Pro-D activities
SWS teachers are looking forward to a full and rewarding week of professional development beginning this Friday. Preschool and kindergarten teachers will all travel to Portland to attend the WECAN conference, where Adam Blanning will present on child development. Christine will continue her training in Spatial Dynamics with Jaimen McMillan. This practice brings Waldorf insights to movement and physical education, which Christine will be able to share with our students and teachers. karin burns will attend a workshop on Jump Math, a curriculum that will enrich how we bring mathematics to our students across the Grades.
Nina Moore from Whistler Waldorf School will train our teachers in Planbook, an online lesson planning software which will help us integrate our planning with BC curriculum requirements. Christine and I will attend a training at Vancouver Waldorf School focused on BC curricular competencies and core competencies, and how school leadership can support teachers in their work. Louise will attend a presentation on enhancing child mental health. Fritz will be sharing his life-long expertise with Waldorf student teachers at the Westcoast Institute in Vancouver. Finally, I will attend the Waldorf regional meetings in Seattle, where we will explore diversity work, decision making practices, educational support and work with computers from Grades six and up, and connect with other Waldorf school leaders.
Teachers and administrators understand that it can be difficult for our families to plan around our Pro D schedule; however, scheduling these times in week-long blocks in coordination with other Waldorf schools provides us with access to world class presenters and learning opportunities. We are grateful for parents’ support and look forward to bringing what we have learned back to the classroom.
– Gabriel