The Student Learning and Well-Being Committee met on the evening of January 19, 2022.

First on the agenda was a staff presentation about the District’s mental health strategy. The strategy aims to strengthen connections and a sense of belonging for all learners, with a focus on Indigenous learners and students with disabilities and diverse abilities. This includes distributing mental health toolkits to provide tools for both elementary and secondary students, incorporating outdoor fitness in the curriculum to improve mental health, and working with the local health authority to create student orientated videos that promote mental health. With the pandemic, it has shown now more than ever, the District needs to continue to prioritize mental health and well-being for staff and students. 

Committee members then heard an update about the International Student program. With one of Canada’s largest international student programs, the District currently has more than 1,200 international students. The program directly funds about 60 teacher positions in the District, which supports enhanced teaching and learning opportunities that would not otherwise be available. The pandemic has significantly impacted the international student program. The provincially funded exchange program has been cancelled for the last two years, there is also been a drastic decline in home-stay availabilities as families are more hesitant to host international students during a pandemic. In addition, there has been a 30 per cent decline in enrolment of international students with the ever-changing travel restrictions. As a result, the District has had to pivot its approach and has worked with the Canadian embassy and consulate to promote education in Canada. With these efforts, the District has seen promising application numbers for the upcoming school year and is optimistic for the future, post pandemic.

Next on the agenda staff presented information regarding the Music Program Review. In April 2021, the Student Learning and Well-Being Committee approved a staff recommendation to design an engagement plan to help determine a shared mission, vision and strategic direction for K-7 music programs. Following this decision, an ad hoc committee made up of District staff, the Indigenous Education Department, Vancouver Elementary School Teachers Association, District Parent Advisory Council and Vancouver Principles and Vice-Principles Association was formed in October 2021. Since then, the ad hoc committee developed a draft vision and mission statement, and plans to develop strategic plans to support the implementation of a K-7 music program throughout the next 10 years. A summary of the work completed will be presented at the next Student Learning and Well-Being committee in Spring 2022.

The final item on the agenda was about the seamless day kindergarten pilot project funded by the Ministry of Education. As part of the pilot, students in kindergarten, who are also enrolled in before- and after-school care, would receive before and after-school care in their kindergarten classroom. The goal is to maintain consistent relationships in the same places to support a student’s continuity of learning. The District was selected as one of the 20 districts to participate in the pilot. One class at Lord Strathcona Elementary will participate in the pilot, with a maximum of 12 students. The committee heard that this Ministry funded program is well received within the community and the District looks forward to rolling out this early learning focused childcare opportunity to families in the near future.  

Keep up to date with all of the District’s committee and Board meetings; see the calendar for meeting dates, agendas and livestream links. A full recording of the meeting can be found on the District’s YouTube channel.