Sylvia Swift

Year: 2014 – Province: British Columbia

Certificate of Achievement Recipient

Cataline Elementary School
1175 Blair Street
Williams Lake, British Columbia V2G 1X3

Principal: Mr. John Silkstone
School telephone: 250-392-7154
School email: john.silkstone@sd27.bc.ca
School website: www.sd27.bc.ca

Subjects and grades taught: Grades 2-6, All Subjects

Teaching approach

Ms. Sylvia Swift aims to take her students to the "learning edge" and pushes them to experience that "aha" moment where they get new ideas and generate exciting concepts. She deepens her students' understanding by encouraging her class to take risks with project-based lessons and student-driven inquiries into the material.

Outstanding achievements:

• Part of a team which developed  a rural secondary program for students in remote communities using Moodle and Elluminate Live to access course materials and collaborate on projects;
• Incorporated "Mind Up" curriculum in daily activities to emphasize mindful and respectful behaviour amongst classmates;
• Involved her class with community-based projects (e.g., Yarn Bombing project to beautify the city during the Williams Lake Stampede and participating in Cariboo Chilcotin Conservation Society's clean up days);
• Organized and led Guided Math groups and workshops for elementary teachers throughout the year.

Rave reviews

Ms. Swift has been on the cutting edge of introducing technology to peers in the district, at our school, as well as her students. She organizes and attends many workshops to create a more technologically savvy workplace and has even created a class website for her students. As a result, administration hears a lot of positive feedback regarding Ms. Swift's initiatives.

Sylvia applied to the District for a grant to help support our Professional Learning Community allowing teachers and principals to meet as a group focusing on improving math practices at many of our schools. Our group became larger as more members joined. The meetings have been instrumental in changing our practices, allowing us to share successes and challenges.