Two South 琉璃神社 Elementary Grade 2 teachers and their students have developed a new journey for learning from nature.
Leanne Kirschner and Kymberly Jennejohn saw the potential for the outdoors to become a teaching tool for their students last spring.
In relating their teaching experience to the Central Okanagan Board of Education at its meeting last Wednesday (March 13), the teachers said they embraced creating collaborative learning with nature curriculum with input from their students.
They were not initially certain how the program would proceed or be adopted by their students, but the result was their classes embraced the opportunity to learn more about nature, how the outdoors was a welcome break from the classroom, direct action in cleaning up litter debris from their nature area and even adopted their own tree.
Joining Kirschner and Jennejohn in the presentation were four of their students 鈥� Siena Tootoo, Farley Luckhurst, Rhodes Davy and Walker Tomlinson.
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The board of education has adjusted the boundaries for the question/comment period allotted on the meeting agenda.
Previously, the board had set aside comment periods during meetings, one for specific action items on the agenda and another for general comments.
During the COVID pandemic, people were using the comment period to often make statements about public health policies related to the COVID response that were beyond the purview of school trustees to directly address.
Since then trustees opted to eliminate the open comment agenda item and limit comments to action items only.
Subsequent discussion has now amended that policy to widen the question/comment period to any items included on the meeting agenda.
Superintendent/CEO Kevin Kaardal called the change a positive compromise, allowing for greater public input while meetings stay focused on school board business and not public discussion about other issues occurring in the community.
The public using the question/comment opportunities at school board meetings across the province to voice opinions on issues such as provincial government COVID public health policies and SOGI (Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity) has at times become disruptive.
Vernon鈥檚 school board recently closed down a meeting and trustees left the room when an anti-SOGI speaker refused to stop her presentation against the program.
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A survey for input on the 2025-26 school calendar has been distributed to schools, parents and the greater community.
The survey can be filled out online by visiting the link on the school district website homepage.
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The Mount Boucherie Secondary robotics team finished first at the Canadian Pacific Regional First Robotics Competition held recently in Victoria.
As a result, the team has earned a wildcard entry for the world championships taking place in Houston, Tex., in April.
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The school district has circulated reminders about the high risk of measles cases being brought to B.C. due to outbreaks globally and decreasing vaccination coverage rates in Canada.
Statements have been issued by the Public Health Agency of Canada, the provincial health officer and the BC Centre for Disease Control, in advance of families travelling abroad for vacations during Spring Break.
Measles is a contagious, airborne disease for which there is an immunization program administered by local public health units.
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Recent student athletic achievements were highlighted to the board of education:
鈥� The 脡cole Okanagan Mission Secondary senior girls鈥� basketball team placed third in the provincial championships and was selected as the most sportsmanlike team. Team members Presley Hopf was chosen as a tournament first-team all-star and Faith Hunter a second-team all-star. The 脡cole 琉璃神社 Secondary seniors girls squad placed 7th.
鈥� The 脡cole 琉璃神社 Secondary curling team finished second in the provincial finals playing on home ice at the curling club.
鈥� Sport BC recently handed out its Athlete of the Year awards, with Nash Semeniuk, a 脡cole 琉璃神社 Secondary student, named the High School Male Athlete of the Year (basketball and volleyball).
鈥� Caleb Trudeau, a Grade 9 student at 脡cole George Elliot Secondary in Lake Country, won the 48 kg category at the BC Provincial Wrestling Championships. He won five straight matches, only giving up a total of two points, in winning the gold medal.
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Because of the closure of schools during spring break, the next board of education will be Wednesday, April 10, at 6 p.m.
Other meetings next month will be the finance and audit committee, April 3 and 17, 4 p.m.; the planning and facilities committee, April 3, 6 p.m.; and the education and student service committee, April 17, 6 p.m.
The finance and audit committee meetings are expected to address the school district budget for the 2024-25 school year.
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