· Virtual Learning Series, April & May 2023
· Facilitated Sessions
· Resources of Interest
The leadership provided by School Governing Authorities is crucial for effective schools, and the First Nations Education Steering Committee (FNESC) and First Nations Schools Association (FNSA) are committed to supporting First Nations School Governing Authorities so that they can continue to effectively lead their schools with the goal of increasing student achievement.
We are now pleased to announce the following supports for First Nation School Governing Authorities, including a new professional development Learning Series, an opportunity to request a virtual facilitated session for your Governing Authority, and a list of resources on topics of interest to school leaders.
Please find the event flyer for saving and sharing.
We welcome your involvement and invite your feedback about what other opportunities would be beneficial.
Note: First Nations in BC vary in terms of their school governance structures. Some First Nation schools are under the direct authority of Chief and Council. In other cases, communities have decided to establish a formal school board, or a more informal education or school committee or board. Membership on these committees or boards may include elected members or volunteers, sometimes involving only parents / caregivers, or sometimes involving a combination of parents / caregivers, community members and Elders.
In this pamphlet, the term “School Governing Authority” is used to capture all of these models, recognizing that the choice of how to structure the school’s leadership body should be based on what works best given the circumstances of each community and school setting.
Contact
Theo Sika, Administrative Assistant
executiveservicesadmin@fnesc.ca
Registration
A series of information workshops designed specifically for First Nation schools will be hosted in April and May, 2023. Interested School Governing Authority members are welcome to register for one or more of the following Zoom sessions. School principals are also welcome to join with their Governing Authority representatives, if appropriate.
| Overview of the Handbook for First Nation School Governing Authorities | April 11, 2023 | REGISTER |
| School Improvement Planning: What School Governing Authorities Should Know | April 17, 2023 April 24, 2023 |
REGISTER REGISTER |
| The Importance of Student Attendance: What Schools Can Do | April 18, 2023 April 25, 2023 |
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| The Importance of Family Involvement: What Schools Can Do | April 27, 2023 May 2, 2023 |
REGISTER REGISTER |
| What School Governing Authorities Should Know About the Special Education Program for First Nation Schools | May 18, 2023 May 24, 2023 |
REGISTER REGISTER |
| What School Governing Authorities Should Know About Funding for First Nation Schools | May 4, 2023 May 9, 2023 |
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| Considerations for First Nation Schools: Policies and Guidelines for Student Behaviour Issues | May 11, 2023 May 16, 2023 |
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| Facilitated Sessions for Individual School Governing Authorities | On request | Contact |
Workshop Descriptions
Overview of the Handbook for First Nation School Governing Authorities
This workshop will review the FNESC and FNSA Handbook for First Nation School Governing Authorities. That Handbook reviews information related to the importance of school governance, as well as the role of School Governing Authorities in setting the school’s mission and vision, and in budgeting, program planning, and policy development. This workshop was offered several times in 2022 and 2023. it is being presented again for people who were unable to attend this workshop in the past. People who attended this workshop previously are welcome to attend, understanding that the information presented is unchanged.
Offered: April 11, 2023, 2:30 pm – 5:00 pm
School Improvement Planning: What School Governing Authorities Should Know
This workshop will provide an overview of the First Nations Schools Assessment and Certification Process, with a specific focus on the role of School Governing Authorities. The workshop will include a discussion of how Governing Authorities can help their schools prepare for the five year process of school review and school improvement, how they can be involved in implementing the school’s self-assessment component, and how to help plan for school growth. The same session will be offered twice to accommodate as many people as possible.
Offered: April 17, 2023, 3:30 pm – 4:30 pm
April 24, 2023, 9:00 am – 10:00 am
The Importance of Student Attendance: What Schools Can Do
The evidence is clear: student attendanceis critical for student and school success. Data also shows that this issue is a serious challenge for First Nation schools in BC – and attendance difficulties were heightened by the COVID pandemic. This workshop will provide an overview of what research shows about the importance of student attendance, and what schools can do to help encourage students to attend school more regularly. The same session will be offered twice to accommodate as many people as possible.
Offered: April 18, 2023, 9:00 am – 10:30 am
April 25, 2023, 3:00 pm – 4:30 pm
The Importance of Family Involvement: What Schools Can Do
Parental and family involvement in education is fundamental to the success of students and schools, and it is a key priority for First Nation education. This workshop will present research findings about the importance of family support for their children’s learning in school and at home, and it will include a discussion of what schools can do to promote greater family engagement. The same session will be offered twice to accommodate as many people as possible.
Offered: April 27, 2023, 9:00 am – 10:00 am
May 2, 2023, 3:30 pm – 4:30 pm
What School Governing Authorities Should Know About the Special Education Program for First Nation Schools
This workshop will provide an overview of the FNESC and FNSA Special Education Program (SEP) for First Nation schools and how School Governing Authorities can be involved in related planning and monitoring. The topics to be reviewed include what SEP funding and services are available, how schools can effectively plan SEP supports for students, and what schools should know about students assessments and tips for working with specialists. The same session will be offered twice to accommodate as many people as possible.
Offered: May 18, 2023, 9:00 am – 10:00 am
May 24, 2023, 3:30 pm – 4:30 pm
What School Governing Authorities Should Know About Funding for First Nation Schools
This session will provide a detailed overview of the British Columbia Tripartite Education Agreement (BCTEA) funding for First Nation schools, as well as tips for creating and monitoring the school budget. The workshop will also explore what additional supports would be helpful. The same session will be offered twice to accommodate as many people as possible.
Offered: May 4, 2023, 9:00 am – 10:00 am
May 9, 2023, 3:30 pm – 4:30 pm
Considerations for First Nation Schools: Policies and Guidelines for Student Behaviour Issues
When they are thoughtfully developed and implemented, preventative, supportive and corrective approaches to student misbehaviour – sometimes called student discipline approaches – can strengthen students’ social and emotional development, preserve the integrity of the learning environment, and promote the safety and dignity of all students, staff, families, and school visitors. This workshop will share considerations to help school communities determine appropriate approaches to student behaviour issues that reflect their unique needs and traditions.
Offered: May 11, 2023, 9:00 am – 10:00 am
May 16, 2023, 3:30 pm – 4:30 pm
Facilitated Sessions – for Individual School Governing Authorities
Is your School Governing Authority interested in joining a Zoom meeting together, to participate in a facilitated discussion of your Governing Authority’s operations and priorities?
FNESC staff are available to join School Governing Authorities in individual virtual sessions to review issues included in the Handbook for First Nation School Governing Authorities, with opportunities for the meeting participants to discuss issues in the context of their own circumstances. Interested School Governing Authorities will be asked to complete the self-evaluation tool included in the Handbook for School Governing Authorities prior to the facilitated session in order to inform the discussions that take place. Each virtual session is expected to last approximately 3 hours.
Offered: On request – depending on time availability
Sessions will be scheduled on a first-come-first-served basis
Contact: Theo Sika, Administrative Assistant, FNESC, executiveservicesadmin@fnesc.ca
Resources
Handbook for First Nation School Governing Authorities
This Handbook provides information related to a range of responsibilities of First Nations School Governing Authorities. The topics reviewed in the Handbook include: setting the school’s vision, purpose, and strategic direction, hiring and monitoring the performance of the school principal, advocating for the school community, approving the school’s policies and budget, and more.
Toolkit for Raising the Attendance Rates of First Nations Students In British Columbia.
This Toolkit is intended to help First Nations and First Nations schools consider issues related to student attendance at school, including why attendance is an important issue, reasons why students might not be in school, and what can be done to help encourage students to arrive at school regularly and on-time.
Toolkit for First Nations Parents
Parents play a key role in the education of their children and parental rights are the foundation of First Nations control of First Nations education. Parents and families are central to promoting children’s access to relevant educational opportunities and to supporting children’s healthy growth and development. Being involved in the education process can be very rewarding for families, but it can also be challenging. That is why the Parents Toolkit was created. It includes a series of short, reproducible papers that can be adapted and shared with parents to provide information about topics in three general areas: appreciating the importance of parental involvement in education; understanding the structure of the school system, how to build positive relationships with school staff for the benefit of students, and what to do if difficulties arise; and thinking about how to create healthy and supportive learning environments at home.