Schools

Armstrong's Len Wood Middle School was on lockdown Friday, March 5 after a student allegedly threatened a staff member with a weapon. (Morning Star file photo)

Public health investigating as Armstrong school meets COVID-19 potential activity signal

Len Wood Middle School has reached an attendance threshold

Armstrong's Len Wood Middle School was on lockdown Friday, March 5 after a student allegedly threatened a staff member with a weapon. (Morning Star file photo)
FILE Students walk through a corridor at the relocated New Westminster Secondary School, in New Westminster, B.C., on Thursday, October 14, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Staffing shortages, COVID-19 lead to postponement of B.C. provincial exams

Education ministry assures students that postponement will not affect university admissions

FILE Students walk through a corridor at the relocated New Westminster Secondary School, in New Westminster, B.C., on Thursday, October 14, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
The Vernon School District invites the public to a budget meeting on Jan. 26, 2022. (Jennifer Smith - Morning Star)

Input sought on Vernon school district budget, which may include $1.7 million downfall

The public can virtually attend a presentation on School District 22 finances on Jan. 26

The Vernon School District invites the public to a budget meeting on Jan. 26, 2022. (Jennifer Smith - Morning Star)
The School District 83 board of trustees is urging employees not yet fully vaccinated to do so as soon as possible. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward

North Okanagan-Shuswap school board supports collection of employee vaccination status

School district would collect vaccination status if requested by Interior Health

The School District 83 board of trustees is urging employees not yet fully vaccinated to do so as soon as possible. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward
The Revelstoke Credit Union booth at Revelstoke Secondary School. (Contributed by Jamie Hobgood)

Revelstoke Credit Union announces post-secondary education awards

Two bursary opportunities are currently open for application with another to open on Feb. 14

The Revelstoke Credit Union booth at Revelstoke Secondary School. (Contributed by Jamie Hobgood)
Kidston Elementary School

No functional closure yet as Vernon school reaches absentee threshold

Elementary school in Coldstream has 101 kids missing school

Kidston Elementary School
School District 83 superintendent Donna Kriger praised Armstrong Elementary School principal Corrinne Langston for doing a “tremendous job managing a very, very difficult situation.” A two-day functional closure due to a staffing shortage began on Friday, Jan. 14, and was extended the following week to Friday, Jan. 21. (File photo )

North Okanagan-Shuswap school trustees cautioned COVID-19 may push some schools online

Superintendent praises school district employees, calling them all ‘heroes’

School District 83 superintendent Donna Kriger praised Armstrong Elementary School principal Corrinne Langston for doing a “tremendous job managing a very, very difficult situation.” A two-day functional closure due to a staffing shortage began on Friday, Jan. 14, and was extended the following week to Friday, Jan. 21. (File photo )
Children walk with their parents to Sherwood Park Elementary in North Vancouver for the first day back-to-school Thursday, September 10, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward

B.C. school staff must provide COVID vaccine status following new public health order

New order dated Jan. 17 says that non-identifying info must be provided to medical health officer

Children walk with their parents to Sherwood Park Elementary in North Vancouver for the first day back-to-school Thursday, September 10, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward
School District 83 announced, due to a staffing shortage, a two-day functional closure of Armstrong Elementary on Jan. 14 and 17 was being extended to Jan. 21. (File photo )

Closure of North Okanagan-Shuswap school extended after three staff test positive for COVID-19

Initial ‘functional closure’ announced after teachers refuse work

School District 83 announced, due to a staffing shortage, a two-day functional closure of Armstrong Elementary on Jan. 14 and 17 was being extended to Jan. 21. (File photo )
School District 83 says immediate action was taken after rodent droppings were found in some rooms at Shuswap Middle School following the winter break. (File photo)

Pest control brought in to Salmon Arm school after rat droppings found

School district says rodents have been trapped, point of entry repaired

School District 83 says immediate action was taken after rodent droppings were found in some rooms at Shuswap Middle School following the winter break. (File photo)
Kidston Elementary School

Vernon, Coldstream, Armstrong schools reporting COVID-19 exposures

Functional closure extended at one school in the North Okanagan-Shuswap district

Kidston Elementary School
Alberta students board a school bus, as they return to school today for the first time since their holiday break was extended due to surging COVID-19 cases, near Cremona, Alta., Monday, Jan. 10, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

For some Canadian students, school disruptions have become routine

Students have spent nearly two years dealing with COVID restrictions

Alberta students board a school bus, as they return to school today for the first time since their holiday break was extended due to surging COVID-19 cases, near Cremona, Alta., Monday, Jan. 10, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh
School District 83 announced on Jan 13 that, due to a staffing shortage, a two-day functional closure of Armstrong Elementary would take place Jan. 14 and 17. (File photo )

Two-day ‘functional closure’ announced for North Okanagan school after teachers refuse work

Closure planned for Armstrong Elementary School on Jan. 14 and 17

School District 83 announced on Jan 13 that, due to a staffing shortage, a two-day functional closure of Armstrong Elementary would take place Jan. 14 and 17. (File photo )
The Board of Education of School District No. 19 has voted to implement a COVID-19 proof of vaccination procedure. (File photo)

Revelstoke board of education to adopt vaccination mandate for staff

Finalized procedure and communication plan to be implemented by Apr. 1

The Board of Education of School District No. 19 has voted to implement a COVID-19 proof of vaccination procedure. (File photo)
Four Armstrong Elementary teachers are refusing to work in response to the number of students at the school not wearing face masks. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Chiasson)

High number of mask exemptions prompts teachers at North Okanagan elementary to refuse work

Union president says four teachers at home due to concerning number of unmasked students

Four Armstrong Elementary teachers are refusing to work in response to the number of students at the school not wearing face masks. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Chiasson)
Kidston Elementary School

COVID-19 exposures identified in Okanagan school districts

Province and Interior Health no longer providing contact tracing and notifications

Kidston Elementary School
A student arrives at school as teachers dressed in red participate in a solidarity march to raise awareness about cases of COVID-19 at Ecole Woodward Hill Elementary School, in Surrey, B.C., on Tuesday, February 23, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

B.C. parents told to have a ‘low threshold’ for keeping sick kids home from school

Any fever should result in child staying home from the classroom

A student arrives at school as teachers dressed in red participate in a solidarity march to raise awareness about cases of COVID-19 at Ecole Woodward Hill Elementary School, in Surrey, B.C., on Tuesday, February 23, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Students sit together at the relocated New Westminster Secondary School, in New Westminster, B.C., on Thursday, October 14, 2021. An official opening of the new school was held on Thursday near the now shuttered former school which was built on a cemetery in the 1940s. The cemetery was used as a potter’s field where the bodies of prisoners, the poor and unidentifiable residents were buried. The land was also used by Indigenous, Chinese and Sikh communities to bury those who died. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

K-12 students head back to school in B.C. amid new COVID notification system

Parents to only be notified of exposures when attendance drops below ‘typical’ rates

Students sit together at the relocated New Westminster Secondary School, in New Westminster, B.C., on Thursday, October 14, 2021. An official opening of the new school was held on Thursday near the now shuttered former school which was built on a cemetery in the 1940s. The cemetery was used as a potter’s field where the bodies of prisoners, the poor and unidentifiable residents were buried. The land was also used by Indigenous, Chinese and Sikh communities to bury those who died. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Classroom chairs (Pixabay photo)

Ex-Burnaby teacher disciplined for engaging in ‘inappropriate physical contact’ with students

Teacher had female students volunteer for project about ‘athleticism’

Classroom chairs (Pixabay photo)
Students walk through a corridor at the relocated New Westminster Secondary School, in New Westminster, B.C., on Thursday, October 14, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

B.C. schools to have a staggered re-start in January; essential workers’ kids return first

All K-12 students will be in class as of Jan. 10

Students walk through a corridor at the relocated New Westminster Secondary School, in New Westminster, B.C., on Thursday, October 14, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
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