We acknowledge that we are learning, and perhaps more importantly, unlearning, on the traditional, unceded, and contemporary lands of the Secwepémc people. We are immensely grateful to work with the Adams Lake Indian Band, Neskonlith Indian Band, Skwlāx te Secwepemcúl’ecw, and Splatsin, as the inherent rights holders of this beautiful place. They have gifted us with our new District name – K̓wsaltktnéws ne Secwepemcúl’ecw – which means that we are all connected, the people (quelmúcw), the land (tmicw), the water (séwllkwe), and the animals (mescén̓), on Secwepémc land. We invite you to watch The Meaning Behind Our Name video.
K̓wsaltktnéws ne Secwepemcúl’ecw School District No. 83 is located on the traditional territory of the Secwépemc people and encompasses the beautiful geographic area around Shuswap Lake and the valleys of Enderby and Armstrong. The 25 schools, located in the communities of Armstrong, Enderby, Falkland, Grindrod, Silver Creek, Ranchero, Salmon Arm, Canoe, Tappen, Sicamous, Sorrento, and Celista, are surrounded by lakes rivers, mountains and agricultural areas where all manner of wildlife thrives.
Through consultation with Rightsholders and feedback from staff and stakeholders, we are proud of our newly-designed District logo. The logo has deep significance and meaning as it depicts not only the geography of our District but also the commitment to reconciliation by honouring the Rightsholders of this place. The circular shape represents healing, unity, and equality as we journey toward Truth and Reconciliation. The animals chosen have significant meaning in the Secwépemc culture. The bear is a symbol of strength and courage. Coyote is often tied to oral stories about societal values and traditional knowledge with the salmon symbolizing endurance and perseverance through hardship. Mount Ida was chosen to represent the geographic landmark of the District office, where the Board conducts its business. The golden colour within the logo symbolizes the rich contribution of the agricultural communities within the District and green represents the beauty of the vast forest that surrounds us. The logo intentionally makes a distinction between sky, land, and water, recognizing that together they make up the ancestral lands of the Secwépemc people since time immemorial.
We are proud to provide safe, culturally diverse, and nurturing learning environments from kindergarten through grade 12 to meet unique learning needs. The District offers a wide variety of quality programs including Career Development, Early Learning, French Immersion, Inclusive Education, Indigenous Education, Literacy Support, Music, Outdoor Learning, and Strong Start to engage students in stimulating and relevant educational experiences. In addition, our dedication to social responsibility teaches our students to respect themselves, their environment and each other, and encourages them to find ways to give back to their local communities.
The past year included the completion of an extensive consultation process on school reconfiguration, resulting in a three-year transition plan designed to reduce the number of school transitions, strengthen students’ sense of belonging, and remove barriers to success for all learners.
