Connecting… Words of Wisdom 2017 27 Jun 201726 Jun 2017 These are the words of wisdom I shared at our Grade 7 Farewell ceremony today... The Chicago Bears The Spirit Bear The Grizzly, Black and Brown Bear Yogi Bear Smokey…
Authentic Learning… Our Whole School Inquiry 30 Mar 201730 Mar 2017 Why is it important to be responsible? This is an Essential Question our school is exploring across the grades through our current whole school inquiry. The vehicle driving the learning into…
Authentic Learning… At the Forefront 15 Jan 2017 What school is your child going to attend next year? During my childhood you simply went to the school that was in your neighbourhood; but that is not necessarily…
Uncategorized Words of Wisdom 2016 27 Jun 201629 Jun 2016 Congratulations! You are off on a new adventure; one that you can go forward and explore with confidence because you are prepared. First off, you learned a lot of amazing…
Collaboration… Being a Farmer 6 Mar 201620 Mar 2016 This week I presented at Discovery Education's Ignite Vancouver. This is my 5 minute presentation. Please excuse the run-on sentences and poor punctuation. It is written like I spoke it…
Authentic Learning… My One Word: Create 31 Jan 201631 Jan 2016 The one word challenge was set by Chris Kennedy a month ago. It has taken me a little time to put my thoughts down but my one word is Create.…
Authentic Learning… Help. My Professional Growth Plan 30 Nov 2015 I am the principal of a school with 326 students. This year, like every other year, those students were grouped by age and then broken into divisions within what might be…
Uncategorized Welcome Back Message to my School 20 Sep 2015 Welcome back to a new school year! Over the course of this summer Caulfeild received a "refresh" in a number of locations around the school. Our washrooms that were "vintage" from…
Uncategorized TEDxWestVancouverED 6 Oct 2014 After a year of planning, TEDxWestVancouverED became a reality on Saturday, September 27. At 8:30am three hundred educators, parents and members of the community began their day at the Kay Meek…
Inquiry… Thank You Ridgeview 2 Jul 20142 Jul 2014 It has been three years since the photo was taken. This was my first day of school as the Vice-Principal of Ridgeview, and what an amazing experience it has been.…
Authentic Learning… Who Has the Power? 11 Jun 201411 Jun 2014 This week's Maclean's Magazine has a column by Emma Teitel titled "Get Them When They're Young". The argument is that we need to make a more concerted effort to teach…
Uncategorized A View from the Small Office 2 May 2014 A revisit of an old post about the work we've done at Ridgeview
Collaboration… Our Approach to BYOD 15 Jan 201415 Jan 2014 At the end of June last year we sent a letter home to all of our grade 5-7 parents notifying them that Ridgeview Elementary was initiating a Bring Your Own…
Collaboration… 10 Thoughts 1 Dec 2013 I always enjoy Elliotte Friedman’s 30 Thoughts opinion piece on CBC Sports so I thought I would try my own version as I reflect back on the first three months…
Connecting… Connecting with Remembrance Day 8 Nov 201311 Nov 2013 Each year, in my role as Vice-Principal, I have the honour of shaping the annual Remembrance Day ceremony at Ridgeview Elementary in collaboration with our teachers. My goal every November is…
Uncategorized What Makes a Difference? 22 Sep 2013 What brought JOY to your learning when you were a student? My wife Charity has returned to school this year seeking her British Columbia Teachers Certificate through Simon Fraser University…
Uncategorized Taking the First Step can be the Hardest 25 Aug 2013 Last week the administrators of West Vancouver returned to work for our annual beginning of the year conference. This is a wonderful opportunity to both reconnect with one another and…
Collaboration… Reflecting on our Innovation 11 Jun 2013 Yesterday educators in the West Vancouver School District came together at Sentinel Secondary to share the process and results of their inquiries from throughout the year. The innovation grants provided…
Uncategorized Presenting My Trip to the Top of Mt. Kilimanjaro 2 Jun 2013 Revisiting my trip on the day our donation was presented...Some great photos for anyone interested in undertaking this adventure for a great cause!
Authentic Learning… Students Taking Action to Help Other Kids 28 May 2013 A month ago two students at Ridgeview Elementary were announced as winners of the Burn Fund Burn Awareness Contest. Under the leadership of their teacher Amy Meldrum, all our grade…
Collaboration… My TED Journey – A Personal Passion Project 28 Apr 201327 Apr 2013 If you are doing something you love, an hour feels like 5 minutes. Sir Ken Robinson Our committee has spent many "5 minute blocks" over the past few months organizing TEDxWestVancouverED…
Authentic Learning… Following your Passion (Part 1) 22 Mar 201322 Mar 2013 For many years I have encouraged students to dig into their curiosities through Passion Projects, Teach Me Something I Don't Know events, and Learn Something Amazing activities. Each time, I…
Connecting… Connecting with my Climb of Mt. Kilimanjaro 4 Nov 20124 Nov 2012 On October 17, 2012 I stood on the roof of Africa. It was an incredible feeling watching the sunrise over the clouds and Mawenzi Peak below as a vicious wind…
Uncategorized The Agenda for our Climb 6 Oct 2012 A quick and simple post today... The plan for our trek is below. Starting on the 10th you'll be able to follow our progress at http://summitsofhope.com/baseCamp.asp?ClimbID=30 Oct 10: Arrive in Africa…
PICTURE THIS... 