From: Pam Wattamaniuk, Regional Coordinator (BC08)

Please see the following attachments:

Arts and Culture – 28-08-2016 Sports and Fitness 04-08-16 and 11-17-16

Sports and Fitness 04-08-16 and 11-17-16

Important points first (but I recommend reading until the part about the promotion for the first three weeks of next year’s program–then stick around for the FAQ’s only if you want to!)…

It’s time for students to register for a week at Encounters with Canada in Ottawa for next year! The theme calendar can be found at https://www.ewc-rdc.ca/pub/en/theme_week .

Your quota (same as last year) is 1 student. ***Keep reading for exceptionally good news, though!

***Given that I am always granted additional “over-quota” spots (taken from other provinces who don’t use their entire quota) for my waitlisted students, I requested permission to register all interested students now (regardless of school quotas). I’m happy to report that within a short window of time (from now until June), I’m going to be permitted to do this. What this means for you is that, although you still need to grant school approval for each student to attend, you will not need to whittle down your list… As long as they register now (between now and June) and are approved by you, we’ll be able to register as many students as want to attend. J

(***After June, we go back to the waitlist process where you send me the student name and email address and they’ll go on my waitlist until I hear in the fall/winter about the availability of more spots. Whether you fill your school’s quota or not, all students will need to be waitlisted after June.)

DEADLINE for student names to me so I can issue access codes for online registration:  Friday, May 20, 2016  (These students should have parent approval to attend before being issued an access code.)

DEADLINE for completed, signed registration forms and payment to be sent to me (by email as a pdf document): Wednesday, June 1, 2016 (Please let me know if this date is a problem so we can make alternate arrangements.)

Reminder of the basics:

• Students must be between 14 and 17 years old when they participate. (You may be interested in the 2015 BC portrait that I’ve attached to this email regarding details about students who attend Encounters.) Please note that due to federal funding restrictions, students “age out” at 18 and cannot participate after they turn 18—so they must sign up for weeks that fall BEFORE their 18^th birthday.
• Students must be Canadian citizens or Permanent Residents (Landed Immigrants).
• While they do not have to be your top students, students need to be able to afford to miss a week of school. They do NOT need to be bilingual to participate in Encounters; however, they should be aware that the program is offered in English and French, and students need to be respectful of the fact that they will hear French spoken there. It would be a perfect opportunity for students to make an effort to practice any French that they already know. Most important, of course, is that each student you select should be a good ambassador for your school and district.
• You must sign each of the student registration forms as the school representative (usually on p. 3, depending on how it prints out). Please check that the parent signature is in the section immediately above yours.
• The price for a week at Encounters remains at $675 for next year. (This includes airfare, ground transportation, room & board at the Terry Fox Canadian Youth Centre, guest speakers, field trips, workshops, etc.). Payment can be made by Visa or MasterCard (credit card payment is preferred), but they may pay by cheque, if necessary. Registration happens much more quickly with credit card payment. *See below for details re special price reduction for the first three weeks of the program in the fall. (One of those weeks even falls before the school year begins!)

If you plan to hold a meeting of interested students, you may wish to bring in students who have already attended to talk to your interested students and/or you could show them this video: https://www.ewc-rdc.ca/pub/en/begin_your_adventure .

PROMOTION TO START OFF THE YEAR:

** Students registering for one of the following three weeks will have a chance to win a $100.00 gift card at Ottawa’s largest shopping mall, Rideau Centre, AND for a limited time (now through June) will be eligible for a reduction in fees (as indicated below).

• Arts and Culture – August 28-September 3, 2016 – $600 (a $75 reduction from the regular $675 cost of the program if register by June)  See attachment for additional info.
• Sports and Fitness – September 4-10, 2016 – $600 (a $75 reduction from the regular $675 cost of the program if register by June)   See attachment for additional info.
• Sports and Fitness – September 11-17, 2016 – $600 (a $75 reduction from the regular $675 cost of the program if register by June)   See attachment for additional info.

Pam Wattamaniuk, Regional Coordinator (BC08)

Encounters with Canada website:  www.ewc-rdc.ca

View Encounters video at:  https://www.ewc-rdc.ca/pub/

Please share this with friends and family.

The Summer Child & Youth Pass is a pilot project, intended to increase access to participation. The pass is valid from June 21 – September 6, 2015.  For only $20.00, a Summer Child & Youth Pass will provide unlimited access to all drop-in activities in Coquitlam.

What’s Included?

With this pass, children aged 0 – 18 years old will have unlimited access to all of our drop-in activities offered throughout the summer. This includes swimming at both indoor and outdoor pools, drop-in sports and outdoor drop-ins.

Youth, 16 – 18 years old, will have access to all drop-in fitness classes and unlimited access to the City’s fitness centres.

Youth, 13 – 15 years old, are welcome to use the Fitness Centres at City Centre Aquatic Complex, Pinetree Community Centre and Poirier Sport & Leisure Complex during our Teen Weight Room time:

Days: Monday – Friday
Time: 3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Before working out, teens MUST complete a one-hour Summer Teen Fitness Starter. A small registration cost of $2.00 is required. Register starting May 13!

How do I Get Mine?

You can purchase the pass in person at one of these locations; proof of age is required:

• City Centre Aquatic Complex
• Dogwood Pavilion
• Glen Pine Pavilion
• Pinetree Community Centre
• Poirier Sport & Leisure Complex

Visit our website for more information:  http://Coquitlam.ca/summerpass

1. Our school in the Tri-City News:

2. Here is one of our two winning designs (according to students and teachers) of a Brochure created in Digital Literacy. This one is by Josh. Click here.

3. Many students will be taking Food Safe tomorrow (Friday Feb. 27th), paid for compliments of you… (our PAC). Please make sure students bring their Care Card Number/Health Care number! This is needed for them to get their Food Safe certification.

4. Please join us for our PAC Meeting on Monday, March 2^nd, at 7:15pm

Also, the last day of school before the two-week March Break is Friday March 6^th

Regards,

Dave Truss.

Please click the following link to read the letter:

A letter from Patricia Gartland, Superintendent of Schools, January 15, 2015.

Patricia Gartland  –  CEO/Superintendent of Schools

The Board of School Trustees designates the Superintendent as the Chief Executive Officer of the District and delegates to the Superintendent responsibility for overall administration of the District. The Superintendent makes reports which focus on governance implications and is accountable to the corporate Board for the conduct and operation of the District, for providing leadership in administration and instructional programs for students, and for ensuring compliance with legislative requirements. All Board authority delegated to the staff of the District is delegated through the Superintendent. (Link)

An Open House and Information Session will be held at Inquiry Hub Secondary School on Thursday January 15th, 2015 at 6:30pm. Students and parents are welcome to come! Map: http://goo.gl/maps/Pg911

This is a program of choice, without a specific catchment area. Family interviews are conducted to determine an appropriate fit with the program.

An application form for the 2015-2016 school year is available on the Inquiry Hub website: http://inquiryhub.org/application/

Inquiry Hub Secondary School is for learners who share a passion for knowing and investigation and have an interest in using technology to seek answers to their questions. The Inquiry Hub will appeal to families who are seeking a smaller, cooperative learning environment where students can focus on their interests individually and in small teams – those who:

• Are motivated learners that have some self-regulation skills

• Want a chance to apply their learning in a practical way

• Are interested in research and learning with technology

• Find structured classes do not meet their learning needs

• Are interested in learning through social networks

• Desire to work on projects which make a difference

The Inquiry Hub offers the following benefits for students:

• Instruction which blends classroom and online experiences in a hybrid model

• A student-driven inquiry approach to learning

• Significant reduction of structured classes with emphasis on a learning commons where students do daily group project work and individual, computer-based learning

• Class environments which group students around interests and project focus rather than grade levels

• Parents and community as active learning partners

• Extensive use of peer mentorship in cross-grade projects

• Core, inquiry-based program offerings which are extended through our extensive list of online courses

Website: http://inquiryhub.org

Application: http://www.inquiryhub.org/application/

Flyer: 2015-iHub-Grade 8 Newsletter Flyer

• Safe Schools – Multi Family Letter Dec 2014 (2) – Although this was from December, all the information is relevant. Note the Tips for Parents on Gaming.

• Winter Moon Poster – Aboriginal Education is hosting the Winter Moon Community Dinner on January 20, 2015 at Banting Middle School.

• Applications are now being accepted for the 2015 Introduction to Policing Course XVII – Here is the link to our website: http://coquitlam.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/ViewPage.action?siteNodeId=319&languageId=1&contentId=39858

• Parents as Career Coaches Workshop Poster for January 20 and 27, 2015 – Grade 10-12 parents in secondary schools to attend a Parents as Career Coaches workshop.

• Invitation to Lannie Kanevsky lecture – Learn more about the intensities that accompany giftedness.

Below is the text of the letter from Tom Grant. The letter can be viewed here: Letter to Parents re Teacher Strike Update Sept 8 2014.

September 8, 2014

TEACHERS’ STRIKE UPDATE

Dear Parent(s)/Guardian(s),

There has been a great deal of media coverage about the ongoing teachers’ strike and possible paths to a timely resolution.

Many parents, students and staff who have followed the news may have questions regarding these recent developments and their impact on a return to our school year.

This weekend the Minister of Education and his bargaining representatives declined binding arbitration at this time. We understand that the parties have suspended bargaining as they each seek to regroup and define further proposals for a resolution.

Your School District No. 43 (Coquitlam) Board of Education and senior staff team understand that this is a difficult time for everyone. We remain committed to sharing timely and accurate information.

Schools remain unable to offer educational programs at this time and until further notice.

For additional information, please visit:

BC Ministry of Education Newsroom: http://www.newsroom.gov.bc.ca/ministries/education/
BC Public School Employers’ Association (BCPSEA): http://bcpsea.bc.ca/
BC Teachers’ Federation (BCTF): http://bctf.ca/
Coquitlam Teachers’ Association (CTA): http://www.coquitlamteachers.com/

If you wish to contact the Minister of Education, your local MLA, or the BCTF to express your thoughts and concerns please review the following:

Minister of Education Peter Fassbender Minister.Educ@gov.bc.ca
MLA Mike Farnworth, Port Coquitlam mike.farnworth.mla@leg.bc.ca
MLA Douglas Horne, Coquitlam-Burke Mtn douglas.horne.mla@leg.bc.ca
MLA Linda Reimer, Port Moody-Coquitlam linda.reimer.mla@leg.bc.ca
MLA Selina Robinson, Coquitlam-Maillardville Selina.robinson.mla@leg.bc.ca
BC Teachers’ Federation President Jim lker presidentsoffice@bctf.ca

Again thanks for your cooperation and your patience.

Sincerely,
Tom Grant
Superintendent

_______________________________

Further to the letter, here are some resources that parents and students might find useful:

See learning links at BC Parent Info: http://bcparentinfo.ca/learning-resources/

I would recommend two specific resources at LearnNowBC:

o    http://www.learnnowbc.ca/LearningResources.aspx – includes more resources, often grade specific, including digital activities and videos

o    http://www.learnnowbc.ca/studycentre/default.aspx – offers free online tutoring services (beginning Sept 7^th)

An email from me, Dave Truss, will come later this week.