Schools

Avalynn Kwok, 4, holds her dad Manny Kwok’s hand outside Lynn Valley Elementary School as her parents drop her off for her first day of kindergarten in North Vancouver, B.C., Thursday, Sept. 9, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

B.C. resumes online posting of COVID ‘potential exposure events’ in schools

Health ministry back pedals after parents expressed worry about no online notifications

Avalynn Kwok, 4, holds her dad Manny Kwok’s hand outside Lynn Valley Elementary School as her parents drop her off for her first day of kindergarten in North Vancouver, B.C., Thursday, Sept. 9, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
FILE – Grade one students wear masks as they attend class at Honore Mercier elementary school Tuesday, March 9, 2021 in Montreal.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ryan Remiorz

Vancouver school board mandates masks for K-3 students, citing uptick in COVID among kids

Provincial health order only mandates masks for children in Grade 4 and up

FILE – Grade one students wear masks as they attend class at Honore Mercier elementary school Tuesday, March 9, 2021 in Montreal.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ryan Remiorz
The Safe Schools Coalition, a group of parents, guardians and teachers, held a rally at Holland Park on Saturday (Aug. 28) to pusher for stronger COVID-19 measures going into the 2021-22 school year on Sept. 7. They’re asking for mask mandate for all grades, better ventilation, distancing and remote options. (Photo: Lauren Collins)

‘It’s really frustrating’: BCTF fears more school closures due to lack of COVID safety measures

BCTF president Teri Mooring renews calls for K–12 mask mandate and ventilation improvements

The Safe Schools Coalition, a group of parents, guardians and teachers, held a rally at Holland Park on Saturday (Aug. 28) to pusher for stronger COVID-19 measures going into the 2021-22 school year on Sept. 7. They’re asking for mask mandate for all grades, better ventilation, distancing and remote options. (Photo: Lauren Collins)
A second-grader has her mask adjusted before heading into school for the day. (Black Press Media file photo)

B.C. parents crowdsourcing COVID-19 school exposures in lieu of provincial information

Health ministry choosing to only publicly report outbreaks, clusters

A second-grader has her mask adjusted before heading into school for the day. (Black Press Media file photo)
Central Okanagan schools are not expected to be a target of protesters, says superintendent Kevin Kaardal. (Contributed)

Central Okanagan school officials not expecting protesters after Salmon Arm incident

SD23 superintendent doesn’t anticipate any interruptions locally, safety a priority

  • Sep 21, 2021
Central Okanagan schools are not expected to be a target of protesters, says superintendent Kevin Kaardal. (Contributed)
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Positive strides for Central Okanagan Indigenous student equity journey

Rise seen in graduation rates, integration of Indigenous culture and history into local schools

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Dan Glasscock, the traffic safety officer for School District 23 and the City of Kelowna, helps students and families cross Ziprick Road outside of Springvalley Middle and Elementary schools during the first day of school on Sept. 7. (Aaron Hemens/Capital News)

COVID vaccine debate a minefield for Central Okanagan teachers to navigate

Parents increasingly sensitive to what is told to students

Dan Glasscock, the traffic safety officer for School District 23 and the City of Kelowna, helps students and families cross Ziprick Road outside of Springvalley Middle and Elementary schools during the first day of school on Sept. 7. (Aaron Hemens/Capital News)
Jacqueline Mansiere of the Summerland Secondary School senior girls Rockets basketball team reaches for the ball during a game against Fulton during the Okanagan Valley AA Championships in February, 2020. The gym, constructed in 1951, is aging and the Okanagan Skaha School District is planning to replace it. (Summerland Review file photo)

Summerland high school gym replacement postponed

Plans to demolish and rebuild aging structure won’t go ahead this year

Jacqueline Mansiere of the Summerland Secondary School senior girls Rockets basketball team reaches for the ball during a game against Fulton during the Okanagan Valley AA Championships in February, 2020. The gym, constructed in 1951, is aging and the Okanagan Skaha School District is planning to replace it. (Summerland Review file photo)
A COVID-19 cluster has been identified at Pleasant Valley Secondary school in Armstrong. (Morning Star file photo)

Unvaccinated Armstrong grad students asked to stay home due to COVID school cluster

Six cases among Grade 12 students believed to have stemmed from Sept. 6 gathering

A COVID-19 cluster has been identified at Pleasant Valley Secondary school in Armstrong. (Morning Star file photo)
A vaccine drop-in clinic popped up in the parking lot of Nature’s Fare Wednesday, Sept. 15. Clinics are coming to North Okanagan high schools over the next few weeks. (Jennifer Smith - Morning Star)

North Okanagan school district staff, students urged to get COVID-19 vaccination

Clinics coming to North Okanagan schools

A vaccine drop-in clinic popped up in the parking lot of Nature’s Fare Wednesday, Sept. 15. Clinics are coming to North Okanagan high schools over the next few weeks. (Jennifer Smith - Morning Star)
A majority of parents are comfortable sending their kids back to school for in-class learning according to a new Angus Reid survey.(Black Press file photo).

Majority of B.C. parents comfortable with kids back in schools: poll

Angus Reid survey says nine in ten parents prefer in-class learning versus online

A majority of parents are comfortable sending their kids back to school for in-class learning according to a new Angus Reid survey.(Black Press file photo).
A BCAA survey found 68 per cent of respondents believe school zone traffic will be more chaotic than usual this year. (Joti Grewal/Langley Advance Times)

Distracted parents in drop-off zones a top concern for back-to-school rush: BCAA

About 72 students are injured in school zones every year, according to the roadside assistance company

A BCAA survey found 68 per cent of respondents believe school zone traffic will be more chaotic than usual this year. (Joti Grewal/Langley Advance Times)
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

Back to school Q&A: Is it safe for unvaccinated students? What’s the harm of school closures?

Students are getting ready to head back to classrooms across much of Canada

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
Students don face coverings as they wait in line to enter for the first day of in-class learning since the start of the pandemic. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

B.C. teachers say back-to-school plan doesn’t address testing, ventilation concerns

BCTF president Teri Mooring is calling for the province to do more to mitigate the risks of COVID-19

Students don face coverings as they wait in line to enter for the first day of in-class learning since the start of the pandemic. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
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

Masks required for Grade 4 and older in B.C. as part of return-to-school plan

Students will be in class full time this fall

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
Teachers are voicing concerns about health protocols with school set to resume in September. (Black Press file photo)

B.C. teachers push for classroom mask mandate

BC Teachers’ Federation issues workplace health wishlist

Teachers are voicing concerns about health protocols with school set to resume in September. (Black Press file photo)
File – Provincial funding for UBC improves research and innovation in 2016. (B.C. Government handout)

34 university innovation projects backed by $25M in B.C. funding

UBC, SFU, TRU and UVic all received the funds to help further studies

File – Provincial funding for UBC improves research and innovation in 2016. (B.C. Government handout)
Interior Health is recommending parents and eligible school-aged children get the vaccine before heading back to class. (Metro Creative photo)

Central Okanagan families urged to get vaccinated before school year starts

A letter was sent to parents of school-aged children by email from Interior Health

Interior Health is recommending parents and eligible school-aged children get the vaccine before heading back to class. (Metro Creative photo)
Bradley Furman, 30, broke into tears as BC Supreme Court Justice Clarke Burnett sentenced him to a total of 38 months in prison on Tuesday, Feb. 11. (File Photo)

Ex-Okanagan teacher who sexually exploited student released after 1 year in jail

Bradley Furman is being released from prison with conditions

Bradley Furman, 30, broke into tears as BC Supreme Court Justice Clarke Burnett sentenced him to a total of 38 months in prison on Tuesday, Feb. 11. (File Photo)
NorKam secondary student Karis Wilson in the outfit that got her sent home from school on Feb. 23, 2021. (Kamloops This Week photo)

School district dress code changed after B.C. teen sent home for turtleneck, lace-edged dress

Karis Wilson said she was sent home because a teacher told her that her outfit had made her uncomfortable

  • Jul 7, 2021
NorKam secondary student Karis Wilson in the outfit that got her sent home from school on Feb. 23, 2021. (Kamloops This Week photo)
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