Across the District, partnerships enhance learning and opportunities. What follows are some recent examples.
Children who are not yet school age benefit from the many District-run StrongStart BC programs. Connections with the community, such as scheduled visits by organizations like the Burnaby Public Library, also strengthen the experience for families.
Through a partnership with Shadbolt in Your Community, children at Edmonds enjoyed after-school clay works. A community barbeque at Twelfth Avenue Elementary was elevated through partnership, with students getting the chance to explore emergency vehicles with Burnaby RCMP and the Burnaby Fire Department.
Students often give back to the wider community. Staff at Gilmore Community School promised students a Water Bucket Challenge if the school collected $1000 for the Terry Fox Foundation. After nearly doubling their target with $1849 raised, staff kept their promise - all to the delight of students. The fun is captured in a video here.
Dennis Thomas-Whonoak, who is from the Tsleil-Waututh Nation, is the Executive Director of Indigenous Business Initiatives and Engagement at the UBC Sauder School of Business. He spoke with Indigenous students at Byrne Creek Community School, as they consider their future careers. Byrne Creek band students collaborated with Grade 6 and 7s at Stride Avenue Community School. The youth gave the elementary students a chance to try each band instrument at their workshop.
Parents and caregivers help build community and contribute to school culture. Some recent examples of involvement by the Parent Advisory Council are when the PAC at Brantford Elementary supported hip hop lessons and the PAC at Kitchener Elementary hosted a community movie night.
