We hope that you and your families had a restful and fun Winter Break! ⛄

January is about new beginnings and we can see that many of you are off to a great start. Do you know why January is called January? Learn a little bit about this month at 60 Seconds History!

Introducing our latest feature: The PIE Staff Peek! Each month we will feature three staff members from qathet, Comox valley, and IDLC. We hope our students and families will enjoy getting to know our amazing team. 🙌🏽

I always knew I wanted to be in some kind of helping profession, but I just wasn't sure what specifically. My first job after I finished my degree was as a Child Protection Social Worker. I figured out fairly quickly which aspects of that job I was not well suited to. Sometimes we learn more from our failures or the things we don't like, in order to learn where our strengths and purpose lay. I was hired onto School District #47 29 years ago, as a Child and Youth Care Worker with students with Severe Behavior designations. I quickly realized that I am energized by direct person-to-person support services, encouraging students who really need someone to believe in them, and feeling the joy when a student suddenly gains a new understanding of something they are trying to learn. My specific job has changed over the years through all grade levels, but my role is the same: helping others to realize their own great potential.

How long have you been working in education? 29 years!

What do you love about your role? What I like the most is encouraging students to believe in their own capabilities.

Tell us a fun fact about yourself! My first educational job was teaching swimming lessons at the complex pool when I was 16-18 years old.

I have taught for thirteen years in nine schools across three provinces, so when I say "PIE is the best!" I'm speaking from experience! I love the flexibility of PIE, and working students' interests and passions into the curriculum wherever possible. I am a voracious reader, "eye reading" daily, but also often "ear reading" using text-to-speech while doing other activities. My favourite genre at present is a niche sub-genre called "progression fantasy", especially LitRPGs, but I also enjoy other genres of fiction and non-fiction. A recent favourite is Enlightenment Now by Steven Pinker. I am very grateful to live in this beautiful part of the country and I get out to explore nature with my young children every weekend: walking, hiking, paddle boarding, cycling, and skiing.

I grew up in the beautiful mountains of the West Kootenays. I love any activities or adventure that involves being in nature.

How long have you been working in education? 9 years.

What do you love about your role? Connecting with the children.

What is your favourite book? The Secret Language of Trees by Marie Skrobak.

Tell us a fun fact about yourself! I grew up with no electricity or running water!

qathet Region is offering Winter K-2 programming at Oceanview!

Sessions will run every Monday from 10:30 AM- 12:00 PM beginning January 16th and ending February 13th.

The concept of these sessions is "Literacy and Activity." Students are invited to meet two of our teachers (either Jody, Marissa or Sabrina) in the "commons" area of Oceanview school at 10:30 AM for check in, followed by 45 minutes of literacy and 45 minutes of physical activity. Pick up will be at 12:00PM in the "commons" area.

We are very excited to run this program, and we want to ensure that we have all of the supplies we need each week to make it as great as it can be, so we ask that you use the sign up link below to RSVP to the Mondays that your student wishes to attend.

Sign-up link: click here!

January 13th is officially recognized as Black Excellence Day.

For more information please check out Black Excellence Day and The Black Pulse Project.

The Decoda Literacy Solutions theme for literacy week is “Make it count! Play * Sort * Measure.”

How do you plan on celebrating this week? Click below for some family friendly ideas!

📸 Be sure to take and share pictures of any literacy activities you do! Tag School District 47 @PIE_sd47 and #SD47Literacy if you are comfortable doing so.

There is so much to learn about the exciting Chinese celebration known as Lunar New Year!

Did you know that Lunar New Year is 16 days long? Or that there are 12 animals in the Chinese Zodiac? Click on some of the resources below to learn more!

Abby is learning all about Latin American culture while she travels through Costa Rica, Guatemala, and Honduras with her family. In addition to taking Spanish 9 with PIE, Abby took Spanish classes for a week and is trying to speak Spanish with the local people. In Guatemala, Abby has visited a coffee farmer, taken a weaving class, and also a cooking class. She is learning about the Mayan culture and exploring Mayan ruins. She’s also getting plenty of physical exercise through a salsa dance class, surfing, snorkeling, hiking, lots of swimming, and even a 2-day hike up a volcano! 🌋

PIE student Carson has been making meals for his family for a few years! His interest started with Hello Fresh recipes and now his chef skills are being used regularly. Recently he prepped and cooked tacos for dinner. Yum! 🌮

In Graphic Production 11, Quinn has learned to use and apply technology and skills to create graphic and digital media. One of the programs he is learning to use is Procreate. Check out some of his creations below! 💻

Jake joined PIE to take just one course: Pre-Cal 12. This month he received the amazing news that he has been accepted to the University of Victoria's Computer Science Program! Congratulations, Jake! His exceptional work ethic will benefit him when he starts classes next fall! 📜

These Vancouver PIE students conducted interviews with each other after listening to a story!

PIE students in the Comox Valley came together to enjoy a walk through MacDonald Wood Park in Comox. Students who attended ranged from Kindergarten to grade 12!

In attendance: Caleb, Seth, Karsten, Aiden, Owen, Clyde, Jordan, Jasmine, Anara, Nieva, Armit, Aletheia, Oliver, Finley, Dax, Marek, Elliot, Marc, April, Allen, Lotus, Jaber!

This IDLC group are working on soapstone carvings in the Lower Seymour Conservation area. Wow! Way to go!

This family loves making learning fun and sharing their resources with the PIE community at Oceanview so that learning is fun for everyone.

Thank you to all who took the time to fill out our GSA Interest Survey. We are excited to start an online PIE GSA beginning next month!

Members and allies of the LGBTQ+ community are welcome to attend. The GSA will be organized and led by a PIE teacher, with the goal of providing a safe space for socializing and learning together. We hope you can join us! 😊

For those interested in learning more about SOGI Education, check out the Learning Burst video below! 🌈

SD47 features numerous wellness websites on the portal. One website, Kelty Mental Health Resource Centre, offers a variety of tips and resources. Why not check out the Where You Are Podcast for practical tips and strategies that you can use to promote your own and your family's mental health and wellness?

👉 Where You Are Podcast 🎧

Monday-Friday

9:00-11:30

12:30-3:00

Thursday

4:30-8:30 - please register via email to trish.hoen@sd47.bc.ca

Tuesday (Jan 17 - Feb 21 and April 11- May 16)

9:00-11:00 Grades K-4

1:30-3:30 Grades 5-9

Thursday (all year - test invigilation and study hall)

10:30-12:30

January ⛄

15: Black Excellence Day

22 - Feb 5: Lunar New Year

23 - 29: Family Literacy Week

February 💘

17: Pro-D Day (schools closed)

17: Term 2 Submission Deadline

20: BC Family Day (schools closed)

22: Pink Shirt Day

March 🍀

10: Schools close (end of day)

27: Schools Re-open

April 🐣

5: Anniversary of Tla'amin Treaty

7: Good Friday

10: Easter Monday

May 🌼

1-7: Mental Health Week

22: Victoria Day

29-Jun 4: Children and Youth in Care Week

June 🌞

2: Term 3 Submission Deadline

21: National Indigenous Peoples Day

27: Pro-D Day

30: Administrative Day (Schools Close)

📸 Instagram

Email: stephanie.hall@sd47.bc.ca
Website: https://www.sd47.bc.ca/school/pie/Pages/default.aspx#/=
Location: 7105 Nootka St, Powell River, BC, Canada
Phone: (604) 485-2756
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/16157794226
Twitter: @pie_partners