Blog Posts

Group of students stand at the newly planted garden Fraser Garden 2023
May 23, 2023

Fraser Garden

Grade 6 Indigenous students at W. A. Fraser Middle School were presented with a unique opportunity in late April this year. BC Agriculture in the Classroom (B PAC) invited our Indigenous Students to aid in the reconstruction of their Medicine Wheel Garden that was washed away in the floods last November. With the replanting, the group decided on more culturally significant and appropriate selections of plants. Each section of the medicine wheel has a teaching, and they wanted the plants in each section to be intentional. 

Group of students stand at the newly planted garden Fraser Garden 2023
equity framework pillars
May 23, 2023

Equitable Endeavours through our District's Equity Framework

In previous posts, I have shared my perspectives on the spectre of systemic racism in education, particularly in relation to Indigenous Peoples. I highlighted two interrelated constructs related to this issue: epistemic racism (the idea that there is only one form of true knowledge) and the related “racism of low expectations” highlighted in the 2016 Auditor General’s Report.

equity framework pillars
Hammer and Nails
April 28, 2023

CHAT GPT: Friend or Foe?

O wonder!
How many goodly creatures are there here!
How beauteous mankind is! O brave new world,
That has such people in't.

— William Shakespeare, The Tempest

Hammer and Nails
Group of students gathered on the floor CDG - Student Council
April 11, 2023

The Wolves Student Council

“When are we going to meet again?” Students at Chief Dan George Middle school are always eager to participate in our bi-monthly student councils. We have made it our mission to prioritize student voice by taking the time to listen and act on their thoughts and ideas.

Group of students gathered on the floor CDG - Student Council
Group of students and Superintendent gather on basketball court after playing a game Kevin Group Photo -Basketball
April 11, 2023

Reflections on Shadowing a Student

Earlier this school year I made the commitment to report back on what I had learned as a consequence of my “shadow a student” experience.  Listening to students has been a key part of my practice over the last few years, and shadowing a student is the most recent iteration of this learning journey.

Group of students and Superintendent gather on basketball court after playing a game Kevin Group Photo -Basketball
Students baking ASIA_Students baking
March 8, 2023

Nurturing Students’ Full Potential

We all know by now that education is not just about cramming information into students’ minds but about nurturing them in a way that develops young people to their full potential.  

Students baking ASIA_Students baking
Girl choosing healthy lifestyle, practicing yoga near sport equipment, vegetables stock illustration iStock-Healthy Lifestyle
March 8, 2023

More Play: Doctor’s Orders

Earlier this school year, leaders in our organization had the opportunity to learn from renowned psychiatrist, Dr. Shimi Kang on the subject of mental health and wellbeing.

Girl choosing healthy lifestyle, practicing yoga near sport equipment, vegetables stock illustration iStock-Healthy Lifestyle
February 2, 2023

Schoolwide Inquiry: Connections

Many Eugene Reimer school community members have deep roots in farming and agriculture in the Fraser Valley and beyond. Our catchment stretches across most of West Abbotsford’s agricultural areas, and many of our students and their families are involved in this industry. During last year's Farmer’s protests, we were reminded that even our students who live in the suburban areas of our catchment have strong familial connections to farming.

February 2, 2023

Black History Month & Resistance

“Now let us begin. Now let us re-dedicate ourselves to the long and bitter, but beautiful, struggle for a new world.” -- Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

January 11, 2023

Abbotsford Middle School and our Global Family

Abbotsford Middle School is an International Baccalaureate school.  IB aims to develop inquiring, knowledgeable and caring young people who help to create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect.  One of our primary goals is to develop Internationally minded students who recognize their humanity and shared guardianship, which is not difficult for us because we are a school of great cultural diversity.