Hans Helgesen Elementary

a)  Weave First Peoples Principles of Learning and Indigenous Ways of Knowing, Being and Doing into our practice and culture.

• Classes were invited to share territorial acknowledgement on the daily announcements and at our school-wide assemblies
• Regular meeting of the Equity team and monthly reporting at staff meetings. 
• Equity team members chose to personally share one Call to Action at every staff meeting. 
• Throughout the year, classes created and displayed Coast Salish art and learning. 
• Our Na'tsa'maht Classroom Program Assistant worked in almost every class, sharing culture, language and art
• Elders and Special Guests attended several school-wide assemblies and celebrations
• Several Role Models visited each classroom throughout the year sharing their stories, art, culture and traditions to enhance our students' learning

b)  Focus on outdoor learning experiences connecting to land and place.

• Forest committee of interested staff and students met regularly in the Spring to undertake environmental stewardship initiatives (Year 2)
• several new student resources were purchased for our learning forest for classes to share
• Interested staff met twice this year with a facilitator as part of "Wild Schools" program and began to create grade level learning topics and collected resources to support environmental stewardship. Staff will continue this work at August 2024 planning day.  
• Classes in Kindergarten-Grade 5 were invited to present at a monthly Coast Salish Moon Assembly. Children taught the rest of the school about the significance of the Coast Salish calendar and events happening in nature throughout the year. 

c)  Foster community connections and increase opportunities for collaborative learning.

• The District's Na'tsa'maht Family Dinner event was held at Dunsmuir Middle School this year. Many families and staff members from Hans Helgesen attended the evening. Children from our school who are also members of the Beecher Bay community performed traditional dances and songs.  
• School-wide family events included: Welcome Back Picnic and Open House, Family Halloween Dance, Remembrance Assembly, Learning Conferences,  Winter Music, Spring Concert, Talent Show, Spring Fair, Year-End celebration, Grade 5 celebration and more 
• frequent communication between school and home through school newsletters, updated website, class newsletters, phone calls, parent meetings and conference opportunities