Neqweyqwelsten School
We At Neqweyqwelsten School, Will Support Fostering Independent Students By Setting High Expectations For Continuous Mastery Of Learning By Providing Quality Instruction In A Positive, Safe Environment And Home Support That Is Healthy, Consistent And Celebrates Success.
Philosophy of Neqweyqwelsten School
We believe that education is the process of becoming knowledgeable about oneself and the world. Education is a holistic, life-long endeavor, which supports students’ intellectual, social, emotional, spiritual and physical development. We believe that every individual is unique and capable. We believe that learning comes most easily to children who have pride in themselves, their culture and their community.
We support our children in becoming self-aware and independently able.
We believe that this education will develop positive attitudes and well grounded understandings, which will enable our children to act in ways that strengthen their relationships with themselves, their families, and the world.
We believe that this education will enable them to contribute to the preservation of the natural environment and well being of all people.
Staff Mission Statement
This describes the staff’s understanding of the purpose of Neqweyqwelsten School:
“Maintain high expectations for continuous learning through quality instruction, supportive home environments and celebrations of success.”
Background & Goals
Neqweyqwelsten Background
Neqweyqwelsten School has operated in Simpcw First Nation since 1983, when the Nursery/Kindergarten opened in a portable near the band office.
In 1987, the school expanded, with grades one to four being offered in the old band office, based on parents’ wishes that the community have a school. Since that time, the school has been overseen by parents/guardians, with all students’ families making up the School Authority.
Five members of the Authority make up the Management Team that makes decisions on behalf of the school between general parent/guardian meetings.
In 1993, the new building opened and the school, now with students up to grade five enrolled, also included an adult program. The school currently offers a program for Nursery to grade seven, and works closely with the Head Start to bring the youngest students into the school as they reach their fourth birthday.
Neqweyqwelsten School Goals
- Provide for individual attention to student intellectual, social, emotional and physical needs and provide a safe and healthy learning environment to fulfill these needs
- Integrate Secwepemctsin and Simpcw First Nation cultural traditions, values and history into the curriculum
- Promote within our children the development of a positive self-concept
- Home and school will work together to support the learning’s of our children. We recognize that education is a responsibility shared by students, parents and teachers
- Develop an integrated reading and writing approach tailored to our children’s needs
- Provide our children with an environment that is designed to encourage critical and creative thinking and problem solving skills
- Provide ongoing assessment of academic skill development
- Provide computer assisted learning
- Ensure mastery of essential skill through individual planning
- Provide an education facility that is a positive and safe learning environment for our children
- Utilize community resource persons in the school
- Use all professional resources available to support students, staff, and families
- Involve the parents in all aspects of the school operation
- Employ wherever possible, band and community members, in order to support mutual growth
Long Term Goals
- Continue to create an open, honest environment where students can trust others and themselves
- Increase Community Support
- Share Successes
- Include more local Resource People
- Increase Parent Role in school, singing in concert, sharing knowledge and skills
General Information
Enrollment
Neqweyqwelsten School is open to all Simpcw First Nation and community members and their families. If space permits, non-members may apply to attend the school. Non-members tuition is paid under the Reciprocal Tuition agreement with the province of BC. Students may enter Neqweyqwelsten the day after their fourth birthday if parents and teacher deem them to be developmentally prepared to do so.
Registration
Registration for new students will generally take place by April 30 of the previous school year. Confirmation of continued attendance will also be due by this date to facilitate planning for staff and space requirements for the upcoming year. Registration forms will include personal information, health information, medical number, status number, if applicable, and must include the number for emergency contact when a parent or guardian cannot be reached.
All Neqweyqwelsten parents are encouraged to communicate with prospective Neqweyqwelsten parents about the values, philosophy, goals and mission of Neqweyqwelsten School.
Parental Involvement
Involvement in the school can take many forms. To realize the goals we set for our school and our children it is best to have commitment from parents too.
- Send children to school daily, on time
- Send children well rested, fed and clothed with a nutritious lunch, so that they are able to fully participate assist with homework
- Attend monthly parent meetings and periodic school visits to learn about your child’s progress
- Take part in school programs: Field trips, work bee’s and sports day. Participate in cultural day
- Volunteer their special skills i.e. music, crafts, cultural knowledge
- Substitute if interested in doing so
- Write news letter articles about the school
School Conduct
Conduct Statement
We, the parents, staff and students of Neqweyqwelsten School believe that all people need to be treated with respect, acceptance and dignity.
Duties, Rights and Responsabilities
Students
- Have the opportunity to avail themselves of a quality education consistent with their abilities and to share in the shaping of their educational programs
- The opportunity to determine their career and occupational goals
- They have a responsibility to make the most of their opportunities, to respect the rights of others, and to cooperate with fellow students in the achievement of their goals
Parents
- Have the right and responsibility to participate in the process of determining the educational goals, policies and services provided for their children
- They have a primary responsibility to ensure that children are provided with the healthy and supportive environment necessary for learning
- They have a responsibility to help shape and support the goals of the school system and to share in the tasks of educating their young
Teachers
- Have the right to exercise professional judgment in providing instruction to students in accordance with specified duties and powers
- They have a corresponding responsibility to ensure that each student is provided with quality instruction, to participate in all normal school activities and to monitor the behavior and progress of each learner in accordance with provincial and local policies
- They have a responsibility to communicate with students and parents, and are accountable to the School Authority and its delegates
School Principals
- Have the right to exercise professional judgment in managing the school in accordance with specified duties and powers
- They have a corresponding responsibility to ensure that each student is provided with opportunities for a quality education
- Principals are to provide administrative leadership, in consultation with teachers and the community, that reflects the aspirations of parents and the school community, and that is consistent with Simpcw First Nation guidelines
- They cooperate with parents and the community in the delivery of non-educational support services to students, and focus on the following areas of school concern:
- Student access and achievement
- Quality teaching
- Communication with parents and the community; and
- Accountability to parents and to the School Authority
School Authorities
- Have a duty to govern the district and their school in accordance with specified powers in a fiscally responsible and cost effective manner
- They have a responsibility to ensure that the school provides students with opportunities for a quality education
- To set education policies that reflect the aspirations of the community and that are consistent with overall school guidelines
- To provide leadership and encouragement to the school and the community; To cooperate with the community and social service agencies in the delivery of non-educational support services to students; and
- To focus on the following areas of community concern:
- Implementation of provincial and local education programs
- School finance and facilities
- Student access and achievement
- teaching performance; and Accountability to parents, and the community
General School Procedures
School Calendar
The school operates on an adapted Year Round Calendar with school beginning 2 weeks before Labor Day, and there are three breaks during the year for a total of 6 weeks of break, with school closure at the end of June.
Hours of Operation
- 8:45 – 2:30 with 45 minutes for lunch
- Students will arrive no earlier than 8:30, unless prior arrangements have been made with the teacher for earlier arrival
- 5 hours per day for Nursery
- At least one staff member will remain in the school building during lunch break
- Field trips may result in a longer day. Parents will be informed of changes in times
- Teachers may adjust times in order to accommodate special events as they see fit
- Parents will be informed of any changes
Reporting to Parents
- September: an orientation meeting and open house
- November: written report and parent/teacher interviews
- February: student-led conference
- March: written report and conference
- June: written report
Maintenance
The school will be maintained in a clean, safe condition at all times. Teachers will report safety concerns to the Occupational Health and Safety Committee. If the teachers judge the school to be unsafe to the students at any time i.e. health (no toilets, too cold) they may make the decision to send students home.
Emergency Procedures
- In the case of an emergency, Fire Drill procedures will be followed and an adult or responsible student will report it immediately to the band office
- The school staff’s highest priority will be the safety of the children
Any emergency will be reported to parents as soon as possible
Fire Drills
Fire drills will be conducted five times annually.
Evacuation Drills
Evacuation drills will be conducted 3 times annually
First Aid supplies
First Aid kits will be restocked as needed
School Closure
School may be closed if staff deem it unhealthy or unsafe for students to be delivered to or remain at school: e.g. severe cold, dangerous road conditions, environmental health concerns.
School Program
Curriculum
Provincial Primary/Intermediate Program focused on provincial learning outcomes
Seqwe̓pemctsin & Culture
- Local Simpcw traditional and contemporary culture
- Secwepemctsin
Language & Arts
- Read Well – K – Grade 2
- Journal writing as feedback and assessment tool
- Write Well, Step up to Writing, Reading/Writing Performance Standards
- Integrated with curricular/cultural themes
- Reading across the content areas
- School wide research format, varied for grade levels
Math - Singapore Math
- Math learning outcomes
Social Studies/Science/Art/Music/P.E.
- Provincial learning outcomes integrated with themes
- Integrated Themes – themes are prepared by teachers and are within teacher long term plans
Health and Safety Programs
- Breakfast program
- Learn Not to Burn/WCB, Work Safe
- CARE personal safety program
- RCMP programs: bike rodeo, seat belt safety etc.
- Health and nutrition, life skills, Personal Planning learning outcomes
- Heart Smart/Dental Hygiene
- Access to counseling services
- Access to Health Program staff for vision/hearing screen, etc.
Information Technology
- Daily access to computers and ipads
- Individual student learning plans
- Keyboarding skills
Assessment
- Teacher prepared materials as supplied with programs e.g. math, spelling
- Canadian Achievement Test (CAT4)
- KeyMath
- Read Well, Seeing Stars and Lindamood Bell programs
- Dynamic Indicators of Early Literacy Skills assessments – DIBELS, school-wide
- PM Benchmarks K – Grade 2
Liaison with Public School
- Most Neqweyqwelsten students will go on to the public school system. It is necessary for us to maintain close ties, so that the transition can be smooth for our children
- Students entering Barriere Secondary have an orientation visit to prepare them for the transition
- Parents and students moving into the public system are encouraged to visit the Barriere Schools in June
- Graduates of Neqweyqwelsten may visit students who will be going into Barriere in the coming year to give their perspective on changes students might expect
- Neqweyqwelsten will provide resources to allow visits of staff to the Barriere schools to ensure a smooth transition to the public school for our students
- Neqweyqwelsten will support students with special needs in transition by adhering to the Communication Plan ratified by the Simpcw First Nation and Barriere Secondary School
- In 2011/2012, Neqweyqwelsten School hired a teacher to support students at all levels from the Simpcw community
Documents
Document 1
Document 3
Document 5
Document 2
Document 4
For further information contact:
Brian Matthew
Neqweyqwelsten School Principal
neqweyqwelsten@gmail.com
Simpcw First Nations \ Neqweyqwelsten School
7555 Dunn Lake Road
P.O. Box 220
Barriere, BC V0E 1E0
Phone: 250.672.9995 ext: 237
Toll Free: 1.800.678.1129 ext: 237