Pathways to Learning | Burnaby School District

EARLY LEARNING
Every child is born curious and ready to learn. So the early, formative years are critical to a child’s brain development. The Burnaby School District works with many partners to provide a broad array of early learning support for children and families.

Surjit and her grandson, Pawan, are regulars at the monthly Second Street Community School I-PALS program.

Our StrongStart drop-in centres welcome young children and parents or caregivers to learn through play and to discover new ways to support early childhood development.

On-going early learning programs in many of our elementary schools are wonderful opportunities for young children to express themselves through art, music, story-telling and play. And our Play to Learn Open Houses offer parents and preschoolers a fun-filled introduction to school.

The Parents as Learning Supporters (PALS) program helps families who are unfamiliar with the school system. A companion program, I-PALS, is an interactive play-based opportunity for immigrant families to learn, in their first language, ways to support their children’s educational development.

In addition, full-day kindergarten will expand to all Burnaby elementary schools in September 2011.

LANGUAGES
Want to open a new pathway in your brain? Tackle a new language! With over 80 different languages spoken in Burnaby homes, it’s even more important to open our minds to other linguistic worlds.

Kindergarten student, Rosalie, leads the lion dance at the Forest Grove Mandarin Language Arts program.

Early and late French Immersion programs thrive in the Burnaby School District. And French Immersion graduates often have enhanced post-secondary opportunities.

Mandarin Language Arts, new this year for kindergarten students at Forest Grove, will expand to grade one in September. At the secondary level, students can choose from a wide range of language courses including French, Punjabi, Japanese, German, Spanish and Italian.

We are proud to offer American Sign Language at Burnaby South Secondary and to learners of all ages throughout the province with Burnaby Online.

Since language engagement is a prerequisite to student success, we work hard to support our English language learners. Each year we assess more than 2200 students for English-language proficiency at our Welcome Centre. And we support them and their classroom teachers with dedicated English as a Second Language (ESL) teachers in all Burnaby schools.

Arts ARTS
For over forty years, the Burnaby School District has been a leader in arts-based programming – and for good reason. A quality arts education fosters divergent thinking, problem solving, cooperation, perseverance and creativity, all skills that prepare students for future success.

Grade 8 Burnaby Mountain student, Devan, is one of more than 200 boys in Burnaby’s secondary school dance classes.

We proudly support music specialists in all Burnaby schools for all students. In grade seven, students can take beginner band. And in secondary school, students have the option of choir, concert or jazz band and full orchestra programs. In the district, we have a marching band, two orchestras and five auditioned choirs: three handbell and two vocal.

Burnaby secondary schools also host popular dance programs taught by dance specialists as well as a diverse range of drama, visual art, photography and media courses. For students who want to explore further, the district offers a variety of Advanced Placement, ACE-IT and extra-curricular opportunities in the arts.

All the world’s a stage – and Burnaby students are singing, dancing, drawing, playing and improvising on it. Don’t miss our next performance!

CAREER PROGRAMS
It’s a big world out there, full of possibilities. But it’s not always easy to know which path to take. Burnaby Secondary Schools help students create pathways to their future through a variety of career programs.

Transition to Trades prepares grade 11 Byrne Creek student, Jesse, for the ACE-IT Auto Collision Repair program.

In addition to general work experience placements, grade 11 and 12 students can choose from 18 different career areas.

The popular one-year ACE-IT program provides students with Apprenticeship Level One Technical Training Certification in 12 different trades from automotive, to construction, to warehousing.

Industry Certification programs equip students for careers in computer technical support, fitness leadership and hospitality management.

Students in Industry Connect programs develop professional portfolios and skills that connect them to employment or post secondary programs in film & broadcast, graphic & media arts, theatre design & production and digital sound production.

Transition to Trades Training enables students 15 years or older to combine academic studies with exploration in the trades through elective courses. This allows them to begin a career path as early as grade 10 while earning graduation credits.

ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE
Academic excellence in Burnaby schools means more than high marks. It also means critical thinking, leadership, social responsibility and adaptability. We provide opportunities for students to build on their strengths, pursue their interests and develop new skills.

Cynthia, a grade 12 Burnaby North student, can earn first year university credits in the Advanced Placement program.

Whether through student government, environment clubs, science fairs, math competitions or the annual Grade 7 Public Speaking Challenge, our goal is to help students grow into well-rounded people who are ready to embrace the future.

In partnership with parents and the community, we offer primary and intermediate challenge programs geared to the specific learning needs of gifted students.

Secondary students can earn credit for university level courses through a wide array of Advanced Placement (AP) courses or examinations. Burnaby AP students consistently perform at, or better than, the Canadian average.

Every year Burnaby graduates attract scholarships that help pave their way to post secondary education. Students in the 2010 graduating class were offered more than $7 million in scholarships, many of which celebrated leadership and social responsibility as well as academic achievement.

COMMUNITY & CONTINUING EDUCATION
Open a new door in your life! Whether you’re interested in bee keeping, English as second language or care-aide training, the Burnaby School District’s Community & Continuing Education program has something for you.

Kakali received a Cooks Training certificate while balancing family and work. She hopes to open her own restaurant.

Whether you’re interested in bee keeping, English as second language or care-aide training, the Burnaby School District’s Community & Continuing Education program has something for you.

We have offered courses to meet the needs and interests of Burnaby residents since 1928. Today, with more than 16,000 registrations a year, Burnaby provides one of the largest district-run Community & Continuing Education programs in the province. We support the educational needs of a variety of learners including new immigrants; the employed, unemployed, and underemployed; seniors; and anyone interested in life-long learning.

Community & Continuing Education offers more than 800 courses in high school completion, literacy foundations, English language services for adults, vocational certificates and diplomas, and community interest.