Friday, September 25, 2015
Professional Development Day
| Our Truth and Reconciliation Through Education Inquiry Group in conjunction with our school's Professional Development Committee, helped facilitate an interactive learning activity, The Blanket Exercise, for our September Professional Development day. Berta, from the New Westminster School District, was our BCTF presenter who guided us through thousands of years of Aboriginal history. Berta is originally from the Nuxalk Nation. In addition, Rose Guerin, our District Elder, officially opened the day's learning. The Blanket Exercise allows people to visualize and experience history through the lens of our Aboriginal peoples. This teaching tool was originally created by members of the Assembly of First Nations and published by KAIROS Canada, a consortium of eleven churches and religious organizations. Berta acted as the narrator as we moved from pre-european contact to present day. We summed up the morning with looking at how we can better integrate First Nations content and learning into our daily life at SDSS. Thereafter, teachers moved into departments to explore this more deeply. Our Library Learning Commons has 2 copies of the The Blanket Exercise. This activity is a multi-lesson unit. Our Aboriginal Support Worker, Faye O'Neil, and members of the Truth and Reconciliation Through Education Inquiry group are available to help. Feel free to see Faye or Sharon for more information. |