While the past month has been crazy-busy (I wrote some reflections about the work in an earlier post), I would be remiss if I did not acknowledge so many of the great things that I have been fortunate enough to witness and/or participate in during the months of April and May.
On April 17 and 18, the student-run Dance club (under the sponsorship of Mrs. Fuller) collaborated with Steveston-London and McMath Secondary schools to put on a fantastic showcase of incredible dance performances.
At the end of April, Mrs. Galan and Ms. Wu organized their annual ESL trip to Victoria.
Time for High Tea!
To kick off May, on Wednesday, May 1st, Mr. Todd Yamamoto organized his annual Science fieldtrip to Playland. A good time was had by all, and students got the chance to study what they have been learning in the world beyond the walls of our school.
A beautiful day (if you don't mind line-ups)
My favourite ride!
On May 2nd, the J.N. Burnett Fine Arts department members put on our annual Fine Arts Night. Our Superintendent, Monica Pamer, highlighted our night (among others) in one of her recent blog posts, and as she indicated, the evening was an impressive display of passion and talent.
Sidewalk art
The Jazz Band at work
Anyone hungry?
Who is thirsty?
Cup-O-Noodles?
Good crowds!
On May 3rd, the student-run ARC (Animal Rescue Club), under the guidance of sponsor Ms. Galan, organized its own "Cage-a-thon" to raise money and awareness for the SPCA and what we can all do to help our furry friends.
Looks pretty comfortable!
On May 10th and 11th, Burnett students hosted our 6th Annual Cyclebetes fundraiser. Another successful event that raised money and awareness for Juvenile Diabetes Research (a cause very important to me).
On May 15th, our school submitted its School Performance Plan. If interested, feel free to read it here.
On May 16th, the Grads of 2013 had a fantastic evening to enjoy a 3 hour boat cruise around Vancouver Harbour.
Check out the boat!
Beautiful night!
On May 22nd, our Parent Advisory Council hosted its Legacy Scholarship Presentations. These presentations are a highlight of the year. Students talk to parents about all they have done and learned during their time in high school, and what they are looking to do next. The very inspiring stories leave everyone impressed and the parents have a tough time deciding upon which of the 16 presenters will be awarded with a $400 scholarship.
Getting ready to tell their stories
Also on May 22nd, the Music Department had their annual Spring Concert.
On May 25th, our school hosted the First Annual Lorne Bodin Bike Ride which I have written about here.
On May 30th, our Athletic Director, Cat Bateman, hosted our annual Athletic Awards Banquet. Unfortunately, I have no photos, but wanted to say congratulations and thank you to all of the athletes, coaches and our hard-working AD, who make such an important part of school experiences happen.
And best of all, throughout the month, I was invited into several classes and was blown away by the great things I saw (below are just a few of the photos from some of the classes I observed).
Displaying a mobile in Ms. Dunn's SS 9 class
Presentations from the Number Devil in Ms. Rodriguez' class
More Number Devil
A Mid-Summer Night's Dream in Ms. Lam's class
Dissecting rats in Ms. Farnden's Biology class
More mobiles in Ms. Dunn's class
Flying motor airplanes in Mr. Bevan's Tech class
Mr. Niessen's class trying to propel all kinds of items
ESL class pen pal letters
Hard at work in Art with Ms. Mrsic
And an appreciation video put together by students for their Chemistry teacher (Mr. Kailley)!
These are just a few of the great things happening all the time at Burnett. I can't thank enough the fantastic staff and motivated, curious and fun-loving students who help make Burnett such a great place to work and learn. We only have a couple of weeks left! Study hard, have some fun and finish strong!
I have written before of my friend and mentor Lorne Bodin. Lorne passed away after a fight with stomach cancer in January of 2011 (see photos of his Celebration of Life), but his legacy lives on in countless ways. He is missed by so many people, but the way he treated others is something that all who knew him aspire to carry forward.
After two years of riding in the BC Ride to Conquer Cancer (which I have written about here and here), a large group of his friends decided to bring the ride closer to home and open it up to more participants. On Saturday, May 25th, a 25 km ride starting at Burnett Secondary School (where Lorne began his teaching career in Richmond) went south to the dyke, then east to Number 5 road and back. An after-party BBQ was hosted and everyone got a chance to visit and talk about how Lorne impacted their lives. Over 120 people participated or organized the event, and with a registration fee of only $30 (for a t-shirt and lunch), almost $2000.00 was raised for the Lorne Bodin Scholarship fund.
Students helping hand out t-shirts
Bonnie Leslie and Glenn Kishi
Looking good, ladies...
The boys sharing a laugh and some coffee
Rob Laing helping get everyone "pumped up"
Bert Wiens getting ready
It was this kind of day...
Jason Leslie with some opening remarks
Jan Bodin saying "Welcome and thank you for coming"
The Laing family at the turn-around
Superintendent Monica Pamer refueling
Mike Whittingham and daughter Reese
Birgitte Biorn and others doing some real riding
Jim Allison cheering people home
Spencer Leslie helping out with the BBQ
Checking out some tribute photos
Rose Sebellin and Dora Ho
Enjoying a burger in a good-looking shirt
Dora Ho and Team Leslie-Lorne was all about friends and family
Rob and Deb are ready for next year's ride
Jan Bodin and Andrew Ferguson having a chat
Enjoying a BBQ in the sunshine
The ride, as you can tell by the photos, was a smashing success, as the weather held, people thoroughly enjoyed themselves, and we all came together to remember and honour our friend, Lorne. Thanks to everyone for their contributions and participation in a great day. Special thanks to Deb Wheeler-Brown for the fantastic photos.
Some of the members of Team Bodin are still participating in the Ride to Conquer Cancer, and in order to ride, each participant needs to fundraise at least $2500.00. If you are so inclined, they would welcome any donations. Contributions can be made here.
The ride will become an annual event, as we look to grow the participation and keep Lorne's memory strong. We welcome anyone to join us (and I know Lorne would love to have everyone there), so keep your eyes open for the Second Annual Lorne Bodin Bike Ride in May of 2014.
As Lorne would say, "You all look good, my friends"
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!
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!
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"!
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.
.JPG)
.JPG)
.JPG)
+1.JPG)
.JPG)
.JPG)
.JPG)
.JPG)
.JPG)
.JPG)
