What is OIMY?


The Outer Island Middle Years program officially began in September 2012 with the mission to provide middle years programming that focuses on preparing our students for high school and beyond. The program aligns with the SD64 school board policy on the middle years (grades 6-8): "School District #64 (Gulf Islands) supports a Middle School, Middle Years program in our district and will have a separate Middle Years program in all schools with this age group.

At the end of our second year we put out a survey to aid in future planning of the program: OIMY Survey 2014

 

Our goals:
  • create a larger social group of peers for our students to develop friendships, leadership and social skills 
  • provide a wealth of experiences that are not offered in our smaller elementary schools (exploratories) 
  • provide higher level athletic opportunities and opportunities to be more competitive
How we do this:
Our approach is student-centred and based on core competencies.

1. Collaboration:
In every term OIMY students work collaboratively in:
  • leadership groups at their home island 
  • exploratories, and 
  • as a whole 
 



2. Creativity

  • students chose activities of interest
  • various ways of doing and sharing are explored
  • students are encouraged to practice creative problem solving skills
  • students learn from each other and other adults, including local experts on all of the islands: coaches, artists, and crafts people.



         


        3. Social Responsibility
        • students learn how to work well with others: at school, over email or through messaging 
        • students engage in the planning of our activities when we are on their home islands
        • group work skills


        4. Healthy Living

        • expand their team sports skills and experiences
        • make new social connections




        5. Communication

        Learn and practice communicating: 
        • face to face, or 
        • through technology
        Learn and practice effective:
        • conflict resolution skills 
        • group roles 
        • oral communication skills





        6. Innovation
        • students are encouraged to problem solve and suggest improved ways of doing things
        • input is sought regularly and student ideas are implemented throughout our program
        7. Critical Thinking and Problem Solving

        • activities and lessons included one critical thinking or problem solving components

        Most importantly, with joy!!





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