Rossland Schools Notebook October 2011

Issue 1 - October 2011

Schools Notebook Rossland

A VSS* update on what’s happening at the

schools in our community

Grades sixes and Sevens Getting a Playground RSS has received $50,000 in funding for a new playground, as part of the provincial government’s new $8 million program for new playgrounds and playground upgrades at elementary and middle schools. Learning continues outside the classroom and playgrounds are an important element of that. It will also be a great new community space for children. Playground options are under consideration.

Watch for the shovels to hit the dirt in the spring or summer of 2012.

Did you know?

RSS has a new hockey program to be run by Barry Zanier, with help from Cary Fisher.

Kids in the program will spend their gym time on the ice in the winter!

Check out: RSS’s exciting new website, designed by former RSS student Maddie Snelgrove as a project in her Visual Arts Multi-Media and Technology course last year! www.rss.sd20.bc.ca

Kids from MacLean Elementary participated in the Terry Fox Walk on Friday, September 30th.

Enrollment is up at MacLean!

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acLean added 20 students this year bringing total enrollment to 239 from 219 last year. New families have come from as far away as Australia and the Middle East.

With full day kindergarten, a busy Strong Start program, the addition of a new division last year, and another one this year, our elementary school is growing by leaps and bounds!

Check out:

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he Red Mountain Academies Facebook page.

It has rapping, photos, important academic and athletic program information and lots of good jokes from academy instructors and coaches. The ski academy now has video analysis equipment to help students improve their form. www.facebook.com/redacademy

*Visions for Small Schools (and the Neighbourhoods of Learning [NOL] committee – a committee of the City of Rossland) is a society whose purpose is to advocate and promote the existence of comprehensive public K-12 education for and within Rossland. Check out the Vision for Small Schools website - vssrossland.wordpress.com.

It is always being updated with the latest news on Rossland Schools. Questions? Email rosslandvss@gmail.com

Rossland Schools notebook – October 2011

RSS teacher Jill Austin and the Grade 12 Foods class learns about local foods at the Rossland Community Gardens.

Shift to 21st Century Learning at RSS

The 4Cs of 21st Century Learning: Collaboration, Creativity, Communication, Critical Thinking

Did you know You can follow Rossland TeacherLibrarian, Nicola Kuhn, on the RSS library blog and on Twitter. rossland secondarylibrary. blogspot.com and @nicolakuhn

RSS

is developing a new communitylinked learning program. The program will be based on the concept of personalized 21st Century Learning, which focuses on real knowledge for long-term learning, rather than short-term recall. It will integrate students into their community and facilitate collaborative project-based learning without neglecting foundations.

The NOL committee talked to Nicola Kuhn, who is leading the charge on 21st Century professional development with RSS staff. They are focusing on inquiry-based learning, a key element of 21st Century Learning. In inquiry-based learning, students formulate essential questions, investigate to find answers, build new understandings, meanings and knowledge, and then communicate their learning to others.

Community-Linked Learning aligns with a movement to more personalized learning around the world and in BC. Check out the BC Ministry of Education’s flipbook on personalized learning: www. personalizedlearningbc.ca. Personalized learning focuses both on the ‘what’ and the ‘how’ of learning.

It still emphasizes foundations of reading, writing, numeracy and oral language, but it also stresses competencies increasingly required in today’s world, such as social responsibility, global and cultural understanding, collaboration and creativity.

In classrooms where teachers emphasize inquirybased learning, students actively solve authentic (real-life) problems within the context of the curriculum and community. These powerful learning experiences engage students deeply.

RSS would like to hear from a wide variety of community members with regard to the Community-Linked Learning Proposal. The proposal can be viewed at: docs.google.com/document/d/1q6n6WunWolCYG_ BBKtUXhsBzhBx-sDJX09fsCmv7Z8w/edit and there is a link on the VSS website.

Send your comments to Mike Vanness at mvanness@sd20.bc.ca

Research suggests that inquiry-based learning increases student creativity, independence, and problem solving skills, and it improves student achievement.

For more information on inquiry-based learning: education.alberta.ca/admin/aisi/themes/inquiry. aspx For a great video on 21st Century Learning: www.youtube.com/watch?v=LoYdJYd8SoU

‘Learning is not a spectator sport.’ – Anon

Rossland Schools notebook – October 2011 Rossland Students and Teachers are Tops RSS and MacLean consistently score well in the Fraser Institute’s ranking of schools in BC. RSS scored 5th place of all public high schools in BC. The Fraser Institute’s ranking system may not be perfect, but it does reflect the high academic achievement at Rossland schools.

ESS teacher Michèle Desjardins conducts a lesson with the grade 2/3 class.

École des Sept-Sommets Update

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cole des Sept-Sommets has 42 students this year in three classes. The grade configuration has changed to accommodate fluctuating students in each grade, K-2, 3-4 and 5-6. Mme Thérèse has returned for a second year as principal and is also principal of École des Sentiers-Alpins in Nelson. The École des Sept-Sommets website is: septsommets.csf.bc.ca

New Families in Rossland

The Smutny/Fontaine Family

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ossland is full of new families.

Some classes at MacLean have up to five new students. The Neighbourhoods of Learning Committee talked to two new families to learn what brought them to Rossland and what they like about being here.

Tom and Deanna Leask moved here from Prince Rupert with their children, Macewan, Jacob and Mya. Both Tom and Deanna grew up in BC, Tom on Vancouver Island and Deanna in Vernon.

They moved due to a work transfer. Asked what they like best about Rossland, Tom replied, “We like the

This year RSS 2003 grad, Katie Kryski earned Canada’s most prestigious scholarship, the Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship valued at $150,000 to undertake graduate studies at Western University in clinical psychology. If you know a Rossland student or teacher that deserves to be featured in this space, please send an email to rosslandvss@gmail.com.

New MacLean Teachers fact that Rossland is a very self-contained town. It’s nice having the grocery store, Post office, pharmacy, hardware store all in the same small area. The scenery and climate can’t be beat as well.”

Monika Smutny and Fred Fontaine grew up in the Kootenays in Kimberley and Fruitvale and moved here from New Denver/Silverton

with their children, Linden, Tatyanna and Kyla-Teesha.

They came for work reasons but also wanted to live closer to a ski hill. When asked what the best thing about Rossland is, Monika noted. “The great network of trails around Rossland, great community feel and lots for the kids to do!

Having everything within walking and biking distance is wonderful!”

MacLean Elementary has welcomed five new teachers this year: Ms. Pritty, Mrs. McCormack, Mrs. Jowitt, Mrs. Smith, and Miss Menelaws.

Did you know?

That RSS has 9 international students this year from Germany, Japan, Italy, Venezuela and Denmark.

Rossland Schools notebook – October 2011 Important upcoming Rossland school meetings: MacLean PAC AGM

Wed, October 12 6:30 pm at RSS The MacLean PAC wants you!

Come and join the PAC or just see what it’s all about.

Rossland School PACs Joint Meeting

Wed, October 12 7:00 pm in the RSS Library.

Rossland parents need to work together to create the best educational environment for our kids.

Come and join the discussion and provide input on the new RSS playground at this meeting of all three Rossland School PACs.

Visions for a Small Schools AGM

Sunday, November 6 7:00 pm at the Alpine Grind.

Come and learn about the new Community-Linked Learning program at RSS.

All are welcome!

‘If you can teach a student a lesson for a day; but if you can teach him to learn by creating curiosity, he will continue the learning process as long as he lives.’

— Chinese proverb

Rossland Schools Notebook is published

by VSS and the NOL Committee, a committee of the City of Rossland. vssrossland.wordpress.com Email: rosslandvss@ gmail.com

Children learning through play at the Rossland Strong Start Centre in MacLean Elementary.

Strong Start Centre Update:

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acLean Elementary Strong Start Centre opened for the year September 7th and has been moved to the multi-purpose room in MacLean Elementary. Stacey Dann has taken over as the new Strong Start Facilitator and the Strong Start program is bursting at the seams with children. Strong Start runs Mondays 9 - 12, Tuesdays 12 - 3, Wednesdays 9 - 12, Thursdays 9 - 12 and Fridays 12 - 3. For upcoming events and Strong Start news, click ‘like’ on Strong Start’s Facebook page: www.facebook.com/pages/StrongStart-MacLean-Elementary-Rossland/109875505729323

What’s happening with Planning for the Future

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s part of its Planning for the Future process, School District 20 has put forward a new Facilities Plan. On June 13th, the School Board set the Facilities Plan in motion by directing staff to initiate implementation of the plan. A key element of that plan is the reconfiguration of Rossland schools to a K-12 at RSS by September 2012.

Many things need to happen in order for a K-12 school in Rossland to become a reality including renovations, scheduling decisions, and a lot of hard work by teachers, administrators and school district staff. Community support and involvement will be imperative to the success of a K-12 school in Rossland. The Facilities Plan can be viewed at the Vision for Small Schools website: vssrossland.wordpress.com

Enter the I love RSS Photo Contest!

Take your RSS button or sticker on holidays with you. Take a photo of the button or sticker in an exotic or unusual location and send it in to rosslandvss@gmail.com. If your photo appears in this newsletter you win a prize.

Left: The RSS button near the Empire State Building in New York City.