Planning for SD70 grad

Parents/caregivers invited to online SD70 information, support and planning session

By Mike Youds Ha-Shilth-Sa Contributor

Educators want to engage parents and caregivers in an online Zoom session focused on helping secondary students in Grades 8-12 get to graduation and beyond. “We would like to increase the success and decrease the stress,” said Dave Maher, district principal of Indigenous education and Eighth Avenue Learning Centre in Port Alberni. “We want to inform Nuu-chah-nulth families about what graduation will look like this year and what students have to do to graduate,” said Richard Samuel, NTC’s cultural development supervisor. They also want the discussion to range beyond the usual grad-year considerations to provide a better understanding of how students can work towards their long-term goals. The idea is to provide advice in timely fashion so that students are aware of expectations and can take necessary steps to achieving their ambitions, they said. Maher and Samuel will host the online session Wednesday, April 14, 7:30-9 p.m. (meeting ID and passcode included at the bottom of this article). Parents and caregivers of students enrolled at Alberni District Secondary School, Ucluelet Secondary School and Eighth Avenue Learning Centre are invited to join them online. Online conferencing has become an essential communication tool during the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic, a means of overcoming the limitations of social distancing. In this instance, the plan is to follow up on the Zoom session by holding community meetings with Nuu-chahnulth nations and then progressing to meetings with families. “With Zoom, we’re trying to reconnect with parents and give them a sense of hope that the fi nish line is there,” Maher added. “We want parents and kids feeling good about themselves, connected with

Photo by Eric Plummer

Looking back at the 2018 Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council Grad celebration. the future and having a sense of moving forward.” They want to address two key aspects in the 90-minute session: What students need in order to graduate and, given pandemic-related uncertainties, a “best guess” of what graduation will look like so that everyone can prepare. They have a lot of information to convey but don’t want to overlook the basics. “Richard and I thought it is really important to go over what is graduation,” Maher said. “What are the improvements you need to make in order to graduate?” They decided to take the online approach after hearing “many parents” express disappointment that the students are not prepared by graduation to move onto the next stage of their lives. “We need to ensure that parents and caregivers understand what their children are going through,” Samuel said. He oversees the activities of a team of ten Nuu-chah-nulth education workers specialized in helping students academically, culturally and socially. Graduation means diff erent things to different people, Maher noted. Graduation may be a stepping stone to post-secondary education, vocational training or the labour market, depending on individual interests, strengths and aspirations. “What are the next steps? How can we best ensure success moving into the next phase of their lives? What are the dreams they have? We’d like to make sure we’re having those conversations,” Maher said. Key discussions with school counselling staff and NTC support workers should ideally begin long before graduating year. “As early as we can,” Maher said. Nuu-chah-nulth education support workers have been having those direct conversations for 40 years. More recently, they have teamed up with the school district to ensure that communities are kept informed. Greater co-operation over the last fi ve years has helped to increase awareness. “It’s a work in progress, but part of that is encouraging families to be an active part of the equation,” Maher said. There are just under 4,000 students enrolled in SD70 schools, 1,350 of whom identify as Indigenous, about 30 percent. Of the Indigenous student population, 60 per cent are Nuu-chah-nulth and 15 per cent are Metis. A majority of students returned to classroom learning in September after school closures last spring due to COVID-19. Some families opted to continue with home learning. With students and families withdrawing from social contact due to the pandemic, educators have noticed more students lacking confi dence as they go into schools, Maher said. “We want to keep the momentum happening in life, to keep them moving forward, so students still have that North Star to look up at and their future for them is bright,” Maher said. To take part in the April 14 online session, use Meeting ID: 842 8361 6224 and Passcode: La8B62.

NTC going paperless for this year’s K-12 scholarships

By Karly Blats Ha-Shilth-Sa Contributor

The Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council (NTC) education program is going paperless this year for their elementary and secondary scholarships. Nuu-chah-nulth students in Kindergarten to Grade 12 from Ahousaht, Ditidaht, Ehattesaht, Hesquiaht, Hupacasath, Huuay-aht, Kyuquot, Mowachaht/Muchalaht, Nuchatlaht, Tla-o-qui-aht and Tseshaht have until May 14, 2021 to submit their applications. The four scholarship categories are academic, artistic, athletic and cultural. “In previous years we’ve off ered paper (scholarships) and we also had events,” said Richard Samuel, NTC cultural development supervisor. “We want to have less of an environmental impact so we’re going paperless this year and the event itself is also going to be virtual.” Students may submit applications for more than one category. “There’s the four main categories and students are welcome to apply for all if they want,” Samuel said. “We’re not discouraging anyone from applying.” Once the deadline passes, a selection committee will review the applications and select scholarship winners. The scholarships are $200 each for students in Grade 4 to 12. For students Kindergarten to Grade 3, names will be drawn from the pool of applicants for a $50 prize. A student must have good attendance, participate in school and cultural activities and be helpful to others. Supporting documentation is required for all NTC K-12 scholarships. Students must submit a short essay and provide a support letter for each scholarship applied for. Students who are applying for more than one NTC scholarship award must submit separate essays and documentation for each award and the application form must indicate the NTC Scholarship applied for. All individuals chosen for a scholarship will be asked to submit a photo of themselves for a ceremony that will take place virtually. “We also inform the Nations to let them know who won the scholarship from their particular Nation,” Samuel said. Applications can be submitted through the NTC website and they off er a drop box option for applicants to submit large fi les like videos or other multimedia. Applications and supporting documents can also be emailed to scholarships@ nuuchahnulth.org, or faxed to Richard Samuel at 250-724-9682 or mailed to the NTC main offi ce.

Art work by: Kaitlyn Powell, Grade 12 student, Eighth Avenue Learning Centre Nuu-chah-nulth†Tribal†Council†&†SD70†(Pacific†Rim)†Presents:† 2021†Spring†Festival

Theme:† Coming†back†to†who†we†are,†holding†tight†to†the†roots. huu%ii%in†+up^ac^ukqin.†-†Let’s†take†back†our†roots. su%i>%in†h=aah=uupay^ak.†-†Let’s†hold†on†to†our†teachings. Virtual†event:†May†2021