Starting next fall, Surrey Schools will launch four new Board Authority Authorized (BAA) courses on aviation, first aid and esports, further broadening the scope of subjects available to Grade 11 and 12 students.
At the Oct. 9 public board meeting, the Surrey Board of Education approved the addition of Aviation 11 Explorations in Aviation, Leadership First Aid 11 & 12, and E-Sports: Active Living in the Digital Age (ESAL) to the district's current roster of 60 BAA courses. The new courses were developed by several teachers in collaboration with helping teachers Cori Penner and Lindsey Frederickson.
"As always, care is taken to ensure that these courses align with our curriculum and meet all the criteria that the ministry requires," said Kathy Puharich, Director of Instruction with Priority Practices. "We are submitting what I believe are four thoughtful, well-written and meaningful courses."
Aviation 11 was developed by North Surrey Secondary teacher Arnel Aliwalas, who leads the Exploration in Aviation Careers district program at the school. Leadership First Aid 11 & 12 were developed by fellow North Surrey teacher Jenna Grossman, and ESAL was developed by Johnston Heights Secondary teachers Jared Nermo and Joshua Jensen.
Trustees Gary Tymoschuk and Bob Holmes thanked staff for their work in preparing the courses and gauging the interests of the district's diverse student population, as well as future career paths.
"I'm always impressed when these come forward that they're typically topics that are relevant for this day and age," said Tymoschuk. "The number of flights and people travelling is skyrocketing again and there are lots of career opportunities in that area. First aid, the population generally is aging and it's always good if anybody has an opportunity to have some first aid under their belt. And then esports, something that's been on my mind for quite some time is to make sure that particularly our youth and older people get active in many different ways."
"Since COVID, we know that youth are so much more engaged online than they are in person," said Holmes. "We have one at home, his friends he sees a lot online, not as much in person, so I think the more we can do to bring that balance to their lives, the better."
Aviation 11 Explorations in Aviation
Designed for students interested in exploring careers in the aviation industry, Aviation 11 provides them with a comprehensive understanding of the fundamental aspects of flight as well as the intricacies of aviation operations. The curriculum is divided into four main themes safety, industries, vehicles and infrastructure. Students will gain knowledge and experience through a combination of theory, practical activities and field studies.
Leadership First Aid 11 & 12
Both first aid courses are comprehensively designed to equip students with the knowledge and skills to effectively respond to a variety of medical emergencies. The Grade 12 course builds upon the teachings of the Grade 11 course, solidify those skills while also extending learning of more complex patient care. The courses provides training and certification in Standard First Aid (Grade 11) and Emergency First Aid (Grade 12), including CPR-C (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) and AED (automated external defibrillator). Their skills are practised and reinforced through realistic scenario-based training to become competent and confident responders and leaders in emergency situations. Students will also explore post-secondary, volunteer and career pathways related to first aid.
E-Sports: Active Living in the Digital Age (ESAL)
ESAL aims to teach students how to effectively maintain a healthy lifestyle while engaging in competitive gaming. By integrating physical, mental and emotional activities associated with competitive gaming, students will develop essential skills for active living. The competencies and content of the course will focus on various aspects of health, safety, participation and social responsibility within the context of esports. The course provides a holistic approach to well-being, ensuring students are equipped with the knowledge and skills to thrive both in the digital and physical worlds.
