"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness . . . ."
Charles Dicken's famous opening to his book, A Tale of Two Cities (1859), is a fitting description for our current time as we roll into the beginning of the 2015-16 school year. There is still lots of optimism around opportunities for our students from K-12 and beyond, but it is tempered by the reality of rock-bottom oil prices and an economy heading into a recession.
For the students in our geographic area, with Tumbler Ridge being the exception, most school aged individuals have not experienced a time when the local economy was not humming along or even booming. For our graduating students, jobs have been plentiful and career opportunities have seemed limitless. We are going into this school year optimistic about what the Site C project and LNG development will mean for the local economy, and in return what it could mean for the future of our students.
We also need to be mindful of how quickly things can change and prepare our students accordingly. Our focus on Critical Thinking, Collaboration, Communication, and Problem Solving through Inquiry Based Learning will help our students to meet the challenges of an uncertain future.
As we embark on a new school year, with hope and optimism, we must continue to adapt to the changing landscape. We also must think critically, collaborate with all stake holders, communicate our intensions, and problem solve to best of our abilities in order to continue to provide "Quality Education for Each Learner."
