West Vancouver Board of EducationStrategic Plan 2012–2015

Make a Difference

It is with great pride and anticipation that the West

Vancouver Board of Education has approved its

Strategic Plan for 2012-2015. This important document

has been in development for many months and we

thank all of you who provided input.

We are now moving forward with your ideas and

building on our solid foundation to ensure the future

success of all students attending our schools in West

Vancouver, Bowen Island and Lions Bay.

Our vision is clear: “We aspire to provide the finest

educational experience in the country – for the benefit

of our children, our employees, our community and our

world.”

Our values are many and they include respect,

inclusiveness, engagement, responsibility,

transparency, and joy; yes that’s right…we try to infuse

our district’s work with fun and joy!

We have three key areas of focus:

First and foremost, we achieve educational excellence

through collaboration, engagement and innovation.

We work tirelessly to deliver the services necessary

to provide an enriched learning experience for our

students. We want every child to develop a lifelong

love of learning, to be socially responsible and to be

globally aware.

Secondly, we ensure system sustainability. We

attract exceptional teachers, administrators and

support staff to provide progressive programming

for our students. We also update our facilities and

teaching tools to keep our infrastructure modern and

accessible.

Lastly, we continue to cultivate community

connections. We know there are all kinds of

opportunities to enhance learning and we encourage

staff and students to seek them out. We also share

our academic, artistic, and athletic accomplishments

with all of you.

We believe our vision for learning will allow us to grow

and expand upon the strong tradition of educational

excellence in the West Vancouver School District –

“the premier place for learning.”

Sincerely,

Cindy Dekker, Chair

Message from the Board Chair

“We want every child to develop a lifelong love of learning, to be socially responsible and to be globally aware.”

students. We want every child to develop a lifelong

love of learning, to be socially responsible and to be

globally aware.

Secondly, we ensure system sustainability. We

attract exceptional teachers, administrators and

support staff to provide progressive programming

for our students. We also update our facilities and

teaching tools to keep our infrastructure modern and

accessible.

Lastly, we continue to cultivate community

connections. We know there are all kinds of

opportunities to enhance learning and we encourage

staff and students to seek them out. We also share

our academic, artistic, and athletic accomplishments

with all of you.

We believe our vision for learning will allow us to grow

and expand upon the strong tradition of educational

excellence in the West Vancouver School District –

“the premier place for learning.”

Sincerely,

Cindy Dekker, Chair

Quick FactsWest Vancouver School District 45 is one of 60 school districts in British Columbia. It serves the communities of West Vancouver, Lions Bay, the Squamish Nation, and Bowen Island.

Primary and elementary schools: 14

Secondary Schools: 3

Elementary students: 3,627

Secondary students: 3,491

Total Students: 7,118 Percentage of eligible Grade 12 graduates receiving graduation diplomas: 97%

Total employees: 1029

THE WEST VANCOUVER BOARD OF EDUCATION

Photo (from left to right):Chair Cindy Dekker

Trustee Reema FarisTrustee Dave Stevenson

Vice-Chair Jane KellettTrustee Carolyn Broady

Our VisionWe aspire to provide the finest educational experience in the country — for the benefit of our children, our employees, our community, and our world.

Our VisionWe aspire to provide the finest educational experience in the country — for the benefit of our children, our employees, our community, and our world.

Our Values

EXCELLENCE We pursue excellence in everything we do.

COLLABORATION We seek input from the community throughout the decision-making process.

INCLUSIVENESS We support and celebrate the successes of all members of our education community.

RESPECT We treat everyone with respect and fairness. We honour and celebrate our differences.

ETHICAL ACTION We are honest and ethical in our actions.

TRANSPARENCY We make our processes and decisions as open as possible.

RESPONSIBILITY We make responsible decisions on behalf of all we serve and are accountable for our decisions.

ENGAGEMENT We provide meaningful and relevant learning experiences.

INNOVATION We inspire innovation by encouraging curiosity and a spirit of inquiry.

JOY We infuse our district’s work with fun and joy.

STRATEGIC GOAL #1

Educational ExcellenceOur core work and common goal is educational excellence.

GOALS AND OBJECTIVES ACTIONS

Engage students in relevant and meaningful experiences to inspire a lifelong love of learning.

• Continue to support struggling readers through early interventions, including Lexia and Fast ForWord.

• Maintain and expand optional curricular and extracurricular programs to meet the needs of diverse learners.

• Establish opportunities for public demonstrations of learning.• Identify ways to engage students in learning beyond the classroom.• Use portfolios to scaffold, support and articulate student learning.

Create and support innovative practices and inquiry-based teaching and learning environments.

• Support the development of inquiry-based frameworks in all schools.• Maintain and expand the use of innovation grants for staff.• Promote innovation team sharing of ideas, learning, and celebration of

successes.• Create a digital environment to enhance teacher professional networking.• Participate in the Ministry initiative – Changing Results for Young Readers.• Ensure teachers have access to current technology. • Explore contextually relevant formative assessment models to align with

new models of learning.• Support and expand the use of self-regulation throughout the school district.

Enhance student learning through:• performing and

creative arts• environmental education• student wellness

initiatives• global awareness • social responsibility

• Develop an intermediate student concert series, bringing live professional theatre to all Grade 4-7 students at the Kay Meek Centre.

• Support interest in Farm-to-School Initiative, School Gardens and similar projects.

• Through the district’s Healthy Schools Committee, work with Vancouver Coastal Health and other partners to develop a comprehensive approach to student mental health awareness and initiatives.

• Support local and global community outreach and leadership initiatives.• Develop a Fine Arts preparation course with Capilano University and the

Kay Meek Centre.• Support the growth of school and / or district-based programs which

accentuate environmental education and sustainability.

“inquiry-based learning and self-regulation continue to gain momentum throughout the West Vancouver School District”

FOR OUR CHILDREN

STRATEGIC GOAL #2

System SustainabilityEnsure that our financial, human and physical resources are sustainable.

GOALS AND OBJECTIVES ACTIONS

Maintain and expand our financial resources.

• Continue to advocate within the community and with various levels of government around the funding needs for the school district.

• Continue to support opportunities for programs of choice.• Consider broadening international education opportunities – including

teacher training opportunities, as well as opportunities from within and outside the district to market our expertise.

Continue to attract and retain our exceptional employee base.

• Provide innovative training/coaching for our employees in all areas of the organization.

• Provide teachers with opportunities for district involvement through expansion of leadership opportunities (e.g. fine arts, athletics).

• Increase opportunities for staff to share demonstrations of learning outside of the school district.

Maintain and improve school district facilities.

• Work with various levels of government to target funding to improve school facilities.

• Engage with stakeholders on facility requirements.• Explore the “learning commons” option for school libraries and other

innovative school designs.• Update and “modernize” classroom technology and other teaching and

learning supports. • Regularly update the community/public on current facility priorities.

Ensure our digital environment is progressive, consistent and accessible.

• Provide universal access for personally owned technology.• Ensure teachers and students have access to a current digital environment

to support teaching and learning.• Continue the use of Digital Literacy support teachers.• Expand digital resources and content, and explore ways to support teachers

with digital content.• Pursue increased digitization of business functions including e-forms and

commerce.• Plan and implement transition to a new student information system.• Support parents in their use of digital resources as partners in learning.

Promote and facilitate sustainable practices throughout the district.

• Upgrade copiers and printers at all sites to reduce our carbon footprint.• Continue class, school and district efforts to move toward a paperless

environment.• Support efforts around waste reduction including “green” garbage cans and “zero

waste” policies.• Expand the use of e-meetings with staff.

“ it is wonderful to see our teachers continuing their innovative ways by incorporating new technologies into their classrooms”

FOR OUR EMPLOYEES

“our staff and students are encouraged to seek out learning and leadership opportunities in the community”

FOR OUR COMMUNITY

STRATEGIC GOAL #3

Community ConnectionsContinue to cultivate broad community connections.

GOALS AND OBJECTIVES ACTIONS

Celebrate and promote the achievements of our students and staff.

• Participate in community recognition events including District Youth Awards and other celebrations.

• Develop celebrations to recognize staff and community volunteers.• Highlight school accomplishments as part of the regular public board

meetings.• Maintain and grow our web presence.• Continue to support and grow district communications.• Continue to use social media as a tool to share our story.• Maintain ongoing communications through Board News and other media

about the work of the district.

Engage our students in leadership opportunities.

• Continue to support and raise the profile and awareness of the District Student Council and support their efforts to represent a broad range of student perspectives.

• Formalize students’ role in the “work” of the district and the board as a formal partner.

• Partner with the municipality through Young Adults Helping U (YAHU) – linking the school district, municipality, with student initiatives.

• Create student feedback sessions around key topics including modernization, sustainability, and educational transformation that solicit input from a wide range of students.

• Promote and celebrate local and global student involvement in humanitarian projects.

• Develop focussed student leadership opportunities for First Nations’ students.

• Increase formal student leadership programs and structures in our schools.

Collaborate with key organizations in our local and professional community.

• Continue the important work with the Squamish Nation and the development of the Aboriginal Enhancement Agreement.

• Maintain and expand involvement with the North Shore Multicultural Society and other organizations that support the increasingly diverse population in schools and the community.

• Commit to ongoing liaison with all levels of government and community agencies.

• Continue to develop joint use opportunities with the District of West Vancouver, Bowen Island and Lions Bay.

• Participate in community committees supporting youth activities and achievements (e.g. Youth Services Review Implementation Committee).

• Engage with post-secondary institutions to develop partnerships.

FOR OUR WORLD

West Vancouver Board of Education 1075 – 21st Street West Vancouver, BC V7V 4A9 T (604) 981-1000 • F (604) 981-1001 • www.sd45.bc.ca