SEYCOVE SECONDARY STRIKES GOLD

AGREEMENT SUPPORTS CHILLIWACK’S ABORIGINAL STUDENTS

B.C. AND U.K. STUDENTS LINK UP TO DISCUSS WORLD PEACE

Contact Information

Mailing Address:
PO Box 9045 STN PROV GOVT
Victoria BC V8W 9E2

Telephone:
250 387-1977

Fax:
250 387-3200

E-mail:
minister.educ@gov.bc.ca 

Links

• Media Room
  
• Strongstart BC
  
• LearnNow BC
  
• School Choices
  
• Healthy Schools
  
• ReadNow BC

  HOT TOPIC

 Ban on Cell phones 

Strict new guidelines are in effect regarding the use of cell phones and other electronic devices while driving.
Some of those most affected by these new laws are Graduated Licensing Program drivers (GLP). As many B.C. students are GLP drivers, I feel it is worthwhile to review this new law, especially in regards to how it affects new drivers.

Fully licensed drivers are restricted to using only hands-free cell phones and other electronic devices, and cannot text or email while driving. However, new drivers in the Graduated Licensing Program face a full ban on using cell phones and electronic devices, including hands-free units.

Penalties for GLP drivers ignoring this ban start with a $167 fine and a 3 point penalty.
When you are behind the wheel, anything that competes for your attention increases the risk of a collision. The goal of the new law is to make our roads safer for all users.
For further details of what is permitted and what is prohibited under the legislation, go to http://drivecellsafe.com and click on ‘Get the Facts’.

Message from
Minister Margaret MacDiarmid

The recent Speech from the Throne emphasized the importance of securing our province’s future through investments in education – particularly the education of our youngest learners. The Throne Speech outlines our commitment to supporting families, parents and students by pursuing bold strategies to renew and improve the delivery of education in this province.

We continue to support the individual needs of all learners and will strive to help every student in B.C. schools find and pursue their passion. Increased choice and diversity in schools will allow students to follow their dreams and attain new heights of learning and achievement.

Recognizing the essential role that families play in a child’s education, over the next five years we will be partnering with parents and care-givers to support early learning for three- and four-year-olds.

Despite the economic challenges we’ve faced in the last year, the Throne Speech reinforces our commitment to full day kindergarten, which will provide our youngest students with a rich interactive environment, while laying a positive foundation for healthy physical, social, emotional, linguistic and cognitive development. Research shows a play-based kindergarten program combined with early learning opportunities has long-term benefits for our children’s academic and social skills. Full day kindergarten programs will help ensure that every child in B.C. has the best possible start in school and in life.

Government has committed $151 million to fully fund the implementation of full day kindergarten over the next two years. Full day kindergarten will be available for more than half of B.C.’s eligible students this September and, by September 2011, full day kindergarten will be available for every five-year-old in the province.

Registration for kindergarten in some communities has already begun. To find out which schools in your area will be offering full day kindergarten, contact your local school district (http://www.bced.gov.bc.ca/schools/bcmap.htm) or independent school authority(http://www.bced.gov.bc.ca/apps/imcl/imclWeb/IndSchoolAuthority.do).

For more information on early learning: http://www.bced.gov.bc.ca/early_learning/full_day_kindergarten.htm
 

Education Minister Margaret MacDiarmid was joined by Redfish Elementary students in Nelson, who presented a skipping demonstration at the Nelson Torch Celebration in January. Redfish Elementary was one of the schools to win prizes in the 2010 Spirit School program.

 Olympic Corner

The 2010 Spirit School program peaked with the Olympic Torch relay touching down in the communities of the three winning schools. These winners were chosen from the approximately 192 entries from every corner of the province.

All the Spirit Schools took the ActNow BC Healthy Living Pledge and participated in 2010 Winter Olympic education programs. The winning schools showed off an impressive range of projects and activities:

Bronze Level: South Rutland Elementary (Kelowna) – Encouraged creative play in the schoolyard by creating the Playground Pal program. Students also staged a Hallowe’en Olympic event featuring games like “Jack-o-Lantern Juggle.” 

Silver Level: Westside Academy (Prince George) – Adopted Korea as part of the Adopt a Country program to celebrate the 2010 Winter games and their Korean exchange student. After students researched and wrote mini reports on their adopted country, they made posters featuring Korean characters and symbols.

Gold Level: Seycove Secondary (North Vancouver) – Have earned bragging rights with a well-earned gold level win. Among their more than 30 projects

Seycove students created banners the length of two city buses to line the Torch Relay route, went on a fieldtrip to the Holocaust Education Centre as part of Social Justice 12 for a tour of an exhibition on the 1936 Berlin Games, and started a garden to reflect the Olympic pillar of Sustainability.

Congratulations to all the schools that participated in the Spirit Schools Program. To see all their entries go to www.sharingthedream.gov.bc.ca