The Dancers of Damelahamid visited schools across the district to share their captivating performance, In Abundance (“Hloxsa ‘Wii hun”). Through choreographed dances, carved masks, and storytelling, they conveyed teachings rooted in Gitxsan and Cree cultures. Themes of balance, sustainability and community came to life, particularly through the salmon cycle — a powerful symbol of abundance and interconnectedness.

The performance provided each school with an immersive learning experience. By weaving Indigenous teachings into dance, song and art, students gained a real-world understanding of the First Peoples Principles of Learning, which emphasize holistic, experiential and relational approaches. This dynamic performance also illustrated curriculum goals, such as exploring creative processes, symbolism, and cultural traditions, while demonstrating how art connects individuals and communities.

Students left with a deeper appreciation for reconciliation and gained valuable insight into how art serves as a powerful expression of identity and shared values.

During the winter break, strong winds toppled a tree on school grounds, leaving behind a significant piece of nature that might have otherwise gone to waste. However, the district’s maintenance team saw an opportunity to give the fallen tree a second life. With skillful craftsmanship, they carefully repurposed the tree into 10 beautifully handcrafted wooden stools.

These stools now enhance the school’s outdoor learning area, providing a functional and inviting space for students and teachers to connect with nature. By transforming an unexpected challenge into an opportunity, the maintenance team demonstrated how their behind-the-scenes efforts enrich the learning experience and strengthen the bond between schools and their natural surroundings.

Students partnered with the Sea Smart School Society, a local charity dedicated to ocean education and youth programs, for an inspiring Art-A-Thon that blended creativity with environmental advocacy. Through this initiative, young artists raised awareness about ocean sustainability, climate change, endangered species, and the importance of protecting marine habitats.

Throughout the event, students channeled their passion into original 2D and 3D artwork, using their artistic talents to spotlight critical environmental issues. Their ocean-themed creations reflected a deep commitment to sustainability while reinforcing the power of art as a tool for education and change.

By the end of the day, 18 unique paintings were completed, each telling a visual story of ocean conservation, rising sea temperatures, and pollution. The event also raised over $21,000 in support of Sea Smart’s mission, furthering efforts to educate and inspire the next generation of environmental stewards.

Exploring new ways to build, create and discover, our young learners had an exciting day of loose parts play. With a variety of open-ended materials — such as natural objects, recycled items, and everyday objects — children were encouraged to use their imagination and practice their problem-solving skills along the way.

As they worked together, children experimented with different ways to arrange and combine materials, testing balance, structure and design. The open-ended nature of loose parts play allowed them to take risks, adapt their thinking, and develop essential problem-solving skills in an engaging and hands-on way.

Throughout the day, curiosity and creativity flourished. Laughter and excitement filled the space as students shared ideas, refined their creations, and marveled at what they could achieve. These moments of exploration reinforced how play is a fundamental part of learning, empowering students to think critically, collaborate and embrace new possibilities.

As part of their Applied Design, Skills, and Technologies curriculum, students engaged in an exciting design challenge — building their own mazes from scratch. The project encouraged creative thinking, problem-solving, and hands-on construction as they transformed their ideas into functional designs.

The process began with brainstorming and blueprinting, where students mapped out their maze concepts and planned each twist and turn. From there, they carefully measured, constructed and tested their designs, troubleshooting along the way to ensure their paths were both engaging and functional. As they refined their work, they learned to navigate challenges, think critically, and embrace the iterative design process.

The finished mazes were then shared with their peers, who eagerly explored and tested the different designs. The lively exchange of ideas brought the designs to life and turned the classroom into a hub of discovery and collaboration.

Venturing into the world of ancient Egypt, students explored the fascinating art of hieroglyphics. In this social studies lesson, they discovered the history and significance of this early writing system, learning how phonograms, ideograms and determinatives were used to communicate ideas and stories across time.

Equipped with a hieroglyphic and alphabet chart, they translated their names into hieroglyphs, gaining insight into the complexity of this early written language. The activity sparked curiosity about ancient Egyptian culture and deepened their understanding of how languages evolve.

By bringing the art of hieroglyphics into the classroom, students deepened their appreciation for the ingenuity of ancient civilizations. The lesson reinforced the power of written expression and highlighted the connections between past and present storytelling.

Reading is one of the most cherished activities in the classroom, and Mega Bat (a book series by Anna Humphrey) became a highlight of the day in an elementary classroom. As students immersed themselves in this humorous and adventurous series, quiet reading time was often accompanied by busts of laughter, which filled the room with joy.

The playful nature of the book sparked creativity and imagination, inspiring students to think beyond the pages. In their book reports, they eagerly shared their favourite moments and discussed alternate endings, demonstrating critical thinking skills and how deeply involved they were with the book.

Their shared experience with Mega Bat highlighted the magic of reading — how a good book can bring joy, spark discussion, and create connections with both the story and each other. 

Educators across the district participated in a professional development session focused on Supporting All Learners in Reading, led by Dr. Shelley Moore, a leading expert in inclusive education. As classrooms become increasingly diverse, ensuring that all students have access to meaningful and effective learning experiences is essential. The session explored strategies for designing learning environments that remove barriers and support the needs of every learner.

Using approaches such as "universal design for learning" and "backward design", participants explored multiple ways to align instruction with learning standards, creating flexible pathways that anticipate diverse needs from the outset while proactively designing lessons to accommodate all learners. 

With new perspectives in mind, our educators left with fresh insights on how to advance inclusive classrooms where every student is empowered to succeed. By fostering a culture of inclusivity and continuous learning, the district ensures that every student has the support, resources and opportunities needed to reach their full potential.