A Slice of PIE

Volume 13, Issue 8

I've been teaching for over a decade now and I still find it to be a positive, exciting job. I love the outdoors, listening to music, reading, and playing my guitar. I'm also a student in graduate school, working on my Masters of Education.

How many years have you been working in education? 12!

What do you love about your role? No matter what else is going on in my life, seeing my students makes me feel happy.

What is your favourite book? The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck.

Tell us something fun about yourself! I love to run, and made 8km under 29 minutes this year!

I am an outdoor educator based in Nelson. My favourite things are exploring nature, climbing, hiking, snowboarding, and playing music. I love to share my passion for the outdoors with students in the hopes to inspire future environmental stewards and nature lovers. I love to see students' imaginations, caring, and curiosities flourish in the outdoors.

How many years have you been working in education? 5 years.

I am passionate about connecting children to place through nature, play, and self-expression. I value holistic teaching, and view community and the more-than-human, as imperative sites for teaching to the heart, mind, body and spirit. I see the value of intrinsic motivation and non-coercive education, and believe in the freedom of educational choice for children. I graduated with my Masters of Education in Indigenous Resurgence and Reconciliation from SFU. During this program, I focused on Indigenous pedagogies surrounding land, healing, and music. I strive to respectfully incorporate these ways of understanding into my practice.

How many years have you been in education? 10 years.

What do you love about your role? Being a lifelong learner and building connections.

What is your favourite book? Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer.

Tell us something fun about yourself! I am a touring musician and DJ!

Moira's design is one of two she submitted, and was selected from a pool of 17 submissions (3 from two students and 14 from other community members) after two rounds of voting by the Four Tides Hospice Society board. The board is as excited as Moira is with her design, which they feel truly reflects their heart and their new name! Congratulations, Moira!

PIE student Zada gave a presentation slideshow of her life for her class at Oceanview. 😃

Students in the Comox Valley got ready for spring with a fun and vibrant flower vase art lesson! 🌺

New student Mira recently acquired her new puppy! Aww 🐶

Members of the Pope family enjoyed making pottery this term. They made five different shaped dishes each and then picked their two favorites to finish and keep!

It was rainy but wonderful. The Coast Guard officers gave us an in-depth tour, answered our MANY questions and finished with a safety video and some hot chocolate! The K-2 group was a smaller group so they got to tour the harbour on one of the vessels! 🚤

Check out some of the beautiful creations that were made at a recent Geometric Art Day event in the Comox Valley. With the beautiful weather now, grab some chalk and tape and see what you can make!

Blended classes at Oceanview put on an amazing Talent Show in early April! Some of the acts included magic, singing, piano, joke-telling, showing off a boat collection, and band. Thank you to all our brave and talented performers!

As part of a global impact project, on April 19 at 7am, six Blended Learning students logged on from home to connect with students from Nyaka School in Uganda. This was the second of two video meetings that have taken place, and everyone involved has been energized by these unique interactions.

In mid-April, PIE teacher Karen led a fun acrylic painting lesson in our virtual Interaction Day activity! We 💗 Kid Art!

Twenty-seven Grade 8-12 PIE students participated in our Strathcona Park Lodge senior camp this month. It was a great experience for our students and staff. Many thanks are due to the teachers that made it happen and the families who took the time and made the effort (some travelling from great distances) to participate. Plans for next year are already being discussed!

From the description on the Strathcona Park Lodge website:

"Our interactive outdoor education programs challenge, inspire and enlighten youth in a positive and exciting environment. Our school programs have become a rite of passage for hundreds of thousands of students who have learned in our outdoor classroom."

"Red Dress Day, also known as the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls and Two-Spirit People, is observed on May 5th. The day honours and brings awareness to the thousands of Indigenous women, girls and two-spirit people who have been subject to disproportionate violence in Canada."

"We encourage educators to read and use Legacy Schools resources including Reclaiming Power and Place: The National Inquiry’s Final Report, which reveals that persistent and deliberate human and Indigenous rights violations and abuses are the root cause behind Canada’s staggering rates of violence against Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA people. The two-volume report calls for transformative legal and social changes to resolve the crisis that has devastated Indigenous communities across the country."

For those living in the qathet Region, there will be a march for awareness on May 5th. We hope to see you there!

Join us every other Tuesday from 6:30 - 7:30 for a safe and welcoming space to connect, discuss, and share. 😀

Mark your calendars! On June 15th, there will be an opportunity to make pride jewelry. More info to come.

Check out Foundry's Pathfinder Tool, a 3-step tool to help youth12-24!

The Vancouver International Children’s Festival will be hosting an online program available May 30th – June 23rd to schools across BC. Click here for information on the shows available and how to arrange tickets for the virtual field trip!

April 🐣

5: Anniversary of Tla'amin Treaty

7: Good Friday

10: Easter Monday

11-14: Strathcona Park Lodge Camp

May 🌼

1-7: Mental Health Week

5: National Day of Awareness for MMIWG2S

17: PIE PAC Meeting

22: Victoria Day

23-25: Camp Imadene

29-Jun 4: Children and Youth in Care Week

June 🌞

2: Term 3 Submission Deadline

8-9: Eco-Edventure Camp

21: National Indigenous Peoples Day

27: Pro-D Day

30: Administrative Day (Schools Close)

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Email: stephanie.hall@sd47.bc.ca
Website: https://www.sd47.bc.ca/school/pie/Pages/default.aspx#/=
Location: 7105 Nootka Street, Powell River, BC, Canada
Phone: 604-285-2756
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/16157794226
Twitter: @pie_partners