SCHOOL

Bringing life to learning.

Superintendent’s Monthly Report to the Board.What’s Up?

` May 18 Victoria Day

` May 25 to June 5 NS Assessments

` June 3 Committee-of-the-Whole Meeting

` June 10 Regular Public School Board Meeting

www.ccrsb.ca

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With spring finally arriving, I am pleased to report that the CCRSB learning community has been extremely busy on many fronts. The CCRSB website (ccrsb.ca) is continually updated to showcase our students and report on the many activities and events taking place in our schools and across our Board. A partial list includes:

• CCRSB Regional Heritage Fair

• Social Justice Day, North Colchester High School

• CCRSB Excellence in Teaching Awards

• Education Week Awards

• CCRSB Student Forums

• Techsploration, Springhill Junior-Senior High

Please visit the CCRSB website to get up to date on the latest news and events.

Run, Walk, Rally and Sing!The month of May is a special time for CCRSB schools in large part due to the inspirational and important marathon, walk and rallies that are held this time each year to end racism and promote equality. Thousands of CCRSB students, staff and community members will participate in the Marathon of Respect and Equality (MORE) in the Celtic Family, the Rally Against Racism for schools in the Cobequid and Nova families and the Let Me Be Rally for schools in the Tatamagouche area.

Budget 2015-2016The elected Board is immersed in completing the 2015-2016 Budget. As in past years, declining enrolment and various cost pressures put a strain on the Board's ability to construct a balanced budget. At this point, the Board is attempting to address a significant shortfall in its Status Quo Budget. The complete budget picture will continue to unfold in the coming weeks.

In a more positive light, the Board’s revenue profile outlines funding for targeted initiatives that have emerged from provincial priorities and commitments. These include:

• Class Cap of 25 students for Grade 4 (Soft Cap)

• Two new Options and Opportunities sites in CCRSB (Cobequid Education Centre and River Hebert District High)

• Continuation of Student Support grants for all schools

• Increase in the number of Reading Recovery teachers

• Increased funding for Mathematics support

• Committment to Intensive French - Grade 6

May 13, 2015

Good news, great students

Canadian Environment Week June 1-7The theme for this year is “Strengthening Our Environment Today for Tomorrow.” To learn more visit: https://www.ec.gc.ca/sce-cew

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HIE EN SMC E TA V& Accolades& AccoladesPicture Perfect!During a recent Skills Canada competition three South Colchester Academy students were awarded first, second and third place for photography! Emily McEwen (gold), Arthur Dodsworth (silver) and Carli Fisher (bronze) put their best work forward and were awarded with a sweep of medals.

With her gold medal win, Emily moves on to the Skills Canada National Competition in Saskatoon in May. Great job students and good luck to Emily at nationals!

Photo credit: Raissa Tetanish, Truro Daily News

World Literacy Champions!On April 24, the students at Walter Duggan Consolidated School were named World Literacy Champions for reading an astounding one million books over six years, the first school to ever achieve reach that mark. That’s an average of 247 books, per student, each year, for six years! The celebration ceremony – and the win – was a surprise for students, made all the more special with WOW founder, Constable John Kennedy; Mayor Roger MacKay, and Sergeant Howie Dunbar, from the Westville Police, in attendance to celebrate.

Principal Ann Slater says she is most proud of the fast that her students have found enjoyment in reading and have gained knowledge while taking pride in the part they played in helping their school reach this goal. “I am also pleased with the program and our school working together to promote literacy among our students. Our lead teacher, Mrs. Gouthro, has been the driving force behind the program at our site and had partnered with our local library to make sure every student who wanted a library card received one.”

Walter Duggan Consolidated started the WOW reading challenge, a spin-off of the Adopt-a-Library campaign, nine years ago. Their next challenge is to compete in the Past Champion Category alongside A.G. Baillie Elementary. The winning school will have the Mayor from the opposite town come to the winners’ school to read them a story. Reading is a lifelong skill so naturally the challenge is not over!

“You can find magic wherever you look. Sit back and relax all you need is a book.” - Dr. Seuss

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What's Happening in Nova Family?Students at Elmsdale District School (EDS) participated in "Pop Open a Good Book" during Read-a-thon week April 9th - 16th. During the annual Read-a-thon, students met their school wide goal of reading 100,000 minutes! They worked hard toward their goal and to celebrate their accomplishments, Ms. Alley and Ms. Nickerson will take a pie to the face at the monthly assembly. The students also worked very diligently to raise funds to help support the Home & School and buy new books for the library. The staff at EDS participated in "Moustache Monday," following through on their commitment to wear moustaches for a day if students reached the $3,000 mark. To date more than $4,500 has been raised. Way to go EDS!

South Colchester Academy's wind ensemble recently performed ‘Handel's Hornpipe’, from Water Music during the Truro Music Festival's instrumental ensemble category. The students earned a Gold standard for their performance. Well done!

This winter, Grade 7 students from Uniacke District School participated in a writing program called Turning Points. Students wrote a personal narrative essay about an important moment in their lives. The essays were submitted to an outside panel to be judged amongst other essays from students across Nova Scotia. The winning essays for the Grade 7 category were all from Uniacke District School! All five participating students will receive a plaque and have their essay published in an anthology to be released later in the year. Honourable mentions were awarded to Grace Reteff and Allie Kell. Third place was awarded to Rebecca El-Chater; she will also receive a $75 prize. Second place was awarded to Natalie Kroll with a $100 prize, and first place was awarded to Jessica Swinamer with a $200 prize. These students will be invited to an awards ceremony at Charles P. Allen High School in Bedford on May 19th to receive their awards and read their essays to the audience.

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SCHOOL NEWS

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What's Happening in Celtic Family?Five students from Northumberland Regional High School were named the Grade 10-12 winners in the film category at the 2015 RRFB Nova Scotia Recycles Contest. The Nova Scotia Recycles Contest runs each year from September to February; Grade Primary to 12 students across the province participate in various activities from colouring contests to short films to promote participation in waste reduction. More than $55,000 in cash, prizes and scholarships is available annually for students and schools.

Healthy eating can be difficult to achieve, but is very important for child development. Healthy breakfast and lunch programs are offered at New Glasgow Academy during the week - but what about the weekend? To support families in meeting their children’s nutritional needs on the weekend the ‘Backpack Program’ was developed. Since the program began on April 10th the program has provided families with nutritious and easy-to-prepare food to help out over the weekend. These backpacks are sent home with students on Fridays, filled with nutritional foods to increase the availability of healthy foods in the home. This pilot project is an 11 week partnership initiative between New Glasgow Academy, SchoolsPlus Pictou County and Active Pictou County. The program is made possible through the School Food and Nutrition Policy, which granted New Glasgow Academy $1,500.

The Grade Primary students at West Pictou Consolidated have been taking part in a school program called, “Real Men Read to Our Kids.” Various community volunteers have been invited to share and read their favourite books with the students. Most recently, the students were visited by the Honourable Peter MacKay, Federal Minister of Justice. Minister MacKay read Howard B. Wigglebottom Learns About Bullies to the Grade Primary students and answered questions. The students have also spent time with many other volunteers including Jason MacKay (E.H.S. paramedic), Ben Borden (former infantryman), Cole Hutchinson (Captain of the Jr. A Crushers) and Dave Gunning (singer, songwriter).

SCHOOL NEWS Continued

RRFB Nova Scotia Recycles Contest winners from NRHS, Photo from L to R: Mary Alice Ali, teacher; Hanah Facey, Foroozan Keshavarzi, RRFB presenter, Ally MacKenzie, Jenny Armin-Pereda, Ron Turnbull, Celtic Family of Schools Supervisor, and Jill Morrison.

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Artistic MeritStephanie Dean-Moore’s classroom at Hants East Rural High (HERH) is a feast for the eyes and the soul. Her eclectic collection of plants, artistic creations and funky textiles creates a calm, fascinating and welcoming atmosphere.

“Stephanie has a passion for the Arts and teaching that cannot go unnoticed,” said Mike Smith, principal, HERH. “Students who come in contact with her feel the full impact of her talents and gifts.”

Those gifts are many. A trained teacher, textile and jewellery artist, Stephanie’s varied career experiences benefit her students immeasurably. More beneficial still is her unwavering belief and faith in the positive effects that an Arts education has on students.

“I try to teach students on a daily basis how to explore who they are and who they are in this world that we live in, and how to open up and be aware of everything around them, everything that touches them, effects them and the way in which they touch and effect everything around them,” said Dean-Moore. “While it’s about art making, that’s simply the vehicle we use to facilitate that self exploration and self discovery.”

Stephanie sees the Arts classroom as a safe space where students can explore and learn to problem solve, where they can work through challenges at home and school with their hands and minds. The ability to take a problem and mold it, shape it or build it, allows students to get the issue out of their head – even for just a moment – and look at it from a different angle.

“The Arts, to me, create an opportunity for expression, creativity and mindful thought,” said Smith. “These spaces are every bit as important as other academic study. As young adults try new things, look at things in different ways and challenge themselves to explore new concepts, they are more able to be successful in other parts of their lives.”

The Arts, Stephanie says, are a gateway to better understanding and Arts teachers are just as engaged with teaching literacy, numeracy and history as teachers assigned to those specific subjects.

“The Arts are unbelievably important. If we teach one thing in this room, we teach problem solving. The relationships that happen between students – whether it’s in a music classroom, dramatic arts – you have to be able to find solutions. If we want good mathematicians, good scientists, and if we want people who are able to look critically at language, break it apart and find deeper meanings, they have to be able to step back and really take a critical look at what’s in front of them. That’s what we teach in an Arts classroom.”

Check out Stephanie's video on our CCRSB YouTube Channel here. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qggwQtKDDd0

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Demonstrating Success Restorative approach classrooms in action

As part of the 2013-2016 Strategic Plan, CCRSB’s elected board identified the Restorative Approach (RA) as an area of focus for schools. The goal is to provide schools and students with the training and support they need to implement RA practices, to improve school climate and increase students’ social and emotional capacity. By the end of this school year, over half of CCRSB schools will have received training in the Restorative Approach. That training traditionally included one and two-day sessions and has now evolved into Restorative Approach demonstration classrooms.

In February 2015, after observing Bonnie Moore, a Grade 1/2 teacher at Junction Road Elementary and Glenn Thompson, English Department Head and Grade 10 English teacher at CEC, in action, Frank Lambert, CCRSB’s School Climate and Safety Consultant, asked both if they would consider acting as RA demonstration classrooms.

“A Restorative Approach demonstration classroom provides teachers the opportunity to see restorative strategies in action,” said Lambert. “Both Glenn and Bonnie welcome other teachers to their classrooms so they can observe and take part. During

that day conversations happen about what strategies were used and why. The teacher leaves with strategies to use for their own classroom. Then, when it’s possible, Glenn and Bonnie will visit those teachers in their classrooms to assist them with the application of the RA strategies.”

Bonnie and Glenn were selected based on their involvement with RA and their willingness and experience in coaching RA strategies, like using circles to enhance curriculum.

Available three days per week for an interactive visit, Bonnie has always welcomed other teachers, administrative assistants, educational assistants and board staff into her classroom. Now, with official RA training and the designation as a Restorative Approach demonstration classroom, Bonnie’s inherent gift is reaching even more people.

“I do have a classroom that when people go into it, they feel like it’s a different place. It’s a very soothing place, no one raises their voice,” said Moore. “I had always been welcoming people into my classroom…so many EAs, AAs and others into my classroom. My class is used to having guests!”

Bonnie sees herself as a role model for her students, but she believes they teach her as much as she teaches them. “When something happens in the classroom that is sad for someone, the kids will ask, ‘how can we help that person’. They are welcoming; they know how to make people feel comfortable. I am very much a facilitator now. The students really take care of each other…and they are six and seven years old. They are super-independent at helping one another.”

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Sheila Maddison-Alick, principal at Junction Road Elementary and West End Memorial has seen the benefits of the Restorative Approach – and Bonnie’s demonstration classroom – first-hand.

“Bonnie's classroom operates as a community of learners and in the words of her Grade 1/2 students, they are together ‘like a family’. The students and their families are embracing the Restorative Approach, it has become their way of being.... they begin their day with circles, they have problem solving circles as needed, learning circles and appreciation circles to name but a few!”

“Junction Road is just so very proud to have Bonnie as our "school" and "board" lead on this approach. Having Bonnie's classroom as a demo classroom instills a great sense of pride and school spirit...’they are coming here to see us!’ It is delightful to see and feel the pride in the school. The students know that the guests are here to see all the wonderful things that are happening at our school.”

To date Bonnie and Glenn have welcomed over 80 guests to their classrooms with more visits planned. They have also travelled to several schools to observe classrooms in action and to offer formal training for school staffs.

The Restorative Approach is alive and growing in CCRSB schools. That growth will surely continue thanks to the commitment of teachers like Bonnie and Glenn.

Want a more interactive experience? Watch the video of Bonnie and her students in action on CCRSB’s YouTube Channel!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eu14z6zG7VM

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SCHOOL NEWS Continued

What's Happening in Chignecto Family?Parrsboro Regional High School (PRHS) recently started Team FRESH. Team members meet weekly to explore, create and the share healthy, nutritious food together. They also share and promote healthy food through taste testing with students at the high school and elementary. Members will also be participating in an upcoming Food Handling Certification Course. PRHS received a Nova Scotia School Food and Nutrition Policy grant to support the team, which aligns perfectly with PRHS’ Comprehensive School Health, Continuous School Improvement Goal.

The Grade 6 students at Cyrus Eaton Elementary and Wallace Consolidated completed their annual swim program at Fox Harb’r Resort on April 29th. The weekly program operates from January to April each year. Fox Harb’r provides the pool for the swimming lessons at no cost and works with the YMCA in Amherst to schedule the swim instructors for the program. The program was very successful. The non-swimmers skills improved tremendously; progressing from the shallow end of the pool to join their peers in lessons and activities in the deep end. The students celebrated the end of the program with a free swim and lunch provided by Fox Harb’r.

Northport Elementary is one of 50 schools nationwide participating in School Malaise Research Project. The School Malaise Trap Program runs during the spring and fall of each year. Each participating school receives a program package, educational materials, and a Malaise trap to collect insects in their schoolyard for a specified two week period. The specimens are sent back to the Biodiversity Institute of Ontario, a division of Guelph University, where they are analyzed, DNA coded, and a report of the results is sent to each school. Students are responsible for setting up the collection tent (Malaise) tracking and report specimens, and blogging with the university scientists.

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What's Happening in Cobequid Family?Cobequid Educational Centre students recently placed first in Nova Scotia in the team portion of the Cayley (Grade 10) and Fermat (Grade 11) Waterloo Mathematics competitions. The top three individual scores are used to make a team score. In addition, three Grade 11 students tied for the highest score in the region (NS, PEI and NB): Fraser Robinson, Bailey Ferguson and Paul Diamond. Each student also received a $200 prize.

The rain didn’t dampen the enthusiasm of Great Village Elementary students on Earth Day, April 22. Students travelled through four stations, participating in a variety of activities to help them become “Keepers of the Earth”. Students planted flower seeds, made bird feeders by covering a paper tube with peanut butter and then rolling it in bird seed, designed a litter bag for their car, and shared a story written by “Mother Nature”. All students enjoyed a wasteless recess snack of fresh fruit (apples, oranges & bananas) and the garbage cans stayed empty over lunch as classes challenged each other to bring a wasteless lunch to school!

Grade 4 students from Bible Hill East Court Road recently visited the Agri-dome in Bible Hill as part of Farm Safety Day. Students learned many interesting and important facts about maintaining one’s safety around machinery and being safe in their own communities. The students had an up close look at various pieces of equipment used on the farm and the dangers that it can present if one is not careful. Many other local community organizations, including fire and police, also participated in the event. Many different centers and stations were visited by students throughout the day where they had the opportunity to participate in hands-on-learning and interactive displays. Students really enjoyed learning about beehives and all the safety equipment that is used when harvesting honey; they even got to try on the protective suit!

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in TeachingAwards

On May 5, 10 teachers employed with the Chignecto-Central Regional School Board (CCRSB) were honoured by CCRSB and the Nova Scotia Teacher’s Union (NSTU) for their unwavering commitment to student success at the 2015 Excellence in Teaching Awards ceremony. Accompanied by family and friends, the 10 teachers were feted for their creativity, kindness and dedication to their craft.

“Tonight’s recipients are unfailingly dedicated to the craft of teaching,” said Trudy Thompson, CCRSB Board Chair. “Innovative classroom practice; the ability to make students care and retain subject matter; participation in extracurricular activities and fundraising events; and acting as a mentor for colleagues and fully participating in Professional Learning Communities. Those are just some of the reasons tonight’s recipients were nominated and are being honoured with an Excellence in Teaching Award.”

Each year, the NSTU and CCRSB come together to recognize those teachers within the school board who truly exemplify excellence in teaching. Each recipient’s nomination must be supported by letters from school administration, a colleague and a member of the local community (this can be a student, parent/guardian or another community member). This is the 17th year for the awards program.

The 2015 Excellence in Teaching Awards recipients are:

• Stephen Blum, Amherst Regional High School

• Tammy Harrison, Cumberland North Academy

• Stephen Hartlen, New Glasgow Academy

• Sherrill Lindsay, Pictou Academy

• Stephen MacKeil, Hants East Rural High

• Tony Matheson, North Colchester High School

• Susan Mawhinney, Cobequid Educational Centre

• Daniel Spence, Junction Road Elementary

• Charline Vautour Bourque, Cumberland North Academy

• Christine Williams, Trenton Middle School

Front row, from left to right: Christine Williams, Charline Vautour Bourque, Tammy Harrison, Stephen Blum. Back row, left to right: Sherrill Lindsay, Stephen Hartlen, Tony Matheson, Susan Mawhinney, Stephen MacKeil, missing from photo Daniel Spence

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It’s your choice! Beginning March 3rd READ a Top 10 book and discuss it inschool and online at: https://ccrsbteenchoice.wordpress.com/

2015 Teen Reader’sChoice Award2015 Teen Reader’sChoice Award

The Chignecto-Central Regional School Board Teen Reader’s Choice Award program is open to all students in Grades 7 to 12. ccrsb.ca

Until May 19th VOTE for your favourite book to be the2015 Teen Reader’s Choice Award Winner!The winning book will be announced on May 26th.

CCRSB

2015AWARD

Teen Reader’s Choice

The Top 10 Books!

In The Shadow of Blackbirdsby Cat Winters

Brown Girl Dreamingby Jacqueline Woodson

I’ll Give You the Sunby Jandy Nelson

The Nazi Hunters: How aTeam of Spies and SurvivorsCaptured the World's MostNotorious Naziby Neal Bascomb

Out of the Easyby Ruta Sepetys

Rose Under Fireby Elizabeth Wein

Say What You Willby Cammie McGovern

The Young Elitesby Marie Lu

War Brothersby Sharon E. McKayand Daniel Lafrance

We Were Liarsby E. Lockhart

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On the last Thursday in May, students from Truro and the surrounding area willRally Against Racism in a walk from CEC to Victoria Park.

Join us, and show your support for schools, communities, and a world free of racial discrimination! For more information contact 902-897-8900.

May 2

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