School District #71 Aboriginal Education Services Supporting the inclusion of Aboriginal services into Comox Valley schools.
Dec 25, 2015
School District #71 Aboriginal Education Services
Supporting the inclusion of Aboriginal services into Comox Valley schools.
To introduce ourselves.To explain who we support.To show how we can support you.
To clarify roles and funding.
Intentions…
Aboriginal Education Centre
665 16th Street, Courtenay, B.C.(Behind Courtenay Elementary School)
Approximate Breakdown of
Aboriginal Students in SD71
Other First Na-
tions across Canad
a650
Metis320
Living on K’ómoks Reserve –
20
Inuit10
… and growing!
“An AEEA is a working agreement between a
school district, all local Aboriginal
communities, and the Ministry of Education
designed to enhance the educational
achievement of Aboriginal students.”
The AEEA is signed by the Superintendent on behalf of all school district employees and all SD 71 staff are expected to work towards meeting these goals.
Each school district signs an AEEA with goals specific to that district. SD 71 is operating under its third AEEA, which ends June 2013.
What is an Aboriginal Education Enhancement
Agreement (AEEA)?
Goal 1: To increase Aboriginal students sense of belonging; including sense of place, identity and self esteem, in a nurturing and inclusive environmentGoal 2: To improve the achievement of Aboriginal studentsGoal 3: To increase the awareness and understanding of First Nations, Métis, and Inuit history, traditions and culture for all studentsGoal 4: To enhance skills, qualities and confidence in leadership for Aboriginal students
Past Aboriginal Education Enhancement Agreement
District Aboriginal Curriculum Support Teachers
Can:• Share/ Co-teach lessons relating to the curriculum in your classroom• Help you develop Aboriginal curriculum• Help to arrange special visitors or presenters• Work with Aboriginal Support Workers• Help to facilitate large events such as the Big House Experience, Salmon BBQ’s or Intergenerational school visits
District Aboriginal Curriculum Support
Teachers Continued… Can also:•Suggest ideas for Aboriginal focused PLO’s• Provide professional development for teachers• Facilitate multi-age gatherings of students
Elementary: Lynn Swift and Melissa LitkeSecondary: Ken Lees, Gail Martindale and Gord
McMahon
Contact Sallie Crawford (Ab. Ed. Admin assistant)to direct you to the appropriate district
staff member: 250-331-4040
There are 16 support staff in our local schools.
Support Staff titles include:
Aboriginal Support Workers (ASWs) Aboriginal Home Support
Workers (AHSWs)
AbEd Support Staff
The Aboriginal Support Worker is responsible for regular contact with all Aboriginal students in their
assigned schools. How this contact looks will vary by school.
They can also: Advocate for Aboriginal students Contact parents to discuss progress, concerns, success Help to organize special events or activities Research and present about Aboriginal topics in
classrooms* Attend Aboriginal Education staff meetings and training Collect data for accountability measures Work within specific Aboriginal programs
The Role of the ASW
“Funded Aboriginal education programs must be additional to any other programs and services to which an Aboriginal student is eligible, including provincial base funding, ELL and Special Education.”
All Aboriginal Education Staff in this district are covered under this funding policy.
http://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/topic.page?id=A68C7DDDA92544E5BC671C58EAA1534E
Funding
Aboriginal ancestry is determined on a voluntary basis through self-identification. The students do not need to prove they are
Aboriginal, nor do they need a status card.
School districts report students participating in Aboriginal education programs and services on Form 1701.
Please be aware that students may know they have Aboriginal background but may not have any cultural or family background knowledge.
Self-Identification
Aboriginal Education Website:http://web.sd71.bc.ca/abed/
Facebook:http://www.facebook.com/aboriginaleducation
Aboriginal Education Centre: 250-331-4040
For more information: