BC's Curriculum is built around the core competencies, essential learning and literacy and numeracy foundations. Education programs today focus on concepts instead of content, on how to learn rather than what is learned, and, on developing critical thinking skills. Follow us in the month of March as we share stories highlighting how the curriculum supports students in their learning journeys.
Career education is an integral part of BC's revised curriculum and is impressively demonstrated by VSBean, a work experience program where students with diverse learning abilities run a coffee cart business. Students learn to work collaboratively, find ways to be resourceful, and utilize their problem-solving skills, while having fun at the same time. Such skills are integral to the BC's core competencies.
From the beginning, the coffee cart venture has been a group effort. Teacher Russ Evans together with Tupper Tech woodworking students took on the task of building the cart from scratch. With a functioning cart in operation for some time, the program has supported 15 students from six different schools in barista, management and marketing duties. The program also sees student mentors who previously worked at the VSBean return to Garibaldi Annex to train new students as they enter the work experience program. One student alumnus, Andrei, says his favorite part of the job is, "serving customers and getting to know people."
With the help of the WEX (Work Experience) team, teachers, support staff and student alumni, another cart will soon be established at the District Education Centre.
Georgia who currently works at VSBean says that her favourite part of the job is, "serving customers and making new friends". She also says "It's great to do something that is new to me, and it's been really fun."
