Superintendent’s Update

Dear Parents and Caregivers:

We continue learning about and championing human rights for Human Rights Month, and we are focused on our core values of wellbeing and wisdom.

Wisdom and Wellbeing

In December, we are focused on the core values of Wellbeing and Wisdom in the 2022-2027 District Strategic Plan. Wellbeing is fostering opportunities to promote emotional, psychological, and physical, wellbeing for all students and staff. Through consultation with the Aboriginal Education Council, we learned that the “Beaver” represents “Wisdom” and is known to guide communities through role modelling hard work.

NorKam Senior Secondary School

Principal Sdoutz and I started in Mr. Sjokvist’s Theory of Knowledge class in which students were applying ways of knowing to a movie assignment. We then met Ms. Anderson, who was cooking, and she shared how they feed 50-70 students daily. Ms. Mousseau, Ms. Boisclair, and Ms. Orlando came in to assist with the meal program and shared about their student support services programming. We visited different classrooms that offered varied choices for students in their “WISE” block (designated time to assignment support or options). Mr. Williams was teaching Science and students had created notes that were then used to develop test questions. This motivated students to be accurate and succinct as they collaborated to write them on the white board. We met with Ms. Beers and her students who had been making drums using traditional supplies and protocols in the ABLE program. One student commented, “It is my favourite block.” Mr. Pendergast and Ms. Stewart discussed the value of the extracurricular debate program in their school. Mr. Pendergast emphasized, “This is one of the most rewarding experiences in my teaching career because students learn so much from delving into case studies and ethics.” The program has doubled in size over the last couple of years, and it is growing quickly through the support and passion of staff.

CAKE Musical at the Paramount - Dec. 4

I enjoyed opening and closing the Kamloops Thompson Honour Choir that performed their winter concert on Sunday, December 4, 2022 at the Paramount Theatre. Read more. Thank you to Choir Director, Jennica Alpaugh, Manager, Cyndy Olsen, Accompanists, Lori Jane Froese and Kerry Tarwnosky; and to District Coordinator of Arts Education Janet McCloy for contributing to the development of students’ wellbeing through music, a core value commitment in the 2022-2027 District Strategic Plan.

Preparing for Schools of Choice Registration and Kindergarten Open House

For parents who have children entering Kindergarten, join us in January and February to learn more about schools of choice and registration in Kindergarten. Read more here. Thank you to the District Early Learning Team for supporting learners to transition into Kindergarten, an important part of the Intellectual Development Priority in the 2022-2027 District Strategic Plan.

Stay safe as you continue with outdoor and indoor activities with family and friends.

Rhonda Nixon, PhD

Superintendent