SCHOOL

Excellence, everydayIn our school systems, the arrival of spring always brings many opportunities to showcase talents and celebrate accomplishments. This year is no exception. School musicals, the Regional Heritage Fair and science fairs, and a number of awards ceremonies are just a few of the ways we have highlighted many of the great things that go on in our schools every day.

On April 18th I had the opportunity to attend the Education Week ceremony at CP Allen High School. The theme this year was Media Literacy: Empowering Critical Thinking in a Digital Media World, focusing on honouring educators who, through guided learning opportunities, are teaching students to become respectful, responsible and ethical digital citizens. CCRSB’s recipients, teachers Shan King, Winding River Consolidated School; Sally Steeves, West Pictou Consolidated School; and Janice Smith, Pugwash District High School, were honoured – along with colleagues across the province – for their outstanding work with students. (Photos page 8.)

Governing Board Member, Adam Davies, received the 2016 Nova Scotia School Boards Association Provincial Education Week Partner Award for his outstanding work promoting and advocating for media literacy issues at the board level.

The annual Excellence in Teaching Awards Ceremony was held on May 3rd. I was thrilled to be a part of this very special evening and to have had the opportunity to congratulate 16 recipients from three NST locals in Pictou, Cumberland and Colchester-East Hants.You can see a photo of the recipients and their names on page 8.

As each teacher was introduced and in turn, said a few words, there was a consistent theme that rang true. Our teachers give a great deal and care deeply about the well-being and success of their students.

We also take great pride in work outside the classroom. Our Student Transportation Division recently attended the 46th Annual Nova Scotia Pupil Transportation Conference in Sydney, where they were awarded the Gold Achievement Award for transportation services. The award, presented by the Motor Carrier Division of the Nova Scotia Department of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal, marks the 18th time, in 19 years, that our Student Transportation Division has taken home gold. Well done!

Finally, I would like to highlight our ongoing efforts to engage the entire CCRSB community in an important discussion about our future and an exploration of possibilities. The governing board will be developing a new strategic plan next year so feedback and a collaborative approach to visioning for the future is high on our priority list. Our recent partnership with Thoughtexchange through an online survey has seen involvement by 3,917 members of our school community, who provided 10,856 unique thoughts and assigned an astounding 241,379 stars! In the coming days this huge amount of data will be analyzed and uploaded to a webpage where everyone can browse through the data and summaries. Stay tuned!

Gary Adams

Superintendent, Chignecto-Central Regional School Board

SCHOOL

Bringing life to learning.

Superintendent’s Monthly Report to the Board.

May 2016

` May 17 - 25 Years of Service Celebration

` May 23 - Victoria Day

` June 1 - Committee-of-the-Whole Meeting

` June 8 - Regular Public Board Meeting

www.ccrsb.ca

What’s Up?

YOURVOICEMATTERS

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Roots of Empathy founder visits Truro ElementaryRe-printed courtesy of Truro Daily News

Mary Gordon believes love is the strongest force in the development of brains. She’s worked with children who suffered abuse and neglect and says the people doing the hurting didn’t have empathy or know how to love well.

“I believe we’re all born with the capacity to be empathetic and it’s the early period that determines whether empathy blooms or fades,” said the Roots of Empathy founder during a visit to Truro this week.

Gordon visited Truro Elementary School on April 15th to help celebrate 10 years of the program running in CCRSB schools, and delivered a public speech at the Alumni Theatre during the evening.

“The absence of empathy is at the root of violence, racism and genocide,” she said. “Hatred is seen when people don’t find commonalities.”

She found that children empathized with babies because they are vulnerable and loving.

“We’re really bigger babies. We share feelings and that makes us human.”

She said people who hurt babies often did so out of frustration because they couldn’t understand why the child was crying. Roots of Empathy helps children understand that crying babies are not bad babies, but beings with feelings, and that can help prevent abuse.

Studies showed three years after taking part in the program, rates of aggression and bullying among children were still down and rates of social and emotional competence were up. Rates of teen pregnancy are lower among those involved and school completion rates are higher than average.

“If you give children emotional literacy they can talk about how they feel, and that is healthy,” she said. “I’m very proud of what they’ve done in this area.”

Because of the parental input, Roots of Empathy helps children develop realistic expectations of parenthood and they understand what a big job it is to raise a baby.

Gordon started the program 20 years ago with Kindergarten children to help them develop empathy for others. She said if someone had told her at the time what a success it would become, she would have said, don’t be foolish.

Mission: to build caring, peaceful, and civil societies through the development of

empathy in children and adults.

Vision: to change the world - child by child

Where it is: Canada, United Kingdom, U.S., New Zealand and Europe

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SCHOOL

SCHOOL NEWSCobequid Family NewsNorth Colchester High School students in Rob Barrett’s Art classes have been working on a wood carving project. Each of the 26 students are working to create their own songbird, carving, painting and detailing it in their own unique way. Each carving will be attached to a piece of copper wire shaped into a tree. The base of the sculpture will display the names of all the students that contributed. When completed later in May, the sculpture will be put on display at the Fraser Cultural Centre’s "Youth Art Show" and then donated to a site for permanent display.

Chiganois Elementary School students recently participated in the ‘Plastic Bag Challenge’ during Earth Week. The Plastic Bag Challenge encouraged elementary schools from across Canada to collect as many plastic shopping bags as they could for recycling during Earth Week - April 18 - 22. Students and staff collected an amazing 15,385 bags! The plastic bags were sent to the local Walmart where they will be recycled and turned into plastic pellets which will be used to make new products. Winners of the contest will be announced in June.

Students from West Colchester Consolidated School recently participated in a special ceremony at the Veteran’s memorial park by laying wreaths for 13 soldiers that died in Afghanistan just over 14 years ago. Both the students, and the family members of the fallen soldiers, enjoyed the opportunity to get to know one another. It was also an important opportunity for the students to learn more about war and loss from those who had experienced it first-hand.

Nova Family NewsIn late April, Fred Fox, Terry Fox’s older brother, visited Kennetcook District Elementary and Hants North Rural High. Over 400 students and staff joined Fred in a walk through the village of Kennetcook to help further Terry’s dream of raising awareness and raising money for cancer research. Fred was also presented with a cheque for over $400, one dollar for every student. Grade 2 student, Cody, is one of the reasons Fred chose to visit KDS. Cody has a strong interest in Terry’s story. Mrs. Hingley, a teacher at the school, was in contact with Mr Fox and when he heard about Cody collecting recyclables to raise money for the foundation he was very moved, and made KDS a stop on his Maritime visit. Fred gave an emotional presentation to the student body, after which he was presented with the cheque from the school and Cody’s money raised from his recyclables.

School News continued on page 53

what’s in YOURBackPack?

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Did youknow?

Jackie Brown, Graphics and Web Designer Keeping the CCRSB websites fresh and organized, producing amazing videos and creating striking, visually pleasing and user-friendly products like posters, newsletters and reports is a full-time job. Luckily for CCRSB, we have all the benefits that come from having a graphic designer on staff in the person of Jackie Brown.

Jackie works out of the Print Shop in Central Office and has been employed with the school board in a full-time capacity since 2011. Anyone that takes the opportunity to contact Jackie and ask for help is inevitably pleased with the pieces of art she creates. Make no mistake, she is an artist. She views every project as a challenge to create the best possible product for whomever requests it.

“I really like the satisfaction of taking something that was just a plain document, or idea, that was perhaps hard to read, or not very visually interesting, and then organizing it and making it look inviting and easier to read,” says Jackie.

One of Jackie’s toughest challenges is getting the word out to the system about the services she offers. Any CCRSB staff member can reach out to Jackie for help. She is always willing and eager to help make the products for our schools and offices the best they can be.

“On any given day I can be designing graphics for our website, putting together reports, creating business cards, posters for schools, or putting together a video for our YouTube channel. I’m given the opportunity to be creative, learn new skills and feel like the design decisions I make, and the things I create, are appreciated and help make someone else’s job easier.”

The Hilden Elementary School Choir, under the direction of Mrs. Lauren Baldwin, recently took part in the Truro Music Festival where they placed second in their age category with a score of 83!. The students sang ‘Boom de Yada’ and three Native American chants, during which they used drums.

Throughout the month of April, Winding River Consolidated students, staff, volunteers and community members participated in the Stewiacke Town Library project entitled "My Place". All participants had the opportunity to show what they appreciate, enjoy or value about their community by painting on a wooden shingle. The shingles will be placed throughout the community to promote and celebrate community spirit.

School News continued on page 9

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Making theConnectionRelational Theory and Curriculum

When students walk into Glenn Thompson’s classroom at the Cobequid Educational Centre, it’s like taking a deep, relaxing breath. With chairs arranged in a circle and desks to the outside, it’s not hard to see that this classroom is different.

“It doesn’t feel like a classroom, or as much of a classroom,” says Riley, one of Glenn’s Grade 10 students. “This feels like you’re just hanging out with a bunch of friends. You don’t feel like you’re being pressured like sometimes you do in a regular classroom.”

Lane, a Grade 11 student, agrees, “A lot is accomplished, but you don’t feel like you’re being pressured. It’s a comfortable place to get work done.”

“The foundation of relationships is something that I’ve learned through teaching that needs to happen first,” says Glenn. “I’ve always valued that, but when I explicitly set things up into circle it just facilitates my acknowledgement that relationships are valuable. I’ve noticed a huge difference in [students’] relationships with each another and the curriculum, and as some students would say, they’re just more engaged in what we’re doing.”

Glenn’s relational skills and expertise have been honed in the classroom over the last 10 years. Today, he shares that expertise and passion for relationships as the foundation to student success with educators from across CCRSB. As a restorative approach demonstration classroom, Glenn and his Grade 10 English students have welcomed over 100 educators into their space to observe and learn.

Connecting relational theory to the curriculum, says Glenn, should come naturally. He cautions that the reorganization of a classroom, similar to his, may not be a great fit for every teacher, but he believes that the theory of relationships can be brought into every classroom.

“If it’s skills that you want students to be able to learn and demonstrate, then creating an atmosphere where students are comfortable being wrong in front of each other and sharing their work with each other as a reflective part of the process helps.”

Bill Kaulbach is principal of CEC and he agrees with Glenn’s assertions about the benefits of the restorative approach. “Restorative approach allows students to feel more confident and able to take initiatives for themselves, be more confident in speaking out and sharing their views and ideas, while being more compassionate and considerate towards each other.”

Lane and Riley agree, too. “I feel like it keeps people interested because they’re always looking to the centre

where things are being explained. You can’t just sit at the back of the room and not pay attention, you’re almost forced to pay attention and it becomes habit,” says Laine.

“When you’re not working, you’re next to people and you have that connection,” said Riley. “So when it’s time to work, you just work. You move into your station and those four walls come down and you work.”

Glenn begins each class with a check-in circle where students have an opportunity to physically see one another, and him, and then interact. Class check-in is always tied to the

curriculum and usually focuses on a question related to the day’s lesson. From the circle the students move into their individual stations where the “walls” come down and everyone focuses on the task at hand.

“By doing the check-in and making it a normal practice of everyday, the percentage [of engaged students] is much higher using this approach. Almost every day they will have to share something out of that work station time with a partner or a small group near the end,” says Glenn. “And I think, and students have said, because I know I have to

"When you walk in here, everyone is more involved,

it’s more interactive everyone can see

you and you can see them."

– Riley, Grade 10

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https://youtu.be/j3BIcPKX2gIo

share my introduction with a partner I want to get it done. So, it’s almost a positive peer pressure of sorts, the place becomes a room where people are productive because there’s a bit of accountability.”

In the first seven years of Glenn’s career he says he was frustrated that he seemed to be unable to reach the majority of students. He says he pursued the relational approach out of desperation and had even considered quitting teaching until he put the relational theory into practice. Ask him how feels about teaching today and his response is simple, “I love it”.

When asked if he believes that relational theory is directly contributing to student achievement, Glenn becomes reflective. “I find I am better able to reach those students that would be disengaged, this seems to work for them. If I could measure test scores, then I don’t know, because I am sure that I’m just a better teacher now 10 years later, regardless of what approach I am using. But as far as that feeling goes, are more of them engaged, are thy producing better work, are they reading more than they used to? Absolutely, yes.”

By using a relational approach that offers and receives respect in return, Glenn has seen higher interest and engagement by more students, as well as improvements to his professional practice.

“At the core, most of us want just kindness and respect from one another. And if you create a room where that’s the expectation, you’ll get it.”

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Front row, from left to right: Jennifer Eisener, Bonita Lockhart, Christie Glenn, Jane Duynisveld, Michael LeBlanc, Kristy Hoeg, Amanda Bonvie, Jo-Ann van Vulpen, Kelly Jane Bonnell. Back row, from left to right: Ann MacDonald, Barb Campbell, Sherise West-Lynds, Jennifer Hines, Superintendent Gary Adams, Jennifer Field, Nikki MacInnis, Mathieu Gauthier.

Janice Smith, Pugwash District High School

Adam Davies, CCRSB Board Member

Shan King, Winding River Consolidated

Sally Steeves, West Pictou Consolidated

2016 Education Week Award Recipients

HIE EN SMC E TA V& Accolades& Accolades

2016 Excellence in Teaching Award Recipients

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Chignecto Family NewsOne-hundred students from Springhill Junior/Senior High, River Hebert District, Pugwash District High, Parrsboro Regional High, Amherst Regional High, and Oxford Regional Education Centre recently met at the Tim Horton’s Children’s Camp in Tatamagouche for the third “H” Division RCMP Cops N Kids LEADers Weekend. Over the course of three days and two nights the students engaged in meaningful discussions and presentations. The RCMP ICE Division met with student-leaders to discuss Internet Safety, Child Exploitation, and Sexual Consent while other presentations focused on student leadership within schools, healthy relationships, and improvements to school culture. Student-leaders also participated in team-building activities, wilderness survival tasks, strength challenges and reflective meditation. The weekend ended with future plans, youth engagement, and new connections.

Students at Amherst Regional High School were recently presented with the real life story of citizenship, multi-culturalism and immigration from Passages Canada guest speaker Moncef Lakouras from Morocco. He was the key note speaker for the Cultural Fair hosted by the Sociology 12 class under the direction of teacher Mrs. Lesley Parliament-Taylor. Both the speaker and cultural fair was presented to the entire student body at ARHS.

Springhill Jr/Sr High students recently participated in a ‘Healthy Relationships for Youth’ weekend in cooperation with Public Health. The students had the opportunity to learn more about other cultures at the Dorje Denma Ling camp. The sessions were very inspiring and the girls walked away with a deeper understanding of issues around diversity and toxic masculinity. They also gained knowledge about the many services and programs that exist, or do not exist, in communities and schools across the province. Students walked away with a greater appreciation for the services available to them through their school.

Celtic Family NewsOn May 5th, the seventh edition of the Marathon of Respect and Equality took place throughout Pictou County. Taken together with the 20-years of Henderson Paris' ‘Run Against Racism’, this means Pictou County has been running to end racism in our community and greater world for 27 years! All schools in Celtic Family were involved in some way with this year’s run despite the rainy weather. Seven outstanding rallies were held where students sang, read poetry, gave speeches, and performed Spoken Word on the theme “Everyone is Someone”. It was a powerful and impactful day for all.

School News continued on page 119

https://youtu.be/p1y_nnmmT34

Each spring, thousands of CCRSB students come together to talk

about racism. They march, run and rally to make sure that the conversation about racism

continues to happen. Only through honest conversation,

discussion and mutual respect can we hope to end racism in our schools, in our communities and

our homes.

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On May 3rd, students and staff at Northumberland Regional High School participated in a Skilled Futures Technology event. Skilled Futures in Technology is a career exploration event for junior and senior high school students that promotes technology use and innovation through educational, fun and interactive workshops. Students participated in workshops ranging from robotics to 3D Video Game Modelling, and facilitated by representatives from Brilliant Labs, NSCC Pictou Campus, REDspace and Lucas Technology & Analytics. NRHS won the opportunity to participate in the Skilled Futures event after entering in a provincial draw during the Hour of Code in December 2015.

Dr. W.A. MacLeod Consolidated students and staff participated in their second annual Wellness Day Conference in April. Students were able to choose from over 20 sessions in the morning and enjoyed listening to keynote speaker, female hockey player Blayre Turnbull, during the afternoon. Blayre plays professionally for the Calgary Inferno and is also a member of Team Canada. The day was a huge success, offering a great deal of sharing time between community members and Dr. WA students!

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It’s your choice! Beginning March 8th READ a Top 10 book and discuss it inschool and online at: https://ccrsbteenchoice.wordpress.com/

2016 Teen Reader’sChoice Award2016 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

VOTE May 16th to 20thfor your favourite book to be the

2016 Teen Reader’s Choice Award Winner!The winning book will be announced on May 31st.

CCRSB

2016AWARD

Teen Reader’s Choice

The Top 10 Books!

The Crossoverby Kwame Alexander

All the Bright Placesby Jennifer Niven

Belzhar by Meg Wolitzer

A Mad, Wicked Follyby Sharon Biggs Waller

Everything, Everythingby Nicola Yoon

Greenglass Houseby Kate Milford

The Impossible Knife of Memoryby Laurie Halse Anderson

Nimonaby Noella Stevenson

The Thing About Jelly�shby Ali Benjamin

We Should Hang OutSometime:Embarrassingly,a true storyby Josh Sundquist