Success for All
Living Library
Recently, Nanaimo District Secondary School hosted a living library! Speakers from the community came in to have a conversation with students and became a "book" to share their own experiences in mental health. Students were listening and engaging with community members who talked about Substance abuse and homelessness, Nonbinary and trans experiences, colonial trauma and healing, tools for balancing mental health, supporting people with their mental health, residential schools and overcoming adversity were some of the topics discussed.
Online Pro-D Opportunities for Teachers
Starting in January, teachers can take graduate-level education courses at Vancouver Island University (VIU) without committing to a full graduate program.
- Emergent Literacy (LLL 508), for K–3 classroom and learning support teachers, focuses on practical ways you can create a research-evidence aligned program that supports the reading, writing, and oral language development of all students.
- Language Acquisition (LLL 509) covers practices to effectively teach multilingual learners in a culturally responsive manner. Issues around Indigenous language decline, loss and revitalization will also be explored.
Both courses are electives in VIU’s Literacy, Language, and Learning graduate diploma (LLGD). If you choose to do the LLGG at a later date, you can use these credits toward the diploma. You can also use these credits toward a pay category upgrade with the BC Teacher Qualification Service.
To start these courses in January, email Helene.Viau@viu.ca.
Everyone Deserves a Smile
Leadership students from École Hammond Bay recently hosted an assembly for the Everyone Deserves a Smile (EDAS) initiative. École Hammond Bay is a host school who will be organizing, filling and delivering hand-painted bags full of warm socks, toques, mittens, scarves, toiletries and hand-written messages of support to the homeless in our community.
Volunteers Needed
Pacific Sport Vancouver Island is looking for volunteers to help with some of the After School Sport & Art Initiative programs. They offer free training, education, transferable skills and host a volunteer appreciation event. They fit volunteers with the hours that they are available. Some volunteers are offered part-time employment afterwards.