From: Abbotsford School District <info@abbyschools.ca>
Sent: Tuesday, October 10, 2023 2:14 PM
To: pierrebarns@gmail.com
Subject: Building Safe, Caring & Inclusive Schools

Dear Abbotsford School District families,

A welcoming education system for all K-12 students and their families is essential for student success. Research has shown us that when students feel a sense of safety, belonging, and acceptance, it positively impacts school attendance, feelings of attachment and connectedness, academic achievement and overall well-being.

We feel it is imperative to address the narrative surrounding sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI) in our community, and we want to provide you with credible resources to support your ongoing learning.

Building Safe, Caring and Inclusive Schools

Parents and caregivers instill values at home. Schools provide learning opportunities to support inclusivity and help students develop as global, educated citizens.

SOGI 123 is NOT part of the BC curriculum. These learning resources are not mandated or required but serve as a toolkit educators can use to talk about diverse topics and build welcoming spaces where all students can learn, grow and thrive.

--> VIDEO: BCCPAC + ECC - Understanding SOGI 123
--> WEB: ECC - erase discrimination | embrace inclusion

Physical and Health Education is part of the BC curriculum and does include learning on sensitive topics related to reproduction and sexuality. What students learn throughout their K-12 journey is clearly outlined on the Ministry of Education and Child Care (ECC) website, broken down by grade. Parents/caregivers can choose whether their child learns about these topics at home, at school, or both (see AP 211).

Open Communication between Schools & Families

Building positive relationships between parents and educators is a cornerstone of our school district. If you have questions around a lesson plan your child is learning, ask the classroom  teacher for more information. If you are curious about a learning resource at your child's school, connect with the School Principal.

Our goal is to work together and foster positive relationships to ensure that all students can learn in safe and inclusive environments.

1. Have a concern? Start with the person whose action has given rise to the concerns or problem. This is the best place to start.

2. Talk to the Principal. If you need further assistance with your concern, your school's principal is the next point of contact to connect with.

3. Contact the Assistant Superintendent. If you feel your concerns are not resolved at the school level, contact an Assistant Superintendent at the district level by calling 604.859.4891 or emailing info@abbyschools.ca.

4. Write to the Board of Education. If you feel steps one through three were not successful, or if a District administrator's decision significantly affects a student's education, health or safety, parents may appeal in writing to the Board of Education.

We remain steadfast in our priority of providing safe learning and working environments for all students and employees and cultivating space to ensure everyone in our organization feels respected, valued and supported.

Thank you,

Korky Neufeld
Board Chair
Abbotsford Board of Education

Sean Nosek
Superintendent of Schools / CEO
Abbotsford School District

Building Safe, Caring & Inclusive Schools - Punjabi 

Building Safe, Caring & Inclusive Schools - Arabic 

Abbotsford School District 
T: 604.859.4891 / F: 604.852.8587
2790 Tims Street, Abbotsford, BC V2T 4M7 
www.abbyschools.ca

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Abbotsford School District is located on the traditional and unceded territory of the Stó:lō people, the Semá:th First Nation and Mathxwí First Nation. With this, we respect the longstanding relationships that Indigenous Nations have to this land, as they are the original caretakers. This e-mail is privileged, confidential, and subject to copyright. Any unauthorized use or disclosure is prohibited. If you have received this email in error, please notify the system manager. Please note that any views or opinions presented in this email are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of the Abbotsford School District. The recipient should check this email and any attachments for the presence of viruses. The organization accepts no liability for any damage caused by any virus transmitted by this email.

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From: Pierre Barns <pierrebarns@gmail.com>
Sent: Tuesday, October 10, 2023 3:48 PM
To: Abbotsford School District <info@abbyschools.ca>; Korky Neufeld <korky.neufeld@abbyschools.ca>; Jared White <jared.white@abbyschools.ca>; Mike Rauch <mike.rauch@abbyschools.ca>; stan.petersen@abbyschools.ca; preet.rai@abbyschools.ca; rupi.kanda-rajwan@abbyschools.ca; dean.johnston@abbyschools.ca; shirley.wilson@abbyschools.ca
Subject: Re: Building Safe, Caring & Inclusive Schools

Korky,

Many parents, including myself, have attempted the following steps with the School Board on multiple occasions, but unfortunately, for most of us, it hasn't yielded any positive results.

"1 - Have a concern? Start with the person whose action has given rise to the concerns or problem. This is the best place to start.

2 - Talk to the Principal. If you need further assistance with your concern, your school's principal is the next point of contact to connect with.

3 - Contact the Assistant Superintendent. If you feel your concerns are not resolved at the school level, contact an Assistant Superintendent at the district level by calling 604.859.4891 or emailing info@abbyschools.ca.

4 - Write to the Board of Education. If you feel steps one through three were not successful, or if a District administrator's decision significantly affects a student's education, health or safety, parents may appeal in writing to the Board of Education."

Most parents know that SOGI is not a curriculum. The truth is that SOGI is a way our children are forced to see the world; it is not a curriculum but an excess of policies, procedures, and dangerous ideas within a very exclusive environment. SOGI has been used to undermine parental rights, intimidate parents and educators who raise questions about SOGI and other ideological/political matters, introduce gender ideologies into educational curricula, and rationalize the inclusion of sexually explicit materials in academic settings.

The concern here is not whether or not parents think SOGI is a curriculum, but rather, it is about ensuring the safety of our children and ensuring common sense and truth are taught to our children. Again, many parents are aware that SOGI is not a curriculum. Why are you making such an inaccurate and fallacious supposition when there are more pressing matters, such as promoting transparency, truth, and open dialogue, which the board has failed considerably to achieve?

King Regard,

Pierre Barns

236-458-7269