frame. To accommodate the weight of the machinery, we installed 14 (seven for each side) leaf springs to the rear suspension.
We made use of two scrap body panels which had been custom made for a different project.
STORAGE
NOT THE END
Tool boxes were a great addition to the box, adding storage for cables and tools when on site. The hinges are made from bolts and nuts and welded in place.
The project as it sits, is unfinished. Due to time restraints with both this presentation and upcoming work for my Dad who will be working this truck on site. There are still many opportunities for further improvement and development. There was a squeeze for time and that restricted a lot of cosmetics from becoming a reality as we had to focus on functionality. However when this build is completed I would love to share it. Thank You to Mr. Rogers for giving me such an amazing opportunity to apply this to my schooling.It has also been an amazing experience to share thoughts with my Dad and learn valuable skills in trades.
Chrome Side Rails
Body Panel
TOGETHERWELEARN • sd23.bc.ca
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