Blog Posts

Group of students and Superintendent gather on basketball court after playing a game Kevin Group Photo -Basketball
April 11, 2023

Reflections on Shadowing a Student

Earlier this school year I made the commitment to report back on what I had learned as a consequence of my “shadow a student” experience.  Listening to students has been a key part of my practice over the last few years, and shadowing a student is the most recent iteration of this learning journey.

Group of students and Superintendent gather on basketball court after playing a game Kevin Group Photo -Basketball
A group of secondary students gathered for discussion Secondary_Student Voice2023
March 8, 2023

Activating Student Voice in Secondary Schools: A Few Dimensions to Explore

Over the last six months, our secondary schools have launched B.C.’s first-ever Student Community of Practice for Equity (SCOPE). Fifty-two grade eleven students, with teachers and school administration, are exploring a fundamental inquiry: What does it look like to center student voice and leadership through ongoing cycles of listening, uncovering, reimagining and, ultimately, moving forward with action?

A group of secondary students gathered for discussion Secondary_Student Voice2023
Students baking ASIA_Students baking
March 8, 2023

Nurturing Students’ Full Potential

We all know by now that education is not just about cramming information into students’ minds but about nurturing them in a way that develops young people to their full potential.  

Students baking ASIA_Students baking
Girl choosing healthy lifestyle, practicing yoga near sport equipment, vegetables stock illustration iStock-Healthy Lifestyle
March 8, 2023

More Play: Doctor’s Orders

Earlier this school year, leaders in our organization had the opportunity to learn from renowned psychiatrist, Dr. Shimi Kang on the subject of mental health and wellbeing.

Girl choosing healthy lifestyle, practicing yoga near sport equipment, vegetables stock illustration iStock-Healthy Lifestyle
February 2, 2023

RBSS Student Voice

Our secondary schools in the Abbotsford School District are in the initial stages of reimagining how high school should look and feel. Robert Bateman Secondary School has been working through a process with two student groups. Six grade twelve students started our student voice work last spring.  We have a second group of six grade eleven students working on this project this year, with teaching staff joining.

February 2, 2023

Schoolwide Inquiry: Connections

Many Eugene Reimer school community members have deep roots in farming and agriculture in the Fraser Valley and beyond. Our catchment stretches across most of West Abbotsford’s agricultural areas, and many of our students and their families are involved in this industry. During last year's Farmer’s protests, we were reminded that even our students who live in the suburban areas of our catchment have strong familial connections to farming.

February 2, 2023

Black History Month & Resistance

“Now let us begin. Now let us re-dedicate ourselves to the long and bitter, but beautiful, struggle for a new world.” -- Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

January 11, 2023

Abbotsford Senior Secondary Student Voice

Student voice is an initiative started at Abbotsford Senior Secondary in 2021. Student Voice hosts students from all different backgrounds that encompass the school’s demographics. These students meet every Thursday to delve into school and community-based topics that they identify. Previous topics have included rewriting the school dress code, organizing a better way for grade 9 orientation, and Indigenizing school announcements.  

January 11, 2023

Abbotsford Middle School and our Global Family

Abbotsford Middle School is an International Baccalaureate school.  IB aims to develop inquiring, knowledgeable and caring young people who help to create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect.  One of our primary goals is to develop Internationally minded students who recognize their humanity and shared guardianship, which is not difficult for us because we are a school of great cultural diversity.

January 3, 2023

Three Wishes for 2023

It has been my practice for the last few Januarys to make predictions about possible changes in the K-12 sector. This practice goes back as far as 2015 when I highlighted the top ten issues facing our education system and some things to watch for as we sought to transform it.