The highest leverage strategy of educational improvement efforts is the development of staff capacity. In collaboration with the Cariboo-Chilcotin Teachers Association we are making significant investments in quality professional learning for educators in current, research-based practice to increase knowledge and confidence.
Some examples of the work of are:
- Shifting from one-off workshops to a robust learning series with successive professional development sessions and classroom learning rounds, time to practice and reflect in between, and a community of practice network to support one another
- Learning Series with exceptional BC, Canadian, and global leaders in numeracy, literacy, educational research, inclusion, resilience and trauma-informed practice.
- Common district assessments with support for learning how to administer them, analyze results, and use what is learned to plan for instruction
- District mental health plan
- Full program of support for new teachers in their first three years
Explore the ways we are LEARNING BETTER TOGETHER with support for professional learning in Cariboo-Chilcotin School District:
Grade 7 Collaborative Literacy Instruction and Intervention Planning
Columneetza Junior Secondary
On June 18, current and incoming Grade 7 teachers met with project leads Charlotte Lundeen (District Speech-Language Pathologist), Francis McCoubrey (Department Lead), and learning support teachers Brit Andersen and Katie Clarke.
Vice-Principal Cameron Leading Inclusive Practices
Columneetza Junior Secondary
Vice-Principal Cameron is leading inclusive practices across classrooms at Columneetza Junior Secondary School. Alina Cameron is passionate about inclusion in education.
Band Finishes on a High Note
Columneetza Junior Secondary
A huge congratulations to our talented band members who performed in front of a full house on Thursday evening. Your hard work, dedication, and musical talent were on full display, and you made our school community proud! A special shout-out goes to Mrs.
DART Assessments - Spring Priority Planning
Columneetza Junior Secondary
There are district-wide literacy assessments, including DART, in use across the district. Schools administer these assessments in the fall and spring, mark them together using common standards (anchor marking), and analyze the results to make informed instructional decisions and monitor student
Grade 7 Numeracy Project
Columneetza Junior Secondary
Grade 7 educators, learning support teachers, and Jr. Sec. Columneetza math educators are collaborating on something special with the help of numeracy consultant Carole Fullerton. “Pulling Together” is a collaborative math plan currently in development for the 2026-2027 school year.
Learning About Birds
Columneetza Junior Secondary
Nature educator Lauren McLean recently visited the district for the April pro-d day. Hosted by nature-enthusiast and CJS grade 7 educator Frances McCoubrey over at Scout Island, participants learned how to create a multi-disciplinary learning plan around the central topic of Birds.
Easy As Pi
Columneetza Junior Secondary
Columneetza grade 7 students were challenged to memorize as many digits of Pi (3.14) as possible, ahead of Pi Day March 14. Teacher leader Frances McCoubrey had the top three students from each class face off, and judges Mr. Harding and Mrs. Zurak were astounded with the results.
Columneetza Hosts Learning Rounds and Pro-D
Columneetza Junior Secondary
During Pro-D week this February, Columneetza hosted literacy consultant Bryan Gidinski for a Learning Round in grade 7 followed by a well-attended Pro-D session for teachers. Thank you continuing these connections to our school Bryan! We are excited to measure the impact in our classrooms.
Reinforcing Numeracy Routines in Grade 7
Columneetza Junior Secondary
Numeracy consultant and friend to SD27, Carole Fullerton, recently spent consecutive days reinforcing numeracy routines in grade 7 classrooms. At Columneetza, our grade 7 teachers were given the opportunity to release from their classrooms for a learning round led by Carole in Mrs.
Math Department Book Study
Columneetza Junior Secondary
Teachers in the Columneetza Math department are using a new resource by Learning Series numeracy expert Peter Liljedahl to fine-tune practices that elevate student thinking, increase the joy of teaching, and eliminate stand and deliver board examples and worksheets cycle that is so prevalent in math
Joy in the Studio
Columneetza Junior Secondary
Ms. Mason rarely stops to capture the creative joy in the studio, as she is too busy living the dream to take pictures... But these were such great moments. 1st pic - Elio (Quinn) Smith-Hall making a connection with the spirit of this ceramic project.
Salish Quarter Bag Workshop
Columneetza Junior Secondary
Columneetza teacher Shannon McCartney led a hands on workshop on September 26, leading teachers to create a Salish quarter bag. Shannon taught about the Musqueam people and how they wove quarter bags.
New Teachers Engage in Place-based Pro-D
Columneetza Junior Secondary
Columneetza Junior Secondary was abuzz with many local pro-d offerings on September 26. All of of our new Columneetza teachers engaged with SD57’s Glen Thielman in a session called “Place-Based Learning – Focus Group and Sharing”.
Learning Alongside for Success
Columneetza Junior Secondary
Columneetza teachers Colin O’Keefe and Matt Tyne, supported by new teacher program rep Dustin Hubner, recently led new Columneetza teachers through a workshop they put together using MyEducation tools for start-up success.
New Teacher Sharing
Columneetza Junior Secondary
Manveer Kaur led an impactful aspect of the new teacher workshop organized by Nara Riplinger and Dustin Hubner, sharing about her experience last year and important cultural differences for teachers who may be new to Canada. Thank you for sharing with your new colleagues Ms. Kaur!