Instructional Capacity

<p class="editor-paragraph"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">At Nesika, our staff are dedicated to creating meaningful outdoor learning experiences that actively engage students. We believe learning extends beyond the classroom, and we intentionally incorporate outdoor opportunities that are both purposeful and inspiring. To further support this commitment, some of our teachers are using their professional development days to complete coursework and become certified outdoor learning educators.</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><img src="/images/3f34245d-fbe3-4abf-b2f7-c1fa87bd265c?fingerprint=ppb20260428064425" alt="OUtdoor Learning Certification kelly glen" width="589" height="474" style="width:589px;height:474px;display:inline-block"></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><br></p>

<p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">On our last professional development day, a few Nesika teachers had the privilege of participating in a session focused on learning about the history, culture, and traditions of the Secwépemc Nation within Secwépemcúl’ecw. Through shared teachings and stories from knowledge keepers, they deepened their understanding of community, resilience, and cultural revitalization. A hands-on beading experience highlighted the importance of patience, intention, and respect, reinforcing our commitment to ongoing learning and reconciliation.</span></p><table class="editor-table"><colgroup><col><col></colgroup><tbody><tr><th class="editor-tableCell editor-tableCellHeader" style="width: 350px; background-color: rgb(242, 243, 245); border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top;"><p class="editor-paragraph"><img src="/images/53ac7f3f-e7fc-4d24-b9f0-887b7f670ed2?fingerprint=ppb20260301045915" alt="Deepening Understanding Through Secwépemc Teachings1 kelly glen" width="100%" height="inherit" style="width:100%;height:inherit;display:inline-block"></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><br></p></th><th class="editor-tableCell editor-tableCellHeader" style="width: 350px; background-color: rgb(242, 243, 245); border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top;"><p class="editor-paragraph"><img src="/images/64b7d64b-9a30-4ffa-8a6d-1367990b9bf5?fingerprint=ppb20260301045915" alt="Deepening Understanding Through Secwépemc Teachings2 kelly glen" width="100%" height="inherit" style="width:100%;height:inherit;display:inline-block"></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><br></p></th></tr></tbody></table><p class="editor-paragraph"><br></p>

<p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">At Nesika, we are continually seeking innovative and meaningful ways to engage our learners in both academic pursuits and environmental education. In this photo, our teachers are participating in a recent professional development session, where they are learning how to upcycle everyday materials and natural found objects into practical, purposeful creations.</span></p><table class="editor-table"><colgroup><col><col></colgroup><tbody><tr><th class="editor-tableCell editor-tableCellHeader" style="width: 350px; background-color: rgb(242, 243, 245); border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top;"><p class="editor-paragraph"><img src="/images/af466c72-7738-4c84-ab57-724983d9f44c?fingerprint=ppb20260216202957" alt="Hands on learning1 kelly glen" width="100%" height="inherit" style="width:100%;height:inherit;display:inline-block"></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><br></p></th><th class="editor-tableCell editor-tableCellHeader" style="width: 350px; background-color: rgb(242, 243, 245); border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top;"><p class="editor-paragraph"><img src="/images/53e46e02-ffc1-4a8f-8b24-1c7857925bbc?fingerprint=ppb20260216202958" alt="Hands on learning2 kelly glen" width="100%" height="inherit" style="width:100%;height:inherit;display:inline-block"></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><br></p></th></tr></tbody></table><p class="editor-paragraph"><br></p>

<p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">This past pro-d, a group of English and French teachers worked collaboratively on aligning assessment practices between the French and English programs in our school. Teachers spent time looking at effective assessment strategies, what rubrics actually meant, and aligning practice so we are assessing students the same way across grades and programs. This work will help guide us not only in how we assess out students, but how we plan for the "what's next" after assessment as a whole school.</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><img src="/images/9287b3a9-dd52-4e98-ba32-cbcc414bb935?fingerprint=ppb20251217035006" alt="Assessment Practices Collaboration" width="545" height="408" style="width:545px;height:408px;display:inline-block"></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><br></p>

<p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">The French Immersion teachers at Nesika have spent the month of September collaborating on improving instruction in classrooms. Teachers are learning about new French Literacy Assessments and how to improve phonics instruction in the French Classroom.</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><img src="/images/d9ac1e28-9afd-4d55-905a-b628fee6bdbe?fingerprint=ppb20251217040323" alt="Picture1" width="348" height="423" style="width:348px;height:423px;display:inline-block"></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><br></p>

<p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Teacher leader Melissa Therrien has been collaborating with teacher Marina Campsall demonstrating a new approach to unlocking content area literacy with older students. The teachers co-teach the whole group with reading long multisyllabic words and comprehending content area text. This explicit teacher-led instruction is helping our students focus on new strategies for success.</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><img src="/images/b60adc7a-f11d-40d6-8893-0f3db8318362?fingerprint=ppb20251217035619" alt="Teachers collaborate on student literacy" width="477" height="413" style="width:477px;height:413px;display:inline-block"></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><br><br><br></p>

<p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">One of our Teacher Candidates Marie (TRU) led the learning, hosting well-known numeracy consultant Carole Fullerton in her grade 2/3 practicum classroom. Several of our primary teachers were able to take part as well! We are pleased to also be hosting Anila, who is an International Teacher Candidate. Nesika is a fortunate school to help build instructional capacity and share the learning with both candidates.</span></p><table class="editor-table"><colgroup><col><col></colgroup><tbody><tr><th class="editor-tableCell editor-tableCellHeader" style="width: 350px; background-color: rgb(242, 243, 245); border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top;"><p class="editor-paragraph"><img src="/images/9e6513b2-6cfc-415c-997c-df7a6a98016f?fingerprint=ppb20260128051818" alt="Student Teachers Building Capacity1 holly zurak" width="100%" height="inherit" style="width:100%;height:inherit;display:inline-block"></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><br></p></th><th class="editor-tableCell editor-tableCellHeader" style="width: 350px; background-color: rgb(242, 243, 245); border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top;"><p class="editor-paragraph"><img src="/images/4b35a8bf-de98-4a09-96da-3c2a1e7bd3c7?fingerprint=ppb20260128051819" alt="Student Teachers Building Capacity2 holly zurak" width="100%" height="inherit" style="width:100%;height:inherit;display:inline-block"></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><br></p></th></tr></tbody></table><p class="editor-paragraph"><br></p>

<p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Anila Joy joined the Nesika team this week! Ms. Joy is originally from India and is currently enrolled in the Masters of Education program at TRU and is completing a practicum requirement as part of the new TWINQ Project (Teachers with International Teaching Qualifications). She will be spending a month with the team at Nesika, under the leadership and mentorship of Ms. Nasuszny in her grade 4/5 class. The Nesika community is grateful for Anila's contributions to our learning and we are looking forward to sharing this time with her!</span></p><table class="editor-table"><colgroup><col><col></colgroup><tbody><tr><th class="editor-tableCell editor-tableCellHeader" style="width: 350px; background-color: rgb(242, 243, 245); border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top;"><p class="editor-paragraph"><img src="/images/6c5d5ec5-d30a-4ba8-ac5a-014304ebb283?fingerprint=ppb20260128051046" alt="Anila Joy in class heather mckinnon" width="100%" height="inherit" style="width:100%;height:inherit;display:inline-block"></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><br></p></th><th class="editor-tableCell editor-tableCellHeader" style="width: 350px; background-color: rgb(242, 243, 245); border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top;"><p class="editor-paragraph"><img src="/images/2e5937b2-9e22-453a-b38d-d820ab62dfb5?fingerprint=ppb20260128051047" alt="Anila Joy heather mckinnon" width="100%" height="inherit" style="width:100%;height:inherit;display:inline-block"></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><br></p></th></tr></tbody></table><p class="editor-paragraph"><br></p>

<p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">La classe de Mme Jones had the privilege of a visit from Québécois author Alexandra Larochelle who shared her story of how she became an author at age 10, followed by a Q&amp;A period. Tellement excitant!</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><img src="/images/de6bb16a-eee2-4829-a909-cc85223d06ab?fingerprint=ppb20251217040352" alt="Author Alexandra Larochelle" width="676" height="507" style="width:676px;height:507px;display:inline-block"></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><br></p>

<p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">We’re pleased to share that several Nesika students placed in this year's Williams Lake Legion Remembrance Day poster and literary contest. Congratulations! The students will be invited to a ceremony in which they will be recognized for their achievements. The date of the ceremony is still to be determined. Thank you for supporting the Legion!</span></p><div data-lexical-layout-container="true" style="grid-template-columns: 1fr 1fr; display: grid;"><div class="editor-layoutItem"><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><img src="/images/c2fd850d-71b9-5b81-bf64-9e3b2ad3e3dc?fingerprint=ppb20251217040205" alt="2epzb0kl.jpg" width="100%" height="inherit" style="width:100%;height:inherit"></p></div><div class="editor-layoutItem"><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><br></p></div></div>

<p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">All of our teaching staff had a chance to learn from numeracy expert consultant Carole Fullerton yesterday. Carole led learning rounds focused on assessment in Ms. Kolinsky and Mme Jones’ classrooms, while other teachers were released from their classrooms to observe and learn. After school a group (pictured) got to spend extra time debriefing and asking good questions. Thanks again Carole!</span></p><div data-lexical-layout-container="true" style="grid-template-columns: 1fr 1fr; display: grid;"><div class="editor-layoutItem"><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><img src="/images/300a21be-73bd-5d0f-a031-c460b9244bc2?fingerprint=ppb20251217033848" alt="qik0p40k.jpg" width="100%" height="inherit" style="width:100%;height:inherit"></p></div><div class="editor-layoutItem"><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><br></p></div></div>

<p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Teachers, with the support of helping teacher Natalie Ohlhauser, collaborated over an early dinner to assess the Nesika students' literacy work. DART, EPRA and SWW were all looked at and discussed in both English and French. Teachers will use the information gathered in this session to inform next steps in their teaching.</span></p><div data-lexical-layout-container="true" style="grid-template-columns: 1fr 1fr; display: grid;"><div class="editor-layoutItem"><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><img src="/images/5ce0dd01-fddd-5d6e-a403-d4c61c900cfb?fingerprint=ppb20251217034103" alt="fxyy106e.jpg" width="100%" height="inherit" style="width:100%;height:inherit"></p></div><div class="editor-layoutItem"><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><br></p></div></div>

<p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Nesika school is in our final year of the HCTF WILD Schools program. Every year as part of our commitment, teachers participate in an HCTF professional development workshop. Teacher leaders at Nesika have been learning alongside students each time - actively engaging with the learning. This year, teachers used our October meeting to work in grade groups with our facilitator Martin Kruus: pulling apart lesson plans, thinking through adaptations, and structuring our next workshop date. On October 23, "Take Me Outside for Learning Day" - our Nesika community will tackle Project WET.</span></p><div data-lexical-layout-container="true" style="grid-template-columns: 1fr 1fr; display: grid;"><div class="editor-layoutItem"><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><img src="/images/3bbd23f4-2902-5105-a795-61f44ddfdf74?fingerprint=ppb20251217033916" alt="hqypoqkp.jpg" width="100%" height="inherit" style="width:100%;height:inherit"></p></div><div class="editor-layoutItem"><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><br></p></div></div>