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March 2016

NEGHǪH GǪNDI

Dzene Nendé Adandıh The  recent  warm  weather  has  us  all  anticipating  spring…even  if  it’s  a  bit  early  to  do  so.    Our  ice  roads  are  still  good  and  in  the  latter  days  of  February  people  head  out  on  the  road  for  spring  carnivals,  tournaments,  professional  development  and  other  activities.    After  the  hibernation  from  the  cold  and  darkness  everyone  seems  to  want  to  renew  himself  or  herself  by  coming  together.  

At  the  end  of  February,  the  Thanks  for  Making  a  Difference  campaign  wrapped  up.  Congratulations  to  all  the  region’s  teachers  who  were  personally  commended  by  their  students  past  and  present.      I  would  like  to  take  this  time  to  say  thank  you  to  the  many  educators  who  support  student  extra-­‐curricular  and  community  activities.    Teachers  have  been  coaching  basketball,  table  tennis,  cross  country  skiing  and  soccer.  They  offered  after-­‐school  clubs  such  as  library,  drama  and  Anime.  Teachers  have  planned  and  accompanied  students  on  a  variety  of  excursions  from  sporting  events,  Field  trips  to  Cadet  training  and  competitions,  and  post  secondary  explorations.  Our  students  are  very  fortunate  to  have  a  variety  of  extracurricular  activities  from  which  to  choose.  Thank  you!  Mahsi!  Merci!    

Looking  into  March  I  see  other  renewal  activities  taking  place.  All  learners  take  their  spring  breaks.    School  staffs  and  DEAs  meet  to  determine  the  school  calendar  for  the  upcoming  year.  The  Council  meeting  will  involve  the  trustees  in  a  preview  of  the  2016-­‐17  budget.  March  is  also  Aboriginal  languages  month.  This  year,  with  two  regional  language  programs  in  place,  we  acknowledge  ECE,  DCFN  and  the  work  of  our  current  Aboriginal  Language  Teachers  and  the  students  in  the  Language  Revitalization  Program  to  revitalize  the  Dehcho  Dene  Zhatie  in  our  schools  and  communities.    

As  we  enter  the  season  of  renewal  it’s  a  good  time  to  prepare  ourselves  mentally  for  a  strong  Finish  to  the  end  of  the  school  year.    I’d  like  to  share  this  “Advice  from  Noah’s  Adventure,”  which  combines  the  biblical  story  of  Noah’s  Ark  (Genesis  6  –  8)  and  Robert  Fulghum’s  book,  All  I  Really  Need  to  Know  I  Learned  in  Kindergarten.    

1. Don’t  miss  the  boat.  2. Remember  that  we  are  all  in  this  together.  3. Plan  ahead.  It  was  not  raining  when  Noah  started  construction.  4. Stay  @it  -­‐  someone  may  ask  you  to  do  something  really  big.  5. Don’t  let  the  critics  deter  you  from  the  job  that  needs  to  be  done.  6. Build  your  future  on  higher  ground.  7. For  safety’s  sake  travel  in  pairs  or  groups.    8. When  you  are  stressed  –  @loat  awhile.  9. Remember  the  Ark  was  built  by  amateurs  and  the  Titanic  by  

professionals.  10. No  matter  the  storm,  there’s  always  a  rainbow  waiting.  

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Dezǫa Gha Nezų K’eots’eɂahDDEC and DEA Members’ Workshop

Twenty-­‐six  Dehcho  DEC  trustees,  DEA  members  and  Secretary  Treasurers  attended  their  First  ever  joint  workshop  in  Fort  Simpson  January  28  &  29,  2016.  Including  DEA  members  in  their  professional  development  demonstrated  a  learning  community  at  work  and  Council  trustees  past  and  present  can  be  proud  of  the  learning  example  they  set.  The  workshop  provided  an  opportunity  for  collaborative  learning,  reFlection  and  informed  improvement  in  how  the  roles  and  responsibilities  of  the  DEAs  and  DEC  are  carried  out.    

The  workshop  opened  with  greetings  from  Rita  Mueller,  Assistant  Deputy  Minister,  Education  &  Culture  and  Andy  Bevan  Assistant  Deputy  Minister  of  Labour  &  Income  Security.    

Ms.  Mueller  described  the  organizational  structure  of  ECE  and  provided  an  update  on  the  Education  Renewal  initiatives.  She  made  connections  to  those  pilots  and  initiatives  that  were  particular  to  the  Dehcho.  Ms.  Mueller  explained  that  the  Junior  Kindergarten  Review  Report  was  delayed  as  the  Legislative  Assembly  had  to  read  the  report  First  but  the  meeting  was  timely  as  it  was  released  to  the  public  on  Thursday  afternoon.  DEAs  were  provided  copies  of  the  report  and  will  provide  their  feedback  to  the  Council  at  their  March  meeting.    

Mr.  Bevan  focused  on  the  Skills4Success  program  that  was  launched  in  the  fall.  He  also  engaged  participants  in  discussion  around  how  we  can  best  prepare  students  for  post  secondary.    There  was  agreement  that  students  need  more  exposure  to  post  secondary  institutions  and  programs.  Participants  would  like  to  see  their  students  have  courses  that  prepare  them  for  a  variety  of  post  secondary  options  including  arts  and  trades.    

The  cornerstone  presentation,  an  orientation  to  the  DEA/DEC  Members’  Manual  was  made  by  a  team  from  Education,  Culture  and  Employment:  Joanne  McGrath,  Director  of  Education  Operations  and  

Development;  Andrea  Giesbrecht,  Assistant  Director  of  Instructional  and  School  Services;  Sheila  Devine,  Manager  of  Education  Authorities  and  College  Services;  and  Debora  Simpson,  Manager  of  Adult  and  Post  Secondary  Education.  Dehcho  participants  found  the  presentation  and  the  manual  informative  and  useful.    The  document  provides  information  on  the  roles  and  responsibilities  of  the  District  Education  Authority  and  its  members  as  well  as  governance,  meetings  and  legislative  authority.  Presentations  on  conFlict,  Finance,  policy  and  strategic  planning  enabled  participants  to  clarify  issues  that  had  arisen  in  their  own  situations.    Participants  will  have  time  to  review  the  draft  manual  and  provide  additional  feedback  by  the  end  of  March.    

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Kim  Hardisty,  coordinator  for  the  Language  Revitalization  Program  described  the  program  and  the  progress  of  the  remaining  14  students.  The  First  year  of  the  program  focused  on  the  acquisition  of  language  through  mentorship  and  experiential  learning  with  all  classes  and  experiences  taking  place  in  Fort  Providence.  Andy  Norwegian  and  Violet  Jumbo  provided  the  Dene  Zhatie  expertise.  In  the  second  year  there  are  more  university  courses  with  an  academic  focus:  Language  Revitalization,  Social  Action,  Linguistics  and  History.  Classes  alternate  between  Fort  Simpson  and  Fort  Providence.  Virtual  learning  has  also  been  used  for  some  of  the  classes.  This  learning  model  supports  students’  individual  strengths  and  has  fostered  a  strong  cohort.    

Superintendent  Terry  Jaffray  provided  an  overview  of  the  Aboriginal  Language  Teacher  Training  Pilot.  Ten  Aboriginal  Language  teachers  are  participating  including  Immersion  teachers  and  a  teacher  trainee.    ECE  and  contractors  Andy  Norwegian  and  David  MacFarlane  facilitate  the  pilot.  Participants  received  training  in  the  Intensive  French  model  of  oral  language  instruction  in  June  2015.    Additional  support  was  provided  through  videoconferences  and  onsite  visits.  Participants  and  their  students  are  taking  to  the  new  instructional  strategies  with  good  results.  It  will  be  recommended  that  the  pilot  continue  next  year.    

Lea  Lamoureux,  Principal  of  Kaw  Tay  Whee  School  in  Dettah  made  a  presentation  about  the  school’s  success.  There  were  several  key  messages.  The  First  was  about  the  school  being  non-­‐judgmental  and  believing  that  parents  do  their  best.  Developing  a  communication  plan  in  collaboration  with  the  DEA  and  shared  with  students  and  their  families  made  a  huge  difference  to  school  community  relationships.      Another  message  was  about  equalizing  the  experiences  for  students.  Ms.  Lamoureux  shared  how  the  simple  act  of  distributing  alarm  clocks  made  a  difference  for  student  attendance  and  student  achievement.  Finally,  participants  learned  about  the  importance  of  celebrating  when  Ms.  Lamoureux  described  how  student  work  samples  are  displayed  in  the  school  halls  prior  to  DEA  meetings.  Learning  outcomes  are  posted  along  with  the  work  samples  so  people  know  what  the  expectations  were  for  the  work.  Community  members  are  invited  to  write  comments  to  students  based  on  the  learning  outcomes.  It  is  a  very  positive  experience  for  students  and  their  community.  Looking  at  their  future  plans,  Ms.  Lamoureux  is  cautiously  optimistic  that  Kaw  Tay  Whee  students,  staff  and  DEA  will  progress  with  continued  diligence  and  collaboration.  

Finally,  Nancy  Noseworthy,  the  Inclusive  Schooling  Consultant  presented  to  DEA  members  in  the  area  of  inclusive  education.  The  main  focus  was  on  educating  DEA  members  as  to  what  inclusion  in  NWT  schools  should  look  like  and  how  they  can  use  their  DEA  roles  to  support  inclusion  in  their  respective  schools.    DEA  members  were  also  informed  that  the  Inclusive  Schooling  Policy  in  the  NWT  is  currently  under  review  and  will  be  released  for  the  2016-­‐2017  school  year.  

Participants  told  us  that  the  most  important  information  they  learned  was  about  inclusion  and  they  would  like  to  learn  more  about  it.    They  also  felt  that  the  DDEC’s  next  steps  should  be  to  have  more  workshops  for  District  Education  Authorities.

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Echogot’ı̨ne Kų́ę́ Keots’ededıɂ́áh

The Junior Kindergarten/ Kindergarten class playing letter bingo.

Students in the grade 5/6 class collaborating as they solve a math problem.

Keanna McLeod and Chantel McLeod painting the windows of their classroom to celebrate the holiday season.

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Tthek’éhdélı̨ Keots’ededıɂ́áh

One of four rabbits students have snared so far this winter.

Local trapper, Richard Sanguez, teaches students how to set a lynx trap. Students

Students bait a marten trap with a piece of jackfish for the school's trapline near Jean Marie River.

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Students practice front rolls during Swim to Survive lessons at the Hay River Aquatic Centre.

As part of New Years activities, students watch their fireworks in a jar.

Students prepare meals they will serve community members as they transform Louie Norwegian School into a fine dining establishment; the Lynx Cafe.

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Łıı́d́lı̨ı̨ Kų́ę́ Keots’ededıɂ́áh

Students were learning about pressure changes that affect buoyancy in Science 8. Here is Zachary McNabb with a Cartesian Dive.

Students constructing bridges for Science 8 and the NAPEG (Northwest Territories and Nunavut Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists) popsicle stick bridge building competition.

In partnership with Open Sky and NAAC, the Duffle Bag Theater visited TSS on February 3. Students put on a Story Telling Performance for staff and students.

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Trenton Diamond-C honing outdoor skills in a combined Dehcho Dene Zhatie and PE class.

Destiny Ekotla practices archery with the TSS Archery Club.

Lauren Corneille-Lafferty sharing her Landscape Painting representing multiple views of the Mackenzie River over the winters of 2014, 2015 and the future subsequent year. Her painting

deals with the changing river due to global warming.

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Pedzéh Kı̨ ́Keots’ededıɂ́áh

CJYS students enjoyed a field trip to Edmonton and Jasper from February 15- 24, 2016. In Edmonton, students visited Galaxyland, the Telus World of Science, Silver City (Star Wars in IMAX 3D), and took in an Oilers game. A highlight of the game was seeing Connor McDavid score!

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In Jasper, students enjoyed snowboarding at Marmot Basin and swimming at the Jasper Activity Centre.

A fun time was had by all and it was a great learning adventure. The annual trip promotes positive social interaction and active healthy

lifestyles. The trip is also highly motivational.

Trip chaperones were teachers Blair and Leona Sellars and officers Pat Faye and Mark Phillips from the RCMP.

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Sambaa K’e Keots’ededıɂ́áh

The Literacy Night held Wednesday, January 27th was well attended.

A taste of literacy.... and lemon juice.

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DDEC Directory

Revised September 2015

Superintendent Terry Jaffray 695-7308

School Support Services

Student Support Consultant Nancy Noseworthy 695-7311

Teacher Consultant Brian Jaffray 695-7312

Literacy Consultant Sherri Thomson 695-7314

Resource Centre Technician Kim Hardisty 695-7304

Regional School Counsellor Cindy Browning 695-2609

Teaching and Learning Centre

Aboriginal Language Specialist 695-7305

Finance

Comptroller David Fiebelkorn 695-7309

Administration Clerk Shirley Villeneuve 695-7310

Administration Officer Sandra Tanche 695-7307

Administrative Services

Executive Secretary Cathy Nahanni 695-7300