The first Student Learning and Well-Being Committee with the Board’s newly elected trustees was held at the Education Centre on Wednesday, January 11. Watch the full meeting or view the agenda for details.

The committee began with an item for approval, a new board authority authorized (BAA) course. BAA courses are offered in response to the local needs of schools and their communities. District staff recommended the approval of Filipino Language and Culture 11 – a BAA course designed to introduce students to the Filipino language at the beginner level while exploring Filipino history, traditions and culture.

After a question period, committee members unanimously supported the motion for the Grade 10-12 BAA course (Filipino Language and Culture 11) to be sent to the Board for final approval at January’s meeting. For details on the course synopsis, goals and rationale, view Appendix A in the agenda.   

Following this, committee members heard an update on the District calendar. At the beginning of the school year, the District’s calendar committee met monthly to review proposed key dates for the next three school years, including the first and last days of instruction, winter and spring breaks, professional development days and non-instructional days. The committee supported the motion for the District Calendars for the 2023-2024, 2024-2025 and 2025-2026 school years to be reviewed for final approval at January’s Board meeting.

Next, the committee heard an update on the District’s Safe and Caring Schools (SCS) department. In May 2021, the Board approved a plan for the creation of the SCS department following a decision at the April 2021 Board meeting to discontinue the School Liaison Officer (SLO) program.

SCS work alongside school administrators, counsellors, students, families and community groups to support student well-being and success. Since its inception in September 2021, SCS has focused on engaging with school communities through restorative practices, proactive supports, culturally responsive pedagogy, and trauma-informed practices. The work SCS does to support school communities is ongoing as the department continues to develop and build areas of effective implementation and improvements.  

At the November 2022 public meeting, the Board passed a motion to request the Vancouver Police Department (VPD) implement a revised and reimagined SLO program. It was noted that if the VPD commit to the establishment of a reimagined SLO program, the SCS department will continue to support schools in tandem.

Lastly, information item requests were brought forward to the committee. District staff took note of comments and questions brought forward and will gather details to address all items.

To keep up to date with all of the District’s committee and Board meetings, see the calendar for meeting dates, agendas and livestream links. All recordings of past meetings are available on the District’s YouTube channel.