CAIS in Point

Two pieces on education by New York Times columnists David Brooks and Thomas Friedman recently caught my eye. While the subject of each column is American K-12 education, there may be warning signs for all of us to think about if we are to prevent the kinds of decline in achievement they describe. Friedman writes that in the 1950s and 1960s the U.S. dominated the world in K-12 education. “By 2006, the problem-solving skills of American 15- year- olds were assessed internationally and the U.S. students ranked 25th out of 30 nations in math and 24th in science." The implications for high value jobs in the future are obvious. What is even more disturbing about the decline is that at the fourth grade level, U.S. students are at par internationally. This implies that the longer students stay in the system, the surer they are to fall behind. Brooks also alludes to achievement gaps among American students. His prescription for reforming American education is to build systems based on both relationships and rigour. In doing so, Brooks refers to President Obama’s telling of how his mother would wake him at 4:30 a.m. “to tutor him for a few hours before he went to school.” When the boy complained about this practice, his mother responded, “this is no picnic for me either, Buster.” Here, a caring adult, in this case a parent (but it could be a teacher) insisted on a routine that called for rigorous application. The motivation for the “student” derives from the strength of the relationship and the difficulty of the challenge. One without the other will not produce the responsible, independent learner who can perform well in a 21st Century environment. While Canada, at the moment, performs relatively well internationally, we must work hard to ensure that we welcome international benchmarking, and to remain committed to developing and improving educational experiences, based on regularly assessed high standards.  Those standards should be rigorous without being rigid, and be required in an environment where achievement is fostered through profound and respectful relationships. The missions of our CAIS members reflect both the relationships and the rigour required to prevent a decline in achievement that might otherwise occur. The CAIS mission is to help member schools succeed in this endeavour. William Mitchell, Interim Executive Director

2009 Open Forum & Best Practices Conference

Don't miss out on this excellent professional development opportunity!

Registration and full details are available on the CAIS website http://www.cais.ca/conferences for the Open Forum: “Are We Moving Too Slowly in Using Technology in Our Schools?”, and the 2009 Best Practices Conference: Leadership and e-Learning. Both events are being hosted by Lower Canada College in Montreal, Quebec.

Times and Dates:

Open Forum: Thursday, April 30, 2009 - 7:00-9:00 p.m., followed by a wine and cheese reception. The list of panelists can be found on the CAIS website.

Best Practices Conference: Friday, May 1, 2009 - 9:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. Come and experience renowned keynote speaker Alan November, and participate in thought provoking workshops.

A block of rooms has been reserved at the Hotel du Fort, and all details can be found on line in the conference package.

Register today!

Registration for the 2009 Summer Leadership Institute is now on line!

The 2009 CAIS Summer Leadership Institute (LI) registration form is now on line at http://www.cais.ca/conferences2. Register soon to secure your spot at this dynamic professional development opportunity! Bishop's College School (BCS) is hosting the LI at their lovely campus in Lennoxville, Quebec from Sunday June 28 to Thursday July 2, 2009.

For your planning purposes:
On Sunday, people will arrive and register for the LI, and enjoy a social get together in the evening. The modules will be run from Monday morning until mid-day on Thursday. Montreal is the closest airport to Lennoxville, and BCS is about a 1.5-2 hour drive from Montreal.

The modules that are being offered this summer are:

* Accreditation and School Improvement - Peter Sturrup and Martha Perry
* Finance - Beth McKay
* Governance - George Rutherford
* Human Resources - Val Cambre
* Law - Professor R. Solomon
* Leadership (new module) - Courtenay Shrimpton

More details will be posted as they become available.

To read more about the CAIS Leadership Institute please visit: http://www.cais.ca/leadership_institute

Bishop's College School Summer Language Program

Bishop's College School is a lovely blend of picturesque landscapes, historic architecture and modern facilities.  Situated in the town of Lennoxville, Quebec, approximately 160 km east of Montreal, the 350 acre campus includes many playing fields, tennis and squash courts, and large wooded areas. 

The 2009 Summer School program is the 48th at Bishop's College School.  It is designed to provide an opportunity for concentrated instruction, to well-motivated students, interested in gaining proficiency in French or English.  Small class sizes allow for more individual attention, with instruction offered at the beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels.  Emphasis is placed on spoken French or English, but appropriate supplementary study is given in reading, writing, and comprehension skills. 

Bishop's College School’s summer program incorporates a full sports and activities agenda.  It consists of supervised team sports and off-campus activities in the afternoons.  Nearby beaches, riding stables and a golf course provide other extra curricular opportunities.  

The Summer School brochure can be found here. For further information please contact Denise Addona, Co-ordinator of Summer School.

e-mail: summer@bishopscollegeschool.com, Tel: 819-566-0227 ext. 319

www.bishopscollegeschool.com

BCS_SummerSchool_2009_web.pdf

Science.gc.ca Activity Book

Calling all science buffs!

If you like to play learning games and do fun experiments with your students, Science.gc.ca has a wonderful Activity Book for you!

Luminous water, mystery codes, constellation maps and picture puzzles are just a few challenges to engage your student group, all based on Government of Canada resources.

Download your Activity Book at http://Science.gc.ca/ab -- and, while you're at it, request your free "zipper pull" and fact-finding posters.

Check it out today! More details are posted on the CAIS website at: http://www.cais.ca/miscellaneous . If you have any questions please contact Bert Bailey at: bert.bailey@nrcan-rncan.gc.ca

Students on Ice – IPY Arctic Expedition 2009

Thanks to funding generously provided by the Government of Canada’s International Polar Year Program, Students on Ice (SOI) are thrilled to offer ten fully-funded student positions to participate on the upcoming Students on Ice – IPY Arctic Expedition 2009 from July 29th to August 13th, 2009.  Six of these positions are designated for northern aboriginal youth and four are designated for non-aboriginal youth from across Canada.                     

SOI are very pleased to offer students the chance to experience one of the most inspiring parts of the planet: the Canadian Arctic!  The scholarship includes all travel expenses from home to the Arctic and return. Travel arrangements will be arranged by the Students on Ice office.

The ship-based expedition will explore southern Baffin Island, Nunavut and the northern reaches of Nunavik. The students will travel on this educational expedition together with a team of 75 international students and 35 world-renowned scientists, environmentalists and polar educators.

The deadline for student applications is Friday April 24th (applications will not be accepted after this date).

 Application criteria and eligibility requirements:

• Candidate must be a Canadian citizen between 14-18 years old at the time of application.
• Candidate must currently be attending high school at the time of application.
• Candidate must submit a completed application form* with 2 letters of reference.
• Candidate must understand that this is an educational expedition, not a vacation. He/she must be committed to participate fully in all aspects of the education program.
• Candidate must demonstrate some or all of the following qualities: strong academics and/or passion for learning, interest in the environment; leadership qualities and/or potential to develop these qualities; a desire to make a difference and become a youth ambassador for change and action.
• Candidate must have current Government issued identification (with photo, if possible).  Ex: Health Card, Driver’s License, Birth Certificate.

*Application Form:  Interested students are invited to contact the Students on Ice Participant Coordinator at apply@studentsonice.com to request an application form, or if they have any questions.

Visit www.studentsonice.com for information about the expedition itinerary and education program overview! 

“This program is helping to train tomorrow’s leaders and give them the insights and skills that they need to better understand Canada’s Arctic... It is making a significant contribution to inspiring young people by introducing them to polar science and building the capacity to conduct Northern research.”- The Hon. Chuck Strahl, Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development (May 14, 2008)

DIALOGUE magazine wants to hear from you!

As a partner of Canada's independent school community, Our Kids Publications is pleased to offer you www.dialogueonline.ca — A Canadian Independent Education Online Resource.

DIALOGUE'S online portal brings together Canada's independent school educators and features poignant articles, book reviews, events, conferences and discussion, all dedicated to exploring private education—with a uniquely Canadian perspective.

Be published! DIALOGUE is now accepting proposals for the 2010 “Sustainability of Private Schools" issue. More information along with a poster is available at http://dialogueonline.ca/submissions.php. The proposal submission deadline is April 30, 2009.

Every day, schools across the country equip their students with skills, preparing them for the future. But what are our schools doing today to ensure their own survival? What challenges do we face in order to thrive in the years ahead?

Some article ideas are:

• Riding the wave of economic turbulence
• Making schools more affordable
• Replacing retiring teachers
• Education and technology for the 21st century
• Challenged enrolment methods
• Environmental sustainability

Share your insights and your viewpoints with your peers and be published in Canada's Independent School Journal, DIALOGUE. Submission proposals on any topic related to education are also accepted.

What Educators say about DIALOGUE:

“Dialogue is the most user-friendly and practical resource for Canadian private schools.” —Dave Bird, Principal, Pinehurst School

“Dialogue is a tremendous resource for educators nationwide…practical information and insights with a Canadian perspective, allowing independent school educators to share resources and the lessons they have learned. Dialogue is an important vehicle for professional development while also enhancing collegial ties amongst Canadian independent schools.”  —Martha Perry, Pickering College School

“I sat in the sun yesterday and perused the most current edition of Dialogue, and I am very impressed with the thoughtfulness, quality and writing of your contributors. I will definitely be sharing the magazine with my staff, as there are several inspiring pieces, which we would do well to discuss as a team.”  —Irene Davy, Sunnybrook School

Please send all proposals and story ideas to editor@dialogueonline.ca. 

Submitted by:

Agatha Stawicki
Publisher
905.272.1843 ext. 24     |    agatha@ourkids.net 

You Could be a 2010 Olympic Torchbearer!

The Canadian Olympic School Program, presented by RBC, is pleased to announce the launch of the 2010 Olympic Torch Relay School Kit which includes an exciting opportunity for students and their teachers across the country to carry the Olympic Flame during the 2010 Olympic Torch Relay.

By making a pledge to ‘Create a Better Canada’ as a classroom or team, RBC will award 16 teams of 20 students and teachers the chance to be 2010 Olympic Torchbearers.

Enter to Win! Visit www.olympicschool.ca/torchrelay. Contest closes May 12th, 2009, so get started today!

Share the story of how you and your students are improving your community, becoming more sustainable or living a healthier lifestyle, and you could win one of 16 team torchbearer spots. Submit a description of your pledge at www.olympicschool.ca/torchrelay, and your class, afterschool club, or school team could carry the Olympic Flame as it makes its way from coast to coast to coast.

While Olympic Torchbearers must be over the age of 13 (as of October 30, 2009) to carry the Olympic Flame, we are pleased to announce that younger students can enter to win exciting prizes. By pledging to ‘Create a better Canada’, your class could win one of eight grand prizes of a RBC Olympian visit and Run, Jump, Throw kit.

With the generous support of RBC, the Canadian Olympic School Program has produced a series of free educational resources that will help students make their pledges and bring the excitement of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Torch Relay to life in classrooms across the nation.

These bilingual classroom activities are available for download at www.olympicschool.ca/torchrelay and link to learning outcomes in social studies, language arts, math, science and physical activity.

The French and English versions of the contest flyers can be found below.

Submitted by: Lisa Wallace   B.Ed., M.A
Program Manager, Education and Community Relations
Gestionnaire de programme, Éducation et Relations avec la communauté
 
Canadian Olympic Committee
Comité olympique canadien
3585 Graveley St., Floor 7
Vancouver, BC, Canada V5K 5J5
Tel: (604) 678-2557
Fax: (604) 678-2554

COSP-Email-Blast-03-2009-English.pdf

Workshop: Evolution and Education

The University of Guelph is holding a day-long workshop for Ontario High School biological science teachers on 'Evolution and Education.'

Background: The 2009 Ontario science curriculum has enhanced the placement of evolutionary theory at the core of the biological science curriculum.  This can be a challenging topic to teach at the high school level. Guelph University is inviting you to join them for a day of stimulating talks and discussion about teaching the science of evolution, with the goal of enhancing your ability to effectively teach this subject to high school students.

Workshop Outline

-Listen to various educators and biology educators speak about teaching evolution:

• David Campbel: Florida high school biology teacher on his approach to teaching evolution in U.S. classrooms.
• Brian Alters: Evolution educator and researcher, McGill University
• Eugenie Scott: Director, National Center for Science Education, USA
• David S. Wilson: Biologist and evolution for nonbiologists educator, NY. 

-Discuss issues surrounding teaching evolution in the classroom.
-Be introduced to materials that will help you teach the science of evolution.
-Network with biology teachers in your local area, and with evolution researchers and teachers at the university level.
-Provide feedback on the challenges of teaching evolution inside the biology curriculum in Ontario schools.

Target audience: High school biological science teachers interested in enhancing the teaching of evolution in their classes, and taking part in world-wide recognition of the bicentennial of Charles Darwin and the 150th anniversary of his important book ‘On the Origin of Species.’

Date and place: Tuesday May 19, 2009.  The University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario.

Early-bird registration has been extended to April 24 (45$ for the day). For more information and registration, please go to:
http://www.uoguelph.ca/Ecologicalcolloquia/Education.html

Teaching Teachers

“Who dares to teach must never cease to learn.”
—John Cotton Dana

The February 2009 issue of Educational Leadership focuses on “How Teachers Learn”, and examines the many ways to expand the scope of the learning within the teaching community. Robyn Jackson, noted book author, argues that anyone can be a great teacher with the right training, practice and mind-set. In her book, Never Work Harder Than Your Students and Other Principles of Great Teaching (ASCD, 2009), she notes that while it’s important to have high standards for your students, it is equally, if not more important, to have high standards for yourself as a teacher. Jackson’s book explains how to develop a master teacher mindset that ensures you:

• Always know the right questions that lead students to deeper thinking, increased motivation, and more ownership of learning
• Anticipate which areas of a lesson might give students trouble, and correct misconceptions before they cause learning problems
• Use effective feedback to show students what they still need to do to reach an objective
• Organize your teaching knowledge into meaningful patterns that become the basis for your core teaching approach

The February issue also examines the way highly academically ranked countries utilize training time for their teachers. It is reported that a large percent of the schools in these countries spend time each week collaborating with their teaching peers. Moreover, in South Korea, Japan, and Singapore, teachers spend only about 35 percent of their working time in the classroom, with the rest being set aside for collaborative work, sharing, and planning.

The electronic age that we live in also affords teachers the opportunity to network world wide via e-mail, blogs, websites, etc... The potential learning opportunities have never been more vast. That’s another reason to set aside time to network with colleagues and share enriching e-experiences. Bill Ferriter, a teacher in Salem, North Carolina, writes that not only does he use blogs to keep his interest in teaching current and fresh, he has found that applying new technology to his classroom lessons has been beneficial to his students.

Ferriter’s use of Voice Threads in his classroom has helped students interact, respond, contribute and think in ways that might have been previously missed. Voice Threads are “online slide shows of images, documents, or videos that enable viewers to comment on any slide (or at any point in the video) by typing, recording an audio or video comment, or drawing on the image itself." Shy kids enjoy that they can make a point without feeling too exposed, and the interactive type of learning engages some students who might otherwise become bored. Ferriter believes that adding these types of different elements to his teaching keeps his students stimulated and challenged. It also keeps Ferriter feeling excited and connected to why he became a teacher.

Sonia Nieto writes about why people become teachers and the power of teachers. In her book What Keeps Teachers Going, she talks about the hard work of being a teacher, but also the ultimate rewards of a sometimes very taxing job. She also notes the importance of collaboration with teacher peers, and the enhanced learning that happens when teachers talk to each other. Collaboration and communication can lead to understanding students from more than one perspective, appreciating their communities, better knowing the school community, and on a global level, having a broader understanding of the world in which you teach. To neglect this aspect of teaching may be to neglect a crucial element of learning, about your students, and yourself as a teacher.

Lindsay Ireland, CAIS