March 2, 2015
Public comment on the DRAFT 2015/16 and 2016/17 School Calendars was accepted by e-mail up to and including Saturday, February 28, 2015. The Board of Education and the School Calendar Study Group would like to thank everyone who provided their comment.
January 30, 2015
The Board of Education invites your comment on the DRAFT 2015/16 and 2016/17 School Calendars.
The School Act requires that all school districts in British Columbia develop their own school calendars. School Calendars must provide the minimum number of prescribed instructional hours identified in the School Calendar Regulation B.C. Reg. 314/12. Proposed calendars must be made available for public comment at least one month prior to their required submission to the Minister of Education. School Calendars must be submitted to the Minister by March 31st, and school districts may submit calendars for up to three consecutive years.
The School Calendar Steering Group, with representatives from the Board of Education, the North Vancouver Teachers' Association, Canadian Union of Public Employees Local 389, North Vancouver Parent Advisory Council, District Student Leadership Council, and administrative and management staff, has recommended to the Board of Education that calendars for the 2015/16 and 2016/17 school years be considered for submission this year.
Public comment on the DRAFT 2015/16 and 2016/17 School Calendars will be received by e-mail up to, and including, February 28, 2015.
Comments on the DRAFT 2015/16 and 2016/17 School Calendars will be shared with the School Calendar Steering Group and the Board of Education for their consideration. Personally identifiable information (name, e-mail address, etc.) from your e-mail comment will not be included; only the text of your comment will be provided.
The DRAFT 2015/16 and 2016/17 School Calendars will be presented to the Board of Education for its consideration, approval, and adoption at the Public Board Meeting on March 24, 2015.
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March 12, 2014
At the
Public Board Meeting on March 11, 2014, the Board of Education approved
Option D for the 2014/15 Calendar. In accordance with the British Columbia
School Calendar Regulation, the North Vancouver School District's 2014/15 Board-approved calendar and Distributed Learning calendar will be submitted to the Minister of Education for approval. The 2014/15 Board-approved calendar is posted
here.
February 28, 2014
On February 24, 2014, the School Calendar Steering Group (SCSG) held their fourth meeting in the 2013/14 school year at the Education Services Centre. The meeting’s objectives were:
Review feedback from the public review period regarding the draft 2014/15 calendars
Receive an update regarding North Vancouver School District’s discussions with partner groups
Recommend a 2014/15 School Calendar to the Board of Education
Clarify next steps including additional information needs and subsequent meetings.
The meeting presentation and a summary of the Steering Group’s discussions are provided in the links below:
During the 30-day public comment period on the three proposed calendars, Options A, C, and D, a total of 485 comments were received in the e-mailbox. The comments were shared with the Board of Education and the School Calendar Steering Group. Personally identifiable information (name, e-mail address, etc.) was not included.
Based on comments to the e-mailbox and feedback from the partner groups, the members of the School Calendar Steering Group agreed to make the following 2014/15 School Calendar recommendations to the Board of Education:
That the Board of Education approve
Proposed Option D for the 2014/15 school calendar year
That the Board of Education seek to find sufficient budget to support up to three school sites, for at least one week of Spring Break, to provide an activity-based environment for children of working families who need additional assistance with childcare
That the North Vancouver secondary administrators (NOVA) and teachers work together to address the timing of Term 3 breaks to lessen the impact on the learning experiences of secondary students.
The next meeting of the School Calendar Steering Group is scheduled for spring 2014 (date to be confirmed). The meeting will include planning for a 3-year school calendar and a collaboration time review.
For more detailed information, please see the Summary Notes from the meeting on February 24, 2014.
February 22, 2014
Thank you to everyone who provided their comment regarding the Proposed Calendar 2014/15. The electronic mailbox is now closed to further comment.
January 23, 2014
2014/15 School Calendar Potential Options
At the Public Board Meeting on
January 21, 2014, the Board of Education passed the following motion regarding the 2014/2015 School Calendar Potential Options:
that Pursuant to Section 87.01 (7) [school calendar] of the
School Act, the Board will make the proposed school calendars
A,
C, and
D publicly available for at least one month prior to the date that the school calendars must be submitted to the Minister of Education; and,
that the Board provides an opportunity for comments to be provided to the Board with respect to school calendars
A,
C, and
D through electronic submission by no later than February 21, 2014.
In response to the Board motion, an electronic mailbox is set up and available for public comment about the Proposed Calendar 2014/15
Option A,
Option C, and
Option D. The mailbox address is:
Your comment about the Proposed Options for Calendar 2014/15 will be provided to the Board of Education and the School Calendar Steering Group. Personally identifiable information (name, e-mail address, etc.) from your e-mail message will not be included; only the text of your comment will be provided.
The
calendarcomments@sd44.ca mailbox will close to any further comment about the Proposed Options for Calendar 2014/15 on February 21, 2014.
Proposed Options
A,
C, and
D for the 2014/15 Calendar are available for your review below.
The Board of Education will make its decision about the 2014/15 Calendar at the Public Board Meeting on March 11, 2014. The Board-approved calendar will be forwarded to the Minister of Education for his/her approval.
January 16, 2014
On January 13, 2014, the School Calendar Steering Group (SCSG) held their third meeting in the 2013/14 school year at the Education Services Centre. The meeting's objectives were:
Review considerations associated with four Draft calendar matrices
Consider additional feedback regarding the 2014/15 calendar
Confirm a recommendation to the Board of Education at the Public Meeting on January 21, 2014
Clarify next steps including additional information needs and subsequent meetings.
The meeting presentation and a summary of the Steering Group's discussions are provided in the links below:
The next steps for the School Calendar Steering Group are:
Members of the School Calendar Steering Group will communicate to their constituents a progress update on the 2014/15 Calendar
The Steering Group's recommendations will be included in the Board of Education's agenda package on January 17, 2014, for discussion at the Public Meeting on January 21, 2014
Subject to the Board's approval, the Draft 2014/15 calendar(s) will be made publicly available for at least one month prior to the date that the school calendar must be submitted to the Minister of Education
the Board of Education will make its decision about the 2014/15 Calendar at the Public Board Meeting on March 11, 2014
The Board-approved calendar will be forwarded to the Minister of Education for his/her approval.
The next scheduled meeting of the School Calendar Steering Group is February 24, 2014.
January 8, 2014
The next scheduled meeting of the School Calendar Steering Group is Monday, January 13, 2014.
December 16, 2013
The second meeting of the School Calendar Steering Group was held at the Education Services Centre on December 9, 2013 (rescheduled from December 2nd). The meeting objectives were:
Provide an overview of existing literature and research regarding balanced school calendars
Confirm plans to review collaboration time
Provide an update regarding secondary year-end plans
Consider additional feedback regarding the 2014/15 calendar
Clarify next steps including additional information needs and subsequent meetings.
The meeting presentation and a summary of the Steering Group's discussions are provided in the links below:
Members of the School Calendar Steering Group will communicate progress on the Draft 2014/15 calendar to their constituents. The next meeting of the School Calendar Steering Group is currently scheduled for January 13, 2014 [please note change in date]. Any changes to the schedule will be posted on this website.
October 31, 2013
On October 21, 2013, the North Vancouver School District's School Calendar Steering Group held their first meeting in the 2013/14 school year.
The Steering Group includes representation from the North Vancouver Parent Advisory Council (NVPAC); District Student Leadership Council (SLC); Board of Education; Canadian Union of Public Employees - Local 389 (CUPE); North Vancouver Teachers' Association (NVTA); North Vancouver Administrators (NoVA); and District departments (Human Resources, Payroll, and Administrative Services). Dorli Duffy is the Steering Group's facilitator.
The meeting began with a confirmation of the Steering Group's role, responsibilities, expected outcomes, and timelines. The Steering Group's role is to:
Provide advice on the consultation process regarding school calendars for the next 3 to 4 years
Consider legislation, past feedback, and other relevant information regarding school calendars
Identify perspectives, values, and considerations associated with school calendars
Review and consider consultation feedback
Make recommendations to the School District's Executive Committee and the Board of Education regarding the 2014/15 school calendar, as well as the 2015/16, 2016/17, and 2017/18 school calendars.
The meeting presentation and summary notes are posted here:
Future meetings are scheduled on:
A meeting summary will be generated after each Steering Group meeting and posted here on the School District's website. The Final Steering Group Summary Report will incorporate findings and recommendations for consideration by the School District's Executive Committee and the Board of Education.
June 11, 2013
The School Calendar Steering Group reconvened for their sixth meeting on June 5, 2013. The meeting objectives were:
- Review outcome of March 12, 2013 Board of Education Meeting
- Provide feedback regarding the School Calendar Steering Group process and outcomes
- Review and revise SCSG Terms of Reference as needed for next stage of work
- Clarify next steps including additional information needs, homework, and subsequent meetings.
The meeting presentation and summary notes are posted here:
The next meeting will be scheduled in October 2013.
At the Public Board Meeting on March 12, 2013, the Board of Education approved the 2013/14 School Calendar, as was recommended by the School Calendar Steering Group. This calendar option provides for both a two-week (2) Winter Break and a two-week (2) Spring Break.
The calendar establishes start and end dates for the 2013/14 school year, holiday and vacation dates, and four (4) of the six (6) non-instructional dates: the District Curriculum Implementation Day (1), and the District (NVTA-determined) Professional Days (3). The remaining two (2) Professional Days (school-based) will be determined by each individual school.
Additionally, the 2013/14 School Calendar will provide for staff collaboration time at each North Vancouver School District school on seven (7) occasions throughout the year. Staff collaboration time will be accommodated by either a late start or early dismissal of students. Final determination of the seven (7) selected dates will occur over the next few weeks.
In accordance with the
School Calendar Regulation, the Board-approved 2013/14 School Calendar must be submitted to the Minister of Education on or before March 31, 2013.
The fifth meeting of the School Calendar Steering Group was held on March 6, 2013. The results from the School Calendar 2013/14 Survey were reviewed and discussed. Based on the feedback from the 3,594 responses to the survey, the School Calendar Steering Group has recommended to the Executive Committee a 2013/2014 Local School Calendar for the Board of Education's consideration and approval. The Board will consider the School Calendar Steering Group's recommendation at the Public Board Meeting on Tuesday, March 12, 2013.
The meeting presentation and summary notes are posted here:
March 4, 2013
The School Calendar Survey is now closed. Thank you for taking the time to participate in the School Calendar Survey.
In the spring of 2012, new legislation was introduced that eliminated the standard school calendar in British Columbia. Boards of Education now establish local calendars for their school districts. As part of the consultative process to plan the 2013/14 North Vancouver School District school calendar, the Board is seeking your input on a variety of considerations through a School Calendar Survey that is open until March 3, 2013.
Please note that in the survey, there is a reference and questions pertaining to staff Collaboration Time.
Collaboration time refers to regularly scheduled meeting times that involve an entire school staff (principals, vice principals, teachers, and support staff) working together on initiatives to support student learning. Staff will participate in structured examinations of practices and their implications for students in the areas of curriculum, instruction, assessment, and social and emotional learning.
The proposed collaboration time under reference in the survey and under consideration, is time that is outside the Collective Agreement hours of work for teachers and support staff. Any instructional time scheduled for staff collaboration would be added to the other days of instruction in order to satisfy the Ministry of Education requirements of hours of instruction for students.
The Calendar Survey closed on March 3, 2013.
Thank you for taking the time to participate in the School Calendar Survey. Your input is appreciated.
We expect the finalized calendar to be published and communicated by early April.
February 18, 2013
The fourth meeting of the School Calendar Steering Group was held on February 12, 2013. The presentation and summary notes are posted here:
School Calendar Steering Group Meeting #4 Presentation - February 12, 2013
The next meeting is scheduled on March 6, 2013, following the close of the School Calendar Survey.
December 21, 2012
As a result of legislative changes to the School Calendar Regulation, the North Vancouver School District has established a School Calendar Steering Group to develop the School District's 2013/14 Calendar.
The School Calendar Steering Group is comprised of representative members of the Board of Education, North Vancouver Teachers' Association, Canadian Union of Public Employees - Local 389, North Vancouver Parent Advisory Council, North Vancouver Administrators' Association (both elementary and secondary representatives), North Vancouver Student Leadership Council, and District staff members. Dorli Duffy is the Steering Group's facilitator.
The Steering Group, totalling 20 representatives, held its first meeting on December 11, 2012. The presentation and summary notes from the first meeting are available here:
History
2013 for 2014/15, 2015/16 and 2016/17
Process with partner groups will begin in May 2013.
2012 for 13/14
The initiation of Bill 36 has resulted in no Standard School Calendar for all school districts in the Province. School District #44 has formed a School Calendar Review Steering Group with representatives from all partner groups. The process for the School Calendar Review was shared and discussed at the November 27, 2012 Board of Education meeting.
2011 for 12/13
The Standard School Calendar was reviewed (2011/12 school year) to review the interest of having a two-week Spring Break (’13). The review was conducted earlier than in past years (Fall 2011) in order to provide as much notice as possible to all students, parents and staff. The review was discussed and reviewed at the October Education and Programs Standing Committee meeting and documents were made public through SchoolConnects and the School District website. The decision for the 2012/13 Calendar was made at the November 2011 Board of Education meeting, which resulted in a 2 week Spring Break (12/13). Time in order of minutes was added to the school days in session and CUPE suffered no loss of pay.
2011 for 11/12
As a follow-up to the Board request in 2010 for a review of future years potential of a two week Spring Break and or amendments to the school calendar, a committee representing all partner groups was formed and a survey in the community was once again initiated. Results confirm previous anecdotal feedback and the previous survey (’10) demonstrating an interest for a two week Spring Break. Also of interest to the community was an interest in some long weekends. The Board accepted the recommendations resulting in a 2 week Spring Break (2012). Time in order of minutes was added to the school days in session and CUPE suffered no loss of pay.
2009 for 09/10
The Standard School Calendar was reviewed (’09) considering the potential movement of the one-week Spring Break to align itself with the Vancouver 2010 Olympics. In addition, a review of a potential additional week for Spring Break was considered. The committee could not come to agreement on these two issues. Therefore, a “status quo” recommendation for the 2010 Spring Break was put forth to Trustees.
2007 for 07/08
The Standard School Calendar was reviewed in the Spring (’07) and adjusted for the 2007-2008 school year. This review was initiated due to interest from the School District and partner groups identifying a late Spring Break (Ministry Standard School Calendar) and an early Easter Break (’08). This review was for the logistic and budgetary reasons of the Spring and Easter Breaks being in close proximity to one another (similar to 2005). The result was a two-week Spring Break (’08). There was no loss of pay for CUPE employees for this Local School Calendar.
2004 for 04/05
The Standard School Calendar was reviewed (’04) and adjusted for the 2004-2005 school year. This review was for budgetary measures. November 11, 2004 was on a Thursday and Spring Break coincided with an early Easter during March 2005. The result was school closure for Friday, November 12, 2004 and a two-week Spring Break (’05). 4 days of instructional time was added in the manner of adding minutes to the school days of instruction.
2003 for 03/04
The Standard School Calendar was first reviewed at public forum meetings held in 2003. The notion of a two-week Spring Break was the most common area of interest for discussion; however, the necessary amendment required under legislation for changing the Standard School Calendar, was not pursued after a lack of consistent support from the partner groups for making such a change.
