Expression of Interest for JHE Parent Community Opportunities

James Hill Elementary School is in a very special community. A community that has been challenged, as so many others, while we embrace an ever-changing world.

The importance of building community is a process that not only fosters connection amongst people, but it offers a collective space for experience sharing. Community spaces, if designed through systems of safety, openness, and good moderation, allow people to share their experiences and learn from one another.

To continue to build, reconnect and make new connections with the JHE community, we are offering two upcoming opportunities.

Literacy remains our number one focus for the JHE APFL (Action plan for Learning) as we continue to have students who are not yet reading at grade level, which impacts the things they do and how they feel.

Our first opportunity is around student literacy success.

We will be offering a free Parent Literacy Night Series that will run Thursdays, Nov. 4, Nov. 8 and Dec. 2. The dates run every two weeks, for about an hour to an hour and a half, depending on the rich conversation, with each session building on the next. Our guest speaker, who has spent many years specializing in early literacy, Mrs. Cathy Gracie, will provide valuable information, structures, and ways to support our kids that can be practiced and unitized in the home in align with JHE Home Reading Program that last year’s PAC invested so heavily to support. Thank your PAC! If you are interested, please email at lfairley@sd35.bc.ca with ‘Parent Literacy Night’ in the subject line so we can prepare properly for numbers.

The second opportunity is a Community Book Club.

The book is ‘Kids These Days’ by Dr. Jodi Carrington PhD. Her story… “My story? I was always intrigued by relationships. And I thought for a long time “helping people” meant fixing things. It was my “job” in my family. Slowly, along the way, I have learned that it is not about having the answer. It’s not about fixing. If you can connect, however, and truly understand someone’s story – that is where the power lies. In the relationship.” The book is a fantastic read that holds valuable information, encourages us to “hold space” for one another, and help “walk our children home”, while connecting us through our own experiences. We will hold the JHE Community Book Club at the school and offer a virtual online link, depending on interest. If you are interested, please email me at lfairley@sd35.bc.ca with ‘JHE Community Book Club’ in the subject line and the days/times that would work to meet. If this is something you would like to participate in but purchasing the book is a barrier, please let me know. Dates TBA.

We are super excited to offer these amazing opportunities and look forward to seeing you there!