Essential Learning

“Success is not an accident, success is a choice.”
(Stephen Curry)

In Division 1, we focus on developing the the life skills we will need to be successful in this 21st century world that requires its global citizens to think critically, act with sustainability, demonstrate social responsibility, and practice proficiency with technology. Our main goal is to acquire the essential skills that will allow us to become responsible, respectful, and compassionate individuals. We reach our individual learning goals through cooperation, respectful communication, as well as by being mindful of ourselves, others, and our environment. We adopt a growth mindset as we strive to overcome daily challenges and excel in our academics. Taking the words of W. Richadrson in Why School?, we strive to “connect with others, and to collaborate and create with them on a global scale. It’s not so much ‘do your own work,’ so much as ‘do work with others, and make it work that matters.‘”

The Three R’s (and the rest of the curriculum)

• English Language Arts
  • Reading: Reading Power by A. Gear
  • Writing: Writing Power by A. Gear; 6+ Traits of Writing by R. Culham
• Mathematics
  • Grade 7: Math Makes Sense 7
  • Grade 6: Math Makes Sense 6
• Social Studies
  • Grade 7: Ancient Worlds 7
  • Grade 6: Global Citizens 6
• Science
  • Grade 7: BC Science 7
  • Grade 6: BC Science 6
• Band 7 / Coding 7
  • Grade 7 students must choose a course between:
    • Band 7: students will experience playing brass / woodwind / percussion / string instruments of their choice within a band group setting
    • Coding 7: students will learn basic coding and robot programming skills

The Other Three R’s

Although we will be striving for academic excellence, we will also be committed to consistently practising the other three R’s: reasoning, resilience, and responsibility. These ideas and statements that we will follow daily are taken from The Other 3 Rs: Reasoning, Resilience, and Responsibility by The American Psychological Association.

• REASONING: thinking that utilizes explicit and/or implicit rules for problem solving and overcoming academic challenges.
  • If I am going to think clearly about solving a problem (or reaching a goal), I need clear rules to follow. 
• RESILIENCE: competently surmounting challenges, both inside and outside of school.
  • Challenges are normal. We all have them.
  • If at first I don’t succeed, I will try again.
  • Every time I find something difficult, I will ask, “What can I learn from this?” 
• RESPONSIBILITY: being accountable for one’s own actions and inactions, as well as the consequences of those actions and inactions.
  • It’s up to me to create what I want. It’s up to me to make it happen. How I act matters.
  • Good grades result from my efforts. If I want to learn, it is up to me. If I don’t understand, I have to ask.
  • I care about what you have to say. I care about what is good for all of us, not just me. I will help you when you need it. I will ask for help whenever I need it.

“Success is not final; failure is not fatal: it s the courage to continue that counts.”
(Winston S. Churchill)