Board finalizes school calendar

The SD83 Board of Education gave approval to the 2022-23 Calendar at its regular meeting on Tuesday.

Assistant Superintendent Ryan Brennan noted that the draft District Calendar for the 2022-2023 school year has been circulated for public feedback and, as of March 10th, there were 139 comments collected. He noted that overall that was fewer comments than previous years however most of the comments were positive or accepting.

• Feedback was generally positive from parents and staff regarding the District-Wide Opening Non-Instructional Day on September 6th and the first day of school on September 7th being a full-day
• Significant feedback about the ‘length of January’
• Suggestions around balancing the semesters for secondary
• Some suggestions were not supported by the NOSTA/SD83 Collective Agreement
• Overall fewer comments than in previous surveys

In response to the feedback that was received, and in consultation with NOSTA, the following changes have been made to the calendar that was approved by Trustees.

• The Elementary and Middle School Goal-Setting Conference Day on October 26th will be a full-day rather than a half-day
• The March site-based Pro-D Day has been moved to January 30th
• The Secondary Semester Transition Day has been moved to January 31st to help balance the semesters

A pdf version of the calendar is available here

Superintendent’s Report

SD83 Superintendent of Schools Donna Kriger discussed student achievements, employee appreciation week, as well as several programs and events in the district. She also noted that work will soon begin on updating the SD83 Strategic Plan.

Congrats students!
SD83’s athletes have been excelling with wrestler Eve Maxwell, a Grade 12 student at Salmon Arm Secondary (Sullivan) winning a gold medal, Most Outstanding Match, and Most Outstanding Athlete at the recent BC High School Wrestling Championships. Also, Andrei Dumitrache finished seventh overall, an outstanding result for a first year wrestler. Over at the provincial high school curling championships the Jackson boys’ curling rink of Kaiden Beck, Nolan Beck, Alex Watkins and Nick Metcalfe went undefeated to claim gold!

Kriger commented there have been many athletic and artistic successes to celebrate lately, and she wanted to acknowledge the students across the district who participate in school and community athletics and arts. “It would be remiss of me not to thank the coaches across the district who dedicate hundreds of additional hours outside their regular work day to ensure that students have opportunities to experience those things they have a passion for in athletics and the arts. Also, thank you to the officials, both staff and community members, who assist with this.”

Andrei Dumitrache received another recognition as well as he and fellow student Alex Rodriguez Perez of Salmon Arm Secondary placed second in the Hunter Hub, University of Calgary, Entrepreneurial Thinking Award and in third place for the Let’s Talk Science Innovation Award through the STEM Fellowship Big Data Challenge. The Big Data Challenge encourages high school students across the world to learn the fundamentals of data analysis and apply their computational thinking efforts to find ideas and solutions for affordable and clean energy.

Staff Appreciation
Kriger added that March 14-18 was declared Employee Appreciation Week across SD83. “There aren’t the words to articulate the immense gratitude the Senior Leadership Team feels regarding the many ways employees of this district have gone above and beyond! This week is recognizing how difficult the past two years have been! At the centre of these two years, there are countless stories of SD83 employees who have gone the extra mile to take care of students. I want to extend my gratitude to each one!”

Events and Programs
Kriger noted the SD83 Virtual Family Literacy Games Night on March 9th was a huge success and it “is really is drilling into something we want to see more of, which is parental and community engagement”. She said around 130 families participated. “Thanks to the Literacy Alliance of the Shuswap Society (LASS) for generously purchasing all the family literacy kits that were sent home for the families to use while playing the games.”

On the March 11th ProD day, school teams from 15 schools participated in the last of the three-part cohort series about Powerful Writing Structures with Adrienne Gear. She added that this was also the final session with Dr. Peter Liljedahl, which concludes a two year series with middle and secondary math teachers which focussed on his work on Building Thinking Classrooms.

She commented the district has seen great strides in the number of SD83 students meeting or exceeding the provincial average for students scoring proficient or above. “Much of the improvement has come in schools where teachers are participating in this series, and where our district numeracy team has worked with teachers.” Kriger said this is a significant achievement and she wants to thank District Principal Val Edgell for all of her work organizing these sessions and for leading the District Numeracy Team in its important work. She also thanked the teachers who have “really bought into this and changed practice”.

Kriger also updated the Board on a recent parent and educator session featuring Dr. Sean Larsen who discussed a Practical Approach to Managing Anxiety in Children on March 10. This online workshop was presented to help parents and educators with some essential tools to better understand anxiety in children. About 60 people attended, however for those who are interested and couldn’t attend the link to the recording of the session is on the SD83 and individual school websites. “We are hoping to bring Dr. Larsen back to our district in the fall to discuss ways to help improve children’s sleep and digital parenting.” 

Kriger highlighted a pilot project at Salmon Arm Secondary School with the Indigenous Education Department. The project is involving Indigenous students and families in using MyBluePrint to help them set goals and make informed decisions about whether course selections and changes will help the students meet their educational goals.

A successful elementary and middle school art fair was held at Piccadilly Mall last week! There was lots of great artwork shared with the public. Thanks to principals Corrinne Langston and Kirsten Mazur for organizing this display, said Kriger.

Kriger also mentioned an innovative partnership between Okanagan College and SD83 will allow students in Grades 10-12 with a keen interest in technology to take an outside of the school’s timetable, dual credit course called Gateway to Technology. Students in this program will learn a tremendous amount about technology, earn credits towards graduation and receive a certificate from Okanagan College. They will also have the opportunity to make connections with local tech sector employers for future careers.

Kriger wrapped up her report with information about strategic planning. She noted she is part of a group of 12 new superintendents who are needing to renew their district’s strategic plan. She said the work is being led by Lisa McCullough, who was seconded by the Ministry from Sea to Sky district. Part of the process will involve Superintendents and Board Chairs reviewing the Framework for Enhancing Student Learning document to determine how to improve the reporting, and how to ensure consultation and focus within the district is in alignment with the Ministry goals. She added the Learning Team is currently working on setting district priorities for the upcoming school year. “I’m looking forward to beginning the work towards building a new strategic plan that will take this district into the next five years. We are attempting to put a laser focus on how to narrow the achievement gap and improve outcomes for all students.”

Alternate Education Update
Director of Instruction Carol-Ann Leidloff updated the Board on the district’s alternate education programs, including the Bridge Programs (which include Teen House) and Salmon Arm Storefront. She explained the only true alternate program is the Storefront School. The bridge programs are school-based programs that provide support for students who experience challenges with self-regulation and mental health. They are located at Parkview, Shuswap, Jackson (Teen House), M.V. Beattie, A.L. Fortune, Highland Park and Len Wood. She noted these programs work on building specific skills to help students experience success in a regular classroom setting so are inclusion focussed. They also support families with accessing community supports.

Leidloff explained Salmon Arm Storefront currently has 43 students. The Storefront’s goal is for every student to graduate with dignity, pride, skills and options by the end of the year they turn 19. She said many of these students are the most vulnerable in the district and the staff at Storefront help provide, or help students access, wrap-around supports (food, housing, mental and physical health) to “meet the students where they are at and do what it takes to help students experience success”.

“It is important work and the staff at Storefront are doing a wonderful, wonderful job,” Leidloff said. “We have kind, dedicated and caring staff supporting our vulnerable students in the Bridge and Alternate programs,” she concluded. “It’s so uplifting to hear about the good work being done,” commented Chair Amanda Krebs.

View slides about programs here

Salmon Arm Long Range Facilities Plan Reconfiguration Working Group
Rich conversation and a lot of ideas were part of the Salmon Arm Long Range Facilities Plan Reconfiguration Working Group meeting on Monday, March 14, reported Marianne VanBuskirk, who chair’s the working group. “It was a really good discussion.”

Topics such as the softening enrolment numbers, facility issues, transitions and the impacts they have, middle schools, and curricular ideas were all considered. “The meeting conversation really turned from this is what we need to do to reflect on what we do, what we believe, and why are we doing what we are doing,” added Kriger.

“It was a really honest reflection that lets us ensure what we do is the right thing for now and well into the future. . . we want to get it right for kids.”

Out of that meeting senior leadership was tasked with gathering research on several subjects, including transitions and what the best possible grade configuration might be for kids.

“We also have facility challenges and we have to figure that out,” added Kriger. VanBuskirk added that uncertainty in enrolment is also giving the working group a bit of a pause.

Concluding her report, VanBuskirk gave accolades to the two students on the working group, who shared insightful comments.

Hockey Academy Change
Pleasant Valley Secondary School has received approval from the Board to once again try to offer a hockey academy. The academy was originally approved for the 2021-22 school year and was to be provided by RPM Hockey, a sports academy company that works with other schools across the province. However the disadvantage was the cost of participation, which in the end, meant there wasn’t enough uptake to actually offer the program. PVSS has simplified and revised the program to be run directly through the school, which dropped the cost to register to about $800, about $500 less. Principal Chelsea Prince hopes that there will be enough students for a program in 2022-23.

View program description here

Vending Machine Business Proposal
Trustees stated the pitch was great, that Tianna Shefsky and Austin Beasley did a wonderful job, and that they admired their entrepreneurial spirit, but the vending machine proposal was probably not the right fit for the school district. A few of the concerns raised by trustees were by the time the approval process was complete (which would include having to present to the school PAC), the two students would virtually be finished Grade 12 and would no longer be students at the school. It was also noted there were new Ministry of Health guidelines coming down which will affect what is sold in vending machines, and trustees didn’t want the students to be in the situation where they would have put up all the upfront costs for the machine and then perhaps be unable to continue under the new stricter guidelines. It was suggested that perhaps, after the guidelines were known, the Board could put forward some seed money and an entrepreneurial class at the school could manage the machine so that it was a learning project. The Board will be writing a letter thanking the two for their proposal but declining the offer.

Date Change for trip to Quebec
The Board gave approval to a date change for Pleasant Valley Secondary’s planned trip to Quebec. Originally the trip, organized by teacher Janet Gillis, was to take place this May, explained PVSS Principal Chelsea Prince. However, after speaking with students and with the continuing uncertainty around COVID mandates, it was determined it would be better to wait until late September to take the trip. The new date will be September 24 to October 1. She noted the delay also allowed students to work over the summer in order to pay for the trip. Right now there are 12 students who have the necessary funds and are 100 per cent committed. There are another 11 who want to go but still need the summer to fund their trip.

Policies receive first reading
Policy Committee Chair Tennile Lachmuth reported the Policy Committee had good discussions about a number of ongoing policies. It is currently working on revising and updating the “300s” in the Policy Manual revision process. At the meeting on Tuesday she brought forward two of these policies for consideration. The Board gave first readings to Policy 315 Student Dress Guidelines and Policy 320 Curriculum and Instruction .

Procedural Bylaw Amendment
The Board gave two readings and approval to a change to its procedural bylaw. The change is to add the topic of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion to each of the Board’s regular agendas. A third reading will be considered at the April meeting.

Partner Group Liaison
Trustee Marty Gibbons reported there was good discussion at the Partner Group meeting about the District’s proposed organizational re-structure, noting that there was some concern about how the organizational changes would be perceived on ground level. He noted that these are not new positions but rather re-organizing and filling one vacant position. He added Partner Group also had a very good presentation on grad rates, which had been requested by the District Parent Advisory Council (DPAC).

BCSTA Thompson-Okanagan Branch meeting report
VanBuskirk presented a written report to the Board about the recent Thompson-Okanagan Branch meeting, which took place virtually March 1-5. She commented that it is evident the entire branch feels extremely strong and passionate about education. She gave a shout out to the meeting hosts, SD74 for persevering through the trialing times of flooding and washed out highways and still forging on to create a wonderful branch meeting for the trustees.

First Nations Education Council (FNEC) Update
VanBuskirk also reported on the Feb. 16 FNEC meeting which included district and Indigenous Education updates by District Principal Mishel Quaal, an excellent discussion on department budgets, changes to report cards, and district and community updates. The next meeting is April 13.

Trustee Reports
Lachmuth highlighted the work of Len Wood Middle School students who have organized a recycling and compost program at Len Wood and have successfully substantially reduced the amount of garbage at the school. “They are doing great work there.”

Gibbons reported that the Shuswap Youth Launch will be talking place on April 28 and he hopes the district will support it by raising awareness with students, staff and the public about this worthwhile event. Shuswap Youth Launch is a one day, local and virtual, youth empowerment day designed to include youth aged 13+ from throughout the Shuswap and beyond to experience inspiring speakers in a fun inclusive environment and help broaden youth perspectives. This year’s event will be a hybrid experience with both an in-person experience at the Salmar Classic Theatre and a virtual experience via Zoom. It is organized for youth by youth.

VanBuskirk mentioned the Hillcrest kindness walk/rally which took place on Pink Shirt Day where students walked around the community and spread messages of kindness. She also noted that former students and Larch Hills Ski Club member Natalie Wilkie won two gold, a silver and a bronze at the Beijing Paralympics! “What an incredible accomplishment.”

Next meeting
The Board’s next regular meeting will be on April 19 at 6 p.m.