EDUCATIONAL SPRING FLING KEYNOTE (8:40-10:00 Vanier Hall)
​Our plenary session in Vanier Hall at PGSS takes place from 8:40-10:00, featuring our KEYNOTE presentation from 8:40-10:00. To start us off we have a few short welcomes and a short dance performance from "Together We Move" (Gr. 5-8 students from Heather Park and Kelly Road schools), so please fill the hall for a prompt start, and finish your coffee before you enter.
"Sharing Our Stories"
Relationships form an essential foundation for caring, inclusive and innovative school communities. Each member of the school community has a story to share, a context that drives their passions and determines their unique path.
“All that we are is story...” – Richard Wagamese 
Keynote Themes:
The power of “story”
Risks and vulnerabilities
Finding our edge
Sharing our stories
School community and partnerships
Connections over content
Innovation- starting from where we are
Re-imagining success
Supporting all learners
Empowering ourselves, and our students
WORKSHOP SESSION (10:30-12:00, repeats 1:30-3:00)
Creating Inclusive, Innovative School Communities - Sharing Our Stories
Session Objectives:
  1. Explore how to foster an inclusive, engaging and innovative school culture that supports and celebrates the diversity of all learners.
  2. Identify key stakeholders in a school community that can contribute to a student’s social, emotional and academic success.
  3. Explore strategies to engage and empower all students

​Participants will:
  • Reflect on, and identify the integral features of an inclusive, engaging and innovative school culture.
  • Look to redefine student “success” based on a more diverse set of skills and abilities.
  • Reflect on the importance of relationships to support and connect with all learners.
  • Identify key stakeholders in a school (learning) community and reflect on their integral role and collective responsibility in contributing to student success.
  • Build capacity and identify strategies to facilitate relationships/connections with all learners. 
About our keynote speaker - Sarah Garr
Having overcome her own challenges in school, Sarah Garr passionately believes in the need to create inclusive, innovative school communities that support and celebrate all learners. An essential component of any school culture is strong, open and trusting relationships between students, staff, parents and community members. In the midst of an ever-changing educational landscape, and with the integration of a new curriculum, strength-based leadership is key in supporting the growth and development of students and staff. Currently a vice principal at a high school in the Richmond school district SD #38, Sarah is privileged to have had opportunity to share her story through her TEDx talk, "What is Success?", on the need to re-define traditional definitions of success to be more inclusive of all learners. Sarah is also able to share her journey in educational leadership through her blog, Writing My Way Into Understanding. 

Connect with Sara Garr before, during, or after the conference:
Twitter: @garr_s
Website/Blog: sarahgarr.blogspot.ca
TEDx Talk: “What is Success?” https://youtu.be/S2LKi-KeiUE