Barbara Latkowski
Caledonia Courier
For some, it was a morning full of anxiety as they ventured off to school for the first time and for others it was as old school as can be as they reconnected with friends and teachers.
But all in all, there was much excitement in the air for many children who made their way back to school in Fort St. James on Sept. 6.
And for teachers as well as a new provincial school curriculum was put into place for the coming year..
For Craig Houghton, principal at Fort St James Secondary School, this is an exciting time.
“This will offer more flexibility and will give students the opportunity to find out what their true interests are,” Houghton said.
“This new curriculum will help them do that.”
Curriculum highlights include personalized learning, ecology, the environment, historical wrongs, aboriginal perspectives and knowledge and flexible learning environments.
The redesigned curriculum is also focused on literacy, numeracy foundations, essential learning and core competencies.
Terry Espejo, school principal at Nak’albun Elementary School is thrilled with the new curriculum and with the prospects that lie ahead for his students.
“We looked at our new curriculum and dissected it,” Espejo said. “We looked at the core competencies especially and at how we can get more of a hands-on approach in the classroom including technology for example.”
The cultural focus for Espejo is also important for the school community.
Aboriginal culture and knowledge has also been integrated throughout all areas of learning to help reflect the First Peoples Principles of Learning.
“We are very lucky here. This school is the epidome of cross-curricular integration. Our learning certainly reflects the cultural of the community,” Espejo said.
The new curriculum will provide teachers with greater flexibility in creating learning environments that are relevant, engaging and new.
With day one down, there were many smiles and relieved faces along with an eagerness of what the new school year will bring.