Education

FILE – 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

Teachers’ union calls for more speed, clarity on COVID-19 exposures

BCTF said teachers noticing ‘significant inconsistencies’ in how outbreaks, clusters, exposures are classified

FILE – 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
In 2017, tutor Chris Martiennson and student Kash Scott were working together. (Photo contributed)

Vernon students cope with learning disabilities

October is Learning Disabilities month, and local youth and tutors are celebrating their success

In 2017, tutor Chris Martiennson and student Kash Scott were working together. (Photo contributed)
(Pixabay photo)

Winnipeg teacher placed on leave after racial slur used in classroom

Students allege the teacher used the slur multiple times

(Pixabay photo)
The Human Rights Tribunal of Alberta has ordered the Alberta Pipe Trade College to pay $35,000 to Branka Turnbull, shown in this undated handout image, after she was fired as an instructor of the technical college in Edmonton in 2013 because of a pregnancy. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO

Alberta technical college ordered to pay former teacher who was fired for pregnancy

Branka Turnbull calls Human Rights Tribunal of Alberta decision vindication

The Human Rights Tribunal of Alberta has ordered the Alberta Pipe Trade College to pay $35,000 to Branka Turnbull, shown in this undated handout image, after she was fired as an instructor of the technical college in Edmonton in 2013 because of a pregnancy. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO
Teacher Joy Harrison instructs her second graders as California Gov. Gavin Newsom visits the classroom at Carl B. Munck Elementary School, Wednesday, Aug. 11, 2021, in Oakland, Calif. Gov. (Santiago Mejia/San Francisco Chronicle via AP, Pool)

Masks now mandatory for all B.C. students

New rules require masks for Kindergarten to Grade 3, which were previously exempt from the mandate

Teacher Joy Harrison instructs her second graders as California Gov. Gavin Newsom visits the classroom at Carl B. Munck Elementary School, Wednesday, Aug. 11, 2021, in Oakland, Calif. Gov. (Santiago Mejia/San Francisco Chronicle via AP, Pool)
Support Our Students Alberta has been tracking COVID-19 cases in schools since September. (File photo by BLACK PRESS)

Student advocacy group says 10 per cent of Alberta schools have COVID-19 outbreaks

Support Our Students Alberta has been tracking cases since September

Support Our Students Alberta has been tracking COVID-19 cases in schools since September. (File photo by BLACK PRESS)
The Learning Disability Society has just launched a new program for Greater Vancouver students to learn aboard a custom-designed electric bus. (LDS photo)

VIDEO: All aboard! B.C. society uses colourful bus to push through kids’ learning barriers

Vancouver-based Learning Disability Society launched the program in fall 2021

The Learning Disability Society has just launched a new program for Greater Vancouver students to learn aboard a custom-designed electric bus. (LDS photo)
Premier John Horgan and Health Minister Adrian Dix look on as Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry speaks about the COVID-19 vaccine card set to arrive in mid-September as they discuss details about the process during a press conference at provincial legislature in Victoria, B.C., on August 23, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito

Concerns prompt B.C. to return to notifying schools, parents about COVID exposures

Dr. Bonnie Henry says parents and teachers have let it be known they need to be informed

Premier John Horgan and Health Minister Adrian Dix look on as Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry speaks about the COVID-19 vaccine card set to arrive in mid-September as they discuss details about the process during a press conference at provincial legislature in Victoria, B.C., on August 23, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito
The province annouces $165,000 to build an accessible playground at Ellison Elementary in Vernon. (Roger Knox - Vernon Morning Star)

Province funds new accessible park for Vernon school

Vernon School District receives $165K from B.C. government to fund project

The province annouces $165,000 to build an accessible playground at Ellison Elementary in Vernon. (Roger Knox - Vernon Morning Star)
Alberta Premier Jason Kenney takes questions after announcing new COVID-19 measures for Alberta in Calgary, Wednesday, Sept. 15, 2021.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

Alberta post-secondary schools cancel in-person classes as new COVID rules kick in

On-line learning is to continue, new rules announced yesterday, some take effect immediately

Alberta Premier Jason Kenney takes questions after announcing new COVID-19 measures for Alberta in Calgary, Wednesday, Sept. 15, 2021.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh
A.J. Elliott Elementary School in Sointula. (SD85.bc.ca photo)

Students back in B.C. classroom after mask exemption dispute resolved

New teacher in place in Sointula, maskless teacher takes temporary position elsewhere with district

A.J. Elliott Elementary School in Sointula. (SD85.bc.ca photo)
A.J. Elliott Elementary School in Sointula. (SD85.bc.ca photo)

Parents nearly empty small B.C. school of kids over teacher’s mask exemption

Majority of students are not attending class in Sointula, off northern Vancouver Island

A.J. Elliott Elementary School in Sointula. (SD85.bc.ca photo)
French immersion students make up roughly 9.4 per cent of the B.C. student body. (Canadian Parents for French BC & YK photo)

B.C. parents demand better access to online French education

Enrolment in French immersion fell for the first time in 20 years

French immersion students make up roughly 9.4 per cent of the B.C. student body. (Canadian Parents for French BC & YK photo)
Désirée Bouchat, a survivor of the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center, looks at photos of those who perished, in a display at the 9/11 Tribute Museum, Friday, Aug. 6, 2021, in New York. While Sept. 11 was a day of carnage, it also was a story of survival: Nearly 3,000 people were killed, but an estimated 33,000 or more people evacuated the World Trade Center and Pentagon. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan)

Learning about 9/11: Attacks part of identity, racism lesson in Canadian classrooms

Dialogue continues among students of varied backgrounds about how they see the larger world

Désirée Bouchat, a survivor of the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center, looks at photos of those who perished, in a display at the 9/11 Tribute Museum, Friday, Aug. 6, 2021, in New York. While Sept. 11 was a day of carnage, it also was a story of survival: Nearly 3,000 people were killed, but an estimated 33,000 or more people evacuated the World Trade Center and Pentagon. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan)
Vernon and District Performing Arts Centre cutouts support students through the bursary program. (VDPAC photo)

Curtain closing on Vernon arts bursaries

Up to 3 $1,000 bursaries available from Vernon and District Performing Arts Centre

Vernon and District Performing Arts Centre cutouts support students through the bursary program. (VDPAC photo)
The newly expanded BX Elementary School in Vernon has added 10 classrooms, a new bank of washrooms and said so long to five portables in time for the start of the 2021-22 school year Tuesday, Sept. 7. (Michael Hintringer photo/courtesy SD22)

Vernon school adds 10 classrooms for 2021-22

BX Elementary says goodbye to five portables, fixtures on the campus for the past decade

The newly expanded BX Elementary School in Vernon has added 10 classrooms, a new bank of washrooms and said so long to five portables in time for the start of the 2021-22 school year Tuesday, Sept. 7. (Michael Hintringer photo/courtesy SD22)
Classrooms will soon be busy as children across B.C. go back to school, again with pandemic procedures in place. (Black Press Media files)

Back to school: Children with special needs are being put in harm’s way, says Autism BC

‘How can my child on the spectrum be safe if the protocols are not in place,’ asks worried parent

Classrooms will soon be busy as children across B.C. go back to school, again with pandemic procedures in place. (Black Press Media files)
Bryan Halvorson of the Tolko Log Haulers' Group presents a $10,000 cheque to the Literacy Society of the North Okanagan, accepted by executive director Wendy Aasen. (Contributed)

$10K Tolko donation kicks off Vernon’s Raise a Reader campaign

Literacy Society of the North Okanagan raising funds, which are partially matched

Bryan Halvorson of the Tolko Log Haulers' Group presents a $10,000 cheque to the Literacy Society of the North Okanagan, accepted by executive director Wendy Aasen. (Contributed)
Annie Ohana, a teacher at L.A. Matheson Secondary, teaches a Grade 8 class on Friday, March 12, 2021. Ohana is one of many teachers calling for another mask mandate in schools before the 2021-22 school year starts. (Photo: Lauren Collins)

‘Almost no protection’: B.C. teachers concerned about returning to school as Delta ramps up

Safe Schools Coalition hosting Vancouver rally Aug. 14 for COVID-safe measures in B.C. schools

Annie Ohana, a teacher at L.A. Matheson Secondary, teaches a Grade 8 class on Friday, March 12, 2021. Ohana is one of many teachers calling for another mask mandate in schools before the 2021-22 school year starts. (Photo: Lauren Collins)
Maven Lane executive director Hollie Henderson has earned the B.C. 2021 Child Care Award of Excellence in the early care and learning leadership category. (Contributed)

B.C. award delivered to Vernon child care leader

Maven Lane’s Hollie Henderson awarded Child Care Award of Excellence

Maven Lane executive director Hollie Henderson has earned the B.C. 2021 Child Care Award of Excellence in the early care and learning leadership category. (Contributed)