Blog Posts

School gym filled with students and staff for a basketball game. Snow Ball - Abby Senior
March 15, 2024

Inside the Halls of Abbotsford Senior Secondary School

Being the oldest high school in the city, Abbotsford Senior Secondary School has a proud history. Take a walk down our Graduates Hall, which features all the grad classes since 1956. Look around our Heritage Wing, highlighting the physical changes that our school has seen and showcasing some of the historic athletic accomplishments of our teams and past graduates. Throughout our building, the storied history of our school and the people who have filled its halls are celebrated.

School gym filled with students and staff for a basketball game. Snow Ball - Abby Senior
Two middle school students holding paper, smiling. Chief Dan George - Superintendent Newsletter MAR 2024
March 15, 2024

Cultivating Caring Citizens at Chief Dan George

Why do people hate? Because they’ve been hated? Or are they hurt? These are some of the important questions students at Chief Dan George Middle are trying to answer, digest and unpack as they explore anti-racism, equity and diversity. This school year, our focus has been on accepting and understanding each other’s cultures and diverse backgrounds by building community in our classrooms. Students have had many opportunities to engage in reflection and action in social-emotional learning to be better citizens.

Two middle school students holding paper, smiling. Chief Dan George - Superintendent Newsletter MAR 2024
Students and families gathered in the school gym on the floor, ready to watch a movie Harry Sayers - March Movie Night
March 15, 2024

“Reach for the Stars”: Engaging the Harry Sayers Parent Community

At Harry Sayers Elementary, one of our goals is to strive to “Increase parent and community engagement” as part of our School Plan and the School District Strategic Plan. During the pandemic, parents were not able to volunteer or be part of the school community like they once were.

Students and families gathered in the school gym on the floor, ready to watch a movie Harry Sayers - March Movie Night
Superintendent Nosek and Chair Wilson, stand with Abby Schools student who won an award at the Cultural Diversity Awards Diversity Awards - 2024
March 15, 2024

Connecting and Celebrating: A Journey Across our District

I think it is important for a Superintendent to try and stay connected to what is happening across the district and the broader community. While there are never enough hours in the week, I do my best to make regular rounds and to take in community events. And wherever possible, I like to share the good things I see.

Superintendent Nosek and Chair Wilson, stand with Abby Schools student who won an award at the Cultural Diversity Awards Diversity Awards - 2024
Group of 4 females standing together, smiling for photo Fraser Middle - February Superintendent Newsletter Image
February 28, 2024

Agenda Gap: Shaping Youth Advocacy

Throughout the 2023/2024 school year, WA Fraser Middle School and Chief Dan George Middle have participated in a unique program called Agenda Gap. Agenda Gap is a research-driven program led by Dr. Emily Jenkins at UBC and funded by the Public Health Agency of Canada’s Mental Health Promotion – Innovation Fund. It is a facilitated program co-created with youth collaborators to support young people engaging in policy decision-making to enhance conditions for positive mental health for themselves and their communities.

Group of 4 females standing together, smiling for photo Fraser Middle - February Superintendent Newsletter Image
Burnout, stress and tired girl thinking about exam, assignment or project deadline at school iStock - Female student standing-blurred students walking
February 1, 2024

Celebrating Learning

Does this dialogue sound familiar...?  

Parent: “What did you do at school today?”
Student: “Nothing.”

At W.J. Mouat, we are lifting the veil of what happens at school through our weekly Spotlight on Learning series and our yearly Celebrations of Learning, which demonstrate both the intellectual and human/ social nature of learning. Check out the 58 different contributions!

Burnout, stress and tired girl thinking about exam, assignment or project deadline at school iStock - Female student standing-blurred students walking
Sunrise light at the famous Capilano Suspension Bridge Park on a foggy morning, suspended walking bridge in middle of forest, North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. iStock - Capilano Suspension Bridge
February 1, 2024

The Bridge to Anywhere

There are no guarantees in life, but wherever you want to go or can imagine going, education is probably the best way there. How does a child in Kindergarten one day become an architect? How does a grade nine student become an arthroscopic surgeon or an agriculturist? How does one become an electrician or a chef? You guessed it - education. This is why I often describe education as the bridge to anywhere.

Sunrise light at the famous Capilano Suspension Bridge Park on a foggy morning, suspended walking bridge in middle of forest, North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. iStock - Capilano Suspension Bridge
Two students looking at a whiteboard Middle - Eugene Reimer Math
February 1, 2024

Enhancing Mathematical Learning

At Eugene Reimer Middle School, we are embracing innovative teaching methodologies, and one such transformative approach is the implementation of "Building Thinking Classrooms in Mathematics, Grades K-12: 14 Practices for Enhancing Learning" by Peter Liljedahl. This framework is reshaping our mathematical practices and redefining how our students approach problem-solving and mathematical reasoning.

Two students looking at a whiteboard Middle - Eugene Reimer Math
Female student focuses on built design for engineering class, male teacher watches 28June2023 - Superintendent Newsletter - ATS
June 29, 2023

Engineering in Motion at ATS

At Abbotsford Traditional School, Lewis Van Dyk, had the opportunity to implement strong inquiry opportunities in the classroom in his first year at the school. In 2021 Abbotsford Traditional School first offered an Engineering 11 course.  When Mr. Van Dyk took over the course, he focused on mechanical engineering and implementing the engineering design cycle through inquiry. Mr. Van Dyk focused on developing student design skills, as well as how simple machines work and the advantages that they have.

Female student focuses on built design for engineering class, male teacher watches 28June2023 - Superintendent Newsletter - ATS