Silver Creek Elementary School is a small, family-oriented school. Being located just outside the larger center of Hope allows us to be an integral part of the Silver Creek community and garner strong community support. Having a forest on our school grounds as well as being situated close to rivers allows for a wealth of place-based learning opportunities. Our small school takes pride in being able to provide students with a robust outdoor education program; leadership opportunities for students; Effective Behavioral Support; community service; intramural programs; the Super Reader program; Math Challenge; participation in district sports events such as the SD 78 soccer tournament, floor hockey tournament, and track meet; Science Fair; Young Entrepreneur Program; Reading Link Challenge; We Club; Homework Club; and a grade 7 band program.
Enrollment projections for 2019-2020 are at 140 students, representing similar enrollment to 2018-2019. Our classes for next year will be decided in August and September when we have a clear picture of new enrollment.
Our First Nations student enrollment is now more than 35% of our total population and we will continue to work with partners to support the learning needs as presented.
Outdoor education is the focus of the school growth plan, utilizing the Spirals of Inquiry model for the foundation of this plan. Past school goals will still be part of the school culture, including healthy living initiatives, improving student literacy, and improving Aboriginal student academic performance.
MISSION STATEMENTS
BRITISH COLUMBIA The purpose of the British Columbia school system is to enable learners to develop their individual potential and to acquire the knowledge, skills, and attitudes needed to contribute to a healthy, democratic and pluralistic society and a prosperous and sustainable economy.
SCHOOL DISTRICT #78 FRASER-CASCADE School District Number 78, in cooperation with the community, promotes an educational environment that fosters a love of learning, personal integrity, a strong self-concept and a respect for the dignity of others, encouraging each student to reach his or her potential. SILVER CREEK ELEMENTARY The mission of Silver Creek Elementary is to provide a safe and nurturing environment where students can develop their intellectual, physical, emotional, and social capacity so that each student can be a life-long learner and productive citizen.
SCHOOL MOTTO Silver Creek, where eagles SOAR!
canning:(What is going on for our learners?)
During staff and Pro D meetings three years ago, the staff at Silver Creek discussed school goals and our own school improvement wishes. A number of ideas were discussed including numeracy and behaviour. However, the topic that garnered the most focus and excitement was outdoor education. Although many topics were discussed, staff continually came back to outdoor education, learning outside, and engaging students. Outdoor education has been gradually increasing over the past years with Fraser-Cascade Mountain School and the kindergarten “Forest Friday” program. Staff commented that many students are increasingly spending more time inside and are not experiencing our local areas. Last year, the staff continued with discussions about outdoor education and how to refine and build on to what has been started.
We also noted: *Students at Silver Creek feel safe at school and are connected to two or more adults. *Involvement in daily physical activity at school has increased. *Recent school goals have focused on improving results in literacy and healthy living initiatives. The initiatives need to be a focus due to the relationship between learning and health. *Most students have access to the internet. *Continued support for staff for their professional learning will be crucial for school goals to be met.
Focus: (Where will concentrating our energies make the most difference?) -Continued focus on foundational skills. -Social and emotional learning will need to be a focus to improve on behaviour and self-regulation. The outdoor education focus supports this as well. -After staff meetings and many conversations, a majority of the staff agreed about a common area of student need. The following area of focus will benefit the greatest number of students and academic areas. -School wide reading program will be implemented in fall of 2019 (Read Well).
The agreed topic is to increase student participation in outdoor activity and education. We believe that connecting students to nature will improve relationships; hands-on and place-based learning will increase stewardship; and behavioural concerns will decrease.
Inquiry Question:(What is the driving question?) Will an increased focus on outdoor experiences and education improve academic performance and decrease behaviour issues?
Hunch:(What is our intuition?) Benefits of outdoor learning: -Increased retention rates -Benefits to tactile, experiential, and visual learners -Lowers negative behaviour issues (i.e. hands on) -Improves mood -Increases environmental stewardship -Increased sense of ownership for the environment -Increased physical activity leads to improved healthy living choices -Increased opportunities for inquiry-based learning -Increased opportunities to build school community -Increased problem-solving skills -Increase knowledge of aboriginal culture and heritage
New Professional Learning:(How and where will we learn more about what we do?) The following resources will be used: Spirals of Inquiry (Halbert and Kaser) – the resource will be used for staff discussions during meetings and made available for all staff. Summer Professional Development – Wild B.C. presented to staff in August 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019. We are beginning year 3 of a 3 year commitment to work with Wild B.C. to become a Wild School. Learn about place-based learning Provide opportunities to visit local resources, for example: “You Grow Food Aquaponics”, Thacker Marsh, Camp Squeah, Sucker’s Creek, Blue Heron Reserve, Cheam Wetlands, Fraser River, Rotary Trails, Silver Hope Creek, Silver Creek Caves Increase linkages across curriculum School visits (i.e. Kelly Creek) Silver Creek caving experience with Wilderness Adventure Outreach in August 2019.
Taking Action:(What can we do differently to make a difference?) Collaboration Days – reflect, review, and revise outdoor education programs, opportunities and teaching practices with Lisa Fox from Wild Schools B.C. The collaboration day took place on March 8thwith Lisa meeting individually with each teacher. Staff meeting – regular agenda item Staff members will share projects, professional development and strategies at meetings Collaborate and work with Hope Mountain Centre Continue to plan and expand Fraser-Cascade Mountain School opportunities Increase opportunities for all classes to participate with the school garden Continue to have naturalists give presentations (i.e. AJ Fedoruk) Kindergarten outdoor program “Forest Fridays and Wilderness Wednesdays” Increase focus in the local history including the use of Silver Creek’s FNSW and her resources (plants, cultural practices). School Wide Trips for 2019/20: Camp Squeah school trip in September and ocean study trip (White Rock) in spring (if Go Grants are accepted). Silver Creek became a “Wild School” in Spring 2017. The training included: Year 1 “Get Outdoors” program presented by Wild B.C. Year 2 “Project Wild” Year 3 “Growing Wild Connections”. We completed the training on August 26, 2019 Outdoor opportunities 2018/19: School wide trip to Camp Kawkawa (Sept.), Mt Frosty Hike (Sept.), Sumallo Grove Trip (October), Watershed study at Wardle St. (Oct.), Blue Hero Nature Reserve (October 6/7; November primary and 4/5), cross country ski trip (February), Lightning Lake snowshoe trip (March), Mt. Ottomite snowshoe trip (April), Wetlands Program to Thacker Marsh (May), Grade 1 Beaver Program (April), Grade 2 Insect Study (May), Grade 3 Forest Ecology Study (May), Grade 6 Skagit Camp (June), and Silver Creek’s back forest (ongoing throughout the year) Teachers have continued to teach various courses outside including Art (drawing pictures during different seasons at the same place, sketching); Science (nature walks, habitat studies, ecosystems, properties of snow); Math (weights, angles); Social Studies (mapping, local area); PE (movement, scavenger hunt); and Language Arts (writing activities) Outdoor Celebration Day Class / Buddy projects working towards a Virtues Garden Class share out to school New Projects for 2019/20 *Create a “Virtue Garden” -place of peaceful reflection -students to be part of planning -LA, Socials, Science First Nations Principles, Career Education and Math opportunities -Medicine wheel, place information, plant information, and sun dial to be included
Completed Projects: *New Playground –. The new outdoor play space will help foster outdoor learning and increase outdoor play time. Completed in fall of 2018 *Garden – The Silver Creek garden now has a committee and improvements are being made. All classes will have a section of the garden. *Outdoor Learning Structure – The outdoor classroom was completed in April 2018. *Basketball/Tennis Courts – Completed in summer of 2018.
Checking:(Have we made enough of a difference?) Office referrals Measure growth of core competencies Collect baseline data in Fall 2016 and Spring 2017. They will include: staff and student surveys; DERAIT; reading assessments; and report card data At collaborative and staff meetings review and assess progress Anecdotal notes Increased self-regulation and recognizing personal emotions Increased responsibility Communication Strategies:(How will you communicate your results and inquiry to the school community?) Communication regarding the inquiry and results will be through a variety of methods including: -Parent Advisory Committee (PAC) meetings -Staff meetings -Monthly newsletters -Social media -School website -Assemblies -Back to school barbeque and various school events -Local newspaper (Hope Standard) -School displays -Individual teacher notices and social media -Bulletin boards and display case
District Goals:(Connections to the district’s plan) Goal: To foster a culture of inclusiveness for all learners (K to 12) Evidence: Engagement in place-based, inquiry and hands-on learning.
Goal: To improve literacy and numeracy skills and IEP goal attainment for all K-9 students. Evidence: Engagement in learning through inquiry-based learning and increasing problem solving skills.
Goal: To improve aboriginal students’ sense of identity and achievement. Evidence: First Nations Principles of Learning and Aboriginal presenters.