Celebrating Our Learning
Increased Student Voice
We are proud of our work of increasing student voice at Yale. We began with a diverse groups of students examinging YDI data and saw that post-pandemic, mental health concerns of our students was not being addressed. Concerning was the YDI survey data that suggested 86% of Gr 11 Yale students felt that mental health is an important issue for people their age. Yet, only 42% of them feel that students and staff openly talk about mental health at Yale. Our students engaged in empathy interviews to dive deeper into what students were feeling.
While interviewing students, they identified five key areas that were important to students:
1) Staff intentionally building strong relationships with students
2) Mental health and wellbeing support
3) Personalized instruction for individualized learning
4) Relavant and engaging curriculum
5) Differentiated instruction based on individual student needs
Students shared their findings with staff through a Kiva Panel at an SLO. They developed a question that they wanted our staff to focus on in our school plan. The question was "How can Yale create a more inclusive learning environment that is responsive to the individual needs of each student?"
Our dedicated staff has heard what our students have said. Through a growth mindset, we are committed to enhancing the overall student experience at Yale. We are working on strengthening staff / student relationships while supporing student mental health and well being. We aim to foster a more inclusive learning environment that is responsive to the divers and evolving needs of our students.
School Spirit
Never underestimate the transformative power a pep rallies and its impact on school culture and student well-being. These spirited gatherings create a sense of community building, identity and pride amongst students and staff. Tapping into the engergy of our students and staff, we are building a positive school climate and culture while promoting school spirit and community. The sense of belonging that comes out of these spirited events, in turn, has a profound impact on student well-being while instilling a feeling of connection and support within the Yale community. Students who feel a deep connection to their school community are more likely to engage in thier studies, participate in extra cuurricular activies and experience a heightened sense of acdameic succuess. In essence, our pep rallies serve as catalysts for fostering a positive school culture, nurturing student well-being, instilling school pride, and ultimately impacting academic achievements.
Terry Fox Run
At Yale, we annually participate in the Terry Fox run in recognition of Terry Fox's Marathon of Hope. This annual run serves as an inspiration and a reminder of the qualities of perseverance and resilience in our students and staff. Raising funds for cancer research, this event has become a cultural tradition for Yale Lions while contributing to a positive school climate characterized by compassion, empathy, and a shared sense of responsibility. This event contributes to cultivating a positive, inclusive, and socially conscious school environment.
Athletics
The victories of our Senior Girls and Senior Boys basketball teams in the Abbotsford Police City Basketball tournament reverberated far beyond the court, significantly shaping our school. Athletics serves as a powerful catalyst for fostering a positive school culture, nurturing student well-being, and cultivating a profound sense of belonging. The dedication, teamwork, and perseverance exhibited by our student athletes not only inspire their fellow students, but also instill a collective pride and spirit that permeates throughout the entire school community. This infectious enthusiasm, in turn, creates an environment conducive to optimal learning with a lasting impact on student well-being, a sense of belonging, and ultimately, the academic success of our students.
Real World Learning
It couldn’t be truer that when students are engaged in the “doing” of learning the Curricular Competencies of thinking, communication, and personal/social skills come alive. In the student-created & student-run Mane Street Cafe (MSC), students are given just that. Unique and hands-on “doing” opportunities that are difficult to duplicate in the traditional classroom. Working in a fast-paced and busy space, these student baristas are required to be both adaptable and flexible to the demands of the job. While further developing their communication, interpersonal and problem-solving skills, students must also learn to handle money, serve demanding customers, and keep food safe regulations, while staying on top of an always depleting inventory. When I see the daily lineup of students waiting for their Frappes & Bagels, I empathize with the bustling baristas of the MSC. However, I also smile knowing that learning is happening.