Page 6 International graduate students enhance their personal leadership skills while developing an understanding of the BC Education system. During a recent day-long field study, VIU students got a good sense of educational leadership in BC when they spent some time at three Ladysmith schools – Ladysmith Primary, Ladysmith Intermediate and Ladysmith Secondary. VIU Adjunct Professor, Faculty of Education – Graduate Programs John Phipps said, “Having international graduate students in the VIU Masters in Education (Leadership) program course entitled ‘Leadership in the British Columbia Context’ able to spend a full day experiencing three distinct schools in NLPS is a wonderful outcome of the strong relationship between VIU and the school district. All three school communities in Ladysmith were tremendously welcoming! It is my hope that their students and staff appreciated meeting and interacting with teachers from all parts of the world throughout the day. My heartfelt thanks goes out to Principals Margaret Olsen, Colette Young, and Bob Brooks and their entire school communities! The MEd students found it especially interesting to spend some time talking with Mr. Brooks, as he is a graduate of the VIU MEd (Leadership) program that they are enrolled.” Ladysmith Primary Principal Bob Brooks said, “I was asked if there was one thing from my Masters (VIU MEDL Cohort 1) that drives me in my work as a principal. I said that the work around educational change is always top of mind! What we are experiencing now is the change in our schools that is allowing our students to have voice and choice. These changes also involve the alignment of provincial, district and school level commitments to curriculum and instruction; assessment and reporting; collaborative cultures and safe, caring and inclusive schools. This alignment is helping to pave the way for the change we need to see in our school. I am beginning to see these changes at our school and that is exciting to see!”