Blog Posts

Pete Nuij
June 16, 2025

Pete Nuij Joins District as New Assistant Superintendent

We are pleased to announce the appointment of Pete Nuij as Assistant Superintendent, effective June 16, 2025.

With more than two decades of experience in public education, Pete brings a wealth of knowledge and leadership to his new role. He has served as a teacher, school-based administrator, District Principal, Director of Instruction, and most recently, Associate Superintendent of Education Services with the Vancouver School Board.

Pete Nuij
Learning through questions Learning through questions
May 27, 2025

You Can Learn Anything from Everything

Like many people, I enjoy a good podcast.  I was listening to Tetragrammaton the other night, and the guest was Pulitzer Prize-winning author and playwright David Mamet. During the interview, Mamet referenced his novel, "Recollections of St. Ives." More specifically, he spoke about one of his characters, Mr. Ruskin, a teacher, who suggests an innovative way of teaching history by giving students a few dollars and sending them to a vintage store to buy an item, then having them return to class and do a "show and tell" about it. You can imagine how this could work.

Learning through questions Learning through questions
soccer soccer
April 25, 2025

Leading Like a Brazilian Football Coach

As the 2025 World Cup of Soccer draws near, I find myself thinking about some of the great nations of soccer. Only a very select number of teams have ever won the tournament more than once: Brazil, Germany, France, Italy, Uruguay, and Argentina breathe this rarified air. And among these, Brazil is the only nation with five championships. 

soccer soccer
Break Break
March 11, 2025

Work. And Rest.

A few weeks ago, I shared my thoughts on the benefits of physical activity for both our minds and bodies. As we approach March Break, it feels timely to highlight the importance of rest and relaxation. Taking a break is something I personally struggle with, and I know many of you do, too. Our principals and vice principals, in particular, often find it challenging to take a lunch break when there are hundreds of students to supervise. Despite our best intentions to take a moment "later" to eat and catch our breath, sometimes "later" never comes.

Break Break
walking walking
February 24, 2025

The Brain-Body Connection

True confession: I enjoy physical activity. I start most days with vigorous exercise. I wake up at 5:00 am Monday to Friday so I can be unrushed in my morning ritual, which includes fresh espresso, a scroll through various social media feeds, CBC radio, and yes, a fitness workout.  

walking walking