Rural+Teachers

__**Crawford Bay Elementary-Secondary School - //2010-2011 Secondary Initiatives//**__

Through developing specific Community-School partnerships, our intentions are:
 * To engage students in their learning,
 * To help students feel a sense of belonging and that they are cared for by our community,
 * To improve the quality and variety of meaningful learning experiences available for our youth, and
 * To promote healthy community development that involves youth and adults as co-contributors

With these intentions, we have been working this year on the following projects within our secondary programming.
 * Fall and Spring 'Project Weeks', in which students are engaged in week-long, multi-aged, immersive learning experiences, alongside local and regional experts. This year, students have had choices of:
 * An art week creating mandalas,
 * An outdoor education backpacking adventure along the Bonnington Range
 * A drama trip to the Summerland Shakespeare Festival,
 * Construction of a greenhouse on school groungs, and
 * Creating large-scale puppets and decorations for our local summer music festival, 'The Starbelly Jam'


 * Projects 10-12 Course, in which each grade 10-12 student has the opportunity to work on an independent directed study project, supported by a teacher through a process of goal-setting, timeline development, and personal reflection and self-evaluation. Each student is expected to do a final presentation as part of the evaluation process.


 * Community Mentorships, in which each grade 7-12 student connects with a community member who shares a common interest, curiousity, or passion. Together, and with the support of a sponsor teacher, students and mentors determine a project or series of projects that span five working sessions.


 * Explorations in Lifelong Learning, a series of Board Authorized (Locally Developed) courses in which the teacher's role is to connect with local and regional individuals and organizations who are interested in leading a learning workshop for a group of students under the themes of 'Arts, Media, and Hobbies', 'Physical Outings and Events', 'Cultural Events and Community Connections', and 'Environmental Projects'. These workshops have opportunities planned in for students to lead and design, and often take place beyond our school building.


 * Health & Career Education, in which learning experiences and outcomes are planned around workshops that involve our students with local presenters and have them visiting local campuses, training institutions, and worksites. Students gain certificates such as WHMIS, Worksafe, First Aid, Job Preparedness, and Food Safe, and also learn from from local organizations promoting youth health and responsible decision-making.