Vincent Chung & Harry Lin / Staff reporter 

Students had their first day for reflection on school goals and core competencies in Gleneagle’s first schoolwide activity for the year was on October 27.  

Using an assembly schedule, all blocks were reduced to 60 minutes, allowing one hour between block two and lunch for the presentation and the assignment.  

While remaining in their block two classrooms, students spent one hour viewing a presentation covering the six fundamental pillars of core competencies: communication, creative thinking, critical thinking, positive personal and cultural identity, personal awareness and responsibility, and social responsibility. Later, students were asked to complete group activities to connect their real-life experiences with the lesson. 

The core competencies learning model was introduced in 2016 as part of a curriculum overhaul by the BC Ministry of Education.  

Cindy Quach, English teacher and core competency co-educational leader, recalled the first year as “just dipping our toes, trying to figure out what to do.”  

Quach expressed that as the years progressed, she realised that it was essential to “embed [core competencies] into every class” and that “conversations related to them are the most powerful when they are tied into the curriculum”.  

Elijah Lawrie, grade 10, believes the core competencies “are beneficial, and they help you get thinking.”  

However, some students opposed the year-long program embedded into the high school curriculum.  

Yedam Jang, grade 12, claimed that “no one cares about it, even some teachers don’t care about it, and it cuts time into other classes”.  

Quach emphasised that the model helped develop “soft skills valued by employers, educational institutions, and people in relationships.”  

This year, there will be four more dedicated sessions for core competencies where students will work with the block two teachers and peers. The school will continue “to name, notice and nurture core competencies daily in all subject areas,” added Quach. 

The next core competency activity will be on December 10. Students are reminded to bring their charged laptops and supplies.