I. General Information
School Name: Prince Rupert Middle School
School District: SD#52 Prince Rupert
Inquiry Team Members: Kerri Levelton: kerri.levelton@sd52.bc.ca
Lori Leighton: lori.leighton@sd52.bc.ca
Salomon Garcia: salomon.garcia@sd52.bc.ca
Missy Trimble: missy.trimble@sd52.bc.ca
Natasha Brown: natasha.brown@sd52.bc.ca
Leslie Barton: Leslie.barton@sd52.bc.ca
Inquiry Team Contact Email: kerri.levelton@sd52.bc.ca
II. Inquiry Project Information
Type of Inquiry: Indigenous Education Impact Initiative
Grade Levels Addressed Through Inquiry: Intermediate (4-7), Secondary (8-12)
Curricular Areas Addressed: Not applicable
Focus Addressed: Local Indigenous Knowledges, Land, Nature or Place-based learning
In one sentence, what is your focus for the 3-year cycle? To continue to build relationships so students love being at school and this will improve their attendance.
III. Spirals of Inquiry Details
Connections to Year 1: We had our learners at the center of our scanning process. We noticed that some students need to gain more confidence in themselves, some students don’t want to be at school because they struggle with academics and/or social connections, and some students are allowed to stay home from school. We focused on attendance data (that still needs improvement), as well as one-on-one communication with each student, phone calls, home visits and letters to their family. We learned that having small group activities that focus on culture and connection gave students a space to be themselves outside of their classrooms.
New Educator Professional Learning: We have Indigenous Implementation Day that is for all staff. The resources that have been most helpful are our Indigenous Family Resource workers. We used our student leadership that are responsible for school decisions and activities. We encourage and support new ideas, activities and collaboration.
Taking Action: Our school has many fun activities happening on a daily basis. We have noticed that students are attending and enjoying these activities, such as the drumming group, leadership club, intramurals, spirit days, special lunches, etc. Each grade group has whole group activities such as Wellness Day, Medieval Faire, Ancient Civilizations and whole group activities to celebrate culture and students.
Reflections for Year 2: In year 1 and 2, we learned that having small groups with different activities has given students an opportunity to find themselves. We have quiet non-engaged students join in for activities such as drumming, and a big leadership group who plan activities for our whole school (spirit days, dance, etc).
Plans for Year 3: We have learned that we have been successful with many of our students, but there are still some who we are not reaching. We need to focus on the students who come to school but are not attending their classes, as well as the ones who are not participating. We will need to plan for regular attendance meetings, connections with their guardians, continue with our school activities, more student surveys asking students what they want, and continue one-on-one connection with one or more adults in the school with students who don’t attend regularly.