Vernon parents are encouraging others to learn more about a Montessori-style school program at Clarence Fulton Secondary School, and consider registering their kids so that the program won鈥檛 be axed.
Principal Mike Edgar informed parents on Jan. 11 that the Awaken Inquiry and Adventure Okanagan (AIAO) program will be shut down for the 2024/25 school year, citing a decline in student registrations, particularly in the middle grades, over the last three years.
The AIAO program provides learning opportunities rooted in place and nature-based educational practices. The educators collaborate with Okanagan businesses and mentors to engage students in a variety of experiential learning opportunities. The program uses the B.C. curriculum and is grounded in the core competencies.
It鈥檚 a program that serves many students who have diverse needs, and has benefited parent Jonathan Jones鈥� 13-year-old autistic daughter, who was distraught to find out the program would be cancelled just before a letter was sent to parents conveying the news.
鈥淎s a community we need to stand up and have our voices heard by the (Vernon School District) board of trustees that this program was the last in Vernon that provided a safe and inclusive space for students to have a community of their peers who understand what it means to be autistic, have ADHD, have anxiety disorder, having learning challenges,鈥� Jones said.
Parents have pushed back, launching a petition calling for the program to be continued, and there鈥檚 a chance they will be successful.
Jones says a meeting with Edgar, Supt. Christine Perkins and other school district staff on Jan. 17 offered 鈥渁 glimmer of hope,鈥� with an enrolment number provided by Perkins.
In a follow-up meeting Jan. 23, Jones and other parents were told they need a minimum of 40 students enrolled by Feb. 22 for the program to stay open for another year.
鈥淭here were no promises that the program is safe or that it has a five year plan, we鈥檙e still just in firefighting mode,鈥� Jones said.
Parents have asked Edgar to reach out to the secondary school principals, school counselors and the School District 22 Montessori teachers to convey the message.
Jones is hoping enough parents will register their kids to keep the program alive, and parents have an upcoming opportunity to learn more. The school district is putting on a program of choice information night Monday, Jan. 29 at Fulton Secondary from 6-7 p.m. in Room 132, which will be a chance for parents to learn more about AIAO.
He was told that it is the teachers鈥� and students鈥� duty to to promote the program and that the school district won鈥檛 promote the program beyond sending an email and posting on the program鈥檚 .
鈥淚 find it appalling that teachers and students have to take time out of their learning to run around to schools to save their own program, yet the district disagrees,鈥� Jones said.
The email sent to parents promoting the Jan. 29 info session says the session will be about students in Grades 7-12, though Jones says the program is primarily looking for students in Grades 7-9 to enroll.
鈥淲e need to ensure as many parents and students know that they need to put in an application before Feb. 15 and a short extension window of Feb. 22,鈥� Jones said.
to learn more about the AIAO program.
READ MORE:
READ MORE:
