New in 2012

• Principals and Community Schools – ACEbc 2012 (2 pages, PDF)
  Superintendents and Community Schools – ACEbc 2012 (2 pages, PDF)
  These two new papers provide an introduction to the benefits of community schools and the wide range of models across the province. Leveraging funds through partnerships and fostering interagency collaboration is particularly effective in times of fiscal restraint. A community school approach is also an effective way to position schools to respond to 21st Century educational challenges.

• Community Schools and Neighbourhood Learning Centres in BC (Video - 2012, 7 ½ minutes) 
  There are many models of Community Schools in BC and all can be considered Neighbourhood Learning Centres. A key research conclusion is that the “fulcrum” of a Community School is the Coordinator. Without staffing support, much of the potential of Neighbourhood Learning Centres and Community Schools cannot be realized.

• ACEbc AGM 2012 - Video conference presentation by Charissa Fernandez and Jennifer Curry from The After School Corporation (TASC), New York. (PDF PowerPoint)

  TASC has supported over 300 schools and community organizations to deliver after-school programs that:

  •Are run by community organizations in public schools, led by a full-time site coordinator

  •Operate 3 hours/day, 5 days/week

  •Offer a range of academic, social and personal development activities

  •Provide a safe space for children while parents or guardians work

• ACEbc Seeks Stories Project (PDF) We hope you enjoy these testimonials in support of community schools — stories that bring life to many of the claims in the resources on our ACEbc web site.
  

New in 2011

October 2011
Sooke Retreat

A great two-day event was held in Sooke on October 20 & 21, organized by Heather Walsh, Community School Coordinator at Sooke’s Edward Milne Community School.
Three PowerPoint files from this event are now posted on our web site:

• Denman Island Community School, prepared by Coordinator Patricia O’Connell and Assistant Coordinator Sherry Frost. This is a great introduction to community schools and shows the extensive range of programs, services and community development activities in a vibrant community school. PDF 1.8 MB 
  
• Catching the Social Emotional Wave and Mindfulness, prepared by Stacia Leech, Coordinator of Roberts Creek Community school. This Sunshine Coast project is in its third year, with funding from Health Canada’s Drug Strategies Communities Initiatives Fund. The presentation describes Social Emotional Learning and two programs proven to increase resiliency: “Roots of Empathy” and “Mind Up” (Mindfulness). PDF 0.7 MB
  
• Neighbourhood Learning Centres, prepared by Don Reimer, ACEbc. Using text and graphics from the NLC web site, this short presentation is an overview of the Ministry of Education’s expectations that all schools in BC will evolve into Neighbourhood Learning Centres. [ACEbc’s major report on Neighbourhood Learning Centres is also on our web site].PDF 0.6 MB

April 2011

Neighbourhood Learning Centres in British Columbia: Models, Elements and Stages of Development of Schools with Community Engagement. This was an ACEbc project in partnership with DASH BC and the Ministry of Education. ACEbc’s comprehensive 36 page report defines five Models of Community Engaged Schools around the province, nine Program and Service Elements, and four Stages of Development. The report draws upon expertise from the New York’s Children’s’ Aid Society. PDF 0.5 MB