Blog Posts

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.  

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.

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.

One of W.A Fraser Middle’s grade 6 teachers, Crystal Davids, was moved by the powerful stories from the Walking Forward Together conference to bring truth to our students around the impact of racist legislation, cultural theft, and residential schools. Mrs. Davids “felt like I wanted to do more” to move forward with her class in discussions around Truth and Reconciliation.

What better way to kick off a chilly fall season than with a hearty bowl of soup? At Chief Dan George Middle School, we have worked hard on our garden beds and greenhouse space this past spring and fall. Last May, our students planted a Three Sisters Garden - the traditional indigenous practice of planting maize, squash, and bean plants. Upon our return in September, the fruits of our labour were ready to be harvested.

At Colleen & Gordie Howe Middle School, we start the year with school-wide read-aloud. The goal for our read-aloud is to engage students in meaningful and relevant conversations and to foster a deeper sense of school community. This year, the staff selected “Count Me In” by Varsha Bajaj. The story follows two unlikely friends that are brought together, to both of their surprises. Unfortunately, a racially motivated assault happened to them and one of their grandparents.

I have recently had some conversations with youth in our schools regarding what matters to them in their education. They point to having adults who care about them, opportunities to engage in different kinds of activities, and social groups that they feel a part of. This seems to make sense and I would argue this is what we hope to achieve in our middle schools for all of our learners. Given our middle school vision of “joyful, inquiry-based approaches that create access to experience and opportunities to develop agency, identity, and belonging”, we are headed down the right path.

The Honourable Senator Murray Sinclair remarked in an impassioned plea that “we need to pursue reconciliation consistently and passionately. Education has gotten us into this mess, and education will get us out. We see this as our challenge and our hope.”

Harvesting sunflower seeds! Growing mushrooms! Whether it be planting winter kale, weeding garden beds, or composting, these tasks have all become part of our weekly routines at Chief Dan George Middle School. Our students are getting their hands dirty as we incorporate experiential learning outdoors into our classroom practices. Learning from our land has been beneficial for our students and staff. They appreciate nature and its biodiversity in nearby settings, care for our community and grounds, and establish connections between First People’s perspective and our curriculum.