It’s time to get festive! This is our first-ever holiday episode of VSB After The Bell – and just in time for the winter break. In this episode, we go live on location at Hastings, Thunderbird, Nightingale and Hudson Elementary schools to speak with students and teachers on how they celebrate winter celebrations at school. We also get some one-one-one time with a few high school students and ask them for their perspectives. For the “Matter of the Month,” we speak with Board chair Victoria Jung to talk about the Board’s decision to reinstate School Liaison Officer program.

Timestamps:

Starting kindergarten is a huge milestone, for both families and their children. We know kindergarten enrolment is a hot topic in Vancouver, so we are doing a deep dive into kindergarten registration and enrolment.

David Nelson, Deputy Superintendent and Michael Rossi, Acting Director of Instruction join us on the podcast to talk about all things kindergarten. In our latest episode, we answer questions about the registration process, talk about the different programs available, provide tips on preparing for kindergarten and answer questions submitted via our social media channels.

Check out these timestamps for key topics:

For more information on kindergarten registration, visit our website at: govsb.ca/kindergarten

In recognition of World Mental Health Day this month, our latest podcast episode explores what mental health looks like for students. Claire Pijanowski, counsellor at Kerrisdale and Queen Mary Elementary schools and Joe Ritchie counsellor at Templeton Secondary join us to talk about why it’s important to pay close attention to a student’s mental health. Both counsellors share what types of supports are available at school and provide some mental health tips for caregivers.

Matter of the month: The municipal election, when school trustees are elected. Carolyn Broady, president of the British Columbia School Trustees Association (BCSTA) and vice-president of the Canadian School Boards Association (CSBA) chat about how elections impact schools and students.

In our first episode of VSB: After The Bell, we speak with Helen McGregor, VSB’s Superintendent. We talk about:

· Her role as superintendent,

· The the Education Plan, which guides the District’s work throughout the next five years, and

· Address the matter of the month: back to school enrolment delays.

An introduction to VSB: After The Bell and why we created this podcast.