I. General Information
School Name: Kwantlen Park Secondary
School District: SD#36 Surrey
Inquiry Team Members: Brian Tait – tait_brian@surreyschools.ca
Julie Occelshaw – occelshaw@surreyschools.ca
Mandy Gander – gander_M@ Surreyschools.ca
Monique Prevost – prevost_M@surreyschools.ca
Joan Scarff – scarff_j@surreyschools.ca
Inquiry Team Contact Email: tait_brian@surreyschools.ca
II. Inquiry Project Information
Type of Inquiry: Indigenous Education Impact Initiative
Grade Levels Addressed Through Inquiry: Secondary (8-12)
Curricular Areas Addressed: Other: Connections and Transitions
Focus Addressed: Other: Transitions and connections
In one sentence, what was your focus for the year? We are focusing on connections and transitions through the four modes of engagement: Explorer, Achiever, Passenger and Resister. How do we switch back to Explorer/Achiever from Passenger/Resister (just like the early years of school).
III. Spirals of Inquiry Details
Scanning: We used the S of I questions to sit down with a sample of our Indigenous Learners (20%). We noticed our senior students had a greater belief that the adults in the community believed in them, supported them and had a deeper understanding of their learning. Senior students expressed appreciation for a staff member’s encouragement to explore the available options. Younger students seemed to have a more powerful intrinsic drive to succeed, but did not feel that there was external support for their personal success.
Relationships take time to form.
Focus: We focused on connections and transitions. We are hoping to see a greater number of students walking across our stage with more opportunities available to them as they leave high school.
Hunch: We think that we need to find creative means to increase opportunities for transition and accumulation of graduate requirements.
Reflections for Year 1: Time is the most significant factor in relationships, connections and transitions, yet also a pressure that the students feel. 5 Years is a long time. We have noticed a positive impact of early transitions programs and opportunities.
Plans for Year 2: We are planning to incorporate the 4 modes of engagement to assist with our focus, assess our learners and opportunities for engagement.