Pacers Connect

This weekend marked the 22^nd Annual Pacer Basketball Alumni Tournament, the longest (known) continuous alumni tournament in BC High School Basketball. More than 120 athletes participated in this year’s event, which drew alumni from as far away as Fort St. John, B.C., Missassauga, Ont., and Denver, Colorado.

The tournament is the brainchild of DSS teacher and coach, Jim Lawrence who has organized the event for each of its 22 years. This year is Jim’s 35th year in teaching (all at DSS) and in June, he plans to retire. For many of the basketball alumni, this was their chance to say thanks for all that Jim has done not only as a teacher and a coach, but as a man whose efforts have built a strong sense of community among this particular group of alumni.

Jim Lawrence - Gold Medal Pacer

Few are more appreciative than the Charles Family, whose late brother Anesto was an outstanding basketball player at DSS and a much loved member of the Pacer basketball fraternity. The Pacer Alumni Tournament and associated events have raised thousands of dollars for both the Anesto Charles Memorial Scholarship and the Anesto Charles Foundation, which provides young people the opportunity to attend summer sports camps when their family’s financial circumstances may not have allowed for it. Jim has been instrumental in spearheading these efforts and sits on the Foundation’s Board of Directors. Marlene Charles has never missed an Alumni Tournament and credits Jim for creating a great legacy in the community. “Jim is deeply committed to DSS and the Ladner community. Look at all the alumni who have become coaches and teachers themselves. Credit Jim, for encouraging and supporting them."

The weekend included the opportunity on Saturday afternoon for photographs with the 2010 Olympic Medals. Teck Resources, makers of the medals for the Vancouver Games, who through their Olympic Legacy Program provided alumni and their families a chance to get up close to these symbols of athletic excellence with proceeds from donations going towards the tournament scholarship fund.

Looking back, I’m incredibly fortunate to be a part of the Pacer basketball family. Over the years, our annual get togethers have evolved to include our children and our extended families and we’ve grown through our connections with each other. I’ve also greatly benefitted from my 27 year association with Jim Lawrence - my teacher, my colleague and my friend. Jim embodies passion, loyalty, and commitment to the Pacer Community like few others. We’ll be sad to see him retire, but he’s created an impressive legacy.

Pacer Oldtimers

Global Spirit

The student government at Delta Secondary has made impressive strides in shifting the purpose of "spirit activities" to include a focus on giving back, paying it forward, or simply helping others. During ChristmAssist, the student government teamed with Deltassist to adopt local families that were in need of support during the holidays. The recent World Spirit Week at Delta Secondary is another wonderful example of how DSS students have emerged as globally-minded citizens who are empowered and enthusiastic about their potential to make a difference in the lives of others.

For several years now, DSS teacher, Chris Dobrovolny has lead a club called the IFA, or the International Friendship Association at Delta Secondary. In this time, the IFA has been involved in several humanitarian projects in Central and South America, most recently in the Miraflor Reserve near the northern border of Nicaragua.  The IFA raises funds through various projects including coffee sales and collects donations to support worthwhile projects for the small communities in this area.


The list of projects is impressive. The DSS IFA has provided:

• numerous scholarships and educational opportunities for street youth in the town of Bluefields
• learning resources, computers, and scholarships for students in the remote areas of Miraflor, allowing them to study through a solar powered computer program 
• physical labour such as painting and landscaping 
• funding for a fresh water well, rain water collection system, and a new septic tank for the Tabitha Home Orphanage

Each spring, Dobrovolny and one or two other DSS teachers pay their own way to lead a small group of students to Nicaragua. It's a life changing experience for the students who learn first hand not only about the challenges of life in the Third World but also about the beauty, the power, and the fragility of the global community.

This year the IFA will build a preschool near the tiny village of Cebollal in the Miraflor Reserve. Working with the local agricultural co-op, the IFA and the DSS community have raised enough money to completely fund the project! Next month, Dobrovolny and teachers, Andrew Boldt, and Sheila Guichon will lead a DSS team of 6 students to Cebollal to assist with the construction. It will be challenging and physical, but rewarding work!

This year, the student government at DSS chose to get involved, engaging the participation of all DSS students through "Jar Wars," a penny drive challenge that ran during World Spirit Week. The cause and the challenge inspired our school community and while the final tally is yet to be determined (imagine counting and rolling 200,000 pennies!!!), it is estimated that "Jar Wars" will raise more than $2500 for the IFA project in Nicaragua.

As is often the case in Ladner, our community also did their part. Add in private donations from individuals and companies like Choices Market, and final tally will top more than $7000 for the project.











The Open Mic concert at week's end featured some of the school's most gifted performers, and raised an additional $400 through donations at the door. It's yet another example of how our community is using its considerable talents to help others. Check out Cameron Phillips' video for a few highlights.

Transitioning with Pride and Purpose

Delta South MLA, Vicki Huntington interviews Rebecca Wilkens

Last Thursday, members of the 2011 graduating class participated in formal interviews to complete their Grad Transitions requirements.  A host of prominent community members volunteered their time to make this event possible. The interviews challenged the students to reflect on their accomplishments, and articulate their plans for the future. The feedback from both the students and the volunteer interviewers has been extremely positive! Our special guests were blown away by the quality of our students and the breadth and depth of their experiences and contributions to community. I've now heard of two students who will be offered jobs as a direct result of their interviews! This was a true community effort that could not have occurred without the vision and passion of Grad Transitions Coordinator, Mrs. Shoemaker, Career Advisor, Mrs. Livingston, and Counsellor, Mrs. Dueck, and the support of many parents and teachers.

Many thanks to our interview panel:

George Harvie, CAO Corporation of Delta

Vicki Huntington, MLA

Steve Fera, Vancouver Giants

Maryann Cardwell, Alternate Programs Coordinator, Delta School District

Guillermo Bustos, Ladner Rotary

Constable Sean Doolan, Delta Police

Joan Nielsen, Ladner Legion

Gail Erickson, Ladner Legion

Ron Erickson, Ladner Legion
Gerry Grexton, Ladner Legion

Graham Parker, Kiwanis

Bob Bourgeois, Retired DSS Counselor

Ray Holme, Retired DSS Principal

Lois Jackson,  Mayor Corporation of Delta

Don Tuck, Retired DSS Teacher

Norm Buchko, Retired DSS Teacher

Debbie Lindsay, DYSL

Randy Callaghan, PCL Construction

Philip Raphael, Publisher South Delta Leader

Laurie Collicutt, Delta Parks and Recreation

Teresa Phillips, District Administrator, Delta School District

Denis Denischuk, Delta Community Foundation

DSS will be graduating some impressive students this spring, who in the words of  Delta Mayor, Lois Jackson, “may just save the world.”

Mayor Lois Jackson reviews Cameron Phillips' Grad Transition's plan

As we consider a vision for what we aspire to as a learning community, I am deeply inspired by the stories of students who will be leaving us with a strong sense of accomplishment in what they have done and an equally strong sense of purpose for what they will do in the future. 

A Vision for Learning

As our community begins the process of defining a vision for the Delta School District and for Delta Secondary School (see Vision BWTEIM) , we have asked stakeholders to reflect on a single “great moment of learning.” This appreciative inquiry will help us focus on the conditions that created learning that was engaged, purposeful, and effective. Having the good fortune of being a student, a student-teacher, a teacher, a parent, and an administrator in Delta, I can draw from many different experiences. I've done a lot of learning here! But what most easily surfaces for me are the moments when individuals and groups of individuals have overcome significant obstacles through new learning or working through a challenge with others. If I have to choose one, I’ll go all the way back to my time as a student at Delta Secondary in the 1980s...

My most memorable learning as a student at DSS was playing basketball for Delta teacher, Brian McGill. Brian inherited the senior boys basketball team from Neil Murray, who was quite deservedly a coaching legend. Neil was a notable athlete, who held a number scoring records at UBC and was recruited to play for the famed Dallas Cowboys, even though he had never played a down of football. As impressive as he was as an athlete, Neil was equally impressive as a coach, having led one of the most outstanding teams in Pacer history, the 1979 squad led by Canadian Olympian, Alan Kristmanson, and the late Anesto Charles, to the number one ranking in the province. As a junior student, I was looking forward to having Neil as a coach but prior to my grade 11 year, he stepped down, making way for a young social studies teacher, Brian McGill, to assume the coaching duties of the senior team. Clearly, McGill was following in the footsteps of a giant.

The transition to a new coach wasn’t easy. Brian’s approach to basketball focused heavily on defense. He believed that if our team held the opposition to under 50 points a game, then we had a chance to win. So we practiced defense … a lot. He committed to teaching us to play intense, fundamental, man to man defence better than any other team on our schedule. If good defence meant denying a pass, we would deny passes all over the court. If putting pressure on the ball meant being an arms length away, we would strive to be half an arms length. Some practices we didn’t even touch a basketball (now remember, these were the days of the “Lake Show” and the high flying, run and gun offenses favored by the NBA). So not surprisingly, it took a while for some of the players to warm to the idea (me included). 

Despite some early challenges (See also Cale Birk's post on GUTS - Brian McGill = GUTS), Brian never wavered and over the course of that first season, we built a strong student-teacher relationship. He was strict but he never raised his voice in anger. He consistently challenged and pushed us to “get out of our comfort zones”. Yet, he never singled a person out, embarrassed or humiliated anyone. He modelled mental toughness and was an example of self-control at all times. And when he introduced us to the teachings of John Wooden, they would resonate because Brian had been modelling this approach and holding us accountable to the Pyramid of Success since the beginning. Like my teammates, I became a reasonable high school basketball player, and our team had some modest success, but Brian helped me develop as an athlete and a person.  I was able to apply almost all of what I learned with Brian to other sports and more importantly, to other aspects of my life. Later, when I became a teacher and coach myself, I often found myself reflecting on how much I had learned from time with Brian as a coach.

What is your most memorable moment of learning in school?

Vision - Begin with the End in Mind

“In rowing, the stroke must be executed in precise synchrony with all other rowers in the shell. Coordinated timing at the catch is imperative to avoid "checking" the boat, or slowing its forward progress. Ideally, all rowers arrive at the catch at exactly the same moment, and immediately apply pressure on the oar with the oar in the water, which minimizes jerk at the catch. To accomplish this, the oar must be in the water slightly in advance of the rower's arrival at the catch where the seat reverses direction. When this action is completed correctly a bit of water, called "back splash" is splashed.” From Wikipedia: Rowing (Sport)

Whenever we begin a new project, if we begin with the end in mind we will have a much greater likelihood of actually achieving what we desire.  In education, we call this process Backward Design… you start at the end and work back to the beginning, designing instruction and planning for learning activities that lead to a desired end. 

That said the habit of beginning with the end in mind can be applied to almost everything we do in life.  When faced with major decisions or challenges, I try to make it a habit to stop and ask these questions. “What is the desired outcome?”  and “What do I want to have happen.” 

The rowing metaphor helps me remember the importance of keeping the end in mind.  When team members are pulling equally in the same direction, we will reach our destination.  If we pull in opposite directions or unequally, the scull veers off (and may even tip over!) and we get nowhere. It’s always best to work together!

By starting with an image or a vision of a desired outcome as a frame of reference, we can make certain that whatever we do does not violate the values and beliefs we have identified as most important, and that each action or decision contributes in a meaningful way to that vision. Having a clear definition of where we are going allows us to be selective about what matters most. It's easy to get caught up in the busy-ness of life and not be very effective.

This month, the Delta School District launched an ambitious and purposeful process for developing an inclusive and inspiring vision of the future. From now through the spring, our school community will be involved, along with other Delta schools, in contributing to the development of a shared vision for Delta Schools. While our involvement is important, no less important is opportunity that this occasion provides to re-visit our own vision of what we aspire for the future of Delta Secondary School. Having participated in an introductory session with district staff, managers and school based administrators, I’m engaged by the process and optimistic that our collaborative efforts will bring about our very best and set a compass point to guide future decision-making and actions.

As we set out to design our “end in mind”, I look forward to engaging with all staff, students, parents, and community partners in dialogue on our shared future.

Click here to watch a video introduction to the visioning process with Superintendent, Dianne Turner, DTA President, Paul Steer, and CUPE President, Colin Pawson.

http://web.deltasd.bc.ca/2011-visioning-process

Delta School District Visioning Process

(in summary)

What are we doing? Through engaging conversations around learning, and celebrating our past and current successes, we are articulating our inspired and inclusive dream vision of the future that builds on our very best. The questions we will answer through this process are: why do we exist (Purpose/Mission); what truly matters in everything we do? (Core Values); and in our boldest vision and most fantastic dream of the future, what do we want to do and be? (Bold Dream Vision)

Why are we doing this? When people in an organization share a bold, fantastic, collectively-held dream of the future, it draws everyone together in pursuit of that uplifting common purpose. The process will create a sense of belonging for the school district community and help poise ourselves for new realities in educational change.

Who will be involved? Meaningful opportunities will be created for all voices to participate in creating this compelling vision for the future of our schools: All Administrators, Managers, Teachers, Students, Parents, and Partners (PAC, DPAC, DYAC, CUPE and DTA, community leaders).

When? The Visioning process will unfold from January 6th through mid-April, and results will be integrated into relevant planning processes thereafter.

How Used/By Whom? The results of the Visioning process will create a compass for decision making in the Delta School District at all levels.

Why is a collective vision important to us?

Research by Andy Hargreaves, The Fourth Way, on schools and institutions that perform beyond expectations has shown that the 1st of key factors contributing to exceptional performance is a shared compelling and inclusive vision that everyone aspires to, and which builds on the best of the past.

“An inspiring and inclusive vision is one that draws people together in pursuit of an uplifting common purpose.” - Andy Hargreaves, The Fourth Way

Using Twitter to Build a PLN

@courosaAlec Couros

See if u can spot the 1 teacher in your school who's become energized with new possibilities w/social media.

http://youtu.be/rGEqWzw8A9g

19 hours ago via TweetDeck Favorite Undo Retweet Reply

Full credit to Alec Couros for this one!

While I bear little physical resemblance to the happy little penguin, I am no less enthusiastic about the possibilities of social media as a learning tool for busy educators. Count me among the many who are signing on to Twitter and other social media to support their professional growth and their work in schools. Looking around, I'm in good company. In fact, I don't have to look far to find a respected colleague that I currently work with or have worked with in the past, with whom I am able to share ideas, resources, links and extend conversations over time and space. Many people are referring to these connections as "networks" or "PLNs" as in Professional or Personal Learning Networks and I can attest to being deeply engaged as a learner as a result.

Twitter has been an incredible source of learning and perspective. It has introduced me to some amazing educators from around the province, across the country and throughout North America. I'm finding myself drawn to it whenever I have the opportunity. The iPhone allows me to access the feed whether I'm waiting for my daughter's volleyball practise to end, when I'm at the doctor's office, or when I'm tagging along at the mall (not much of a shopper) ... anywhere I have a few moments to spare, I'm able to access posts that are both interesting and relevant to my work as a principal.

Last month, I attended a dinner with the local chapter of PDK and I had the opportunity to sit and chat with many educators who are using social media tools to participate in personal learning networks. At the dinner, I had the pleasure of meeting David Wees @davidwees. David and I had never met in person, nor had I ever spoken to him or exchanged direct correspondence with him but I had met him virtually through the dialogue on Twitter. It was obvious that the introduction through social media enriched our face to face conversation that evening. I felt like I knew David, much like it might feel if I met an author or a media personality I had known from television. At the time, I tweeted about meeting my digital heroes. But it was clear that I had come to know David through his writing. And after meeting him in person, I'm likely to seek out opportunities to collaborate with him in the future. By the way, he's a fantastic writer! David's blog is called 21st Century Educator.

Twitter has also allowed me access intelligent, thoughtful posts and reflections that challenge my beliefs and assumptions from people with whom I already have a working relationship. It all cases the connection through social media has enhanced our relationship, and allowed me to gain a deeper understanding and appreciation for their individual perspectives. Here's a few examples:

Doug Sheppard @dsheppard40 is the Assistant Superintendent of Schools in Delta. Doug has a keen interest in technology. He was the first educator to introduce me to Twitter and I'll admit that it took me a while to see it as a valuable tool. As an experienced secondary principal, Doug's been a great mentor to me but we are both pulled in many directions with long days that are filled with various urgencies. Twitter allows people to connect around ideas when it is convenient. And since we both have young children, it's usually well into the evening before there's a chance. As a former science teacher, Doug is a source of some great science-related links. Right now, I copy the links and pass them on to our science teachers through email. Perhaps in the future, we'll convince a few more of them to sign on and follow Doug's Twitter feed themselves. Doug's blog is called Inspired Learner.

Bernie Soong @bsoong and I worked together a few years ago at McNair Secondary in Richmond. He's a great science teacher and we play a fair bit of golf together in the summer but in the last few months social media has allowed us to connect in a deeper dialogue on learning, assessment, and technology. I no longer get to see Bernie as often, but he's ideas are helping me grow as an educator. He has a great blog too: Mr. Soong's Blog

Chris Kennedy @chrkennedy is the Superintendent of Schools in West Vancouver. I first knew Chris as a teacher and basketball coach when he was at McRoberts Secondary in Richmond. Chris is an impressive educator in person but his skillful use of social media has expanded both his influence and his learning network. Re-connecting with him through social media has been a great source of both learning and inspiration for me. Chris' blog Culture of Yes is a must read for BC perspective on educational change.

Finally, I only have to look next door to find Aaron Akune @aakune.  Aaron is a first-rate blogger and thinker and best of all, he is also a part of the leadership team at Delta Secondary School.  It's great to be able to extend our conversations and our thinking through Twitter and blogging (Educating in the 21st Century and Pacer Post) and be able to come back to the conversation face to face. Often our conversations lead to a search on Twitter or reflection in a blog post. We started this digital journey together but Aaron has really taken off. I'm very fortunate to be learning so much from him. Check out Aaron's post on Becoming a Tweep! for his reflections on using Twitter as a learning tool.

It's this relationship with Aaron that has me enthusiastic about the potential of Twitter as a tool to support teacher collaboration in our own building. What if we were using social media tools in combination with valuable but limited face to face collaboration time? While we often talk about making cross-curricular connections, could Twitter make it possible? Most would agree that given the choice, face to face collaboration is best, but social media opens up the possibilities of including more participants at times that are convenient and accessible. Conflicting schedules? No problem! While face to face time is often limited by the daily demands of teaching - prepping for classes, marking, extra-curricular involvement, coaching, and life in general, social media is accessible 24/7. Add in benefits such as archiving posts and you have a powerful tool that is surprisingly easy to engage with.

Our DSS PLN is growing! Presently, @aakune, @agoelstevens, @gharkley, @rheagunning, @samotohashi, @kgadowsky, @nicolecruise and @terryainge are recent additions who are testing the waters. In the weeks and months ahead, I look forward to exploring the potential of these tools with even more colleagues at DSS. While I won't admit to having all the answers for "how",  like the little penguin, I'm feeling pretty energized about "why."

Check out this video from the learning blog on Twitter for Teachers for more:

Pacer Christmas

Here's wishing everyone in the Delta Secondary School community all the magic and joy of the holidays. Wishing you peace, good health, and happiness in the year ahead. Thank you for all you contribute to making DSS a caring community.

My Ten Favorite Videos from 2010

2010 has been a rich year for thought provoking and engaging digital content for educators. Here's a list of my favorite videos that were posted this year:

1. RSA Animate - Drive - The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us (Daniel Pink)

Incentives and rewards don't work. Deep engagement requires autonomy, mastery, and purpose. DSS embedded staff collaboration time in to the schedule for this school year - will we see increases in innovation and creativity? Video also provokes discussion about common assessment practice.

2. RSA Animate - Changing Education Paradigms (Sir Ken Robinson)
We viewed this video during a staff meeting and invited staff to participate in a back-channel dialogue using Today's Meet. Convincing argument on why change is needed.

3. New Learning Institute - Project-Based Learning at High Tech High (Larry Rosenstock)
Really resonated with a second view at the BCSSA Conference in November. Love the focus on creativity, design, integration and relationships.

4. TEDxPuget Sound - How Great Leaders Inspire Action (Simon Sinek)
Sinek explains the importance of starting with "Why?" Purpose driven leadership ... "People don't buy what you do, they buy why you do it?"  Law of diffusion of innovation explains change and the challenge of bringing innovation to scale.

5. TEDxKC - From Knowledgeable to Knowledge-Able (Michael Wesch)
Wesch, creator of 2007's A Vision of Students Today, explains the connection between media, relationships and culture. Era of new media requires us to go beyond critical thinking. Today's learners need to embrace real problems, collaborate, use relevant tools and create their own meaning.

6. First Follower: Leadership Lessons from Dancing Guy (Derek Sivers)
Short video offers an entertaining and effective explanation of the change process and innovation. The first follower transforms the lone nut into a leader. Find a great idea and have the guts to join in! Sivers also gives a great speech to first year students at Berklee College of Music... a bonus must see! Click here.

7. TED2010 - Bring on the Learning Revolution (Sir Ken Robinson)
What top ten list could be complete without a TED Talk from education's rock star, Sir Ken Robinson? Shift learning to focus on talents and a personalized curriculum rather than standardized models. Hard to believe that it has been 4 years since Do Schools Kill Creativity?

8. TEDxUBC - Students Live!  Real World Learning at the 2010 Olympic/Paralympic Games (Chris Kennedy) One of many excellent presentations at TEDxUBC... how fortunate we are to have such impressive local talent. We used Chris' video as a conversation starter on project based learning at a recent department head meeting. Reassuring for most to note that good writing matters.

9. BBC Four - 200 Countries, 200 Years, 4 Minutes - The Joy of Stats (Hans Rosling)
Rosling brings statistics and history alive with this engaging short piece. The power of technology and story-telling ... pretty neat, huh?

10. TED - Teaching Design for Change (Emily Pilloton)
Thanks to DSS teacher, Kelly Richter, for this one. Pilloton tells the story of Bertie County, NC and how innovative design and creativity can be a catalyst for learning and change.


Honourable Mentions :
TED - The Child Driven Education (Sugata Mitra)
New Learning Institute - The Myths and Opportunities of Technology in the Classroom (Alan November) ... one of my favorites but it came out in late 2009

The year 2010 also saw the release of three feature length films on education. Each are must sees :) Lot's of discussion points!
Waiting for Superman - both acclaimed and controversial, this film looks at the failures of the US public education system through the eyes of several students and their families.
We are the People We've Been Waiting For - an examination of education in the UK and how it may be done differently.
Schooling the World - a challenging look at the impact of our system of education on indigenous cultures.



What are your favorites videos of 2010? 

Video of the Week - Learning from Mistakes

Failure is a great teacher. For the last several years I've coached soccer and while I prefer it when the team wins, I've observed that many teams learn more when they lose. Our schools can take advantage of failure as wonderful learning tool, when we differentiate between formative and summative evaluations. Diana Laufenberg talks about changing from a culture of one right answer. When students are led to inquiry and permitted to make mistakes, learning becomes authentic, lasting, and engaging.

Thanks to last year's PAC chair, Marcia McCafferty for sending me the link to this video and to  Patrick Larkin, principal at Burlington High School in Burlington, MA for the Video of the Week idea.

TEDxUBC - Paul Cubbon - Engagement: the un-lecture

Paul Cubbon, UBC professor in the Faculty of Commerce, and architect of the "un-lecture" on why students are not engaged in their classes ... "Because they're bored."
In one of my favorite presentations at TEDxUBC, Cubbon encourages educators to challenge the status quo, focus on the students and develop mashups.
It's great to see new approaches applied to higher education.