Schools

Police are at Ecole Mount Prevost Elementary but the students have been evacuated. (Kevin Rothbauer/Citizen)

Gardener finds buried explosives, sparking evacuation of Cowichan school

Students removed from school in an ‘abundance of caution’

 

Letter writer concerned there was a lack of notice by School District 83 regarding the May 12 board meeting on the district’s Long Range Facilities Plan. Discussion at the meeting is expected to focus on Salmon Arm schools, including the J.L. Jackson campus. (Google maps image)

Letter: Public provided little notice on Salmon Arm school facilities meeting

Writer questions what constitutes proper communication

  • May 12, 2021

 

Children walk back to their classroom while wearing masks and physical distancing at St. Barnabas Catholic School in Scarborough, Ont., in October, 2020. A group of B.C. teachers has issued an open letter calling for the relaxation of non-pharmaceutical interventions for children in B.C. schools. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press)

Group of B.C. teachers calls for easing of pandemic measures for students

Teacher group says ‘response to COVID is out of balance to the cost our youth are paying’

 

School District 83 trustees host a special meeting on Wednesday, May 12, to once again discuss the district’s Long Range Facilities Plan. (File photo)

School trustees host special meeting to tackle Salmon Arm facilities

Afternoon online meeting planned for Wednesday, May 12

School District 83 trustees host a special meeting on Wednesday, May 12, to once again discuss the district’s Long Range Facilities Plan. (File photo)
Sorrento Elementary Grade 4-5 got to try out their sales pitches during their Young Entrepreneur Fair on April 29 and 30, 2021. (School District 83 photo)

Sorrento elementary students get taste of entrepreneurship

Grade 4-5 students came up with ideas and marketed products for Young Entrepreneur Fair

  • May 4, 2021
Sorrento Elementary Grade 4-5 got to try out their sales pitches during their Young Entrepreneur Fair on April 29 and 30, 2021. (School District 83 photo)
Okanagan Elder Mollie Bono passed away Monday, Feb. 15, 2021. (file)

Four vie for Vernon School Trustee spot

By-election called following vacancy due to Mollie Bono’s death in February

Okanagan Elder Mollie Bono passed away Monday, Feb. 15, 2021. (file)
Neskonlith band councillor Cora Anthony looks on as Neskonlith councillor and knowledge keeper Louis Thomas raises the Secwepemculecw flag with help from Adams Lake councillor Gina Johnny on Friday, April 30, 2021 at the School District 83 District Education Support Centre in Salmon Arm. (Martha Wickett-Salmon Arm Observer)

Flag raising at School District 83 centre recognizes Secwépemc territory

Ceremony unfolds at District Education Support Centre in Salmon Arm, flag to fly at all schools

Neskonlith band councillor Cora Anthony looks on as Neskonlith councillor and knowledge keeper Louis Thomas raises the Secwepemculecw flag with help from Adams Lake councillor Gina Johnny on Friday, April 30, 2021 at the School District 83 District Education Support Centre in Salmon Arm. (Martha Wickett-Salmon Arm Observer)
Neskonlith band councillor Cora Anthony looks on as Neskonlith councillor and knowledge keeper Louis Thomas raises the Secwepemculecw flag with help from Adams Lake councillor Gina Johnny on Friday, April 30, 2021 at the School District 83 District Education Support Centre in Salmon Arm. (Martha Wickett-Salmon Arm Observer)

Flag raising at School District 83 centre recognizes Secwépemc territory

Ceremony unfolds at District Education Support Centre in Salmon Arm, flags to fly at all schools

Neskonlith band councillor Cora Anthony looks on as Neskonlith councillor and knowledge keeper Louis Thomas raises the Secwepemculecw flag with help from Adams Lake councillor Gina Johnny on Friday, April 30, 2021 at the School District 83 District Education Support Centre in Salmon Arm. (Martha Wickett-Salmon Arm Observer)
Len Wood middle school is reporting a potential COVID-19 exposure on April 12-15 and 19-21. (Jennifer Smith - Morning Star)

COVID-19 exposure at Armstrong school

Also exposures at Salmon Arm school, Lake Country and Kelowna

Len Wood middle school is reporting a potential COVID-19 exposure on April 12-15 and 19-21. (Jennifer Smith - Morning Star)
A physical distancing sign is seen during a media tour of Hastings Elementary school in Vancouver on Sept. 2, 2020. Uniformed police officers will no longer be assigned to Vancouver public schools after trustees voted to end its school liaison officer program. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward

Trustees vote to end program assigning uniformed police officers to Vancouver schools

Trustees voted eight to one Monday in favour of a motion to halt the program at the end of June.

A physical distancing sign is seen during a media tour of Hastings Elementary school in Vancouver on Sept. 2, 2020. Uniformed police officers will no longer be assigned to Vancouver public schools after trustees voted to end its school liaison officer program. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward
Vernon Christian School had its first COVID-19 exposure in April 2021. (VCS photo)

Silver Star, Vernon Christian schools latest in COVID-19 exposures

Clarence Fulton and VSS also reporting potential exposures

Vernon Christian School had its first COVID-19 exposure in April 2021. (VCS photo)
Ranchero Elementary is one of four schools in the Salmon Arm area with potential exposures to COVID-19. (Google maps photo)

Four more schools in Salmon Arm area report potential COVID-19 exposures

Individuals who tested positive are self-isolating at home, students continue to attend school

Ranchero Elementary is one of four schools in the Salmon Arm area with potential exposures to COVID-19. (Google maps photo)
At the April 20 school board meeting, School District 83 trustees agreed to add a new option to the Long Range Facilities Plan, E6, which proposes two Grade 9-12 high school campuses, Sullivan and at Shuswap Middle School, with the Jackson campus becoming a Grade 6-8 middle school. (File photo)

School District 83 adds new Long Range Facilities Plan option for Salmon Arm

No decision made on Long Range Facilities Plan, trustees considering more consultation

At the April 20 school board meeting, School District 83 trustees agreed to add a new option to the Long Range Facilities Plan, E6, which proposes two Grade 9-12 high school campuses, Sullivan and at Shuswap Middle School, with the Jackson campus becoming a Grade 6-8 middle school. (File photo)
Shuswap Middle School principal Sydney Griffith notified parents on Tuesday, April 20 that a member of the school community had tested positive for COVID-19. (Lachlan Labere-Salmon Arm Observer)

Shuswap Middle School parents notified of new potential COVID-19 exposure dates

April 20 notice says member of school community tested positive for virus

Shuswap Middle School principal Sydney Griffith notified parents on Tuesday, April 20 that a member of the school community had tested positive for COVID-19. (Lachlan Labere-Salmon Arm Observer)
South Shuswap. (Google Maps)

CSRD to ask school trustees to delay decision on Salmon Arm high school options

South Shuswap director advocating for Sorrento high school option

South Shuswap. (Google Maps)
A crossing guard stops traffic as students wearing face masks to curb the spread of COVID-19 arrive at Ecole Woodward Hill Elementary School, in Surrey, B.C., on Tuesday, February 23, 2021. A number of schools in the Fraser Health region, including Woodward Hill, have reported cases of the B.1.7.7 COVID-19 variant first detected in the U.K. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

COVID-infected students in Lower Mainland schools transmitting to 1 to 2 others: data

Eight to 13 per cent of COVID cases among students in the Lower Mainland were acquired in schools, B.C. says

A crossing guard stops traffic as students wearing face masks to curb the spread of COVID-19 arrive at Ecole Woodward Hill Elementary School, in Surrey, B.C., on Tuesday, February 23, 2021. A number of schools in the Fraser Health region, including Woodward Hill, have reported cases of the B.1.7.7 COVID-19 variant first detected in the U.K. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Shuswap Middle School principal Sydney Griffith notified parents on Tuesday, April 13 that a member of the school community had tested positive for COVID-19. (Lachlan Labere-Salmon Arm Observer)

Shuswap Middle School parents notified of potential COVID-19 exposure

Member of school community tested positive for the virus and is self-isolating

Shuswap Middle School principal Sydney Griffith notified parents on Tuesday, April 13 that a member of the school community had tested positive for COVID-19. (Lachlan Labere-Salmon Arm Observer)
NorKam secondary student Karis Wilson in the outfit that got her sent home from school on Feb. 23, 2021. (Kamloops This Week photo)

Clothing that ‘detracts from learning process’ removed from SD73 student dress code

Policy change underway after student in knee-length dress, long-sleeve turtleneck sent home

  • Apr 13, 2021
NorKam secondary student Karis Wilson in the outfit that got her sent home from school on Feb. 23, 2021. (Kamloops This Week photo)
Clarence Fulton is the latest in six Vernon schools to have COVID-19 exposures. (Jennifer Smith - Morning Star)

COVID-19 exposures at six Vernon schools

List has grown over the last week, sending more students home for self-isolation

Clarence Fulton is the latest in six Vernon schools to have COVID-19 exposures. (Jennifer Smith - Morning Star)
A second case of COVID-19 has been confirmed at Vernon’s BX Elementary School. (Kerry Hutter photo)

Second COVID case confirmed at Okanagan elementary school

Exposure at Vernon’s BX Elementary happened April 6 and 7

A second case of COVID-19 has been confirmed at Vernon’s BX Elementary School. (Kerry Hutter photo)