Synchronous Conference Day!

We are all systems go for synchronous events on Saturday March 6th. You have received a personalized schedule with your sessions and zoom links. The keynote starts at 9 am!

Some program meet up breakout rooms have been added to the Conversations with Asynchronous Presenters Session. Arrange to meet your colleagues there.

Share your learning and thoughts throughout the day on Twitter using #medVIU2021

In case of technical difficulties contact your session moderator or learnsupport@viu.ca.

Looking forward to seeing and hearing your presentations, conversations and questions. Have a great day!

https://animoto.com/play/v54slV5IBPPFnniZs0sUVw

How to improve student success in the transition to high school.

Think back to your first day of high school. Can you remember how you felt? Were you nervous? Scared? Excited? Did you feel overwhelmed and out of your element? Did you feel like you fit in? Did you feel like you would be successful?

The transition from high school to elementary school is a challenging one. This can be even more challenging for students coming to school from small, remote elementary schools. Additionally, some students may face further changes when then arrive at a School District run high school from a band run First Nations elementary school. At least, this was my perception was well as that of my teaching colleagues. I chose to investigate the reality of people who have experienced such a transition with the intention of learning how high schools can set their incoming students up for success.

While I initially intended this to be a thesis study, I am in the midst of converting it to become a project. Life presented me with an opportunity to begin my career as a Vice Principal at a new school. While this has been a wonderful learning opportunity, and has brought to life many of the discussions from our educational leadership courses, it has been a challenge for my Masters thesis work. I have noticed the challenges that our grade 8 (the youngest grade at our high school) group present. Efforts that go beyond the traditional grade 7 high school visits are required to help smooth out the social, emotional and academic transitions that this transition requires. With new flexibility in our scheduling for next year thanks to COVID-19, I am in the process of helping to design a new schedule that provides greater wrap around support for our newest students. The aim is to help them be successful in their new environment. We want out students to be:

  • Self-advocating
  • Supported
  • Belonging
  • Loved
  • Valued
  • Understood
  • Connected
  • Growing (not just physically)
  • Respected
  • Comfortable
  • Confident

To achieve this, our school will have a dedicated group of educators working with our grade 8 cohort. They will take part in psychoeducational activities for staff helping to understand what social/emotional needs teenagers have when they are in new and stressful environments. Teachers for the grade 8 cohort will set out clear and consistent expectations that exist across all classes. There will be opportunities for staff to get to know the incoming students on a personal level. Events will be organized around activities and interests based outside the traditional school system. Staff will have facilitated conversations with new students to achieve personal connection, and develop a plan of what each student needs to be successful.

Important Conference Info

To register to attend and/or present please fill in this survey.

This year’s conference is virtual, with synchronous sessions on Saturday March 6th, 2021 and asynchronous sessions from February 28-March 6th.

There are five ways to present your work at the conference:

  • Oral presentations (synchronous)
  • Roundtable presentation (synchronous)
  • Ask me anything mentor (synchronous and asynchronous)
  • Poster or creative work (asynchronous)
  • 3 min thesis (asynchronous)

Contact Rachel Moll, rachel.moll@viu.ca for conference information.

Latest updates!

Check here for up to date information and news!

February 26th Update: Blog posts are going live as we speak! How exciting! Please check them out and comment over the next week. Conference schedules with Zoom links to attend sessions will be emailed out early next week. If you were not able to book sessions, you will be place in sessions that had space. Schedules will be sent out by 4 pm on Tuesday March 2nd, 2021. Please watch your email. Emails to presenters with information about preparing to present were sent out on February 25th.

February 3rd Update: Registration to attend is now closed. The draft detailed program was sent to presenters for feedback. Presenters will be invited to register to choose the sessions they would like to attend on February 4th. Attendees will be able to register starting February 8th.

We are excited to announce our Keynote Speaker: Monique Gray Smith. Monique is an award winning Vancouver Island author and speaker. She is Cree, Lakota and Scottish and speaks about resilience, reconciliation and her journey of healing.

On January 15th, registration for presenters closed, and on January 20th, presenters were informed of their presentation format.

We have over 60 student presenters!!!

Registration for attendees closes on January 31st.

Watch this space for an updated detailed conference program which is coming soon!!