Central Okanagan Public Schools has taken a leadership role to help new immigrants settle within the school district.

The English Language Learners (ELL) Program offered last summer is one example of providing assistance to participants, both adults and students, in both improving their English speaking skills and developing an understanding of the similarities and differences between their home culture and Canada91裸聊视频檚 culture.

The Central Okanagan Board of Education was given a presentation about the ELL at its meeting Wednesday (Oct. 27), a program held over two weeks last summer, funded by the federal government, which had the participation of more than 30 students.

The trustees were told the school bus was near empty at the outset of the program for daily afternoon field trips, but as word spread about the opportunity presented by the program, the bus quickly filled up.

On hand to share their views of the program were Rutland Senior Secondary Grade 9 students Hosam Al Msaliam and Hakem Al Elsmer, joined by parent Saffaa Alahmed Alibrahim and interpreter Nadine Hassanalli.

School district officials described the program as reflecting empathy and inclusion to new immigrants as they begin their journey to assimilate into a new country and culture.

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While details of a framework school boards have been ordered to follow by the ministry of education in deciding whether or not to adopt a vaccine mandate for school district staff were included in the meeting agenda, but board of education chair Moyra Baxter noted no immediate decisions will be forthcoming.

91裸聊视频� We know the issue of a mandatory vaccination requirement for our employees is of great interest to the community,91裸聊视频� said Baxter in a prepared statement.

91裸聊视频淎s this matter has labour relations implications, any board discussions are more appropriately dealt with in-camera at this time.91裸聊视频�

Last week, BC Teachers91裸聊视频� Federation president Teri Mooring released the results of a BCTF health and safety membership survey, which indicated 94 per cent of teachers are fully vaccinated, another one per cent are awaiting their second dose and that 82 per cent of B.C. teachers support a provincewide vaccine mandate.

Mooring said any vaccine mandate for K-12 must be provincewide, as a 91裸聊视频渄istrict by district patchwork approach does not make sense.91裸聊视频�

Mooring said the survey also revealed that 79 per cent of the survey respondents said their mental health has worsened throughout the COVID pandemic, with 46 per cent of teachers reporting they feel safe and 71 per cent feeling they don91裸聊视频檛 get enough information about COVID-19 cases and exposures in their school districts.

91裸聊视频淲e have consistently heard that this lack of transparency has been a significant source of anxiety and stress for parents and teachers alike,91裸聊视频� Mooring said.

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The new vice-principal of Indigenous education for Central Okanagan Public Schools is April Strickland.

She started her new position in August, continuing her career in the public education field which has included most recently working in Burnaby and before that, a five-year stint in Nunavik.

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The latest school to add a GaGA Ball Court is 脡cole Belgo Elementary, a project initiated by the school91裸聊视频檚 parent advisory council.

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Part of their role as trustees is to attend school activities and show support for student and classroom accomplishments from the board of education.

Trustee Wayne Broughton, the byelection winner of the seat vacated by the passing of Rolli Cacchionni earlier this year, made his first foray into the school visit aspect of his duties, attending the annual Green Day recognition at 脡cole KLO Middle School last month.

The focus of Green Day is to raise awareness of ecological issues and how students can contribute to a better future.

Broughton was exposed to sustainable living and environmental education initiatives taken on by the school, Indigenous land-based learning, recycling programs and work carried out on the Fascieux Creek and Wellness Walk pathway project on the south side of the school.

91裸聊视频淚 had a great time and it was interesting to see the work being done by the students,91裸聊视频� Broughton said.

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The grand opening of the Outdoor Education Centre at Pearson Road Elementary was celebrated on Oct. 27.

The centre is a culmination of a community effort to increase natural vegetation on school grounds, raise environmental awareness and create new opportunities for land-based learning.

The project was inspired by long-time school kindergarten teacher Isabel Alves-Vicente, who is afflicted with the incurable Lou Gehrig91裸聊视频檚 Disease (ALS).

The Outdoor Education Centre comes equipped with two greenhouses, 16 garden beds, an outdoor classroom setting and an Indigenous garden.

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脡cole Kelowna Secondary School hosted the 2021 Best of the West Volleyball Tournament for senior and junior boys91裸聊视频� and girls91裸聊视频� teams on Oct. 15-16.

The KSS senior boys91裸聊视频� and girls91裸聊视频� squads each won gold medals in the tournament.

On the girls91裸聊视频� side, KSS defeated cross-town rival Okanagan Mission Secondary in their final, while the senior boys91裸聊视频� were undefeated posting a tournament posting win over Langley Christian from the Fraser Valley.

The board of education acknowledged all those who supported the tournament, citing, in particular, the efforts of Tony Sodaro, Mike Sodaro and Kelly Hettinga.

READ MORE: Kelowna school to build outdoor exploration centre

READ MORE: Vaccine mandate deferral upsets school board chair

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