Instructional Capacity

<p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Experienced teacher Jodie Mason takes time to share her engaging ideas around teaching Social Studies curriculum to early career teacher Keaton Smith and teacher-candidate Adriana Smith.</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><img src="/images/1198e1f8-60e7-41b1-a3f5-b729551ecbcc" alt="Sharing the Wealth Nara Riplinger" width="596" height="447" style="width:596px;height:447px;display:inline-block"></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><br></p>

<p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Lake City Secondary English teachers spent yet another meaningful afternoon learning from Bryan Gidinski. With his extensive knowledge and experience in the elementary classrooms, Bryan engaged all of our teachers- from teacher candidates who are not yet certified to 25+ years experienced teachers. Working and learning together makes Lake City a great place to be!</span></p><table class="editor-table"><colgroup><col><col></colgroup><tbody><tr><th class="editor-tableCell editor-tableCellHeader" style="width: 350px; background-color: rgb(242, 243, 245); border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top;"><p class="editor-paragraph"><img src="/images/7155d9b6-00a5-4eac-9c22-54aedae2f753" alt="Bryan Gidinski in the High School Classroom1 Nara Riplinger" width="315" height="236" style="width:315px;height:236px;display:inline-block"></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><br></p></th><th class="editor-tableCell editor-tableCellHeader" style="width: 350px; background-color: rgb(242, 243, 245); border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top;"><p class="editor-paragraph"><img src="/images/c9134200-abd0-4fb5-89b8-51ff5347336d" alt="Bryan Gidinski in the High School Classroom2 Nara Riplinger" width="346" height="194" style="width:346px;height:194px;display:inline-block"></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><br></p></th></tr></tbody></table><p class="editor-paragraph"><br></p>

<p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Many SD27 educators recently participated in a four-week Outdoor Learning course designed to strengthen Social Emotional Learning (SEL) practices. Each 60-minute session offered practical strategies to support student wellbeing through nature-based experiences.</span><br><br><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Over the four weeks, educators explored:</span><br><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">-Mindfulness and self-awareness through sit spots, nature observation, and journaling.</span><br><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">-Social awareness and communication through cooperative outdoor play and group activities.</span><br><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">-Emotional regulation and perseverance through outdoor challenges that require patience and problem-solving.</span><br><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">-Ethics, stewardship, and community-building using Indigenous pedagogies and land-based learning.</span><br><br><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">This learning series expanded instructional capacity by equipping teachers with simple, powerful routines that connect SEL and the outdoors—strengthening both classroom practice and student engagement.</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><br></p><table class="editor-table"><colgroup><col><col></colgroup><tbody><tr><th class="editor-tableCell editor-tableCellHeader" style="width: 350px; background-color: rgb(242, 243, 245); border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top;"><p class="editor-paragraph"><img src="/images/8bc725e3-8479-48f0-ba37-56d1d04107f5" alt="Outdoor SEL kimberley ikebuchi" width="100%" height="inherit" style="width:100%;height:inherit;display:inline-block"></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><br></p></th><th class="editor-tableCell editor-tableCellHeader" style="width: 350px; background-color: rgb(242, 243, 245); border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top;"><p class="editor-paragraph"><img src="/images/e2c06472-82a6-4430-bb57-6126fd91a38d" alt="Outdoor SEL 2 kimberley ikebuchi" width="100%" height="inherit" style="width:100%;height:inherit;display:inline-block"></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><br></p></th></tr></tbody></table><p class="editor-paragraph"><br></p>

<p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Staff and students wore Orange Shirts on October 26. The photo merely represents the deeper learning that occurred throughout the week, and that will continue to occur throughout the year, as educators work towards the 94 Calls To Action. Discussions around misrepresentation in movies, treaty processes, residential schools as well as cultural activities took place all week.</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><img src="/images/5b324bf3-43cc-4780-8924-5fecc6ed86f7" alt="Image Nara Riplinger" width="310" height="232" style="width:310px;height:232px;display:inline-block"></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><br></p>

<p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Staff at Lake City Secondary spent part of the first day participating in some "Get To Know You" activities that they then used in their classrooms the first week of school.</span><br><br><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Teachers, EAs, office staff, and custodians also wore Orange Shirts the first day of class to remind everyone that "Every Child Matters."</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><br></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><img src="/images/710d76b6-9674-4d72-b253-f0e563876d2a" alt="IMG 0958a Nara Riplinger" width="100%" height="inherit" style="width:100%;height:inherit;display:inline-block"></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><br></p>

<p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Mr. Fahoum's Model UN club organized the 2025 Canada Student Vote. Students learned the basics of the electoral system in Canada and participated by voting.</span></p><div data-lexical-layout-container="true" style="grid-template-columns: 1fr 1fr; display: grid;"><div class="editor-layoutItem"><p class="editor-paragraph"><img src="/images/8182e186-1e1c-4644-861a-628f5d4e319e" alt="Lake City Student Vote 2025" width="100%" height="inherit" style="width:100%;height:inherit"></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><br></p></div><div class="editor-layoutItem"><p class="editor-paragraph"><img src="/images/442269ae-4632-465a-a0ec-b98ade873fbc" alt="Lake City Student Vote 2025" width="100%" height="inherit" style="width:100%;height:inherit"></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><br></p></div></div><p class="editor-paragraph"><br></p>

<p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">French Immersion teachers, Mr. O'Keefe and Mme. Pritchard take time to plan for the coming year and how to incorporate more Indigenous resources into the French program. English aficionados Mr. Fahoum and Dr. Macwan observe a teacher candidate lead an English 12 lesson. Discussions during each of these sessions were professional, student-centered, and positive!</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><br></p><div data-lexical-layout-container="true" style="grid-template-columns: 1fr 1fr; display: grid;"><div class="editor-layoutItem"><p class="editor-paragraph"><img src="/images/9175cbf5-98c1-4bd3-951c-6ae608b74a8f" alt="Teachers Benefit from Collaboration" width="100%" height="inherit" style="width:100%;height:inherit"></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><br></p></div><div class="editor-layoutItem"><p class="editor-paragraph"><img src="/images/f555c4a3-4510-4239-990b-f1c1f2b09442" alt="Teachers Benefit from Collaboration" width="100%" height="inherit" style="width:100%;height:inherit"></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><br></p></div></div><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><br></p>

<p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Our school was so pleased to welcome VIU teacher candidate, Mattias Aaslie. Robert Fahoum was the sponsor teacher for Mattias who is an English/Drama specialist. On his last 'official' day at Lake City, Mattias received word that he was hired on with SD27!</span></p><div data-lexical-layout-container="true" style="grid-template-columns: 1fr 1fr; display: grid;"><div class="editor-layoutItem"><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><img src="/images/759f72bd-5d0f-5119-90ca-b0aac9af1306" alt="3r5angvf.jpg" width="100%" height="inherit" style="width:100%;height:inherit"></p></div><div class="editor-layoutItem"><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><br></p></div></div>

<p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Retired teacher, Barb Blewett, spends time helping new-to-us teacher, Maureen Newman-Buafo. The two have been partnered for a few months as part of the district's Learning Alongside mentorship program which matches new teachers with retired teachers.</span></p><div data-lexical-layout-container="true" style="grid-template-columns: 1fr 1fr; display: grid;"><div class="editor-layoutItem"><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><img src="/images/b989be10-a383-57d9-b92f-ce553199f68d" alt="1hcftwo6.jpg" width="100%" height="inherit" style="width:100%;height:inherit"></p></div><div class="editor-layoutItem"><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><br></p></div></div>