Year #2 (Full Disclosure)

At this time of year, when I run into friends who are not educators, they often say to me, "So, I guess things are winding down for you..."  I attempt to respond by saying something along the lines of "Actually, they are winding up.  We are nearing the end of the year, but I am worried that I do not have enough time to get everything done".

As Cale Birk writes on his blog, The Learning Nation, "AprilMayJune" is a crazy, hectic and exciting time of year.  Schools are busy places with staff and students frantically trying to "fit it all in", the office staff looking at next year's timetable, putting the finishing touches on the School Performance Plan, and dealing with staffing issues while our students are excitedly anticipating graduation ceremonies and summer holidays.  It is also a time when people reflect upon the year that has passed and consider all that has been accomplished and learned.

As my second year in the Principal's office nears the finish line, I reflect upon what has been an incredibly steep learning curve, a frighteningly busy pace, some growth in my leadership skills and some significant changes within our school community.  Looking back at my first year, I remember job-action, no meetings, reduced teacher involvement in extra-curricular activities, a three-day walkout, no report cards and a litany of other challenges.  We managed to persevere through what were difficult times (especially for a "newbie"), and I thought to myself, "it can only get easier as I become more experienced, teachers become involved again and life returns to normal".

That statement was partly right, but could not have been more incomplete.  My second year has been much more rewarding, and has not had the same turmoil, but to be honest, I have not found it easier.  In fact, I am likely more fatigued now than I was at this time last year.  Yes, I have more experience and a slightly better feel for what I am doing, and teachers are offering more assistance with a variety of tasks (extra-curricular opportunities and events like Commencement planning and so much more).  There has been an increase in meetings and more open communication and collaboration with staff, and while it has been extremely beneficial, it is much more work.

I am extremely proud of what is being done at Burnett.  From efforts to make our Assessment practices more Outcome-Based (discussions have included things like the Rick Wormeli video seen below) to our collaborative development of a Work Habits Rubric (also below), we have regained an extremely open, communicative and forward thinking climate in our school.  This gets me excited, but I must admit, navigating these discussions has made this past year much more challenging than my first year.  Year One was not a very real taste of the important work that school leaders do, since there was very little opportunity to lead.  This year has been much more exhausting, but also invigorating and has left me with a feeling of some degree of accomplishment.

We are a long way from finished, and I still worry that we do not have enough time to get it all "done". But we will, and when we do, we will look back upon the important work that has been initiated this year and know that it is making a positive difference.  What I have learned in the two years on the job is that it doesn't get easier, but my skills and the work we are doing does get better.  And I wouldn't have it any other way!

Three Things Everyday!

As a life-long basketball player and fan, I love the time of year just gone by.  I have been extremely busy coaching, watching and supporting the J.N. Burnett basketball teams, I eagerly anticipate the upcoming NBA playoffs, and just last week watched one of my favorite sporting events (NCAA March Madness) come to its conclusion.  During the tournament, ESPN's 30 for 30 series profiled the 1983 Championship team of North Carolina State and the incredible story of their coach, Jimmy Valvano.

I have never seen a 30 for 30 that I didn't enjoy, and this one, called Survive and Advance, is at the top of the list.  The episode juxtaposed the team's run through the season and tournament with the impact Valvano had on the lives of the athletes he coached and how he carried himself as cancer was trying to take over his body.  I still remember the underdog Wolfpack's spectacular upset of the University of Houston Cougars (led by Clyde Drexler and Hakeen Olajuwon) like it was yesterday (I was a young highschooler who was a basketball junkie).  I recall Derek Whittenberg shooting an air-ball, Lorenzo Charles catching the miss, dunking it as the buzzer sounded and of course, seeing Jimmy V run onto the court, searching for someone to hug.  That team and game are etched in the memory of millions who still recall it with fondness.  Valvano went on to become a world-famous coach, and when he later battled cancer, became an philanthropist and founder of the Jimmy V Foundation for Cancer Research.  In 1993 at the ESPY awards, he delivered one of the most famous speeches ever given.

One of the most memorable lines of the speech is, "Do three things everyday: Laugh, Think, and have your emotions moved to the point of tears"

That statement resonates with me deeply, and when I consider the life I am fortunate enough to lead, I am truly appreciative that my family and the staff and students of Burnett Secondary provide me so many opportunities to laugh, think and cry everyday.  Some of the most recent examples include:

Laugh-When I walk in the door at the end of a long and sometimes difficult day at work, my children and dog always race to greet me with a hug and "Hello, Dad".  It is unquestionably the highlight of my day, and makes me laugh with anticipation and joy.  I am also extremely fortunate to get to interact daily with staff and students who have fantastic senses of humor, and seem to make it their mission to try and make me crack a wry smile (you all know who you are).  I can not recall a day in my career where I did not laugh out loud or at least smile at a comment or story relayed to me by someone in my life.

Think-How can I best support my children and the staff and students of Burnett?  How can I be a better father/leader?  What are the most important things for us to look at improving and how should we go about it?  These are all great questions that I think about daily.  They do not have easy answers, and consume great amounts of time and energy but the pursuit of these ideals is worthwhile and exciting and cause me to reflect and think deeply everyday.

Cry-Interestingly, as a former-athlete and want-to-be 'tough-guy', this is the thing I probably do most frequently.  While there are some days when the tears are related to sad news or sympathy for someone struggling with a difficult situation, much more often the emotional reaction comes from the intense pride I feel when I look at the great things my wife does to support our family and the people our children are becoming.  I also swell with pride when observing the remarkable events at our school like the dramatic performance of the Laramie project, the recent collaborative and completely student-run Dance showcase enabled by Ms. Fuller.  I am awed and humbled by fantastically engaging classroom lessons and the astounding efforts of student selflessness like when Mr. Anderson's History 12 class raised enough money to purchase several gravestones for deceased veterans as part of our school's Remembrance Day program.  I was also impressed by our student-run Reach Out club sponsored by Ms. Rodriguez, who this past Friday morning brought in Molly Burke from the Free the Children organization to speak to our students about making a positive difference in the world and get involved in our upcoming Day of Silence.  When sitting at home at the end of exhausting days or weeks, I often recall events like these, and am moved to the point of tears.

In the light of many things that have rocked our world recently (the Waco explosion, the Boston Marathon bombing and MIT shooting, as well as the inability for United States Senate to enact some meaningful change regarding gun laws), I encourage you to look for every opportunity to live a life like the one Jimmy V describes.  If you surround yourself with the right people and treat them well, you will have plenty of chances to laugh, think and cry everyday.  As Valvano says, "You do those three things, it will have been a pretty good day." Thank you for making my days so full of laughter, thought and tears!

The Laramie Project

As promised, what follows are my thoughts/reviews of the Burnett Drama Department's Spring Production of "The Laramie Project".

I have written before of how privileged and proud I feel to have the opportunity to work and learn with the talented and dedicated staff and students of J.N. Burnett Secondary school.  I have referenced the great things happening both in and outside the classroom and am honestly astounded by many of the things I see.

The theatre production that has just finished running this past week, however, has me almost at a loss for words.  All that comes to mind is "WOW!".  Under the direction of Drama teacher Mr. Marco Soriano and with the assistance of fellow staff members Mr. Wes Bevan, Mrs. Cristina Carvalhiero and Ms. Kirsten Taylor (who provided help with set construction, video production and artwork) the talented cast and crew put together a stunningly beautiful and provocative piece.

The Laramie Project is a well-known and critically-acclaimed 3-act play that profiles the city of Laramie, Wyoming.  In October of 1998, a gay university student was brutally beaten and killed in the town. The story got a tremendous amount of media attention, and one month later the Tectonic Theatre company went to Laramie and conducted over 200 interviews over the next year with many residents of the area.  The interviews led to the writing of the play.  

Most high school performances leave the audience laughing, singing and/or feeling good about life.  This one was different.  As described by Mr. Soriano, the play "provokes thought, incites conversation and challenges the performers... (it) does not pretend to offer solutions.  It simply holds up a mirror to us as an audience and forces us to consider our role in the problem."  Issues surrounding respect, tolerance, prejudice, relationships and community run throughout the play and have both cast and audience members thinking and asking questions at the play's conclusion.  While I was impressed by and proud of our students and their performances, I found myself wondering, despite about all that we do at Burnett to combat many of these issues in today's world, are we doing enough?

The stage work, lighting, sound, visuals and performances were at a remarkably professional level.  Most of the actors had between 3 and 5 different roles and the characters, accents and opinions were widely disparate.  The performers were stunningly good in their portrayals and played each role with impressive depth and conviction.  The lessons learned by cast and audience members alike will resonate with them for years to come, and hopefully, performances such as these will continue to challenge us to make the world a more respecting, thoughtful and caring place.

Apparently, I am not at a loss for words.  I would like to thank all of the staff and students who worked so hard in putting together what was a moving, professional and thought-provoking production.  Well done!  It may be a copyright infringement, but I give the show "two thumbs way up"!

Extra-Curricular Experiences

It is the time of year when schools and communities all around British Columbia are coming together to cheer, support and be excited about the high school basketball playoffs.  This may be debatable, since all sports have their audience and supporters, but the BC High School Senior Basketball Championships (both Boys and Girls) seem to be the crown jewel of the high school sports scene.

J.N. Burnett's Senior Boys team has completed its season, finishing just short of the Provincial Tournament after placing 6th in the Lower Mainland qualifier. Despite the disappointment of falling one spot shy of their goal, it has been an extremely exciting and rewarding journey for both the team and the school.  After many close games in league, the team finished the regular season with a 9-1 record, then hosted the Richmond playoffs.  The school community fed off the success of the team, and the Richmond tournament (written about here), was an incredibly fun place to be for four glorious days.  The crowds in the gym, the buzz around the school, and the sense of pride and school spirit is a big part of what makes school sports such an important part of a young person's education.

I remember my time in high-school athletics very fondly.  Many of the lessons learned while playing for school teams are the things I use most frequently in my adult life.  Overcoming obstacles, collective problem solving, working together, leadership skills, challenging yourself in difficult times and how to communicate effectively and build relationships with my teammates and coaches are all things that were learned best on the court or field, and are the skills that serve me best today.  While classroom teachers are also developing many of these 21st Century Skills, too often schools and students are judged by marks and exam results (see the controversial Fraser Institute Rankings).  We need to appreciate that the lessons learned through curricular and extracurricular opportunities are often immeasurable and overlooked but equally important and may resonate with students even longer.

The Richmond District has a strong tradition of success in basketball, and much of it is because we have been blessed with tireless volunteers like Paul Eberhardt, Les Hamaguchi, Chris Kennedy, Anne Gillrie-Carre, Bill Disbrow and Kent Chappell to name just a few of the better-known coaches who have worked the sidelines for many years.  These volunteers are people who put in countless hours and create the experiences that make memories for the students on their teams.  While some may occasionally criticize some of their methods, no one can question their efforts, knowledge, the lessons learned and how much they care about the students with whom they work.

Much like School Sports, other extra-curricular programs are hitting their stride at this time of year.  Next week, the Burnett Drama Department will be performing its Spring Production, "The Laramie Project".  Events such as these (which I will write about in greater detail in a future blog post) are incredibly rich learning experiences for the students, and serve as a fantastic way to bring the community together to support and learn from and with our children.  Don't miss out on what promises to be an educational and entertaining show! 

To all the performers, competitors, directors and coaches who have worked and learned so much this year, thank you!  And to all of those who are still playing and performing, best of luck!  Make the most of these opportunities, because they will become the memories that you will carry with you for the rest of your lives.  The learning that happens in events like these stays with you and helps shape you into the adults you will become.

What a week!!!

This past work-week (only four days long following the much-enjoyed Family Day Monday), was a crazy one at J.N. Burnett Secondary School.  After several long days, I look back on it with fondness.  Included in the "week that was"....

Tuesday, Feb 12-Bill 22 Consultations for Semester 2 courses

Wednesday, Feb 13-Parent Program Planning Information night

Thursday, Feb 14-Conference day-Career Awareness and Program Planning for next year.  Plus my wife's birthday and Valentine's day (I asked a few of our talented Glee club students to sing Isn't she Lovely and Happy Birthday, plus purchased a home made cake from a former student)

Friday, Feb 15-My eldest son returning from Carnaval in Quebec with stories to tell

Good times at Carnaval!

All week-Several meetings with new staff, students and parents as well as regular responsibilities

The highlight of the week (Feb 12-15), however, was our school hosting the Senior Boys Richmond Basketball playoffs! 

Cat Bateman, our incredibly hard-working and organized Athletic Director, with the help of her PE 10 Incentive class and a crew of volunteer student scorekeepers and staff game directors put in many late nights (until after 10:30 PM both Tuesday and Wednesday) to host a great tournament that was enjoyed by all participants and spectators.

Getting ready to play!

Good crowd, great game!

Our very talented team made it to the finals with solid victories over Steveston-London and McRoberts and faced arch-rival R.C. Palmer for the title on Friday night.  The gym was packed and fans from both schools cheered passionately  but respectfully for their sides.  There were several teachers in attendance to acknowledge the efforts of their students (something that I know is much appreciated by the kids).  The student-athletes competed incredibly hard from the beginning of the game, and the contest was extremely entertaining as both teams came out shooting the ball well.  Palmer took control of the game with continued great shooting in the second quarter, while Burnett fell into some foul trouble.  Down 23 at halftime (60-37), our team was in danger of losing touch, but with an incredible display of character the boys clawed their way back into the game, reducing the lead to 6 points at one time in the fourth quarter.  A couple of big baskets for Palmer quieted the crowd and the final score ended at 91-82 for the Griffins.  A tough loss for the Breakers, but the display of character and never giving up by our athletes told a story that speaks very highly of the people they are.

It truly was enjoyable to be in the gym every evening after school.  Kids working hard and competing plus the energy and respect shown by the fans and the athletes for each other made me very proud to be part of this great school and community.  Good luck next week at the Lower Mainland tournament to both teams, especially our Senior Boys and their coach Bernard Lim.  Special thanks again to our Athletic Director Cat Bateman and her hard working crew of helpers who made the tournament such a huge success.

Another special thanks (and Happy Birthday) also goes to my wife and children for being so supportive despite my absence from home this week.

Weeks like the one just past are tiring beyond words, but I am always amazed at the talents and efforts put forth by our students and staff.  Those efforts give me so much energy and enjoyment that I can not imagine another line of work that would be more challenging yet invigorating.  I am exhausted, but I wouldn't have it any other way!

Congratulations on a job well done!  Go Breakers!!!

Tessa Beauchamp Charity Day

An event very near and dear to my heart has been scheduled for Friday, February 22nd, 2013.  A good friend, Mr. Steve Beauchamp, has organized a day of action in memory of his daughter, Tessa.  Steve is a pillar in the basketball community, which is how I came to know him, and has always stood for bringing people together and trying to give back to make our world a little closer.  I have had the great pleasure of playing for and with Steve, and know him to be a gentleman of the highest character.  Though I did not know his daughter personally, I followed her courageous story from a distance and was heart-broken to hear of her passing one year ago this January 27th.  Steve is an incredibly hard-working and giving personality and has obviously instilled these values in his family, as demonstrated by the story of Tessa.  On February 22nd, people are encouraged to wear purple (Tessa's favourite colour) and attempt to raise as much money and awareness as they can for a charity of their choice (since charitable causes were important to her).  The video clips above and below tell the story of Tessa and all she overcame and stood for in her short life.  A truly inspirational person, the event is a great way to make a positive difference in the lives of others and to carry on the work initiated by Tessa, her family and many others like her.  If you are interested in starting something for your school and/or community, please contact Steve or the Tessa Beauchamp Foundation at tessa23foundation@gmail.com.  To learn more about Tessa and the Foundation created in her memory, please go to the website here.

Starting over!

Every year, Labour Day marks a time of renewal and excitement in the minds of students all across North America.  I have written about it being the real Happy New Year, and though it is not quite the same, I feel similar sensations for myself and the staff and students I work with when it comes to second semester.  For most of my education career I have been involved in Linear programs. I went to a linear high school and until 8 years ago, when I moved to Burnett, I had always worked in linear schools.  Burnett, like several other high schools in the Lower Mainland, employs a semester system where students take four subjects every day for half the year and at the end of January, those courses finish and four new ones begin.  The excitement and sense of starting over always reminds me of the John Lennon song above.

Some people are fond of the semester system because of the idea of a fresh start, indicating that many students who may be struggling get to hit the "Reset" button.  While this may be true, I also find it invigorating because the end of January can be a difficult time in schools for all staff and students.  Days are short, the weather is poor and doldrums can set in.  Completing a course and getting a new set of classmates, teachers and courses gets people excited again, and the conclusion of the first set of events can quite often be some of the best teaching and learning of the year!  As an example, over the past two weeks, I have made it a priority to get into classrooms and see what is happening in our school (I need to make this an even higher priority because I am interested in and proud of the work I see our staff and students doing.  Plus, I find what I see to be extremely exciting and uplifting).  As courses were coming to an end, I saw fabulous Art projects, Science Fair project presentations and Home Economics labs, and student pride in their work was palpable.  I saw invigorating lessons introducing Grade 8's to Shakespeare and I saw several performances of Grade 10 and 11 students representing their understanding of Romeo and Juliet, MacBeth and Hamlet.

This past Thursday, after a lengthy and frustrating Principal's meeting where we discussed concerns about enrollment, staffing, budget and several other "bad news" items, I went back to the school and in order to lift my mood, spent the afternoon in three separate classes (all in one block).  One of the comments made in the morning meeting was that "so much of what we read on Twitter and the internet, and see on the news and other forms of media is that we in education are doing it all wrong and need to 'blow-up' the system".  That is hard to hear, and after what I saw that afternoon, is not accurate.  People contend that students are completely disengaged and bored by what is "being done to them" in school.  Yet, in one block I watched musical representations of Spanish language terms, Shakespearean recitals in English classes, and extra-ordinarily creative Drama performances.  In that same period there were plenty of the requisite final exams and projects, and while it may be considered taboo to say it, I believe these summative assessment pieces are necessary and valuable.  The students I saw all around the school were fully engaged, enjoying what they were doing, problem-solving and thinking creatively, laughing, being respectful of one another and talking about how much they were going to miss this class next semester.  Good things are happening all over our schools, and while we continue to work at improving the system, we need to remember that we are doing inspiring, important work!

As we end the first semester, take time to reflect on what you have accomplished so far, appreciate your efforts and recognize the learning that continues.  As the Provincial Exams take place over the next three school days, remember that just around the corner you will get new teachers, new classmates, and new courses...  Take advantage of the FRESH START, and have a great second half of the year!