Save Hamber Science & Math Honours Programs! Sign ASAP
The Issue
To Catchment Families of Eric Hamber Secondary School:
We urgently need your help. Hamber plans to cut our Science 8 Honours course for 2021-22, and Math Honours 8 is reportedly to be cut the year after. Our longtime Science and Math Honours Program is intended to be phased out, starting this fall. This decision was made quietly, without parent consultation, and it comes after many incoming Grade 8 students have already registered their intention to take Science Honours 8 in the fall, as it's listed in our online course catalog for 2021-22.
Please sign the petition below asking Hamber’s administration to keep Science Honours 8 for this fall, and to support our Science and Math Honours Program for future years. We need to move quickly: The timetable for the fall is being built now, so our window to get this decision reversed is very small.
Petition letter:
Dear Principal Jensen, Vice Principals Ambrose and Blair, Trustee Fraser, and Director of Instruction Ogden:
As parents and students of the Eric Hamber Secondary community, we urge you to reverse your plan to cut Science Honours 8 next year. This course was advertised to incoming Grade 8 students for the fall, and it is in the 2021-22 Course Planning Guide. Many students chose to attend Hamber at least partly on the basis of our renowned Science and Math Honours programs. We feel you have a duty to honour what you have advertised to our incoming Hamber families.
In addition, we strongly support Hamber’s excellent Science and Math Honours Program, which is equitable in that it is open to all Hamber students with extra interest and ability in these STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) fields. We ask you to maintain and support our school’s Science and Math Honours program in its current form, both now and in the years ahead; and to consult with Hamber parents and incorporate their feedback on significant curriculum changes such as this one.
Thank you for your attention to this important issue.
Signed,
Concerned Hamber Catchment Families
--------------------------------------------------------------
FAQs:
Q: What are Hamber's Science and Math Honours Programs?
A: These courses allow interested students to complete three years of science and/or math in two years. By finishing science and math requirements earlier, they can take more advanced science and math, or other electives, in Grades 11 and 12. Many go on to study the sciences and develop careers in these areas.
From the Hamber 2021-22 Course Catalog, pp. 49 and 39: https://www.vsb.bc.ca/schools/eric-hamber/Teaching-and-Learning/Courses/Documents/sbfile/210127/HamberCourseBooklet2021-2022_1.pdf
Science 8-10 Honours (MSC—08DC1) (MSC—09DC1) (MSC--10DC1) This is a two year program for preselected students who have demonstrated a marked interest in Science in elementary school, as well as an aptitude and work ethic that will enable them to cover the three years of Junior Science in two school years. Students will be exposed to a higher rate of material coverage and will learn to function academically in an oral and written sense commensurate with that expected of a class of highly motivated and able students.
Q: Why does Hamber plan to cut Science 8 Honours in the fall?
A: Hamber’s administration has cited pressure from the Vancouver School Board to decrease enrichment programming. (We are also advocating to the VSB to reverse this decision. Please indicate if you want to help in that effort.) If that’s accurate, this has implications for similar programs throughout the district.
Q: Are the Science and Math Honours programs only for the Hamber Challenge Studio Program (Mini School) students?
A: No. These courses are open to ALL Hamber students who have extra passion and ability in these areas. Interested incoming Grade 8 students for Fall 2021 have already registered their intention to take Science Honours 8.
Q: Does Hamber have the resources to continue offering Science and Math Honours? Does this take away from other classes my child might take?
A: This decision is not due to a lack of resources. The school has both the blocks and the teachers necessary to teach both Science 8 Honours and Science 8 this fall. No other courses will be affected by reinstating the Honours course.
Q: Can my child (current, incoming, former student) also sign this petition?
A: Yes! Please. Self-advocacy is really important, and the VSB encourages it.
Q: What happens to Hamber students currently in the Science and Math Honours courses?
A: Under the current plan, students already in Science Honours 8 this school year will continue through the program, but the incoming students for this fall will not have access.
Q: Why does Hamber offer these programs in addition to its regular Science and Math classes?
A: Hamber, like other Vancouver public schools, offers many courses to meet the various needs of its students. Some children require extra support with basic skills, and some need extra challenges to stay engaged. The Science and Math Honours programs are open to any student who has the motivation and ability to study science or math at a more advanced level.
No one is required to take these courses. But the administration and VSB shouldn’t take away the option for kids who want it.
Thank you for your support!
The Issue
To Catchment Families of Eric Hamber Secondary School:
We urgently need your help. Hamber plans to cut our Science 8 Honours course for 2021-22, and Math Honours 8 is reportedly to be cut the year after. Our longtime Science and Math Honours Program is intended to be phased out, starting this fall. This decision was made quietly, without parent consultation, and it comes after many incoming Grade 8 students have already registered their intention to take Science Honours 8 in the fall, as it's listed in our online course catalog for 2021-22.
Please sign the petition below asking Hamber’s administration to keep Science Honours 8 for this fall, and to support our Science and Math Honours Program for future years. We need to move quickly: The timetable for the fall is being built now, so our window to get this decision reversed is very small.
Petition letter:
Dear Principal Jensen, Vice Principals Ambrose and Blair, Trustee Fraser, and Director of Instruction Ogden:
As parents and students of the Eric Hamber Secondary community, we urge you to reverse your plan to cut Science Honours 8 next year. This course was advertised to incoming Grade 8 students for the fall, and it is in the 2021-22 Course Planning Guide. Many students chose to attend Hamber at least partly on the basis of our renowned Science and Math Honours programs. We feel you have a duty to honour what you have advertised to our incoming Hamber families.
In addition, we strongly support Hamber’s excellent Science and Math Honours Program, which is equitable in that it is open to all Hamber students with extra interest and ability in these STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) fields. We ask you to maintain and support our school’s Science and Math Honours program in its current form, both now and in the years ahead; and to consult with Hamber parents and incorporate their feedback on significant curriculum changes such as this one.
Thank you for your attention to this important issue.
Signed,
Concerned Hamber Catchment Families
--------------------------------------------------------------
FAQs:
Q: What are Hamber's Science and Math Honours Programs?
A: These courses allow interested students to complete three years of science and/or math in two years. By finishing science and math requirements earlier, they can take more advanced science and math, or other electives, in Grades 11 and 12. Many go on to study the sciences and develop careers in these areas.
From the Hamber 2021-22 Course Catalog, pp. 49 and 39: https://www.vsb.bc.ca/schools/eric-hamber/Teaching-and-Learning/Courses/Documents/sbfile/210127/HamberCourseBooklet2021-2022_1.pdf
Science 8-10 Honours (MSC—08DC1) (MSC—09DC1) (MSC--10DC1) This is a two year program for preselected students who have demonstrated a marked interest in Science in elementary school, as well as an aptitude and work ethic that will enable them to cover the three years of Junior Science in two school years. Students will be exposed to a higher rate of material coverage and will learn to function academically in an oral and written sense commensurate with that expected of a class of highly motivated and able students.
Q: Why does Hamber plan to cut Science 8 Honours in the fall?
A: Hamber’s administration has cited pressure from the Vancouver School Board to decrease enrichment programming. (We are also advocating to the VSB to reverse this decision. Please indicate if you want to help in that effort.) If that’s accurate, this has implications for similar programs throughout the district.
Q: Are the Science and Math Honours programs only for the Hamber Challenge Studio Program (Mini School) students?
A: No. These courses are open to ALL Hamber students who have extra passion and ability in these areas. Interested incoming Grade 8 students for Fall 2021 have already registered their intention to take Science Honours 8.
Q: Does Hamber have the resources to continue offering Science and Math Honours? Does this take away from other classes my child might take?
A: This decision is not due to a lack of resources. The school has both the blocks and the teachers necessary to teach both Science 8 Honours and Science 8 this fall. No other courses will be affected by reinstating the Honours course.
Q: Can my child (current, incoming, former student) also sign this petition?
A: Yes! Please. Self-advocacy is really important, and the VSB encourages it.
Q: What happens to Hamber students currently in the Science and Math Honours courses?
A: Under the current plan, students already in Science Honours 8 this school year will continue through the program, but the incoming students for this fall will not have access.
Q: Why does Hamber offer these programs in addition to its regular Science and Math classes?
A: Hamber, like other Vancouver public schools, offers many courses to meet the various needs of its students. Some children require extra support with basic skills, and some need extra challenges to stay engaged. The Science and Math Honours programs are open to any student who has the motivation and ability to study science or math at a more advanced level.
No one is required to take these courses. But the administration and VSB shouldn’t take away the option for kids who want it.
Thank you for your support!
The Decision Makers
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Petition created on May 13, 2021