In schools across the world, and of course in Burnaby, literacy is a primary focus. Learning to communicate in the English language is no easy feat. There are just so many words.  “The Second Edition of the 20-volume Oxford English Dictionary contains full entries for 171,476 words in current use, and 47,156 obsolete words. To this may be added around 9,500 derivative words included as subentries. Over half of these words are nouns, about a quarter adjectives, and about a seventh verbs; the rest is made up of exclamations, conjunctions, prepositions, suffixes, etc. And these figures don’t take account of entries with senses for different word classes (such as noun and adjective).

This suggests that there are, at the very least, a quarter of a million distinct English words, excluding inflections, and words from technical and regional vocabulary not covered by the OED, or words not yet added to the published dictionary, of which perhaps 20 percent are no longer in current use. If distinct senses were counted, the total would probably approach three quarters of a million WORDS.  (/oxforddictionaries.com/words/how-many-words-are-there-in-the-english-language)

Those may be fascinating facts, but the real challenge is putting even just a few words together to say something beautiful, educational, powerful, thought provoking or profound.  Our teachers and educational support staff work with  students each day to help them find their voice through the written word.  As someone who writes publicly I know it can be a challenge to get the words just right. I know it is a risk when you write and share your ideas. But I also know that it is a gift that you give the world.

For 27 years the district’s WORD Writing Project has celebrated our best student writers by publishing an anthology of their works. It is a project that is unique to Burnaby, and just one of the many ways that we help engage our learners and inspire future authors. The students’ words in this anthology are thought provoking, entertaining, educational, and just plain fun. But most importantly they demonstrate excellence in literacy – and I want to thank them for their gift of sharing their words – and invite you to read them and experience for yourself the power of their words.

WORDS Anthology: Words to Share

We all have voices. And we all have stories to tell – and those that need telling. I encourage all of Burnaby’s students to keep on writing – for the written word has the power to change the world for the better and has done so throughout human history.

The work done across Canada that is celebrated on Earth Day reminds me of some key practices that engage learners.  Authentic learning or “real world learning” are terms that support the view that students will be more engaged and retain learning more effectively if the work they are doing is purposeful and has an outcome that can clearly be applied to current or future life issues.

One great example of this approach to learning can be found in our district’s Burnaby Youth Sustainability Network (BYSN).  If this is the first you are hearing of the network, I will let the organization describe some of their work and purpose in their own words. Check out their website at www.bysn.ca

“The Burnaby Youth Sustainability Network (BYSN) is a student-driven organization that unites youth from all across Burnaby to take action towards a more sustainable future for our district.”

During monthly meetings, students have the chance to learn, explore, and act. Through engaging workshops and discussions, they learn about different aspects of sustainability and are exposed to fresh perspectives on the concept. They have the chance to voice their concerns and opinions to a keen, sympathetic peer audience as well the chance to initiate or help with projects on issues that they are passionate about. Two such projects are BYSN’s Generation Green program and the annual DO IT GREEN conference.

Generation Green is a mentorship program that closes the bridge between high school students and elementary school students. Currently, high school students are working with our buddies from Forest Grove Elementary School, one of BYSN’s partner elementary schools, to improve and learn about the elementary school’s garden while having lots of fun at the same time!

Do It Green  (DIG) is an annual sustainability conference open to  students, staff and the Burnaby community.  Attendees hear impressive keynote speakers, participate in a variety of workshops and get the chance to see what all the secondary schools in Burnaby are doing to promote earth-friendliness. DIG is fully organized and run by BYSN students, giving members a chance to experience taking on the tasks of organizing a district-wide event, plus the chance to be able to share what they are doing to improve sustainability with students beyond the network.”

To measure the success of this initiative please consider that much of the work done by students is volunteer, or on independent directed studies, and this combined effort has resulted in the following impacts:

Jacqueline Shen the conference Chair states, “Last year we had almost 200 people Do It Green. This year participation has grown to over 500 students, adult supporters, and community members who attended the conference and learn from nationally recognized green leaders like Severn Suzuki.”

Matt Foley, District Energy Manager, notes the students have been the main driving force behind our ever growing number of school food gardens, with many of the BYSN students caring for the plants during their summer holidays.

One of the BYSN’s key initiatives was to have water refill stations installed in every Burnaby high school. As a result they have diverted the equivalent of one and half million plastic bottles from the landfill in just 18 months!

The students, with the support of BC Hydro, have used the Energy Ambassadors program to support initiatives on how to make our schools more electrically efficient and often visit elementary classrooms to speak to students about how to “do it green.”

Jacqueline says one of her favourite quotes is, “If you want to go fast, go alone. But if you want to go far, go together” (author unknown) The members of BYSN demonstrate this bit of wisdom every day as they connect with elementary schools, host community clean-ups and organize educational mentoring programs for younger students.

Happy Earth Day indeed. The future looks bright with some very engaged learners, doing authentic work and developing a movement that is has even got other districts looking at what they can do to “do it green” and “keep it green!”

As we head toward a well deserved Spring break, I feel it is important to recognize the power of community and the many helping hands that make Burnaby schools a terrific place to work and learn and Burnaby such a wonderful place to live.

This is just one of many community organizations that play a key role in helping students in Burnaby schools learn. Each year they contribute more than $50,000 towards a healthy snack program in 16 district schools. According to brain researcher and author John Medina, nutrition affects a child’s ability to have peak performing “brains” that are ready to learn.  And so this worthwhile program not only reduces hunger but it enhances learning potential as well.

On March 9 the Burnaby Fire Fighters’ Charitable Society held their annual Firefighters Ball that supports these existing snack programs. They also hope to expand this program to 8 additional district schools. It was humbling to see so many community leaders, businesses, and citizens “out there for the children, one snack at a time!” and giving generously.

Equally as generous were the individuals and associations that stepped forward and offered helping hands to those families that lost their homes in the wake of a devastating apartment fire on February 17. Some of the families affected have children in our schools. School and district staff immediately stepped forward to provide food and transportation, and connect them with the many incredible organizations that were ready to help them get back on their feet again.

Students cannot engage in learning in school if their basic needs are not met – needs like food, clothing and shelter. Thank you to the many helping hands that reach out in our community every day so that our students can thrive and realize their potential.

As we start a new calendar year and I cast my eye to the future, I am curious about what the coming months will bring.  That hopeful, curious nature which starts at infancy and is a part of our natural development, carries on through to old age.  Encouraging curiosity is essential to successfully engaging students in learning.

Early in their learning journey children are curious about everything.  I experienced this recently while reading to a grade 2/3 class at Edmonds Community School taught by Emily Sutherland.  The children were curious about so many things.  Their questions came rapidly and covered too many topics to share here.  Their energy and genuine enthusiasm made me want to discover the answers with them.  That is the power of curiosity – it is contagious!

District Advance Learning Helping Teacher, Laura Shantz comments,

“As educators, we are in constant pursuit of those electric times when our students’ individual and collective curiosity has them barreling forward, arms and minds opened wide, in search of knowledge and the answers to their questions. These are the times when we strive to keep up with the collective flow and we come home at night feeling like we’ve been a part of something incredible.

How do we ensure that these curiosity driven times of rich and layered inquiry make up the bulk of our days? It’s not always clear. But we know that approaching teaching with a curious mind allows us to stay energized and hopeful in the midst of all of the expectations and challenges that we face. It models the necessary detours and tumbles most true inquiries will take.

Finally, if we are to fully trust the true power of our child or student’s curiosity, and our own curiosity in creating engaging and enriching learning experiences, we need to stand back and allow room for it to grow. This is best described by the French philosopher, Anatole France,

“Do not try to satisfy your vanity by teaching a great many things. Awaken people’s curiosity. It is enough to open minds; do not overload them.  Put there just a spark.  If there is some good inflammable stuff, it will catch fire.”

In my youth I spent a couple of weeks each summer with my maternal grandmother, “Nana.” Almost every day Nana would insist I get up early and join her on an “adventure.”  These adventures included sketching or painting water colors of natural scenery, hunting for wild portobello mushrooms, visiting a fish hatchery, or discovering the wonders of local tidal pools. She awakened a curiosity about the wonders that were just outside my back door that still remain with me today.

The key to curiosity is that whoever is leading the learning should always be curious themselves. Whether it is a parent, grandparent or sibling at home, a guide or scout leader out on a fieldtrip or a teacher in the classroom, each one of us has the power to awaken curiosity simply by sharing it.

So give the gift of lifelong learning and awaken a child’s curiosity today.

The feeling of care and inclusiveness that is always a part of Burnaby School District is more evident than ever in December, as we close the year 2012. Holiday concerts, plays and performances put us in the holiday spirit and provide an opportunity for our students to demonstrate a diverse set of talents to their families and the larger Burnaby community. There are 49 schools in Burnaby and remarkably more than 135 different holiday performances will take place in school gymnasiums, theatres, seniors’ residences and local shopping venues and downtown hotels.

And as we celebrate the winter season, schools have initiated toy drives, food campaigns, clothing donations and Christmas meals in an effort to help make lives brighter.  The caring demonstrated by our schools this season will continue on in 2013. Throughout the District and City of Burnaby, ongoing programs and initiatives will  provide support, improving the quality of life for citizens in need. Each year, thousands of dollars worth of goods and services are donated by students and staff through a variety of fund-raising events.

Our newly arrived immigrants to Canada are the first to recognize that we live in one of the greatest countries and one of the best communities in the world. The District’s mission statement reads, “To prepare and support an inclusive, caring community of learners for the challenges of a changing tomorrow.” The values in our mission statement are well-earned and it makes me proud to be a member of the learning community in Burnaby.

On behalf of the senior staff, I would like to thank you for the role you play in creating safe, caring and inclusive schools and workplaces. You make the difference in Burnaby schools.

I wish you all peace, joy and happiness during this holiday season!