Superintendent’s Update

Dear Parents and Caregivers:

The focus of January is to share stories about relationships/connections and the value commitment of respect in the 2022-2027 District Strategic Plan. On January 22, 2025 (Bell Let’s Talk Day), we championed the need to not only focus on mental health and what it means but to normalize conversations about mental health struggles and mental illness. On January 24, 2025, we are celebrating International Day of Education, which emphasizes the importance of education in our everyday lives.

Sa-Hali Secondary School – January 10, 2025

As we started our tour, Vice Principal Dolha introduced me to two students who were part of a Grade 9-12 Drama class who were preparing for the production, Sticks and Stones. They were rehearsing lines and interactions, and they were looking forward to their public performance.

We then walked through Mr. Horvat’s Grade 9-10 Woodworking class, and the students had designed personally meaningful pieces that they were in various stages of completing. One student shared her uniquely designed bookcase that was shaped like a tree.

Next, we learned how students in Grade 9-12 started playing guitar in Mr. Rutley’s class, and they entered either knowing very little about guitar to having played for some time. One student had chosen a popular song to play, and he said, “I can play it, and I didn’t know how to play guitar when I started.” The students were practicing for their test, and each had a personal challenge piece that was part of their exam.

Ms. Cacaci was teaching Grade 9 and 10 Art, and the students were working on their “big idea” project. Each student submits a proposal of a project that captures something of personal importance to them (a loss, a celebration, an issue of concern), and then choose to represent their thinking about that topic in an art form (painting, sculpture, wood work, fabric art) and a range of other modes of styles of creative expression. For example, one student focused on the importance of sustainability and the problem of plastics in the ocean by creating a jellyfish crocheted out of plastic.

Ms. Emery was teaching Pre-Calculus 11, and students were preparing for a test. They were working together on example problems and checking their thinking as they were working.

As we walked through the learning commons, students were settling in to work on their capstone projects and to engage in peer tutoring. It was a very busy place with enthusiastic learning happening across grades and subjects.

In English 11, Mr. Wereley was teaching poetry, and the students shared their progress. One student, Mackenzie, was working on women’s rights and the need to attend to identifying inequities and addressing them through “slam” poetry. Mr. Wereley explained, “This class has shown a lot of maturity in the topics that they have delved into and there is no one way to produce slam poetry. While we still focus on poetic devices, it is done as part of conveying a meaningful message.” Mr. Wereley also shared how he had Grade 10 students writing children’s books to their former selves. “It is another way to get students to care about their writing, and to consider the voice of their written work.”

We stopped to see what students were working on in “Flex” and in the Integrated Learning Centre. Ms. Dolha described these locations of learning as open to when students needed to have support while also encouraging them to be independent and to attend regular classes.

I spoke with Mr. Tommasini and Ms. Dolha about their work on student attendance and what they were learning about students’ needs to stay engaged in school. I also spoke with Principal Brady about the school learning plan and the collaborative work of staff.

WSS honours Black Excellence Day and Black History Month with Lesra Martin – January 16, 2025

In honour of Black Excellence Day on January 15 and in lead up to Black History Month in February, Lesra Martin, a motivational speaker, writer, and lawyer, visited Westsyde Secondary School (WSS) on Thursday, January 16 to speak to students and staff about hope, heart, and the human spirit. His presentation expressed the importance of education and how that shaped his life. Read more.

Bell Let’s Talk Day – January 22, 2025

Bell Let’s Talk Day is a focus on January 22, 2025, and it is intended to raise awareness and be one aspect that helps to normalize conversations about positive mental health, mental health struggles, and mental illness. In its 15th year, this year’s focus is on supporting youth mental health organizations and raising awareness for youth mental health struggles. Schools acknowledged Bell Let’s Talk Day in several ways, including school-wide announcements, class discussions about mental health, and projects to encourage conservation and awareness. As a District, we support mental health conversations and education on Bell Let’s Talk Day and throughout the year. Read more.

International Day of Education – AI and Education: Preserving human agency in a world of automation – January 24, 2025

The 2025 International Day of Education is about the power of education to equip individuals and communities to navigate, understand, and influence technological advancement. We seek to ethically advance education through AI, which takes the commitment of the Director of Curriculum, Carol DeFehr, who has been working with a group of staff to draft a District Framework for AI and now they are starting the process of getting feedback on their draft.

As computer and AI-driven systems become more sophisticated, the boundaries between human intention and machine-driven action often blur, raising critical questions about how to preserve, redefine, and elevate human agency ensuring the values of relationships/connections, well-being, sustainability, and equity are at the forefront of how we revise the District’s AI framework.

I hope that you enjoy the weekend and take time with your family and friends.

Rhonda Nixon, PhD
Superintendent