School District No. 73

Barb Hamblett Appointed District Principal, Human Resources.

Thu, 25 Aug 2022 02:00:00 GMT

The Kamloops-Thompson Board of Education supports Barb Hamblett as the successful candidate for the role of District Principal, Human Resources.

“We are looking forward to continuing to work with Barb who is a well-known and strong principal leader in our District and who brings a valuable skill set and range of experiences to this new role,” stated Board Chair Heather Grieve.

With 34 years of experience, Barb began her career in Alberta and served in multiple roles including secondary teacher and school-based leader in rural and urban elementary and secondary schools.

Barb began her career with SD73 in 1997 as a teacher at Logan Lake Secondary. During her time with SD73, Barb has led various District in-services and is a leader who is admired for the way that she resolves challenging situations in a team-oriented, collaborative, and cohesive manner. Her strengths as both an organizational leader and manager make her well suited for the District Principal role.

“I am excited to welcome Barb as part of our senior leadership team. She has been an exemplary leader who will continue to build leadership capacity throughout the District,” shared Superintendent Dr. Rhonda Nixon.

“The Human Resources Department is excited that Barb is joining our Human Resources team. We look forward to working with her on innovative approaches as we implement the priorities in the 2022-2027 District Strategic Plan,” said Associate Superintendent John Wiedrick.

“I am honoured to be selected for this role as the District Principal,” Mrs. Hamblett shared. “I am committed to public education and look forward to supporting our District in this new role.”

Mrs. Hamblett begins their appointment on August 29, 2022.

Congratulations SD73 Students Who Took Part in the 2023 Gauss Math Contest and Team Challenge

Fri, 02 Jun 2023 16:15:00 GMT

District Numeracy Team, Monica Bergeron and Cynthia Morrow

Numeracy is a key priority in the District Strategic Plan. The District Numeracy team was proud to host 46 students from 12 schools in SD73 on May 17, 2023, who took part in the Grade 7 Gauss math contest and Team Challenge Day. The Gauss math contest is a national math contest developed by the Center for Education in Mathematics and Computing at the University of Waterloo. The top scoring students were:

1st place Mohamed Nahle from South Sa-Hali Elementary with a score of 136

2nd place Finn Morgan from Marion Schilling Elementary with a score of 124

3rd place Tie between Johan Campsall from Lloyd George Elementary and Lucas Lee from McGowan Park Elementary each with scores of 120

After the math contest, student teams from each school participated in a series of numeracy problems at stations run by Norkam Secondary Grade 12 students. Teams won board games to bring back to their classrooms to play with classmates that emphasize logic and reasoning.

SD73 would like to thank the District Numeracy Team, Monica Bergeron and Cynthia Morrow for organizing the event–all of the participants, volunteers, teachers, and parents involved that made the event a success.

Sustainability is a Core Commitment in the District Strategic Plan - Westsyde Secondary's Climate Action Club

Wed, 01 Mar 2023 22:00:00 GMT

In the 2022-2027 District Strategic Plan, we are committed to relationships/connections, wellbeing, equity, and sustainability. In Westsyde Secondary School, students are committed to taking action together to contribute to a sustainable environment.

Westsyde Secondary’s Climate Action Club was formed last year in response to students’ concerns about the environment and climate change. The goal of the club is to build awareness and tackle these concerns through positive action.

The Club has had a good start to the year by running a very successful thrift clothing exchange. The Club estimated that 570 items were donated, 85 students participated by either donating or wearing thrifted, and at least 100+ students rotated through the pop-up thrift store.

An upcoming initiative the students would like to take part in is from one of the club members own capstone project, which was done by Parker Morrison. Her capstone project proposes removing derelict vehicles from the riverbank at Centennial park and restoring that habitat to a more fish-friendly natural state while preventing further erosion. The Climate Action Club is looking to support this initiative and apply for a climate action grant from the City of Kamloops.

“Our efforts to effectively prevent erosion and clean up our parks will hopefully inspire similar projects. This process is crucial to the future of our riverbanks, and the ripple effect we can create will be profound.” Parker Morrison

Krista Halland's Legacy will be a Playful One

Thu, 20 May 2021 17:15:00 GMT

When Savona Elementary Principal Krista Halland retires at the end of June, she will be leaving a legacy of physical activity, community building and commitment to growth that can be reduced to one word: playful.

For starters, she requested donations supporting the school’s physical education program in lieu of retirement presents.

“We are a rural community with a small population, leaving us with a limited budget for P.E. equipment,” she said. “The PAC (Parents Advisory Committee) decided a donation of $500 would be given to the school so we will be buying new hockey sticks and a portable net for the play court.”

When she arrived at the school four years ago, Halland decided she wanted the school to become a community hub.

“The school has amazing support from the community, and our school playground is the only playground for children to access,” she said. “The PAC is working hard to see a new playground built. It won’t be built before I go, but they are off to a good start as the community has donated $15,000!” The PAC is now waiting to hear whether it will be awarded a legacy grant from SD73 so that together with funds it has raised, there will be a good foundation to build the addition to our playground.

She plans to stay connected with the school and the community after she retires.

“I have enjoyed my years in the district, especially these last four, working at Savona Elementary, she said. “The staff, students and community have been supportive, generous, appreciative, dedicated and committed to our students and the school community. I couldn't ask for more.”

She said deciding to retire was difficult, because she has developed so many new friendships.

“I will truly miss the staff, the students and their families. The opportunity to know each one of them so well is not something that typically happens for a school leader,” she said.

“I have been blessed by having a good career with SD73 and by working with amazing and dedicated individuals at Arthur Hatton, George Hilliard, Arthur Stevenson, Juniper Ridge and Savona.

“I will certainly miss my colleagues at Savona Elementary, but I am looking forward to spending time with my three grandchildren, while staying connected to the school community.”

Completion Rates for SD73 Students Continue to Improve

Thu, 18 Feb 2021 17:30:00 GMT

Completion rates for students in School District No. 73 continue to improve according to the recently released stats from the BC Ministry of Education.

The rate for all SD73 students in the 2019-2020 school year is 89.5 per cent, up slightly from last year’s 88.3 per cent completion rate. The graduation rate measures the number of Grade 8 students who graduate within six years.

“Since 2012-2013 there has been an upward trend in School District No. 73’s Six-Year Completion Rate,” said Dr. Terry Sullivan, Superintendent of Schools. “This is especially evident with students earning a Dogwood Graduation Diploma.”

The completion rate for BC resident students in the district (excluding international students who move out of the district before graduation) continues the upwards trend set in 2012-2013, coming within the target range of 90 percent to 95 percent.

While the average is up for all students, the rate for Aboriginal students has decreased to 78.7 per cent from last year’s 84.1 per cent, a rate similar to 2017-2018’s 78.2 per cent.

“Successful school completion for all learners, and closing the completion rate gap between Aboriginal learners and Non-Aboriginal learners remains a priority,” Sullivan said.

The District’s commitment to this priority is reflected in four broad categories: personalized learning that provides flexibility and choice; a focus on inclusion and equity; structured support for struggling learners; and connecting learners to opportunities to complete after they have discontinued schooling.

The structured support for struggling learners; and connecting learners to opportunities to complete is largely the work of the School Completion Coordinator, Gino Coltrellaro, who through detailed data analysis continues to identify students who have not yet graduated with six-years of starting grade 8.

Sullivan commented on the system-wide changes that have been implemented to support school completion since his retirement in 2014. “When I look at this trend line I can see how far we have come in the last few years. These results are possible because of the hard work by students that commit to graduating despite obstacles and the people like Gino that connect with those students and help them complete high school.”

Read the full report to the Board of Education here.

Table 1: All Student Completion Rates 2012-2013 to 2019-2020

Table 2: BC Resident Student Completion Rates 2012-2013 to 2019-2020

Table 3: Aboriginal School Completion Rates 2012-2013 to 2019-2020

Girls Explore Trades and Technology at TRU

Fri, 22 Nov 2024 18:00:00 GMT

Story provided by Sheila Brown, District Trades and Transitions Coordinator

One strategy of the Career Development priority in the 2022-2027 District Strategic Plan is to support diverse and under-represented learners to participate in career exploration, including promoting female involvement and gender equity in trades industries. The national participation of women in trades is approximately 4%. Girls Exploring Trades and Technology is an event that supports equity in the trades while encouraging students to have a fun career exploration and mentorship.

On Wednesday, November 20, 2024 48 female students in Grades 6-9 from schools across the District got hands-on experience in a variety of trades at the School of Trades and Technology at Thompson Rivers University (TRU). Four different trades explorations activities were offered, including welding, plumbing, electrical, and heavy duty mechanics.

Six senior student mentors (Grades 10-12) joined the event to share their experiences as females who have taken the Trades Sampler program at NorKam Secondary School and/or the Youth Train in Trades program.

Senior Mentor Kileigh Foisy, a Grade 12 Clearwater Secondary student who will attend the TRU Electrical Foundation program next semester, shared, “I am mentoring today because I would like to help other young girls find a trade they might love and do it as their future career.”

Joining the District students were three female industry leaders: Casey Cameron from Acres Enterprises, Saylor Mayer from the TRU Millwright program, and Laura Connell from New Gold Inc. These three leaders shared their career journeys and personal experiences on what it's like to be a female in the trades in an interactive panel led by student questions.

Saylor Mayor, who is currently studying at TRU, shared, “I believe that it is important to be able to discuss and show the younger generations of women in trades what is available to them for resources and in the trades world. I love sharing my experiences and journey through the programs [Trades Sampler and Youth Train in Trades] and giving insight to the future generations.”

During the panel, students asked the panelists about their biggest challenges. All three panelists shared how, as a female entering the trades, young women need to take steps and opportunities to gain confidence in the trade they enjoy, work to build positive work cultures, and be prepared and persevere when work is a struggle. Laura Connell also shared her story about how her biggest setback turned into her greatest career opportunity, emphasizing the importance of perseverance and adaptability for students starting their post-secondary and career journeys.

Two Grade 8 students from Westsyde Secondary shared their thoughts on the fun and informative event. “I thought that the trades day was really well run and I would definitely come back next year. I really enjoyed plumbing and electrical,” shared Giovanna Mercuri. Jess Noordam added, “The trades day was so fun and I felt independent and like I knew how to do the activity! We got to solder a candle base which was so amazing and fun!”

By connecting with industry professionals and older students studying trades, these female students were able to learn about future career opportunities they may not have considered in a safe and supportive atmosphere.

New Chair for Board of Education

Wed, 07 Nov 2018 00:00:00 GMT

Elected by acclamation by fellow trustees, Kathleen Karpuk is the new Chair of the Kamloops-Thompson Board of Education. A Kamloops resident for more than 20 years, she has served as a trustee since 2008 (re-elected in 2011 and 2014). She and her husband have three children enrolled in Kamloops schools.

Rhonda Kershaw, the trustee representing Barriere-Little Fort, was acclaimed as Vice-Chair at the inaugural meeting for the 2018-2022 Board of Education on Nov. 5, 2018.

Trustees also selected representatives to sit on the two provincial associations.

Trustee Shelley Sims was acclaimed as representative for the BC School Trustees Association (BCSTA), while Vice-Chair Kershaw was unanimously elected as representative for BC Public School Employers Association (BCPSEA).

Along with Chair Karpuk, the four trustees elected in Kamloops were Joe Small, Meghan Wade, John O’Fee, and Heather Grieve. Diane Jules was elected in Area 4 (Chase), while Shelley Sim, Area 2 (North Thompson), Vice-Chair Kershaw and Cara McKelvey Area 5 (Logan Lake) were acclaimed.

Becoming a Kamloops Host Family: Why You Should Host an International Student

Fri, 05 Jul 2019 16:00:00 GMT

Students from 17 countries will attend classes in Kamloops starting this fall, and more host families are needed. School District No. 73 is planning for 290 students to be spending one or two semesters here during the 2019 – 2020 school year.

“At any given time there are between 150 to 170 host families who accommodate our international students, and because of the expected numbers we are planning for, we are hoping to find an additional 20 families,” said Don Poelzer, International Student Program District Principal.

There are so many great reasons to become a host family. In addition to making new friends from new countries and learning more about the world and discovering new cultures and customs from the comfort of your own home, you can make a little extra income.

School District No. 73 compensates families at a rate of $825 per month, per student. That is $4,125 per semester and $8,250 per school year. Families may host multiple students if they wish.

Your duties as a host family will include providing a private room for each student, having regular meals with your student, assisting with school start-up routines and providing guidance and support while the student studies in Kamloops.

While families from all parts of the city are eligible for hosting, the greatest need for host families is in the Juniper, Aberdeen, Sa-Hali, North Kamloops/Batchelor Heights, and Westsyde neighbourhoods.

If you are interested in hosting one or more international students during the upcoming school year, or if you know a friend or family member who may wish to register as a host family, please contact our Homestay Manager, Leslee Faubert - lesleefaubert@shaw.ca

For additional information check this website. (link to: https://www.ispcanada.ca)

Become a Kamloops Host Family: Why You Should Host an International Student

Fri, 14 Jun 2019 17:30:00 GMT

“At any given time there are between 15 to 170 host families who accommodate our international students, and because of the expected numbers we are planning for, we are hoping to find an additional 20 families,” said Don Poelzer, International Student Program District Principal.

School District No. 73 compensates families at a rate of $825 per month, per student. That is $4,125 per semester and $8,250 per school year. Families may host multiple students if they wish.

For additional information check this website.

COVID-19 Confirmed at Three Schools

Mon, 18 Jan 2021 01:30:00 GMT

On Sunday, Jan. 17, 2021 the District was informed of positive cases of COVID-19 in three of its schools.

Juniper Ridge Elementary, exposure Jan. 11, 2021

South Kamloops Secondary, exposure Jan. 12 and 13, 2021
Valleyview Secondary, exposure Jan. 11, 2021

The school community members affected are self-isolating at home with support from local public health teams. All families of each of the three schools were notified by email Sunday afternoon.

Only the health authority can determine who is a close contact. School District No. 73 will continue to work closely with Interior Health to provide ongoing communication as required and to maintain confidentiality and privacy for all individuals in our school community.

The District, along with each school and worksite has a COVID-19 Safety plan. All staff and students are required to follow the COVID Safety Protocols. At this time, there have been no known transmissions within SD73 schools. These plans will continue to monitored and revised as new information is made available from the Provincial Health Office and the Ministry of Education. SD73 is committed to keeping our schools safe for both staff and students.

Final Day of Safer School Streets Pilot Program at Arthur Hatton Elementary School

Fri, 09 Jun 2023 15:00:00 GMT

Mike Johnson, Principal, Arthur Hatton Elementary School

The Safer School Streets Pilot Project at Arthur Hatton Elementary School has been a success!

On May 29th, at our opening kick-off in the gym, I introduced the students to the Safer Streets program that ran from May 29 to June 9 and involved temporary closures of specific roads near the school from 7:45-8:45 am and 2:20-3:00 pm. The purpose of the pilot was to encourage students and families to walk, ride, and roll to school by having temporary “traffic-free” zones along Schubert, which will be closed from Holly Avenue to Oak Road, as well as Chestnut Avenue during those short time frames.

The students saw the wonderful prizes from Canadian Tire (mountain bikes), as well as Dearborn Ford and Runner’s Sole that were generously donated through the advocacy and support of Ms. Stacey Gagnon, GoBy Bike Week Coordinator. Thank you to the inspirational words from our two partners, Mr. Irani, Transportation Manager, Dr. Rhonda Nixon, Superintendent, SD73, and closing remarks from Trustee Kathleen Karpuk. Although he couldn’t be there that day, Dr. Trent Smith, a well-known pediatrician in Kamloops, had advocated for us to try this pilot project to encourage students and families to walk, ride, and roll to school. He showed how it increased the physical activity of students and increased the safety to and from school because there were fewer cars and more people walking, biking, and rolling together to and from school. He also shared the negative impacts of vehicle exhaust for those who have asthma.

The success of this pilot project was related to how it began–with the enthusiastic teamwork of the City of Kamloops and Kamloops-Thompson School District. The City of Kamloops had agreed to contract help from ATS consultants to promote and raise awareness of the project and to be at the road barriers to greet and redirect traffic. Ying, Lane Change Traffic Coordinator for ATS had gone door-to-door to greet residents in the area with the offer of homemade bannock and blueberries as he shared what Safer School Streets Pilot Program was about and why it was important. Parents were appreciative of the information. The City of Kamloops had also dropped flyers in residents’ mailboxes with the same information.

We started the project by having students play hockey and other games on the closed off street. Seeing kids playing helped residents to forgive the inconvenience of having the road closure, a small price to pay for the high energy games that students engaged in early in the morning.

Students and families came to look forward to seeing each other in the morning, and starting the days with exercise which created positive momentum for our school days over the last two weeks.

The next step is to see the results of the survey that we gave to students, staff, and parents; the traffic monitoring data collected by the City of Kamloops, and the qualitative comments collected by SD73 staff. We will meet to review the results and to share a report on what we find out.

Thank you to the City of Kamloops for providing funds from the Climate Action Levy for signage, contracted road maintenance personnel, a crossing guard at Fortune and Oak, and financial support for school incentives. Thank you to Arthur Hatton staff who worked together every morning from 8:00-8:25 am from May 29-June 9 to run games (e.g., ball hockey, hop scotch, four square) to inspire students and families to be active and enjoy this time outside on a safe, quiet street. Thank you to the SD73 district staff who worked behind the scenes to get this project started and to communicate about it and organize and set up events such as the kick off and the final pancake breakfast.

Most importantly, thank you to those families who took an active part in walking, biking, and rolling to school. It was a lot of fun to see you having fun at the start of each day, and I can honestly say that I am looking forward to seeing the final results based on student, parent, and staff feedback.

I hope that we can consider how this project might lead us to continuing to be healthier together and to having fun at the same time as increasing our physical activity.

For more information, please go to: https://ahatton.sd73.bc.ca/safer-school-streets-pilot-project

Consent Caf� in Action

Fri, 17 Jun 2022 14:30:00 GMT

Partnerships are the cornerstone of success for School District No. 73 and a Consent Café collaboration with Thompson Rivers University is just one of those examples.

Consent Café is an activity-based consent and sexualized violence prevention program designed specifically for children, youth, and young adults. The initiative has a particular focus on healthy relationships, healthy sexual decision making, reliable sources of health information, and youth-specific strategies to protect themselves and others from potential exploitation, abuse, and harm.

Founded by Chelsea Corsi, Senior Wellness Coordinator in the Faculty of Student Development, and Tanya Pawliuk, Associate Teaching Professor in the Faculty of Education and Social Work, the Consent Café is a collaboration between TRU faculty, TRU Wellness Centre, TRU Student Wellness Ambassadors, SD73 educational partners, and community partners such as the Kamloops Sexual Assault Counselling Centre, ASK Wellness, and Safe Spaces, along with collaboration with elders and knowledge keepers in the area.

“We aim to be as decolonizing as possible in our work, recognizing that this is work that is ongoing for us,” Pawliuk told the Board of Education at a Regular Meeting on Monday, June 13.

The Consent Café was designed to bring university campuses, schools, and community programs together to address and enhance the learning objectives identified in the BC Government’s Physical Health and Education provincial curriculum.

The goal of the program is for students to gain self-awareness and skills to identify and participate in healthy relationships, positive communication, and understand the difference between consent and coercion.

“We are evidence informed. We aim to be gender inclusive. We are intersectional trauma-informed and survivor and learner centered,” said Pawliuk. “We’ve been very intentional in the design of this program because we wanted to ensure that what we are doing was sensitive to the needs of every learner group.”

Over the past year, approximately 133 students have participated in a total of five Consent Cafes at various schools within the District and through support from the Board of Education, Twin Rivers Education Centre (TREC) was among those hosts.

“At Twin Rivers, we identified an area of need with our students and came up with a plan to support students who have experienced sexual violence, as well as doing prevention work at the same time,” said TREC vice-principal Dyan Gunnlaugson.

“The Canadian average of self-reported sexual assault is 2% of the population, however, we know that in Canada, out of every 100 assaults that happen, only six are reported to RCMP. For Indigenous women, the sexual violence rates are up to 11 times higher,” said Gunnlaugson. “I think what’s also important to recognize is that our students aren’t necessarily the victims of this violence when they’re our student,” further explained the vice-principal. “Often, it might be that the trauma is what actually has triggered their move to alternative education [like TREC].”

“This really impacts all schools, not just ours.”

Kenzie Martin, a student who recently participated in a Consent Café, told the Board about her experience: “I feel like if we were all taught at a young age what consent is, some situations could be prevented. I already had a general knowledge of consent but I learned more about physical, sexual, and online consent at the Café. “

“[The program] works because we meet the participants where they’re at, where they’re learning, where they’re building relationships, of knowledge acquisition, and where they’re learning to navigate consent every day,” said Pawliuk.

With CommunityLINK funding and a City of Kamloops 2022 Social and Community Development Grant, the future is bright for Consent Cafés in the District: every grade 8 student will be provided the opportunity to participate in the program in the 2022/2023 school year.

For more information, email consentsafe@tru.ca.

Foundation Gifts Funds to District Scholarships and Bursaries

Fri, 21 Aug 2020 16:15:00 GMT

The BC Interior Community Foundation paid a visit to the District Office Aug. 19 to give more than $7,000 to SD73 scholarship and bursary funds.

“These funds will help us help students to connect with their future,” said Board Chair Rhonda Kershaw. “We are grateful for the work the foundation is doing, and its contribution to the quality of life in our region by building endowments, making meaningful grants and inspiring community leadership.”

“Through our strong partnership with SD73, the BCICF is able to offer students financial supports to achieve their educational ambitions,” said Robert Miller, executive director.

Board Chair Rhonda Kershaw and Secretary Treasurer Kelvin Stretch accepted the cheque from Miller and Hugh Fallis, BCICF past president.

The money is part of an annual distribution to scholarships and bursaries across the interior.

A Study of Two Exemplary Secondary Schools: Championing Social Justice Initiatives

Mon, 27 Apr 2020 20:00:00 GMT

Two district secondary schools will be the subject of a new Thompson Rivers University research study into school-wide social justice initiatives. Sa-Hali Secondary as an example of an urban school, and Chase Secondary as an example of a rural school.

The study will be led by Dr. Manu Sharma, Assistant Professor in the Faculty of Education and Social Work. She is one of 18 researchers who received the 2020 Internal Research Fund awards from TRU. The fund provides a maximum of $100,000 annually to support research.

Dr. Sharma has taught in classrooms around the world, including Japan, Tanzania, Antigua, and Germany, and most recently at the University of Wisconsin before accepting her current position at TRU in August, 2019. From her perspective, School District No. 73 is doing a great job in embracing social justice initiatives that demonstrate values of inclusion, equity and diversity.

“Schools are the heart and soul of communities and thus often carry the responsibility to respond to community concerns,” she said. “Secondary schools are important in their contributions to helping students understand diversity, not only in terms of how each student sees and understands themselves but also how a wide range of diverse identities that reflect the greater diversity in society are accepted and embraced”.

She is grateful SD73 is very active in working to identify and address social justice issues.

Dr. Sharma intends to explore Sa-Hali Secondary as an urban site because of its location, demographics, and social justice art-based initiatives alongside its other school-based social justice initiatives. Chase Secondary has been chosen as a rural site because of its location, demographics, focus on Indigenous history, culture and language initiatives and for its aims of inclusion.

She chose the two schools following an investigation of all the secondary schools in the district where she examined their websites, mission and values, school year learning plans, and other criteria including demographics and social justice based initiatives.

Her study has been delayed due to the pandemic, but she intends to begin the work in September. She hopes this research on secondary school social justice initiatives will become the basis for a wider study on a national scale, involving schools in Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver.

“The ultimate aim of this research study is to provide direction to all public schools who endeavor to be exemplary in their social justice initiatives to support their student body and our global world,” she said.

Winter concerts 2020

Thu, 03 Dec 2020 18:30:00 GMT

The spirit of the season made its way through District schools, and most shared virtual songs and performances with parents and families this year.

Some videos featured songs and choral performances. Bert Edwards Elementary performed 'The Nutcracker,' with songs. Juniper Ridge Elementary put a video together with intermediate grades called ‘Slapshot Santa.’ Vavenby Elementary shared a video featuring skits. Sun Peaks Academy offered a ’12 Days of Sun Peaks’ video. Sa-Hali Elementary, South Sa-Hali Secondary, Kamloops School of the Arts South Kamloops Secondary, and Westsyde Secondary provided a combination of band performances, songs, and in some cases, drama performances.

Links to these virtual performances were sent out to families during the last week of classes. In some cases, schools shared their links with the public, too.

Some schools deferred their winter concerts in favour of spring concerts, and a few schools stayed with seasonal in-school activities and sent best wishes to families and communities ‘in spirit.’

Here are some links from schools who were able to offer their concerts to all of us. For a great virtual school concert experience, pop some popcorn, pour some hot chocolate and enjoy! Best wishes to one and all for a truly joyful winter break and holiday season.

Aberdeen – Holiday songs and a story read by Santa - a slideshow

Dallas – K-3 Primary choral concert

Kamloops School of the Arts – Music, choral, dance

McGowan Park - School video

Sa-Hali Concert Band Holiday Concert

South Kamloops – Drama and music video

Board Performances by Students in December

'Christmas Cake' for the Board: A Performance

Connecting Through Music at home (follow the link in the story to the virtual performance)

Kamloops-Thompson School District Celebrates Kamloops Pride Week & Parade

Thu, 29 Aug 2024 15:30:00 GMT

Story provided by Chelsea Isenor, Director of Communications and Board Administration

The Kamloops-Thompson School District was honoured to participate in Kamloops Pride Week to show support for 2SLGBTQIA+ staff, students, and families. The District’s participation in Pride Week events is a testament to our commitment to the Cultural and Identity Priority in the 2022-2027 District Strategic Plan, which strives to ensure that every learner feels safe and can thrive personally.

“It was heartwarming to see teachers, staff, and students from across our District come together to celebrate diversity and support 2SLGBTQIA+ staff and students at the Kamloops Pride Parade. It is important for every student in the Kamloops-Thompson School District to feel safe, welcome, and supported to be who they are both inside and outside of our schools,” shared Superintendent Dr. Rhonda Nixon.

On the afternoon of Wednesday, August 21, 2024, District staff joined a vibrant array of community organizations at the Pride Open House, hosted at Thompson Rivers University (TRU). This event was part of a broader initiative by the City of Kamloops, bringing together various community service agencies to celebrate and raise awareness for Pride Week. Among the participating groups were Kamloops Pride, the Aboriginal Friendship Centre, Kamloops Immigrant Services, Kamloops Crime Prevention, and Kamloops Fire and Rescue/Emergency Service.

The Pride Open House was a joyous celebration of inclusivity and connection. David Thompson Elementary Principal Dyan Gunnlagson and District Principal of Safe and Caring Schools Cory Carmichael engaged with Open House attendees, sharing information about the District and distributing Pride flags and pins. The highlight of the SD73 booth was a custom button maker, where community members could create their own personalized Pride buttons.

“It is about creating a safe, caring, and well connected community where the District is a visible and participating partner who is here to support the success of all Kamloops-Thompson students and families,” shared Cory Carmichael, District Principal Safe & Caring Schools.

Kamloops Pride Week culminated in the annual Pride Parade on Sunday, August 25, 2024. Trustees, staff, teachers, administrators, and students walked together as a unified team to show that every member of our District community is valued and accepted for who they are. Students and families watching the parade excitedly waved to the teachers and school staff marching and many spectators showed their support for educators by calling out “we love teachers!”

“Participating in Pride events is an important way for us as a District to show all students that they are welcome. As we start a new school year, we are excited to continue to support students and schools in creating inclusive environments and educational experiences where everyone can thrive,” shared Michelle Mattes, Assistant Superintendent of Inclusive Education.

Thank you to everyone who joined in the Kamloops Pride activities to celebrate and champion Pride and inclusivity in the Kamloops-Thompson School District.

Kamloops-Thompson School District Joins the Kamloops Pride Parade

Mon, 28 Aug 2023 19:30:00 GMT

During Kamloops Pride Week and throughout the year, the Kamloops-Thompson School District supports LGBTQ2S+ staff, students and their families to be their authentic selves.

On Sunday, August 27 students, staff, families, and trustees joined together to march as an SD73 team in the Pride Parade to visibly show support of LGBTQ2S+ students and staff and to let them know that they are accepted and valued for who they are.

Assistant Superintendent Vessy Mochikas shared,”It was great to have a large group walking to visibly send a strong message that LGBTQ2S+ students, staff and families are welcome in our school communities as their true selves. We will continue to work with students, staff and families to make all spaces in SD73 accepting and safe spaces for everyone.”

Board Chair Heather Grieve emphasized, “As a Board, we are ensuring that our district is prioritizing and celebrating diversity at events like the Pride Parade, and every day in schools and departments.”

Trustees O’Fee and Hickson joined the team and shared how wonderful it was to see so many SD73 students, staff, and families.

Superintendent Dr. Rhonda Nixon said, “It is nice to start our school year as an SD73 team who acknowledges and champions the rights of every person to be who they are and to know that they will be welcomed, cared for, and supported in our schools.”

Thank you to everyone who could join us today, and for everyone who recognizes the importance of continuing the year by showing support for our LGBTQ2S+ staff, students, and families. You matter and you are loved in SD73.

SD73's Draft Annual Budget 2023-2024: A Summary of Allocations and Expenditures

Thu, 06 Apr 2023 22:00:00 GMT

Board Chair, Heather Grieve

On April 6, 2023, the Board of Education presented the Draft 2023-2024 Annual Budget, and how allocations were aligned to the 2022-2027 District Strategic Plan priorities.

Budget Allocations

The Board reviewed an estimated $230 Million budget comprised of three budgets: Operating Fund ($192M): The Ministry of Education and Child Care funds districts based on student enrolment and district location; Special Purpose Fund ($24.1M): The Ministry of Education and Child Care or a third party provides districts with funds for a targeted, restricted, or designated purpose; and Capital Fund ($12.7M): The Ministry of Education and Child Care provides funds for new schools, capital improvements, furniture, equipment, vehicles, buses, and playgrounds. The $7.65M increase in 2023-2024 compared to the 2022-2023 annual budget is mainly due to an increase in the per student allocation rates. In addition, there was an increase in the Ministry’s allocation for the Annual Facilities Grant (+ $750K) to maintain our facilities.

At the time of this budget presentation, the Ministry allocations did not include escalating inflationary costs (supplies, utilities) or exempt salary increases (principals, vice principals, other excluded staff positions). The pressures on the budget are: relief costs (Due to health standards changing following COVID, there is a “new” norm of doing what is right and staying home when sick); and the need for additional staff supports–mental health (counseling), administrative time, and non-enrolling teachers who support students such as Learning Assistance Resource Teachers. Therefore, the Board has included estimated costs as part of this budget that address these areas.

Budget Priorities

Intellectual Development Priority. Through an operating budget allocation of $2.8M and targeted funding of $660K we will continue to focus on professional learning and equitable access to classroom resources for all students. Particular attention will be given to student populations who have historically struggled to reach literacy and numeracy goals. Early Learning targeted special purpose funds ($464K) support strong preschool programs (e.g., Seamless Day, Just B4, StrongStart, Ready Set Learn) and a District Principal of Early Learning and Child Care. Official Languages in Education Programming targeted funds ($196K) enable our district to strengthen French Immersion students’ chances of excelling in French through quality teaching and instructional resources.

Human and Social Development Priority. In SD73, we strive to ensure that all students feel safe, welcome, connected, and that they belong in school. Through an Operating budget allocation of $3.2M, we will provide professional learning in Universal Design for Learning, social emotional, mental health, and inclusive sexual health education; and provide complex needs students with access to inclusive supports including contracted services. Highly specialized staff ranging from inclusive support teachers, mental health clinicians, second language coordinators, Aboriginal Outreach Workers, Aboriginal Support Teachers, and Aboriginal Education Workers, are foundational to the success of meeting the needs of all students.

CommunityLINK targeted funding ($1.6M) expands what can be done in schools to support social emotional learning through parent engagement and initiatives to support families such as Powerstart (i.e., children are picked up from home and taken to school and provided with breakfast). Funds also support staff to participate in Inclusive Sexual Health Education. Due to the Ministry of Education and Child Care’s decision to put a permanent nutrition fund in place, we have been able to redirect funds for food ($233K) originally budgeted in CommunityLINK to add 2.0 FTE for counseling services. On April 4, 2023, the Ministry of Education and Child Care announced this fund as the “Feeding the Futures” Fund. SD73 will receive $1.9M.

Cultural and Identity Development Priority. Through an operating budget allocation of $646K and the Aboriginal Education Targeted Fund ($5.3M), SD73 prioritizes human rights education to enable every student to thrive personally and culturally, and to learn in an environment free of racism, discrimination, sexism, harassment, and homophobia. The strategies to meet these goals are to continue with large-scale, team-based professional learning and to take an active part in cultural days of importance as well as working with student groups to understand their experiences of barriers to achieving this priority. We will continue to recruit language teachers and to focus on the recruitment of Aboriginal Education Workers.

Career Development Priority. Through an operating fund allocation of $1.3M for trades and transitions, career education, and high school completion support, we sustain strong high school graduation rates and post-secondary transition rates. We will continue to allocate funds to district and school staffing that will support students to complete high school and to have timely academic advising to identify post-secondary options. Through an operating fund allocation of $5.1M for the International Student Education Program with a net amount of $280K annually, we ensure that International students thrive academically, socially, emotionally, and culturally. We will continue to provide positive homestay experiences and robust activity programming.

Systems Development Priority. Several departments including Finance, Transportation, Facilities, Information Technology, Communications and Human Resources are part of this priority. We aim to allocate resources responsibly, fairly and sustainably to ensure students improve continuously within our educational system. Our goals are to recruit hard-to-fill positions in a very competitive market; to develop timely and high quality training, coaching and professional development programs for all employee groups; to maintain facilities and buses; to optimize transportation routes; to ensure that we have optimal spaces (facilities, Internet, and video conference access) for learning and working; and to source parts and services to meet the timelines and needs of the District along with management of unpredictable inflationary costs.

The allocation for facilities which includes facility maintenance, information technology and grounds have a combined staffing and benefit budget of $16.6M for 210 employees which includes administration. clerical, trades, grounds, custodians and information technologists. Within both the Special Purpose Fund and the Capital Fund, the District receives an Annual Facility Grant $702K within Special Purpose and $3.69 Million within the Capital Fund. The Annual Facility Grant Spending plan includes roofing repairs, improvements to walkways and play spaces, new rollshutters and window packages, flooring, sprinklers, to name a few examples. We are pleased with the Ministry’s increase of $735K in additional funding in Annual Facility Grant.

The allocation for the Transportation Department is $5.26M for staffing and $1.98M Supplies and Services, which includes administration and professional development, and supports such as bus passes for students and transportation assistance. The transportation special purpose fund, the BC Tripartite Education Agreement ($182K), is an agreement between the Province of British Columbia, These funds support a contracted bus route, parent transportation and extra curricular activities.

In the Finance Department, including payroll and purchasing, $1.48M has been allocated for staffing and benefits, $37K for professional development, $541K for School Protection Plan Insurance, facility leases, and contracted services, $42K in administrative expenses $42K, and $110K for a shared audit, legal and office expenses. The Communication and Education Department is allocated $997K for salaries and benefits, dues and fees, administration, shared audit, legal, and office costs, a website and events and advertising allocation.

Budget Costs

The budget costs considered in the 2023-2024 budget include: Increase in Elementary Prep Time $331K), additional administrative time for schools ($161K), future capital projects ($250K), local capital ($500K), utility inflationary costs ($73K), re-opening of George Hilliard ($333 K), Grade reconfiguration/relocation costs ($418K), McGowan facility/staffing if enrolment increases ($100,000), Wechsler Individual Achievement Test ($30K), four (4) portable classrooms ($35K), District Employee Engagement Survey ($20K), Website rebranding ($80K). The costs that are additional and not yet considered in the Draft 2023-2024 Annual Budget: additional Learning Assistant Resource Teacher time, inflationary costs, tech software, Facilities/IT/Finance/HR staffing, and additional capital replacement costs ($2.2M).

Please review the Draft 2023-2024 Annual Budget at sd73.bc.ca and offer your feedback at budgetfeedback@sd73.bc.ca by April 18, 2023.

Superintendent's Update

Mon, 20 Jun 2022 15:15:00 GMT

Dear Parents and Caregivers:

Congratulations to all staff who were recognized for giving 5 through to 40 years of service at the District Employee Recognition Reception on June 16, 2022. Thank you for making a positive difference in the lives of students, families, and staff.

Summit Elementary School

Principal Justin deVries and I started in kindergarten, where students were making paper doll houses and digging up plastic bones. Next, we met grade 1 students who were “reading around the room” and grade 4 students who were learning how to create wooden projects. Grade 2 students were composing bio-poems and grade 3s were reading “Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing”. Grade 2s and 3s had just finished listening to “Planting a Rainbow” and were creating their own rainbow pictures. Grade 6 and 7 had designed projects to involve students in learning the skeletal system. Mr. deVries shared, “At Summit, we see diversity as a resource- welcoming new friends, learning about different cultures, and negotiating different points of view in restorative circles.” He added, “I can truly say that this is a welcoming culture.”

McGowan Park Elementary School

Principal Sally Zryd, Vice Principal Jeanine Wourms, and I started in the District Resource Room where we met a student who communicated using text-to-speech software. In Kindergarten, students were painting scenes with frogs while in the K/1 students were playing a counting game. Grade 2s were learning how to tell time, and grade 3s sang a secret song as a surprise for grade 7 students. Grade 5 students applied several techniques to divide numbers, and grade 4 students studied fractions. Grade 3/4 were writing Father’s Day letters. Grade 7s were building things and sharing their marketing techniques for selling self-created products, and grade 6s were finishing a unit on triangles. Ms. Zryd said, ”It has been so nice to celebrate together and see what students are learning and creating to end the year.”

Kamloops School of the Arts: Enchanted Earth Artifact Gallery of Learning

I had the pleasure of visiting with Principal Blair Lloyd, Vice Principal Jayne Latta, and Ms. Melanie Gilmar who was the lead on this project. KSA received a grant used to hire an artist who supported grades 8-12 to represent their learning about curricular concepts through photography, drawing, painting, sculpture, dance, writing, and mathematical representations in imaginary worlds (sea, sky, earth, underground, ice). From June 15-22, you can arrange to visit Kamloops School of the Arts gallery of artifacts To organize a personal tour, please contact
Ms.Gilmar at: mgilmar@sd73.bc.ca

First Steps Recognition

Thank you to Principal Cory Carmichael and Vice Principal Dyan Gunnlaugson for hosting this event to recognize the successes of students who had made ribbon skirts and drums to participate in Aboriginal ceremonies. Thank you to Program Coordinator Tonia Gillespie and First Steps Teacher Cheyenne Kennedy for their excellent program leadership. Thank you to Bernice Jensen for leading the honour song and Aboriginal Youth and Family Consultant Amanda Big Sorrel Horse and Elder Geri Thomas for offering us prayer through a welcome smudge. Thank you to our maintenance staff for beautifying the environment. This wonderful event illuminated what it means to be walking together on this journey toward Truth and Reconciliation.

SD73 Graduation

Graduations continue throughout the District for the next week. In total, 15 ceremonies will be held for 1,100 students. We appreciate and celebrate each unique group of graduates. Send a greeting to the Class of 2022.

Communicable Disease Prevention Plan

We continue to emphasize the practice of daily health awareness strategies – staying home when sick, practicing good hand hygiene and respiratory etiquette, and making choices about wearing masks – see our District’s Communicable Disease Prevention Plan for more information.

Thank you for continuing to learn, work, and celebrate together in the month of June. Enjoy your weekend with family and friends.

Rhonda Nixon, PhD
Superintendent

Safer School Streets - Week One Success at Arthur Hatton Elementary School

Fri, 02 Jun 2023 20:15:00 GMT

Mike Johnson, Principal of Arthur Hatton Elementary School, is thanking parents, students, and staff for working together to make the first week of this pilot a success.

The pilot has been a temporary closure of roads near the school to inspire students and their families to walk, ride, and roll to school from 7:45-8:45 am every morning and from 2:00-3:00 pm every afternoon from May 29 - June 9. As of Monday, June 5, 2023, they are making a small change based on feedback. To ease the pressure on drivers, the time of the road barriers will be from 2:20 pm instead of 2:00 pm every day starting on Monday, June 5, 2023. Thank you for your feedback so quickly to enable us to make this change.

Students have been enjoying walking, biking, and rolling to school, as well playing games. They gather for water and a chance to win a prize at the celebration station. Parents have been coming to school with their children, and friends have been enjoying this time together.

To share how it has been going, Mike Johnson shared that on Friday, June 2, 2023, he met with Ying, ATS Lane Change Technician, who was controlling the barrier at Holly to Schubert. When he asked him how the parents and drivers who see the barrier are responding to the pilot, Ying said, “I think it is going well because on the weekend before we started, I went door-to-door and told residents about the plan and offered them blueberries and homemade bannock.”

He found that once the drivers see students playing hockey and other games on Schubert Drive, they realize that the students are having fun, and they turn around. I think that playing hockey on the street has been a game-changer.

Dr.Trent Smith, who had introduced the idea for the pilot program, was there today, and he shared, “I am so happy to see students walking, biking, rolling, and playing. It is all about increasing activity and social time for families, students, and staff.”

Spencer Behn, Transportation Engineer, for the City of Kamloops, was also at the site to see everything in action, shared, “I am looking forward to seeing how traffic patterns around Arthur Hatton change due to the reduction in students being driven to school.”

Thank you to all families for taking part in this pilot project. At the end of two weeks, we will be asking for feedback from you on how it went.

Fall into Winter at the Advanced Strings concert

Fri, 22 Nov 2019 23:45:00 GMT

Fall into Winter, the Advanced Strings concert, will showcase two string ensembles, the SD73 Advanced Strings ensemble directed by Kate Zahir, and the SD73 Orchestra led by Steve Weisgerber.

“These students meet either after school or in the evening to rehearse together,” said Christy Gauley, SD73 arts education coordinator. “They have played in our beginner and intermediate itinerant strings classes with Kate Zahir, and they have chosen to continue to learn in an ensemble setting in their later high school years.”

Gauley said each year, over 150 students in grades four through seven choose to learn violin, viola, or cello with the District’s beginning strings ensembles.

“Kate travels all over the district to ensure that students have the opportunity to learn the valuable skills of playing in a music ensemble. In middle and high school, students come from all over the district including Barriere and Sun Peaks to play with each other and learn higher level music in the after-school and evening ensembles.”

The SD73 orchestra is often invited to perform at community functions and this season will also appear as guest performers in the Thompson Valley Orchestra’s Christmas at the Movies.

The concert Fall into Winter will take place downtown at St Andrews on the Square, 159 Seymour Street, beginning at 7 pm. Admission is by donation and all are welcome!

Westmount Elementary Fire Update

Sun, 26 Oct 2025 16:45:00 GMT

Updated October 26, 2025 at 1:40 pm

There was a fire at Westmount Elementary early the morning of Sunday, October 26, 2025. Thanks to the rapid response from our partners at Kamloops Fire Rescue, the fire has been extinguished.

Kamloops Fire Rescue and the RCMP are currently investigating this incident and District staff are working with the Fire Inspector to determine the extent of the damage and to initiate remediation.

Westmount Elementary School is closed until further notice and there will be no access to the school for several weeks.

As a result, Westmount students will not be in session tomorrow, Monday, October 27, 2025, as District and school staff make a transition and relocation plan for students. Westmount parents have been asked to make alternate arrangements for the supervision of their children tomorrow.

Westmount students will be relocated to a nearby school and return to class on Tuesday, October 28, 2025. An update will be sent to staff and parents by tomorrow afternoon (Monday, October 27, 2025) with further details on the next steps for the transition and relocation plans, including updates on transportation and supports for students.

Further updates about Westmount Elementary School will be shared as they become available in the coming days and weeks.

NorKam Senior Secondary's Robotics Program is Supported by a Grant from New Gold Inc.

Tue, 22 Aug 2023 18:45:00 GMT

Robotics programming furthers our District mission to provide students with learning opportunities and environments which inspire them to thrive. We are excited to share the story of NorKam Senior Secondary’s grant supporting the robotics program.

On August 22, 2023, NorKam Senior Secondary’s Technology Teacher, Dewald van der Merwe, received an $8,060 cheque from New Gold Inc. which will support the students’ robotics program. This funding was secured through NorKam’s successful application to New Gold Inc.’s Community Investment Program.

Dewald explained, “This funding will significantly enhance our students' learning experiences and open up exciting opportunities in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics(STEM).”

Specifically, this donation from New Gold Inc. will enable Dewald to acquire a comprehensive set of VEX robotics kits designed for a classroom setting, accommodating 18-22 students per session. These cutting-edge kits open doors for students with no prior robotics experience to effortlessly construct their inaugural robot. The kits boast a diverse array of supplementary components, granting students the creative freedom to manifest their imaginative concepts as they embark on their learning journey.

Among the intriguing classroom activities, a standout challenge calls students to engineer autonomous bots reminiscent of those found within Amazon's warehouses. These ingenious creations are tasked with mastering package retrieval and precise delivery to predetermined destinations. The important parts of these activities lies in nurturing design principles, compelling students to delve into problem analysis, conceptualize solutions, meticulously plan and prototype, rigorously test their creations, refine designs, and subject prototypes to iterative testing. This rigorous regimen mirrors the essential processes involved with encompassing design, engineering, science, and technology, thus fostering invaluable skills for students.

Integral to this endeavor is the pivotal role of coding. The fusion of coding and robotics is the anchor allowing these robots to exercise their intended functionalities.Without the critical lines of code, the envisioned operations would remain unrealized. This synthesis of hands-on construction and coding mastery cultivates a skill set with far-reaching implications. Students are primed for an array of STEM careers, spanning software, electrical, and mechanical engineering, computer science, medical technology, and a myriad of other enticing pathways.

In the 2022-2027 District Strategic Plan, one priority is Intellectual Development– to further students’ educational opportunities to strengthen literacy and numeracy, and their competencies such as critical thinking, collaboration, and innovation, which are needed for them to further their careers in STEM (Science Technology, Engineering, Mathematics). Robotics programming is foundational to STEM education, and this funding will serve to support educators to empower our young minds to thrive in an ever-evolving world.

Young Authors' Conference Inspires the Next Generation of Storytellers

Thu, 08 May 2025 17:30:00 GMT

Story provided by Chelsea Isenor, Director of Communications and Board Administration

As part of the 2022–2027 District Strategic Plan, the Kamloops-Thompson School District remains committed to fostering foundational literacy and nurturing a passion for multiliteracies, including reading, writing, and artistic expression. One of the flagship events that supports this goal is the annual Young Authors’ Conference.

Now in its 46th year, the Young Authors’ Conference is a beloved tradition that connects passionate young writers with published authors, offering them learning experiences, mentorship, and inspiration.

The 2025 Young Authors’ Conference launched on Friday, February 14 with the virtual event, ‘For the Love of Writing’. This online kickoff brought together elementary and secondary students across the District for interactive Zoom workshops on comedic writing, character building, horror writing, crafting the unexpected, and more. These engaging sessions helped students tap into their creative voices in a fun and accessible format and ultimately prepared them to create their stories to submit to this year’s conference.

On Friday, May 2, 2025, the excitement continued in person as 350 students from Grades 4–12 gathered at Thompson Rivers University for the main conference day filled with interactive and engaging workshops. This year’s lineup of workshop leaders featured acclaimed authors and facilitators such as Lee Edward Fodi, Kel-c Jules, James McCann, Tamara Vukusic, Andrew Buckley, Marty Chan, Tanya Lloyd Kyi, Emily Seo, Sean Campbell, Finnian Burnett, kc dyer, and Miranda Krogstad. Workshop topics ranged from building strong characters and plot twists, to integrating music and memory in writing, crafting compelling murder mysteries, and exploring storytelling through acting.

The impact on student learning was evident throughout the day. Participants left energized and equipped with new techniques and creative tools. Here’s what some of them had to say:

Erin (Grade 10, Sa-Hali Secondary): “I like that I interacted personally with professional writers. I also like how positive Finnian was. They were very complimentary and supportive when we were sharing our writing.”
Grady (Grade 5, AE Perry Elementary): “The authors are exciting. They write fun stories and make it even funner in workshops.”
Magoli (Grade 7, Marion Schilling Elementary): “Marty helped us make our stories more interesting and better. He taught us HACK, which means to think about a character's hope, ambition, conflict, and key to unlocking their problem.”
Angel (Grade 7, Marion Schilling Elementary): “I enjoyed two truths and a lie with Marty Chan. It was about how to make something fictional believable.”
Eva (Grade 5, RLC Elementary): “I like how the conference is open to people and it's about learning new things. It's a massive opportunity to learn new writing techniques.”
Maebh (Grade 4, RLC Elementary): “I learned you can listen to music and you can think of a memory and turn it into a book.”

In addition to the workshops, the Marg Van Dusen Awards celebrated outstanding student writing. This year saw an increase in Honourable Mentions, highlighting the growing quality of submissions across grade levels.

This year’s recipient of the Marg Van Dusen Elementary Award was Emelia Willson (Grade 7, Juniper Ridge Elementary) for her work, Until the End. When asked about her Young Authors experience, Emelia shared, “It was really fun getting to experience all the different ways of writing. I learned that the more emotions that you give your characters, the more people will connect with them. Winning this award was one of the best moments of my life.”

Students who earned Honourable Mentions in the Elementary division included:

Sofia Martin (Grade 4, Ralph Bell Elementary): “The Fire” and “The Lockdown”
Alora Roszmann (Grade 4, Rayleigh Elementary): The Apple Tree (The Beginning Excerpt)
Rebecca Abate (Grade 5, Aberdeen Elementary): Declined
Joel Key (Grade 5, St. Ann’s Academy): The Ancient Beast of Tokyo
Ariya Dhaliwal (Grade 6, AE Perry Elementary): Rani’s New Beginning
Brooklyn Waight (Grade 6, South Sa-Hali Elementary): The Tales of Kiki and Nakobi
Elliette Brookes (Grade 7, South Sa-Hali Elementary): The Secret Six

This year’s recipient of the Marg Van Dusen Secondary Award was Ashlee Crawford (Grade 12, Westsyde Secondary) for her work, Alike. Ashlee, who has been attending the Young Authors Conference since Grade 4 and also won the Marg Van Dusen Award last year, shared, “This is a really big part of the year for me because I love to write. I'm actually going to be publishing my first book this year which is really exciting. I love coming to Young Authors to meet new, like-minded people and to meet experienced authors and learn more about how to write, compare my writing to others, and get good feedback. It is a great experience and you get to meet lots of new people and learn lots of new things.”

Students who earned Honourable Mentions in the Secondary division included:

Chichi McDonald (Grade 8, South Kamloops Secondary): Fleeting Shadows
Irene Ogbuehi (Grade 8, Brocklehurst Secondary): The Dandelion
Jaylan Mueck (Grade 9, Brocklehurst Secondary): The Shadow Beast
Kaitlyn Turner (Grade 9, Kamloops Christian School): A Beautiful Day
Asher Earle (Grade 10, Westsyde Secondary): And We’re Live
Chace McLellan (Grade 10, Sa-Hali Secondary): Lost in the Flood
Ava Rieger (Grade 11, South Kamloops Secondary): Serpentis Invitus
Emma Rugolo (Grade 11, St. Ann’s Academy): Crimson Tears
Jocelyn Hagan (Grade 12, Valleyview Secondary): Child of the Lamb
Heather Hebert (Grade 12, Kamloops Christian School): Above

As these students return to their schools, they carry not only new writing tools and ideas, but also the confidence that their words matter—and that their stories deserve to be told.

SD73's English Language Learners Continue to Grow and Thrive in Our Schools

Fri, 25 Nov 2022 22:15:00 GMT

In our 2022-2027 District Strategic Plan, our district mission is to support learning opportunities and environments to inspire students to thrive. As a District English Language Learner Services team, we are committed to welcoming students whose language is not English into caring, inclusive learning communities that inspire risk-taking and growth in English language learning.

This year, we have welcomed over 150 new English language learners in our school communities for a total of 330 English language learners in our district. Overall, we have seen an increase of 80 ELL students from last year.

“It is vital to students who are learning English to make connections between their home language and English, and between cultural traditions in our school communities and their families,” explained Becky Webb, a District ELL Resource Teacher.

Our District’s ELL services enable students in K-12, whose primary language(s) in the home is not English, to develop their potential within British Columbia’s school system. Students’ backgrounds are diverse. Some are born in Canada, some are children of parents on work or student visas, some are permanent residents, and some are refugees. There are more than 60 home languages in our district.

Recently, the district has welcomed many students and their families from Ukraine. The school settlement workers from Kamloops Immigrant Services are working closely with the schools and ELL resource teachers to support the families and help them adjust to their new environments.

At a recent ELL gathering at the Henry Grube Education Centre, secondary students from Ukraine were asked about their experiences in our school system. Here is what they shared:

“In Ukraine, we don’t get to pick our schedules and we have to study all the courses. Here, we like being able to pick our classes and try new subjects, like Foods. It’s difficult learning new words, but we understand more English every day. We’ve made new friends from other parts of Ukraine. Everyone is friendly.”

Some Syrian refugees within SD73 have been in Kamloops for more than five years. Many of these students are now in middle school and high school. It was a huge adjustment for them their first year here in Kamloops; having to leave their families, friends, and life in Syria; having to deal with the trauma from the horrible events taking place in their country, and then having to learn English and understand and become accustomed to Canadian culture and customs. They continue to make progress and experience success in their education and community.

In SD73, we advocate for the inclusion of ELL students in their school community by fostering universal teaching strategies, cultural awareness, and linguistic proficiency. We encourage students and families to maintain their home language and share their culture and language with the school. Inter-school group activities occur throughout the school year. They offer students the opportunity to celebrate cultural and linguistic diversity and create new friendships and connections.

Please visit mySD73 > ELL for more information. (Staff website)

Please visit sd73.bc.ca/ell for more information. (Public website)

Superintendent's Update

Fri, 02 Jun 2023 23:00:00 GMT

Dear Parents and Caregivers:

In June, we enjoy taking part in student and staff celebrations, recognition and awards events, and graduations. As we plan, prepare, and live these important life moments, we are living our core commitments of relationships/connections, wellbeing, sustainability, and equity in our 2022-2027 District Strategic Plan. Equity (value) and love (Grandfather Teaching) is a focus in June.

Safer School Streets - Week One is a Big Success

Mike Johnson, Principal of Arthur Hatton Elementary School, is thanking parents, students, and staff for working together to make the first week of this pilot a success. The pilot has been a temporary closure of roads near the school to inspire students and their families to walk, ride, and roll to school from 7:45-8:45 am every morning and from 2:00-3:00 pm every afternoon from May 29- June 9. As of Monday, June 5, 2023, they are making a small change based on feedback. To ease the pressure on families, the time of the road barriers will be from 2:20 pm instead of 2:00 pm every day starting on Monday, June 5, 2023. Thank you for your feedback so quickly to enable us to make this change.

To share how it has been going, Mike Johnson met with Ying, ATS Lane Change Technician, who was controlling the barrier at Holly to Schubert. When he asked him how the parents and drivers who see the barrier are responding to the pilot, Ying said, “I think it is going well because on the weekend before we started, I went door-to-door and told residents about the plan and offered them blueberries and homemade bannock.” Read more.

KSA’s First Annual Student-led Plant Sale

When I heard about the excitement of School Board staff about how the plant sale run by Gr. 4-5 KSA students was an educationally rich experience and “worth stopping to see to be inspired”, I went over at just about 3:15 pm on May 31, 2023. Although I had just missed the sale, I met Mrs. Claire Covington who led this project. She shared her passion for plants and how she had invested in a cross-grade plant growing project with high school leadership classes. Mrs. Covington explained:

Thirteen elementary classes and our high school leadership class grew plants in greenhouses in their classrooms including: tomatoes, peppers, beans, basil, marigolds, kale and more. Some of the plants were grown from seeds we saved in the fall. Students in my class (Mrs. CJ) then ran a two day plant sale, promoting, sharing their knowledge, helping customers and using lots of math skills to sell the plants. The money will be reinvested into the plant program to hopefully gain more success next year. Read more.

Secondary Battle of the Books Reboot

SD73 secondary “Battle Books” are largely chosen by the students themselves, and represent a diverse range of perspectives, authors, and genres. This year’s list consisted of more than ten titles. Some students read all of the books, while others only read one or two. Students took part in varied games planned by District Literacy Coordinator, Mike Carson. Throughout the day, students participated in a series of literary challenges designed to test their knowledge, creativity, and teamwork, including a Book Pitch Competition, three grueling rounds of Jeopardy, and an intellectually demanding Loose Parts design contest. Read more.

SD73 Sagebrush Book Awards Reader's Choice/Reading Motivation Program

Literacy is part of the Intellectual Development Priority of the 2022-2027 District Strategic Plan. To inspire students to share their love of reading and to have fun together, we have the Sagebrush Book Award Program in which elementary students have taken part in voting for their favorite texts. Andrea Wallin, District Library Coordinator, has written an article with this year’s winners. Read more.

Congratulations SD73 Students Who Took Part in the 2023 Gauss Math Contest and Team Challenge

Numeracy is a key priority in the District Strategic Plan. The District Numeracy team (District Numeracy Coordinator Monica Bergeron and Numeracy Resource Teacher, Cynthia Morrow) was proud to host 46 students from 12 schools in SD73 on May 17, 2023, who took part in the Grade 7 Gauss math contest and Team Challenge Day. The Gauss math contest is a national math contest developed by the Center for Education in Mathematics and Computing at the University of Waterloo.

The top scoring students were:

1st place Mohamed Nahle from South Sa-Hali Elementary with a score of 136

2nd place Finn Morgan from Marion Schilling Elementary with a score of 124

3rd place Tie between Johan Campsall from Lloyd George Elementary and Lucas Lee from McGowan Park Elementary each with scores of 120. Read more.

Congratulations to SD73 Skills Canada Competitors

In the School District 73 Strategic Plan Priorities, the Career Education team has committed to prepare students to reach their career and occupational objectives, and graduate, knowing who they are, and having plans for who they aim to become through their career pathway.

Two shining examples of this work in Career Education are Nolan Ilic (NorKam Senior Secondary) and Logan Jones (Barriere Secondary). In the week of May 23^rd Nolan and Logan were competing at the Skills Canada Nationals in Winnipeg, where Nolan earned a gold medal in Secondary Welding, and Logan earned a silver medal in Secondary Carpentry. Clearwater Secondary graduate Matthew Lavigne (grad 2022) also earned a Silver Medal in Post Secondary Carpentry. Nolan and Logan have worked diligently to develop knowledge and skills in their chosen trade. Read more.

Graduations

We have started with a week of wonderful graduation ceremonies at Twin Rivers Education Centre (May 29), Four Directions (May 30), and Continuing Education (May 31) this week. Thank you to Principal Michelle Mattes and Vice Principal Dyan Gunnlaugson and the graduation committees for planning, organizing, and supporting these events, which have been so well received by students, families, staff, trustees, and community members this past week.

Pride Month

In the District Strategic Plan, Cultural and Identity Development is a priority, and the goal is to ensure that every individual is welcomed, feels connected and that they belong and are included in our SD73 community. Diversity is celebrated and acknowledged as a strength and during June, we support students and staff who identify as LGBTQ+ or non-binary and we stand together with you to be treated with dignity, respect, care, and love.

Thank you to everyone who is taking the time to plan, coordinate, and celebrate these important life moments. I hope that you continue into the weekend with time together to enjoy family and friends.

Rhonda Nixon, PhD

Superintendent

Superintendent's Update

Sat, 01 Mar 2025 00:30:00 GMT

Dear Parents and Caregivers:

It is hard to believe that we are near the end of February and very close to Spring Break. Thank you for continuing to invest in learning and extracurricular activities including team sports, all of which enrich students’ lives by enacting our core values of Relationships/Connections and Well-being in the 2022-2027 District Strategic Plan.

Continuing Education: Street School – February 26, 2025

On Wednesday, I visited the Street School staff who are part of Continuing Education. Street School is located at Northills Mall.

This programming is for adults (18 years or older) who are out of secondary school and who require upgrading or courses to complete the Adult Dogwood Diploma.

When I walked into the school, there were four students working on various projects, and while I was there, I learned about the best aspects of this programming from the staff: school principal Mike Johnson, teachers Erika Dabner and Jason Karpuk, and Literacy Outreach Worker Jennifer Miller.

I met Mr. Karpuk at First Steps last year where he taught mathematics (fractions, proportions, how to calculate the best deals) through a food program that required the life skills of planning, shopping, cooking, and preparing meals for themselves and small groups. Mr. Karpuk said, “What I enjoyed most about programming at First Steps was supporting students to develop skills that applied in everyday life.” I asked Mr. Karpuk what he teaches at Street School, and he shared, “Sciences and Math, but in reality, I teach anything students need. I ensure that they can graduate because that is why they come here.”

Mr. Johnson explained how Continuing Education is about supporting individuals at different points in their learning journey with choices including Street School (in person learning at Northhills Mall), First Steps (for young mothers), Kamloops Regional Corrections Centre (for those who are incarcerated), Vision Quest (Treatment Centre), Mustard Seed and Maverick (recovery housing)

Mr. Johnson shared, “It is often the case that we see students in different locations for different reasons, and the goal is to find the right pathway for personal success.”

He explained the importance of the outreach worker position to enable personalized support for some students. Amy Hilton is the Outreach Programs teacher and she works at the Mustard Seed and Maverick to provide schooling to students in their recovery journey.

I met with Ms. Jennifer Miller, Literacy Outreach Worker, who works as part of the Outreach team. She has only been in her role for two weeks, and she emphasized, “Already, I feel like I am making a difference, and I love my work.” Jennifer can bring students their assignments, and connect these students to services such as counseling, housing, and food security. She shared a story of one student who walked into the Street School campus near closing time. She was a student who teacher Erika Dabner had known years ago, and now, at the age of sixty-five, this student was ready to commit to graduation. This is a student who had struggled with addictions, who had lost her mother at a young age, who was searching for meaning, and chose to come back to Street School, a place of “care and safety for her.”

Erika Dabner, who has been at Street School for more than a decade, confirmed that it is “stories like these where students come back because they feel connected and safe at Street School that make the job so rewarding.” She said, “It is a combination of the supportive and logistical things that we do for students to help them to see a way to graduate.” She stated how outlining what they can get credit for and how this would get them a certain distance to their goal of having a certain job makes all of the difference to them.

Erika reinforced, “The first conversation is so important because not only can we provide the logistical support, we can also connect them to community services through Jennifer.” These services range from counselling, housing, food security, and activities to develop friendships. This is the support side of what we can provide, and it gives students hope.

Mr. Johnson added, “It is also the fact that once students register, we check in and expect them to attend in person. We are not an online school and this surprises some students.” Street School students are expected to learn at the centre, in person, and by paper. After learning about students’ stories who have attended Street School, most students confirmed that they need these clear boundaries to succeed. Erika added, “We use phone, text, and email contact, too, but we prefer when they connect with us in person. It is the connection with adults who care and other students that increases resilience and ultimately, their success.”

Pink Shirt Day – February 26, 2025

On Wednesday, February 26, 2025, students and staff across the District celebrated Pink Shirt Day with school assemblies, displays promoting kindness, healthy relationships lessons, and by wearing pink shirts.

This year’s SD73 Pink Shirt was designed by KSA student Sylas Pretula (in picture). Sylas’ love of art, nature, and bees inspired the design centered around the message “When You Can Be Anything Bee Kind.” After designing the pink shirt artwork using a sketchbook drawing app, Sylas commented, “I never thought I would see any of my digital art on something real, especially out in the school district, I think that's really cool and I’m excited to see it around.” Read more.

Parent Engagement Session: TRU Education and Skills Training Program

Next week’s Parent Engagement Session is about the Education and Skills Training (ESTR) program and Thompson Rivers University (TRU) – a program that provides knowledge about future employment opportunities and training in a specific area for people who are neurodivergent. Join us on Wednesday, March 5, 2025, from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM on Zoom to learn more. Read more.

I wish you a relaxing and enjoyable weekend.

Rhonda Nixon, PhD
Superintendent

Sagebrush Theatre closed for urgent safety repairs

Fri, 15 Feb 2019 20:30:00 GMT

School District 73, the City of Kamloops and Western Canada Theatre regretfully announce the immediate, temporary closure of the Sagebrush Theatre for urgently-needed building repairs.

During a routine technical setup, a serious structural issue was discovered in the roof of the audience chamber that requires immediate attention. At the present time, the facility may not be occupied. Engineers are investigating and we do not yet have a timeline for the resolution of this situation.

Western Canada Theatre, as manager of the facility, will be in contact with event promoters & local clients, to make appropriate arrangements for their events.

Ticket holders to events at the Sagebrush Theatre will be contacted by the Kamloops Live! Box Office (KL!BO) in the coming days regarding alternate arrangements once they are known. At this time we would ask that ticket-holders refrain from contacting the box office until after the KL!BO sends direct communication regarding events in question.

Superintendent's Update

Fri, 05 Apr 2024 23:30:00 GMT

Dear Parents and Caregivers:

Welcome back from Spring Break–seeing family, spending time with friends, working on home-based projects, continuing work in quieter spaces or a combination of activities. In the District Strategic Plan, a core value commitment is wellbeing– physical, social, mental, emotional, and environmental dimensions. The month of April is focused on sharing stories about wellbeing and the value and Grandfather Teaching, Humility.

Marion Schilling Elementary School

Principal Piggin and I started our school visit talking with Ms. Dickens, Administrative Assistant, about the importance of food programs in school. Through the Feeding Futures funding, students will benefit from meals programs cooked within the school in a new kitchen that will become a multi-purpose room for art and science projects and other activities.

We started in the gym to see Grades 3-4-5 engaged in ‘Active Kids’ formerly known as BOKS (Building Our Students’ Success) daily physical activities program for Grades 3-7. The students were engaged in small group games, and I learned that they also play a variety of games including “exercise bingo”. Ms. Piggin shared, “They love it and it is like a ‘soft start’ for older students to get energized and regulated by exercising and being together, which supports them to be focused.”

The same “soft start” was evident in Ms. Patton’s Gr. 1 class. They were making friendship bracelets at one table, playing with pattern blocks, lego, and one student was painting. In Kindergarten, Ms. Bos was reviewing with students what they had learned about the Shuswap. We stopped into Ms. Moroz’s Gr. 2-3 class, and she was on prep and shared what she loved about teaching primary students. Ms. Tracy Thomas, Aboriginal Language Teacher, took time to share what she was excited to do for the Day of Sucwentwe?cw, which they have been working towards through various learning activities through the week. The Gr. 6 and 7 students will be leading a school gathering tomorrow to engage in singing and drumming together with the other students. Ms. Thomas also works at South Kamloops Secondary School, and she shared a brief video that is part of a series that they had made with secondary students about traditional stories and practices.

Ms. Torbohm, English as a Second Language teacher, was leading a language game with three students whose first language was Spanish. The students said that they were having a good day and enjoyed this time learning English together. Ms. Anderson was with Mr. Evans class, and they were playing a game of finding a certain object hidden in the library. We then met with Ms. Flinn, one of the Learning Assistance Resource Teachers, and she shared the visual timelines used with students and described the success that they were having with providing structured breaks with rich decompression activities. She also described how they had established a differentiated reading group time where all students in primary grades read at their instructional reading level in different groups three times per week. They have witnessed excellent progress in reading through this strategy.

Ms. Bauer’s Strong Start program was busy with Grandparent Thursday spending time with their preschool grandchildren. A few grandparents explained how this is a valuable time to play and get to know how children interact and gain a comfort with being in the school prior to Kindergarten.

Mr. Bell was in his room and it was the start of recess. He showed us clips that his students designed and printed using a 3D printer. The clips had numbers engraved in them and the clips were easily removed from the table. We then met with Mr. Desaulniers’ Gr. 3 class, and a small group of students (Gabe, James, Sofia) shared that they were trying to beat a Guinness World Record by building the largest circle made of math link cubes. They were very proud of how their circle was progressing.

Acknowledging the Kamloops-Thompson Day of Sucwentwe?cw 2024

The Kamloops-Thompson Board of Education and the Aboriginal Education Council with representatives of seven Secwepemc First Nations and Métis Nations communities articulated the Cultural Identity Priority In the 2022-2027 District Strategic Plan. The purpose is to ensure that every student is welcomed, sees themselves in school and district environments, and feels cared for, and has a sense of belonging in schools. Read more.

Cariboo-Mainline Regional Science Fair

In the 2022-2027 District Strategic Plan, Intellectual Development Priority, we create learning opportunities and environments in which students develop their critical and creative thinking as well as their literacies in different disciplines, including Science. One way that we encourage the sharing of students’ learning is through an annual science fair. The Cariboo-Mainline Regional Science Fair was held at Thompson Rivers University on Tuesday April 2 and Wednesday April 3. This fair happens annually, and the top science projects from elementary and high schools from around the region are submitted for judging and students can receive awards ranging from books, medals, trophies and monetary or a combination of the same. In total, over $8000 dollars of provincial cash prizes and scholarships were given away. Read more.

District Parent Advisory Council

It is time for PAC’s to apply for their gaming grants for next year. Applications are open from April 1^st to June 30 and the details can be found here:

https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/sports-culture/gambling-fundraising/gaming-grants/pac-dpac-grants

If PAC’s would like some help to apply they should reach out to DPAC at: sd73dpac@gmail.com for support. Late applications are unlikely to be approved. This grant provides $20 per student to Parent Advisory Councils and can make a big difference to students and schools.

Budget Consultation

SD73 budget consultation for the public to watch live on YouTube is on April 10, 2024 at 7:00 pm., and more information is available here.

Rhonda Nixon, PhD

Superintendent

Board Notes from May 10, 2021

Tue, 11 May 2021 21:30:00 GMT

From the regular meeting of the Board of Education. All about English Language Learners, Catchment Boundaries review, and new Secretary-Treasurer appointed. Read Board Notes here.

Science Fair Season is here

Fri, 21 Feb 2020 19:45:00 GMT

Students across the district are working through science projects, getting ready to show off their learning over the next few weeks. They will be aiming to represent their schools at the Cariboo Mainline Regional Science Fair (CMRSF), April 7-9. Registration continues until March 13. This year, it is hoped there will be more students in grades 8 – 12 participating.

“This is a beautiful way for kids to show their own learning, and a great way to introduce them to the scientific method of learning,” said Krista Halland, CMRSF executive committee co-chair, and principal of Savona Elementary. “And in addition to prizes awarded during the fair, there are also scholarships, cash and travel awards to win.”

The information on this page includes:

Stories about how students in one school (Brock Middle School) are preparing,
Science fair timelines,
An explanation of the science tour of awesomeness,
Four ways science fairs are awesome,
When you can visit the regional fair,
How you can participate as a volunteer or judge.

1. Brock Middle School Science Projects are Underway

We visited the grade 9 honours science class at Brock Middle School to see how their science projects were coming along. Every student in the class is working on one, and the range of ideas and topics provided us with an idea of what we might expect at this year’s regional science fair. We picked four projects to give you a sneak peek – the Marimo Algae project, the Biodegradable Plastic Bag project, the Music Displacement project and the Smoking vs. Vaping project.

Biodegradable Plastic Bag project

Nolan Belbin loves the hands-on experience of science learning.

“Whether you are using Bunsen burners or experimenting with electricity, it’s just fun,” he said.

His Biodegradable Plastic Bag project is designed to see whether claims that some plastic bags are biodegradable are true. He’s placed four different bags into four jars of dirt and he plans to water them every day for five weeks.

“I will measure how much they have broken down in that time,” he said. “I just want to see how easily they decompose. Does it work if they are in a backyard, or do you have to do something else to make them break down.”

Marimo Algae Project

Anushka Maurya and Maya Lipkewich are studying how different kinds of water affect marimo algae which is often used in aquariums because of its interesting ball-like shape. They have been cultivating the algae in containers of different types of water including tap water, saltwater, and aquarium water, and then measuring which one grows the most over a two-month period.

“It was really nice seeing what happened to the moss balls,” said Anushka. “I find it really interesting. Science lets you explore those things. Especially ocean life, the animals and how we only know five per cent about the ocean, and 95 per cent is still waiting to be discovered. I find that fascinating.”

“Science is cool I really like it I have always liked it,” said Maya. “When I was young I was into paleontology, and I want to be a marine biologist in the future. In biology, seeing how mechanisms inside of a body work, and with chemistry, how things react together, science is something I really care about.

Music Displacement project

Amrit Bains and Lucas Carlson are studying the effects of different genres of music on a person’s mood. They will be asking test subjects to listen to country music, jazz and heavy metal music, and then measuring how the music affects mood.

Lucas expects the moods to be very different, depending on the music.

“It ranges from slow-paced to very aggressive,” he said.

“It’s a nice wide range,” said Amrit. “We can play music on two ends of the spectrum, and then in the middle, to see how it affects them. I believe it will affect them in an angry and stressed way hearing heavy metal, and the jazz and country will make them feel varying degrees of happiness.”

Smoking vs Vaping project

Genaya Godard and Keira Connolly are researching the differences between smoking and vaping on the human body. One is researching the effects of smoking and one is researching the effects of vaping. So far, they are seeing that smoking causes tar build-up in the lungs, while vaping has been linked to the condition known as popcorn lung.

“With so many young people vaping, and there’s not very much information readily available out there, we wanted to learn more,” said Genaya. She said getting to dig deep into subjects that matter to students is something she’s noticed in this science honours class.“It goes into a lot more into depth, and we can get involved in way more detail, so we are getting to learn more,” she said.

“And we get to do a lot more experiments in honours science than in regular science,” said Kiera. “I really enjoy that more.”

2. Science Tour of Awesomeness

The district is facilitating an all-expenses paid, science-themed visit to Vancouver for the grade 10 students participating in the regional science fair.

“This is the first time we have done this,” said Morgan Whitehouse, district science coordinator. “The tour is an additional incentive to encourage student’s best efforts, planning and executing a large-scale science inquiry project in high school. I’m really excited to see how it all plays out.

“Because of this prize, six additional high schools and approximately 400 students are participating in science fair, that otherwise wouldn’t have been. High school science teachers are already doing great projects like this, and I believe completing it together as a group will have a synergistic effect on student learning. I’m optimistic it will be great momentum to build on for years to follow.”

On April 3, the tour will take students to the Greater Vancouver Regional Science Fair showcasing Vancouver-area students’ science projects. It will also include a visit to the TRIUMF Canada particle accelerator facility and a tour of the Port of Vancouver. The trip will highlight science careers that help drive the BC economy in industries including mining, technology, engineering and sustainability. Students will be able to collect and reflect on their career-life exploration hours needed for graduation, to better prepare them for life after high school.

3. Science Fair Timeline

March 6-13: Schools recommend the top 10 per cent of their science projects
March 13: Deadline to register for Cariboo Mainline Regional Science Fair
April 3: Science Tour of Awesomeness for top 10 per cent of grade 10 students in participating schools
April 7-9 Cariboo Mainline Regional Science Fair at TRU
May 6-16 Canada Wide Science Fair in Edmonton

4. Four Ways Science Fairs are Awesome

The new BC Science Curriculum aligns perfectly with science fairs because of its focus on big ideas and competencies linking scientific knowledge with a hands-on approach to doing science. The provincial science curriculum is also focused on developing inquiry and conceptual learning, and providing students with opportunities to ask questions, consider a range of views, recognize their beliefs and takes opinions, work collaboratively, and ultimately make informed conclusions that lead to personally and socially responsible choices.
Science fairs provide a personalized opportunity for deeper understanding and meaningful engagement.
There are financial awards, free travel opportunities, accolades and scholarships available across Canada.
Science fairs integrate career education, core competencies and First People’s ways of learning, most notably, learning patience and time, and learning is experiential.

5. How to see the Cariboo Mainline Regional Science Fair

The CMRSF will be held at the Thompson Rivers University gymnasium April 7, 8 and 9. Displays will be ready for viewing by the public on April 8, from 8:00 AM to 9:00 AM and then again from 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM. For more information, read more.

6. How to be a Volunteer or Judge at CMRSF

Halland says the CMRSF is looking for people who would like to volunteer and to be judges for the fair. You need no prior experience, either in science or in judging science projects – but you will need to attend a judging training session at 8:00 AM on April 8. If you are interested, you are asked to fill out a judging registration form. For a link to the form and more information, read more.

Superintendent's Update

Fri, 06 Jun 2025 23:00:00 GMT

Dear Parents and Caregivers:

As we continue into the very busy month of June, the positive energy of celebration and joy is in the air, but also the feelings of change, transitions, and some nervousness, especially for graduates who are starting their lives in post-secondary, new career pathways, travel, or a gap year. It is through such times, that we need to lean on each other and foster a sense of well-being (one of the core values in our 2022-2027 District Strategic Plan) in our homes and schools.

Sun Peaks School (K-9) – June 5, 2025

Principal Breden and I enjoyed starting our day in Ms. Fell’s Kindergarten-Grade 1 class led by Ms. Shirley, a well known Teacher On Call.

Ms. Shirley shared how she had connected the picture book, Edward the Emu with an art activity in which students explored colors and shapes to draw their own emu, and she planned to engage students in music about the emu using xylophones. The passion that she has for Arts Education is palpable. She stopped to share one song that the K-1 class has been working on called, Napping House. It was a cumulative action song about how there was a house with a grandparent, child, dog, cat, mouse, and eventually a flea who came in to nap. The students did the actions to match the words, and they had a good time sharing it as they sang.

Ms. Rinaldi’s Grade 1-2 class taught by Ms. Bishop and supported by Maria Davis, Certified Education Assistant, were taking part in math stations including math games, measuring exercises, and “True and False” math equations. I spent time with Tayton who showed me how cutting out paper gumballs enabled measuring different objects. I also learned the card game, “10 Friends” from Evelyn and Athena who said that the object of the game is to have two cards at once that add up to 10. If you don’t have a card that does that, you need to draw one. It required quick thinking and counting, and they each said that it made them think faster.

Ms. Mann’s Grade 2-3 class was doing cross-curricular activities in Art and Social Studies. By designing a map of a fictitious country. Ruxin, a student in her class, explained that she made up names based on where she had been and what she liked. She showed me how they had to add a map key and these symbols were important to make sure that there was a varied terrain (mountains, hills, flat lands, water). Azalea named her country after her last name.

At recess time, the students ran out to multiple areas of the hill, and one group continued to design their dam structure which carried water from the top of the hill to the half-way to the bottom. It was intricate involving the creation of pools of water in strategic spots to create momentum for the water to flow downstream. Another group was building “gymnastics forts” while others played a game called “Infection Tag”. Mr. Breden said, “I find that students are very imaginative and they are never short of ideas about what to play.”

We then travelled to the Grades 5-7 portables. Ms. Greer’s Grade 5-6 class was studying perimeter and area. They were converting units of measure to see the difference it makes to move from cm, m, and km. They took part in rotations to complete exercises about perimeter and area, to play a game requiring knowledge of shapes (“Polygon Problem”), and a math game on the computer (“Prodigy”).

Ms. St. Onge’s Grade 6-7 class was studying Healthy Relationships, and Mr. Massey took time to share how they had designed cars to see which design would move the best using the force of a balloon. The students also shared their work on learning about an earthquake or volcano that they studied, it was interesting to see which ones they chose and why.

We also spoke with Mila, Abigail, and Natasha who had collaboratively directed a play in the community supported by Art Zone. These students were inspired to have Grade 5 and 6 students act in the play, Outside the Box, and it was incredibly successful. To read more about this team, go here.

Sun Peaks Grade 9-12 Academy students were busy working on course work, and Mr. Gunther shared that many of the students are playing sports at a high level and this academy enables them to succeed. The students enjoyed taking on course work with other students in their class and many come every day and treat this academy as a daily place to come and work together.

Before leaving for Heffley Creek, I stopped in to see Ms. Schmalz’s Grade 3-4 class. They were studying fractions in a small group and in stations. I worked with a student named, Eira, on how best to create common denominators and she drew pictures to group them. It was a vibrant day of learning at Sun Peaks.

Heffley Creek Elementary School and @KOOL – June 4, 2025

Principal Conroy and I visited the library that was beautifully designed and planned based on the work of Ms. Twyla Parenteau, Library Assistant, who was guided by purchasing decisions supported by District Library Coordinator, Ms. Andrea Wallin. Mr. Conroy shared, “The Parent Advisory Committee was so supportive and managed to get us a donation from Tolko Industries for $5,000.” Everyone was invested in making the library an inviting space for students, families, and staff and they have succeeded!

We stopped in to see @KOOL teachers—Ms. Campbell, Ms. Nichol, Ms. Lancaster, Ms. Toews, and Mr. Yin-Cheng—and Principal Hembling who had just hosted a barbecue for the elementary online students’ families. They were just settling in from this time with families to teaching online for the rest of the afternoon. This has been an excellent site for online education because students have access to a playground, well designed sensory spaces and classrooms. I took a moment to take Principal Conroy’s and Hemblings’ picture. Thank you for working so well together!

Ms. Dillman’s Kindergarten class was preparing to write stories by drawing a scene in their stories. They had also just written and drawn in little books about butterflies and shared the text by reading it to me. They also showed me how they learned to make the butterflies “fly” using magnets.

Ms. Silva’s Grade 1-3 class was just about ready to leave for the day. A few students took me to see their “animal hotels”. They had each chosen an animal who is natural to their area. They were inspired to create these scenes by first reading Heartwood Hotel. The group of three students (Jackson, Rhaege, Gemma) explained, “We researched animals in this area and then created little hotels for each of them with things like would like to eat, sleep in, and how and where they would spend their time.

Secondary Battle of the Books – May 30, 2025

The District’s annual Battle of the Books is a beloved local reading motivation program that inspires a love of reading across all grade levels. On May 30, 45 Grade 8–12 students from six Kamloops secondary schools gathered at the Henry Grube Education Centre to compete in the Secondary Battle of the Books. Throughout the day, students competed in a series of book battle challenges and in the end the team from Westsyde Secondary narrowly defeated last year’s champions from NorKam Secondary. Congratulations to all the student teams who participated this year. Read more.

SD73 Students at the Canada-Wide Science Fair – May 31–June 6, 2025

This week, two Kamloops students travelled to Fredericton, New Brunswick to represent our district and showcase their innovative science projects at the prestigious Canada-Wide Science Fair—Canada’s largest annual youth science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) event. Congratulations to Benjamin Stroich (Grade 9 at SKSS) who showcased a root system simulator designed to help prevent landslides and Joel Defouw (Grade 7 at Juniper Ridge Elementary) who earned a Bronze Medal for his AI-powered solar panel optimizer! Read more.

Graduations – May–June 2025

I have enjoyed a number of graduations this past week, including the Indigenous Graduation Ceremony where we celebrated the largest number of Indigenous student graduates in our district’s history. You can explore the 2025 commencement schedule and meet this year's Valedictorians here. What’s true about every one of the graduation ceremonies is that they exist because of the staff, parents, and importantly, the students who invested in the program and performances. Thank you for all that you have done to learn and grow as a person—may you end the year well and make a great start to the next phase of your lives. Congratulations, Graduates of 2025!

Have a wonderful weekend while staying cool, drinking plenty of water, and enjoying your family and friends!

Rhonda Nixon, PhD
Superintendent

Celebrating Black Excellence Day in SD73

Thu, 18 Jan 2024 17:00:00 GMT

In SD73, we are committed to every individual thriving personally and culturally in our schools (Cultural and Identity Priority). One key strategy is to visibly acknowledge and celebrate diversity in school environments and learning opportunities. Black Excellence Day is one example of how we engage students and staff in activities to accomplish this Cultural and Identity Priority in our 2022-2027 District Strategic Plan.

Black Excellence Day was created by Ninandotoo Society and takes place on January 15th each year to celebrate the civil rights activist, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. who was born on January 15, 1929.

On Black Excellence Day, SD73 students in Gr. 4-12 are taking part in the Black Excellence Virtual Event 2023 hosted by the Ninandotoo Society and the Burnaby School District. This session served as a jumping-off point for students to engage in discussions and explore resources centered around Black Excellence and Black History. We are also committed to making visible Black history by displaying literature such as Black stories, Black art and highlighting accomplishments of Black people, and a day to stand in solidarity with Black Canadians.

At Westsyde Secondary School, Ms. Kachel and students from the school’s Culture Club hosted Black Excellence Day. Approximately 50 students attended the live stream which highlighted Black Canadians and Americans from a variety of backgrounds. Some presenters included Krystale Dos Santos who performed a piece from her one woman play about Viola Desmond titled, “Hey Viola,” Minnie Jean Brown Trickey, a member of the Little Rock Nine, who encouraged students to find creative ways to work towards diversity, and Judge David St. Pierre, who advocated for everyone to read books by Black authors, see films featuring Black actors, attend sporting events with Black athletes, and learn the history of Black people. In addition to the live stream, students in Culture Club created a small display with books celebrating the history and achievements of Black people in North America which will be expanded upon in the coming weeks to mark Black History Month. Grade eleven student Amara Ezedebego highlighted the importance of the event, explaining, “Black Excellence means celebrating my identity and the identities of Black people all over the world. It means we recognize everything that Black people went through to get to where we are today. Even if it is a small thing, it means so much for us today. To me, Black Excellence means acknowledging the people who helped and led us to where we are now.”

I Know Your Hearts Break for The Children

Wed, 02 Jun 2021 15:45:00 GMT

A Secwepemc Nation Elder and Secwepemctsin Language Teacher sang the Honour Song to open the May 31, 2021 Kamloops-Thompson Board of Education Meeting. Ivy Chelsea joined the livestream virtual meeting from the grounds of the former Kamloops Residential School as the Board expressed its deepest sympathies to the Tk’emlúps te Secwe?pemc and to all Indigenous communities.

“Confirmation of the residential school systems’ atrocities this week is reverberating among our students, our staff, our community and our country,” said Board Chair Rhonda Kershaw. “I would like to welcome Elder Chelsea this evening to begin our meeting in a moment of healing, and to present a prayer honouring those lost children.”

Chelsea drummed, sang and spoke about the finding of 215 children’s remains buried on the grounds of the former residential school, surrounded by a number of people who had gathered for the fourth and final evening of the sacred fire burning at Tk’emlúps te Secwe?pemc.

“I know your heart breaks for us,” she told them. “I know your heart breaks for the children. You being here and supporting us tonight makes our spirit stronger.”

Chelsea said it has always been known there were children buried there.

“For years and years, our grandparents and our aunts and our uncles, our brothers and sisters, they saw, they heard, they knew, and they tried to tell what was going on,” she said.

“We’ve waited a long time to have this come forward. Now that all this has come to light, what is so touching is being a language teacher. Being able to talk in Secwepemctsin and not be strapped. For the government to pay me to do my job, and to let me teach Secwepemctsin to students in Chase. For the school district to pay for language teachers. It’s a small step.”

She spoke about her gratitude to her great-grandmother and great-grandfather, to both sets of grandparents, and to her parents, who were all forced to attend residential schools.

“I’m here because of their strength,” she said.

“Our ancestors are here. And if you felt chills going up and down your legs, if you felt something warm brush your arm, you know they are here and they are standing with you in the crowd.

“You’re here because of your family strength. If you are not from Kamloops, if you are not from a First Nations community, you are here for a reason. You came to Canada, you came here tonight because of your love and because you want people to know that you care.

“I don’t even need to know your names to know that you love every single one of those children. I don’t need to know where you are from to know that you love all of the students that walked these hallways. You are here tonight because of the love that you have in your heart, your mind and your spirit.”

She ended her prayer with a Traveling song.

My Dad always told me, “Don’t you bring them down to near tears and not cheer them up.” She laughed. “Ivy, you know better than that, he says.”

“I think the beauty of being here tonight and when I get home to my five-year old grandson to give him a hug, my three-year old grandchildren that are up in Ft. St. John, that we all survived in our different ways, to go out there and give hugs and share a smile and tell a story and sing a song and no matter how small you think your contribution is, the contribution that you give, means the world to us who are the survivors. Kukwstsétsemc (Thank you).”

Later in the meeting, as district staff outlined steps being taken to support Aboriginal students, family and staff in dealing with the tragic news, Trustee Diane Jules spoke about the tough work ahead.

“You’re going to start to hear stories and hard truths,” said Jules,who chairs the Aborignal Education Council. “Because the silence has been broken and now that it is being talked about, there will be difficult stories. I want to remind you to take care of yourselves also. Kukwstsétsemc for all the work that you do.”

Below is the entire segment with Board Chair Rhonda Kershaw and Secwepemctsin Language Teacher Ivy Chelsea.

Board Notes from December 7, 2020

Wed, 09 Dec 2020 17:30:00 GMT

From the regular meeting of the Board of Education. Find out about a performance by District Strings. Read Board Notes here.

Students Sharing Good Cheer

Tue, 17 Dec 2019 18:45:00 GMT

‘Tis the season, and in schools across the district, students and staff are going that extra mile to give hope and comfort to those less fortunate. Here are just a few examples:

Lloyd George Elementary students have taken on an additional fundraising project, even while they are busy collecting food for the food bank and working with the Mustard Seed to donate hats, gloves and blankets. They are also filling stockings with gifts. A student in their school who is a newcomer to the country, and is without medical insurance, needed surgery. The students and their families have raised over a thousand dollars to help make it happen.

South Kamloops Secondary students set a goal to put together 12 to 15 decorated boxes of gifts for the local women’s shelter this month. Student response was so great, they were able to deliver 42 boxes.

“This holiday season we encouraged classes around the school to create a shoebox present for a local woman impacted by homelessness,” said Walt Kirschner, SKS Principal. “We are very proud of our students and staff.”

Each box was valued at about $50, and included items like socks, hats and scarfs, toiletries, journals, and gift cards. Each box also included a supportive message.

Schools across SD73 are boxing up their donations to the food bank. We visited SKSS this week where students showed us what their donations look like.

In other cases, it’s teachers dressing up to show students some holiday fashion. Sa-Hali vice-principals Com Domita and Chris Horton donned matching, memorable seasonal suits!

It’s a magical time in the district – and you can almost feel the glow as good cheer is shared.

Banner Year for Kamloops Student Voice

Sat, 04 May 2019 00:00:00 GMT

The Kamloops chapter of the BC Student Voice has had an exceptional year, according to its district advisor Domenic Comita, Sa-Hali Secondary Vice-Principal.

“We have just finished the second of two annual forums for this year in Vancouver, and we can see our district is doing very well, with strong student leadership,” he said.

Four students represent School District No. 73 in the BC Student Voice, a province-wide organization sponsored by the BC Principals’ & Vice-Principals’ Association. The association sets out to empower students to address their needs, interests and concerns by strengthening the links among students and their partners in education.

Sarah Seymour and Eric Sdoutz, grade 11 students at Sa-Hali Secondary, and Tia Blair and Lucy Mitchim, grade 10 students at Westsyde Secondary, lent their voices to the annual forum held last week in Vancouver. Together with Comita, they ran into Superintendent of Schools Alison Sidow at the airport, who tweeted:

“Returning from @bcsta and was thrilled to bump into @Kamloops SD73 Student Voice and Mr. Comita @SaHali_Sec The future is in great hands!”

Comita said the BCPVPA’s decision to choose Sarah Seymour, from among hundreds of candidates, to attend the Canadian National Youth Summit is one example of the strength of the Kamloops students.

“She has a very powerful voice, and she always brings great energy, ideas and leadership to the table.”

Another example is the number of students from across the district who attended the annual district Student Voice conference in February.

“We had 80 participants, which is the highest number of students attending a conference of this type in the province.”

Parkcrest Invitational Floor Hockey Tournament

Fri, 31 May 2019 19:00:00 GMT

Sportsmanship and teamwork were the focus during the first annual Parkcrest Elementary Invitational Floor Hockey Tournament. More than 60 students from five schools (Aberdeen, Arthur Hatton, Dallas, Arthur Stevenson and Parkcrest) participated.

“A huge thank you to the organizer of the tournament, Parkcrest Teacher Justin Roszmann, who put together the event,” said Grant Naylor, Parkcrest Vice-Principal. “The teams played in a series of games and it was a huge success.”

Board Notes from May 30, 2022

Thu, 02 Jun 2022 15:15:00 GMT

From the regular meeting of the Board of Education. Find out about Aboriginal Events, 2024-2025 Calendar, and Secondary Fees. Read Board Notes here.

Two Provincial Curling Banners for SD73

Mon, 09 Mar 2020 22:15:00 GMT

The South Kamloops Secondary Girls’ Titans and the Westsyde Secondary Boys’ Whundas curling teams both brought home first place wins from the BC High School Curling Provincials tournament this month.

Kendra Hallstrom, WSS teacher and Whundas’ teacher sponsor, said the win means a lot for the boys’ team because they were defending the title they won last year.

"They maintained their focus and kept the momentum of the games in their favor. It was a hard-fought battle for the team in the final as they played against Riverside Secondary who were also returning Zone 4 champions to Provincials."

The team members are grade 12 students Bryan Yamada, Zander Landygo and Nolan Bottineau, and grade 11 student Daniel Griffiths, and coach Brent Yamada.

Brad Epp, SKSS teacher and coach for the Titans’ curling team, said the goal this year was to win the Okanagan zone finals and then play well in the provincials.

“Last year, the girls played great in the Okanagan playoffs, losing out to Kelowna Secondary, who went on to win the 2019 title,” he said. “We knew that we would be competitive and we were peaking at the right time. We controlled the flow of the game and we were patient, waiting for our opportunities and when that happened we took advantage.”

Epp said one thing that helped the Titans prepare was playing some exhibition games against the Whundas team.

Titans’ team members are grade 9 students Holly Hafeli and Natalie Hafeli, grade 10 student Jorja Kopytko, and grade 12 student Natasha Olmstead.

The teams would like to thank the Kamloops Curling Club for their support of High School Curling.

Primary Students Advocate for Endangered Animals

Tue, 27 Apr 2021 14:00:00 GMT

Student researchers at Juniper Ridge Elementary are making presentations, writing letters and raising money to help endangered animals. The grades 1 and 2 students are also sharing their passion with the rest of their school and their parents.

When primary teacher Hanna Storozak and student teacher, Jazmine Storvold engaged them in the project, they wanted show how a love for animals could become a step towards environmental activism.

“We wanted them to gain a real understanding that there is a world beyond their backyards,” said Storozak. “I wanted them to grow in their social awareness and responsibility for the environment, and to learn that there are many animals in need of our protection and stewardship.”

It started with an inquiry: What is the meaning of endangered? Then each student chose an animal to study from the World Wildlife Federation’s list of Endangered Animals.

“We encouraged them to engage in research online with their parents, as well as investigate information sources at school, and they looked for answers to questions about how animals become endangered,” said Storozak. “That included looking at how human impacts of poverty, air pollution and plastic waste, poaching, and the loss of habitat that all affect animals.”

Clark Davis, grade two is concerned about the future of the burrowing owl.

"Many owls are endangered because of the pesticides we spray in our fields and farms,” said Davis. “What these chemicals do is make the owl eggshells fragile and they break, and so many owlets do not survive.

“Pollution in the air also creates toxic chemicals, and so we need to ‘go green’ as much as possible, use less vehicles and engines that cause air pollution, so birds and owls have a safe place to live and they no longer need to be endangered."

Georgia MacKinnon, grade two, wants to see laws changed to protect the Giant otter in South America.

"People need to help the Giant otter by writing letters to the government and asking them to make laws to stop the shooting of otters,” said MacKinnon. “The other law that should be made is to give otters more space to live and not take over their habitat with lots of buildings, like homes too close to the water that destructs the otters' homes."

Brooke Palmer and Demetrius Pawlyshyn, both also in grade two, studied big cat species, cougars and jaguars, which are also endangered.

"I learned a lot about habitat loss that affects animals like the cougar,” said Palmer. “Animals wander into our neighbourhoods looking for food because they have less territory to find food."

“Jaguars are critically endangered due to the amount of poaching,” said Pawlyshyn. “The other reason is that there are sometimes forest fires set on purpose to clear the land to make farms. We could help people who need help to survive, so they don't need to continue poaching and so that the jaguar doesn't need to die."

In addition to writing letters to the World Wildlife Fund in support of these animals, the students involved the rest of the school by sharing informative animal conservation facts during morning announcements. They also raised more than $920 in a Toonie drive for the WWF.

“If we all just took a few moments of our time to look beyond ourselves, see the plight of other societies and their needs, care about the inhumane treatment of animals, and recognize the serious threats to our environment, then choose to act instead of turning away, our world would be a better place,” said Storozak.

Vancouver Foundation Grant for $246,000 Awarded to Four Directions Secondary School

Mon, 25 Mar 2019 14:30:00 GMT

The Vancouver Foundation has awarded a $246,000 Systems Change Grant to the Four Directions Secondary School in School District No. 73.

Beginning in September 2019 the grant will fund an integrated school program enhancing Four Directions’ current commitment to community and family engagement over a three-year period. The program, Community Led Learning - Trans-systemic Spaces in Indigenous Education, is designed to integrate Indigenous ways of knowing alongside western curriculum by involving family, elders and knowledge keepers.

"We congratulate Jordan Smith and Alexis Brown on the success of their proposal to the Vancouver Foundation,” said Alison Sidow, School District 73 Superintendent. “We are proud of their efforts, built on previous research, to create a vision for sustainable, systemic change. This grant will positively affect learning outcomes for Indigenous youth in our district and, ultimately, across the province.”

The Community Led Learning program will provide opportunities and resources for cultural activities both within and outside the school schedule. The program activities will be delivered by Justin Young (Thunder Sky), Lead Facilitator. With his support students will give back to the community through volunteering, and participate in healthy recreational activities and experiential learning. Additionally, they will attend cultural workshops as a group and with their families, and connect and build relationships with community members and elders.

Smith, the Four Directions Secondary School program coordinator, and Brown, a PhD candidate at the University of Victoria, are the authors of the grant proposal. They drew on Brown’s previous research with Four Directions Secondary School, which indicated that authentic commitment to community and family engagement contributes to student success and enhances student learning in the school environment.

When the program ends in three years it will be developed into a model for other school districts, in order to create a larger-scale systemic change for Indigenous students.

The Vancouver Foundation Systems Change Grants support projectsthat take action on issues of equity and equality found within organizations and institutions, supports the well-being of those involved, and helps to create sustainable change.

Inclusive Post-Secondary in BC: Changing Perspectives About What is Possible and Who Can Contribute

Tue, 13 Sep 2022 19:00:00 GMT

Presented by Lauren Matthews, Director of BC Inclusive Post-Secondary Education at STEPS Forward.

In 2001, families in BC came together to ask themselves “what comes next?” after graduation.

Finding themselves and family members dissatisfied with the limited options available to their sons and daughters with developmental disability labels after high school, they envisioned a future that included their family members in the same career, academic, and social communities available to any young person leaving high school.

They started conversations with universities about providing access to academic studies for their family members, who did not meet the academic requirements for university, and the first student with a developmental and intellectual disability started at UBC in 2002. Since then, we have grown and now support students at nine universities and colleges across BC.

Join us to hear about inclusive post-secondary BC, and these students challenging assumptions about intellectual disability, and who can belong and contribute in academic and career spaces. This session is open to all parents who have children with diverse abilities K-12.

This workshop will be held via Zoom on Wednesday, September 21, from 6:30 PM to 7:30 PM. If you are interested in attending, you are asked to register here, and you will be provided with the link to the meeting.

Superintendent's Update

Mon, 09 May 2022 15:00:00 GMT

Dear Parents and Caregivers:

May brings opportunities to celebrate students and to commemorate special days that invite us to stand together against atrocities of the past and to build hope for a better future.

Westmount Elementary School

As Principal Lloyd and I walked through the school, students and teachers were deeply engaged in literacy, numeracy, fine arts, robotics, and physical education activities. Kindergarten students shared, “We are waiting for chicks to hatch and caterpillars to become butterflies.”

Young Artists’ Conference - May 3, 2022

Thank you to the Young Artists’ Committee that supported over 100 Grades 4-7 students and their parents celebrated their artwork which was displayed on walls, printed on notecards, and selected to be hung in the School Board Office. Artists shared their inspirations for their creations. Students will present their pieces to the Board of Education on June 13, 2022. Read more…

National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and LGBTQ2S+ People - May 5, 2022

In Canada, Indigenous women and girls are targeted for violence more than any other group. This day calls Canadians to speak out against violence against Indigenous women, girls, and LGBTQ2S+ people, and celebrate Indigenous peoples' history, culture, and diversity.

Moose Hide Campaign - May 12, 2022

On May 12, Canadians wear moose hide pins to demonstrate their personal commitment to honour, respect, and protect the women and children in their lives, work to end gender-based violence and take action towards reconciliation with Indigenous peoples. Moose hide pins are a conversation starter, a patch of hope, reassurance and belonging and are associated with gentleness, warmth, comfort, hope, and love.

Communicable Disease Prevention Plan

We continue to be committed to practicing daily health awareness strategies– staying home when sick, practicing good hand hygiene and respiratory etiquette, and making choices about wearing masks–see our District’s Communicable Disease Prevention Plan for more information.

The weather is getting warmer and inviting us to go walking, running, and biking, to name a few outdoor activities. Stay safe and have fun this weekend.

Rhonda Nixon, PhD

Superintendent

Superintendent's Update

Sat, 01 Feb 2025 00:30:00 GMT

Dear Parents and Caregivers:

The focus of January is to share stories about relationships/connections and the value commitment of respect in the 2022-2027 District Strategic Plan.

Artificial Intelligence - Elizabeth deVries and Carol DeFehr

Thank you to Elizabeth deVries and Director Carol DeFehr for working together to showcase the work of the committee and consultation on the AI framework that is being developed for the District. They shared the purpose, vision, strategies, and applications that are being explored and look forward to sharing it more broadly as they continue consultation in smaller focus groups.

École Lloyd George School – January 29, 2025

Principal Dumas, Vice Principal Hurren, and I started our visit by discussing the School Learning Plan goals. The school’s focus on literacy and sense of belonging has resulted in increased results. École Lloyd George teachers worked collaboratively with teachers at South Sa-Hali to cocreate a French continuum for literacy to ensure students meet literacy objectives in French. The French version of the Primary Reading Assessment (Évaluation de lecture au primaire) showed steady increases in Grade 1, 2, and 3 students’ results (+1% to +12%). Mme Dumas and Mme Hurren attributed these improvements to the staff’s collaborative efforts to co-plan, co-assess, and co-reflect on progress in student learning.

We stopped to see the students in Mr. Hogeveen’s class where Mr. Hogeveen conducted the Grade 5 students who sang, played, and moved to the song “Africa” by Toto. It was a spirited piece that is well liked by the students.

As we walked past the front display, Mme Dumas shared how the students continue to learn about the Seven Grandfathers’ Teachings. Each grade is focusing on one animal and working to integrate the values of that animal into their learning.

Their school is welcoming, caring, and has a positive sense of belonging by keeping their guidelines for behaviour simple and visual. Mme Dumas shared, “We began this work last April and continued in a way that has helped everyone to identify and remember what creating an inclusive learning environment looks like and sounds like every day.”

Mme Jenkin’s Grade 7 students were learning about change, and had done reflections on the Seven Grandfather Teachings. She explained that this is common across their school to see different ways that these teachings are lived and displayed to be celebrated in classrooms.

Mme Silzak was teaching Grade 3-4 about being a “Dictionary Detective,” and the students shared how they love to learn new words and it is part of Unplug and Play Week.

We stopped in to see Mme Allen who was working with a student in the “LABO” which used to be a computer lab and is now an alternative, flexible space for students to work. She described how they have this space as an alternate place to work and to have sensory breaks, social skills groups, and to be a “learning hub”. Both Mme Dumas and Mme Allen emphasized the importance of designing these spaces to invite students in to relax and to be active (i.e., she had created a lego wall that was used by the students to build with lego). She described how designing and co-creating this room was a team effort. She painted the leather furniture, had help from the District carpenter to put a border around their lego wall, and they came up with the idea and had to try it out because it was not something that had been done before.

Mme. Bossio read a story to Grade 1 and worked on “loose parts” story-creating activities. I also learned that each loose parts table had different types of backgrounds, with some very tactile manipulatives (i.e., salt in a box) that became part of students’ storytelling.

Mme Dumas shared the development of the Secwépemc kits in the library. She explained that the staff will spend part of their next Professional Development Day sharing what is in these kits and what they have had success doing with them in classrooms.

It was a lovely visit at École Lloyd George and students, parents, and staff were enjoying learning and preparing for the basketball game after school.

Unplug and Play Family Literacy Week – January 25–February 2, 2025

From January 25 to February 2, 2025, schools, students, and families have been participating in the 14th annual Beem Credit Union Unplug and Play Family Literacy Week. This week is focused on raising awareness about the importance of reading and encouraging families to find a healthy balance between screen time and active family time.

Schools across the Kamloops-Thompson School District participated in various Unplug and Play activities and school challenges throughout the week. As part of the Intellectual Development priority in the 2022-2027 District Strategic Plan, the District is committed to providing diverse learning opportunities featuring multi-leveled resources that promote joyful reading, thoughtful written responses, and interesting conversations. Read more.

Outride Bike Program at BEST – January 11, 2025

Bert Edwards Science and Technology School (BEST) has been selected for the Outride Bike Program. On Saturday, January 11, 2025, volunteers from the local mountain bike community and Bicycle Cafe, along with students from Mr. Wood’s Grade 6/7 class came together to build 30 brand new mountain bikes for BEST students.

Outride is a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the lives of youth through cycling. The Outride Bike Program provides grants, research, and cycling programs to empower youth to experience the social, emotional, and cognitive benefits of cycling. Since 2012, Outride has partnered with nearly 400 schools and granted $2M+ to over 250 cycling programs, impacting up to 50,000 youth annually. Read more.

Kamloops-Thompson Students Achieve Highest School Completion – January 31, 2025

In the 2023-2024 school year, all three student group categories – Resident students, Indigenous students, and students with Diverse Abilities – experienced the highest completion rates ever achieved in the Kamloops-Thompson School District. Read more.

District Parent Advisory Council (DPAC)

New alert from the BC Gaming for PAC Gaming Grants: All PAC's in BC must have a business BCeID to apply for the 2025-2026 grant for your school. To find out more or for help getting this important step completed please see the DPAC webpage. Don't delay in getting your BCeID!

Board Notes – Board Update

Based on feedback from the District Parent Advisory Council, we have revised the Board Notes to be more like a newsletter format. If you have time, please let us know what you think of the new format here.

It has been a full month back in January, and we have so much to celebrate and be thankful for as we start February, a month focused on kindness. Be kind to yourself and each other as you take in activities that rejuvenate you this weekend.

Rhonda Nixon, PhD
Superintendent

SD73 Acquires Massive Indigenous Peoples Floor Map

Mon, 29 Nov 2021 16:00:00 GMT

With the help of grant funding, SD73 has obtained a giant floor map that will assist teachers and students in understanding the past, present, and future of Indigenous Peoples in Canada inclusive of First Nations, Metis, and Inuit.

The Indigenous Peoples Atlas of Canada Giant Floor Map showcases the locations of Indigenous communities, residential schools, reserves, and much more. Rather than political borders, Canada is broken up into Indigenous language groups.

“I am very excited to introduce this newly acquired educational resource for the Kamloops-Thompson School District,” said Carolyn Anderson, District Coordinator of Aboriginal Education. “After trying to book this resource for our district and learning the wait list was years’ long, I looked at ways to purchase our own.”

The map was co-created by the Royal Canadian Geographical Society (RCGS) and a number of Indigenous peoples and organizations across Canada. It features a timeline around its border of significant historical markers from 12,000 B.C. to 2017, as well as a residential schools timeline. The floor map measures 11 metres by 8 metres (35ft x 26ft) and fills a good portion of a gym floor. The kit comes with a Teacher’s Guide, a resource kit, and pre-map activities to engage learners prior to the arrival of the map. Some topics include climate change, movement of people, seasonal cycles and migration patterns, human rights, trade routes, and trap lines. All teaching materials are offered in French and English.

Teachers can now reserve the map for up to two weeks by contacting Anderson at caanderson@sd73.bc.ca.

Board approves plan to provide additional financial support for students and families

Thu, 29 Sep 2022 18:45:00 GMT

The Kamloops Thompson Board of Education is taking steps to implement a plan providing $1.6 million in additional financial support for students and families.

The funding is the District’s share of a one-time $60 million Student and Family Affordability Fund (SFAF) announced in August by the Ministry of Education and Child Care.

District staff have consulted with school principals and community groups to help determine the best way to distribute its share of the funds to students and families. These groups are the Aboriginal Education Council (AEC), the Indigenous Family Voices for Education (IFVE), and the District Parents Advisory Council (DPAC).

At its regular meeting September 26, 2022, the Board received the consultation results, the process to access the funds and the initial allocations based on known and predicted needs.

“The District has received $1,656,248, in the recognition that families are struggling with rising food costs and costs for a range of goods and services due to the impacts of inflation,” said Heather Grieve, Board Chair for School District No. 73. “It supports existing policies and our ongoing commitment to ensure no student is denied because of financial need the opportunity to participate in education programs approved by the Board.”

The District is improving the process to access this fund, based on feedback from AEC, IFVE and DPAC in a way that is trauma informed by ensuring all school staff are informed, and by providing multiple ways to complete a Student Financial Assistance Form. This includes sending an email to a chosen staff member such as an Aboriginal Education Worker, a principal, or a counsellor; or completing the form with a band education contact or a social worker; or calling a preferred contact at their children’s school to ask for assistance; or completing the form themselves and in person.

Representatives for the AEC, IFVE, DPAC, Parent Advisory Councils and the Ministry of Children and Family Development will also share the District’s messaging regarding the fund with families. In addition, this information will be sent to families through the District website, school websites, and District and school newsletters.

“This process supports our 2022-2027 District Strategic Plan by supporting learning opportunities and environments which inspire students to thrive in a way that helps them feel safe,” said Rhonda Nixon, SD73 Superintendent. “That means meeting students’ basic and essential needs such as access to food and supporting their ability to take part in curricular and extracurricular educational activities designed to nurture their intellectual, social, personal, cultural, and career development.”

“We are grateful for the insights and feedback gained through the consultation process with our principals and community groups,” said Vessy Mochikas, Assistant Superintendent, Inclusion. “It means the funding will be more effective in reaching the students and families most in need of support.”

The estimated initial allocations, based on known/predicted needs, are:

$100,000 Starfish backpack programs - expanded to students and during school breaks
$300,000 School Supplies
$300,000 Field trips, co-curricular and extra-curricular activities
$500,000 Breakfast, snack and lunch programs/meals
Contingency Funds allocated to schools - $456,248

The funding will be used to provide more food and snacks made available to classes in a universal way, so that any student needing food has access to it, including at the end of the day. This is especially helpful in the morning, if students who arrive to school late may have missed breakfast, and in the afternoon, as students may have up to five hours between lunch and dinner. You can link to the Student Financial Assistance Form here.

Superhero Day

Thu, 26 May 2022 21:45:00 GMT

Jude Mitton, a grade 4 student at Lloyd George Elementary School has Duchenne Multiple Dystrophy. On Thursday, May 26 his whole school was behind him showing their support for Jude, and to raise awareness for Sunday’s Walk to Defeat Duchenne.

Jude, who currently uses a mobility scooter to move around the school, donned a superhero cape and led the way as the students from Lloyd George, held their own superhero walk and fundraiser and made their way through the neighborhood to the Mitton’s house eight blocks away.

Rae Bennett's Healing Journey a Powerful Story for National Truth and Reconciliation Day

Tue, 27 Sep 2022 17:15:00 GMT

Aboriginal Education Worker Rae Bennett is turning the tragedy and trauma of her early life into a profound healing journey, and she is using her story to encourage others. She will be speaking to staff at the SD73 School Board Office September 29, 2022 as part of the District’s acknowledgement of the National Day of Truth and Reconciliation.

“When I talk about my Mom, the purpose is not to trigger further trauma, but to raise awareness and to inspire change,” said Bennett. “Having a beloved family member who was victim to the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls in Canada was very traumatic. But knowing that the MMIWG Inquiry is telling us that Indigenous women and girls are still so much at risk makes it essential that we keep talking about this.”

In September 2019, the MMIWG Inquiry released its report after hearing testimony from more than 2,000 Canadians. The report found that “Indigenous women and girls are 12 times more likely to be murdered or to go missing than members of any other demographic in Canada – and 16 times more likely to be slain or to disappear than white women.”

On September 1, 1997, Bennett was a 22-year old early childhood education worker student in Alberta, and she remembers having a lot to talk about with her mother, who was living in Fort St. John, B.C.

“I wanted to talk with her about the death of Princess Diana, among other things,” said Bennett. “But on that day, I learned she didn’t come home.”

Her family had to wait 72 hours to file a missing person’s report, and there was a 2-week search that included live media broadcasts from her mother’s living room.

“I remember huge lights, and a controversy over whether there would be more effort made to find her if she had been Caucasian, even though there were a lot of volunteers and dogs, and even helicopters involved in the search,” she said. “We put up hundreds of posters and we sifted through hundreds of messages from people who called a tip line.”

After two weeks, Bennett returned to Alberta as search efforts were called off. About 18 months later, on August 4, 1999, on the day before Bennett’s 25^th birthday, her mother’s remains were found.

Bennett says even though the family realized this might be the outcome, and even though finding her mother provided them with closure, the loss of her mother was devastating. At first, she was unsure about how to move forward. Still, because she was married with four children of her own, she knew she had to find a way. She enrolled in a community support worker program in Saskatchewan and began looking for healing experiences for herself and her children.

“I went into what I call ‘mother bear mode’,” she said.

She took her children canoeing, kayaking, rock climbing and camping, signed them up for archery lessons, and other outdoor activities. She began to network, attending ceremonies, signing up for hiking clubs, and going on healing retreats.

“I carried on and I discovered the importance of a self-love journey. I want others to know that the more they can experience joy in doing positive things, the more healing they will find,” she said.

Bennett also looked for learning experiences that could give her additional tools for healing, and she now has many.

“Networking, reaching out and asking for help is important. Other tools include meditation, yoga, ceremony, medicine wheel, grounding, painting, plant medicine, and gardening, and these are just some examples,” she said. “There is also healing in releasing pain through a process called releasing dispatches, where you write what you want to release and then burn it.”

Bennett says seeking positive experiences and adding tools like these has worked for her. She is now in a place where she has peace of mind, and she has become strong enough to be able to tell her story.

“I can say that I feel very happy and grateful, and I have a love for life,” she said. “I can focus on my children, my family and work, and I live a comfortable life.”

She has this message for people who are hurting.

“You are not alone. Reach out, ask for help. There is so much in life waiting for you, and so many people willing to help you.”

Students Showcase Winning Science Projects at Cariboo-Mainline Regional Science Fair

Fri, 04 Apr 2025 18:30:00 GMT

Story provided by Chelsea Isenor, Director of Communications and Board Administration

Earlier this week, Kamloops-Thompson School District students gathered with students from other districts at Thompson Rivers University (TRU) to showcase their winning science projects at the Cariboo-Mainline Regional Science Fair.

This annual science fair brings together students from several neighbouring school districts. This year’s fair included 140 students from the Cariboo-Chilcotin (SD27) Nicola-Similkameen (SD58), and Kamloops-Thompson (SD73) school districts, with 74 SD73 students attending from 13 schools across the District. Students in attendance represented the highest finishing 10% of projects at the school and classroom level.

On March 31, 2025, students presented their projects during advanced judging. On April 1, 2025, students were able to connect with each other, participate in activities and demonstrations, explore each other's projects, and vote for the Student Choice Award. Parents and caregivers were then invited to attend a public viewing and awards ceremony that afternoon.

Student displays showcased a variety of topics, including projects and experiences on brain rot, AI, green energy, germ warfare, tooth decay, home remedies for acne, the speed of thought, volcanoes, phone germs, wind power, fermentation, humans vs AI, a ping pong catapult, and more.

Gunnar Koehn, a Grade 9 student from Valleyview Secondary School, explored how students can use AI ethically in education with his project, ‘The Daylight Framework’. Through a literature review, student survey, and various research, Gunnar outlined four key values to help guide students in using AI, including Intent, Balance, Verifiability, and Transparency. Last year, Gunnar won a Bronze Excellence Award at the Canada Wide Science Fair (CWSF), when asked about that experience he said, “It was a ton of fun… it was a really incredible experience to be exposed to incredibly smart people doing really cool things.”

Grade 7 Summitt Elementary student Sreenand Shajil Kumar did a ‘Tooth Decay Egg Experiment’, testing how common beverages affect and erode tooth enamel. After testing soda, juice, coffee, wine, water, milk and pickle juice, Sreenand found the worst culprit to be wine, saying “it turned the eggshell almost pitch black.”

Kaia Pederson, a Grade 6 student from Bert Edwards Science and Technology School (BEST) explored the questions ‘How Do Volcanoes Affect the Environment Around Them?’ When asked about her project, Kaia said, “My project is about volcanoes, how lava flows and how fast it can flow, and how some volcanoes explode rather than erupt with lava. When I started, I knew the basics of how a volcano erupts but I learned a lot. I made the volcano base because I wanted to show people how liquid lava can flow down a slope and because it's fun.”

Isobelle Reid, a Grade 7 student from BEST, presented a project on ‘The Speed a Thought’ about reaction time and how distractions affect different age groups, using cat videos as part of her distraction experiment. When asked what inspired her project, Isobelle shared, “I’m a competitive swimmer and I always wondered why some people can get off the blocks to the starting gun so much faster than others. The more I researched, I started to get more interested in distracted driving and how that can cause accidents. I learned that distraction has a very big impact on your focus no matter what you’re doing, and for 15-20 seconds after you've been distracted, you still won't be able to fully focus on the task at hand. I was very surprised to learn that the youngest groups were least affected by the distraction and the oldest groups, ages 30 and up, were the most distracted.”

During the Awards Ceremony, Cariboo-Mainline Regional Science Fair organizers awarded students with participation, bronze, silver, and gold medals, and handed out thousands of dollars worth of cash prizes, awards, and scholarships to students with winning projects. Top students have an opportunity to go on to the national Canada-Wide Science Fair happening later in the spring. This year, Joel DeFouw (Grade 7 at Juniper Ridge Elementary School) and Banjamin Stroich (Grade 9 at South Kamloops Secondary School) from SD73 have qualified for nationals.

Board Notes from May 31, 2021

Wed, 02 Jun 2021 19:00:00 GMT

From the regular meeting of the Board of Education. Board responds to the tragic and disturbing discovery at former Kamloops residential school. Read Board Notes here.

Superintendent's Update

Sat, 25 Jan 2025 00:30:00 GMT

Dear Parents and Caregivers:

The focus of January is to share stories about relationships/connections and the value commitment of respect in the 2022-2027 District Strategic Plan. On January 22, 2025 (Bell Let’s Talk Day), we championed the need to not only focus on mental health and what it means but to normalize conversations about mental health struggles and mental illness. On January 24, 2025, we are celebrating International Day of Education, which emphasizes the importance of education in our everyday lives.

Sa-Hali Secondary School – January 10, 2025

As we started our tour, Vice Principal Dolha introduced me to two students who were part of a Grade 9-12 Drama class who were preparing for the production, Sticks and Stones. They were rehearsing lines and interactions, and they were looking forward to their public performance.

We then walked through Mr. Horvat’s Grade 9-10 Woodworking class, and the students had designed personally meaningful pieces that they were in various stages of completing. One student shared her uniquely designed bookcase that was shaped like a tree.

Next, we learned how students in Grade 9-12 started playing guitar in Mr. Rutley’s class, and they entered either knowing very little about guitar to having played for some time. One student had chosen a popular song to play, and he said, “I can play it, and I didn’t know how to play guitar when I started.” The students were practicing for their test, and each had a personal challenge piece that was part of their exam.

Ms. Cacaci was teaching Grade 9 and 10 Art, and the students were working on their “big idea” project. Each student submits a proposal of a project that captures something of personal importance to them (a loss, a celebration, an issue of concern), and then choose to represent their thinking about that topic in an art form (painting, sculpture, wood work, fabric art) and a range of other modes of styles of creative expression. For example, one student focused on the importance of sustainability and the problem of plastics in the ocean by creating a jellyfish crocheted out of plastic.

Ms. Emery was teaching Pre-Calculus 11, and students were preparing for a test. They were working together on example problems and checking their thinking as they were working.

As we walked through the learning commons, students were settling in to work on their capstone projects and to engage in peer tutoring. It was a very busy place with enthusiastic learning happening across grades and subjects.

In English 11, Mr. Wereley was teaching poetry, and the students shared their progress. One student, Mackenzie, was working on women’s rights and the need to attend to identifying inequities and addressing them through “slam” poetry. Mr. Wereley explained, “This class has shown a lot of maturity in the topics that they have delved into and there is no one way to produce slam poetry. While we still focus on poetic devices, it is done as part of conveying a meaningful message.” Mr. Wereley also shared how he had Grade 10 students writing children’s books to their former selves. “It is another way to get students to care about their writing, and to consider the voice of their written work.”

We stopped to see what students were working on in “Flex” and in the Integrated Learning Centre. Ms. Dolha described these locations of learning as open to when students needed to have support while also encouraging them to be independent and to attend regular classes.

I spoke with Mr. Tommasini and Ms. Dolha about their work on student attendance and what they were learning about students’ needs to stay engaged in school. I also spoke with Principal Brady about the school learning plan and the collaborative work of staff.

WSS honours Black Excellence Day and Black History Month with Lesra Martin – January 16, 2025

In honour of Black Excellence Day on January 15 and in lead up to Black History Month in February, Lesra Martin, a motivational speaker, writer, and lawyer, visited Westsyde Secondary School (WSS) on Thursday, January 16 to speak to students and staff about hope, heart, and the human spirit. His presentation expressed the importance of education and how that shaped his life. Read more.

Bell Let’s Talk Day – January 22, 2025

Bell Let’s Talk Day is a focus on January 22, 2025, and it is intended to raise awareness and be one aspect that helps to normalize conversations about positive mental health, mental health struggles, and mental illness. In its 15th year, this year’s focus is on supporting youth mental health organizations and raising awareness for youth mental health struggles. Schools acknowledged Bell Let’s Talk Day in several ways, including school-wide announcements, class discussions about mental health, and projects to encourage conservation and awareness. As a District, we support mental health conversations and education on Bell Let’s Talk Day and throughout the year. Read more.

International Day of Education – AI and Education: Preserving human agency in a world of automation – January 24, 2025

The 2025 International Day of Education is about the power of education to equip individuals and communities to navigate, understand, and influence technological advancement. We seek to ethically advance education through AI, which takes the commitment of the Director of Curriculum, Carol DeFehr, who has been working with a group of staff to draft a District Framework for AI and now they are starting the process of getting feedback on their draft.

As computer and AI-driven systems become more sophisticated, the boundaries between human intention and machine-driven action often blur, raising critical questions about how to preserve, redefine, and elevate human agency ensuring the values of relationships/connections, well-being, sustainability, and equity are at the forefront of how we revise the District’s AI framework.

I hope that you enjoy the weekend and take time with your family and friends.

Rhonda Nixon, PhD
Superintendent

What Learning Looks Like . For Now

Wed, 01 Apr 2020 21:00:00 GMT

Teachers are finding ways to reconnect with students, helping them to continue learning, even in this time of social isolation. It’s not as big a stretch as people may think, as numerous helpful resources are being gathered and shared among educators to help them engage and work with their students.

“SD73 Teacher-Librarians have created a master list of curated K-12 resources, organized now in curriculum themes and grade groups,” said Sheryl Lindquist, District Principal, Curriculum and Instruction. “We will continue to put resources in place to help our teachers instruct in this new reality.”

District Coordinators and Resource Teachers are connecting with teachers across the district to offer ideas and support.

For example, a literacy learning at home framework is providing teacher resources for all grade levels for reading, writing and working with ebooks and audiobooks. When it comes to numeracy, the focus for younger grades will be on number sense, problem solving, and fun.

Teachers are finding ways to develop learning opportunities based on the global pandemic. In science, resources include online workshops and activities related to learning about pandemics and immunity. Fine Arts resources include finding ways to make music with whatever is in the home, and reflecting on students’ situations to develop photos, written reflections or art.

Technology is a key challenge, but it is also a huge learning opportunity. Support is being provided for students in keyboarding skills, and teachers who are comfortable with technology are reaching out to help others develop technical skills.

“The key here is to keep remembering we are all in uncharted territory,” said Lindquist. “We are focussed on finding a way forward without putting undue pressure on anyone, including teachers, students and parents. The most important thing is for each of us to take care of ourselves, and each other.”

SD73 Students Unplugged and Played More in January

Fri, 23 Feb 2024 20:30:00 GMT

Story provided by Andrea Wallin, District Library Learning Commons Coordinator

Over 8,613 SD73 students accepted the challenge to reduce screen time and play more during Unplug and Play Week!

In the 2022-2027 District Strategic Plan, our mission is to provide learning opportunities that inspire students to thrive. An important part of thriving in today’s world is to know when and how to “unplug” from our technologies and play outside, inside, and with others or by ourselves.

Aligned with the District strategic plan’s value of wellbeing, the annual Unplug and Play event fosters connection with family, promotes an awareness of finding a healthy balance, and encourages students to reduce screen time.

We believe it is important to promote the message of finding a healthy balance between active family time and recreational screen time. One way to motivate school-aged children to unplug is to offer them the Student Challenge. Students pledge to reduce recreational screen time for the week of January 20 - 28th and then reflect on the experience. Community partners offered free activities to participate in throughout the week.

Schools are sending their completed Student Challenges throughout the month of February. Student reflections at the back of the submitted student challenges will be read by the Unplug and Play team and used for future planning purposes.

Grade 1 -7 students reflected on their Unplug and Play experiences throughout the week -

Because I unplugged, I spent more time

“Outside in the fresh air!”

“With my family and doing crafts”

“Building with Lego, drawing and painting”

“Helping my mom”

My favourite activity was

“Going to the library”

“Bowling with my brother and cousin”

“Playing outside in the snow. Making a snowman with my sisters”

“Doing a science experiment with my mom”

Reducing my screen time made me feel

“I had more energy”

“Good! I liked playing with my family more.”

“Good! I had fun and laughed so much”

“Sad because I like TV but also happy because I played more with my family.”

“Bored at first but then I found fun things to do…I feel proud”

“Good…because it made my eyes feel good and I was active and got tired.”

“Less cranky!”

From a parent “the week was awesome…this is an important message to share - thank you!!!”

How to Become Your Child's Career Education Coach

Fri, 07 Oct 2022 16:45:00 GMT

To help parents navigate education and career options with their children, the district will host Parents as Education and Career Coaches, an interactive virtual workshop, on Tuesday Oct. 18, 2022.

The workshop is presented by EducationPlannerBC and will provide information to support decision-making about a wide range of careers. This session is for parents and guardians of students at all stages in their career-planning process, including those in grades 9 – 11 who are choosing which electives to take, as well as those in grade 12 who are getting ready for graduation.

EducationPlannerBC provides an innovative platform with timely, concise and accurate information on all public post-secondary education, training and related careers in British Columbia.

In this seminar, parents can expect:

An overview of all the resources available on EducationPlannerBC.ca
Various pathways available for students
Supports available at post-secondary institutions
Tips on scholarships and financial aid
Q & A

This 90-minute free, virtual workshop will begin at 7:00 PM. You can register here.

Become a Homestay Family

Wed, 06 Apr 2022 16:00:00 GMT

The District is seeking homestay families for September 2022.

In addition to helping a student from another country while they attend school, School District No. 73 has increased compensation for families to a rate of $1,000 per month per student. That is $5,000 per semester and $10,000 per school year.

“The experience of hosting an international student can be an important one in the life of a Homestay family,” said Kent Brewer, District Principal, International Student Program. “It creates great memories, offers new ways to learn about different cultures, and forges lifelong friendships and bonds.”

Your duties as a host family include providing a private room for each student, having regular meals with your student, assisting with school start-up routines, and providing guidance and support while the student studies in Kamloops. Families may host multiple students if they wish.

While families from all parts of the city are eligible for hosting, the greatest need for host families is in the Dallas/Barnhartvale, RLC, Juniper, and Valleyview neighbourhoods.

The experienced Homestay team works hard to match families with students of similar interests. Students are placed as close to the attending school as possible, often within walking distance or in an area served by a school or transit bus.

If you are interested in hosting one or more international students, or if you know a friend or family member who may wish to register as a host family, please contact our Homestay Manager, Leslee Faubert at lesleefaubert@shaw.ca.

For additional information, visit the Homestay page on the District website.

Equity in Action for Indigenous Learners

Tue, 23 Jun 2020 22:15:00 GMT

The SD73 Board of Education renewed its commitment to create equity for the district’s Indigenous learners at its regular Board meeting on June 22.

“We are doing significantly better than most other districts in the province with equity outcomes for Aboriginal learners,” said Mike Bowden, District Principal, Aboriginal Education. “However, as a district, we have not reached parity or equity for Aboriginal learners.”

Bowden updated the board on the district’s performance in The Equity Project, a province-wide effort to provide both parity and equity to Indigenous students that has been underway since 2015.

Compared to provincial five-year completion rates showing a 23 per cent gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous students, in SD73, this gap is 9 per cent – and the six-year completion rates, respectively, show an 18 per cent and a 5 per cent gap.

The work ahead is to completely close this gap.

“We are starting to recognize the barriers for Indigenous learners, and we better understand what needs to be done to address them to create equity.”

For example, Indigenous people are over-represented in low socio-economic status (SES) statistics. Although low SES is a prime indicator for low outcomes for students, Bowden said it is incorrect to assume this is why the gap for Indigenous students exists.

“The research shows that even without SES as a factor, Indigenous populations continue to struggle with equity in the education system as compared to non-Indigenous students,” Bowden said. “The assumption is that giving people equal treatment means everyone benefits from the same supports. In an equitable system, existing barriers are addressed by giving people support they need. Once barriers are removed and the causes of inequity are addressed and everyone has equity, we will be able to achieve parity.”

SD73 is three years into this work, as one of the seven districts initially involved in The Equity Project. This year, half the districts in the province are a part of the project. By the next year or two, Bowden said the Ministry of Education would like to have every district in the province enrolled and focused on bringing equity and parity in education to Indigenous Learners across BC.

Superintendent's Update

Sat, 11 Jan 2025 00:30:00 GMT

Dear Parents and Caregivers:

As we start a new year, we are focused on getting back into the rhythm of school and work, and nurturing important Relationships/Connections, a core value of the 2022-2027 District Strategic Plan.

Arthur Hatton Elementary School – January 7, 2025

Arthur Hatton Elementary was my first school visit in the New Year. It was a wonderful visit, and it started when I approached the school and noticed Grade 6 and 7 students were on a walk to start their day. Principal Charron said, “It is how we start our day. Students engage in physical activity and have fun together through the BOKS program.” BOKS is a physical activities program supported by Healthy Schools BC, and many schools integrate it into their weekly routine to get students moving, playing, and having fun to engage with each other and start the school day positively.

Next, we joined Ms. Spooner’s, Dundass’, and Fehst’s Grade 4-5 classes in the gym for their BOKS. Students were taking on the “inchworm” relays where they raced in the pose of a plank which was difficult as it strengthens their core. Through discussion, I commented that this would be a good exercise for me, and the teachers commented that they join students and they can feel their muscles hurt afterwards. Thank you for taking the time to be well physically, socially, and emotionally alongside your students.

As we continued on our visit, Ms. Pineo’s Kindergarten class was experiencing a “soft start” where some students were reading picture books and others were playing in centres. She described how since the start of the New Year, she is excited to turn calendar time into a game where students locate missing information. “It has really turned calendar time into problem solving, and students are excited to see what numbers and words are missing and to help find them.”

Ms. Hunter’s class was reviewing some word work, and Ms. McMillan’s Grade 2 classes were working on sentences and writing and completing them in a whole class exercise.

Ms. Gustafson’s Grade 3 class was practicing an auditory exercise, where they would hear a sound or sound blend and then write it on white boards. Ms. Charron said, “It has been good to use the UFLI resource to build the reading-writing connection.”

Ms. McTaggart’s Grade 1-2 students were counting on the calendar, and she shared how they also enjoy doing the “Alphabet Jive”. Mr. Aitken’s class was working on spelling following drama, and Ms. Silva’s class was searching to put their body on something of a certain color. For example, “Put your nose on something grey.” They enjoyed waiting for the next instruction and searching for multiple colors.

Ms. Bailey’s Kindergarten class was working on sign language and also recognizing the Alphabet and Secwepemctsín words. The integration of multiple literacies to communicate has been a focus within and across grades. Ms. Charron said, “I find that we can see sign language happening in many grades; it has become part of how we communicate.”

We entered Strong Start where parents and grandparents were enjoying playing and learning alongside their children.

Grade 4-5 classrooms where each group was working on identifying shapes, exploring attributes, and developing a common language of how to articulate similarities and differences between them.

Upcoming Parent Engagement Session: Supporting Children and Youth with Autism

The next Parent Engagement Session is focused on promoting and supporting functional and executive functioning skills in the home for children and youth with autism. This virtual workshop will be held on Wednesday, February 26, 2025, from 6:00–7:30 pm. If you are interested in attending, please learn more and register in advance here.

Welcome back! I hope that you have a wonderful start to your new year.

Enjoy your weekend.

Rhonda Nixon, PhD
Superintendent

Honouring Long Service and Celebrating Connection

Fri, 13 Jun 2025 19:00:00 GMT

Story provided by Chelsea Isenor, Director of Communications and Board Administration

On June 11, 2025, the Kamloops-Thompson School District and Board of Education recognized and celebrated long service employees and retirees who have reached momentous milestones in their careers in the District.

The District’s annual Long Service and Retirement Reception is an important employee appreciation celebration that honours teachers, principals, vice principals, administrators, support staff, and all employee groups who have either reached a milestone year of service or are retiring.

Board Chair Heather Grieve shared a heartfelt message of gratitude and congratulations on behalf of the Board: “We see the impact you have on the students and families within our districts. If it were for all of you, our students wouldn’t feel as connected to the buildings and schools that help connect them to their passions and get them to graduation. To each and every one of you, whether it's been 10, 20, 30 years or more or whether you're retiring, take a moment to celebrate and reflect on the number of people that you have impacted and know that your impact will be felt long after you've moved on to your next chapter. On behalf of the Board of Education, we want to express our gratitude to you for all of your service, for the impact you’ve had on families and caregivers, and for being part of our school district community. Kukwstsétsemc and congratulations.”

Messages of gratitude and appreciation were also shared by employee partner groups CUPE 3500, the Kamloops Thompson Teachers' Association (KTTA), and the Kamloops Thompson Principals and Vice Principals' Association (KTPVPA).

CUPE 3500 President Dawn Armstrong shared, “Each one of you here today have made connections in your everyday work with the people you interact with, and through those connections you have made a difference in someone's day for the better, whether you know it or not. This workplace is better off for your presence in it.”

KTTA President Laurel Macpherson added, “Your dedication to SD73 is greatly appreciated. We are gathered here to celebrate the incredible journey each of you has undertaken in your commitment to education… The friendships and professional relationships you’ve formed here have been invaluable, creating a supportive community that fosters both personal and professional growth.”

Former KTPVPA President Deanna Brady reflected, “It is an honour to recognize and celebrate the incredible individuals who have dedicated so many years of service to our school district—teachers, support staff, administration, and all employee groups who make up the heart of SD73. Each of you has contributed in meaningful and lasting ways. You made a difference everyday, not just through your skills and expertise but through the way you care, listen, encourage, and show up for students, families, and colleagues—it's in these everyday moments that your impact has been felt.”

To formally honour their years of work and commitment, employees with 10 to 45 years of service were welcomed to the stage by John Wiedrick, Associate Superintendent of Human Resources, to receive their certificates and shake hands with trustees. Retirees from the 2024-2025 school year were also recognized for their years of contributions and commitment.

This annual celebration highlights one of the District’s main key values from the 2022-2027 District Strategic Plan, Connection and Relationships. As friends and colleagues reminisced, reconnected, and shared stories throughout the evening, it was clear how deeply rooted those relationships are, and how profoundly they have shaped the SD73 community.

The Bright Red Book Bus is Back for Another Summer of Stories

Tue, 24 Jun 2025 15:45:00 GMT

Story provided by Chelsea Isenor, Director of Communications and Board Administration

The Bright Red Book Bus is gearing up to share the joy of reading with local families this summer. From June 30 to August 15, 2025, the Bright Red Book Bus will be on the road visiting various school sites and city parks in Kamloops. Families can visit the bus in their neighbourhoods to participate in story walks, games, activities, and more.

Now in its 11th year, this cheerful red bus has become a familiar sight at local schools and parks throughout the summer. It is more than a mobile library—it is a beloved summer tradition for local families. Packed with brand-new and gently used books, the Bright Red Book Bus provides free books for kids of all ages right in their own neighborhoods.

Each child who visits the Bright Red Book Bus gets to choose a book to take home, read, and keep. This experience bus helps build excitement around reading, creates strong reading habits over the summer, and combats the summer reading slide that can become common while school is out for the summer.

This literacy initiative is about more than just handing out free books, it is about empowering families to read and build literacy skills together. Distributing over 34,000 books since its inception, the Bright Red Book Bus has helped develop a community of young, excited readers.

2025 Summer Schedule:

Day	Locations	Time
Monday	Parkcrest Elementary	10:00 am – Noon
Monday	Westsyde Centennial Park	1:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Tuesday	Lloyd George Elementary	10:00 am – Noon
Tuesday	Beattie Elementary	1:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Wednesday	Dufferin Elementary	10:00 am – Noon
Wednesday	Albert McGowan Park	1:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Thursday	AE Perry Elementary	10:00 am – Noon
Thursday	Prince Charles Park	1:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Friday	Marion Schilling Elementary	10:00 am – Noon
Friday	John Tod Centre	1:00 pm – 3:00 pm

For more information and updates, visit the Bright Red Book Bus Facebook page.

Launched with seed money from the local Stollery Charitable Foundation in 2014 with encouragement from Spencer and Janet Bryson of Kamloops, the Bright Red Book Bus is a community partnership, primarily between the Kamloops-Thompson School District, Literacy in Kamloops (LinK), and BGC Kamloops (formerly Boys and Girls Club of Kamloops). This literacy program is also made possible thanks to the support of funding partners, including Raise a Reader and CML Properties.

In the 2022-2027 District Strategic Plan, the Kamloops-Thompson School District is committed to supporting students to develop foundational literacy skills and to develop a passion for multi-literacies. The Bright Red Book Bus is one initiative that helps to promote joyful reading and interesting conversations for students and their families.

Superintendent's Update

Sat, 07 Dec 2024 00:30:00 GMT

Dear Parents and Caregivers:

December stories focus on the core value of Well-being (emotional, psychological, physical, environmental) and the Grandfather Teaching of Wisdom in our 2022-2027 District Strategic Plan. As schools are preparing for winter concerts, there is a sense of celebration and anticipation of the winter break. Thank you for everything you do to help further students' learning and enjoyment of the season.

Rayleigh Elementary School – November 28, 2024

Principal Conroy and Ms. Gauley shared how they have launched a survey for parents, staff, and students to learn firsthand what is going well and what could improve in their school. This experience of reaching out to learn from diverse perspectives on their school programming and activities has been an enriching experience. Principal Conroy said, “We enjoy seeing ideas that are shared, and it is always good to learn what we can improve upon as a school.”

Principal Conroy also highlighted how “Roots of Empathy” was restarted this year thanks to community volunteer facilitators stepping forward and is supported by Mrs. Stewart (Kindergarten) and Ms. Gauley’s Grade 6-7 class. Every Tuesday, facilitators come to the school to share ways to care for a baby. Mr. Conroy shared pictures of the babies who are key to the success of this special caregiving program.

We visited Ms. Rempel’s Grade 2-3 class, and they were reading their first novels and studying elements such as characters, setting, and plot while also focusing on their fluency. They engaged in what was “popcorn” reading.

Mrs. Stewart’s Kindergarten class was playing BINGO where children had to listen and identify numbers and stand up when they had a row correct. It was very exciting to hear the enthusiastic “BINGOs”.

Next, we met with Library Assistant, Ms. Parenteau, who shared some of the exciting work that is happening in the Library. “We have lunch time in the library on colder days, where students can bring a book and read.” It has been very successful, and they have expanded it to “Bring a book and a friend”. Ms. Parenteau shared, “The other day, a student thanked me for this opportunity because some students really need different outlets in addition to going outside.” After this, we connected with Ms. Cavlek who was working with a student to deliver milk and yogurt to classes as part of their snack program.

Ms. MacBurney’s Grade 4 students were reading “Once Upon a Sari” and sharing connections (text-text, text-self, text-world). They were also writing about what they most enjoyed about this time of year.

Mr. Conroy introduced me to Carol, a longtime community volunteer in the school who happily showed me how she loves to decorate bulletin boards with student artwork.

Finally, Ms. Hendry’s Grade 4-5 students were writing about baking, especially their favourite Christmas cookies.

Juniper Ridge Elementary School – December 3, 2024

Principal Steptoe and I first enjoyed a presentation in the hallways by Ms. Waters about the “9 Days of Giving” for the local food bank. Ms. Waters and her students engage Ms. Mulholland’s Kindergarten class in collecting food, weighing it, communicating how much was collected, and sorting it to make it easier to take to the Food Bank. There will be a pizza party prize for the class that collects the most food.

Ms. Klassen’s Grade 3 class participated in a numbers game that was focused on practicing understanding of operations. Ms. Pagnotta’s Grade 3 students were “skip counting” and supporting each other to check their work. Ms. Card’s Grade 2 class was involved in one-on-one word work. Ms. Sears’ Grade 2s were practicing individual sounds and blends and sharing them out loud.

We met with Kim and Sarah, volunteers who have been preparing meals for all students on “Tasty Tuesdays”. They shared information about the meals program that includes pastas, chili, or mac and cheese, and always provides an assortment of fruits and veggies. Students bring their own containers, and they explained, “Some students who forget their containers will use their own ‘just-finished’ containers of food.” It is only their third week, and when Ms. Steptoe and I entered one class, a student commented on how they could hardly wait to see what was for lunch. This meal program was made possible by the expansion of their kitchen and funds for food provided by the Feeding Futures funding.

Ms. Champness’ Kindergarten class told me about their “Elf on a Shelf” who does some unpredictable things like messing up their classroom. They also shared their understanding of certain sounds like “ch” for “chop, chop”. Ms. Champness increased the difficulty by saying “If I take away ‘m’ from man and add ‘v’, we get…and the class said ‘van’”.

Ms. Beck’s Grade 2-3 class was engaged in journal writing and then they shared parts of their journal with the class on their carpet. After students read aloud a part of their journal, others provided positive feedback such as, “I noticed… that you had a lot of details like the description of the elf.”

Ms. Laura’s Grade 5-6 class was preparing for a play, “The Gingerbread Dude”, and they were working in small groups and each student was taking on certain parts.

Ms. Colclough’s Grade 5 Math class was finishing their counting and some students had free time to draw or read. A student, Serenity, chose to give Ms. Steptoe an award for “being the best principal!”

Universal Human Rights Month – December

Universal Human Rights Month is honoured every December as a way to recognize the importance of basic human rights for everyone. In the decades since the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) in 1948, human rights have become recognised across the globe. Human Rights Day is celebrated on December 10, 2024, and this year’s theme is “Our Rights, Our Future, Right Now.” Read more about Human Rights Day and this year’s theme here.

Sníne Elementary Community Engagement

With the District’s newest school, Sníne Elementary, currently being built and anticipated to be opened in the Fall 2026, we are engaging with school communities who would be sending students to the new school. We’ve enjoyed connecting with Sa-Hali Secondary, Aberdeen Elementary, McGowan Park Elementary, Dufferin Elementary, South Kamloops Secondary, and Summit Elementary staff and parents, and held a webinar on December 4, 2024. To see the maps of the proposed catchment change, and the webinar presentation (PDF, video), please go here.

It is a busy time in school and out of school with family and friends. I hope that you take some time to get outside and enjoy what you love most to do.

Rhonda Nixon, PhD
Superintendent

The Kamloops-Thompson Board of Education Welcomes Mike McKay as Superintendent and Harold Cull as Secretary-Treasurer

Mon, 07 Jul 2025 22:15:00 GMT

On behalf of the Kamloops-Thompson Board of Education, Board Chair Heather Grieve is pleased to announce that the Board has reached an agreement with Mike McKay to fulfill the position of Superintendent, commencing immediately and ending December 31, 2025, by which time the Board will have appointed a new Superintendent to lead the district.

Mike McKay has worked in several school districts and at the Ministry of Education and Child Care over a long career in education. He served as Superintendent/CEO in Saanich and subsequently in Surrey and has supported several districts before and following his retirement.

Board Chair Heather Grieve commented “Mr. McKay brings extensive leadership experience and a steady, collaborative approach that will help guide the district through this transitional period.”

McKay joins Harold Cull as members of the Board’s executive team. Mr. Cull was recently appointed as Secretary-Treasurer until December 31, 2025. Mr. Cull was previously the Secretary-Treasurer at Sooke School District and has extensive experience working in the public sector.

Recruitment for both the Superintendent and Secretary-Treasurer positions will commence early in the Fall.

Students Send Notes of Encouragement to Evacuees and Volunteers

Tue, 30 Nov 2021 16:00:00 GMT

SD73 students provided notes of encouragement and hope to those affected by the recent floods in Merritt.

“When Marion Schilling students learned of Merritt families being displaced from their homes and staying in Kamloops, they felt compelled to write words of empathy and encouragement,” explained Marion Schilling teacher Jennifer Jones. “Many classes in our school, and a class at David Thompson Elementary, took the time to write little cards or notes to express their sympathy of the challenging time, provide encouragement to stay strong, and share their wishes to make them feel welcome while they stay in Kamloops. My class, who loves no other subject more than PE, was begging to have more time to write notes once they had gotten started.”

Jones, who is among 200 volunteers with the City of Kamloops Emergency Support Services (ESS), was personally able to deliver the notes and cards to the Emergency Supports Services Reception Centre.

“The notes were so darn cute,” said Rebecca Cooke, ESS Coordinator. “The artwork was given out to evacuees and volunteers and hung on the walls of the ESS volunteer breakroom to provide a pick-me-up when volunteers were needing something to brighten their day.”

Jones also posted photos of the cards to Merritt-area social media channels as a way for more people to feel the positivity the students were hoping to create. “It was pretty epic to be able to report back to our students the level of impact they had on our Merritt neighbours,” recalled Jones, on the overwhelming number of comments and private messages that have been received as part of this project.

“We know we didn't solve the problems they're being faced with, but just to know that some smiles were a result is a pretty great feeling.”

2025 Young Authors Conference Kicks Off with Virtual Workshops

Thu, 20 Feb 2025 22:30:00 GMT

Story provided by Chelsea Isenor, Director of Communications and Board Administration

In the 2022-2027 District Strategic Plan, the Kamloops-Thompson School District is committed to supporting students to develop foundational literacy skills by providing diverse learning opportunities that promote joyful reading, thoughtful written responses, and interesting conversations.

On Friday, February 14, 2025, the District kicked off this year’s Young Authors Conference with the 2025 ‘For the Love of Writing’ Virtual Launch. Elementary and secondary students from schools and classes across the District participated in virtual writing workshops offered on Zoom, which included lessons on comedic writing, character building, horror writing, and writing the unexpected.

To start the day, Grade 4–5 students brainstormed laugh-out-loud writing ideas in the ‘Comedic Devices in Writing Workshop’ led by Miranda Krogstad, a TEDx speaker, bestselling author, spoken word poet, and workshop facilitator. Grade 8-12 students started their day with ‘The 'Trick Or Treat' Horror Writing Workshop’ focused on storytelling and genre writing with Andrew Buckley, a film school-educated writer and traditional and self-published novelists.

Later in the day, Grade 6-7 students learned about character development and world building in the ‘Building Characters and Worlds Workshop’ with David A. Robertson, an author and Governor General's Literary Award winner. In the afternoon, secondary students participated in ‘Make It Weird: Writing the Unexpected’ to unleash their inner (or not so inner) weirdness and investigate the odd and unexpected with Finnian Burnett, an author whose work has appeared CBC books, Blank Spaces Magazine, Pulp Literature, the Daily Science Fiction, and more.

During this final workshop of the day, author Finnian Burnett shared with students, “One thing you learn as you get older and become who you are is that embracing your weirdness can be a really wonderful thing.”

At Juniper Ridge Elementary School, Grade 5-6 students learned about developing characters in writing by "doodling" their own character from a list of character types. Students were then taught how to add details to make their character descriptions more thorough and help the reader picture their characters while learning to add three positive character traits and one bad trait or disadvantage to the character. The workshop also taught them how to use their character's perspective in their writing. Students also commented that the workshop taught them about the "bones" of a story, including theme, character, setting, plot, problem, and solution.

After the workshop, Juniper Ridge students shared their favourite parts and how the activities improved their writing, including “I liked getting to see an actual real author that wrote 33 books,” and “the author taught me how to get ideas down when I am stumped.” One student expressed how much they enjoyed the doodle exercise, sharing, “I liked doodling my ideas and that it didn't need to look pretty and that it could be messy. It all came together in the end.”

Throughout the day, students developed new skills in creativity and writing, while gaining valuable tools and experiences they can take with them to develop their 2025 Young Authors projects.

For over 45 years, the Young Authors Conference has offered opportunities for SD73 students to develop a passion for multi-literacies, including reading and writing. This year’s in-person conference will be held on May 2, 2025. Learn more at sd73youngauthors.weebly.com

District Honours Celebrates Top Graduating Students

Wed, 05 Jun 2024 17:30:00 GMT

Story provided by Chelsea Isenor, Director of Communications and Board Administration

The mission of the Kamloops-Thompson School District, as outlined in the 2022-2027 District Strategic Plan, is to support learning opportunities and environments which inspire students to thrive academically, socially, emotionally, and physically. On Thursday, May 30, 2024, this mission was at the forefront as we celebrated the accomplishments of Graduating students at the 46th Annual District Honours Recognition reception.

“To achieve District Honours is a noteworthy accomplishment,” shared Board Chair Heather Grieve. “You have persisted through significant challenges and proven that you can thrive in a world that is changing rapidly. You have demonstrated leadership skills that will contribute to what promises to be a hopeful future. The Board of Education is extremely proud of all that you have accomplished academically and personally.”

District Honours celebrates our District's highest achieving students, whose marks place them in the top five percent of all graduating students. The 2024 Kamloops-Thompson Honours Class includes 69 Grade 12 students from schools across the District. Each of these students not only achieved academic success but also demonstrated commitment, skill, and determination in other areas such as sports, fine arts, trades, extracurricular activities, and community service.

“A heartfelt congratulations to you this year’s District Honours graduates. I am confident that each of these students has developed competencies such as the ability to collaborate, communicate, and to think critically and creatively, to name a few, which will equip them to continue to thrive into the next phase of their adult lives,” shared Superintendent, Dr. Rhonda Nixon.

The evening’s celebrations were led by Danielle Ripley and Andrew Humphrey, the student masters of ceremonies. The evening highlighted the musical talents of Kamloops School of the Arts student Mandisa Volo, who beautifully sang “O’Canada” and “At Last” by Etta James; and the South Kamloops Secondary School Jazz Combo who performed “Daahoud” by Clifford Brown as well as a compilation of other pieces throughout the evening. Fine arts were on display with several students’ art pieces displayed throughout the room.

Patrick Gu, Ross Dickson Award Winner and District Honours Recipient 2023, shared encouraging words for the graduates with humour and heart: “When you are moving into adulthood, as you are now, you are bound to have failures, maybe in your academic life or personally, but I don't think you should do anything expecting to fail. Being here today, you’ve already demonstrated your capabilities, and I’m sure you have talents in more than academics too, and your talents are reason to be confident in yourself moving forward… We are here today not, in essence, to celebrate the knowledge and skills you’ve gained over your past 13 years in school, it is to recognize the strength of character you’ve built, to celebrate your persistence, your curiosity, and your drive.”

Congratulations to all the District Honours graduates!

@KOOL: SIENNA ANGOVE, NAYTE BROWN, PAULA ERLER, NORAH MACAULAY
Barriere Secondary: GAVEN EUSTACHE, ALEXIS NELSON, FRASER SCHILLING
Chase Secondary: SAM FIDDICK, ELIAS HARVEY, PARIS MICHEL, KERA WILLIAMS
Clearwater Secondary: SOREN COATES, REID MUDDIMAN, SAYA STELTER
Kamloops School of the Arts: ASHA MILLER, MANDISA VOLO
Logan Lake Secondary: COLE KRUSCHEL, JOSEPH REKKEN, NICHOLAS STOGNEFF
Norkam Senior Secondary: MIRELA CARDOZO, AMY CROCKER, BRIDGIT DANGERFIELD, KYLIE DRAEGER, EMMA EHMAN, KIRAN FELLENZ, ROBYN LEWIS, KADENCE MARTIN, SHEYANNE MCCAULEY, ARES NAZARUK, NAGISA OISHI, CAMDYN PEACE, MADI ROSE NEWMAN, AMRITA SANDHU, ZACH VENINSKY
Sa-Hali Secondary: JULIA CROFOOT, AVERY FERGUSON, ANDREW HUMPHREY, CARTER KRELL, JUNSEO LEE, LANDON LEMIRE, MELODY RICHARDSON, DANIELLE RIPLEY, JENNA ROBERTS, EMILY WATERMAN, LAUREN ZAHARIA
South Kamloops Secondary: GRACE BOEHM, KRISTIN CAMPBELL, QUILLA DECKER, TIANA DIKE, KAYLA DIXON, JOCELYN IMUS, KIANA KACZUR, KYLEE KOPPES, MCKENNA LIEN, MADELEINE MCGUINNESS, ABIGAIL SPENCER, XAVIER WALLACE, HUXLEY WENDLEND
Twin Rivers Education Centre: LUCAS CARLSON, MIKEY FRIESEN, ANABELLE LIVINGSTON
Valleyview Secondary: BRINLY ATHERTON, ZAHRA AMOR, JULIA BLACKFORD, NICOLE COLISTRO, ALIYAH DENEAULT, TAYLOR GRAY, DAVIS KLOHN, JENNA OKRAINETZ, LEIF PETERSEN, DANIKA SCHULTZ, JANNA SEABY, SYDNEY STONE, JADA WALCH
Westsyde Secondary: KADENCE DENEEF, SUNNY FRANZEN, CHEYANNE KINGSLEY, KENDRA LUISON, DYLAN SHEA, MYA STRUTZ, AVA ZIRNHELT

Superintendent's Update

Sat, 02 Dec 2023 01:00:00 GMT

Dear Parents and Caregivers:

In my December updates, I will share school and District stories that illuminate the values of wellbeing – fostering opportunities to promote emotional, psychological, and physical wellbeing) and the Grandfather Teaching of Wisdom – role modeling hard work to guide communities and listening to advice of diverse perspectives. I will also highlight priorities and values which are part of the 2022-2027 District Strategic Plan.

NorKam Senior Secondary School - Nov. 28

Principal Sdoutz and I visited Ms. Orlando who shared with us her extensive work with students to run breakfast and lunch programs in the school. She showed us the fridge stocked by the Boys and Girls Club and several students stopped to share the importance of this opportunity to have fresh snacks (veggies, fruits) that are available to everyone. Students work with a team of staff who support them to earn extra credits by preparing recipes using a weekly planning board.

We stopped to see Ms. Fletcher’s Remembrance Day competition in which students had written in varied genres (letters, poems, songs) from the points of view of individuals experiencing war. Mr. Pendergast’s International Baccalaureate (IB) 12 class was studying megacities to understand how living in such contexts is commonplace, and we experience the benefits of growth as well as the inequities in wealth and results of overcrowding and pollution. Mr. Morgan’s Math 10 class was engaged in trigonometry and Mr. Bauhuis’s IB Math 11 class was invested in learning about logarithms.

Mr. Secret’s IB Social 10 students were examining how to assess whether a society could be characterized as democratic by applying criteria to different countries’ political systems. Ms. Davidson’s Entrepreneurship class was creating games to share their business ideas.

International Day for People with Disabilities - Dec. 3

International Day of Persons with Disabilities is celebrated every year on December 3rd.

“This day is about highlighting the rights and well-being of persons with disabilities at every level of society and development,” shared Board Chair Heather Grieve. “It is also about recognizing what the barriers are as we talk to people who navigate challenging physical and social contexts in their daily lives.” Read more.

District Parents’ Advisory Council (DPAC)

The District Parents’ Advisory Council hosted information sessions, dinner, child care with the help of Brock students and a wonderful jazz ensemble group from SKSS on Tuesday, November 28, 2023.

As well, SD73 DPAC running a Logo Contest! Contest runs from November 3, 2023 to Jan 30, 2024. Read more.

December is a month that brings joy- lights, concerts, and events as well as the promise of having time to be with those we love and care about over the holiday season. May you enjoy this month and take time to enjoy family and friends this weekend.

Rhonda Nixon, PhD

Superintendent

Board Notes from December 15, 2025

Thu, 18 Dec 2025 22:45:00 GMT

For updates from the regular meeting of the Board of Education, featuring Kamloops-Thompson Honour Choir Performance, AP 314: Response to Unexpected Health Emergencies, Family of Schools Mid-Year Review, and more, read Board Notes here.

10-Point Employee Engagement Action Plan Spring Update

Mon, 17 Jun 2019 23:00:00 GMT

1. By December 2019 train everyone in leadership positions on addressing concerns in the workplace.

Led by Darlene Doricic, Manager Disability and Attendance, the committee is drafting organizational charts for various departments, worksites, and schools with the intent to outline a clear reporting structure in terms of which 'Leader' is expected to supervise and address concerns for each position in their department or building. The charts will also outline different types of supervisory and management functions and a protocol for appropriately addressing concerns. The goal is to roll these charts out to district leaders by Fall 2019.

2. In the 2010-2020 school year, ensure all employees are provided an opportunity to write non-evaluative professional growth plans to seek feedback from staff/colleagues/students.

The committee, led by Christine Loney, Manager Finance, has shared its plan with stakeholder representatives (KTTA, CUPE3500, and KTPVPA).

Development of the professional growth plan (PGP) materials and the process will take place from July - September. Once piloting of the PGP process is complete in the fall, feedback on the pilot will be essential to refine the process before rolling it out to the entire school district in early 2020. If you are interested in participating in the pilot, please contact your union representative or Christine Loney.

3. By Sept. 2019 adopt an Employee Code of Conduct which formally communicates the standard of conduct expected in SD73.

Led by Shayne Olsen, Associate Superintendent Human Resources, the Employee Code of Conduct has been included as Administrative Procedure (404) and will be approved by the Board of Education in August. School leaders and managers will introduce the code of conduct to employees in September.

4. Immediately initiate an Employee Policy Advisory Committee comprised of representatives from all employee groups to provide input into the development of policy.

The Employee Advisory Committee, Nicole Edmondson (CUPE), Lorraine Balogh (KTTA), Jake Schmidt (KTPVPA), and Darlene Doricic (Excluded) have provided input on the Employee Code of Conduct and Sexual Misconduct policies. Over the course of the next year, the committee will review existing administrative procedures at each monthly meeting.

5. By Sept. 2019 revise current Board-sponsored employee recognition program to include a greater level of personalization.

Based upon recommendations put forward by the Employee Recognition Committee, the Board of Education approved revisions to the current Employee Recognition Program. The program has now been expanded to include recognition for 10 and 15 years of service, in addition to the existing recognition for 20, 25, 30,35, 40, and 45 years of service. Options will be provided for each level of recognition; these options will include activity passes, arts and culture tickets, and gift items intended to support the local economy. A special reception will be held each year for those employees wishing for public recognition, which employees’ spouses will be welcome to attend. For those who choose to be recognized at their worksite, the presentations will be made by the employee’s administrator or direct supervisor (or a fellow staff member of their choosing), with trustees attending to present the gift and offer words of congratulations. These revisions will be in place for the 2019/20 school year.

6. Immediately, and on a monthly basis, highlight employees’ work on SD73’s website. The monthly Superintendent’s Report includes an ‘Our People’ feature highlighting employees’ work throughout the district. These features can currently be found in the What’s Happening area of the website and will be published on the MYSD73 (the intranet) homepage once it is live in Sept. 2019

7. By Nov. 2019, invite a team of employees from each worksite to develop a plan to improve employee recognition in their workplace.

Knowing that each worksite and building consists of varied cultures, the committee supports a series of best practices recommendations that could be customized to each site. The committee is currently evaluating next steps which may include a survey, and a request to employee groups to consider becoming part of a district-wide sub-committee.

8. By June 2019, make available the results of the overall district survey at several district meetings hosted by Humanworks.

Humanworks hosted meetings on May 27 at the HGEC at noon and 4 pm, with the later meeting being broadcast to Clearwater, Barriere, Logan Lake, and Chase.

9. In the spring and fall, communicate updates in the Superintendent’s Report regarding progress in addressing the recommendations. This is your spring update.

10. In the spring of 2020, survey all employees to measure the impact on employee engagement and satisfaction. Plans are underway to create this survey. More information will be provided in the Fall update.

SD73 Acknowledges World Mental Health Day

Tue, 10 Oct 2023 21:15:00 GMT

World Mental Health Day is an international day for global mental health education, awareness and advocacy against social stigma. Our acknowledgment of this day aligns with our value of well-being as outlined in our District Strategic Plan.

In celebration of World Mental Health Day, School District No. 73, in partnership with the City of Kamloops, is hosting a Health Literacy Forum for over 600 grade 6 students and their teachers on October 25, 2023, at the Tournament Capital Centre. This year’s forum aims to highlight teaching practices that support Mental Health Promotion by focusing on cultivating curiosity, compassion, connection and community.

Have you ever wondered how student mental health needs are addressed at school? It’s simple - by doing what schools do best - developing literacy.

Good mental health happens when students learn about:

Maintaining their mental health
Reducing stigma
Understanding various states of wellbeing
How to get help if they need it

The good news is that mental health literacy can be taught just like any other school subject. Just like teachers can teach literacy, numeracy, and physical literacy, they can teach mental health literacy. Students can use this skill in their own lives with their families and their friends. It is important to start the conversation, develop a shared language, and together, promote positive mental health for students & staff alike.

On this World Mental Health Day, we invite you to take a moment and to focus on your own mental health and well-being. Looking for ideas? Check out these linked resources.

SD73 remains dedicated to promoting well-being by creating opportunities that support emotional, psychological, and physical wellness for both our students and staff.

La Bella Saints Hairdressing Students Shine

Mon, 09 Dec 2019 20:00:00 GMT

NorKam Senior Secondary students and staff of the Hairdressing Program showcased their talents Dec. 4 at a Presentation of Learning event. Each of the 10 students currently enrolled in the program spoke about their progress in the program.

"This program is a lot harder than people think,” said Adrian Parker, Hairdressing teacher. “It involves biology, chemistry and physiology and critical thinking skills.”

Parker is a Red Seal stylist who has been in the industry for over thirty years. The NorKam full-service hair salon is known as La Bella Saints.

Students regularly compete at the Skills Canada Hairdressing competitions, and a number of students have won gold, silver and bronze medals. La Bella Saints alumni have worked on movie sets and in salons in Kamloops, Alberta, Australia and New Zealand.

The program runs February to December, includes both classroom and in-salon work in the community, and it is certified by the Industry Training Authority of BC (ITA – BC). Students graduate from the program as a level one apprentice. Students write a Certificate of Qualification Exam with ITA-BC, and have the opportunity to become Red Seal Hairstylists.

Part of the learning includes styling hair for clients from the community.

Grade 10 and 11 students from across the district can apply through the Trades and Transitions coordinator in their school.

Robbins Range is Reborn

Tue, 31 May 2022 17:45:00 GMT

SD73 students are once again flocking to an old schoolhouse that was once used over a century ago.

After a two-year COVID closure, Robbins Range Heritage School’s doors are open again, providing elementary students with a living museum experience. Classes visit the school in May and June for full or half day sessions and participate in authentic historical activities.

“At Robbins Range, students participate in experiential learning as they go back in time as students in an early 1900s one-room schoolhouse,” said Lisa Carson, Director of Instruction. “The power of the experience is compounded when students reflect on how they learn today.”

Historic lessons include singing "God Save the King" and reciting the Lord's Prayer, as well as classic instructional approaches to standard curricular subjects such as arithmetic, writing with quill pens, spelling bees, and more. Recess and lunch time games include stilts, rolling hoops, jacks, marbles, tug of war, and other traditional pastimes.

“Connecting role play and fun to an immersive experience creates a lasting memory of much more than a field trip,” said Carson.

A dedicated Robbins Range host leads the class field trips where students are introduced to a stricter educational experience; some may even find themselves in the dunce cap.

“My experience as the resource aide has been enjoyable and beneficial,” said Lamech Fuzzen, Robbins Range teacher and 1^st year Thompson Rivers University Bachelor of Education student. “For the children, the opportunity is just as rewarding as I have found it. Students are exposed to an environment that is different than what they are used to while having experiences that they likely will never get again and didn't know existed.”

The single-room schoolhouse was originally built in 1916 and operated above Barnhartvale as a local public school for rural students ranging from grade 1 to grade 9 until 1954. In 1985, the building was relocated to its current location on the former Pineridge Elementary School site on Springview Place in Kamloops.

Student and Staff Champions Celebrate Pride Month

Thu, 30 May 2024 19:45:00 GMT

One of the goals of the 2022-2027 District Strategic Plan is for every learner to feel safe and thrive personally. The District strives to create educational experiences that are free of discrimination, sexism, harassment, and homophobia.

Elementary and Secondary students from schools across the District, SOGI (Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity) Champions, can include 2SLGBTQIA+ identifying students looking for a sense of community as well as students who are interested in promoting diversity and inclusion as Allies in their schools—these student voices lead conversations around what support and change is needed in school settings.

On Tuesday, May 21, 2024, 45 youth from Grades 7–12 attended a SOGI Champions session to learn from local community organizations, including Kamloops Pride, Safe Spaces, RCMP, and PFLAG (Parents, Families, and Friends of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender People). Students attended from Valleyview, NorKam, SKSS, and Westsyde secondary schools, Brocklehurst Middle School, as well as Juniper, Dallas, Marion Schilling, and Lloyd George elementary schools.

The day was filled with engagement, resources, and discussions to foster understanding and acceptance. As Dyan Gunnlaugson, David Thompson Elementary School Principal stated: “Students learned from various community organizations and, importantly, from one another. I witnessed students grow in their sense of safety and become more empowered as they learned how to engage with peers and staff in pro-active and pro-social ways. Throughout the day, students grew in confidence as they felt seen, heard, and valued. They saw themselves represented in the community and in all schools, and they felt a sense of belonging in knowing they had a community. As students reluctantly parted at the end of the session they expressed a renewed sense of belonging and understanding.”

Students also spent part of the day brainstorming ideas for how to celebrate Pride Month throughout June, which included: sharing the history of Pride, featuring Pride icons, showcasing 2SLGBTQIA+ representation in media through movies, music, and books, and finding ways to celebrate with social events, parades, challenges, crafts, games, and more. In preparation for the Kamloops Pride Parade in August, students made posters to walk with in the parade.

After the event, students from Westsyde Secondary shared that they liked “meeting new people” and “hearing the personal stories of the presenters” because it “made us feel comfortable and it helped us relate to them.” Students from NorKam also shared that “the District meets are a great way to connect disparate schools, strengthen the LGBT youth community, and introduce youth to advocating for themselves. We always have a great time and enjoy seeing friends we wouldn't have made otherwise.”

Superintendent's Update

Mon, 07 Mar 2022 16:15:00 GMT

Dear Parents and Caregivers:

March is here and Spring Break is just around the corner. As days are getting longer, we enjoy going for a walk or bike ride before or after school or work.

Sa-Hali Secondary School

I visited Principal Rachael Sdoutz this week and she shared, “We are focused on integrating competencies into our everyday cross-disciplinary work with students.” She described how students collect artifacts that show their development of critical thinking, creative thinking, and communication, to name a few key competencies. One student, Camryn Elder, is currently in grade 11, and she has designed a logo that reflects her comprehension of many art elements (shape, space, colour, digital design). Camryn said, “I was inspired to create an image that showed my First Nation Cree background and to show my creativity.” Principal Sdoutz gave me a t-shirt to remember this visit, and she graciously agreed to have her picture taken with Camryn (above). It was an inspiring visit to meet staff and students who are so committed to building on students’ strengths and nurturing everyone’s talents and passions.

Good News

During monthly School Leaders’ meetings, school and district leaders share “Good News”. This week, it was heartening to hear how students and staff are appreciating school assemblies, performances, and basketball games with spectators. Karla Chernoff, Vice Principal at Marion Schilling said, “Students and staff were truly excited and grateful to be able to gather. Being able to meet together seemed to create a ‘shared experience’ for students and staff that was needed. Kindergarten and Grade 1 students, who had never participated in an assembly before, were coming up and saying, ‘That was awesome.’ Of course, Grade 7s got to take their place on the benches for the first time.” Other school leaders shared how their Parent Advisory Councils have been supporting community-building efforts such as preparing hot chocolate and popcorn for everyone on Friday (South Sa-Hali), recording festival performances to be shared with all parents (Kamloops School of the Arts), and purchasing snowshoes for students (Raft River).

Safer Schools’ Resources

We are aware that the invasion of Ukraine may contribute to a range of feelings and trauma for students, staff, and families. It is important to be mindful of how these events impact each of us and those around us. During these times, we are also reminded Safer Schools has prepared resources to provide tips for staff and parents/caregivers to share for both elementary and secondary school children. You can find the resources here.

Rapid Antigen Tests

Last week, after receiving a late afternoon update about rapid tests, I had shared the following message with parents and staff:

The Ministry of Education has just provided updated information about rapid tests being sent to schools:

FOR ACTION, SUPERINTENDENTS – K-12 Rapid Test Update: Test kits made available through B.C. schools are approved by Health Canada. To further clarify information in the recent bulletin from Health Canada, BCCDC has updated information about the safety and proper use of the test kits. Please see the BCCDC’s Rapid Testing At Home web pageand ensure that families are provided with this up to date information about the tests they have or will be receiving. Out of an abundance of caution, we are suggesting that any remaining distribution of Rapid Antigen Tests for Grades K-7 should be directed to parents/guardians for pick up.

I am sharing this information to ensure that all families receive it and take care to follow the guidance provided in test kits and in the BCCDC updated information. As indicated in the Government of Canada message, “Health Canada has determined that the kits are safe and effective when used as intended.”

Most schools have now distributed their tests by providing parents with an option to pick up tests.

Continuity of Learning and Communicable Disease Prevention Plan (COVID-19)

At this time, we have usual student and staff absenteeism rates. We continue with the safety measures (daily health checks, staying home when sick, hand washing, hand sanitizer, respiratory etiquette, and wearing masks).

Thank you for continuing to respect each person’s level of readiness to adjust to changing safety measures. This is a time when we need to help everyone to learn new ways of continuing necessary safety measures while embracing opportunities to connect comfortably.

Have a nice weekend and take time to do something that you enjoy.

Rhonda Nixon, PhD

Superintendent

Clearwater Secondary: 3 Rural Stories of a Rural School

Wed, 30 Sep 2020 18:15:00 GMT

Principal Darren Coates told three stories about Clearwater Secondary School (CSS) in a presentation to the Board of Education’s regular meeting Sept. 28. The stories covered a wide range of topics: how the school is managing during the pandemic; a competition with another rural school to raise funds for the Terry Fox foundation, and an Industry Training Authority grant for the Grade 11 – 12 woodworking class.

Clearwater Secondary’s Pandemic Procedures

Offering a brief look at how the school re-start looked in a rural school, Coates said CSS is a big school, with about 200 students attending classes in the building that has a capacity for 450. This allows for physical distancing for the two cohorts, and each is restricted to one half of the school, with separate entrances. A plexiglass barrier has been installed in the school office, provisions have been made for multiple handwashing stations, and masks are worn in the hallways.

Terry Fox Foundation Fundraising

CSS was challenged by Barriere Secondary to see who could raise the most money for the Terry Fox Foundation by Sept. 30, 2020. So far, CSS has been fund-raising through pledges, a bottle drive and a draw for CSS memorabilia. Once the winner has been declared, the principal at the other school will have to wear the winning school jersey for a day.

ITA Grant

The CSS Woodworking 10 – 12 class is getting a taste of what an outdoor worksite might look like, as it holds its classes outside. That’s because the school’s shop dust collection system is being renovated. Local businesses have stepped in to help, providing a seacan to hold equipment and materials. The class is making sawhorses and picnic tables and selling them to local organizations. The Trades and Transitions Program also stepped in to assist, and helped the class apply for an Industry Training Authority Grant. The class was given about $1800 to fund some materials and offset lumber costs.

Making Schools Safe for Students

Thu, 03 Sep 2020 19:15:00 GMT

As school staff prepare for the return to school, they are responding to questions from parents and caregivers, who want to know how their children will navigate hallways and handwashing, how ventilation systems and other school systems will keep students safe during this time of pandemic.

Barb Hamblett is the Principal at Valleyview Secondary, one of the largest, most crowded schools in the district. She outlined ways VSS is changing to keep students safe, and said schools are able to provide safe learning spaces by following the health and safety guidelines. She said numerous changes including locker policies, staggered breaks, the use of masks, handwashing and keeping hallway traffic to a minimum will all be in place when school opens.

“Looking at all the work we have done to put in the health and safety protocols in place, I have to say, it’s pretty similar to what we have everywhere. Getting on a plane, going for groceries -what will be happening in schools will be more controlled,” she said.

“When you go into a grocery store, you don’t go in through a controlled group. They limit the numbers, but they don’t have control groups. In schools, we can put in more measures so we can really see who our kids are interacting with. We can keep track of them better.”

Lockers

Lockers will not be made available to students for at least the first month of school. The intention is for students to carry everything they need in backpacks for the day to remove the need to congregate in hallways.

“At VSS, students will only have two blocks, two courses at a time, so students will be able to carry their personal items around in a backpack,” said Hamblett. “Not using lockers will help lower traffic in the hallways.”

Breaks

There will be multiple, staggered breaks, so students will not all be out in the hallway at the same time, and students will be encouraged to be outside as much as possible on their breaks.

Masks

Even with minimized traffic, students will be using hallways, and they will be expected to use masks.

“That’s the reality,” Hamblett said. “We have to move through our spaces, just like at Walmart, we have to move through our spaces safely. This is going to help us get there.”

Handwashing and Washroom Capacity

Students will be taken through health and safety training on the first day. They will be expected to wash their hands when they come into the building, when they leave the building, and throughout the day. Hamblett says staggered breaks will help with that. Students will need to respect the ‘maximum capacity’ numbers posted on washroom doors.

If a Student is Ill at School

If a child or staff member becomes symptomatic, they will be required to put on a mask right away, and then go to the schools’ designated medical space. Parents will be contacted immediately, and asked to come and pick up their student. Parents will be asked to seek assessment by their health care provider, which could include calling 811.

“The health authority, through an 811 call, or through a family’s health practitioner, will guide the parent through the next steps,” Hamblett said. “The child would stay at home until we hear back from the health authority that they can come back to school once they are no longer symptomatic.”

Ventilation

Valleyview’s HVAC ventilation system was replaced a few years ago, and the system is regularly maintained.

“I have complete confidence in our HVAC system, maintenance staff check often to keep the airflow working well,” said Hamblett. “I think it’s better maintained than the one in my own home.”

Safe Support

Making sure students have access to their counselors is important. Program changes, emotional support, those are their go-to people. In a busy school, we want to make sure we can do that safely. Counselors will meet with students in a variety of ways. Face-to-face meetings will be done using masks. For students who have questions about programming, counselors are looking at connecting in other ways, including by phone.

“It’s effective, it saves time, kids are heard immediately, and it clears the space around the counselor’s office.

“I feel very confident that our kids will be safe,” she said. “I trust implicitly the information that is coming from public health. They have a much broader lens than we do. Dr. Bonnie Henry has led this province well, and I have a lot of faith in what she says about getting kids back to school. We are going to do so safely, responsibly, but this is absolutely the right thing to do for our society.”

Celebrating the Largest Indigenous Graduating Class in District History

Thu, 05 Jun 2025 18:15:00 GMT

Over 40 years ago the Kamloops-Thompson School District celebrated its first Indigenous Graduation ceremony with four graduates. In 2025, the District is proudly honouring over 250 Indigenous graduates—the highest number of Indigenous student graduates in our district’s history.

On Monday, June 2, 2025, families, friends, educators, staff, community members, and graduating students gathered at the McArthur Island Sports Centre for the 2025 Indigenous Graduation Ceremony.

Throughout the evening, messages of celebration, hope, and pride were shared to honour Indigenous graduates from secondary schools across the Kamloops-Thompson School District and local areas.

Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc Elder Connie Jules opened the ceremony with heartfelt encouragement for the next generation of Indigenous leaders: “Keep on striving and thriving to do your best… you are the new leadership, you are the visionaries, you are everything the ancestors prayed for.”

District Principal Mike Bowden congratulated the graduates and shared: “Today is the result of your dedication, your late nights, your persistence through challenges, and your refusal to give up. This moment is also about more than academics—it's about carrying your culture with pride, walking forward with your ancestors at your back, and making space for the next generation to follow in your footsteps… You’ve proved that success doesn't require you to leave who you are behind, instead you brought your culture with you, into every classroom, every challenge, and now into your next steps… Wherever life takes you next, may you always walk with purpose, stay rooted in who you are, let your teachings guide your way, and never forget you are not alone. You carry the strength of your people and the future is brighter because of you.”

Superintendent Dr. Rhonda Nixon expressed gratitude and admiration for the graduates, sharing: “Our graduates of 2025 have unleashed their voices, their perspectives, their successes, and they’re examples for generations. Thank you for being the voice we needed. We can hardly wait to see who you become. May you continue to learn from those around you, trust in yourselves, and share your voices because they matter and you are the leaders of our future.”

Trustee Diane Jules shared congratulations on behalf of the Board of Education and expressed her pride for how the Class of 2025 has helped guide the Indigenous Anti-racism Action Plan that has made impacts province-wide: “You have left a legacy of leading with integrity and modeling the importance of sharing your voice.”

Messages of pride and encouragement, echoed throughout the evening, with powerful reflections from Métis Elder Ellen Ahdemar, Indigenous Education Council Chair Diane Anothony, and Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc Councillor Tk?wenem7íple7 Dave Manuel. Justin Young, father of SKSS Grad Sisena Phillips-Young, shared a passionate message on behalf of parents, encouraging the graduates to “feel the fear and do it anyway.”

The evening's co-valedictorians emphasized the importance of sharing Indigenous knowledge, celebrating and honouring culture, and becoming future leaders.

Mikoh Rose from South Kamloops Secondary shared: “Indigenous knowledge systems are not a module, they are integral to all of our growth. I encourage all of you to continue your journey—know what you have to offer is enough. Your knowledge and stories are what your ancestors have prayer for. Keep striving to become the best version of yourself and never forget where you come from… This is just the beginning. You are the protectors, storytellers, leaders, and healers of your nations. Never forget who you are and where you come from. You carry greatness and you are greatness.”

Maple Peel from Westsyde Secondary added: “What we’ve done is not just academic. It is cultural. It is emotional. It is spiritual…Graduation isn’t just an ending. It’s the beginning of something sacred and beautiful. What happens next matters just as much as this moment. You are the future, the future educators, nurses, artists, engineers, language protectors—and whatever else your soul dreams of. But no matter what we do, let’s carry forward the values and hard work that brought us here. Let’s create spaces where the next generations can walk into classrooms and feel seen. Let’s bring our languages back—not just into schools, but into boardrooms and courtrooms and hospitals. Let’s make sure this moment isn’t rare.”

After hundreds of graduates from 16 different schools crossed the stage to cheers and applause from family and friends, Secwépemc Cultural Educator Jackie Jules closed the evening with a powerful reminder: “You truly are the ancestors' dreams.”

Superintendent's Update

Sat, 18 Sep 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Dear Parents and Caregivers:

Last week, we appreciated seeing new and old friends and being back into a routine. While it will take time to settle, it is always helpful to remind ourselves of why we do this work. Each week, I look forward to sharing inspiring stories from our schools.

Clearwater Secondary

This week, I spoke with Darren Coates, principal of Clearwater Secondary School, and he shared how “one of the biggest changes this year compared to last year is not being in cohorts” because it enabled him to provide additional programming and services to support students. “I have always valued the one-to-one reading mentorship program that we have done, which involved grades 11 and 12 students reading with grade 8 students.” The program had stopped last year because students were in cohorts. “Seeing the program back in action this year is inspiring because I know that there are so many benefits—pre- and post- reading results show improvement, and it builds social connections between different grade levels.” Darren also shared a second moment of inspiration, which was focused on CSS’s food program. “Last year, the cafeteria was open to half of the school (Gr. 10, 11, 12) and the others (Gr. 8, 9) had boxed snacks.” He explained, “Being able to open the cafeteria for everyone has created connections not only between different grade levels but it has allowed senior students to serve junior students.” It also gives him an opportunity to meet his students and to show that he cares.

COVID-19

Last year, COVID cases were reported as they happened through the Interior Health website, school community notifications, and Superintendent Updates. Interior Health has stopped the community-wide notification practice and has directed school districts to do the same. Broad, school-wide notification is not something that is done as a usual practice in communicable illness containment. Given that there is a high rate of vaccination for COVID in BC, the expectation is that COVID will be treated like other communicable illnesses.

The other change this year is that whole classes are unlikely to be required to self-isolate. Interior Health continues to prioritize contact tracing in schools, and their advice about whether to self-monitor or self-isolate depends on a range of factors, including whether the person has been partially or fully vaccinated. Interior Health will continue to notify students, parents/guardians, and staff when they are required to self-isolate or self-monitor if they are found to be close contacts of a positive case.

We continue to implement our COVID protocols with vigilance. Our SD73 Communicable Disease Prevention Plan has information about our protocols, which are based on Ministries of Health and Education guidelines: Provincial Communicable Disease Guidelines for K to 12 Settings, BCCDC COVID-19 Public Health Communicable Disease Guidance for K to 12 School Settings and B.C.’s K to 12 Education Recovery Plan.

In addition to our District Communicable Disease Prevention Plan, every school has posted their school communicable disease prevention plans on their websites.

Interior Health vaccination clinics in secondary schools are listed here.

Thank you for being partners in making our schools places of inspiration for our students, staff, and families. I look forward to hearing and sharing more stories next week as we take on the new learning and opportunities that continue to inspire us.

Rhonda Nixon, PhD

Superintendent

Holiday Celebration Through the Arts

Wed, 15 Dec 2021 16:00:00 GMT

At every December Board meeting, the Board of Education is given the gift of holiday arts presentations performed by students.

At the December 13th regular meeting, Twin Rivers Education Centre (TREC), Aberdeen Elementary, and Valleyview Secondary showcased their fine arts, band, and choir talents.

TREC Fine Arts student Emily Clark delivered a message about the importance of the arts and the power of resilience. Clark spent six weeks carefully creating a clay dragon to be fired.

“As most ceramic artists know, you shouldn’t fall in love with your piece until it has already come out of the kiln because there’s always the risk of it getting damaged, but I was hopeful that it would be OK,” said Clark. Unfortunately, her masterpiece exploded in the kiln, but “with a lot of hot glue, patience, and plaster, I somehow managed to put it back together as if it was a 3-D puzzle. It felt really good to make it whole again.”

Second up was Aberdeen Elementary. A group of grade 7 beginner band students performed three holiday favourites.

“Music holds the power to bring people together in different ways. It helps us express our feelings and understand our emotions in a better manner. It can bring positivity and calmness to life,” said teacher Tracy Clarke.

Following the presentation, District Arts Coordinator Janey McCloy revealed to the Board that the band students had received their instruments in October and had only been practicing for roughly 10 weeks.

Lastly, the Board heard from members of the band and choir at Valleyview Secondary who performed a Christmas carol mash-up under the direction of Music Department Director Jaymi Daniels.

Following the holiday presentations to the Board, Trustee Shelley Sim, among other trustees, applauded the students’ performances: “With the cloud of COVID, sometimes Christmas can seem quite somber and trust students to be able to, not only dress up in their finest, which did not go unnoticed, but to celebrate despite of that. And really demonstrate to us how much can be accomplished and to really look to the joy. They really brought that forward, that the cloud didn’t stop their sunshine from shining through.”

Remembrance Day Across the District

Wed, 03 Nov 2021 18:45:00 GMT

Despite the current restrictions limiting assemblies to 50 students or two classes, the majority of schools are creating virtual Remembrance Day programs that will be shared with all students in their classrooms. A few select schools that have smaller populations will hold in-person assemblies as they are able to assemble students and staff and stay within the 50-person limit. Board of Education trustees were invited to attend in-person or virtual ceremonies at each school. Here are some of the creative ways students honoured our Veterans:

Elementary Schools

Aberdeen – Virtual ceremony with slides and virtual presentations, school-wide moment of silence

AE Perry – Virtual ceremony

Arthur Hatton – In-person assembly for about 50 people, which will then be live streamed out to the rest of the school

Arthur Stevenson – Virtual Remembrance Day assembly

Barriere – Virtual ceremony featuring slides, videos, and student presentations

Beattie – Virtual ceremony featuring video of student presentations

Bert Edwards – Virtual ceremony

Blue River, Raft River, and Vavenby – Virtual ceremony via Zoom

Dallas – Virtual ceremony of slideshow/class/student video presentations - Moment of silence/Last Post over PA at 11:11 AM

David Thompson – Virtual ceremony of compiled short student/class performances to create a digital slide show that will be shown in individual classrooms

Dufferin – Virtual ceremony featuring student-led assembly via Zoom from gym to classrooms. Trustee Joe Small will view via Zoom. Ceremony will begin at 10:45 AM with O Canada, followed by poems, songs, a moment of silence

Haldane – Joint virtual assembly via Zoom with Chase Secondary that will include pipers and veterans

Heffley Creek – In-person assembly with a guest parent (former Navy) and presentations from students

Juniper Ridge – Virtual ceremony

Kamloops School of the Arts – Virtual ceremony of pre-recorded zoom link

Kay Bingham – Virtual ceremony of pre-recorded zoom link - O Canada/Remembrance Day content with a moment of silence

Lloyd George – Virtual ceremony

Logan Lake – Virtual ceremony of Grade K-4 classes reciting a poem/acting out a scene that will then be individually recorded and compiled. They will then be viewed in individual classes from K-12 at approximately 10:45 AM on Nov 10, followed by moment of silence at 11:00 AM

Marion Schilling – Virtual ceremony - Each class will watch from their own room. Some students are presenting in the slide show/movie

McGowan Park – Virtual ceremony of Zoom presentation

Pacific Way – Virtual ceremony via zoom/video on November 10th. It will begin around 11:00 AM with our moment of silence to aimed to be at 11:11 AM

Parkcrest – Virtual ceremony of an announcement and a moment of silence at 11:00 AM

Pinantan – Virtual ceremony of student-produced green screen video

Rayleigh – Virtual ceremony of Zoom to classes: Google slidedeck with video from students and a Veteran-taped message

RL Clemitson – Virtual ceremony of Zoom performance

Savona – In-person ceremony - Each class will be partaking in their own celebration in the gym. Ceremonies will be recorded and a link will be sent home to parents for their viewing. The Last Post and O Canada will be played over the PA at 11:00 AM

South Sa-Hali – Virtual ceremony of video link shared with classes

Summit – Virtual ceremony of each class laying wreath at flagpole with a bagpiper, moment of silence, presentation from each class

Sun Peaks – Virtual ceremony of presentations by classes and a wreath laying ceremony

Westmount – Mix of online and in-person participation. Moment of silence at 11:00 AM

Westsyde – Virtual ceremony

Westwold – Virtual ceremony of student-developed slide show

Secondary Schools

Barriere – In-person ceremony featuring series of videos per class

Brocklehurst Middle – Virtual ceremony involving Leadership, Drama, Dance, Band, and Choir students

Chase – Joint virtual assembly via Zoom with Haldane Elementary that will include pipers and veterans

Clearwater – Virtual ceremony of Google slide deck, zoom presentation

Logan Lake – Virtual ceremony watching the Elementary video presentation of Grade K-4 classes reciting a poem/acting out a scene

NorKam – Virtual ceremony including a tableau from the drama class, a song from the choir and a poem written and recited by a student. This will be recorded and presented in a school-wide Zoom

Sa-Hali – Virtual ceremony of videos per class with a message for teachers to read

South Kamloops – Virtual ceremony of video that was prerecorded in the Sagebrush, then edited to improve sound and video quality

Twin Rivers Education Centre – Virtual ceremony with moment of silence and Last post over PA

Valleyview – Virtual ceremony with video presentation

Westsyde – Virtual ceremony featuring Fine Arts Department's performance (play, music, artwork) which will be recorded and shared out to all classes

Reserve Funds to Balance $1.5 million revenue shortfall

Wed, 21 Oct 2020 23:30:00 GMT

To avoid budget cuts to balance the 2020-2021 operating budget, the Kamloops-Thompson Board of Education approved a request to utilize $1,550,615 from its Operating Reserve.

Based on the initial student enrolment report on Sept. 30, 2020, to the Ministry of Education, a significant shift was noted in enrolment from in-class instruction to either distributed learning or home school learning options, causing a revenue shortfall because funding levels for each of the instructional options are not equal.

Funding from the Ministry of Education to school districts is based on per Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) (8 courses) of $ 7,560 for In-class Instruction; $6,100 for Distributed Learning and $250 for Home Schooling students.

The increase in Distributed Learning represents 665.6875 FTE within the total enrolment numbers, an increase of 479.4375 FTE from September 2019. 159 FTE learners are currently attending homeschool and are not included within the September 30, 2020 enrolment totals. By comparison, during 2019-2020 there were 13 FTE registered homeschool students within the school district’s catchment.

“We expect students will return to in-class instruction over the next several months,” said Interim Superintendent Dr. Terry Sullivan. “In anticipating their return, the new operating budget reflects the same level of teacher staffing as presented for the Board’s approval in April 2020. Our schools will be staffed for students’ eventual return to in-class learning.”

Board Chair Rhonda Kershaw said the budget has to balance and using reserves is a better option than cutting programs. School trustees unanimously voted to balance the budget using money from reserves at the Oct. 19, 2020 regular Board meeting.

“We had a higher than usual operating reserve that we set aside after the previous fiscal year concluded in anticipation that COVID-19 related issues would create unknown challenges that would require district resources,” she said. “This is a provincial issue, this is a worldwide issue, and so we are hoping that the province will recognize that there are these budget shortfalls and perhaps by the end of the year, they may make up this difference.”

“While the full financial impact of COVID-19 and migration of students between the learning options as outlined is not yet known,” said Kelvin Stretch, Secretary-Treasurer. “The Ministry of Education will confirm operational funding for Districts in December and until then the District needs to update the 2020-2021 Annual Operating Budget, and in order to balance current revenues and expenditures, we recommend the District use Operating Surplus Reserves set aside in August.”

The enrolment verification snapshot of the elementary and secondary enrolment compared to enrolment projections has decreased overall by 114.25 FTE. Elementary has seen a decrease of 176 FTE while secondary has increased by 61.75 FTE.

Revenue shortfalls are compounded with the requirement for several additional teachers were added over the past few weeks to address the increase to distributed learning and the increase in enrolment at five elementary schools.

SD73 Continues to Support Families through the Student and Family Affordability Fund

Fri, 01 Sep 2023 16:00:00 GMT

The Kamloops-Thompson Board of Education is pleased to announce the continuation of the Student and Family Affordability Fund for the upcoming 2023-2024 school year.

On August 29, 2022, the Ministry of Education and Child Care announced that school districts in BC would be provided with a one-time fund ($60 M) called the Student and Family Affordability Fund intended to provide additional funds to parents to offset costs of food through meal programs in the school, school supplies, and any additional fees so that students can take part in activities, such as field trips, athletics, and fine arts. School District No. 73 received $1,656,248 in November 2022.

This initiative was designed to ease the financial strain on families by offering support for various student expenses, including school supplies, course fees, academy fees, and enhancement fees, as necessary.

Last year, we were pleased to provide almost 4,000 student meals, supplies (6,000 times) and fees (10,000 times), which was approximately half of the Student and Family Affordability Fund Grant. This year, we are fortunate to carry over the other half of the funds to support families in the 2023-2024 school year.

“We appreciate that families will continue to access the Student and Family Affordability Fund, which will once again be available to SD73 families this year,” said Heather Grieve, Board Chair. “This fund reduced some of the stress of school-related expenses at a time of economic challenge for many families.”

Given the continued economic challenges with inflationary living costs of food, clothing, and housing, families are even more stressed when they have pressures of paying for school supplies and fees.

“We are grateful to reduce these pressures by continuing to provide families with the choice to be supported with school fee reimbursements,” said Rhonda Nixon, SD73 Superintendent.

The best way to learn more about these funds is to access the information directly from your school. Your school principal has been provided with how to access school fee reimbursement using SchoolCash online. Additionally, there are other ways to access the funds through the school secretary.

Further details will be provided through Back-to-School communications directly from your school.

Orange Shirt Day

Fri, 10 Sep 2021 15:15:00 GMT

The Government of Canada recently passed legislation to make September 30th a federal statutory holiday called the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. This day provides an opportunity for us to recognize and commemorate the legacy of residential schools. This may present itself as a day of quiet reflection or participation in a community event. As such, we invite you to wear your Orange Shirt to work on Wednesday, September 29th.

Orange Shirt Day is a legacy of the St. Joseph Mission (SJM) residential school commemoration event held in Williams Lake, BC, Canada, in the spring of 2013. It grew out of Phyllis Webstad’s story of having her shiny new orange shirt taken away on her first day of school at the Mission, and it has become an opportunity to keep the discussion on all aspects of residential schools happening annually. See Phyllis’ story here.

Forestry and Environment Careers Camp Deadline is Sept. 29

Tue, 14 Sep 2021 22:00:00 GMT

There’s a great learning opportunity at McQueen Lake this fall for secondary students considering forestry or environment careers.

The Forestry and Environmental Studies Camp is planned for Oct. 14 and 15 at the McQueen Lake Environmental Education Centre.

Grade 10, 11, and 12 students can apply to attend the two-day hands-on camp to learn about careers involving the opportunity to learn and experience numerous careers that are connected to forest management and sustainability such as ecology and silviculture, aquatics, as well as search and rescue on 640 acres of forest, lakes, and grasslands located 16 kilometers northwest of Kamloops.

There is a $40 fee to attend.

"We are very excited to be able to offer the Forest & Environmental Studies program at McQueen Lake in a two-day camp format on October 14th and 15th, with a modified format to ensure all activities are Covid-19 compliant," said Allisson Badger, District Career Education Coordinator. "This career development experience is ideal for students who value the environment, enjoy hands-on experiences, and would like to learn about numerous career opportunities in natural resources."

Students will:

learn from career experts about aquatic ecosystems
walk through the forest with an environmentalist
learn how to effect environmental change with seedlings, planting, and tree restoration with timber authorities in timber sales
dive into ecology and silviculture with a scientist
explore natural resource career opportunities and the numerous paths from secondary school to post-secondary with a post-secondary student and professor
new this year: Fire Management and Search & Rescue

Covid 19 Safety Preparation

All students will have individual seats and wear masks while being transported by bus to and from McQueen Lake.
Learning session are outside with Covid-19 safety protocols
The Natural Resources careers path exploration is inside with masks and Corvid safety protocols in place.
Individual lunches are being provided.

For more information, and to apply for the program, check the TNT Forestry and Environmental Camp page. Or, apply for the program here by Sept. 29, 2021.

Students should apply if they are interested in working outside to survey land or cultivate forests, using computer mapping programs to monitor forested areas, helping companies make sure they are compliant with environmental regulations, or advocating for conservation-focused legislation.

Dust-Collectors, Boilers and Buses in Sight for SD73

Thu, 07 Mar 2019 19:45:00 GMT

School District No. 73 will target school safety, transportation and energy efficiency with the $1,781,139 funding announced by the Ministry of Education.

Upgrades will be made to the dust-collector systems in the trades training classrooms at Logan Lake and NorKam Secondary. Bert Edwards Science and Technology is set for a new energy-efficient condensing boiler and four additional buses will be added to service the new routes required to support enrolment growth.

While many had been expecting to hear news about Valleyview Secondary in the Mar. 6 announcement, that project was part of last year’s capital plan submission to the Ministry, explained Kelvin Stretch, Secretary-Treasurer, School District No. 73 (Kamloops-Thompson).

“A Project Definition Report (PDR) has been completed and we are confident that the Ministry of Education will be successful in presenting our capital request to the treasury board for approval,” he said.

Tuesday’s announcement was in response to the District’s 2019/20 Five-Year Capital Plan, submitted to the Ministry prior to June 30, 2018. Projects approved include smaller capital items that are funded through the School Enhancement Program, the Carbon Neutral Capital Program, and the Bus Acquisition Program. Projects within the Playground Equipment Program will be announced later.

The projects supported under these programs will benefit the district through savings on natural gas, safety upgrades and additions to the fleet of buses. These savings can be reinvested in classrooms to support student learning.

“The District has another opportunity in June to submit additional capital requests as part of our Five-Year Capital Plan,” said Stretch, noting that the submission will include a significant addition to Westmount Elementary; a new school for the Pineview Valley area; the addition of a gym and classroom space to South Kamloops Secondary; and new K-12 school at Sun Peaks.

Ministry release can be found here.

2022 Young Artists' Conference Makes a Splash

Thu, 05 May 2022 21:15:00 GMT

The 2022 Young Artists’ Conference (YAC) is making an in-person comeback after two years of virtual festivities.

Since 1987, the annual event for aspiring artists in elementary school has offered students an opportunity to showcase their artwork and take part in a series of workshops, but when COVID began in the spring of 2020, the Conference was forced to go virtual.

As in previous non-COVID years, the 2022 YAC was held this week at Thompson Rivers University with many workshops hosted in the university’s art studios. Students chose from a variety of sessions ranging from acrylic painting to graffiti art and needle work with instruction from community professional artists and art educators.

“The importance of working collaboratively together for the students and the opportunity to work with professional artists in person adds to, not only their artistic experience, but their overall learning experiences too,” said Janet McCloy, District Coordinator of Arts Education.

This year, over 120 students from grades 4 to 7 were selected to represent their schools in the YAC. A selection committee reviewed a variety of 2-dimensional artwork submitted and chose the following students’ artwork to be framed and hung in the School Board Office next year. These students will also be presenting their pieces to the Board of Education on June 13:

Dallas Ellisay, Grade 4, South Sa-Hali
Louise Placente, Grade 4, Beattie
Mehar Ganghas, Grade 4, McGowan Park
Sanjana Poovaneswaran, Grade 4, Aberdeen

Brooklyn Fantuz, Grade 5, Rayleigh Elementary
Tysyn Ewalt, Grade 5, Westwold
Nya McLellan, Grade 5, Pacific Way
Ben Fan, Grade 5, Pacific Way

Mila Roberts, Grade 6, Sun Peaks
Karlie Sandhoff, Grade 6, RLC
Luca Petersen, Grade 6, Dallas
Avery Bahnsen, Grade 6, Lloyd George

Ryan Trudeau, Grade 7, Dufferin
Jenna Kansky, Grade 7, Juniper Ridge
Navaeh Tuft, Grade 7, Kamloops School of the Arts
Kiera McGrath, Grade 7, Juniper Ridge

Honourable Mentions:
Anaya Fuoco, Grade 4, McGowan Park
Julia Long, Grade 5, Beattie Elementary
Elanie Ruberg, Grade 6, McGowan Park
Abby Shu, Grade 7, McGowan Park

“The experiences that connect our students to their passions and interests really help to make learning meaningful and these are the experiences that students will remember,” said Latta. “I think with COVID, this was an example of one thing we have all really missed. The tone at these events was happy and positive. Everyone was just so happy to be back together.”

A gallery opening was also held earlier this week at the Old Courthouse and was attended by Superintendent Rhonda Nixon and other SD73 dignitaries, along with the young artists and their families. All artwork remains on display to the public at the Old Courthouse until May 8.

View the winners/honourable mentions gallery here.

Special thanks to the entire Committee for their efforts:

Arts Education Coordinator, Janet McCloy
Chair: Vice Principal, Jayne Latta
Principal, Katrina Sewell
Principal Tiffany Hawkins
Vice Principal, Jeanine Wourms
Vice Principal, Leah Clare
Teacher, Sharon Richards
Teacher, Karim Sadik
Teacher, Melissa Pavluk

SKSS Jazz Band Performs at BC Interior Jazz Festival

Wed, 13 Apr 2022 17:45:00 GMT

From April 8th-10th, the South Kamloops Secondary School (SKSS) Jazz band travelled to Kelowna to participate in the 43rd annual BC Interior Jazz Festival.

Led by SKSS Music Director Michelle McCrae, the young musicians represented SKSS, and the District, with style and class, and their music stood out amongst the best of the student performers.

The group was fully immersed in jazz performances by professional musicians and student groups throughout the weekend and were completely thrilled to perform in front of a live audience once again. The jazz students returned home excited, many of them starting up a jazz combo the very next day, and raring to go again next year.

Congratulations to SD73's Long Term Employees and Retirees

Tue, 13 Jun 2023 21:45:00 GMT

Heather Grieve, Board Chair

On behalf of the Kamloops-Thompson Board of Education, I want to share how proud we are of SD73’s employees. Your dedication to our students every single day is evident and when we can come together to celebrate who you are and what you have contributed, it is a privilege for the Board of Education to be a part of recognizing your contributions.

On June 13, 2023, it was a pleasure to honour employees for their 10-45 years of service, and to honour retirees at the ceremony held at the Mountain Room at Thompson Rivers University.

Thank you for taking the time to celebrate and reminisce with us. Many of you have taught our children or taught us, or we know each other through fine arts, sports, community service, and community partnerships and events.

The memories that were shared about students or adults who were students having been inspired to try something because of you or who felt valued and cared for by you are invaluable. These are the moments in children’s lives where they know they are supported to pursue their passions. You gave of yourselves generously and kindly.

Whether you have been a beloved teacher, support staff member, school principal, or district staff member, we depended on you to help, support, guide, and inspire those around you. In turn, you made a positive difference in the lives of so many.

As you enter into the summer months, please remember the long term employee and retirement recognition as a time that you can add to your memories as letting you know how much you mean to so many and how much more we will do together in various roles and connections in the district and beyond the district. Congratulations on your years of dedicated service and for those of you who are walking into a new journey of retirement, may you stay connected and let us know how you are.

Superintendent's Update

Fri, 05 May 2023 23:30:00 GMT

Dear Parents and Caregivers:

In May, we are highlighting stories about connections/relationships and the Grandfather Teaching of Courage in the 2022-2027 District Strategic Plan.

National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and LGBTQ2S+ People (Red Dress Day).

May 5th is the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and LGBTQ2S+ people (Red Dress Day). In Canada, Indigenous women and girls are targeted for violence more than any other group. This day is meant to raise awareness and call for participation from all Canadians to speak out against violence against Indigenous women, girls, and LGBTQ2S+ people, and to acknowledge and celebrate Indigenous peoples' history, cultures, pride, and diversity. SD73 is encouraging students and staff to wear red on this day. District Principal Bowden has shared a teaching resource: Their Voices Will Guide Us with school leaders.

On March 13,2023, at the Regular Public Board Meeting, Isabelle Tresierra (Aboriginal Education Outreach Worker) presented a photography project about Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women done by a Brock Middle School student, Kendra. Kendra explained that she enjoyed making contrasts visually between the bright red and dark road as part of the storytelling mode. Chelcy Ross (Aboriginal Education District Coordinator) introduced the pillars of the pedagogical core and highlighted how students and staff are indigenizing learning spaces to create culturally inviting learning environments. She shared the welcome sign, and positive behavior support from an Aboriginal perspective, and units and plans integrating First Peoples Principles of Learning. Claire and Rachel, two students from Dallas Elementary, shared what they have done to honor Truth and Reconciliation in classrooms. They are learning greetings, animals’ names, and days of the week in Secwepemctsín. They are looking forward to embarking on the next phase of their learning journey in Truth and Reconciliation. Read more.

Keeper of the Forest by Cheyenne Scott

On May 5, the SKSS Titans Theatre Arts department is presenting a land-based fantasy adventure play called Keeper of the Forest by Cheyenne Scott (an Indigenous actor and playwright who graduated from Kamloops Secondary School). This is a play specifically written for SKSS and land-based on the Kamloops area. It touches the themes of friendship and resiliency and looks at the forest fires and ecosystem of the area. SKSS is offering a free matinee to Aboriginal Education Workers and their students on Friday, May 5, 2023.

District Heritage Day Fair

On Thursday, May 4th, The Heritage Fair Committee judged this years’ completed projects, and works were on display for viewing on Friday, May 5th at the Henry Grube Education Centre. Congratulations to all the students for their excellent Heritage Fair projects! On Thursday May 4th, 50 students from Pacific Way, Kamloops School of the Arts, École Lloyd George and Dufferin Elementaries came together to present their Heritage Fair projects for judging. This year's Heritage Fair brought together inquiry projects, art, and public speaking on Canadian historical places, events, and people. To honour the hard work these students put in, they were then treated to a day-long field trip at the Historical O'Keefe Ranch in Vernon. Additionally, each student received a Heritage Fair t-shirt that was adorned with this year's Heritage Fair Stamp Contest winner's artwork. Public viewing of the Heritage Fair projects was held in the afternoon of May 5th and three hardworking students will be chosen from the entered projects to attend this year's Provincial Heritage Fair in July which is being held in Prince George.

Valleyview Secondary Choir- St. Andrew’s

On Friday, April 28, 2023, Ms. Harmony Ráine, First Vice President, CUPE 3500 shared this lovely picture from attending St. Andrews on the Square to commemorate the National Day of Mourning. As she recounted her time listening to the Valleyview Secondary Choir, she shared, “These young people did a beautiful job of adding their voices to such a solemn and important event. They brought tears to the eyes of many attendees.”

As we enjoy the warmer weather and longer days, take advantage of opportunities to go for a walk, hike, or activities outside.

Rhonda Nixon, PhD

Superintendent

Board Notes from June 24, 2024

Fri, 28 Jun 2024 19:00:00 GMT

From the regular meeting of the Board of Education. Find out about Young Artists Presentation, Owl Awards, and more. Read Board Notes here.

SD 73's grad season gets underway

Thu, 24 May 2018 21:00:00 GMT

June will be a busy and exciting month for School District No. 73 (Kamloops-Thompson) as nearly 1,000 students from 15 schools and programs mark the end of their secondary school careers.

The first commencement exercise takes place tonight in Barriere starting at 6 p.m., when 21 students will cross the stage. In the coming weeks, Grade 12 students in Kamloops, Chase, Logan Lake and Clearwater will be similarly recognized.

“Graduation ceremonies are always special,” said Bill Hamblett, SD 73’s Asst. Superintendent of Secondary Schools, noting the number of graduates is up slightly this year from last year. “We’ve watched so many of these young people come into our schools as children, and now they are leaving as young adults. We are exceptionally proud of all of them and the work they have done. We truly want to wish them well as they continue on.”

Of note this year, SD 73 will graduate 27 students from the renowned International Baccalaureate Diploma Program at Norkam Secondary School, and more than 250 students who have taken courses or training in the district’s Transitions, Trades and Technology programs. As well, XX Aboriginals students will graduate, making the district’s completion rate for First Nations students among the highest in the province.

As well as commencement exercises, there will be special celebrations of achievement, particularly the SD 73 Honours Banquet, which takes place May 31 at 7 p.m. at TRU. Approximately 75 students — the top five per cent of this year’s class by academic standing — will be recognized for their hard work and success.

Please see the link for dates, times and locations for each of the graduation ceremonies.

Board Notes from May 25, 2020

Fri, 29 May 2020 16:30:00 GMT

From the regular meeting of the Board of Education. Find out about approval for Continuity of Learning plan and 17 more custodians. Read Board Notes here.

Superintendent Sidow Set to Retire this Summer

Tue, 26 May 2020 02:15:00 GMT

Alison Sidow, School District No. 73 Superintendent of Schools, has announced her plan to retire effective August 31, 2020.

Superintendent since 2016, Sidow’s career in education has spanned thirty years and includes positions with the provincial government as Superintendent of Achievement as well as Superintendent of School District No. 74 Gold Trail. Sidow began her teaching career in the Bulkley Valley and spent several years teaching at an international school in India with her family. She joined the Kamloops-Thompson District in 2012 as the Assistant Superintendent of Elementary Education.

During her early tenure as superintendent, Sidow was tasked to develop and implement a five-year strategic plan that focused on connecting students to their future. Her greatest achievement was reaching a 90 per cent graduation rate for students and closing in on parity for Indigenous students.

“We have been impressed by the direction Superintendent Sidow has set for SD73. Our district is recognized throughout the province for its innovation in the sector both for how we deliver education and in how we respond to crisis,” said Kathleen Karpuk, SD73 Board of Education Chair, referring to the Parkcrest Elementary School fire and more recently, COVID-19.

In announcing her retirement to the Board of Education on May 25, Superintendent Sidow took the opportunity to thank the Board and the District’s senior leadership team for their support over the last several years as she led the district in improving successful school completion rates for all learners, receiving $34 million to expand Valleyview Secondary, addressing employee engagement, and improving accountability and transparency throughout the district.

“It’s a tribute to Superintendent Sidow’s focus and energy that our Indigenous learners are so close to achieving parity with all learners, a result of honouring the first people’s principles of learning and embedding Aboriginal worldviews and perspectives into the strategic plan,” said Karpuk.

Sidow also noted that she is confident that she has been able to deliver on the commitment she made to the Board of Education in 2018 to enhance communications and community relations to reinforce public trust in SD73 and is looking forward to the next chapter of her life.

Sa-Hali Grad Awarded Prestigious $40K Scholarship

Tue, 18 May 2021 18:45:00 GMT

Karisa Barker, a Sa-Hali Secondary grad, has been awarded a $40,000 post-secondary scholarship with the Cmolik Foundation in recognition of her achievements in overcoming adversity and excelling in her studies.

She will be attending the University of British Columbia (Okanagan Campus) for a Bachelor of Science degree. After that, she plans to attend the Western College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, to become a doctor of veterinary medicine.

“When you find something you are really passionate about, you don't give up on it,” said Karisa. “You open up to the opportunities and let everything else fall into place.”

With a mom who rescues and rehabilitates kittens, Karisa grew up in a household with a lot of animals. “Becoming a veterinarian with her own practice has always been her plan,” said her mother, Bonnie.

Karisa has practical animal care experience too, from her work as a veterinary assistant at the Twin Rivers Animal Hospital.

“I am very thankful for the opportunity Twin Rivers Animal Hospital has given me to see the veterinary industry up close,” she said. “It has been extremely eye-opening and rewarding to see the many challenges that come with this career, and I believe that this is what I am meant to do; make a change in the lives of animals, their owners, and the veterinary industry as a whole.”

She took her first job at the age of 13, after her father was injured in an industrial accident.

As a gifted lineman, he had traveled the world with his power engineering skills, assisting in the aftermath of hurricanes and working on well-known projects across the province. He was the sole provider for the family, and following his accident, he was unable to return to work.

“It was a huge loss for the family,” said Bonnie. “As the oldest girl in a family with four children, Karisa has always been focused on education and saving money for schooling. I always taught her the key to your success in life is to focus your attention, to read well, to write well, to speak well, and to be diligent with your homework.”

A Métis, Karisa has developed as an Aboriginal education leader with a goal to promote cultural identity within the school and bring a sense of community to Aboriginal students.

“Over Karisa's high school career we've seen her develop into an intelligent and curious young person,” said Rachael Sdoutz, Principal, Sa-Hali Secondary. “Karisa's commitment to the Sabre Nation and our Aboriginal Student Leadership team is commendable.”

“We had over one hundred very accomplished students apply for our Cmolik scholarship,” said Elisa Carson, Executive Director of The Cmolik Foundation. Karisa was a successful candidate. This scholarship represents a life-changing opportunity for its recipients.”

Board Notes from September 14, 2020

Thu, 17 Sep 2020 22:00:00 GMT

From the regular meeting of the Board of Education. Find out about how the Re-start Plan is working and the Numeracy Program. Read Board Notes here.

Grade 5 Student Leads KSA Buddy Bench Initiative

Fri, 14 Nov 2025 22:30:00 GMT

Story provided by Chelsea Isenor, Director of Communications and Board Administration

When Grade 5 KSA student Lily Murgatroyd noticed the need for more inclusion on the playground, she decided to take the initiative to create positive change, one bench at a time.

In October, Kamloops School of the Arts (KSA) added a new, welcoming feature to their playground area—a Buddy Bench. The project started with an idea from Lily, who approached KSA Principal Blair Lloyd about installing the bench. Lily remembered how her previous school had a Buddy Bench and how it helped kids feel more included.

With Principal Lloyd’s support, and help from her family and friends, Lily then presented to the KSA Parent Advisory Council, and shared how Buddy Benches can make a positive difference for all kids to feel included and welcome:

“A buddy bench is a bench where someone goes to sit on it if they don’t have a friend to play with, and another friend can come over and play with them. It lets people know when someone feels lonely and needs extra kindness... Buddy benches make everyone feel included, and like they belong.”

There are nearly 40 Buddy Benches, also known as Friendship Benches, at schools across the Kamloops-Thompson School District. These simple additions to a school playground help foster a sense of belonging and inclusion. Ensuring that every learner feels welcome, safe, and connected while developing a sense of social responsibility are goals of the District’s Human and Social Development strategic priority.

To help fundraise for KSA’s new Buddy Bench, Lily and her friends sold nearly 100 friendship bracelets at school—reinforcing her message of friendship and kindness.

On October 23, 2025, Lily’s dream became a reality when the new Buddy Bench was installed at KSA. Cheered on by her classmates, Lily shared why this moment mattered to her and her school:

“Sometimes I knew people who didn’t have enough friends to play with, so I wanted to make them happy. If someone doesn't have a friend, they go on the bench and then someone will come over. It means everyone has a chance to have a friend... I really hope people come here sometimes so I can play with them.”

Thanks to Lily’s kindness, determination, and leadership, KSA’s Buddy Bench will be a welcoming space for all students for years to come, reenforcing Lily’s powerful message: everyone deserves a friend.

Become a Homestay Family

Wed, 07 Apr 2021 16:00:00 GMT

The District would like you to consider becoming a homestay family. In addition to helping a student from another country while they attend school.

School District No. 73 compensates families at a rate of $875 per month, per student. That is $4,375 per semester and $8,750 per school year. Families may host multiple students if they wish.

COVID-19 protocols and procedures are in place for this program. If you are interested in hosting one or more international students during the upcoming school year, or if you know a friend or family member who may wish to register as a host family, please contact our Homestay Manager, Leslee Faubert - lesleefaubert@shaw.ca

For additional information check this website. (link to: https://www.ispcanada.ca)

How Traditional Foods can Connect Students to their Future

Wed, 16 Jan 2019 19:00:00 GMT

How do food decisions affect our well-being in all areas of our lives? How can traditional methods of subsistence be preserved over time? What can we learn from Indigenous peoples to help us conserve and restore B.C. salmon?

These questions guided Four Directions Secondary School’s inquiry, supported by an Inquiry and Innovation funding grant, during the 2017-2018 school year. Four Directions Teachers Jordan Smith, Courtney Bruin and Courtney Markin, together with their students, provided an overview of the program’s success during the School District #73 School Board meeting on January 14.

Working with the theme of traditional food and the guiding questions, students connected with members of the Secwepemc community throughout the school year. Students explored learning opportunities in foods, science, English, social studies, Aboriginal studies and art through experiential learning opportunities focused on connection to land and place.

Students’ experiences ranged from collaboration with an Elder to build a traditional pit cook at McQueen Lake; participating in a Maker Day to design solutions to challenges facing salmon during spawning; visiting the Dunn Lake fish hatchery; and creating a traditional food website with favorite family recipes.

The Four Directions students also travelled to Vancouver to tour BCIT and to attend a Research in Action Workshop at the Vancouver Aquarium. Students were able to connect traditional foods to the present by visiting First Nations-owned and -operated restaurants. They learned from the restaurateurs how traditional ingredients, cooking methods, and teachings are incorporated into their recipes and businesses.

One answer to preserving traditional methods was the creation and launching of a book about the students’ experiences, Connection to Land and Place: Traditional Foods. The book marked the culmination of their inquiry journey, as students prepared food for family and guests, gathered, and celebrated their learning.

Board sends message of sympathy and support after discovery at Tk'eml�ps te Secw�pemc

Fri, 28 May 2021 21:30:00 GMT

The Kamloops-Thompson Board of Education sends its sympathies and support to the Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc, and all those impacted by the recent confirmation of remains of children found buried on the grounds of the TteS residential school.

“The tragic legacy of residential schools continues to impact our communities,” said Board Chair, Rhonda Kershaw. “I can’t pretend to understand the depth of sadness being experienced, but I grieve with those affected and, with the board and our staff, we will work towards a better future through reconciliation.”

“Yesterday’s horrific discovery will reverberate through our students, their families, and our staff,”
said Superintendent Dr. Terry Sullivan. “I know that the impact of this discovery will always remain with us and we will continue to work towards truth and reconciliation with our Indigenous partners.”

On Friday, district staff reached out to all affected communities to offer support, and to bring together resources to support students, their families and any staff who may be impacted.

Superintendent's Update

Sat, 21 Jan 2023 01:00:00 GMT

Dear Parents and Caregivers:

It has been a wonderful week of learning about how students and staff foster positive relationships/connections and develop competencies such as collaboration and problem solving, which are central to achieving our priorities in the 2022-2027 District Strategic Plan.

Sa-Hali Secondary School

I visited classrooms with Vice Principals Dolha and Tommasini, and our first stop was Mr. Sandhu’s metal works class where the students were designing and building trikes.

I met Dainen, Lucas, and Hudson who showed me their electric front wheel drive drift trike.

I also met Aiden, Dayton, and Carter who shared their process of creating the gas powered drift trike.

Mr. Sandhu explained, “I teach transferable skills such as how to work as a team, to problem solve, and to persist when designs do not work because this is the learning that will benefit students in their lives.” As we continued on our visit, Ms. Davidson’s Gr. 10-12 Video Design class shared their games, and they are looking forward to an Arcade Day to showcase their learning about coding, building characters and storylines, and solving problems. Mr. Avery’s class was preparing for their next production. Mr. Litt’s class was studying Entrepreneurship and engaged in a digital scavenger hunt to answer questions about business. The Foods students had just finished making perogies from scratch. Mr. Robertson’s Pre-calculus class was working on solving polynomial problems and earlier, his grade 8 students engaged in a puzzle exercise that taught them to apply their understanding of the Pythagorean theorem. Ms. Goddard was finishing yoga with her students in the District Resource Room. Ms. Roos and Mr. Dunsmore were teaching Gr. 8 English. I concluded the visit by discussing the school communities’ learning priorities with Principal Brady.

Kid Inventors’ Day - January 17

Last week, when I was at Bert Edwards Elementary School, I learned from Eoghan and Lucas about how they made fingerboards out of layers of paper fused together. What struck me was how Eoghan had to present his idea for making fingerboards to the class who assessed whether it was a good fit for their classroom business called, “Woodlands Coffee Shop”. The students reviewed Eoghan’s idea based on criteria such as likelihood to sell in their shop to generate funds for things such as a year-end trip. Read more.

Student Equity Council Developing a District Anti-racism Action Plan

This week, SD73 students are developing an anti-racism action plan. They will gather at the Henry Grube Education Centre to engage in this important work and report on the outcomes. Thank you to Assistant Superintendent Mochikas for this work on the Cultural and Identity Development Priority in the 2022-2027 District Strategic Plan.

Preparing for Kindergarten Open House

Just a reminder for parents who have children entering Kindergarten, you are invited to join us in February to learn more about registration in Kindergarten. Read more here. Thank you to the District Early Learning Team for supporting learners to transition into Kindergarten, an important part of the Intellectual Development Priority in the 2022-2027 District Strategic Plan.

Interior Health

As we continue to work and learn, and stay healthy, consider the following advice from Interior Health:

Stay at home if unwell.
Practice respiratory etiquette.
Consider wearing a mask in crowded public spaces, and cough and sneeze into the elbow.
Clean hands regularly.
Avoid touching the face, especially eyes, mouth and nose.

I hope that you enjoy your weekend and take time to rejuvenate and to get outside.

Rhonda Nixon, PhD

Superintendent

Board Notes from December 11, 2023

Fri, 15 Dec 2023 19:00:00 GMT

From the regular meeting of the Board of Education. All about Owl Award for Excellence in Public Education, School Re-openings and Catchment Changes, and Just B4 Child Care Expansion. Read Board Notes here.

Girls Exploring Trades and Technology at TRU

Wed, 16 Jan 2019 19:30:00 GMT

Nearly 70 girls in Grades 7, 8 and 9 from schools across School District #73 spent two days exploring trades and technology at Thompson Rivers University January 10 and 11.

Industry guest speakers from companies ranging from mining to software engineering were on hand to provide job training information and to answer questions. The students were also able to try out their skills at several work stations set up at TRU. These included carpentry, refrigeration, power engineering and mechanics.

SD#73 Trades and Technology staff partnered with TRU trades staff, Tolko, New Gold, and Highland Valley Copper, Mind the Gap (TRU), Women in Trades and Technology (Industry Training Authority of B.C.) to make the day a success.

Any student wishing to connect with a trades or a technology career can learn more about learning options for high school at an information night Feb. 12 at Norkam Senior Secondary School. The school district offers programs in Trades and Transitions including samplers in the construction, industrial and mechanical trades; a hairstylist program, video game programming, and aquatics, dance, hockey and soccer academies. The information session starts at 7 p.m. in the Norkam cafeteria. Registration is not required, however, participants interested in the hairstylist program should reserve a seat by calling 250-376-3133.

Two Week Spring Break Negotiated for District

Mon, 05 Jul 2021 16:45:00 GMT

Students and families from the Kamloops-Thompson School District will now be able to join their families and friends in the rest of the province on a two-week spring break.

SD73 Board of Education, the Kamloops Thompson Teachers’ Association (KTTA), and the Canadian Union of Public Employees 3500 (CUPE) agreed to the terms of an additional week for spring break.

“The Board is pleased to have successfully negotiated a two-week spring break within the KTTA collective agreement,” said Board Chair Rhonda Kershaw. “As demonstrated by the almost unanimous vote by district union groups, this will be a welcome change for staff.”

The province gives school districts authority to determine their own calendars. They must ensure students receive a minimum number of instructional hours each school year.

KTTA members voted 96 per cent in favour of a longer break.

“Teachers are looking forward to a work year that more aligns with the rest of the province,” said Laurel Macpherson, President of the KTTA. “With the additional week in the spring, teachers and students will be able to rejuvenate and come back re-charged for the remainder of the school year.”

To meet the minimum number of instructional hours required by the ministry and to accommodate the two-week spring break, the duration of instructional days will increase for the 2021-2022 school year. The additional instructional time will come at the end of the school day, and not through a shortened lunch break.

CUPE members voted 95 per cent in favour of the change.

“The extended spring break is a benefit for our membership,” said Corey Grabner,

President of CUPE 3500.

He noted that unlike many other districts, the extra week was not proposed as a cost-cutting measure. The terms for CUPE members include increasing the time worked each day, then banking it so there is no lost time for the hundreds of support staff employed by SD73.

“We were committed to ensuring that the extra week did not come at the expense of our CUPE employees,” he said.

While an extended spring break has been discussed, the pandemic provided an opportunity to rekindle the discussion. As one of only two districts in the province with a one-week spring break, the District found the shorter break created additional pressures for school staff and families.

The calendars proposed for the next three years will be posted to sd73.bc.ca for 30 days following the July 5, 2021 regular Board meeting. Staff and parents are invited to send their feedback to facilityinput@sd73.bc.ca. Once the 30-day feedback period is complete, the calendars will be sent to the Ministry of Education for approval.

Proposed Spring Break dates over the next three school years are:

March 21- April 1, 2022, for 2021–2022;

March 20 - March 31, 2023, for 2022-2023;

March 18 - April 2, 2024, for 2023-2024.

Art Brings SKSS Together

Thu, 17 Feb 2022 19:45:00 GMT

South Kamloops Secondary School (SKSS) Art teacher Lisa Yamaoka will soon embark on an art supply shopping spree.

Yamaoka’s art class was recently announced as the winner of the Art Brings Us Together giving program presented by BC-owned and operated Opus Art Supplies. Her class will receive a $1,000 gift card towards the purchase of various art supplies above and beyond the usual supply list.

The Art teacher credits positive community support for the award: “[It] directly impacts students as they investigate the world we live in through their personal expression and sharing art. Arts Education encourages students to experiment, try new processes, make mistakes, celebrate their differences, champion what makes them unique and reflect on the world around them.”

“I feel grateful every day to witness student artists who show up, engage, and enjoy our time together in the art room at South Kamloops Secondary,” said Yamaoka.

“I am so proud of Ms. Yamaoka's dedication, passion, and commitment to Arts Education and her students,” said Walt Kirschner, SKSS principal. “Lisa has redefined what creativity looks and feels like for so many of our students and staff, as well as within the Kamloops Arts community. Ms. Yamaoka's work is extensive both on our campus and within our greater community.”

Among the hundreds of votes, below are some testimonials that contributed to the win for SKSS:

“The art teacher Lisa Yamaoka is doing an amazing job fostering creativity in all of her classes and, being a public school, funding for innovative projects and field trips is extremely limited. This award would go a long way in her classes, allowing for students to gain experience with new materials and grow their love for art!”

“They have the most dedicated art teacher who is truly in it for the students and the art. The art program at SKSS is something that has stuck with me years after graduation and truly an amazing cause!”

“I graduated from this school and the art teacher Lisa Yamaoka was the reason I persuaded my passion for art as a career and went to complete a BFA. This art teacher brought so much love for the arts and creates an amazing safe space for everyone. She brings out the best in the creative side of students and has always been so resourceful and encouraging. To have someone see the potential in others to create and explore and feel okay to try new things and be different is what makes her classes so special.”

First Steps Makes Homemade Meals for Evacuees

Thu, 25 Nov 2021 17:30:00 GMT

Staff and student volunteers from SD73’s First Steps program prepared and delivered 140 servings of chili to Merritt evacuees at Pineridge Elementary on Monday.

“The idea came out of a discussion with our Vice Principal Dyan Gunnlaugson, as we are always looking for leadership opportunities for our First Steps students in the community,” said Cheyenne Kennedy, First Steps teacher. “Over the years, our program and students have received a great deal of support from the community and we are always looking for ways to say thank you. This seemed like a perfect opportunity.”

With help from the Kamloops Food Bank who graciously donated beans, onions, celery, and buns, the volunteer group was able to deliver containers of chili, buns, and apple juice to those affected by the recent floods.

In addition to meal prep, First Steps students, comprised of mothers, or expectant mothers, ages fourteen to twenty-four years old looking to pursue graduation, also volunteered their time by helping organize the influx of donations at the Pineridge gym.

“We also connected with an evacuee who had two teenagers that were looking for school supplies,” said Kennedy. “We invited them to our class and let them raid our cupboards. They were very grateful.”

SKSS Teams Win at Interior Regional Ethics Bowl

Fri, 29 Nov 2024 21:00:00 GMT

On Saturday, November 23, 2024, SKSS, Sa-Hali Secondary, Valleyview Secondary, Westsyde Secondary, and NorKam Secondary had teams participate in the Interior Regional Ethics Bowl. The regional competition was hosted and facilitated by TRU with TRU Faculty acting as the competition judges.

Congratulations to the two SKSS teams who took home first and second place – both teams will advance to the Ethics Bowl Provincials Competition in March 2025. Students on the first place SKSS team are Maeve Belomon, Yusra Rahman, Damian Hickey and Izumi Heyland. Students on the second place SKSS team are Oluwadamilare Adebowale-Adenigba, Duonye Allwell-Brown, Allison Ring, Braedyn Arbow, Delaney Rusk, and Isobel Filyk.

“It was super interesting getting perspectives from other schools that we hadn't competed against before. Last year it was just us and NorKam,” shared Yusra Rahman

Izumi Heyland shared “It's been really cool to see how much the ethics bowl community has grown over the last few years.”

SKSS teacher sponsor, Mr. Don Wilson, shared, “As sponsor teachers of the two teams, Mr. Hallet and I are very proud of the initiative, self-organization, and hard work the teams put in to be well-prepared and ready to argue their positions on the cases. Knowing the cases in depth requires a great deal of research and preparatory argumentation. Our teams presented their cases with impressive decorum and poise. In fact, all the teams in SD73 impressed us with their capacity to develop one another's ideas with articulate civility. We're grateful to Dr. Jenna Woodrow and the faculty at TRU for organizing and developing the event.”

Ethics Bowl is a competition based on the cooperative development of ideas rather than adversarial debate. Winners are judged on the sophistication of their content, the civility of their discourse, and on their capacity to synthesize and develop ideas in response to the opposing team's critique.

Our District has a strong reputation in the Ethic Bowls – SKSS were the 2024 National Ethics Bowl Champions (read more) and NorKam Secondary were the 2023 National Ethics Bowl Champions (read more).

Board Notes from January 25, 2021

Thu, 28 Jan 2021 17:30:00 GMT

From the regular meeting of the Board of Education. All about Career Education in Action and more. Read Board Notes here.

Vancouver Public Education Alliance-Collaboration about International Education

Thu, 15 Dec 2022 22:45:00 GMT

VPEA (Vancouver Public Education Alliance) from China has been working with the SD73 Business Company Global Education Director Kristin Engleson on the 2+1 program since 2012. On December 8th, Jo Cheng (Director of Operations), Krissy Yang (Regional Director) and Jessie Yang (Student Service Coordinator) met with Superintendent Dr. Rhonda Nixon, Secretary-Treasurer Trina Cassidy, Assistant Superintendent Bill Hamblett and International Student Program staff. VPEA staff also visited each of their current thirty-seven students attending Norkam (14), Westsyde (9) and South Kamloops Secondary (14).

In the 2 + 1 program, international students study BC courses online taught by BC certified teachers for two years (Grades 10 and 11) in their home countries. Then they study for one year (Grade 12) in Kamloops. Since the first students graduated in 2016, almost 300 VPEA students have received their BC Graduation Diploma from Kamloops schools.

“The partnership that the school district has with VPEA epitomizes the school district core value of Well-Being,” noted District Principal of International Education, Kent Brewer. “Students are supported socially, emotionally and academically prior to arriving in Kamloops, during their time in our city and upon departure. The wrap-around support that students receive from VPEA, their school’s student body and staff, as well as the International Student Program and SD 73 Business Company Global Education staff, allows students to comfortably adapt to their new surroundings while pursuing academic excellence.”

SD73 Comes Together to Help Evacuees

Mon, 22 Nov 2021 18:00:00 GMT

Members of SD73 community leaders came together quickly on Saturday to begin collecting food and clothing donations for families recently evacuated from Merritt due to recent flooding.

Stationed at SD73’s @KOOL campus at 1770 Springview Place in Kamloops, volunteers spent the day sorting through massive amounts of donations due to an overwhelming response from SD73 staff, families, and community members.

“This is just another example of the kind, caring, and generous spirit of SD73,” said Superintendent Rhonda Nixon. “The outpouring of support grew throughout the day from donations from the United Way, SPCA, Pet Smart, and restaurant owners.

“We were fortunate to receive and organize clothing, toys, toiletries, food, and supplies to meet adult needs, as well as pets’ needs.”

During a shopping trip that day to purchase additional items, Nixon recounts how a woman in line generously stepped up and purchased $400 in gift cards to be donated to the cause.

Schools will continue to accept donations of food items that don’t need to be cooked (ie. yogurt, bread, peanut butter, jam, crackers, cheese, etc) until Wednesday, November 24, 2021. Cash or gift card donations, as well as teenage and adult-sized clothing are also needed.

For more information, please contact Assistant Superintendent of Inclusive Education Vessy Mochikas at vmochikas@sd73.bc.ca.

Place-Based Learning Taps Into 'Power of Place'

Mon, 29 Apr 2019 23:30:00 GMT

BC’s redesigned curriculum provides teachers with great flexibility in creating learning environments that are relevant, engaging, and not necessarily classroom-based. At Aberdeen Elementary School, teachers have provided their students with several place-based learning opportunities this year, thanks to an Innovation Grant from School District No. 73.

They thanked the Board of Education for the grant in a presentation at the April 29 board meeting.

“We have all experienced the power of place, those moments when we feel the world around us, and what is happening there is real and meaningful,” said Sarah Kruisselbrink, grade 2 teacher. “Place-based learning leverages the power of place to create this kind of experience for students.”

“This is anytime, anywhere learning that provides an immersive experience for students,” said Stacey Kaczur, grade 3 teacher. “It places students in local heritage, cultures, landscapes opportunities, experiences and uses these as foundation for the study of language arts, mathematics, social studies, science and other subjects across the curriculum.

“We were able to find inexpensive, yet excellent experiences for our students to provide on-site curriculum including literacy, science, social studies, visual arts and core competencies that were being developed right in the moment, said Shelley Marsh, grade 3/4 teacher.

Students activities included a release of salmon at Pine Park, a trip to the Robbins Range Historical School, field studies with a geologist, a stream bug study, and a pond and artist study at Isobel Lake.

Support for Merritt and area families in SD58

Tue, 23 Nov 2021 00:00:00 GMT

If you are having a difficult time securing specific necessities or if you are in need of additional supports, please reach out to merrittsupport@sd73.bc.ca and someone will be in touch with you.

In addition to this, a donation centre for SD58 families has been set up at @KOOL, 1770 Springview Place, Kamloops. Please enter and exit through the back gym doors. The centre will be open this week (November 22-25) from 12-3 pm. Clothing of all sizes will be available as well as non-perishable food and snacks. If you are having a difficult time accessing the donation centre, please email merrittsupport@sd73.bc.ca.

If you are in need of assistance and do not have internet access, please call Vessy Mochikas at the School Board Office 250-374-0679.

Please know that no matter what city you are evacuated to, if you are having a difficult time securing specific necessities or if you are in need of additional supports, please reach out to merrittsupport@sd73.bc.ca and someone will be in touch with you in order to help you wherever you are.

Reach out to your school principal or Jane Kempston, District Principal of Student Support at jkempston@365.sd58.bc.ca

Community Meal Options (lunches for evacuees)

The Meal Train delivers daily meals to motel and hotel rooms, every day for breakfast and lunch. If you need a delivery, please call 250-879-0465.
Oasis Church, Emergency Resource Centre and Hot Lunch, Monday - Friday, Nov. 22 -26, 8:30 am - 1:30 pm
Full Community Meal Calendar & Free Food Resources

Celebrating Literacy in the Early Years: ABC Family Literacy Day at the Henry Grube Education Centre

Wed, 25 Jan 2023 22:30:00 GMT

In the 2022-2027 Kamloops-Thompson District Strategic Plan, literacy development is foundational to supporting learning opportunities that inspire students to thrive. When children begin to read, view, and listen to texts that captivate their imaginations, it is the beginning of a joyous journey of celebrating literacy moments and events throughout their lives.

Saturday, January 21st, Kamloops’ 15^th annual celebration of literacy made its return. Interior Savings’ Unplug and Play Family Literacy Week kicked off with ABC Family Literacy Day at the Henry Grube Centre.

Kamloops Y BC, Kamloops Regional Library, and School District No. 73 asked their community how they could MAKE IT COUNT! With mathematics in mind, Kamloops community partners provided crafts, games, services and entertainment to over 325 children and families. The two-hour event encouraged families to unplug from their screens and spend time together.

“This is a day where we celebrate family connections, unplugging and playing and just have tons of FUN!” shared Crystal Murgatroyd, Family Outreach Coordinator Kamloops Y BC.

"Throughout Unplug and Play Week, there are lots of community events happening, but what's nice about ABC — it's like one big draw that the community can attend to celebrate literacy as a large group rather than splitting out into smaller weekly groups," said Melissa Miller, Thompson-Nicola Regional Library Early Years Coordinator. "It is one big celebration."

“While Interior Savings Unplug and Play Week did its best to keep going through the pandemic, there’s no substitute for being back in person. Learning should be fun for everyone involved which is why we’ve created an event where stories and activities are engaging for all ages, literacy levels and life experiences,” Marianne Vande Pol, SD 73 Early Years Coordinator.

To finish the week, Family Literacy Day takes place every January 27^th to raise awareness about the importance of reading and engaging in other literacy-related activities as a family. (website)

A Day of Learning with Carole Fullerton

Fri, 26 Apr 2024 20:30:00 GMT

Story provided by Monica Bergeron - District Numeracy Coordinator

In the 2022-2027 District Strategic Plan, numeracy is a foundational skill to develop in all students. Supporting students to develop numeracy skills is a goal of powerful professional learning in numeracy.

The Kamloops-Thompson Numeracy team, in collaboration with Kamloops School of the Arts, hosted a day of learning with Carole Fullerton on April 23, 2024.

Primary and intermediate teachers from 10 other elementary schools joined us to work with Carole to first discuss the concept that will be taught to students, then watch Carole deliver a lesson with students in a Grade 1 class and a Grade 4 class at KSA and then debrief the lesson and talk about next steps. Ms. Woods’ Grade 1 class did a lesson focusing on teen numbers and Ms. Covington’s Grade 4 class did a lesson around introduction to division.

Students and teachers were engaged with the way that Carole brought math to life using literature for context and games to consolidate student learning. Carole enhances the pedagogy of our teachers through her lessons that clearly follow a represent, describe, compare and order sequence to fully engage students in the development of number sense. The SD73 District Numeracy team would like to thank all the participants, teachers and support staff involved that made our day of learning so deeply meaningful.

For more information about how your school can host a day of learning with Carole Fullerton, please contact Monica Bergeron - District Numeracy Coordinator.

Career Development Heats Up at Girl's Explore Fire Rescue

Wed, 15 May 2024 20:00:00 GMT

Story provided by Kerry Gairdner, District Vice-Principal of Career Programs

Career Development is one of the key priorities outlined in the 2022-2027 District Strategic Plan and the Kamloops-Thompson School District is committed to helping prepare students attain their career goals. The District's Career Development Department is dedicated to providing career exploration opportunities for a range of possible career pathways, including events that encourage students to think about careers they may not have thought to explore.

On May 9, 2024, 14 females in Grades 10 through 12 from Sa-Hali Secondary, Kamloops School of the Arts, Chase Secondary, NorKam Secondary, Westsyde Secondary, and South Kamloops Secondary participated in the second Girl's Explore Fire Rescue event. The Career Development Department partnered with Kamloops Fire Rescue (KFR) to offer students an amazing, hands-on career experience in interior fire and search, car fire, auto extraction, and rope rescue. The goal of this event is to get more women to join the firefighting force. Currently, out of the 129 firefighters in Kamloops, only two are women.

While some of the girls were trying Fire Rescue practices for the first time, others already knew they wanted to make it their career. Eden Scott from Kamloops School of the Arts stated “It's hard to respect and understand jobs when it's just talked about. But when you get to experience what a career is, it just puts it into perspective."

KFR Captain Erin Holloway reported "We want to show these girls that this is a viable option as a career for women. We want to see our community services being more reflective of the community we serve. And, of course, you know, we have a population that's 50/50, so we'd like to have some more women in the department."

With this being only the second year Girl's Explore Fire Rescue has been offered, students and staff are both excited about the future career event possibilities with KFR.

“We strive to provide equitable access to students in various career sectors, encouraging them to explore and get hands-on experience which can better inform their career choices,” stated Kerry Gairdner, District Vice-Principal of Career Program. “Girls Explore Fire Rescue gives females the opportunity to learn about and participate in a strongly male-dominated field, receiving training in structural fire fighting under the guidance of the only two female members of Kamloops Fire Rescue, Captain Erin Holloway and Firefighter Carly Swanson. We hope to continue the partnership with KFR in years to come, ensuring that our female students continue to have the opportunity to explore firefighting as a potential career.”

Street Smart Safety Tips

Fri, 17 Sep 2021 21:30:00 GMT

The Kamloops RCMP, along with School District 73, have some street smart safety tips for parents and guardians to discuss with their children. Reviewing safety tips with youngsters is always a good conversation to have whether children are on their way to school, home, or the park, street proofing tips can help prepare youth for how to recognize and respond to suspicious activity.

Below are some tips to help families discuss street proofing:

In the Community:

If a vehicle is involved, try to take notes describing the suspicious vehicle, license plate, and the stranger’s description. Call 9-1-1 for help
If possible, give your child a cell phone when they are away from home
Children and teens should play and walk to places with a buddy. If they become separated or lost, they should tell someone with a nametag (for e.g. a cashier or security guard) immediately.
Avoid long conversations with strangers. If someone you do not know asks you personal questions, such as: Where do you live? DO NOT answer! Run away or leave the situation immediately
It’s okay to say NO to adults who ask you to do something for them, such as: help them find a lost pet, join them in an activity or game, or give them directions
Never walk with or accept a ride, money or gifts from strangers or even someone you may know, without checking with your parents. Keep a safe distance (two arm lengths) from strangers and cars that approach you
If a person tries to grab you - scream loudly, make a lot of noise, and try to create a disturbance (e.g. knock things over, scatter belongings, kick wildly). Shout, Help, this person is not my parent! Run to a safe location like an open store

Older Children:

If you are taking a public bus, always sit near the bus driver
Reduce the use of headphones or use of electronic devices that can distract you from your surroundings when you are walking

Everyday Basics:

Know your home address and landline phone number
Know how to contact your parents on their cell phones or at work
Know how and when to call 9-1-1 in an emergency from a landline phone and from a cell phone
Establish a secret word for your family. This should be used in emergencies to identify a ‘safe person’ other than their parent or caregiver
Play what-if games with younger children to reinforce these safety messages

Additional personal safety messages for children are available through Safe at Play

Kamloops-Thompson School District Celebrates Pride Month

Fri, 30 May 2025 18:00:00 GMT

In June, we celebrate Pride Month as one key strategy to ensure that, as a District, we are creating educational experiences that are free of discrimination, sexism, harassment, and homophobia. One of the core values of the 2022-2027 District Strategic Plan is Equity and our district is committed to work to remove barriers and create environments that provide accessible and empowering opportunities for all students and staff to thrive personally and culturally.

Pride Month is recognized across Canada and around the world—it is a time to honour and celebrate the two-spirit, lesbian, gay, bi-sexual, transgender, queer, questioning, intersex, asexual, and other (2SLGBTQIA+) communities.

In the Kamloops-Thompson School District, we are focused on creating safe and inclusive spaces where all students and staff can share their authentic selves, learn from different perspectives and experiences, and engage in meaningful discussions to foster understanding and acceptance.

Throughout the year, this work is led by SOGI (Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity) Champions and allies, the District’s Inclusive Education team, and by students and staff in Gender and Sexuality Alliance (GSA) and Diversity Clubs in all schools.

Pride Month offers an opportunity to learn and connect for 2SLGBTQIA+ identifying students looking for a sense of community as well as students who are interested in promoting diversity and inclusion as allies in their schools—these student voices lead conversations around what support and change is needed in school settings.

Some of the activities students and staff across the District can participate in this month include:

Age appropriate classroom discussions and lessons on Pride History.
Kamloops Pride Week from June 9–15, which features a variety of events and activities. The school district will be participating in the Kamloops Pride Parade on Sunday, June 15, 2025 at 11:00 am downtown.
The Youth Carnival and Ice Cream Social at the City of Kamloops Open House on June 11 from 3–6 pm in Riverside Park.
Rainbow Reads Storytime with the YMCA as part of their Healthy Kids Week program on June 14.
Mini Golf Mondays every Monday in June from 6–8 pm as a community engagement initiative for Kamloops 2SLGBTQIA+ youth and their allies.

Please join us in celebrating Pride Month. There are many ways to participate including:

Sharing the history of Pride and learning about Pride icons.
Showcasing 2SLGBTQIA+ representation in media through movies, music, and books.
Finding ways to celebrate with social events, parades, challenges, crafts, games, and more.
Visibly acknowledging and celebrating diversity in our learning environments (e.g., multicultural events, multi-languages on signs, Pride poster).
Being an ally. There are 8 steps to meaningful allyship–you can read more here.

Read the Minister’s, parliamentary secretary’s, K-12 education partners’ statement on Pride 2025 here.

Student and Family Affordability Fund - Student Fees Reimbursement

Fri, 02 Feb 2024 22:00:00 GMT

On August 29, 2022, the Ministry of Education and Child Care announced that school districts in BC would be provided with a one-time fund ($60 M) called the Student and Family Affordability Fund (SFAF) intended to provide additional funds to parents to offset costs of food through meals programs in the school, school supplies, and any additional fees so that students can take part in activities, such as field trips, athletics, and fine arts.

School District No. 73 received $1,656,248 in November 2022.

In the 2022-2023 school year, the District spent $760,236 of these funds supporting students and families with the cost of school supplies, course fees, academy fees, field trips, athletics, meals and snacks, leaving $896,012 for the 2023-2024 school year.

As of January 26, 2024, the District has spent approximately $670,000 which has provided assistance with an estimated 17,000 school fees.

There is $226,000 in funding available for the remainder of the school year that will continue to provide support for school supplies, course fees, academy fees and enhancement fees.

To access the Student and Family Affordability Fund for assistance with these fees, please use SchoolCash Online or the paper-based school supply or course fee forms sent home by your school.

Due to the potential of fully expending the remaining amount in the Student and Family Affordability Fund to support families with school supplies, academy fees, course fees and enhancement fees, support for additional fees (i.e. grad fees, athletic fees, field trips, etc.) will not be considered at this time. At the beginning of April 2024, Director Tallon will review the funds remaining and determine an equitable redistribution of any remaining funds for grad fees, athletics fees and field trips.

If you have additional fees that you need help with, please see your school principal about the Student Financial Assistance Administrative Procedure.

Robotics Events a Success for District Students

Tue, 16 Apr 2019 17:30:00 GMT

Students from across School District No. 73 were engaged in three very different robotics challenges in early April. They used their computational thinking skills to program Edison, Sphero or Blue Bot to create the code to navigate several kinds of challenges. In one challenge, students created their own stories. In the other two challenges students learned Secwepemculecw history, geography.

Through three days of events, over 200 students competed in the robotics challenges.

“All of these events were supported by fabulous student volunteers from Westsyde Secondary, Norkam Secondary and Valleyview Secondary,” said Elizabeth DeVries, SD73 Technology Coordinator. “As well as other community members, TRU students, and coordinators, teachers and technicians from SD73. It could not have been so successful without the work of these many, many volunteers.”

The SD73 LEGO Robotics Tournament saw Sa-Hali Secondary take the top spot. The LEGO Mindstorms robotics kits are part of the Future Launch CoLab grant that was given to SD73 and includes $17,500 for robotics kits and laptops and the training to support teachers.

The SD73 Robotics Tournament’s winning primary team was Arthur Stevenson Elementary followed by teams from Arthur Hatton Elementary and Kamloops School of the Arts. The winning Intermediate team was Arthur Hatton Elementary, followed by teams from Bert Edwards School of Technology and Rayleigh Elementary Schools. Finally, all participants of the Cariboo Mainline Regional Science Fair also tried their programming skills with a small robotics tournament.

Following up on North Shore Incident

Thu, 01 Apr 2021 21:45:00 GMT

A Kamloops RCMP investigation is ongoing, following a school threat that led to a heavy police presence on Kamloops’ north shore yesterday.

On March 31, around 1:40 p.m., Kamloops RCMP received a call involving a very serious and specific threat to NorKam Senior Secondary School. As part of its response, RCMP followed its normal procedure to contact the school district and provide it with information and recommendations about the threat. RCMP advised the school district to implement its school safety procedures, which resulted in the lockdown of NorKam Senior Secondary and all other schools in North Kamloops and Brocklehurst.

Police continued their investigation, which included support from multiple RCMP units, including air services. As frontline officers obtained more information and the initial threat did not materialize, police and the school district coordinated the safe exit of staff and students.

All schools were dismissed by approximately 4:45 pm without incident.

At this time, police are still investigating the nature of the threat. No further information is available.

A letter sent home to all affected families from respective school principals on Wednesday evening thanked families for their support.

Parents were advised to watch their children and youth for varied reactions to these types of situations that may include trouble sleeping, concentrating or listening. or noting if children become more irritable, sad, angry, or worried as they think about what has happened.

The first important step to help your child after an event is to listen and pay attention to what they say and how they act. Remember that they may also show their feelings in nonverbal ways. Listen, observe, and note any changes in behavior.

Counselling is available for students as required. Please keep an eye on students and advise a school administrator if support is needed.

Incidents like this are a reminder to parents and caregivers to ensure their contact information is up to date at their child’s school in case of emergencies.

Additionally, parents can download SD73’s mobile app to receive the notifications posted to the district and each schools’ website.

Parent Involvement Strategies

Mon, 28 Mar 2022 20:00:00 GMT

Research has shown that student engagement is directly impacted by parent engagement. This session will provide parents with ideas and tips on simple ways Indigenous parents can get involved with their school that will make big differences and how the SD73 Indigenous Family Voices for Education can support them.

Presented by SD73 Indigenous Family Voices for Education Parent Group - Roxane Letterlough (facilitator).

The workshop will be held via Zoom on Thursday, April 28, from 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM. If you are interested in attending, you are asked to register here and you will be provided with the link to the meeting.

The Cariboo-Mainline Regional Science Fair

Fri, 05 Apr 2024 20:00:00 GMT

The Cariboo-Mainline Regional Science Fair was held at Thompson Rivers University on Tuesday April 2 and Wednesday April 3. This fair happens annually, and the top science projects from elementary and high schools from around the region are submitted for judging and students can receive awards ranging from books, medals, trophies and monetary or a combination of the same. In total, over $8000 dollars of provincial cash prizes and scholarships were given away.

Ninety-five students from three school districts presented 80 projects to 30 volunteer judges over the two days. Two School District 73 students from Valleyview Secondary, Gunnar Koehn in grade 8 and Gavin Ewen in grade 11 had their projects selected to compete at the Canada Wide Science Fair in Ottawa on May 25, 2024.

A summary of each of these winning projects is summarized below.

Gavin’s Project in his words

Many people have electric vehicles (EV), and many more plan to get them in the upcoming years. Many people also have solar panels on their homes. Currently there isn't a direct way to charge your EV with your solar panels. I wanted to see if I could power an electric car entirely off the grid. Specifically, I wanted to see if it was physically possible to charge a Tesla Model X with commercially available solar panels, and in an economical way, storing the energy in batteries. I answered this question mathematically then confirmed my data using a functional 3D model. I discovered that with today's technology it just isn't possible to break even to cover the cost of the panels and the car. It would take close to 90 years to pay off my investment! My inquiry reveals an important gap in technology that needs to be filled for people to make sustainable choices in buying a car and updating their homes.

Gunnar's Project in his words

In a computer, between its central processor and its cooler, there’s a viscous, metallic paste that serves as a heat transfer medium called thermal paste. Nobody actually said you have to use thermal paste there though. So I decided to test 9 different substances that you could find in your fridge or pantry and compare them against conventional thermal paste. The results were interesting to say the least!

The Howling Coyote Golf Tournament - A 15 Year Tradition in SD73

Fri, 22 Sep 2023 16:00:00 GMT

In the 2022-2027 District Strategic Plan, we are committed to connections and relationships through partnerships and events. Fifteen years ago, the Aboriginal Education Council and Kamloops-Thompson staff members collaborated on a committee to raise funds for Aboriginal scholarships and bursaries.

District Principal Mike Bowden explained, “Not only is this a great legacy supporting and celebrating the success of SD73 Aboriginal graduates, but the annual event is an opportunity to connect communities and build positive relationships all for a good cause.”

This Scholarship/Bursary is awarded to Aboriginal students of School District No. 73 that have been involved in school and/or community activities either as a participant or volunteer and is planning on pursuing further post-secondary education. They also identified role models that have inspired them to finish high school and go on to post-secondary.

Board Chair Heather Grieve highlighted, “The board of education is extremely proud of this long standing commitment to raising money to support Aboriginal students who gain financial support to enter post-secondary while also acknowledging their community service in our local communities.”

The primary fundraiser was and continues to be “The Howling Coyote Golf Tournament”.

The golf tournament is organized by the Howling Coyote Golf Committee with supports from the Aboriginal Education Council and School District. The tournament has traditionally been held at Mount Paul Golf Course in mid-September. The 2022 tournament was held on September 24, 2022. This year the tournament was held on September 17, 2023 at Mt. Paul Golf Course.

Funds raised from this tournament go into a trust at BC Interior Foundation. Currently, this trust generates $8,334 in interest, all of which is available as awards annually. The number and size of the scholarships depend on the number of applicants ranging from $500 to $750. In 2023, we had three applicants and all three received $750. In 2021 we gave away six scholarships of $500. Any unspent or unclaimed scholarships get cycled back into the endowment for the next year.

As the endowment increases based on the fundraising, the number and size of scholarships will also increase to match the interest. The selection, number, and size of the scholarships is determined by the Howling Coyote Committee when they review the applications in May.

Superintendent Nixon emphasized, “I am appreciative of District Principal Mike Bowden’s leadership to organize this fundraiser. In the Cultural and Identity Priority, we aim to ensure that students thrive culturally and personally, and in the Career Development Priority, we support successful transitions to post-secondary opportunities. This fundraiser contributes to both priorities for Aboriginal students in SD73.”

Remote Schools Enjoy Traveling Library Collections

Thu, 28 Oct 2021 16:00:00 GMT

Far-reaching library collections are now making their way to six different rural schools in the Kamloops-Thompson School District.

As Sun Peaks Elementary School began seeing significant expansion in 2017, it was evident that students there needed enhanced access to interesting, culturally diverse, and current library materials but had no room to house them on a permanent basis.

Hearing the demand, a pilot project involving a traveling library concept was launched and quickly expanded the program to include Savona and Pinantan Elementary Schools.

“It is important for our school libraries to reflect our common values of equity, diversity, and cultural identity. Providing students with lots of choice for reading materials, ‘just right fit’ books, and books from different perspectives continues to be important aspects of literacy-rich and culturally responsive school library collections,” said Library Learning Commons Coordinator Andrea Wallin.

These collections included three sets of 400 hand-selected books – picture books, non-fiction books, and novels – relevant to the K-7 curriculum, all of which were distributed on a three-month rotational schedule. In total, students from those original three schools accessed over 1,200 diverse, multicultural, and engaging resources, while helping students make important connections with the literature they read and their world around them.

Today, Westwold, Vavenby, and Blue River have also become part of the travelling library program with their own mini collections. By the end of the year, students from those schools will access 600 new, quality, choice reading materials and information books.

To support Sun Peaks growing needs, Library staff will soon select and purchase six additional bins of books this Fall for grades 8-10 students.

The SD73 Traveling Library collections are curated through consultations with staff, students, and HGEC Library staff and include resources that are diverse, multicultural, and support the teaching of the First Peoples Principles of Learning.

Kamloops Vaping Inquiry Reflects Youth Input

Mon, 18 Nov 2019 21:00:00 GMT

A three-part focused inquiry into the impact of vaping on health is underway in Kamloops. School District No. 73, Interior Health and Thompson Rivers University are partners in the project investigating ways to communicate to youth and adults about vaping.

“The idea is to develop and then distribute factual, evidence-based information to schools and to the community,” said Sherry Stade, SD73 health promoting schools coordinator.

The partnership includes the TRU Faculty of Science, TRU School of Nursing, and SD73, and it is being funded through a Mind the Gap Grant from the TRU Centre for Excellence in Learning & Teaching. A working group involving SD73 administrators and students, TRU 4^th year Nursing students, TRU 2^nd year Respiratory Therapy students, and Health Authority representatives.

Part one of the project, Vaping Knowledge Mobilization – Come Learn With Us began with a survey of students and the development and delivery of an interactive presentation. Well over 4,000 students will be shown this presentation throughout the district. It describes how vape devices work, what the ingredients are, and how these ingredients may be harmful to the brain and body.

“Our intervention began with grades 6 and 7 students through the fall term from October to December, and from January to March we will focus on grades 8 to 10 students in the Physical and Health Education classes,” said Stade.

Information in the presentation includes insights collected from SD73 students in grade 6 to 12 and post-secondary students at TRU. Students were each asked five questions about their understanding and views about vaping. The insights into why people vape helped guide the presentation, and clarify common misconceptions about the safety of vaping.

Stade said it’s clear this information is timely. News reports of 39 cases of death and 2,000 cases of lung injuries in the United States have been emerging since late summer. And during the week of Nov. 12, the BC Government proposed tougher restrictions on vaping in response to concerns about high rates of youth vaping.

“The most telling part of the presentation is where we list the short-term and the long-term effects of vaping,” she said. “We have a known list of short-term effects that include shortness of breath, increased heart rate and inflammation of airways, but we know nothing about long-term effects. This gets everyone’s attention.”

Part two of the project, Collective Intelligence – Community Engagement will involve an evening health forum on Feb. 20, 2020. The forum will feature Dr. Marvin Krank, a professor of psychology at UBC Okanagan.

In part three, Collective Intelligence -Student Engagement, SD73 and TRU students will lead a day-long health forum in early 2020. The event will host up to 200 students and its focus will be finding solutions that could make a meaningful difference for the health outcomes of youth.

Note: the photo here is of the Vaping Working Group, as follows:

Standing, from the left:

4th year nursing: Angela Clarke

Faculty of Science: Respiratory Therapy Lecturer: Allison Innes-Wiens

RT student: Cory Kroft

RT student: Ray Lyle

SD73 Sherry Stade

Front row, from the left:

RT student: Dilraj Natt

4th year nursing: Brittany Piva

Board Notes from March 8, 2021

Wed, 10 Mar 2021 20:00:00 GMT

From the regular meeting of the Board of Education. Find out about Equity in Action, Early Learning Report, and Health and Safety Guideline Update. Read Board Notes here.

Welcome to Chelsea Isenor, the new Director of Communications and Board Administration

Wed, 03 Apr 2024 22:15:00 GMT

The Kamloops-Thompson Board of Education is pleased to announce that Chelsea Isenor is the new Director of Communications and Board Administration.

Chelsea Isenor is a Communications and Marketing specialist who has worked in BC’s not-for-profit arts sector for over a decade. Born and raised in Kamloops, Chelsea spent 10 years working with several theatre companies and cultural organizations across the Lower Mainland before returning home to Kamloops to take on the role of Marketing and Communications Director at Western Canada Theatre. With experience developing and executing communications plans, digital marketing strategies, media relations campaigns, and community engagement, Chelsea is excited to share the stories of SD73 and support the staff and Board of Education in working on a communication strategy for the current Strategic Priorities.

“We look forward to Chelsea’s experience in team coordination and collaboration to develop and execute a communications strategy that will be responsive to the needs of parents, students, staff, community members, and our Board of Trustees,” shared Superintendent Dr. Rhonda Nixon.

“As we continue to engage with our community to share information and gain insights about what parents, students, and staff most value, I look forward to working with Chelsea who has a proven track record of successful community engagement,” shared Board Chair Heather Grieve.

Chelsea shared, “I am thrilled to be joining the team at SD73 as the new Director of Communications and Board Administration. I’m excited to work with the staff and Board to share our stories and highlight all the incredible work everyone is doing across the district. Kamloops is a community that is near and dear to my heart and I can’t wait to work with you all in support of local education in our region.”

Chelsea will start on April 30, 2024. Please join us in welcoming her as part of the Kamloops-Thompson School District.

Superintendent's Update

Mon, 06 Oct 2025 20:30:00 GMT

October 2025

Dear parents and staff,

As we welcome October, I want to recognize the efforts of parents and staff who supported students in starting the school year successfully. Together, we create a strong foundation for their engagement in learning.

Along with all of the school start up routines and immersion into the curriculum, September included some other important events. Last week, students and staff throughout the District recognized National Day for Truth and Reconciliation with meaningful experiences and activities that went beyond the symbolic wearing of orange shirts. Assemblies, guest speakers and classroom activities during the week and throughout the year are helping to create the awareness and action necessary to build the inclusive and respectful future we all want. Everyone benefits from learning and reflecting on the history and lasting impact of residential schools.

At the end of September, we published the Enhancing Student Learning Report highlighting the progress, challenges, and steps we’re taking to improve outcomes for all students. As we take action in areas where we need to grow, we are also pleased to see improvement in primary literacy, grade to grade transitions, graduation rates, and positive shifts in belonging and cultural safety. As a district, we continue to enhance areas identified as strengths and focus greater efforts where evidence indicates that more attention is required.

Looking ahead, October is a time to share gratitude. Along with National Principals Month and the recent honouring of World Teachers Day, I am grateful for everyone’s contributions to creating a good day every day for each learner in our school system. We know that students thrive when our schools are welcoming and inclusive spaces. Every staff member helps to create that environment. Thank you for your hard work, care, and unwavering commitment to students.

As daylight decreases with the coming of Fall, please remember that School Bus Safety Week, coming up on October 20–24, is a reminder of the vital role transportation plays to keep our students safe. As youngsters walk to and from their bus stops and to and from school, please be mindful of speed zones and pedestrian safety. When we do that, in combination with the efforts of the transportation team and our bus drivers, everyone wins.

Best wishes for a happy Thanksgiving weekend.

Sincerely,

Mike McKay
Superintendent

HIGHLIGHTS FROM SEPTEMBER

Fred Fox Encourages Students to Continue Terry Fox’s Legacy

Every September, schools across the District join millions across Canada in honouring Terry Fox by participating in Terry Fox Runs. This year, Terry’s brother, Fred Fox, visited four SD73 elementary schools to share stories about Terry Fox and the values that shaped his life and legacy.

Read more here.

YMCA Parkcrest Care and Learning Centre Opening

On Monday, September 22, 2025, the Kamloops-Thompson Board of Education and YMCA BC, with support from the Ministry of Education and Child Care, celebrated the opening of the newest child care centre in the Kamloops-Thompson School District.

Read more here.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Indigenous Family BBQ at the
Henry Grube Education Centre
Tuesday, October 7, 2025 | 4:00–7:00 PM

Storytelling, Indigenous games, community resources, door prizes, and more. Bring and blanket or lawn chair and enjoy a free hot dog, bag of chips, treats, and a drink.

Learn more and register here.

Parent Engagement Session: English Language Learners & Newcomer Families
Wednesday, October 8, 2025 | 6:00–7:00 PM

Join us for a virtual information session to learn about essential school information and community support resources for English Language Learners and newcomer families.

Learn more and register here.

UPDATES FROM THE BOARD OF EDUCATION

At the September 22, 2025, Regular Public Board Meeting, the Board of Education approved a new committee structure and Board meeting schedule to help guide important decisions, support student learning, and streamline District and Board operations. To learn more about this new structure, the Enhancing Student Learning Report, and other reports from the meeting, read the latest Board Notes here. The next Regular Public Board meeting will be Monday, October 27, 2025, at 7:00 pm at the School Board Office.

KTHC Sings for Holiday Train

Wed, 18 Dec 2019 17:00:00 GMT

Kamloops Thompson Honour Choir (KTHC) students finished off their festive season with a final performance singing for the passengers at the Holiday Train Dec.16.

“Our students were invited to share some of their repertoire and spread Christmas cheer by singing loud for all to hear,” said Christy Gauley, SD73 fine arts coordinator. “Many people in Kamloops look forward to a special trip on the Holiday Train and we were thrilled to share our love of music with the people in Kamloops.”

Students in KTHC are in grades 5-7 and come from all over our district. Interested students can audition in their schools in April to join the choir for the following school year. Email cgauley@sd73.bc.ca for more information about our district choirs.

Enjoying Virtual Holiday Concerts

Wed, 02 Dec 2020 16:00:00 GMT

By Joseph Small, Trustee

December 2, 2020

Snow has arrived and along our streets, an array of coloured lights and decorations are on display.

COVID-19 has been a thorn in all of our sides for the past 10 months. Through it all, our teachers and administrators have shown remarkable resiliency and adaptability to ensure schools continue special annual traditions as they always have, making sure children experience all the joys and excitement of the upcoming festive season; as we move forward into what is now being called “the new norm”.

As a retired teacher, I remember how the weeks leading up to Christmas were always one of my favourite times of the year. In Social Studies, the study of Early Greek Civilizations was tabled as we shifted our focus and looked in-depth at how countries celebrated this festive time of the year. Math books were shelved and calculators made way for pencils, rulers, scissors and glue as the classroom walls and windows were quickly covered by Christmas and winter-themed art projects.

As for the Language Arts program, who can overlook the letter writing skills children learned as they wrote that all important letter to Santa Claus. Finally, the hallways were alive with music as children learned the songs they would sing at the annual Christmas Concert.

Not so much has changed. All of these things continue to this day; even with a global pandemic looming in the back of everyone’s minds.

Thankfully, the lead up to the big event will not see much of a difference from past years. The excitement is still there as children practise the songs they will sing or the short plays they will perform.

Saying that, there is one thing that has changed, and that is how all of us will enjoy each of those highly anticipated Christmas Concerts. During this infamous year, what will be different is the way schools will present their final performances and how family members will get to watch them.

COVID-19 has definitely had an impact in this regard as it has changed the phrase “public performance” to “virtual performance”. I ask you however, when you step back and look at the big picture, is that such a bad thing?

Sure, we won’t be gathering in an overcrowded gymnasium on the night of the big performance with the hopes that there are still seats available when we arrive. Nor will we have to worry about finding a parking spot close to the school. But maybe this year you’ll be able to share the Christmas concert with family around the world via Zoom. And when you stop to think about it, enjoying your child’s virtual Christmas concert in the comfort of your home with family, from near and far, while enjoying a hot chocolate with whipped cream and sprinkles, maybe won’t be so bad after all.

On behalf of the Board of Trustees, we wish all of you a safe and enjoyable holiday season, and a happy new year.

Board Notes from November 8, 2021

Mon, 15 Nov 2021 16:00:00 GMT

From the regular meeting of the Board of Education. All about Mental Health and Wellness in Action and Class Size and Composition Report. Read Board Notes here.

Senior Honour Choir Performs for Board

Thu, 19 Dec 2019 21:30:00 GMT

The Senior Honour Choir sang two pieces from their repertoire at the Regular Board Meeting Dec. 16. The board was also invited to sing along in some seasonal selections.

SD73 sponsors three district choirs to bring students together from many different schools - the Kamloops Thompson Children's Choir, for students in grades 3 and 4, the Kamloops Thompson Honour Choir, for students in grades 5, 6, and 7, and the Senior Honour Choir for students in grades 8 - 12.

“The benefit of having a community of devoted singers for students to grow through from grade 3 - 12 is enormous,” said Christy Gauley, district fine arts coordinator. “Students form incredible connections to each other, and these choirs connect us to the larger community in Kamloops which really helps to bridge the gap between graduation and the next step in our young peoples' lives. We are fortunate to have a rich tradition of choral opportunities for young singers in our district.”

Students auditioned in the music programs at their schools to be considered for the Senior Honour Choir. Students were selected from South Kam, Valleyview, Norkam, Westsyde, Kamloops School of the Arts, and Brock Middle School. Each student received their music in early October and began learning their parts on their own.

In late October, they attended an educational retreat at McQueen Lake.

“Students arrived knowing only a handful of others, and it was amazing to watch the connections that were made,” said Gauley. “As their relationships grew, so did the strength of their music.”

Superintendent's Update

Sat, 15 Feb 2025 00:30:00 GMT

Dear Parents and Caregivers:

It’s a lovely end to “Real Acts of Caring Week” (February 9-15) and Hundred’s Day celebrations. During February, we’re highlighting Relationships/Connections, Well-being, Equity, Sustainability, and the Grandfather Teaching Courage in the 2022-2027 District Strategic Plan.

Kay Bingham Elementary – February 12, 2025

Principal Caputo and I started our visit in Ms. Aaltonen’s K-1 class. They had just come in from recess and had some quiet time coloring while some students completed assessments at a side table. Ms. Aaltonen explained how the students were engaged in “mindful colouring” to focus on their colouring and enjoying letting go of any worries.

Ms. Petty’s and Ms. Henderson’s Kindergarten class was singing a Valentine’s Day song. They were in a circle with their hands behind their back and as Ms. Petty sang, “Who is my Valentine?” all the students echoed her pitches. When she would go around the circle, she placed the valentine in one of the student’s hands and then that student sang, “I am your Valentine.” The song was enjoyed by everyone.

We then visited Ms. Allan’s PHE class, where Grade 1-2 students were playing balloon ball, which they bounced from different parts of their bodies as the teacher gave directions. They were fully engaged in this game with a lot of running, jumping, and being careful to keep the red balloons in the air. Ms. Caputo said,” This is such a good exercise for them as they start their afternoon. It helps them to maintain their focus by getting their energy out in a positive way.”

Ms. Covaceuszach’s and Ms. Gardner’s Grade 3-4 class was engaged in an activity break and when the screen said “The floor is lava” each student found a way to move off of the floor onto desks and chairs. The rest of the time, they engaged in various exercises. She then had them start a Pentomino Challenge to teach how to problem solve using geometric shapes.

Mr. Johnson and Vice Principal Primus’ class were participating in a team work exercise where each team of Grade 4-5 students put together a tower using certain materials, and then they had to identify what it looked like, sounded like, and felt like to work together as a team.

While engaged in this activity, one student, Alex, shared with me that it was his birthday. He proudly explained his plans and that he loves his shirt that can be purchased online. Maya wrote me a very sweet little note to introduce herself and welcome me to the school. When I asked her why, she said, “Because we do that here and we get to know people in class.” Thank you to the staff and students who work together to make this environment one that is fun, caring, and inclusive.

Ms. Brennan’s Grade 6-7 class was working on their “Books of Knowledge”. A few students shared that when they read, they summarize important points in their own words. They shared the different kinds of reading that they have been doing.

As we went further down the hall, some of the Grade 6-7 students had “trust” passes that they wore around their necks to work in the hall. They shared that they had earned these passes by proving that they can be trusted to do their work independently and to follow directions and be respectful when with others. They also took time to share about their school’s “Kindness Challenge” which was where each class worked hard to get adults to notice them doing acts of kindness. When a class fills up their t-shirt with these notes of noticing and celebrating acts of kindness, they get a class treat.

Ms. Pye’s Grade 6-7 class was in the library creating cue cards for their upcoming drama performance, “The Magic Pallette”. Ms. Bittante had done a lovely job making the library a very inviting place with positive quotations and hearts. Ms. Kelly’ s Grade 6-7 class was preparing to go on a field trip to a mine, and they were studying different careers including being a mining engineer and a safety coordinator. Ms. Wessel’s Grade 1-2 class was being taught by Ms. Murray who had done her practicum here to become a teacher just two years before. She was modelling for the students how to create secret messages in their heart drawings that can be shown using an art technique that reveals the messages. Ms. Chand was on her prep, and she took time to share what she was doing for “100 Day” (writing about 100 ideas learned, as one example). As we completed our tour of classrooms, we ended our time in Ms. Wishnowski’s Grade 2-3 classroom and they were finishing their Valentine’s Day holders.

Digital Arts and Technology Academy – February 13, 2024

In the first semester of the 2024-2025 school year, 19 students from secondary schools across the District participated in the Digital Arts and Technology Academy (DATA) at Valleyview Secondary. Since 2013, this district-wide academy has offered unique opportunities for Grade 11 and 12 students to develop relevant skills in digital art, computer programming, video game design, and project management. Program instructor Rebekah Barendregt and DATA students recently shared their experiences in the program at a Regular Public Board Meeting. Read more.

Rayleigh Elementary Students Connect with Seniors on Valentine’s Day – February 14, 2024

Earlier today Ms. Jasmine Rempel’s Grade 2/3 class and Ms. Christy Gauley’s Grade 6/7 class from Rayleigh Elementary visited The Shores Retirement Residence to share songs, stories, and compassion with seniors on Valentine’s Day. The student shared two songs, ‘You Are Enough’ and ‘What a Wonderful World,’ and then handed out cards as a way to extend their school's compassion project into the community. The event offered students and seniors the chance to create meaningful connections by listening to each other's stories and learning new things about each other’s interests and lives. Read more.

Parent Information Night: IB Middle Years Programme

Next week, families of students in Grade 7 or Grade 8 in the Kamloops-Thompson School District are invited to attend an informational meeting for the International Baccalaureate (IB) Middle Years Programme at NorKam Secondary School. Read more.

Board Notes – February 10, 2024

To learn more about the Regular Public Board Meeting on February 10, 2025, please feel free to read the Board Notes here. Based on feedback from the District Parent Advisory Council, we have revised the Board Notes to be more like a newsletter format. If you have time, please let us know what you think of the new format here.

This is a well-deserved long weekend, and I hope that you truly enjoy it.

Rhonda Nixon, PhD
Superintendent

Great News from Clearwater Secondary

Mon, 22 Jun 2020 17:00:00 GMT

Darren Coates, Principal of Clearwater Secondary, shares four good news stories from the North Thompson Valley.

Partnering for Water Bottle Fillers

First, the Clearwater Secondary School students participating in Clearwater’s Junior Council had applied for and received a grant for $1250 from the North Thompson Community Foundation. The Junior Council partnered with the District of Clearwater and Clearwater Rotary Club to install multiple water bottle fillers within Clearwater. The water bottle fillers will be installed at the Dutch Lake Community Center, Dutch Lake Beach, the Splash Park, and the Rotary Park.

Through Junior Council, students learn about, and take part in, local government. They have a chance to see the working of budgets and the challenging decisions that local government has to make, often, gaining a perspective that things are not as simple as they seem at first glance.

Breakfast Program

Principal Coates said a Toonies for Tummies fundraiser, initiated by Glen Hyokki at Buy Low in February, returned $2400 to the schools to support breakfast programs.

The Toonies for Tummies fundraiser led to a relationship with the Breakfast Club of Canada, enabling CSS to secure funding for next year which includes: $2400 in gift cards for the local Buy Low; $1200 in cash; 50 sets of plates, bowls, cups, cutlery; a new stove worth $750 and a $500 contribution towards the purchase of a commercial dishwasher.

Soccer Uniforms latest Gift from Community Forest

He also praised the good work of the Wells Gray Community Forest for its role in making CSS a well outfitted school, perhaps much better than any other school its size. The WGCF support has touched every single part of the school from arts to music to shop to the gym, design lab and weight room. Most recently, WGCF has funded new soccer uniforms and related equipment to the tune of $5100.

“The support of the Wells Gray Community Forest is a real game changer both, for the school and the community,” Coates said. “We are so lucky to have the Community Forest and volunteers who sit on the board.”

Cycling Program Supported

And there’s more! CSS has been selected as a recipient of the 2020 Riding for Focus Grant from @outride! One of four schools in Canada to be part of this program, the grant includes 31 high quality mountain bikes, staff training, helmets, repair support, and access to local Outride ambassadors, Dylan Sherrard and Catharine Pendrel.

“We could not be more excited about this opportunity to get more kids on bikes and bring a cycling program to our Physical and Health Education classes,” said Principal Coates. The approximate value of the grant is north of $40,000.

After being shortlisted in the application process, they had to create a brief video about their school and community. They had a number of people help with the application video including: Shelley Sim, Cheryl and Dylan Sherrard. They had fun making it and it shows. https://vimeo.com/405184709

Kamloops-Thompson School District recognizes Moose Hide Campaign Day

Fri, 17 May 2024 21:15:00 GMT

Story provided by Chelsea Isenor, Director of Communications and Board Administration

The goal of the Cultural and Identity Priority, outlined in the 2022-2027 District Strategic Plan, strives to create an environment where every learner feels safe to thrive personally and culturally. One way The Kamloops-Thompson School District aims to achieve this is by visibly acknowledging and celebrating diversity in our learning environments, including important days that highlight Indigenous history and awareness.

On Thursday, May 16, 2024, the Kamloops-Thompson School District encouraged schools, students, and staff to acknowledge and highlight Moose Hide Campaign Day. The Moose Hide Campaign is a grassroots movement of Indigenous and Non-Indigenous men and boys who are standing up against gender-based violence. On this day, everyone was encouraged to wear a moose hide pin to demonstrate their personal commitment to honour, respect, and protect the women and children in their lives, while recognizing that Indigenous women and children have been victimized historically.

In many Indigenous cultures across Canada, Moose Hide is considered medicine. On Moose Hide Campaign Day, moose hide pins signify a collective commitment to remember and to act together to show compassion and commitment to remove barriers that cause discrimination and hate—with the greater goal of promoting inclusive, safe, and caring environments for every person.

“It is important that we acknowledge Moose Hide Campaign Day in our school district,” shared Mike Bowden, District Principal of Aboriginal Education. “Raising awareness of this grassroots movement in our schools fosters a culture of respect, inclusion, and awareness particularly on the importance of ending violence against Indigenous women and children.”

In our District, schools and students acknowledged Moose Hide Campaign Day in a variety of ways, including participating in the livestream activities and presentations, participating in the Moose Hide Day fast, displaying educational materials, and hosting guest speakers in their schools.

At South Kamloops Secondary School, a group of students planned a bannock sale fundraiser and raised over $600 for Kamloops Family Resources Society’s The Tree—a program that provides resources and services to support local women and children. Annalise Thomas, one of the SKSS students involved in the fundraiser, shared that she “has known quite a few people who have been in violent situations, and it feels good to help someone through this.”

At Twin Rivers Education Centre, students watched a Moose Hide Campaign Day educational video and participated in art projects.

At Vavenby Elementary, the Grade 4–7 class studied Moose Hide Day earlier in the week. The students learned that in August 2011, Paul and Raven Lacerte, two brothers, were hunting along what is known as “The Highway of Tears”, which caused them to reflect on the epidemic of violence against women and gender diverse people. They successfully hunted a moose, and they decided to take the moose hide, tan it, and cut it into small squares and in handwriting on the back of each square indicated the need for violence to end. They asked people to wear them by pinning them to their clothing to advocate together against gender-based violence, which became a tradition.

Learn more about the greater Moose Hide Campaign at moosehidecampaign.ca.

A Friendly Battle of Words: Secondary Students Compete in the 2024 Battle of the Books Reboot

Mon, 27 May 2024 18:30:00 GMT

Story provided by Mike Carson, Secondary Literacy Resource Teacher

In the 2022-2027 District Strategic Plan, we are committed to supporting students to develop foundational literacy skills and to develop a passion for multi-literacies. Battle of the Books helps provide diverse learning opportunities that promote joyful reading, thoughtful written responses, and interesting conversations.

On a warm autumnal afternoon in 480 BCE, King Leonidas and 300 Spartan warriors—or so the legend goes—etched their names in the tomes of history and myth as they stood before the Hot Gates of Thermopylae, betrayed and surrounded, in bold defiance of Xerxes and his 300,000 Persian invaders. It did not end well.

Twenty-five centuries later and several continents away, another completely dissimilar (far less violent) battle took place, as five teams of high school students competed for undying glory—or at least bragging rights and handmade trophy—in the annual Kamloops-Thompson School District Secondary Battle of the Books Reboot. On Friday, May 24, 2024, students from NorKam, Sa-Hali, Westsyde, South Kamloops (SKSS), and Valleyview secondary schools squared off, Spartan-style, against a series of literary challenges designed to test their knowledge, creativity, and teamwork, including a knock-down-drag-out Book Pitch Competition, three grueling rounds of Jeopardy, and a mind-bending Loose Parts design contest.

NorKam and Valleyview dominated the first round of Jeopardy, but Sa-Hali’s Book Pitch (featuring a one-of-a-kind interpretive dance) helped close the gap. Westsyde and SKSS’s outstanding Book Pitches left them tied for second place, and each team was left with a solid path to victory in the overall competition. Despite strong opposition, NorKam managed to maintain the lead in the final two rounds of Jeopardy. Sa-Hali and Valleyview tied for first place in the Loose Parts challenge, but their efforts were not enough to unseat the reigning champions, and NorKam emerged victorious once again as this year’s champions. Valleyview placed second, followed by Sa-Hali, Westsyde, and SKSS. Every member of every team should be proud of their performance.

This year, more than 60 students took part in the Secondary Battle of the Books. Each year, the number of participants increases, largely due to the tireless efforts of teachers and teacher-librarians who work with students at their respective schools, organizing book clubs where everyone can feel safe, heard, and included. These clubs are places that help to foster a love of reading and a sense of community and shared interests, and the competition at the end is just for fun.

The secondary “Battle Books” are largely chosen by the students themselves, and represent a diverse range of perspectives, authors, and genres. This year’s list consisted of fifteen eclectic titles, including Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Alire Saenz, Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds, The Book Thief by Markus Zusak, and Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi. Giving students a say in which books are selected aligns with a key aspect of the District’s vision, as it provides resources and opportunities for students from diverse backgrounds to see themselves represented in the texts they read. The clubs also foster a positive sense of community as they are spaces where everyone is welcome and included. Some students read all the listed books, while others only read one or two. Still, if even one student reads just a little more than they might have otherwise, or, more importantly, finds themselves at home in a book club where they feel just a little less alone, everyone wins.

The Battle of the Books is far more than a competition because it embodies many of our District’s priorities: it helps ensure that every student acquires strong foundation skills and core competencies, particularly literacy skills and critical and creative thinking abilities. The Secondary Battle also helps connect students to their passions, honours Indigenous perspectives and worldviews (as well as a myriad of other perspectives and worldviews), and helps foster an inclusive, adaptable, and accountable culture.

Although this year’s Secondary Battle of the Books might not be immortalized in the annals of history alongside Thermopylae, for those of us who were there, it will be remembered fondly (and I think everyone had a lot more fun than the Spartans and Persians did). NorKam may have taken home the trophy (again), but everyone went home a winner after this year’s Battle of the Books.

Young Authors' Conference: 45th Anniversary

Mon, 06 May 2024 16:30:00 GMT

Story provided by Literacy Coordinators,Tricia Persad and Mike Carson

In the 2022-2027 District Strategic Plan, we are committed to supporting students to develop foundational literacy skills and to develop a passion for multi-literacies—reading, writing, speaking, listening, and composing in the fine arts.

We learned how successful a virtual launch of a Young Authors’ Writing Conference could be on February 14, 2024 when we had 70+ classes take part in online workshops with celebrated BC and Alberta writers. Teachers shared that even reluctant writers were engaged. Our hope was that even more students might submit a composition and attend the in-person conference later in the spring. And they did!

On May 3, 2024, 320 Grades 4-12 students, representing thirty-seven Kamloops-Thompson School District schools, participated in the Young Authors’ Conference at Thompson Rivers University. Students attended three writing workshops, each facilitated by a highly regarded author. This year, we were pleased to host Sean Campbell, Lee Edward Fodi, Kel-c Jules, Miranda Krogstad, Braden Hallett, James McCann, Emily Seo, Tamara Vukusic, Holman Wang, Andrew Buckley, Finnian Burnett, and JJ Lee.

After a brief virtual Opening Ceremony, students got to work learning strategies from authors, collaborating with peers, and honing their writing skills.

Grades 4-5 students made storybooks with Sean and mini-brooms that transported school acceptance-letters in colourful envelopes with Lee. They created pictographs with Kel-c and learned how to avoid cliches and say things differently in juicy sentences with Miranda.

Grades 6-7 students created story maps with Braden and designed stories inspired by Dungeons and Dragons with James. They re-imagined stories with sticky notes with Tamara, created in-depth characters with Emily, and learned how to structure stories step-by-step with Holman.

Our secondary students had a blast mapping out (almost) perfect flash fiction with Finnian Burnett and sharing their creations with one another. Laughter (and the odd scream) could be heard emanating from Andrew Buckley’s horror writing workshop as students teamed up to create their own terrifying tales, and JJ Lee showed students how to draw upon personal experience to create engaging nonfiction stories.

Lloyd George Elementary student Siena Vincenzi shared, “It’s a good environment. I like the authors who present. I liked my workshop with Emily Seo because we got to create the character. My character’s name was Emily. She had orange hair and was shy.”

South Kamloops Secondary School (SKSS) student Ryder Dobson, “really enjoyed getting jump-scared six times,” in the horror writing workshop, and Ava Lunn, also of SKSS, concisely summed up the feelings of so many of our attendees: “I really like how everything was fun and not too serious. I learned a lot and the teachers were funny.”

This was a day about writing, learning, and sharing the power of words with people who are truly passionate about language and storytelling. It culminated in a Closing Ceremony that highlighted exceptional writing. While there were MANY excellent submissions, the following students were recognized for their creative compositions.

Honourable Mentions:

Piper Caputo, Lacey Herman, Elliette Brookes, Brooklyn Ruemper, Yelyzaveta Savych, Ananya Bhamidipalli, Miriam Meyers, Hannah Ezedebego, Charlee Hoye, Libby Tucker, Gabriel Jennings, Ryder Dobson, Samaya Lidder, and Riley Sharp.

Marg Van Dusen Awards:

Sydnie Westran (elementary) and Ashlee Crawford (secondary).

“Instill a love of story and literacy comes from that.” - Lee Edward Fodi

Our Future is in Incredible Hands

Wed, 05 May 2021 16:00:00 GMT

By Shelley Sim, Trustee

May 5, 2021

If you want to know what is happening in schools, just ask the students. In 2018, SD73 launched the District Student Advisory Council (DSAC). The Council consists of two representatives from every secondary school in the District including Twin Rivers Education Centre, the Four Directions Program and Brock Middle School.

The Council meets five times throughout the year to discuss issues, contemplate circumstance and share input that each member gathers from their respective schools. This input is collated and shared as advice to the Board of Education.

That’s the technical part of the Council. As a Trustee, I have the privilege of sitting on this Council along with my colleague Trustee Heather Grieve. This is an amazing group and their insights are extremely thoughtful and honest.

Prior to each meeting, the representatives of each school are tasked with some questions. In turn, they take these questions back to their student body and get feedback. This feedback is shared at the Council meetings.

Here is a sample of what I have “heard” this year:

The students were relieved to be back in school after months of ZOOM. They missed their friends, the structure, the learning and they missed their teachers. The transition was challenging. They shared concerns about how to get their peer groups to take mask wearing seriously. They miss sports and other activities but they are deeply appreciative of opportunities that each school is offering to create safe connections.

What else helped with the transition? Teachers. Teachers are heroes. Consistently we hear that the students are feeling more connected thanks to the extra effort of teachers who find ways to reach out to their students.

That’s not to say all students feel this way. We’ve heard reasons why sometimes students disconnect. We’ve learned that the loss of sports and extracurricular has been challenging and left kids feeling adrift. We need to listen to our students to find how we can help bring them back into the fold.

In terms of overall wellbeing, students feel that there is room to expand on doing “check ins” with students. This is great feedback.

There was positive feedback around meal programs offered at schools. Being “fed” and “nourished” is appreciated by the students as the feel more mentally alert.

Their voices are also being heard in regards discussions around school dress codes, vaping, addiction and racism.

On behalf of the board, I would like to thank our students, Director Keinlein and Principal Sdoutz as well as all teachers, administration and staff who work as part of SD73. The pandemic has been incredibly unkind and yet, within our schools, there is great work being done by all.

If anything, I hope that this article leaves the reader with two thoughts. The first is that our future is in incredible hands given the calibre of our youth. And the second thought is that we have some amazing staff that is helping our young caterpillars get ready for flight.

This column appeared in Kamloops This Week: View from SD73 on May 5, 2021

Honouring the Children Found by Tk'eml�ps te Secw�pemc

Thu, 10 Jun 2021 20:15:00 GMT

Students and staff across the Kamloops-Thompson are honouring the 215 children found by the Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc through presentations, videos, ceremony, wearing orange, writing notes, colouring pictures and tying ribbons to fences (for more pictures, see this photo gallery).

Valleyview Secondary

At Valleyview Secondary the school day was paused on June 3, and all staff and students went through A Day Of Acknowledgement Presentation featuring two Tk-emlúps Te Secwepémc students, Talise Seymour in grade 11 and Skylah Joe-George in grade 12.

“Residential schools were the tip of the iceberg that brought much deeper outcomes,” said Joe-George. “[They] created a domino effect of constant mental and spiritual pain, because when we see the people we love and an entire culture hurting, we can’t help but feel that pain, too.

“It is time to acknowledge the hardships of the past. It is time to acknowledge that residential schools cause pain and that pain is still here.”

“This is just the beginning of society becoming aware of the truth,” said Valleyview Secondary student and young Secwepémc woman Talise Seymour, speaking in Weykt Xexweytep. The YouTube video about Orange Shirt Day was origianlly posted on Sept. 30, 2020 and was featured in the school’s June 3 presentation.

She speaks as the ninth generation of children impacted by residential schools.

“These schools were not in any way to benefit the children,” Seymour said. “This was a deliberate genocide of the native people… Can you imagine being an Aboriginal parent and knowing your child was stolen to endure such a horrible experience?

“I would like to thank Skylah and Talise not only for their bravery in telling these stories, but also for their incredible leadership during a time when it’s needed most,” said Barb Hamblett, Principal at Valleyview Secondary. “It is only by facing the truth over what has happened over many years in residential schools, and responding with humility and love, that we will be able to heal as a whole society.”

VSS students recorded words of support and hope on blue and orange hearts followed by an invitation to take on an act of reconciliation that is aimed at carrying everyone into a better future.

“The hearts will be assembled by our students and delivered to Tk-emlúps Te Secwépemc soon,” she said. “By request from a number of students, the presentation will also stay on our website so that VSS students can share their learning with their parents. This in itself is a solid step towards a more hopeful future. It is téxemnem-kt, or paddling together.”

Arthur Stevenson Elementary

At Arthur Stevenson, students and staff wore orange every day during the first week in June, with a school wide Orange Shirt Day on June 3. A moment of silence was observed for two minutes and 15 seconds at 2:15 PM on that day, and during morning announcements a quote related to Every Child Matters was read.

Each student coloured a feather and attached it to a page, and these pages were hung on the side of the school. Students tied orange ribbons to the school fence that runs along Westsyde Road, and they drew 215 hearts on the front sidewalk. Other activities have included class discussions, and reading related books.

South Kamloops Secondary

At South Kamloops Secondary, students created 400 cards with messages of healing which were taken to the former Kamloops Residential School and tied to the trees in front of the memorial there. The cards were then taken down and made a part of a sacred fire in memory of the 215 children.

SKSS students also participated in class discussions and projects including the construction of a teepee, singing, drumming and smudges.

CBC - Daybreak Kamloops with Shelley Joyce - this interview about SKSS students' response was aired on CBC radio.

Logan Lake Elementary / Logan Lake Secondary

Along with a number of projects and class activities, Logan Lake Elementary created 215 orange hands for their Grade 7 Grad celebration.

Westmount Elementary

Westmount Elementary teacher Barb Primus arranged to have students in the school colour First Nations images, which were then laminated and fastened to the chain link fence on Westsyde Road along with a banner that says "Every Child Matters".

Pacific Way Elementary

Pacific Way had an Orange Shirt Day on June 2. Each class honoured the children with a variety of activities in the classroom, many of which are now displayed on school windows. Each day's morning announcements were centred around the theme "Every Child Matters." The school is ordering Orange T-shirts with this theme and logo for the entire school for participation in future Orange Shirt Days, with the proceeds going to the "Every Child Matters" foundation.

Lloyd George Elementary

Lloyd George had Orange Shirt Day on June 2. The grade 7 students decorated the entrance to the school and went outside to pay their respects.

Marion Schilling Elementary

At Marion Schilling, students created 'Feathers of Thought' in honour, respect, and acknowledgement. Grade 6/7s wanted to recognize that 'Every Child Matters' by making a beautiful, colourful feather to represent each of the 215 children that were lost.

The Marion Schilling Elementary Aboriginal Education Worker and Sucwepemctsin Language Teacher lead a healing circle and a smudging on Monday, May 31, during which they blessed the children and the school.

David Thompson Elementary

Every one of the 225 students of David Thompson Elementary left an orange handprint on one outside wall of their school. Orange clothing was encouraged throughout the week with June 2 as the main day of recognition. Orange ribbons were made by the grade 7 students for the students without orange clothing. On June 2, teachers shared information and resources about residential schools along with the music video made by Sk'elep in 2017 with N'we Jinan.

Chase Secondary

Chase Secondary staff and students held a school-wide smudge on their field to honour the 215 children. The smudge was led by Secwepemctsin Language Teacher Ivy Chelsea, Aboriginal Education Worker Gord Cuthbert and Aboriginal Family Counsellor Peter Michel.

Dufferin Elementary

Dufferin Elementary held an Orange Shirt Day, and then students tied an orange ribbon on the school's front fence. Classes also coloured orange shirts, hands and feathers to put up in various areas of the school.

R.L. Clemitson Elementary

Students shared their thinking during a school-wide activity and discussion that took place during the week of May 31. Staff and students wore orange on May 31 and June 4, and students wrote messages of support and solidarity on orange ribbons which were then displayed on the chain link fence along Todd Road.

Bert Edwards Science and Technology Elementary

Each student designed and decorated a feather in memory and then created a beautiful bulletin board with more that 215 feathers that said "We remember every child."

“We also gently spoke about the news in our daily announcements during the week of May 31 – June 4, all staff and many students wore orange for the entire week, and we encouraged our whole school to wear orange last Friday,” said Jennifer Boyle, Vice-Principal at BEST.

“Most teachers have been reading stories and using the resources provided by the district and others, to compassionately talk about, answer questions, and learn about the tragedy, reconciliation, and what we can do as a nation to ensure that we move forward with love and better understanding in our classrooms.”

There are school and classroom displays and decorated windows throughout the school, and one class made beaded headdresses.

Juniper Ridge Elementary

Students have posted orange feathers on the school fence, the school held a moment of silence, and an Orange Shirt Day was held on June 1. Teachers and students are having discussions about residential schools through reading, using talking circles, and participating in nature walks to learn about traditional medicines and plants. Students have created sage tiles that will be taken to the memorial at the former Kamloops Residential School.

"This is work that our school has committed to until the end of the school year," said Andrea Mangell, Vice Principal at Juniper Ridge.

South Sa-Hali Elementary

In addition to creating artwork and posting a heartfelt message, 'We believe you. We care. We are beginning to understand,' South Sa-Hali Elementary students held a walk during their Orange Shirt Day.

Barriere Elementary

'We are holding space for you' is the message posted in the window at Barriere Elementary.

Kamloops School of the Arts

June 4 was Orange Shirt Day at Kamllops School of the Arts, and staff are wearing orange ribbons. students read about the origins of the day, created artwork inspired by BC Artist Michelle Stoney and watched an interview with a residential school survivor.

Brocklehurst Middle School

Brocklehurst Middle School teachers shared a common lesson created by Aboriginal Education Teacher, Brenda Celesta, and each class created a set of feet and paddles. The feet are in recognition of the children and paddles are created as a show of support and recognition of the tragedy.

Related Articles:

Teacher Adding Blue Hearts to Orange Shirt Day

Orange Shirt Day: Why Blue Hearts are Important

Kamloops-Thompson School District Jazz Bands Win Gold and Silver at MusicFest Nationals

Fri, 17 May 2024 17:45:00 GMT

Story provided by Chelsea Isenor, Director, Communications and Board Administration

In the 2022-2027 District Strategic Plan, we celebrate students’ collective commitment to develop as musicians and to perform and compete locally, provincially, and nationally.

Congratulations to the South Kamloops Secondary School (SKSS) and Brocklehurst Middle School Jazz Band students, who both won awards in the Instrumental Jazz Division at MusicFest Canada Nationals in Toronto this week.

On May 15, 2024, SKSS took home Gold Awards for their Jazz Band and Jazz Combo teams, and SKSS students Keenan Brulotte and Xavier Wallace both earned Top Player Awards. The following day on May 16, 2024, Brocklehurst Middle received a Silver Award in Jazz Band, and Brocklehurst student Jaylan Mueck won the Top Player Award in her category.

“On behalf of the Board of Education, I want to extend our heartfelt congratulations to South Kamloops Secondary School and Brocklehurst Middle School on their recent MusicFest Nationals Awards,” stated Board Chair Heather Grieve. “The Board is committed to supporting students in exploring interests and passions that help them develop a sense of self-worth and personal initiative. The dedication and initiative these students have shown to their schools and music education is inspiring. We are very proud of their hard work and accomplishments.”

“In our District, we support students to thrive, and we know that to thrive they have to do things they are passionate about. We are so excited that we have such a large contingent of students, at such young ages—starting in Grade 8 all the way up to Grade 12, not only investing their free time in music but also excelling at a provincial and national level. We couldn't be more proud.” shared Superintendent, Dr. Rhonda Nixon.

This year’s 52nd MusicFest Canada Nationals was hosted by the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Music from May 13–18, 2024. The week-long festival brings together thousands of top tier music students and educators from across Canada each year to celebrate music education and excellence. During the week, students participate in workshops, experience performances, and perform for high level band adjudicators from across the country.

South Kamloops Secondary Wins Gold Awards

After receiving Gold standings at last year’s BC Interior Jazz Festival in Kelowna, the SKSS music program, led by Music Director Michelle McRae, received MusicFest National invitations for both their Jazz Band and Senior Jazz Combo—an honour that has not been awarded to an SKSS team since 2011. SKSS student Xavier Wallace was also invited to join the National Youth Jazz Band at the festival, earning one of only four spots from all of Canada.

Before leaving on the trip to Nationals, Music Director Michelle McRae expressed her pride for the student's hard word and talent: “I am beyond proud of this group of students. It’s been four years building this Jazz program and these students have brought it to such a high level, I can't even believe they are high school students when they play…they sound like professional players.”

"Our Titan Nation is so proud of Director McRae and all of our music students participating at the MusicFest Nationals in Toronto,” stated SKSS Principal Walt Kirschner. “To achieve two Gold Medals and for Keenan and Xavier to be recognized as Top Players is an amazing achievement and a credit to their dedication and commitment throughout this school year with their musical studies and performances”. A big thanks to our music parents and our South Kam PAC who have been so supportive with their fund-raising initiatives and their collective commitment to our music program. This is a very special week for Director McRae and all of our students."

The SKSS Senior Concert Band also recently earned an invitation to next year’s festival by winning the top award for their category and earning Gold standing at the Kelowna Windscapes Regional Festival.

Brocklehurst Middle School Wins Silver Award

The Brocklehurst Middle School Jazz Band, consisting of 20 Grade 8 and 9 students led by Music Director Jarrett Schill, have been waiting over a year to attend MusicFest Nationals—after also earning their invitation at the BC Interior Jazz Festival in Kelowna in March 2023, where they received Gold.

Music Director Jarrett Schill shared praise for his students: “This group of students is a near once-in-a-career combination of hard-working, young talented musicians, with perfectly balanced jazz instrumentation and a phenomenal parent fundraising support system—all thrown into a beautiful mix. Upon finishing our performance, it was a beautiful sight to see all those satisfied, shining eyes!”

After earning their Silver Award, Brock Jazz Band students expressed that competing at the National level felt “exhilarating,” “nerve-racking,” and “surreal.” As Grade 9 Trombonist Jess Clark expressed “Nationals felt like a fever dream!”

“We are very proud of our students and their accomplishments,” shared Brock Principal Tonya Perry.

As part of the 2022-2027 District Strategic Plan, we are committed to supporting learning opportunities which inspire students to thrive, and offer experiences for students to develop an appreciation of the fine arts. Earning an invitation to MusicFest Nationals requires dedication and determination from every student involved. From early morning rehearsals to performances throughout the school year, the SKSS and Brock Middle music students have showcased their talents and the strength of music education in the Kamloops-Thompson School District by earning these National honours.

Understanding Indigenous Principles of Learning Series 2

Thu, 03 Feb 2022 18:15:00 GMT

Please join District Aboriginal Coordinator Carolyn Anderson and District Vice-Principal Kerry Gairdner in the second installment of the Understanding Indigenous Principles of Learning Series to learn more about career programs offered by School District #73. This session will visit programs such as the Trades Samplers, the International Baccalaureate Diploma, the Hairstyle Program, and Digital Arts and Technology Academy.

The workshop will be held via Zoom on Thursday, February 17 from 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM. If you are interested in attending, you are asked to register here, and you will be provided with the link to the meeting.

English Language Learners Parent Engagement Session

Wed, 09 Oct 2024 15:30:00 GMT

Presenting in partnership with SD73 and Kamloops Immigrant Services

Please join us as we share information with parents about schools in Kamloops. Presenters will include SD73 staff and Settlement Worker in Schools (SWIS) workers.

Topics of discussion will include:

School expectations
Learning updates
Communication with your school
Answering your questions

This free Parent Engagement Session workshop will be held in person at the Kamloops Immigrant Services (448 Tranquille Road), or you can attend virtually, on Tuesday, October 22, 2024, from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM. If you are interested in attending, please register in advance here. Refreshments will be available. Childcare will not be provided at this session.

For more information, please contact Clara Kong at clara@kcris.ca, Anna Ediger at swis@kcris.ca, or Sam Birchall at sam@kcris.ca.

Literacy in Action

Tue, 09 Feb 2021 22:15:00 GMT

The District’s literacy team provided an overview of the work it is doing with teachers and students at the regular meeting of the Board of Education Feb. 8, 2021.

District principal of curriculum and instruction Sheryl Lindquist introduced the team – literacy coordinator Tricia Persad, elementary resource teacher Pamela Thomson, and secondary resource teacher Mike Carson.

The secondary resource position is new to the district this year.

“With new provincial assessments for literacy at grade 10 and grade 12, we felt this was a very important addition to our team,” said Lindquist. We have numerous people supporting our teachers.”

The presentation outlined a collaborative teaching model that is used in lesson planning and projects for primary, intermediate and secondary students. Persad said the team likes to work with multiple teachers within a school to co-teach six to eight lessons over a two-week period.

At the primary level, a storytelling approach using questions like, “How am I brave?” encourages younger students to tap into their personal experiences and share stories using pictures and words.

“This collaboration is popular with primary teachers and students, probably because it is such an engaging and joyful process,” said Thomson. “The high level of engagement and creative exploration at each phase helps students generate ideas and enables every student to participate at a meaningful level.”

At the intermediate level, students choose engaging fiction or nonfiction books to read and talk about them together in book clubs. Teachers and students set the criteria for successful conversations, being prepared to share an idea, listening actively, and thinking to encourage thoughtful discussion.

“This is one of my favorite lesson sequences because it includes the six elements of effective literacy instruction,” said Persad. “Students have opportunities to choose books, read with accuracy and understanding, write something personally meaningful, talk with peers about reading and writing, and listen to a fluent adult read aloud.”

At the secondary level, one project this year involves adapting plays from Shakespeare into stop-motion videos.

Carson said the combination of Shakespeare and technology brought out the best in both teachers and students, because teachers provide the content direction, and students show their expertise in making short videos.

“We have to slow down and unpack language,” he said. “When you read a Shakespearean play or a poem or any dense text, it’s not skimming for information. You have to delve into it. What was really impressive to me about the students’ video is they were able to take a really complex passage and a lot of dialogue and compress it down to the essentials, so they understood it very well, enough to creatively interpret it and to make it their own.”

“Along with numeracy, literacy is a foundational skill that is fundamental to the learning success of each of our students,” said superintendent Dr. Terry Sullivan. “Strong literacy skills open doors for students that promote critical reasoning, independent thinking, a lifelong appreciation for learning and curiosity about the world around them. As students become stronger and more literate learners, they develop creative thought and expression. Each of these attributes helps students to take on many areas of learning with curiosity and confidence.”

“I’ve seen students become engaged in language and learning because of a piece of literature that they had read,” said director of instruction, Lisa Carson. “I think today with social media, we are living in a world of written information and we need our students to become critical thinkers and to be able to make sense of this written information because it is really vital.”

Superintendent's Update

Fri, 10 Jun 2022 23:00:00 GMT

Dear Parents and Caregivers:

Thank you to the staff, students, parents, and community members for your efforts to acknowledge and celebrate accomplishments while supporting each other to stay engaged in learning.

Juniper Ridge Elementary School

Principal Colleen Wood, Vice Chair Meghan Wade, and I started in the library where we met grade one students who were learning about the lifecycle of a bean plant and possible career pathways. Mrs. Bouchard involved her students in championing their favourite character by rating them and defending their choices. Ms. Gresley-Jones and her students identified nutritious foods and studied healthy food choices. Ms. Thompson’s students were sharing their favourite animal art creations. Mrs. Lempriere was practicing with intermediate students to perform their musical. As we witnessed students reading favourite books, writing stories, and studying characters, Principal Wood said, “We are focused on literacy and celebrating reading by dressing as a favourite character day as one way to have fun and learn.”

RL Clemitson Elementary School

Principal Blake Buemann, Vice Chair Wade, and I started in a room with mountain bikes, purchased with a grant to support physical fitness. Mrs. Froese’s music class played Orff instruments while she played guitar and sang. We then saw the beautiful backdrops handpainted for their school musical, Matilda. The school community also enjoyed learning braille by solving messages on their entry bulletin board. Principal Buemann shared recent renovations to their library which is now a common area for presentations, reading, and learning through a makerspace. Principal Buemann said, “We are looking forward to welcoming students from Dallas in this space where we can congregate for small gatherings.” He also shared the welcome packages that they had developed with many surprises for incoming Dallas students and their families–Be part of the R.L. Clemitson Panthers!

Barriere Secondary School

Devyn and Larisa were two grade nine students who were ambassadors who met me when I arrived at the school. We walked around with Principal John Tyler to meet staff and students. Vice Principal Mark McVittie and Ms. Kris Luison, Secretary, shared a warm welcome as we started our tour. We began in an English class studying onomatopoeia (words that are sounds - BOOM!), Mr. Connor shared how to solve inequalities in math, and Mr. Lowe shared a video in science class. We walked down the grad student “stars in the hallway” (each student who is graduating has a star with their name on the floor). We learned about a wide variety of options that students can take (Foods, Woodwork, Metal work, Textiles/Sewing, to name a few). “You will be amazed at the students who designed a car from a snowmobile engine and parts,” stated Principal Tyler. We appreciated the refreshed basketball hoops, tarmac, and gym outside. We also met Ms. Laura Mairs, the wonderful cafeteria cook and mentor, who feeds the school with such tasty, nutritious food that students line up for breakfast and lunch and wait as long as it takes.

SD73 Graduation

Thank you to the Aboriginal Education Council, District Principal Mike Bowden and his committee of all the secondary school Aboriginal Education Workers from across our district, Carolyn Anderson, Brenda Celesta, Trudy Nielsen, Charmayne Wilson, Sheila Collins, Jackie Jules, Amanda Big Sorrel Horse, and Bernice Jensen. Thank you to Board Chair Heather Grieve and Trustee Diane Jules who spoke to graduates about the value of listening and learning together and believing in themselves. Congratulations to the 201 Aboriginal 2022 graduates!

Graduations continue throughout the District for the next two weeks. In total, 15 ceremonies will be held for 1,100 students. We appreciate and celebrate each unique group of graduates. Send a greeting to the Class of 2022

Communicable Disease Prevention Plan

We continue to emphasize the practice of daily health awareness strategies – staying home when sick, practicing good hand hygiene and respiratory etiquette, and making choices about wearing masks – see our District’s Communicable Disease Prevention Plan for more information.

Stay safe and enjoy your weekend!

Rhonda Nixon, PhD

Superintendent

Professional Development: An Essential Activity

Thu, 23 Apr 2020 18:15:00 GMT

On Monday, April 27, 2020, educators across the district will participate in a virtual non-instruction day. Thinking Indigenous: Knowledge, Story and Relationships to Educate for Change is the theme. A virtual online conference has been created to provide a digital platform for teachers. The focus of the conference is learning how Aboriginal ways of knowing and doing can be incorporated into all aspects of the curriculum.

One essential component to support SD73 employees is professional development, including non-instructional days. These days will continue, although they will look different during this time of pandemic.

Through fire and pandemic, it’s safe to say this has been a school year unlike any other. In recent weeks, our employees have not only shifted instruction to connect with students and families through physical distancing rules, they are also virtually moving mountains to stay in touch and support each other.

SD73 Education Re-start Plan Approved by the Ministry of Education

Wed, 26 Aug 2020 21:15:00 GMT

SD73's Re-start Plan has been approved by the Ministry of Education. You can read it here. Our operational guidelines, developed with our education partners and health authorities, ensure a consistent districtwide approach to keep schools safe for all students, teachers and staff.

In addition, we have updated our Health and Safety Guidelines, which can be found here. The essential elements in the safe re-start of schools are: consistent groups of people; robust illness policies for students and staff; and the ability to have most people follow effective personal practices like hand washing.

“I understand that these are anxious times,” said Alison Sidow, Superintendent of Schools. “But we need to learn to live with the virus. We can do that by respecting the health and safety guidelines outlined in our plan.”

To prepare for Stage 2 of the BC Re-start Plan and to ensure consistency between all schools, September 8-11 will serve as an orientation week for staff and students. There will be a gradual restart to allow extra time to orient students and staff on the new health and safety measures in place.

September 8 & 9

All staff will meet with their staffs’ and school’s joint health and safety committee to receive instruction on how the updated BCCDC guidelines will work in their school. This time allows teachers and staff to adjust to their new routines, finalize plans for learning groups, review health and safety protocols and confirm lesson plans that align with Stage 2.
Principals will review the health and safety guidelines, goals, guiding principles and expectations of the re-start plan. Staff will contact families directly to inform students of their orientation date and provide necessary information regarding entrance/exit procedures, health and safety protocols such as physical distancing, washing hands upon entry and health assessment responsibilities.

September 10 & 11

Students will return to school part-time on September 10 OR September 11 for orientation. Staff will communicate with families regarding the date their children will attend.
Students can get familiar with classrooms that will look different than they did in June and before the pandemic. During orientation, students will be assigned to their class or classes, find out who is in their learning group, practise their new routines, familiarize themselves with how to safely move from the class to outdoor and common areas of the school and review health and safety protocols.

Elementary students will follow a regular school schedule, like any other year. To support the implementation of learning groups at middle and secondary schools, the quarter system or Copernican system will be used. Students will be enrolled in two classes a day for ten weeks for four quarters. Schools will have the flexibility to offer off-time table courses and variations to the quarter system to meet individual program needs such as for International Baccalaureate, secondary students at Kamloops School of the Arts and the Trades and Transitions programs. The quarter system will allow for fewer transitions, staggered breaks and it will facilitate learning group timetabling to meet the health and safety requirements.

“We are aware of the levels of concern in the community about the return to school,” said Board Chair Rhonda Kershaw. “We are listening. The Board of Education supports this Education Re-start Plan. We are confident in the leadership of the District, and we know our schools and communities are in good hands.”

Financial Literacy for Your Kids - Virtual Webinar

Mon, 15 Nov 2021 16:00:00 GMT

Trades and Transitions is hosting a parent workshop on financial literacy for students on November 25 at 7 PM via Zoom.

Presented by Kevin Maynard, Vice President and COO at the Canadian Foundation for Economic Educatio n, this financial literacy webinar will offer an overview of resources to support parents and caregivers and introduce financial literacy concepts to their children.

The workshop will provide a tool kit that parents can use to help build financial literacy capabilities for their students.

In this session, you will learn:

About free activity guides and lesson plans you can use to reinforce learning that is occurring in your child's school in a wide variety of subject areas
How to access free online resources around money management, planning for your future, and career exploration for high school kids
The most requested financial information and topics asked about by youth and the free resources you can use to help address these topics with them
Tips and tricks to help with time management and how you can better balance assisting your child with learning and your own work schedule.

To register for this webinar, click here.

SD73's Draft Annual Budget 2022-2023

Wed, 06 Apr 2022 16:00:00 GMT

By Rhonda Kershaw, Trustee

April 6, 2022

This month the Board of Education presents its draft budget, and budget process and priorities for the upcoming school year. The budget priorities are informed by the 2022-2027 District Strategic Plan, which is currently under development.

Since September 2021, we have consulted with over 1250 students, parents, staff, and partner associations, especially the Aboriginal Education Council. Four values emerged: connections/relationships, wellbeing, sustainability, and equity. These values are enacted through our collective commitment to the Seven Grandfather Teachings: Courage, Love, Wisdom, Humility, Respect, Truth, and Honesty. Every department co-articulated how they will live these values through our mission: Supporting learning opportunities and environments which inspire students to thrive. Our Five District Priorities tell “how” students will thrive academically, socially, emotionally, personally, and culturally within a fair, responsible, and sustainable resource allocation system.

An estimated $207 Million, the 2022-23 Annual Budget is comprised of three different funds: Operating, Special Purpose, and Capital.

Operating Funds are approximately 84% of our overall annual budget and are dedicated to staffing, programming, supports, and services enabling students to meet or exceed literacy and numeracy expectations, to transition grade-to-grade on time, and develop competencies to achieve their life goals through career programming. Operating funds also enable sought-after programming such as the RCMP Youth Academy. These experiences exemplify how we support learning opportunities and environments for students to thrive.

Capital Funds comprise approximately 6% of our overall annual budget and support facility upgrades, childcare spaces, purchasing portable classroom space, furniture, information technologies, and buses. Our community and region have seen exceptional growth which has put unacceptable pressure on a number of neighbourhood schools. With enrolment numbers climbing by the equivalent of a medium?- sized elementary school each year, we maximize space in existing facilities, which has required 13 school catchment area changes since April 2021 and the re-opening two schools in five years.

What our district most needs are capital funds for new schools and childcares.

We have applied for Capital Funds to support childcare at two schools. While applications take time and are competitive, we hope to serve our youngest learners and families to connect to our schools early, to develop relationships, and to experience a sense of welcoming, caring, and belonging that nurtures their trust in our school system and personal growth through excellence in early learning programming.

We will continue to work with the Ministry of Education to increase Capital Funds for these pressing needs.

Special Purpose Funds are 10% of our overall annual budget and are targeted by the Ministry to their intended purpose such as CommunityLINK (e.g., food security), Classroom Enhancement Fund (Teachers), Support Staff Learning Improvement Fund (Certified Education Assistants), Early Learning (e.g., Seamless Day), Mental Health, and School Generated Funds (school activities, fundraisers). These targeted funds provide much-needed services and should ideally be part of operating funds.

Please review the 2022-2023 Draft Annual Budget at sd73.bc.ca and offer your feedback at budgetfeedback@sd73.bc.ca by April 19, 2022.

This column appeared in Kamloops This Week: View from SD73 on April 6, 2022

Owl Awarded for Sparking a Love of Reading

Tue, 18 Dec 2018 03:45:00 GMT

If wise owls are the stuff of storybooks, then it stands to reason that a well-known local champion of literacy has received the Owl Award from School District No. 73 (Kamloops-Thompson).

Fiona Clare, Literacy Outreach Coordinator for Literacy in Kamloops was recognized with the Award for Excellence in Public Education for her contributions to learning throughout the region at the regular public meeting of Board of Education on Monday.

“We are proud to honour Fiona Clare for supporting the foundational skill of reading,” said Chair Kathleen Karpuk, SD73. “Her efforts were not about teaching children to read, but gifting children and adults the joy of reading—she’s been the match to light the fire of learning throughout School District 73.”

An English teacher by profession, Clare has committed the better part of 20 years to actively supporting the foundational skill of reading based on the premise that children who read the most, read the best, achieve the highest and stay in school the longest.

Her legacy to literacy began by coordinating the One-to-One Reading Program at Barriere Ridge Primary in 1998 when it was first introduced to seven schools in the district. The program soon grew and now includes 22 of 33 in the district. Last year 240 tutors read with 450 students, totalling a staggering 11,000 volunteer hours. The reading program was the catalyst for many of the ongoing or annual literacy initiatives in the region today.

These include Come Read with Me, Unplug and Play Family Literacy Week, Adult Learner Literacy Tutors, KRCC Story Book Program, Bright Red Book Bus, Bright Red Bookshelf, and Heap the Honda.

"This is such an honour, but honestly I am just grateful that I have had the opportunity over the past 20 years to do what I most love to do - help children catch a love of reading,” Clare said. “It is such rewarding work, made possible by hundreds of caring volunteers, community partnerships and wonderful in-kind support from the School District. When we work together, we can make a bigger difference."

For retired superintendent Karl deBruijn, there was no question that Fiona Clare embodied the purpose of the award and was worthy of a nomination.

“Fiona’s contribution towards helping people to become literate has gone beyond helping students in our schools and has extended far into the community,” he said in his nomination letter. “She believes that literacy is important for everyone, no matter how old or young they are.”

Established in 2015 by former superintendent Dr. Terry Sullivan, the Owl Award is for an individual, group or organization that has made significant, system-wide and outstanding contributions to public education in School District No. 73 over a period of time (five years or more), and have had a positive, significant impact on the development of students, parents, teachers, support staff and educational leaders.

A five-member review team consisting of Ken Christian, former Board Chair; Beverly Ruberg, retired SD73 Principal; Dr Terry Sullivan, Superintendent (retired); Kathleen Karpuk, Chair; and Rob Schoen, Assistant Superintendent; recommended Fiona Clare as the recipient of the School District No. 73 Award for Excellence in Public Education.

SD73 Continues to Support Staff and Families through a Challenging Wildfire Season

Fri, 06 Aug 2021 17:30:00 GMT

On August 4, 2021, Thompson Nicola Regional Emergency Operations Centre announced a series of Evacuation Orders for the communities of Monte Lake, Westwold, and Falkland as part of the White Rock Lake Wildfire response. On August 5, 2021, the White Rock Lake wildfire jumped Highway 97 approximately 47 kilometres east of Kamloops. There is now an Evacuation Alert for the communities of Dallas, Barnhartvale, and Campbell Creek areas. Within these areas, Westwold, RL Clemitson, and Dallas Elementary Schools were impacted.

On August 6, 2021, an Evacuation Alert was issued for the Village of Chase. Haldane Elementary and Chase Secondary schools were impacted.

“Staff and student safety is always our top priority,” emphasized Board Chair Rhonda Kershaw. “When the wildfire season started, we enacted our District’s Emergency Preparedness protocol in which our district staff reaches out to communities who have been affected by Evacuation Alerts and Orders.”

“Our team including Supervisors of Student and Staff Health and Safety, Facilities, Operations, Records, Information Technologies, and Finance come together to problem solve in the moment to protect the interests of our families and staff,” explained Dr. Rhonda Nixon, Superintendent.

The District’s Fire Response Emergency Committee and the Board of Education continue to work with BC Emergency Management officials in monitoring and responding to the evolving wildfire season this summer.

Since July 31, 2021, the Tremont Creek Wildfire had prompted evacuation alerts for Logan Lake, including access to Logan Lake Elementary and Secondary schools. On July 11, 2021, access to Sun Peaks School had been obstructed by the Embleton Mountain Fire. Fortunately, evacuation alerts issued for the Sun Peaks Mountain Resort Municipality were rescinded July 22, 2021. Since June 30, 2021, the Tremont Creek fire prompted evacuation alerts for Savona, including Savona Elementary School.

“Our hearts go out to everyone who has been working through Evacuation Alerts and Orders, and for all who have been impacted by this most challenging wildfire season,” shared Board Chair Kershaw. “We will continue to do everything that we can to be helpful and to stay connected with our families in this time of need.

Indigenous Parent and Caregiver Engagement Session #4

Wed, 04 Jun 2025 17:15:00 GMT

Join us for a fun and interactive Family Math Open House at our next Indigenous Parent and Caregiver Engagement Session in-person at the Henry Grube Education Centre on Tuesday, June 17, 4:00 – 5:30 PM.

Drop in to explore easy-to-learn math games that kids and grown-ups can play together!

Math Game Stations – hands-on, fun, and summer-friendly
Door Prizes – every 15 minutes!
Take-Home Kits
Snacks and Refreshments

Come play, learn, and get inspired with math games perfect for summer break. All ages welcome, parents, caregivers, and kids.

If you are interested in attending, please register in advance here by Friday, June 13, 2025.

Protecting Students' Privacy in Secure Digital Meeting Spaces

Sat, 04 Apr 2020 00:00:00 GMT

School District No. 73 is following the Ministry of Education’s Ministerial Order guidelines to ensure privacy is protected while technologies are being used in distance education during the Coronavirus pandemic.

This week, educators throughout SD73 reached out to students to reconnect them with their learning, and many of are using Zoom to video-conference in order to connect face-to-face.

“We are working hard to ensure safety and privacy for students, and to support our families and one another, using the tools and technologies at our disposal,” said Elizabeth deVries, District Technology Coordinator. “Connecting face-to-face allows teachers and students the reassurance and connection missing at this time. By disabling features that are unnecessary and inappropriate, teachers can better ensure that video-conferencing protects student privacy while allowing them to continue to support student learning.”

While the Ministry of Education has secured and funded licences for the Zoom application for all K-12 public and independent schools in B.C., the learning for SD73 students is a week ahead of most of the Province due to our one-week spring break. Once available, the new Zoom license will provide consistent access for educators who choose to use it, giving them more ways to communicate with students and parents.

The licensing agreement, enabled under the new Ministerial Order, complies with B.C.’s Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act.

Students will be given a unique website address, so they can access their virtual classroom without the need for an individual account. The Zoom server will be based in Canada, with added encryption so it is a safe platform to learn.

Superintendent's Update

Fri, 24 Jun 2022 23:00:00 GMT

Dear Parents and Caregivers:

We celebrated National Indigenous Peoples Day on June 21 with the launch of a music video by the District Aboriginal Student Leadership Council. We also held our first district-wide Aboriginal Youth Wellness Conference Yecwestsu?t-ca - ‘To Care for One’s Self’.

Westsyde Elementary School

Principal Don Poelzer started our tour in Ms. Britt Boulter’s grade 2-3 class where students worked on reading familiar texts, then writing based on them. Ms. Kristin Glassel’s grade 1s were coding. Mrs. Alesha Connolly’s class engaged in buddy reading, and Mr. Chris Martin explained the school’s grant application to fund a mountain biking program. Ms. Jennifer Kristjanson’s and Ms. Chelsey Schneider’s classes were reading, writing, and preparing for Father’s Day. Principal Poelzer shared, “Student leadership has been a focus at our school. We have students planning and implementing intramural activities such as rugby, soccer, football, and baseball, to name a few.”

Westwold Elementary School

Principal Blake Buemann, Vice Chair Meghan Wade, and I walked through the original school house, which was built in the late 1800s. Now used as storage, this part of the school resonated with the charm of a close-knit school community. The K-7 students were outside for recess. One student shared, “I love this school because everyone gets along.” We then joined Mrs. Rachel Casponi who supported students to digitally locate Indigenous plants and determine their names in Secwepemctsin. Principal Buemann shared, “Mrs. Casponi integrates visual arts and music into their everyday learning, and she is so passionate about building strong community partnerships.”

Aberdeen Elementary School

Principal Tanya Rogers, Vice Principal Grant Naylor, and Mrs. Amanda Nixon (LART), introduced Jeremy, a grade 2 student who was delighted to put on a transformer costume and become a truck. It was truly inspiring to see his enthusiasm for the project he had developed with the support of CEAs Mrs. Theresa Rowand and Mr. Clayton Webber. Ms. Caity Reynaud (librarian) and Ms. Talaine Norton (library assistant) showed their Indigenous literature display. Principal Rogers explained, “We have collectively read and applied the theme of diversity in the text, ‘We Are All Dots’. Everyone is focused on celebrating diversity.”

Ms. Tannis Williams’ grade 1s were preparing for “Three Little Pigs” puppet plays. We then watched a performance of “Ray the Jay '' reader’s theatre in Ms. Sharlene Marican’s primary Montessori class. Mrs. Sandra Konkin’s music class presented an Orff instrumentation and recorder/voice ensemble of “Bluebells, Cockle Shells”. We met Jovani, a grade 7 student, who shared classroom research about the effects of bases and acids on eggs. Ms. Laurene Black-Haughton showed us her lesson on owl pellets to study what owls eat. Ms. Tracy Clarke’s Grade 7 Band prepared a video of “I Feel Good” by James Brown that was fantastic! Principal Rogers, Vice Principal Naylor, and LDP candidate, Ms. Stacey Kaczur met with me to discuss strengths and areas of focus in the school. Principal Rogers emphasized, “We are focused on being a team and the collaborative learning amongst students and staff is what makes us thrive.”

Pacific Way Elementary School

I started my visit at West Highland Park, where Ms. Beth Morgan’s students introduced their classroom project of a community garden to Mr. Jason Sandhu’s and Mrs. Lisa- Marie Galloway’s classes. Several students spoke about applying for a grant to create a pollinator garden and planning, building, and caring for the garden with the City of Kamloops. I went to Pacific Way Elementary School, where Principal Alain Blais introduced Ms. Alana Wassing’s Kindergarten class who were doing math with hands-on manipulatives, and Mrs. Sarah Gundel’s Kindergarten class who were reading and writing stories. Ms. Michele Thoms’ grade 1 class was working on fractions. Ms. Amber Piva’s grade 2-3 class was building boats, and Mrs. Jessica Greenwood’s Kindergarten class was on a “Language Arts rotation” (choice of reading, making words, writing, guided reading). Mrs. Teri Lynn Finch’s grade 3 class was engaged in collaborative research of Aboriginal communities and shared their dioramas. Ms. Michelle Salle’s grade 4-5 class worked on slide shows about anti-racism and anti-discrimination. Principal Blais commented, “I am very fortunate to work with such a collaborative staff and wonderful student and parent community.”

SD73 Graduation

The last of the District’s 15 graduation ceremonies wrapped up this week at Barriere and Clearwater Secondary Schools. We appreciate and celebrate each of our 1,100 unique graduates. Send a greeting to a Class of 2022 graduate.

Communicable Disease Prevention Plan

From the Ministry of Education

Minister Jennifer Whiteside would like to extend a thank you to all students, parents and caregivers for their extraordinary efforts and accomplishments during the 2021/22 school year.

The final day of school is quickly approaching. Thank you for staying the course and learning, working, and celebrating together as we wind up the year. Enjoy your weekend with family and friends.

Rhonda Nixon, PhD

Superintendent

Grad 2021 Commences May 25

Tue, 18 May 2021 21:30:00 GMT

The first of 14 graduation ceremonies for Kamloops-Thompson will get underway May 25, 2021 with South Kamloops Secondary, and will wrap up July 9 with Valleyview Secondary.

While graduation ceremonies will look different due to current provincial restrictions, they remain a meaningful way for students, staff and families to celebrate this important milestone and to reflect on their different experience over the past year.

Similar to last year, each school will develop its own commencement plan that will maintain the current health and safety guidelines for all involved while honouring each students’ completion of thirteen years of school.

For larger schools such as South Kamloops Secondary, grad will take place over five, 13-hour days, allowing for each student to cross the stage and receive their diploma in front of a limited number of guests.

“These individual ceremonies take a tremendous amount of effort by school staff, but we know from last year that families appreciated the small, intimate ceremonies with their graduate,” said Bill Hamblett, Assistant Superintendent Secondary. “It’s a trade-off of course, but families have a chance to offer personal congratulations without the pressure of large crowds or long ceremonies.”

In total 34 days have been aside over the next 7 weeks to accommodate the more than one thousand students eligible to graduate this year.

Speeches from valedictorians, trustees, district administration and school staff will be recorded and posted to the schools and the district websites for each grad and their family to view. Some schools plan to play the speeches on site as the grads wait for their turn to cross the stage.

This year the SD73 Aboriginal Education Department will be offering all 2021 Aboriginal Graduates an opportunity to attend a personal blanket wrapping/ Métis sash wrapping ceremony. The ceremony will follow the public health orders, and will be recorded on video with a link emailed out to grads, with congratulations from dignitaries, after the event.

“There are many individual touches that each school will make to suit their students and their venues,” Hamblett said. “Each ceremony will be safe and will help our students celebrate the milestone of crossing the stage with dignity, purpose and options.”

When IT Stands for Impressive Technology

Wed, 25 Sep 2019 20:15:00 GMT

We all know that when it is working well, IT stands for invisible technology. Our email, computers, websites, telephone and WIFI systems hum along in the background of our school and work day, keeping us connected. When there’s a problem it can become irritating technology as we remember how important it is to keep us all plugged in and productive. IT can sometimes be the difference that turns a great education or work experience into a frustrating one.

When you consider the daily numbers racked up by the department responsible for keeping SD73 logged in and online, however, you might agree the name should be impressive technology. The 19-member SD73 IT team, which includes seven local technicians, two electricians, six specialists (network, video conferencing, and WIFI), one hardware technician and three managers. This team is responsible for connecting 2,000 employees and most of the district’s 14,500 students in 46 buildings across 27,000 square kilometres. The equivalent of 75,000 selfies in data information moves through the SD73 network every five minutes.

SD73 installed six kilometres of cable to bring technology to the newly-renovated Westsyde Elementary School, which now contains a new technology prototype for the district. This includes a new WIFI, phone system and computer labs.

“Other schools across the district will be upgraded to reflect the technology at Westsyde Elementary,” said SD73 IT Director John Cuzzola. “New WIFI systems will be deployed beginning this fall, and we hope to have them in every school by September 2020.”

Upgrading WIFI across the district will provide faster, higher capacity, and more reliable internet connections to more users.

Board Notes from April 17, 2023

Wed, 26 Apr 2023 19:30:00 GMT

From the regular meeting of the Board of Education. All about Outdoor Education at McQueen Lake, School Calendar, and 2023 Commencement Schedule. Read Board Notes here.

Kamloops-Thompson School District Opens New Parkcrest Elementary School

Wed, 04 Sep 2024 22:00:00 GMT

Story provided by Chelsea Isenor, Director of Communications and Board Administration

On Wednesday, September 4, 2024, the Kamloops-Thompson Board of Education celebrated the opening of the newly rebuilt Parkcrest Elementary School, which was tragically destroyed in a fire on September 5, 2019.

Following the loss of the former school, the Kamloops-Thompson School District, along with Parkcrest staff, parents, families, and the community rallied to keep the Parkcrest students together while a new school was rebuilt.

Since September 2019, Parkcrest students have attended school at George Hilliard Elementary, where they remained together as a school community until June 2024. Now, at the start of the 2024-2025 school year, their brand new school is ready to welcome them back home.

“We're excited to welcome students and staff to the new Parkcrest Elementary,” shares Board Chair Heather Grieve. “This larger, modern facility reflects our commitment to supporting learning opportunities and environments which inspire students to thrive. It's a significant milestone for our community to return to Parkcrest Elementary after the devastating fire that destroyed the former school in 2019. We look forward to sharing this hopeful start to the new school year with students, families, and staff.”

On January 25, 2021, the new, expanded, and energy efficient Parkcrest Elementary School design was announced. With an investment of $34.84 million from the Government of BC and $300,000 from the Kamloops-Thompson School District, the new school was designed with a larger capacity of 510 seats (an additional 120 students spaces) to help prepare for expected enrollment growth in the community.

Thanks to the City of Kamloops’ investment of $2.5 million, the new Parkcrest Elementary houses a larger, full-size, air conditioned gymnasium. The City’s commitment allowed for additional space and change room facilities for sporting events. This new Parkcrest gymnasium promises to be a highlight for the community and students, who have expressed excitement for playing dodgeball with the advantage of higher ceilings.

“The City of Kamloops is excited to celebrate the reopening of Parkcrest Elementary,” shares Deputy Mayor Stephen Karpuk. “Beyond the classroom, schools play an important role as community centres that connect neighbours. That's why we've partnered with School District No. 73 on this project to create a full-size gymnasium that will host recreation programs and activities for residents of all ages. We look forward to working together to build a stronger community through this beautiful facility.”

Since construction on the new school officially began in 2022, neighbourhood families have eagerly watched their new school rise from the ashes as a hopeful reminder of new beginnings. Returning to the original Parkcrest location offers closure and a renewed school spirit. Through all the changes of the past few years, the Parkcrest community stayed strong as a community and this week they’ll join together once again to cheer “We are Parkcrest” for the first time in their new school.

“This is an exciting and emotional day for all of us at the Kamloops-Thompson School District, especially the close-knit Parkcrest community of students, parents, teachers, and staff. We look forward to supporting the countless learning opportunities that this new, modern, and expanded school will provide for generations to come,” shared Superintendent Dr. Rhonda Nixon.

In the words of one Parkcrest student, “brand new school, brand new year,” and that certainly is a reason to celebrate.

SD73 Students Attended Geneskool

Fri, 12 May 2023 21:45:00 GMT

In the 2022-2027 District Strategic Plan, our District Mission is to provide students with learning opportunities and environments that inspire students to thrive.

Hundreds of enthusiastic senior science students from all over School District 73 attended Geneskool, by Genome BC, at Thompson Rivers University during the first week of May. Geneskool is a full-day, immersive, hands-on lab experience whereby students work together to solve a murder mystery, based on an actual historical crime spree. During this day, students learn advanced science lab techniques, refined problem-solving and collaboration skills, and gain an appreciation for real-world applications of how science is critical to our society.

Shaelyn from Valleyview Secondary jumped at the opportunity to attend Geneskool, even though she took Biology last semester. She felt this opportunity would help inspire some direction next year at university and wanted to know about the field of genomics as a possible career trajectory.

Bond from Barriere Secondary has attended Geneskool two years in a row. He had this to say about the lab: ‘It is nice to be able to use tools and skills not available in a high school lab, and to learn from experts in the field about current science and technology’.

Genomics impacts so much of what we take for granted every day: the trees we plant for lumber and fruit, the microbes that affect human health, as well as the agricultural species we rely on for food, and the organisms that keep our water and soil clean and viable, to name a few.

World DNA Day was April 25^th, which recognizes the day in 1953 when the structure of the DNA molecule was published in Nature. This illustrates how rapidly science and technology are evolving, and how critical it is to invest in students graduating with knowledge and skills relevant to growing career areas. People in STEM fields, including skilled trades, can earn 26 percent more money on average and be less likely to experience job loss in Canada, according to Let’s Talk Science.

In School District 73 a component of intellectual development is to have students develop a curiosity about the world around them, which mirrors the philosophy of Genome BC: a curious mind can change the world. Curiosity is the engine of achievement, according to Sir Ken Robinson, highlighting the value of this critical aptitude to an SD73 graduate.

Thank you to the science teachers, staff and volunteers from Genome BC, and Thompson Rivers University and to Morgan Whitehouse, District Science Coordinator, for making this important annual event possible.

Young Authors' Conference: For the "Love of Writing" Virtual Launch 2024

Fri, 23 Feb 2024 21:15:00 GMT

Story provided by Literacy Coordinators, Tricia Persad and Mike Carson

Young Authors' Conference

The "For the Love of Writing" Young Authors' Conference launch on February 14^th was a great success. Over 70 classes attended virtual writing workshops with celebrated BC and Alberta writers. Students honed their craft and, hopefully, were inspired to consider attending the in-person conference on May 3^rd at TRU!

Grades 4-5 students joined Lee Edward Födi as he shared his photos from visiting fascinating libraries around the world. Then students helped Lee brainstorm key fantastical features to draw in his modeled magical library as they, too, designed their own with talking books, flying bookworms, bottomless book drops, and even broom rentals! The idea is that students' illustrated brainstorm "maps" could provide a foundation for future story-writing.

Grades 6-7 students teamed up with Miranda Krogstad and had immense fun writing short, detailed responses to scaffolded challenges. Perhaps without even realizing it, students used sensory imagery, metaphors, and hyperboles. One Valentine's Day activity asked students to compare a loved one to an object, and many were witty! One read, "My love for you is like the old dog couch. It's worn yet comfortable. Sometimes it's annoying, but I can't throw it away!" When writing is fun, time really does fly!

Author and screenwriter Andrew Buckley introduced secondary students to the fine art of scriptwriting. Using engaging examples from popular films, Andrew showed how the archetypal Hero’s Journey is often used as a template by filmmakers as he guided students through an investigation of the plots of Barbie and Batman (two separate movies) and several Disney films. Andrew’s workshop was informative and entertaining, and left students with new insights into how to use time-tested plot structures to enhance their own unique pieces of writing.

In the afternoon, Finnian Burnett led secondary students through a lively, interactive workshop on how to craft an (almost) perfect flash-fiction story. Finn used examples from their own writing to demonstrate how to compress character, conflict, tension, and theme into an explosive piece of fiction less than 1,000 words long. Students and teachers left Finn’s workshop with an arsenal of practical writing techniques and strategies they could put to use right away.

How do Grades 4-12 students get involved with the in-person Young Authors' Conference on May 3^rd? They express interest to their school contact (who has all the details) and submit a creative writing manuscript. See https://sd73youngauthors.weebly.com/

Stories from Valleyview, BEST, and Kay Bingham

Sat, 18 Dec 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Dear Parents and Caregivers:

Everyone is eager to spend some well deserved time off with families and friends. Thank you for the efforts that you continue to make for our students, our communities, and for each other.

Valleyview Secondary School

Ms. Barb Hamblett, Principal of Valleyview Secondary School guided Vice Chair Wade and I on a tour of the school. We learned about how the modernization will create more space for dance, band, drama, sports, digital arts, and extracurricular activities. Ms. Hamblett added, “Staff are engaged in a spiral of inquiry about nurturing well being in the school community. Having more space and individualized places to hang out was identified by students as important to nurture their well being. The new East Wing will provide this additional space.”Ms. Barb Hamblett, Principal of Valleyview Secondary School guided Vice Chair Wade and I on a tour of the school. We learned about how the modernization will create more space for dance, band, drama, sports, digital arts, and extracurricular activities. Ms. Hamblett added, “Staff are engaged in a spiral of inquiry about nurturing well being in the school community.

Bert Edwards Science and Technology

I visited Mr. Frank Law, Principal, at Bert Edwards Science and Technology (BEST) School. While touring the school, Mr. Wood, the Grade 5-6 Teacher shared a project in which students designed a logo to honor Aboriginal histories and perspectives. He explained, “We worked with students of Aboriginal heritage who designed the logo and then we sold the shirts and gave the funds to the Aboriginal Friendship Centre.” Students, Everett and Natalie, added, “We really enjoyed learning about math and art through this project.” Mr. Wayne Deptuck, who oversees the McQueen Lake Environmental Education Centre, shared the pathways used to teach students about the terrain. Collaborative inquiry projects that are student-driven and connected to the real world are central to BEST.

Kay Bingham Elementary School

At Kay Bingham Elementary, I visited with Ms. Rosie Caputo, Principal. She described their tiered support model to provide whole group, small group, and one-on-one reading and math instruction to students. In review of results, it is evident that students are improving consistently and reaching personal bests in literacy and numeracy. As we toured the school, students were immersed in reading, writing, and creating through art, song, and drama. One class was busy creating guitars to be “quiet rock stars”. Ms. Caputo shared, “The teachers have been so collaborative and supportive. Students are excited about the projects that they are doing, and they are engaged even in the last week before a break.”

Communicable Disease Prevention Plan

A reminder that while fully vaccinated students, staff and other adults who have travelled outside of Canada may qualify for the fully vaccinated traveller exemption, those who are not fully vaccinated and have travelled outside of Canada CANNOT attend school for 14 days after arrival, as part of federal requirements.

Thank you for the tremendous measures you have undertaken this fall to keep our schools safe places for students to learn. Interior Health continues to inform us that limited transmission occurs in the school setting, which indicates that our health and safety measures are working well. This success is due to your diligent efforts!

I hope that during these next two weeks you are able to take some time to enjoy family, to see close friends, and to find time to recharge and relax. Have a happy holiday, and I look forward to being back with you in 2022!

Rhonda Nixon, PhD

Superintendent

2019 RCMP Youth Academy, With Dogs

Tue, 19 Mar 2019 22:45:00 GMT

Kamloops RCMP are putting 22 district secondary students through their paces during Spring Break, covering all parts of policework including working with police dogs.

The program is designed to place students in an RCMP Training Academy environment. It will enable students to experience a variety of activities that a police cadet would experience, but in an encapsulated format.

Over the course of six days, the students are receiving instruction and lectures in law, police tactics, social skills, physical training, self defense, and working with police services dogs.

"This academy is an excellent learning experience, but it is extremely challenging, both mentally and physically," said Rick Keinlein, School District No. 73 Director of Instruction. "For example, the students are involved in a number of role playing scenarios where they take on the role of a police officer."

For one morning during the course, the students learned how dogs are trained.

Other parts of the RCMP Acadamy program include physical fitness tests for the students, a car crash simulation, and a graduation exercise.

Superintendent's Update

Fri, 17 May 2024 23:30:00 GMT

Dear Parents and Caregivers:

It is timely to end the week on a positive note by sharing the exciting learning opportunities and celebrations that have inspired students to thrive throughout the last two weeks.

Blue River Elementary School

Principal Mathieu and I had a wonderful time with Blue River students and staff. Mr. Cudmore was supervising recess when we arrived. Students (Jace, Autumn, Grayson, Kayden) were enjoying the swings and then played a sandpit volleyball game. As we walked inside, Mr. Cudmore shared how much he and the students were looking forward to drum making with a Simpcw elder, and they had learned so much the week prior when they joined Vavenby and Clearwater students to experience a cultural wellness day led by members of Simpcw First Nation. Read more.

When we first entered the school, we met Kim Desjarlais, custodian, who shared that the pictures on the wall show the long history of students she has known including parents, aunts, and uncles of the students currently attending Blue River.

Two students, Nova (Grade 1) and Jayce (Grade 3), who are homeschooled, joined their regular Tuesday student designed activities. The students decided on story time, where three different students choose a book to read aloud. The eldest Jace read “I Love Christmas”, and younger Jayce then read a “Pete the Cat” story. Nova read, “Biscuit Finds a Friend” and everyone clapped.

We then toured their garden room where they each tended to peppers, cucumbers, Toms, butternut squash, and pumpkins. They will transfer plants into the community garden where they have their own boxes. Mr. Cudmore explained, “They sell the plants to raise money for charity, and they will share the food once fully grown.”

Vavenby Elementary School

Principal Mathieu and I then visited Vavenby Elementary and they were just finishing lunch when we arrived. Ms. Chapman, Certified Educational Assistant, was supervising outside. We then visited Ms. Beth’s Grade 4–7 class who were studying Moose Hide Campaign Day. The students learned that in August 2011, Paul and Raven Lacerte, two brothers, were hunting along what is known as “The Highway of Tears”, which caused them to reflect on the epidemic of violence against women and gender diverse people. They successfully hunted a moose, and then decided to take the moose hide, tan it, and cut it into small squares and in handwriting on the back of each square indicated the need for violence to end. They asked people to wear them by pinning them to their clothing to advocate together against gender-based violence, which became a tradition.

Ms. Beth asked students to consider what the goal was of those who wore the hides then and now, and the students contributed ideas about ways to be kind and to create safe spaces for everyone to feel welcome: “offer therapy”, “invite people over”, “reflect on actions”, and “work on friendships and relationships”. They then worked in smaller groups and helped each other to come up with more ways to build strong positive, welcoming cultures within their school community. Ms. Beth shared how they had been working on trading before this, and they studied commodities to trade historically and they would create the items and then set up trading stations where they uncovered what traded for the highest values and why.

Mr. Fuzzen’s K–3 class was engaged in practicing actions to play a game where others would guess which animals they were acting out. They shared in small groups and then in their whole group. The animals ranged from those that “slither” like snakes, “swing” like monkeys, “run” fast like cheetahs, and those that “fly” like eagles.

Kamloops-Thompson School District Acknowledges Moosehide Campaign

The goal of the Cultural and Identity Priority, outlined in the 2022-2027 District Strategic Plan, strives to create an environment where every learner feels safe to thrive personally and culturally. One way the Kamloops-Thompson School District aims to achieve this is by visibly acknowledging and celebrating diversity in our learning environments, including important days that highlight Indigenous history and awareness. Read more.

Students Dig into Canadian History at the Kamloops-Thompson Regional Heritage Fair

In the 2022-2027 District Strategic Plan, we are committed to supporting students to develop a sense of identity as individuals as well as cultural safety and humility in communities. The Kamloops-Thompson School District has proudly supported the Heritage Fair since its inception in 1994. This multimedia, multi-disciplinary annual event was developed to inspire students to learn the history of their families, their communities, and their cultures. Read more.

Kamloops-Thompson Jazz Bands Win Gold and Silver at MusicalFest Nationals

In the 2022-2027 District Strategic Plan, we celebrate students’ collective commitment to develop as musicians and to perform and compete locally, provincially, and nationally. Congratulations to the South Kamloops Secondary School and Brocklehurst Middle School Jazz Band students, who both won awards in the Instrumental Jazz Division at MusicalFest Canada Nationals in Toronto this week. Read more.

Career Development Heats Up at Girl's Explore Fire Rescue

Career Development is one of the key priorities outlined in the 2022-2027 District Strategic Plan and the Kamloops-Thompson School District is committed to helping prepare students to attain their career goals. The District's Career Development Department is dedicated to providing career exploration opportunities for a range of possible career pathways, including events that encourage students to think about careers they may not have thought to explore. Read more.

Thank you for all you do to support and care for students in our District. Take time to get outside, enjoy the outdoors, and relax on what promises to be a beautiful long weekend.

Rhonda Nixon, PhD

Superintendent

Taking Action to Build District Numeracy Skills

Thu, 13 Feb 2020 21:00:00 GMT

A district numeracy action plan was presented to the Board of Education at its regular meeting Feb. 10, by Amanda Russett, district numeracy coordinator, Sheryl Lindquist, district principal, curriculum, and Lisa Carson, director of instruction.

“There is a difference between math and numeracy,” said Russett. “You can be good at math without being numerate, and you can be numerate without being great at math.”

The new BC mathematics curriculum is designed to ensure students are numerate and have mathematical habits of mind. This includes deep mathematical understanding and fluency, logical reasoning, analytical thought, and creative thinking.

“We would like to see students developing a deep understanding of the mathematical ideas through real-life contexts. This way students are learning math and becoming more numerate” said Russett.

The new curriculum requires a numeracy assessment for students in grade 10, and the district is working with teachers and students of all levels to prepare them for that assessment.

A numeracy assessment pilot program for students in grades 3 to 7 is in its final stages in the district, with 19 elementary schools participating this year. Assessments for grades 8 and 9 students have been developed this year and have been piloted in 3 secondary schools.

Starting in September 2020, district numeracy assessments will be mandatory for all district students in grades 3 and 6.

Russett also mentioned how parents will be supported throughout the district. Last year, 428 families in 16 schools participated in the Kindergarten program, You Can Count on Me. This program has been incorporated into the Strong, Prepared and Ready for Kindergarten (SPARK) program, created to help introduce families and young learners to Kindergarten. This year, a program called Math Path for grade 3 students is being piloted in district schools.

“We want parents and guardians to encourage children to persevere through math and problem solving by having conversations with them at home. The Math Path program hopes to provide conversation starters for families,” said Russett.

Numerate students are confident in their ability to persevere and use mathematics in everyday life by recognizing there are multiple ways to solve a problem, choosing and using the right strategies and tools, and pursuing accuracy as they solve the problem.

Starfish Backpack Program Wins Award

Tue, 07 May 2019 20:30:00 GMT

Sally Zryd and Beth Dye, members of Kamloops-Thompson Principals and Vice-Principals Association, are delighted to report that the Kamloops Food Bank was awarded the 2019 BC Principals' & Vice-Principals' Association Partnership Award. The KTPVPA nominated the Kamloops Food Bank for the work that has been done through the Starfish Backpack program.

Melissa Seguin, the widow of the late Christopher Seguin who founded of the Kamloops Starfish Backpack Program, accepted the award on behalf of Bernadette Siracky, Executive Director of the Kamloops Food Bank.

The Awards recognize and honour the valuable support provided to Principals, Vice-Principals, teachers and students by individuals and groups who have, over an extended period of time, shared their time, energy and expertise to support schools.

Christopher Seguin started the program as a pilot three years ago at Arthur Hatton Elementary School to make sure 10 high-need students had food through the weekend. Now, supporting 120 students at several schools, the Starfish Backpack Program is a partnership between Thompson Nicola Cariboo United Way and the Kamloops Food Bank. Each Friday morning volunteers fill 120 backpacks with food for students at several schools within the district.

NorKam Comes Out on Top in Ethics Bowl

Tue, 15 Mar 2022 22:45:00 GMT

NorKam Secondary won the second annual BC Interior Ethics Bowl over the weekend and will be virtually attending the Canadian National in Winnipeg at the end of April.

Among the winning team was grade 12 students Shreya Sharma, Bailin Li, Emmali Benoit, Graeme Zimmerman, grade 11 students Rylee Lake, Kierra Connelly, Sarah Nielson, Evan Leggett, Lena Heinan, and grade 10 students Dakoda Kelm and Jonas Ens. NorKam teachers Nicky MacFarlane and Trevor Pendergast helped lead the students to victory.

An Ethics Bowl is both a collaborative and competitive event, where teams analyze and discuss current ethical dilemmas of social, political, economic, scientific, or cultural nature. Prior to the day, all “bowlers” research and develop the cases and arrive at the Ethics Bowl prepared to discuss their ideas and to listen to other perspectives.

“Our students were awesome, not just this weekend but in the month of preparation leading up to it,” said Pendergast. “They represented our school like champions and they very deservedly earned their place at the Canadian National.”

Students were evaluated on communication, use of relevant information, critical thinking, collaboration, among other skill sets. Some examples of the issues NorKam competitively discussed were Bill 21 in Quebec, medically assisted death, or whether or not to give money to the homeless.

Superintendent's Update

Sat, 24 Feb 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Dear Parents/Caregivers:

There have been many reasons to celebrate this past week as well as stories that show how our relationships and connections impact student, staff, and parent wellbeing in a positive way, which are cornerstones in our 2022-2027 District Strategic Plan.

Juniper Ridge Elementary School

Principal Steptoe and Vice Principal Chernoff shared a lovely act of kindness that also brought a smile to my face (See the little card on the left-hand side of the page). They shared these tiny cheese graters as a gesture of recognition and kindness for staff. They find a way to acknowledge their staff every month.

As we toured the school, we started in Ms. Hill’s Gr. 2-3 class where they were making hearts in which students wrote messages about how to be kind. Kindness is this month’s focus. These messages were being prepared to add to the schoolwide Pink Shirt Day bulletin board.

We then took part in Ms. Murphy’s Gr. 1-2 Math class as they were engaged in subtracting using visual strategies.

Mrs. Mayer’s Gr. 3-4 class was skipping in the gym and Mrs. Murray’s Gr. 7 class was engaged in a “flex” block. In the other grade 7 class, Mrs. Waters introduced me to James. James took time to explain how he had created his comic story using his stuffies as inspiration for the characters. He called them “teddy rangers”. This started in class when students were creating items for the grade 7 Junior Entrepreneur Fair.

Mr. Richard’s Gr. 4-5 class was discussing and correcting a Math assignment, so we headed to Mr. Heron’s class where they were studying different levels of government. They had worked on creating their own countries and choosing their political structures for their governments. Next door, Ms. Denison’s Gr. 5 class was working on varied assignments - poetry and math.

I met “Minny Kinney”, a student who sometimes visits Mrs. Kinney, the school secretary, for her breaks. To end our tour, I visited Ms. Plut’s class who was having fun with 100’s day activities.

Rayleigh Elementary School

Principal Conroy and I started our day in Mrs. Stewart’s Kindergarten class that had just finished intensive work on phonological awareness with Heggerty resources and were dancing and taking a “brain break” when we entered their classroom.

Ms. Nielsen’s K-1 class was beading using an ABC pattern goal with medicine wheel colors. The students had learned the meaning of the colors in the medicine wheel and were designing their beading necklaces with this in mind.

Mrs. Foster’s Gr. 1-2 class was reading. Students were in various locations (desks, cozy corners, coat room on pillows) and reading independently and in pairs. A couple of students shared their love of reading series books like “Dragon Master” and “Diary of a Wimpy Kid”. Mrs. Foster was engaged in a guided reading lesson and doing a “picture walk” with a small group of students. For those who needed a calming moment, they had the view of sea turtles swimming on their classroom screen.

Principal Conroy and I stopped in the hallway, and he pointed to a bulletin board about traits they are looking for in all Rayleigh students. He explained, “We identified Integrity as the core trait we want to develop in students. With Integrity at the core, we are also focused on Resiliency, Respect, Compassion & Teamwork. We foster the development of these traits everyday as staff and students, and celebrate moments where they are lived out in our school.” He showed me a positive moments box in which staff and students can write what they saw someone do that showed these character traits. They recognize the individuals caught being Rayleigh Rockstars on Friday afternoons and their pictures are collected and displayed at the front of the school. We also reviewed Rayleigh’s five basketball teams, which makes up about 25% of their school population. This kind of investment by the staff and parents in coaching to make this possible is worth a great big shout out – ”Thank you staff and parent coaches who give selflessly of your time! We appreciate you.”

In the library, Mrs. Sauer was sharing the newest books added to their collection from a diversity and inclusion book list. We met a student, Brayden, in the hallway, and when I asked him what made Rayleigh a great school, he said, “Teachers are nice and the school is so clean.” Mrs. Tweed’s Gr. 4-5 class was reading in small groups in the hallway just outside of the class. They were studying “Ten Most Futuristic Cities”. Ms. Gauley was playing the ukulele when we entered her Gr. 5-6 class who were creating a song in French about musical instruments.

SD73 Kamloops-Thompson School Board in partnership with the Aboriginal Education Council Signs the Fifth Aboriginal Education Enhancement Agreement

Thursday, February 22nd was an important moment when Aboriginal Education Council Chair, Diane Jules and Chair of the Kamloops-Thompson School Board, Heather Grieve signed the fifth Aboriginal Education Enhancement Agreement. I was grateful to be part of the year-long process in which the Aboriginal Education Council co-created this agreement. Read more.

McGowan- Preparing for Norman Foote’s Choral Concert

In the 2022-2027 District Strategic Plan, the Board is committed to developing students’ multi-modal (print, visual, digital, musical, drama) literacies through curricular and extracurricular activities. McGowan Park Elementary had been busy getting ready for Canadian Children’s Artist Norman Foote. Each week for the last month, around 50 students have committed their after-school time to rehearse with Jeanine Wourms and Jayne Latta to learn Norman’s music in preparation for a choral concert with him on stage. Read more.

SD73 Students Unplugged and Played More in January

Over 8,613 SD73 students accepted the challenge to reduce screen time and play more during Unplug and Play Week! In the 2022-2027 District Strategic Plan, our mission is to provide learning opportunities that inspire students to thrive. An important part of thriving in today’s world is to know when and how to “unplug” from our technologies and play outside, inside, and with others or by ourselves. Read more.

Young Authors’ Conference: For the “Love of Writing” Virtual Launch 2024

In the 2022-2027 District Strategic Plan, we are committed to supporting students to develop foundational literacy skills and to develop a passion for multi-literacies- reading, writing, speaking, listening, and composing in the fine arts. The "For the Love of Writing" Young Authors' Conference launch on February 14^th was a great success. Over 70 classes attended virtual writing workshops with celebrated BC and Alberta writers. Students honed their craft and, hopefully, were inspired to consider attending the in-person conference on May 3^rd at TRU! Read more.

Thank you for making our district departments and schools warm, welcoming, and inclusive spaces for everyone. Have a lovely weekend.

Rhonda Nixon, PhD

Superintendent

Impressions of Kamloops Serves as Theme for SKSS Art Fundraiser

Mon, 22 Nov 2021 17:30:00 GMT

South Kamloops Secondary art students created acrylic paintings inspired by impressions of Kamloops for the school’s 16^th annual art calendar and fundraiser.

Inspired by both historical and contemporary Canadian artists, SKSS students investigated artistic styles as a way to connect to the community and share about their learning. The theme focused on artistic impressions and personal experience about Kamloops.

“I think this project was an awesome way for us to really just appreciate everything we have right around us,” said grade 10 student Kali McDermott. “I think it was a really good way to show Kamloops and its beauty.”

Fifty-eight SKSS art students participated in the project, demonstrating creativity, enthusiasm, and perseverance, with 12 works of art ultimately chosen for the calendar.

“We are grateful for the enthusiastic support of our community jurors who had the difficult task of selecting the featured images for this year’s calendar,” said Lisa Yamaoka, SKSS Art Teacher.

To support the fundraiser, purchase postcards (pack of 14) for $12 and 2022 calendars for $15 at the SKSS main office, The Art We Art, or the Kamloops Art Gallery. Proceeds from the sales of the calendar fundraiser support future visual arts initiatives.

View the gallery of art here. Several of the works are also on display in the Sagebrush Theatre Lobby until December 15, 2021.

Board Balances Budget Using Reserves

Thu, 29 Apr 2021 22:15:00 GMT

The Kamloops-Thompson Board of Education voted to draw from reserves to balance the nearly $200 million 2021-2022 annual budget.

“The Board approved a budget that looks beyond this year and prepares the District for the future, to make sure schools are inclusive for all children and youth, and to provide more support for principals, teachers, and support staff,” said Board Chair Rhonda Kershaw.

With the uncertainties of the pandemic, a modest projected increase in next years’ student numbers and the use of reserves, the Board of Education unanimously voted to pass the 2021-2022 annual budget at its regular meeting on Monday, April 26, 2021.

“I am pleased to have the carryover of the additional custodians from this year into the future. We know there is still an extensive wish list from SD73 and this is being kept in the top drawer, and as money permits, we want to act on that,” said Trustee Shelley Sim, Chair of the Board of Education Finance and Planning Committee. “Yes, it’s a conservative budget, but certainly one that has students, staff, and community at top of mind.”

“In my previous experience as the superintendent, I saw 15 years of enrolment decline. We went from 18,000 to 13,800 students, and they were very challenging years’ budget-wise,” said Terry Sullivan, Superintendent. “In this budget, we will see projected increased enrolment and a chance to provide some flexibility to the new leadership. New leadership in the superintendency and in the secretary-treasurer role that will take us into the future starting in the next school year.”

“By using the COVID-19 Reserve, the International Student Program reserve, and a small portion of the School District No 73 Business Company management reserve, along with an extended health and dental premium holiday, the budget balances,” said Trina Cassidy, Director of Finance. The benefit premium holiday is possible as the premiums paid for extended health and dental have exceeded the cost of the actual benefits, Cassidy noted.

While the district’s estimate for modest growth of 113.375 students in September of 2021 over last year’s enrolment will add to the FTE funding, the Distributed Learning Program has been reset to pre-COVID-19 levels.

In closing, retiring Secretary-Treasurer Kelvin Stretch thanked the Board, Superintendent Sullivan, and Director Cassidy, as he remarked on the final budget, he will prepare for School District No. 73. “It takes a lot of coordination and cooperation to prepare a balanced budget for a system with 9 trustees, 2,100 staff, 15,000 plus students, 46 schools, 5 district facilities, and 70 bus routes, which is a partial list of some of the competing interests in this year’s $197+ million budget.

“Making good decisions takes respectful conversations and the ability to prioritize competing interests, but at the end of the day, staff have a budget that we’ve developed as a District that we can all support to the best of our ability.”

Key Budget Initiatives:

• Labour Settlement increases included

• Retain day-shift custodians added as a result of COVID-19

• School Administration – Vice Principals – elementary and secondary

• Sun Peaks School teaching staff re grade 8-9 programs

• International Student Program student increase

• Specialized Teachers re Chris Rose Therapy Centre and severe behaviour

Key Numbers:

The total budget (including special purpose and capital funds) for the year is expected to be $197,903,177 which is a $7 million dollar change from the 2021 Amended Annual Budget passed in February, reflecting the absence of the one-time COVID-19 funding announced from the Federal and Provincial Governments.
Total Revenue for the 2021-2022 school year from all sources is estimated at $192,548,952.
The number of principals, teachers, support staff, and management staff employed by the District will rise by 22.8571 FTE employees at a cost of $1,638,361.
The operating fund deficit of $1,245,711 was addressed by using reserves and an extended health and dental premium holiday.

Learn About Fire Crew as a Summer Job

Thu, 14 Mar 2019 17:45:00 GMT

The SD73 Trades and Transitions Program is working with the Kamloops Wildfire Centre to sponsor a Junior Fire Crew Workshop April 25 – 27. It’s a hands-on learning experience designed to give students an idea of what to expect if they want to join a fire crew as a summer job. This is the first time this workshop has been offered to SD73 students.

“Working on a fire crew during the summer season is a viable way to pay for university,” said Rob Weilgoz, SD73 Vice Principal of Trades and Transitions. “If you are in grade 12, you are physically fit and you want to learn how this work could become a recurring summer job to take you through your post-secondary studies, this is where you can find out what you need to know.”

While there will be no actual fire involved in this training, all other aspects of fire crew training including spending time outdoors using fire fighting gear are covered.

Interested students can apply here. The deadline for application is April 8, 2019.

Celebrating Indigenous Cultural Learning at Raft River Elementary

Fri, 20 Jun 2025 15:30:00 GMT

Story provided by Jayanthi Saravanan, Raft River Elementary School Teacher

Throughout June, schools across the Kamloops-Thompson School District have been honouring National Indigenous History Month by learning about the unique cultures, traditions and experiences of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis people across Canada.

Over the past month, students at Raft River Elementary School have participated in an incredible learning journey about different Indigenous cultures. 37 students from Ms. Jayanthi Saravanan's Grade 2 and 3 class and Ms. Christina Scrivner's Grade 3 class were guided in this learning by Raft River Librarian, Ms. Victoria Cooke. Together, these classes embarked on an enriching exploration of Indigenous cultures, delving into the lives and traditions of the Métis, Inuit, and First Nations communities, including the Blackfoot, Cree, Salish, Algonquin, Haida, and Iroquois.

Through extensive research, the students explored various aspects of Indigenous history and life, such as their homes, clothing, tools, hunting and gathering practices, and methods of travel. They also studied rich artistic expressions, including music, drumming, and dance traditions that are integral to Indigenous cultures. This comprehensive approach allowed the students to develop a profound appreciation for the depth and diversity of Indigenous traditions.

At the culmination of this project, each student created an artifact inspired by their chosen Indigenous group. These artifacts, ranging from replicas of traditional tools to artistic renditions of clothing and housing styles, beautifully reflected the knowledge they gained, their creativity and thoughtfulness, and a respect for each culture.

This initiative was not only an enlightening experience for the students but also a valuable learning opportunity for the educators, providing a deeper understanding of Indigenous heritage and the importance of hands-on, inquiry-based learning to foster meaningful connections with the curriculum.

A heartfelt thank you to the local Indigenous communities and Elders who shared their wisdom and helped provide a deeper understanding of their rich cultures and traditions. Their guidance was invaluable in making this learning experience both meaningful and impactful for students and staff.

In the 2022-2027 District Strategic Plan, the District is committed to the Cultural and Identity Development Priority—one aspect of this commitment is providing learning experiences that help raise awareness about cultural safety, cultural humility, and cultural identity with students, staff, and parents. During National Indigenous History Month in June and National Indigenous Peoples Day on June 21 schools across the District spend time learning about Indigenous cultures, traditions, and experiences.

Superintendent's Update

Sat, 18 Feb 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Dear Parents and Caregivers:

As we start the Family Day Long weekend, we continue to celebrate stories emerging in our schools about acts of kindness and care. Sharing stories about connecting, developing relationships, nurturing wellbeing, and ensuring equity illuminates our mission, which is to support learning opportunities and environments which inspire students to thrive (2022-2027 District Strategic Plan).

A.E. Perry Elementary School

Two students from Student Council, Tanish and Karen, along with Ms. Nielsen and Mr. Nesci greeted me with smiles and kind words in a Valentine’s Card attached to treats as I entered the school. Principal Sewell began our tour at the glass cabinet with soap carvings which were done by students that were shared as a Cree tradition by Mr. Drew Rose. We continued into Ms. Hansen’s room, where Gr. 2-3 students were sharing Valentine’s Day cards and treats. Ms. Anderson introduced students to a lesson on chocolate, and Ms. Matuschewski’s and Ms. Cowan’s classes were working in literacy groups focused on activities related to Valentine’s Day. Ms. Ashworth’s Kindergarten students were decorating hearts, and Ms. Abate’s Kindergarten students were learning about symmetry. We stopped to see the 30 mountain bikes that Ms. Cattermole and Ms. Cowan received based on a successful grant application to Outride Riding for Focus Grant. Four of five of these applications were successful and impacting schools in our district.

Mr. Sofiak’s class was working on “catch up”, and Mr. Nesci’s Gr.5-6 class sang a French song about pizza. Mr. Endacott’s Gr. 5 students were writing, and Ms. Telford’s Gr. 4-5 class was focused on competing to win a challenge– who could fit the most hearts on a piece of paper. Ms. Shull’s and Ms. Cattermole’s classes are cross-age buddies. The younger buddies had sent written invitations to their older buddies to play a game in Phys. Ed. They had just played together as we walked into the gym. We ended our tour in the library with Mr. Rhynolds reading a picture book about friendship to Ms. Lulu’s class, and enjoying riddles and jokes about cats.

Starfish Backpack Volunteers

The Starfish Backpack Program started as a pilot project with six backpacks as a response to an Abbotsford teacher’s experience feeding her Kindergarten students who were coming to school on Monday hungry. It expanded provincially, and in Kamloops, the Starfish Backpack program typically occurs at the Kamloops Food Bank. A group of volunteers go to the Food Bank on Friday mornings, and they have an assembly line where they stock backpacks full of food for students and families who need it. In the picture to the right, are staff from SD73 who volunteered recently.

In the 2022-2027 District Strategic Plan, one of our core values is equity, which requires our communities to work together to identify and remove systemic barriers that prevent students from thriving in school. One of those barriers is not having enough food on weekends. When students come to school hungry, it is hard for them to focus and to be mentally, emotionally, and physically ready to learn. Volunteers who give their time to help to pack the backpacks and deliver them are contributing to the support that some families depend on and need.

Principal Conroy (left) with two students, Jackson (middle) and Terry (right) celebrate Jackson’s and Terry’s efforts to make and deliver Starfish backpacks to schools. When Assistant Superintendent Mochikas delivered the certificates, she spoke with Terry and presented him with his certificate. Terry said, "To be honest, I don't help out thinking I would get a reward of any kind. I do it because it makes me feel good knowing I'm helping people get fed. It feels good to help and we all should help people who need it."

Principal Conroy spoke to Jackson and asked what inspires him to help with Starfish Backpacks, and Jackson shared, “It feels good helping other people.” Volunteers who give of their talents and time are invaluable to making lives better.

I hope that you experience kindness and friendship as we move from Valentine’s Day into the Family Day long weekend.

Rhonda Nixon, PhD

Superintendent

Aberdeen Playground Open

Wed, 09 Oct 2019 16:15:00 GMT

The wait is over for Aberdeen Elementary students, following a ribbon-cutting ceremony opening their new playground.

And it wasn’t only the students that were patient.

The Aberdeen Elementary Parent Advisory Committee has been fundraising throughout the year with a hot lunch program, funfairs, family dances, and cash raffles to make the playground a reality.

Once the Ministry of Education made its announcement on March 15, 2019, that Aberdeen Elementary would receive $90,000 for one of the 50 new playgrounds throughout the province, the PAC’s fundraising burden was suddenly lightened to only $13,000 to cover the cost of site preparation. But there was still work to do to keep costs done.

“Parents worked for two days to assemble the pieces, pouring concrete or by providing childminding for the parents that were working on the structure,” said Tanya Epp, president of the school’s PAC.

Already a popular attraction in the neighborhood, Epp says that a new playground is well used after school and through the weekend.

The grand opening of the playground was timed for the same afternoon as Parent-Teacher interviews and included a barbeque lunch provided by the PAC.

“Movement and pride of place are so important to children’s learning,” said Sally Zryd, principal Aberdeen Elementary School. “And we can see by the way our students are enjoying this new playground that we have been able to provide a beautiful place for them to play, and one they are taking tremendous pride in.”

Development of the new playground included repositioning existing swings, new climbing walls, a new zip line and several new slides, including the PAC’s special request for a toddler slide to accommodate younger siblings and the nearby Montessori Preschool.

Four Directions at the United Way Xchange

Thu, 03 Oct 2019 18:30:00 GMT

Four Directions students are doing well in their new location at the United Way Xchange building.

“I have to give them credit for their adaptability and willingness to move over and try something new and not have that interrupt the flow of their work,” said Jordan Smith, program coordinator for Four Directions. “We appreciate the incredible welcome of the United Way into their Xchange space, and their flexibility and generosity in making things work for us.”

The students had to make way for Parkcrest Elementary students and staff, who moved into the George Hilliard site Sept. 16 after their school was destroyed by fire Sept. 5. The United Way and Thompson Rivers University responded to SD73's need for space because TRU had yet to move in and was still exploring how the space would be best used to meet the needs of the community.

The Xchange Lab will serve as a community research hub for students, faculty, and the community to work collaboratively on research projects that explore solutions to community challenges.

Danalee Baker, executive director, Thompson Nicola Cariboo United Way, said from her organization’s perspective, having Four Directions at the Xchange is amazing.

“I can’t imagine a better melding of two organizations,” she said. “The way some of our projects have dovetailed into their presence here, makes them a natural fit.”

For example, Four Directions students have participated in the Opioid Photovoice Project, and in an Aboriginal Summit held in early October.

Apply to be a Homestay Family for International Students

Thu, 03 Apr 2025 17:00:00 GMT

Have you ever thought of becoming a homestay family?

There are many great reasons to become a host family for an international high school student, including making new friends from different countries, learning more about the world, and discovering new cultures and customs, all from the comfort of your own home.

The Kamloops-Thompson School District compensates host families $1,200 per month, per student. That is $6,000 per semester or $12,000 per school year. Families may host up to two students at a time. Homestays are required throughout the school year, and in July and August.

Host family duties include providing a private room for each student, having regular meals with your student, assisting with school start-up routines, and providing guidance and support while the student studies in the Kamloops-Thompson School District.

Host families are needed throughout the Kamloops-Thompson area.

If you are interested in hosting an international high school student during the upcoming school year or summer, or if you know a friend or family member who may wish to register as a homestay family, please apply at Homestay Application or contact our Homestay Manager, Rosie Kirschner at rkirschner@sd73.bc.ca.

For additional information, visit ispcanada.ca.

Partnership Brings TREC's Bridges Program to Boys and Girls Club of Kamloops

Thu, 12 Sep 2019 23:45:00 GMT

Superintendent of Schools Alison Sidow calls an agreement between the district, the City of Kamloops and the Boys and Girls Club of Kamloops to provide for the relocation of the TREC Bridges Program a great example of agencies pulling together for the benefit of students.

“We are grateful to both the City of Kamloops and to the Boys and Girls Club of Kamloops for their generous assistance in making this arrangement possible,” said Sidow.

In response to concerns expressed by parents and guardians of some TREC students over the relocation of the TREC Program to NorKam Senior Secondary, the district worked with the City and the Boys and Girls Club to find another space for students.

As a result, students in the Bridges Program will be relocated to the John Tod Centre at the Boys and Girls Club, located at 150 Wood Street. Bridges Program staff will host an open house for parents and guardians on Monday, Sept. 16 from 1 to 2 pm, and regular classes will begin for students on Tuesday, Sept. 17, starting at 8:30 am.

The TREC Program is being relocated to make way for Parkcrest Elementary students and staff to relocate to George Hilliard Elementary, the TREC programs regular home, after the loss of their school to fire Sept. 5.

TREC Principal Cory Carmichael said TREC staff are very appreciative of the partnership that is supporting a vital program for students in parents in the transition to secondary school.

“Often this transition is very challenging and difficult, and this program provides a crucial link to supporting that transition,” said Carmichael. “The staff at the John Todd Centre at the Boys and Girls Club have been exceptional and we look forward to this amazing partnership that supports our learning community.

“We’re very pleased with the result of this partnership, which is a great example of organizations working together to the benefit of students, teachers, and staff in our community,” said Barbara Berger, City of Kamloops Recreation, Social Development, and Culture Manager.

“We are very happy to welcome the school district’s Bridges program and the students to the Club,” said Traci Anderson, Executive Director, Boys and Girls Club of Kamloops. “Our space is a welcoming, youth-centred place where kids can feel a sense of belonging. After all, these students are our community’s youth and we want them to feel safe and supported. It was an easy decision for us to share our space. In fact, before the call came we were already reaching out to TREC staff to offer our support in any way we could. This is a win-win.”

“Every learner is a priority. Every step that can be taken to meet students’ needs will be taken,” said Sidow. “We believe this step will alleviate the concerns that many parents and students have raised about going to a large high school.”

District staff are also exploring the potential of relocating the TREC Program, including students in the Bridges Program, to the Happyvale site within the next few months.

“Ultimately, the intention is that once Parkcrest Elementary is built, TREC will return to 985 Holt,” said Sidow.

Support from Trustees toward Teaching and Learning Resources

Thu, 12 Sep 2019 18:00:00 GMT

Trustees allocated $70,000 to Parkcrest Elementary to replace classroom and school supplies lost in last Thursday’s fire.

Parkcrest Elementary teachers, who were preparing for the first day of school at George Hilliard Elementary, were told by SD73 Director of Finance Trina Cassidy, that the board had allocated $50,000 from its business company to help them replace their professional teaching resources at Monday night’s board meeting.

The first motion, made by Trustee Wade at the Sept. 9 meeting, earmarks $50,000 to the Parkcrest Elementary school. Funds will be managed by Principal Catherine Gorman for the purposes of assisting in replacing the professional materials and resources lost by teachers in the Parkcrest fire.

In a second motion, Trustee Grieve allocated $20,000 to cover the annual student supply fee for Parkcrest parents.

Both motions were unanimously approved.

“We could not think of a better way to assist Parkcrest Elementary staff and students with rebuilding their school routines, “said Kathleen Karpuk, Chair SD73 Board of Education. “This money has been set aside for a rainy day, and supporting 40 staff and 340 students certainly will go a long way to enhancing students’ experiences at school.”

A decision in 2006 by School District 73 to provide education opportunities to off-shore, non-resident students means that $70,000 can go directly towards getting Parkcrest staff and students back to teaching and learning.

Since its incorporation, SD73BC has paid SD73 $486,000 in management fees.

“It is rewarding now to pay forward some of the funds for staff and students in need,’ said Alison Sidow, Superintendent of Schools.

Rocking Heavy Equipment to Help Choose a Career

Tue, 02 Apr 2019 19:15:00 GMT

Their futures were as clear as the day for participants of 2019 Heavy Metal Rocks program.

Held in brilliant sunshine in the T’Kemlups Band Gravel Pit on Mar. 27 to 30, 26 secondary students from School District No. 73 took part in a Trades and Transitions program designed to give them an on-the-job experience as they consider career options after high school.

“We had students from 7 secondary schools across the district learning how to run heavy equipment used in the construction and forest industries,” said Brad Gerow, Heavy Metal Rocks Pit Boss. “They learn from qualified operators from Kamloops and around the area who volunteer their time and equipment.”

The program, now in its 11^thyear, helps students by giving them first-hand experience of the world of construction and forestry. It also helps them find jobs after they graduate.

“They are essentially getting a three-day job interview,” said Gerow. “There are a lot of operators from many different contractors involved that can look at these students to see how they do, giving them the advantage over students that know nothing about the equipment.”

From here students go in various directions. Some go into truck driving, some are going to Thompson Rivers University next year to take training in welding or automotive or heavy duty mechanics and they will go off to fix these pieces of equipment or they will go back into running them. Some students will continue right into the construction or the forest industry, finding jobs around the province or other parts of Canada.

Gerow says the industry volunteers and donations go a long way to making the program possible.

“We have some volunteers who have been here since day one,” he said. “They are very dedicated. They take time off work or make sure they have shift change so they can come back year after year.”

Every year, students in grades 10, 11 and 12 can apply to participate in the program with information made available to students in November, and applications due by the following January. Students selected will also complete first aid, construction site safety and Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS) training. WHMIS is a system for educating employees on the proper storage and handling of potentially hazardous materials.

Warm Holiday Wishes from SD73

Fri, 19 Dec 2025 23:00:00 GMT

Dear Parents & Caregivers,

As students and staff begin their winter break this weekend, we want to express our sincere appreciation and gratitude for the many ways you support students and positively contribute to fostering vibrant school communities across the Kamloops-Thompson School District.

While this year has brought both successes and challenges, we are continuously inspired by the ways our school communities come together with strength and care. When Westmount Elementary School closed after a fire this fall, school communities near and far reached out to support and uplift Westmount students and staff during a difficult time—this is just one example of the wonderful community spirit that defines our district.

From extra-curricular coaching to seasonal concerts to fundraising and volunteer efforts, each school and its community makes a difference and sends a strong message of connection. Moments like these, big and small, happen every day throughout our schools and communities. We don’t take for granted the work that goes into organizing these special moments that bring to life our District mission by supporting the creation of environments that inspire students to thrive.

On behalf of the Kamloops-Thompson Board of Education and District leadership, we extend our heartfelt thanks for all you do. Wishing you a restful and joyful holiday season filled with warmth, laughter, and time with those who matter most.

With gratitude,

Heather Grieve, Board Chair

Mike McKay, Superintendent

Letter from Minister of Education and Child Care: Read Minister Beare’s year-end holiday letter to parents, caregivers, guardians, and families: here.

Equipping Teachers for Pandemic Challenges

Fri, 02 Oct 2020 16:30:00 GMT

A federally-funded Partnership Engaged Grant project is underway in Kamloops to foster knowledge exchange on COVID-19 crisis-related issues, challenges and impacts.

Dr. Carol Rees, associate professor, TRU Faculty of Education and Social Work, has been awarded a $25,000 Partnership Engage Grant through the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) COVID-19 Special Initiative program. She leads a team that includes TRU researchers Michelle Harrison, Naowarat Cheeptham and Christine Miller, and Grady Sjokvist, a science teacher at NorKam Senior Secondary, Elizabeth DeVries , district technology Coordinator, and Morgan Whitehouse, District Science coordinator.

SD73 and TRU will be working with local science teachers to find new ways to improve learning opportunities for students during a pandemic. A panel of intermediate, secondary and university science teachers will work together throughout the school year to develop inquiry-based experiences designed to engage students.

“We have 9 high school teachers and 7 elementary teachers,” said Whitehouse. “The best part, from my perspective, is that we have 16 different schools. That means one-third of our buildings are represented, which is amazing. I'm optimistic it will really build capacity in those teachers, and broaden the support networks beyond their campuses.”

A virtual presentation by Rees, called Teaching science in pandemic, is planned for Oct. 21 at 7:00 PM.

The Kamloops Thompson Honour Choir Perform the CAKE Musical at the Paramount

Fri, 09 Dec 2022 16:45:00 GMT

The Kamloops Thompson Honour Choir performed their winter concert on Sunday, December 4, 2022 at the Paramount Theater.

The choir is directed by Jennica Alpaugh, managed by Cyndy Olsen, accompanied by Lori Jane Froese and Kerry Tarwnosky collaboratively rehearsed with students in grades 3-7 from across the district. They prepared a musical, CAKE - The Christmas Acts of Kindness Experiment Musical. The musical was about connecting with the community and sharing gifts and talents to show kindness to everyone throughout the holiday season.

Students engaged in choral singing, movement, and drama to share their message of kindness and their love of singing with the audience. The junior choir consisted of students in grades three and four, and senior choir members are in grades five through seven. Students come together from across the district, and they rehearse once a week.

The Kamloops Thompson Honour Choir was formed over 40 years ago by Marion Owens to promote connection and a love of singing. Students are auditioned in the spring and connect to the community through various concerts and outreach projects throughout the year.

Janet McCloy, District Coordinator of Arts Education, shared, "Having the children's choir together again and performing live after almost three years away is magical. Hearing their songs inspires kindness and reminds us of the power of music to convey meaningful messages".

Kids at Work In District

Wed, 02 Nov 2022 16:15:00 GMT

When Kate Chamberlin walked into the SD73 School Board Office on Wednesday November 2, she didn’t know what to expect.

“It was crazy the amount of different jobs there are in the small spaces in this building,” she said. “It looks a lot smaller from the outside.”

Kate was participating in Take Our Kids to Work day. As a grade nine student at South Kamloops Secondary, she decided to spend the day with her aunt, Micah Strecheniuk, the SD73 Disability /Attendance manager.

It’s a national program hosted by parents friends relatives and volunteers across Canada, and it gives students a chance to explore different careers.

“I am interested a career in health care, like physical therapy and nursing,” said Kate. “Because my Dad’s work, at the hospital, is unable to participate due to Covid, I decided to come and spend the day with my aunt.”

Kate spent the day learning about communications, transportation, and human resources jobs.

“It’s not health-related, really, but there are parts to these careers I can see now would be useful to be aware of in a health care setting,” she said. “For example, human resources and building relationships and communicating with people is important in every career.”

“The more students understand about the jobs of their parents and relatives, the more informed the decisions about their own future career,” said Rick Kienlein, Director of Instruction, Secondary.

For more information, visit the website at www.thelearningpartnership.ca

SKSS Takes the Stage for Celebration of Learning

Tue, 21 Jun 2022 21:30:00 GMT

The South Kamloops Secondary School (SKSS) Music Department held their June Showcase Concert on Wednesday, June 15, the first live show at the Sagebrush Theatre in over two years.

The large ensembles included the SKSS Semester 2 Grade 8 band, Senior Concert Band, and Jazz Band, as well as smaller group ensembles of Jazz Combo, Percussion Ensemble, Vocal Feature with Jazz Band, and Saxophone Quintet with vibes feature.

A total of 50 students took to the stage to demonstrate what they have learned, performing 23 pieces for the aptly named “Authentically Live” event.

“Our senior band performed seven selections including ‘Hesitation’ composed by grade 12 band student Leo Mete and a piece called ‘Sorrow’ written by Mizuki Ona, who is the sister of one of our grade 12 band students,” explained SKSS Music Director, Michelle McRae. The group also performed ‘Raven,’ an Indigenous piece written by composer Robert Buckley in honour of the Squamish Nation.

“For many students, this was their first live show due to COVID,” said McRae. “There was an incredible energy and the audience and the students were thrilled to engage in person.”

The Jazz Combo performed on stage but also delighted guests with several pieces in the lobby as patrons entered the theatre. Tables were set up for spectators to sit and have a cup of coffee while taking in music by Keenan Brulotte (tenor saxophone), Xavier Wallace (trumpet), Gerad Wingerak (bass), and Ethan Mori (drums).

“It was quite a hit and the crowd seemed very impressed,” said McRae.

Despite the two-year hiatus, music has continued to fill the SKSS halls thanks to the efforts of Chris Spanis, SKSS science teacher, who has spent countless hours creating recordings as a way to keep the momentum alive in the SKSS Music Department.

Below is a piece called “Heat’s On” performed by the 21-piece grade 8-12 Jazz Band. Soloists are grade 10 student Keenan Brulotte on tenor saxophone and grade 10 student Elizabeth Pawliuk on piano.

Creating a Community Connection at TREC

Fri, 09 Sep 2022 16:30:00 GMT

Students at Twin Rivers Education Centre (TREC) started the new school year with an opportunity to network and connect with a variety of local services and programs to help foster success at school and in life.

“As part of the District’s 2022-2027 Strategic Priorities and one of our school goals is to ensure that all students are connected to appropriate supports within school and in community,” said TREC Vice Principal Dyan Gunnlaugson.“When we look at our data on positive sense of belonging and students with positive relationships, these are always higher for us in April than in October but this year, we want to increase our sense of belonging and positive relationships earlier in the year through a number of methods like our inaugural Community Connections Fair.”

Held on Thursday, September 8, the agency partners present at the event included the Kamloops Art Party, Axis Family Resources, BGC Kamloops, the YMCA, Heavy Metal Gym, Kamloops Aboriginal Friendship Society, and the SPCA, and many others.

“Connecting our students to a wide variety of different resources gives them options in their lives,” continued Gunnlaugson. “It allows them to make healthier social choices, access to employment opportunities, and resources for meeting life and mental wellness needs.”

Other strategies that will be used to increase student connectivity include school-wide activities both on and off campus and regularly scheduled gatherings.

Orange Shirt Day: Why Blue Hearts are Important

Tue, 29 Sep 2020 17:30:00 GMT

For Skylah Joe-George, adding a blue heart to Orange Shirt Day represents a third generation affected by residential schools. The Grade 11 student from Valleyview Secondary said most people realize the day is for survivors of residential schools and their families, but may not know that young people are still affected, even two generations later.

“It’s about my generation, she said. “We wanted something for youth, because we are still affected by intergenerational trauma. Our entire culture is hurting. Being First Nations and knowing that I could be much more knowledgeable about my culture, and know much more about who I am.”

Joe-George is one of six students working with their Secwepemc Language teacher Tracy Ned and Aboriginal Education Workers Roberta Regnier and Paul Sawan to launch the Blue Hearts project, asking schools across the district to add blue hearts to their orange shirts on Sept. 30, for Orange Shirt Day.

The students, all in Grade 11, are Talise Seymour, Skylah Joe-George, Liam Hazelwood, Isacc Baptiste and Dillon Paul.

To help students and staff in her school understand why this is important, Joe-George wrote a short article to explain. Here it is, in its entirety.

Why Our Generation Needs Blue Hearts on Orange Shirt Day

by Skylah Joe-George

September 30 is a day of healing, as every day is for our culture, but we have this specific day for our community, our schools to join us. Residential schools were the tip of the iceberg that brought much deeper outcomes, from addictions to unnatural substances to disorders mentally affecting families, intergenerational trauma, to hearing the three simple words that everyone is told from day one: “I love you.”

That is where the blue generation comes in. Residential schools created a domino effect of constant mental and spiritual pain. Because we see the people we love and an entire culture hurting, we can’t help but feel that pain too.

It is time to acknowledge the hardships of the past, but most importantly, our youth – for the Blue Generation – our generation – to be the healers.

The people do not want hand-outs. There is no need to feel guilty, or even feel sorry. Actively acknowledge our strengths, and listen. Know that I as your peer am asking for your help to build a community where everyone is valued and Indigenous youth feel they have a purpose. And what has become of the culture can be changed by authentic experiences, to make sure what my ancestors endured in the hardships of the past will not be for nothing.

We will be stronger than ever. It is necessary to erase assumptions and at least take the time to understand that residential schools cause pain and that pain is still here today within the students of our school and all across the country.

The support from students and staff is required in order for Indigenous youth to be a part of the present. We are present people. Canada is one country, and we must come together as one.

So we ask on September 30, by wearing an orange shirt with a blue heart, join us to ignite a new beginning and chapter to move forward and not forget the past to make sure the future is fulfilled the best it can be for the future generations to come.

From the heart, Skylah Joe-George.

SD73 Achieves Highest School Completion Rates in 2023-2024

Fri, 31 Jan 2025 00:45:00 GMT

The Kamloops-Thompson School District is proud to share that 2023-2024 school completion rates are the highest ever achieved by the District. The 2023-2024 6-year* and 5-year** school completion rates were shared at the Regular Public Board Meeting on Monday, January 27, 2025, highlighting some incredible successes as well as areas where work is still required in order to reduce inequities.

Resident students completed school at a rate of 95.3% for the 6-Year Rate and at 91.1% for the 5-Year Rate, both of which exceeded the provincial average rates (91.4% for 6-Year Provincial Average Rate and 86.6% for 5-Year Provincial Average Rate).
Indigenous students completed school at a rate of 87.5% for the 6-Year Rate and at 78.5% for the 5-Year Rate, exceeding the provincial average rates for Indigenous students (75.5% for 6-Year Provincial Average Rate and 64.8% for 5-Year Provincial Average Rate).
Students with Diverse Abilities completed school at a rate of 81.1% for the 6-Year Rate and at 73.1% for the 5-Year Rate, exceeding the provincial average rates for Diverse Abilities students (78.0% for 6-Year Provincial Average Rate and 68.2% for 5-Year Provincial Average Rate).

When looking at all student cohorts, the District saw gains in completion rates for all categories, except Students On-Reserve. Although inequities continue to exist, there is evidence that the gaps are narrowing when comparing 3-year completion rate averages, beginning in 2019-2020, for all student groups. When comparing the 3-Year school completion rate averages, the difference between Non-Indigenous and Indigenous students narrowed by 3% (5-Year Completion Rate) and by 1% (6-Year Completion Rate) and the difference between Non-Diverse Abilities students and Diverse Abilities students narrowed by 3% (5-Year Completion Rate) and 5% (6-Year Completion Rate).

District staff continue to work diligently to address all inequities by developing strategies and resources for Kindergarten to Grade 12 students to develop their core competencies and to support learning opportunities and environments which inspire students to thrive.

“We are proud of the students in our district for achieving high completion rates,” shared Dr. Rhonda Nixon, SD73 Superintendent. “We appreciate the staff and parents for supporting students to achieve success, and we recognize that we still have work to do to address inequities for historically marginalized students.”

In order for all students to achieve success, the District is committed to developing foundational skills and core competencies, focusing on inclusion, diversity, and equity, providing timely, relevant, and accurate information to help inform instruction and support, offering flexible learning environments, and fostering meaningful connections.

*The 6-year completion rate is the percentage of students who graduated with a Certificate of Graduation or Adult Graduation Diploma within 6 years from the first time they enrolled in Grade 8 (2018-2019).
**The 5-year completion rate is the percentage of students who graduated with a Certificate of Graduation within 5 years from the first time they enrolled in Grade 8 (2019-2020).

Superintendent's Update

Fri, 13 Oct 2023 23:30:00 GMT

Dear Parents and Caregivers:

I am so excited to share many of the good news stories that emerge from school visits and work in the District. October is about highlighting stories that show how we provide learning environments and opportunities that inspire students to thrive (District mission) through the District Priorities, and about how we enact equity (value commitment) and courage (Grandfather Teaching) in the District Strategic Plan.

Kamloops School of the Arts

Principal Lloyd, Vice Principal Traudt, and Trustee McKelvey, and I started our walk by stopping in at Ms. Dickinson’s Kindergarten class. They transitioned into their afternoon with personal choices of activities (reading, listening, playing) to quiet music. She shared how they had engaged in a “leaf inquiry” in which students studied the seasons and colors connected to seasons by mixing colors to achieve a fall color spectrum of yellow-orange-red-green-brown.

We took part in Ms. Nordstrom’s class where she was leading POD 2 (Gr. 2-3-4) in an action song (singing, clapping, stomping). Ms. Coates’ Gr. 1 class was reading, and we spoke with partners who were reading together and learned that every student had a unique book at their easy reading level which reflected their interests in diverse topics and genres.

Mr. Stella’s Fly Fishing class was immersed in studying lake ecologies to decide on which flies to tie based on the fish that they planned to catch in local lakes. They had already been on one field trip and had tested their self-made hooks.

Ms. Bargery was working with a small group of students on math problems, and Mr. Bryson was preparing his French 8-9 students for a writing exercise about the Métis Nation. Ms. Clark’s class was working with Elder Wendy Leonard who had picked pine needles with the Gr. 4 class for basket weaving. They were now ready to learn how to apply their understanding of weaving using needles and sinew.

World Mental Health Day

Fire Chief for the Day

Our District’s Career Development Priority in the District Strategic Plan 2022-2027 is to inspire students to examine possible career pathways for their future. The Kamloops Fire and Rescue organized a competition for grade four and five students, providing a unique opportunity to become “Fire Chief for the Day.” Becoming a firefighter is a dream for many students in Kamloops-Thompson because we need firefighters to keep everyone safe. Lexy Munroe, a grade 4 student from Kamloops School of the Arts (KSA), was the winner of the competition. Read more.

Parents as Education & Career Coaches

Parents and student supporters are invited to join a virtual Parents as Education & Career Coaches Workshop to learn how you can help support your student in planning for their future. The information will be especially helpful for families with students in Grades 10-12. This opportunity aligns with one of SD73’s Career Development department’s District Learning Plan, which focuses on providing opportunities for parents and caregivers to develop their capabilities to support students’ choices related to course planning, education, and career planning.

The workshop is scheduled for Tuesday, October 17, 2023, from 7 pm to 8:30 pm. For more information and to register, go to the event posted in the Trades and Transitions calendar.

Thank you for taking the time to engage in not only your everyday work to make students’ lives better, but also for how you give of yourself each day (listening, talking, welcoming, caring). I hope that you take time for your family, friends, and for yourself this weekend.

Rhonda Nixon, PhD

Superintendent

Four Directions Students Launch Music Video

Wed, 10 Nov 2021 18:00:00 GMT

Four Directions Secondary School was the site of an Aboriginal music video launch on Tuesday, November 9.

"Together We Thrive" was written and developed by a group of grade 10-12 Indigenous students, and was inspired by the unmarked graves of 215 children discovered at Tk'emlúps te Secwépemc in May.

Featuring Draiden Ambridge, Skyler Oakes, Mileo Merrill, Jaynus Lecoy Peters, Evan Tarlit, Kevin Lavoie-Dick, Flower Dick, Charlie Cuthbert, and Daisy South, the song is dedicated to all Indigenous Peoples who call Turtle Island their home. The creation is tied to the 2021-2022 Inquiry theme, RE-Connecting: Renewal; Reciprocity; Reclaiming; and Resilience.

“It was a lot of fun and I had a great experience. There was a lot to learn from it,” Ambridge told CBC Radio’s Shelley Joyce. “At the end of it, it felt like we accomplished something good and we’re all proud of what we were able to get done.”

The students participated in a one-week intensive program through the Mobile Production Studio’s N’we Jinan initiative to learn about and acquire skills in sound recording, music production, songwriting, and performance. From there, the group developed the concept, lyrics, and storyboard for the music video as part of their English, Contemporary Indigenous Studies and Art courses at Four Directions.

“The impact for the students to participate in this experience has been profound,” explained Cory Carmichael, Principal at Four Directions and Twin Rivers Education Centre. “Not only did they have the opportunity to learn about video and music production, explore their creative talents, and showcase their learning in a very courageous way, the students were pushed beyond their regular comfort zone in a safe and nurturing environment.”

Carmichael shared that, upon completion of the project, several students noted a boost in confidence, that they had grown personally, and they felt pride in who they are, and where they have come from.

“The students’ response to the project really embodies what we are working on as educators at Twin Rivers Education Centre and Four Directions – that students gain competencies and skills for the future, while generating a sense of belonging, mastery, independence, and generosity.”

SD73 Career Opportunity: Librarian Assistant position

Tue, 11 Oct 2022 17:15:00 GMT

The Kamloops Thompson School District is offering a Library Assistant Course in anticipation of its need to recruit qualified candidates for the role.

This course is a prerequisite for support staff positions in school Library Learning Commons. The District will be recruiting for this role in the near future.

The 30-hour evening course includes a 12-hour practicum and will run on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from November 8 – 29. It will cover clerical and technical duties including operating a library automation system, processing materials and accessing information in multiple formats. The 12-hour practicum will take place during the day and will occur any time between November 8 and 29.

Shortlisted participants will be required to successfully pass a skills assessment to be able to take the course. Once accepted to take the course, participants will be required to pay a $500 registration fee.

Interested applicants are asked to submit their written application to Makeafuture.ca/Kamloops-Thompson before 4 PM on Friday, October 14.

SD73 Promotes Year-Round School Bus Safety with "We Stop - You Stop"

Mon, 16 Oct 2023 16:30:00 GMT

The Board of Education is committed to student safety as a top priority in their commitment to student well-being in the District Strategic Plan. The Transportation Department prides itself on its commitment to providing safety training in all elementary schools to ensure that the youngest riders are aware of the safety aspects and behaviour expected while riding the bus as outlined in our District Learning Plan 2023 in the Systems Development Priority.

School Bus Safety Week is an active and evolving public education program, held during the third full week of October each year, designed to promote safety on school buses, addressing the importance of bus drivers, and to promote school bus safety and a way for parents, students, and school administrators to highlight the importance of safety on board the bus.

During School Bus Safety Week, which runs from October 16-20, 2023, School District No. 73 is actively promoting awareness with our chosen theme, “We Stop – You Stop”.

School Bus Safety Week, emphasized by Transportation Director Sherry Kristjanson, serves as a year-round reminder of the importance of safety on and around school buses and the dedication of our drivers. When approaching a school bus with the swing arm extended and red lights flashing, it is crucial for drivers to come to a complete stop.

“Ensuring the safety of our children is the top priority for our dedicated school bus drivers every school day.” Transportation Director Kristjanson said. “Our district covers more than 27,000 kilometers, and each school day, our drivers ensure the safe transportation of approximately 4,300 students over a total distance exceeding 9,000 kilometers.”

“Children who ride the bus to and from school depend on us to keep them safe,” said Dr. Rhonda Nixon, Superintendent of Schools. “It is important to champion this week as a reminder to continue the focus on being extra vigilant all year.”

It is vital to remember that in British Columbia, it is a legal requirement for drivers to come to a stop when they encounter school buses with flashing red lights.

To address student safety concerns, SD73 has produced a powerful 30 second video: #brake4buses.

During School Bus Safety Week, and every week, join us in ensuring student safety by following “We Stop - You Stop”.

Deanna Brady Appointed District Principal, Inclusive Education

Thu, 05 Aug 2021 17:00:00 GMT

On Aug. 4, 2021, Ms. Deanna Brady was appointed to the role of District Principal of Inclusive Education.

Ms. Brady has been a principal in the Kamloops-Thompson School District for 17 years. She has served as principal of Vavenby, Raft River, Rayleigh, Sun Peaks, Heffley Creek and AE Perry Elementary Schools. She has also provided leadership through being a member of the District Screening Committee and Learning Leadership Council. Ms. Brady has previously served as the Kamloops-Thompson School District’s representative for BC Council of Administrators of Inclusive Support in Education (BC CAISE), Provincial Outreach Program for Early Intervention (POPEI) and Provincial Outreach Program for Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (POPFASD).

Ms. Brady holds multiple post-secondary qualifications, notably a Master’s Degree in Special Education (Flinders University), and a Professional Certificate, Transformative Educational Leadership Program (UBC).

“I am excited to work closely with Deanna, as she has a wealth of knowledge and experience in Inclusive Education,” said Vessy Mochikas, Assistant Superintendent, Inclusive Education. “She is a strong leader and her commitment to serving students with diverse needs is exceptional. We will continue to work closely with our valued Inclusive Education Services team and community partners to pursue equity and excellence for all learners.”

School District No. 73 (Kamloops-Thompson) Approves the 2022-2023 Annual Budget

Wed, 27 Apr 2022 20:30:00 GMT

The Kamloops-Thompson Board of Education approved the 2022-2023 Annual Budget of approximately $207 million at its Regular Public Board Meeting on Monday, April 25, 2022.

Based on similar student enrollment projected at this time last year, this year’s budget is comparable to last year’s $211 million budget. Enrollment is expected to increase as families continue to register in schools throughout Spring and Summer.

“While this budget considers a modest increase in student enrolment, we have seen significant enrolment growth in our district in the last five years,” said Board Chair Heather Grieve. “With Kamloops being named one of the five fastest-growing communities in the province, the projected increase in enrolment is likely to change.”

The Ministry of Education and Child Care announced there would not be an increase to the per-student FTE funding amount at this time, as the Ministry is waiting for the conclusion of collective bargaining for teachers and support staff.

“We are a growing district and are prepared to add additional resources in September,” said Trina Cassidy, Secretary-Treasurer. “We expect to see the revised budget in December once the September enrollment is confirmed by the Ministry of Education and Child Care.”

The 2022-2023 Annual Budget focuses on providing staffing and resources for the reopening of Ralph Bell Elementary School. The school is reopening due to enrollment pressures in the Juniper Ridge community and will welcome approximately 190 students into the rejuvenated space.

Supporting 13 catchment changes, relocating approximately 372 students from nine schools into nearby schools, the budget allocates funding for additional bus routes, additional space, and custodial and administrative staffing.

In addition to catchment changes, the budget accounts for the Valleyview Secondary Expansion, which provides the space for 525 more seats, requiring additional custodial time and supplies. To manage the shift in enrollment, the District reallocated existing resources to alleviate enrollment pressures.

Included in the Special Purpose Fund is the Classroom Enhancement Fund (class size and composition), CommunityLINK (vulnerable children and families), early learning programming (StrongStart, Just B4, Seamless Day, Ready-Set-Learn, Changing Results for Young Learners), French language (French Immersion), Annual Facilities Grant (building maintenance), and School Generated Funds (funds raised at the school level), to name a few of the funding sources.

“We look forward to early learning expansion with the new Ministry of Education and Childcare,” stated Superintendent Nixon. “Special purpose funds for early learning, especially, are much needed during this time of enrollment growth and programming changes.”

Provided within the Local Capital Fund is a provision for the purchase of portable classroom space, classroom furniture and equipment, maintenance vehicles, information technology, and the District’s portion of the Valleyview Secondary Expansion.

“The Board of Education is navigating a time of complex growth,” explained Board Chair Grieve. “We are continuing to work with the community, municipalities, the Aboriginal Education Council, and the Ministry of Education and Childcare to accomplish operating, special purpose, and capital priorities in 2022-2023.”

Kamloops-Thompson School District Celebrates the Reopening of George Hilliard Elementary School

Fri, 13 Sep 2024 21:00:00 GMT

On the afternoon of Tuesday, September 10, 2024, the Kamloops-Thompson Board of Education and District staff joined George Hilliard Elementary students and families to celebrate the reopening of their neighbourhood school.

“On behalf of the Kamloops-Thompson Board of Education, I want to thank everyone who has made this school reopening possible, from district staff, to Principal Colleen Topolovec and the George Hilliard teachers and staff, to all the students, parents, and families joining us this year,” shared Trustee Jo Kang at the event. “The reopening of George Hilliard Elementary is an important step toward serving the growing needs of students in our District. I know that this wonderful school will be an important place for each of you to learn, grow, and build friendships.”

George Hilliard Elementary has been an integral part of the Kamloops-Thompson School District community for over 60 years. This elementary school opened in 1959 and in 1961 was named after Captain George Hilliard, the first chairman of Brocklehurst School Board. In 2010, George Hilliard closed as an elementary school and for the following years it housed daycare centres and the Big Little Science Centre—continuing to be an important place of learning for the community. In 2013, the District’s Alternative Education Programs, Twin Rivers Education Centre and Four Directions, moved in and called George Hilliard home until 2019, when it became the temporary home for Parkcrest students following the fire that destroyed their school. Each chapter in George Hilliard’s history has been marked by a commitment to education and a dedication to meeting the evolving needs of students and children.

The reopening celebration started with a welcome from Knowledge Keeper Jackie Jules, who also shared the Welcome Song, encouraging students, staff, and families to join in singing. Trustee Jo Kang, Superintendent Dr. Rhonda Nixon, and Principal Colleen Topolovec shared stories from George Hilliard’s school history and messages of hope and excitement for the school’s new beginning. As stories were shared, parents and families in attendance acknowledged their time at this beloved neighbourhood school, remembering past teachers and principals fondly.

“When Ms. Topolovec became the Principal of George Hilliard, she invested in learning about the history of the namesake and growth of this school community which has meant so much to many people the past 60 years,” shared Superintendent Dr. Rhonda Nixon. “I want to thank Principal Topolovec, parents, students, and staff for taking the time to get to know each other and start building a community. We are excited for you to be part of George Hilliard's history and its exciting new beginning.”

Following the remarks, neighbourhood students and families were invited to join in activities, games, and bouncy castle fun. Students also received their new school welcome kits, including bags, water bottles, and hoodies with the new George Hilliard Hurricanes logo.

“Although we are a small neighbourhood school, we are already huge in spirit and connection,” shared Principal Colleen Topolovec. “I have enjoyed getting to meet so many of you already and absolutely love the family feel and belonging that is quickly being created here at George Hilliard. I am truly excited to be leading a group of amazing staff whose goal is not only to create a positive learning environment, but to create a sense of belonging and community for our students.”

George Hilliard Elementary’s reopening is a testament to the collaborative efforts of the community and the dedication of the Kamloops-Thompson Board of Education and District staff to providing quality education and accessible learning environments for all students.

Board Notes from January 26, 2026

Wed, 28 Jan 2026 22:00:00 GMT

For updates from the regular meeting of the Board of Education, featuring Roots of Empathy, United Way BC Employee Giving Campaign results and more, read Board Notes here.

Brock Students Find Their Fit

Mon, 30 May 2022 19:00:00 GMT

Brocklehurst Middle School educators were delighted to host an interactive event that seeks to give students the chance to discover and explore career opportunities.

Find Your Fit, recently hosted by WorkBC at Brock, was a great hands-on experience for students to learn about in-demand careers. Val Shannik, Brock's Trades and Transitions Coordinator, described the event as a "great opportunity for students to have access to careers that they might not get to try."

"Find Your Fit was pretty interesting - a lot of creativity was involved," said grade 9 student Cale Hanaghan (pictured). "I really enjoyed the flight simulator because it felt immersive and I enjoyed how hands-on some of the other activities were."

There were numerous career stations - ranging from the tech studio to the healthcare station - encouraging students to think about how skills like collaboration and critical thinking connect to career areas.

"My highlight was learning about electronics and how to put things together," said Daxton Merrick, grade 8 student (pictured). "It was a lot of fun with hands-on learning."

How to be a Good Digital Role Model

Wed, 06 Jan 2021 22:15:00 GMT

As a parent, you lead the charge as a digital role model, especially in a world where the use of internet, mobile phones and other digital devices continues to grow. You’re invited to attend a virtual meeting hosted by the District Jan. 28, 2021, to learn how to help your child develop a strong digital citizenship foundation.

Just how digital is our world becoming? In BC, 94 per cent of people aged 15 or older are internet users, and more than half of these are smart phone users. (Source: Canadian Internet Use Survey)

‘Social Media Awareness, Digital Footprints, and Cyberbullying’ will be presented by Safer Schools Together, a company working to help students across North America to minimize and manage risks to students.

This session is designed to help parents remind children that their digital tattoo reflects their real and online selves. Parents have an important role to play in providing support and guidance.

A snapshot of current trends will be provided to equip you in your digital parenting strategy. This includes:

Social Media Update - The t current apps and trends in your children’s social media lives

Pick Your Battles – How to provide balance and promote independence while taking a strong stance on certain subjects
Current Research - Brain development, technology, and violent video games
Digital Footprint and Reputation - With their future approaching, recruiters and employers are taking note – What will they find?
Strategies to use at home - Recommendations for family rules, parental controls, and developing a family tech plan

This will be a 90-minute presentation, followed by a 30-minute Q&A session.

This session is being offered virtually as a ZOOM meeting, on Thursday, Jan. 28, 2021 from 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM.

Participants will need to register to be provided with the ZOOM link.

To register, click here.

Ralph Bell School to Re-open - Catchment Decision Deferred

Wed, 30 Jun 2021 22:30:00 GMT

School District No. 73 Board of Education voted in favour of re-opening the former Ralph Bell elementary school for September 2022.

As the clock approached 10 PM on Monday, June 21, the Board agreed to table the staff recommendation to shift existing catchment boundaries to create a new catchment encompassing Juniper West, west of Galore Drive and the area west of Vicars Road, and Rose Hill, from Marion Schilling Elementary to the fully renovated and newly equipped Ralph Bell Elementary.

The recommendations before the Board were aimed at reducing enrolment pressures on Juniper Ridge Elementary and Marion Schilling Elementary schools, outlined in the District’s Long-Range Facilities Plan presented to the Board on Apr. 13, 2021.

The Board is expected to finalize the catchment decision at its next meeting on Monday, July 5, 2021.

“We know we have to re-open the school because as they stand right now, schools in that area of Kamloops are over capacity and that situation is untenable,” said Chair Rhonda Kershaw. “Students experience limited gym time, library access, learning resource rooms, washrooms, and water fountains.

“Realistically the outlook for a new school in Juniper West is probably a minimum of eight years away, even if we were awarded a school a year, as it is number four on our current capital list.”

“As long as Ralph Bell is an educational option, it is unlikely the Ministry of Education will approve any capital projects, either for an addition or new school in the area,” said Director of Facilities Art McDonald. “And even if there was a new school built in Juniper West, Ralph Bell would still be required. The reason for that is in those long-term projections.

“The interim plan was that Ralph Bell would take some pressure off both Juniper Ridge and Marion Schilling. And long-term, once a new school is built in Juniper West, Ralph Bell would continue to take pressure off Marion Schilling.”

“The report presented at last night’s board meeting was thorough, and we have had an incredible amount of public input. We have a lot to consider,” Kershaw said.

There was a great deal of input during the consultation period calling for an addition to Juniper Ridge Elementary or a new school in Juniper West.

Superintendent Dr. Terry Sullivan presented a report detailing District staffs’ responses to the concerns and comments submitted during the sixty-day public consultation period that began on April 20, 2021.

Several themes emerged including the mental health and wellness of affected students, an alternative plan to make Ralph Bell a grade 6 and 7 school, and the safety of the Ralph Bell area.

Affected students from Juniper Ridge Elementary will be provided school bus service to Ralph Bell Elementary and the students from Marion Schilling Elementary that currently ride a school bus will remain on the school bus and be dropped off at Ralph Bell Elementary.

Ralph Bell is located approximately 5.3 km from Juniper Ridge Elementary and approximately 2.4 km from Marion Schilling Elementary.

Closed due to declining enrolment, the recommendation to re-open Ralph Bell Elementary was also a part of the Long-Range Facilities Review.

Found4Kids: When Students Need Clothes

Mon, 09 Dec 2019 18:00:00 GMT

When families with children in SD73 schools struggle to provide their children with the clothes they need, they can ask the Found4Kids Society for help. The society gathers and then redistributes lost and found items from the district schools through a coupon system. The items are washed and then organized in a thrift-store like setting. Each family makes an appointment to visit the Found4Kids space currently housed at the Lansdowne Mall in Kamloops. Sessions are private, and families are able to take what they need, for free.

“I tell them, take what you need, and need what you take,” said society founder Dianne Noble.

This is the ninth year of operation for the society. Noble is noticing an increasing number of families who are underemployed, who regularly have to decide between groceries and a new pair of shoes for their children.

“One mother contacted me recently saying she had a child who has gone through a growth spurt since September, and she’s unable to replace the clothes the child has outgrown.”

In another situation, a student who was accepted to participate in the Model UN was considering not attending because he didn’t have the right clothes to wear. Found4Kids provided him with clothes and a suit. He not only attended the event, he won an award there.

Another student was coming to school cold every day instead of wearing the single hoodie they owned, because they were afraid it would be lost somehow.

“We want families in need to know we are here to help, if they are struggling to meet basic needs,” “We keep a record of how many students we help each year. The average is around 80, but one year there were 123,” said Noble. “As more people get to know about us, that number may go up,” Noble said. “We want families in need to know we are here to help, if they are struggling to meet basic needs.”

If you know of anyone attending a School District No. 73 school who needs this kind of help, you can contact the school office to ask about Found4Kids coupons, or you can email Dianne at dianne@found4kids.com.

The society operates with volunteer labour in the donated space at the mall. As grateful as she is to the mall’s management for giving them the space, it is tenuous, because the society could be asked to vacate at any time. Noble is hoping to find “… four walls and a roof where we are not always facing the prospect of being asked to move with two weeks’ notice.”

French Language Students Achieve Certification

Tue, 26 Jan 2021 18:30:00 GMT

More than 50 district secondary students will be recognized by the French Ministry for National Education for their French language skills.

Having successfully completed a rigorous international examination process, they will be awarded a DELF (Diplôme d'études en langue française), certifying their competency in a language that is not their mother tongue.

“Our district offers students the opportunity to challenge four levels of the DELF exam: A1, A2, B1, B2,” said Lana Blais, Vice-Principal - École Secondaire South Kamloops Secondary School. “A1 is a beginner level of French, while B2 is the most advanced of the school-age exams. Two further levels (C1 and C2) can be challenged at the university level. The DELF exam has been offered in a large scale in our district since April, 2015.”

Blais says there are two school level sittings of the DELF exam every year, in November and in April. In SD73, both immersion and core French students challenge the exams. The voluntary exam is written by students in grades 8 through 12. They pay a small fee to challenge the exam and they select which level they feel most prepared for—a decision usually made in consultation with their French teachers.

Core French Students with DELFs

Three examples of Core French students who have earned their DELFs are Jessica Orr and Emily James, both in grade 12, and Lauren Corbet, in grade 11, who are all students at Valleyview Secondary.

“Jessica and Emily have completed five years of French courses and Lauren four years,” said French Language Teacher Emily Gillis from VVS. “The girls are all excellent French students and demonstrate great critical thinking, tenacity and a commitment to learning.”

Gillis said these students made the most of their class opportunities to speak in French, listen to French and acquire the language.

“In addition, the girls and I spent fifty per cent of our lunch times during quarter 1 and the start of quarter 2 together in order to prepare them for the exam,” she said. “They worked very hard to ensure that they had the necessary vocabulary, grammatical structures, accent and confidence to complete the exam. I am extremely proud of them.”

French Immersion Students with DELFs

“We have seen a steady increase in the past years with the number of students choosing to write the DELF, almost doubling our numbers each year,” said SKSS French Language Teacher Alysia Francis.

“With the new curriculum, we have introduced four new courses in the past two years, including Media Studies 11, Francophone Film & Literature Studies 11, Political Studies 12 and Francophone History and Culture 11.”

Francis said these authentic learning situations offer an immersive experience for Grade 12 students which helps them feel confident in their abilities in French. This also includes, when it’s safe to travel, opportunities to attend Carnaval in Quebec.

“Immersion students do not need the DELF to graduate. If they complete their Immersion program, they will graduate with a bilingual dogwood,” she said. “Still, we are seeing many of our students attempt, and achieve, the B2 level.”

The Benefit of a DELF certification

Blais said successfully challenging the DELF exam offers many benefits to students.

“The first and most important benefit is a sense of pride and validation of their language skills. They have completed a challenging exam and communicated in their second language often with someone they have never met,” she said. “The certificates the students receive are valid for life and can be used for job applications and may even meet some university language requirements. Students receive four external secondary credits for each of the exams they complete.”

DELF Clubs help students prepare

Many secondary schools offer DELF clubs to help students prepare for the activities they will encounter during the exam. Each exam is divided into 4 sections: a listening component, a reading component, a writing component, and an oral interview.

The essential role of DELF examiners

DELF examiners receive intense specialize training that allows them to assess this exam. Examiners are also evaluated and certified for each level they are authorized to assess. SD73 is lucky to have a very large team of 22 examiners.

“It is important to have a large team, as each candidate is assessed by two examiners who must come to consensus about which mark is the most accurate reflection of the candidate’s abilities,” said Blais. “DELF is very important for the teachers who are trained as examiners as they must hone their evaluation skills and have collaborative discussions about the language skills being presented before them.”

Teachers preparing students in their classes to write the exam reflect on the communicative skills most needed by students and consider how to best impart those skills. The question they ask is “What is our goal for language learners in SD73?”

Kudos

These exams were held under the strictest of COVID protocols and were administered by DELF-trained French specialists from our district and community,” said Franzi Karlen, District Language Coordinator. “Congratulations to the students, and a heart-felt thank you to their dedicated classroom teachers and our fantastic exam team. Bravo! The next DELF exams begin April 12, 2021.”

Superintendent's Update: Holiday Wishes

Sat, 17 Dec 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Dear Parents and Caregivers:

As we wrap up winter concerts and slow down the pace of usual school and district activities, I hope that everyone finds time to enjoy what they like to do and to spend time with family and friends over this holiday season.

Over the last two weeks, I appreciate the parents and extended family members and friends who supported winter concerts and events.

Holiday Concerts

On December 14, 2022, Norkam Senior Secondary School hosted their traditional turkey luncheon for over 850 students, staff, and guests. Trustees Karpuk and Kang, and Assistant Superintendent Hamblett and I served the meals and then enjoyed one ourselves. Thank you to everyone who came out!

On December 13, 2022, South Sa-Hali Elementary School held their winter concert for their Gr. 6 and 7 band and their Kindergarten and Grade 1 students. Trustee O’Fee and Assistant Superintendent Reilly attended the afternoon concert, and Secretary Treasurer Cassidy and I attended the evening concert. It was snowing as we arrived, which made it feel like the holidays were “on their way”. The children and staff worked together to share a beautiful compilation of voices, instruments, and movement in both French and English. At the end of the concert, parents joined in a round of the Twelve Days of Christmas in French, and they each tried to outdo one another with their incredible voices. Read more.

Twin Rivers Education Centre

Principal Mattes and Vice Principal Gunnlaugson shared the wonderful work of Ms. Bucher’s students who were making gnomes and creations such as crocheted animals to represent ecological systems. Ms. Fletcher’s students were taking part in a specialized Foods course in which they use food bank items to create simple to more complex meals. Mr. Whitmore’s class engaged in various experiments from building bridges to rockets, and he applied Universal Design for Learning principles to meet everyone’s needs. Mr. Noble’s class was writing essays and narratives. Ms. Smith and Ms. Bruin showcased interconnections to the Secwepemc calendar.

Continuing Education and First Steps

Principal Mattes and I visited Street School, located in the Northills Mall, and we met with Erika, Pete, Jessica, Tonia, and Leanne who shared information about the various Adult Continuing Education programs that we offer. We discussed the importance of multiple pathways to support adult students. Two such pathways include the Kamloops Regional Corrections Centre (KRCC) program in which a range of levels of literacy learning are accommodated and VisionQuest, a centre for addictions education and recovery. Staff shared how working with adult students is rewarding as they are dedicated to specific goals and developing connections to start or continue their career passions.

South Kamloops Secondary

Principal Walt Kirschner and I visited Ms. Richter’s English class as she paired grades 8 with grades 11 and 12 mentors to write short stories and longer pieces including a novel. Ms. Hergott shared how she works one-on-one with a student to support this composition process.

Mr. Spanis facilitated class exploration of Physics simulations through video games that required students to build rockets that could fly to space. Mr. Ilic’s students were rebuilding cars and trucks and carrying on with welding projects in Automotives class.

VPEA

Preparing for Schools of Choice Registration and Kindergarten Open House

For parents who have children entering Kindergarten, join us in January and February to learn more about schools of choice and registration in Kindergarten. Read more here. Thank you to the District Early Learning Team for supporting learners to transition into Kindergarten, an important part of the Intellectual Development Priority in the 2022-2027 District Strategic Plan.

Interior Health

To learn more about what to do to stay well and to address concerns about the respiratory illness season, Interior Health has prepared resources and reminders to support families. Read more.

Enjoy the holiday season with family and friends!

Rhonda Nixon, PhD

Superintendent

Superintendent's Update

Fri, 11 Apr 2025 23:30:00 GMT

Dear Parents and Caregivers:

In April, we are focused on stories about well-being, an important value commitment in the 2022-2027 District Strategic Plan. We are also focused on the Grandfather Teaching of Humility.

R.L. Clemitson Elementary School – April 10, 2025

Ms. Sutherland did a beautiful job designing a bulletin at the front entrance of the school to promote Autism Awareness Month. She shared how there are resources in the library for students to learn more about autism.

As Principal Buemann and I visited classrooms, we started in Ms. Munden’s Grade 5-6 class who were outside preparing to go mountain biking. They were working together in partners and small groups to check the air pressure of the tires, to put oil on the bike chains, and to ensure that each bike was ready and safe to ride. They were planning on riding as part of Physical Education, and in their after-school mountain biking program.

As Mr. Buemann and I walked through the Learning Commons, I met a student, Sierra, and Mrs. Power who were working together. Sierra would choose a number and then have to determine how to make that number using plastic cupcakes on a scale. When we spoke about what would make RLC even better, Sierra said, “a swimming pool”. She felt that it was the perfect location and the students would really love it!

Mr. Buemann shared how the staff had also redesigned a small room that was previously for storage and located at the back of the Learning Commons area.

Staff have transformed this into a space for individual and small group activities in a lower stimulation area (lower lights, muted colors). Sierra let us know that her favorite part of this room was what she called “the egg chair” which was noticeable because it was low to the ground and in the shape of a hollow egg, and it had a cover to enable the person who sits there to have a fabric roof over their head.

Ms. Ngo’s Kindergarten class was working on letters – playing with letters and making letters and letter sounds. Other students were playing at centers.

Ms. Klymchuk’s Grade 4-5 class was creating designs in Art for their Mother’s Day or Caregiver’s Day gifts. Several students were creating a highly designed bunny picture and others were decoupaging a picture with musical scripts. Ms. Klymchuk shared the original piece of art that had inspired it.

One Grade 4 student, Michael, whom I met last year to see the Braille library he inspired at the school, explained that he was part of “The Braille Challenge”, which is a series of braille literacy tests for students grades 1-12. Michael finished first in the province as a freshman. The top three students from each category in the regional Braille Challenge will be eligible to compete in nationals. Michael is very determined and excited to prepare for the National Braille Challenge.

Ms. Froese’s music class was singing “You've Got a Friend in Me” because we asked them to sing something for us. They had not been working on that song, but several students started to sing and others joined in. They demonstrated how being courageous and willing to try new songs together is a lot of fun. Ms. Konkin, a long-time music teacher, was in for Ms. Froese, and she appreciated the students willingness to be brave.

Mr. Buemann showed me another room that had been transformed from a storage space into a multi-purpose room with space to have individual and small group work as well as storage of materials that were easily accessible for learning. At the time when we entered, Ms. Anderson was completing some work and shared how much she uses and is glad that they transformed the space. As we left this space, he explained how the staff is interested in creating flexible, multi-purpose spaces for learning and students are really enjoying and using these spaces.

Ms. Strom’s Grade 7 class was studying Ancient Rome and they were sharing “fun facts” with me about the time. One fact was that 50,000 people would gather in a colosseum amphitheatre.

In the front office, Ms. Moores said, “I am so thankful for Fiona and Becky who came in and redesigned my desk to have greater functionality and face the front.” She also thanked “Trevor from Facilities for taking the time to put plug-ins along the bottom of my desk to provide me with many options for plugging in technology.” Principal Buemann agreed that the Facilities Department deserves a “shout out” for how much care and attention they put into this project.

Day of Sucwentwe?cw – April 7, 2025

Day of Sucwentwe?cw is an annual day of recognition in the Kamloops-Thompson School District that acknowledges the Secwépemc Nation, their territories, and history. Sucwentwécw means acknowledging one another and this year’s theme was “The Bonds of Respect that Bridge Us Together.” On April 7, 2025, schools across the District hosted various Day of Sucwentwécw gatherings in collaboration with their respective First Nations communities, with many school celebrations including singing the Welcome Song, visits from Elders, school-wide assemblies, drumming, dancing, storytelling, and lessons about the Seven Grandfather Teachings. Read more.

Board Notes

I hope that you get to have time for what you love to do and that you can get outside and enjoy the warmer Spring days.

Rhonda Nixon, PhD
Superintendent

Jesse Lipscombe's #MakeitAwkward Campaign in SD73

Thu, 14 Mar 2024 16:00:00 GMT

Story provided by Mr. Chris Preymak, Principal, Westsyde Secondary

In the 2022-2027 District Strategic Plan, we are committed to every student feeling safe, included, and welcome in our schools (Human and Social Development Priority). To accomplish this– equity: removing barriers and creating environments that provide accessible and empowering opportunities for all students and staff to thrive– is a cornerstone value.

The District Student Equity Council of secondary students from across the District got together on January 22, 2023 to witness Minister Singh speak at the unveiling of the provincial anti-racism action plan. At that time and since then, these students shared how their racial and cultural identities can become locations of shame and fear when others say negative things based on these aspects of their identities. To prevent or correct these behaviors, it is essential to educate students and staff in safe, welcoming environments in which students are empowered to have courageous conversations when they witness racism in words, actions, text, images, and videos/digital content.

Students and staff are committed to anti-racism education, and we invited Jesse Lipscombe to present to secondary students and share his #MakeItAwkward Campaign. Principal Chris Preymak shared his experiences of having Jesse Lipscombe engage Grades 8-10 students in an anti-racism assembly.

Jesse Lipscombe spoke to our Grade 8 to 10 students at Westsyde Secondary on Wednesday, March 6th. What made Jesse’s presentation so impactful was his ability to connect with high school students on the topic of anti-racism using a combination of engaging presentation styles and relatable content. He started with his own personal story sharing anecdotes and experiences related to racism, discrimination and privilege. This helped him establish a human connection with our student audience and set the tone for the conversation. He successfully incorporated relevant examples and scenarios that included instances of racism or microaggressions that occur in schools and communities. Jesse emphasized the interconnectedness of different forms of oppression, including racism, homophobia and ableism. He discussed how these intersecting identities shape individuals’ experiences and perspectives. At one point in the assembly, he encouraged students to reflect on their own privileges and consider how they can use their positions of power and influence to support marginalized groups. He spoke about how this led him to creating the #MakeitAwkward campaign. Finally, by ending the assembly with a question and answer session, he was able to ask students to take action against racism in their own lives and communities while providing practical strategies for challenging prejudice, promoting inclusivity, and advocating for social justice.

Heavy Metal Rocks 2020 Cancelled

Thu, 19 Mar 2020 23:00:00 GMT

In light of the recent announcement by the BC Ministry of Education to suspend in-class instruction indefinitely, and the recommendations for social distancing, the SD73 Trades and Transitions department has cancelled the upcoming Heavy Metal Rocks event scheduled for March 25 to March 28, 2020.

"Students who have been selected to participate in this event and who have paid the application fee will be reimbursed the full amount of their fee," said Rick Kienlein, director of instruction - secondary education and learning. "Arrangements to return funds will be made over the next few weeks. We will also work directly with event sponsors and those who have made monetary donations to this event to reimburse donations"

For now, Kienlein said other upcoming Trades and Transitions-sponsored events, including Junior Fire Crew (April 22-25) and Girls Exploring Trades and Technology (April 27) have not been cancelled.

"We will closely monitor the situation and a decision about cancelling these events will be made closer to their scheduled date," he said.

These cancellations do not include dual credit programs with Thompson Rivers University (TRU) such as Youth Train in Trades (Construction Trades, Mechanical Trades, Culinary Arts and Horticultural Trades), TRU-Start Programs (Early Childhood Education, Heath Care Assistant) and the Norkam Senior Secondary Trades Samplers.

SD73 will continue to communicate with TRU regarding their plan to provide a continuance of post-secondary instruction in an online or distance format. Norkam Senior Secondary is also host to an ITA-designated Hairstylist Training facility. The Trades and Transitions department will be working directly with the administration of Norkam Senior Secondary and instructors regarding the ITA-designated Hairstylist Training program to provide for a continuity of learning in a distance learning format. The priority is to ensure grade 12 students are prepared for graduation.

"I want to thank our sponsors for everything they have done to support these events that benefit our students," said Kienlein. "This was a difficult decision to make. We appreciate their understanding and we look forward to resuming these programs."

Bright Red Book Bus Celebrates its 10th Anniversary

Wed, 26 Jun 2024 15:30:00 GMT

Story provided by Chelsea Isenor, Director of Communications and Board Administration

The Bright Red Book Bus is hitting the road again this summer to share the joy of summer reading. Throughout the last 10 summers, this memorable bus has travelled to various Kamloops schools and parks, providing high-quality, new (and gently used) books for free and encouraging parents and caregivers to read with children.

Every child who visits the bus gets to keep one free book. By increasing book access and ownership, the Bright Red Book Bus aims to minimize summer reading loss, strengthen literacy skills, and improve educational outcomes for children.

This summer, the Bright Red Book Bus celebrates its 10th Anniversary. For over 10 summers, this beloved bus has provided books and reading support for families. Parents have expressed that the Bright Red Book Bus helps their kids develop a love of reading, sharing “my littles really got into reading more than they ever have,” and “your program last year started their love of reading—they’ve been reading for fun all year!”

From July 2 to August 16, 2024, the Bright Red Book Bus will be on the road visiting various school sites and city parks. Families can visit the bus in their neighbourhoods to participate in story walks, games, activities, and more.

2024 Summer Schedule:

Day	Locations	Time
Monday	Kay Bingham Elementary	10:00 am – Noon
Monday	Westsyde Centennial Park	1:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Tuesday	South Sa-Hali Elementary	10:00 am – Noon
Tuesday	Prince Charles Park	1:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Wednesday	Dufferin Elementary	10:00 am – Noon
Wednesday	Albert McGowan Park	1:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Thursday	AE Perry Elementary	10:00 am – Noon
Thursday	McDonald Park	1:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Friday	Marion Schilling Elementary	10:00 am – Noon
Friday	John Tod Centre	1:00 pm – 3:00 pm

For more information and updates, see the Bright Red Book Bus Facebook page.

In the 2022-2027 District Strategic Plan, the Kamloops-Thompson School District is committed to supporting students to develop foundational literacy skills and to develop a passion for multi-literacies. The Bright Red Book Bus helps to promote joyful reading and interesting conversations. This successful literacy project gets kids excited about reading and promotes reading for fun. Distributing over 34,000 books since its inception, the Bright Red Book Bus has helped develop a community of young, excited readers.

2025-2026 Preliminary Budget Presentation Summary

Thu, 10 Apr 2025 17:00:00 GMT

On April 9, 2025, the Board of Education and District staff presented the Kamloops-Thompson School District’s 2025-2026 Preliminary Budget in a live streamed event that has been viewed by over 1,000 people.

Stable 2025-2026 Preliminary Budget

“2025-2026 will be a stable budget for the Kamloops-Thompson School District,” shared Board Chair Heather Grieve. “After extensive consultation with students, parents, staff, Indigenous rights holders, and partners, we have a financially sound budget with a conservative accumulated operating reserve, or District emergency fund, of just over 1% of the Operating Fund.”

If the Board approves the preliminary budget as presented, the District will be in a stable financial position, with an approximate annual budget of $251 million.

The 2025-2026 budget presentation highlighted the significant financial challenges our District, and many others around the province are facing. Throughout this budget development process, we have tried to balance the priorities set out for us by the government and feedback from our District and school communities with the realities of inflationary and funding pressures.

Budget Development and Consultation

The development of the 2025-2026 draft budget was guided by the 2022-2027 District Strategic Plan priorities, including: Intellectual Development, Human and Social Development, Cultural and Identity Development, Career Development, and Systems Development.

Throughout the budget development process, District staff and the Board of Education engaged in robust community consultation with employee partner groups, Indigenous rights holders, staff, parents, students, and school communities on the District's budget priorities and challenges. Over the past four months, this consultation included 20 focus group meetings with CUPE 3500, Kamloops-Thompson Teachers’ Association (KTTA), Kamloops-Thompson Principals’ and Vice Principals’ Association (KTPVPA), District Parent Advisory Council (DPAC), District Student Advisory Council (DSAC), and Indigenous Education Council (IEC), as well as a public survey and email feedback that resulted in 290 responses from the community. We greatly appreciate the participation of our community members who so generously gave of their time and energy to contribute their thoughts on spending priorities.

The key feedback themes from consultation highlighted the importance of providing support for students, curriculum, and programming. In considering this feedback while developing the 2025-2026 budget, a common theme across all groups was to maintain classroom-based staff to ensure the well-being and academic success of our students, retain programming that matters to students, parents, and staff, and limit curricular programming reductions to certain non-funded programming and staff.

2025-2026 Budget Pressures

The Kamloops-Thompson School District’s annual budget of approximately $251 million is made up of three funds: Operating Fund, Special Purpose Fund, and Capital Fund.

School districts are funded based on student enrollment. In recent years, our District has been growing at approximately 250 students a year, which has resulted in increased revenue that has helped offset increased costs over the last 4 years. We can no longer rely on increased revenue from substantial enrollment growth as enrollment projections are flattening.

Similar to districts across the province, we are facing cost increases, inflationary pressures, and increased supports needed for students with complex needs, and funding is not keeping pace with these increased pressures.

2025-2026 cost increases are anticipated to be $5.79M. These cost increases are due to several factors including replacement salaries, teacher increments and salary changes, employee benefits, inflation, vehicle and equipment replacement, portable moves costs, Sníne Elementary School opening costs, and services and supplies increases. Many of these cost pressures are not funded and must be absorbed into existing budgets.

Because of current provincial funding levels, flat enrolment, decreases in revenues, and provincial cost increases, we have had to make some difficult recommendations in the development of the 2025-2026 preliminary budget while trying to meet priorities. Preliminary recommendations to address cost increases include reductions to supplies and services, and exempt, teaching, and support staff, with an emphasis on retaining positions most directly connected to students and classrooms. To learn more about these recommendations to address costs increases, please watch the presentation here.

The Board would like to thank all staff, partners, and community members who took the time to learn about this preliminary budget and provide input. These are incredibly difficult decisions, and we have done our best to meet school community feedback and needs.

There is still time to provide feedback on the 2025-2026 Preliminary Budget. Please watch the budget presentation here and then submit your comments by April 21, 2025 to Budget Feedback. After considering final input from employee groups and members of our community, the Board of Education will vote on the final budget on April 28, 2025.

Mountainbiking Program Gets an A+

Wed, 30 Jun 2021 21:15:00 GMT

Students at RL Clemitson Elementary outrode stress, peer pressure, Zoom meetings, and COVID-19.

125 students in grades 5, 6 and 7 at RL Clemitson Elementary were provided with the opportunity to ride mountain bikes as a class program this year, and they expanded their skills in many areas other than the physical art of riding.

“At first it seemed like a crazy idea,” said teacher Lacey Munden. “A quick inventory of the students coming in proved we had students who rode their bikes daily and had better skills than I did, students who had never ridden a bike before, and a student who was visually impaired.”

“But step by step, week by week, we took the Outride program at our school from the school fields, to our neighbourhood streets, to our local trails, and we haven’t looked back.”

Outride, a non-profit organization based in the United States has been providing bikes and programs to students across North America.

In its most recent grant cycle, the organization donated 28 bicycles to RL Clemitson Elementary. They arrived in boxes last fall. Thanks to Munden, a corps of volunteers, and donated time and expertise from local bike shops, the bicycles were assembled and ready to go by spring this year.

“This program has been so well supported, thanks to Lacey’s efforts,” said RLC principal Blake Buemann. “And it has been a lot of work. From applying for the grant, to building the bikes, because they all arrived in boxes, and keeping them maintained, she’s the one who made it happen.”

“We spent the first few weeks of spring working through the curriculum provided to us by Outride, and spent a few sessions with students who needed more support getting to the point of independently pedaling,” said Munden. “We have had amazing community support and the backing of professionals in our own community.”

The support included a visit from Outride ambassador Catharine Pendrel, the support of Outride Ambassador Dylan Sherrard, who rode with the students on every ride, local pro Matt Hunter, and the Bicycle Café and Cheryl Beattie.

“We had a winning combination,” she said. “Our visually impaired rider led our entire group on our ride on the trails, something she had been working up to for the past few months.”

The student had the support of an education assistant who rode in front of her with a bell on her bike to help her hear the terrain.

“The road directions are called to her, any stumps, large rocks, or parked cars are announced as they approach,” said Munden. “We have also been fortunate enough to be connected to visually impaired rider Blake Steinecke, an Outride ambassador, who was able to speak with our classes about his riding experience, and assist us in helping our student on their journey with riding.”

Munden said the increase in confidence she has seen in the students, both on and off the bike, has been shocking.

“They can do hard things, they can problem solve, they can improve their skills,” she said. “Sometimes when we don’t achieve a goal, we practice, try again, or adjust our expectations while we improve. This translates into everything we do in schools, and it is likely one of the biggest hurdles we face as teachers, teaching kids to be resilient.

“As I reflect on the entire process, I knew I would see an increase in attention in class, and an increased focus for all students,” she said. “But I did not expect the positive effects on student mental health, in a time when a pandemic has affected us all and our lives have changed drastically.”

Munden is grateful for the Outride program and the opportunities it has given students.

“We can’t wait to see what our second year with this program will bring,” she said, already looking ahead to next year.

Celebrating the Annual SD73 Powwow

Fri, 16 Jun 2023 19:30:00 GMT

The annual District Powwow began with the Grand Procession led by the Arena Director, Cecil Sheena and District Principal, Mike Bowden carrying the Eagle Staff gifted to the School District. Dignitaries and dancers in regalia followed.

Students in Grade 5 and Grade 5 split classes from 35 elementary schools entered and were seated with their school banners in the Tk'emlups arbor. They watched and learned from the Powwow Master of Ceremony, Gord Cuthbert, who stopped to teach them about the different aspects of the Powwow. He explained that the Grand Procession is a way of entering to begin the Powwow. There are times when all students and dignitaries would join in the Grand Procession; however, in this case, with 2500 people, he elected to have only the dignitaries lead the procession into the Tk'emlups arbor.

Knowledge Keeper, Jackie Jules, shared a prayer to begin. Then the drummers sang and drummed the Welcome Song to welcome us as guests on the Secwepemc territory. The flag song was sung and drummers and dancers engaged acknowledging the Secwepemc flag, BC flag and Canadian flag, Metis Flag and the Nunavut Flag.

Dignitaries shared opening remarks to start the day.

District Principal Mike Bowden started, “We are fortunate to be here to celebrate and to learn together. I am sure that those who attended Kamloops Indian Residential School would not have thought that this would be possible.”

Chief and Council representative, Councillor Dave Manuel said, “Hello Everyone, Good Morning and Welcome to our unceded ancestral lands of Tk'emlups te Secwepemc on behalf of Tk'emlups Chief and Council. I really want to encourage all you students to have an amazing time at this year’s School District Powwow and hopefully you all had a wonderful school year. Great to see so many youths willing to learn more about the history of Powwow. I would like to thank all dignitaries who showed up to support this Powwow and everyone who did all the hard work with organizing this amazing event.”

Diane Jules, Director of the Aboriginal Education Council shared, "There was a time not too long ago where we were not allowed to celebrate such a gathering as a Powwow, but now we are able to share the positive experience with our students of SD73."

Trustee O’Fee shared, “I am fortunate to have spent time here working for the Tk'emlups te Secwepemc Chief and Council, so I feel a reverence for this place, the ground that we are on today. As we gather together, we learn a lot and we need to cherish that learning, which is a gift from First Peoples on this territory.”

Superintendent Nixon stated, “Let’s take time to remember the “Le Estcwicwéý (the missing), the residential school children who attended the Kamloops Indian Residential School and who did not make it home. While this tragic loss is palpable in the stories shared by elders, knowledge keepers, and families who experienced it, we are also reminded by those who share them to work together towards more hopeful futures for Indigenous children and youth.”

Superintendent Pelley shared, “Let us commit to supporting and nurturing the leadership potential of our youth by being engaged in cultural education such as this amazing event. I urge you all to learn and recognize the importance of future youth leadership in Indigenous reconciliation. Let us invest in growth, listen to their voices, and amplify their impact. Together, let us forge a future where reconciliation is not just a goal but an inherent part of who we are.”

The Powwow Master of Ceremony continued after the remarks and defined Powwow as “gathering” and shared that everyone’s job was to gather and connect together in relationship. He asked us to turn to a person near us and share introductions. In this way, he emphasized that we met someone new and this is the purpose of the Powwow.

As the day continued, the Powwow Master of Ceremony shared games such as, “Everyone with two different colors of socks, come running into the middle of the arena for a prize. He would then check to see if those who ran there really had two different colors of socks on. Then he distributed some gifts.

As the morning continued with games and dance, homemade bannock was also distributed to guests.

SKSS Music Department's first post-Covid School Show

Fri, 10 Mar 2023 17:00:00 GMT

The SKSS Music Department is super excited to hold its first post-Covid SKSS school show and is celebrating the music department's musical successes with the school population. Even though the term two students have only been playing together for four weeks, they sound amazing, and are ready to showcase their talented kiddos!

Grade 10 student, Jakob Stobbe, says, "We are going to show our peers that we put tons of effort into what we do. Our jazz band students and our teacher are dedicated to 7 am rehearsals and we aim to sound amazing! The nerves for a school show are intense...we are playing for the people we try to build relationships with. There is more room for judgement, so we want to do really well."

Five ensembles performed for staff, students and parents on Thursday, March 2^nd at 11:30 am in the school gymnasium. The show highlights the strength of SKSS music students and celebrates their musical successes.

The Concert Band 9 performed "Batman, Generations" and "Louie Louie," while the school choir sang two jazzy numbers with members of the jazz band's rhythm section including, "Send Down the Rain" and "Jazz Cantate."

The Sr. Concert Band performed, "The Simpsons" and a beautiful earthly soundscape number called, "EarthDawn." The Jazz Combo performed "Afternoon in Paris" and the SKSS Jazz Band ended the show with, "Moves Like Jaggar," "Take five," and a funk number called, "Buckjump."

Grade 11 student, Alex Corke, shares, "It's exciting to play for our peers, knowing that the majority of them are not able to hear what we are working on every day in our classes."

Grade 11 student, Helen Percy, shares, "There's a higher judgement factor to play for your peers, so it's exciting and nerve-wracking at the same time."

Board Notes from Oct. 28, 2019

Wed, 13 Nov 2019 17:15:00 GMT

From the regular meeting of the Board of Education. All about student leaders focus on diversity, Aboriginal Education Report, a date for cake, and a new assistant superintendent. Read Board Notes here.

BC Anti-racism K-12 Educator Network Summit

Thu, 02 Nov 2023 15:45:00 GMT

Over the last two years, SD73 has actively participated in a provincial working group to develop an anti-racism plan at the provincial level. Last spring, District Principal Bowden and Assistant Superintendent Mochikas presented on the anti-racism work they have been doing in SD73. They highlighted their efforts which included developing and purchasing resources, developing lessons, promoting student voice, reporting acts of racism, helping school teams respond to acts of racism, and developing videos to help educators understand components of discrimination and racism.

District Principal Bowden and Assistant Superintendent Mochikas undertook several key initiatives within SD73. They established an Aboriginal Student Leadership Council, and Student Equity Committee to provide a platform for students to share their experiences and perspectives, particularly focusing on those who also participated in the Student Diversity Summit, where 168 students in grades 6-12 convened to discuss their lived experiences with discrimination and racism.

“Student voice is an essential component of anti-racism as it empowers students to drive change, challenge institutional biases, and foster inclusive and equitable educational environments,” shared Director Bowden. “Nothing about us without us.”

They actively participated in coordinating an Indigenous Summit that brought together students from twelve different districts (SD73, SD53, SD19, SD67, SD22, SD23, SD74, SD58, SD83, SD73, SD8, SD93). The purpose of this gathering was to engage in discussions about racism, student mental health, and culture in schools and to collaborate on strategies for addressing this while empowering one another. They developed two videos, Aboriginal Leadership Council and Aboriginal Student Leadership Summit, geared towards educators. These videos stressed the importance of creating safe and inclusive spaces for Aboriginal students, allowing them to see themselves represented in their learning, and educating non-Aboriginal students about the true history of Canada.

The Aboriginal Student Leadership Council contributed to the planning of the Aboriginal/SOGI Mental Health Summit, an event that focused on the well-being and support of Aboriginal students, 2SLGBTQIA+ students, and their allies.

“I’m proud of the leadership SD73 students are providing to peers, educators and support staff. These students are helping District staff create more inclusive spaces where every student knows they are valued and can be proud of their identity,” said Assistant Superintendent Mochikas.

Educators and students from school districts across the province came together for the BC Anti-racism K-12 Educator Network Summit held on October 26-27, 2023. District Principal Bowden, along with Coordinator of Aboriginal Education Chelcy Ross and students Elli Ross, Mikey Friesen, and Dakoda Kelm, participated in this provincial event where they not only had the chance to listen to speakers and representatives from a few districts but also had the opportunity to make presentations themselves. They shared the two videos, talked about their experiences, and answered questions. All summit participants provided feedback after each session and this information will help shape the Ministry of Education and Child Care’s Anti-Racism Action Plan.

“The summit was very important to me as I knew it would make a difference despite how it was only two days. I'm glad I was given the chance to be there along with others who were passionate about anti-racism,” shared Elli Ross, Grade 9, School District No. 73 (Kamloops-Thompson).

Thank you to Assistant Superintendent Mochikas and District Principal Bowden for creating an equitable and inclusive environment that prioritizes student well-being, providing a space for students to feel safe, have a voice, and be heard.

Numeracy at Sun Peaks Elementary

Fri, 27 Sep 2019 16:45:00 GMT

Third-year Principal Mike Johnson described the unique, rural context of Sun Peaks Elementary, which was the venue for the regular meeting of the Board of Education on Monday, Sept. 23.

The school’s 99 students are equally distributed between grades, supported by five full-time teachers, one part-time teacher, one CEA, an AEW one day a week and a secretary based at Heffley Creek Elementary.

The students, with a variety of learning needs, are all working towards a key learning goal to develop and improve foundational skills; specifically, in numeracy and literacy.

“With these skills, we will promote inquiry and critical thinking to solve problems in real-life situations,” Johnson said.

To set the stage for improving numeracy, Sun Peaks teachers are part of the District Numeracy Project. Learning from District math coordinators, Sun Peaks teacher leaders bring share their learnings with other staff.

Professional Development for numeracy began Sept. 23. Numeracy strategy can involve using number talks, group discussion and group thinking exercises with whiteboards, using games and activities, using questions with low entry points, but a high ceiling or using a variety of strategies to solve one problem.

Under close scrutiny by the board, Emily Fell and a team of Sun Peaks students demonstrated how a variety of strategies could be used to solve the same problem. Each of the five students found the solution to 8 + 9 with different strategies that included counting with cubes, and using pictures, a number line, near doubles and creating tens.

Celebrating the 44th Annual Young Authors' Conference in SD73

Fri, 28 Apr 2023 20:00:00 GMT

Mike Carson, Deanna Brady, Tricia Persad

We are celebrating the 44th annual Young Authors’ Conference in SD73! This conference celebrates and supports students’ strengths and passions for literacy, which is central to our Intellectual Development Priority in the 2022-2027 District Strategic Plan.

Over 275 Grades 4 through 12 students attended writing workshops at Thompson Rivers University on April 28. Their creative writing manuscripts were also collected and considered for recognition and the Marg van Dusen Award. Every submission will be published in an online anthology.

We had an amazing selection of professional authors and illustrators who facilitated hands-workshops that inspired young writers and helped them build their confidence and skills. Presenters Caroline Adderson, James McCann, David Bouchard, Darren Groth, Sarah Suk, kc dyer, Miranda Krogstad, JJ Lee, as well as local educators Kel-c Jules and Anthony Michel, shared their stories and provided helpful strategies for putting pencil to paper.

In each of the three sessions, students were immersed in different aspects of the craft of writing and encouraged to explore various genres and techniques, from poetry to autobiography. Grade 4 and 5 students, for instance, were treated to an interactive workshop with Anthony Michel in which each student designed a “personal paddle” they could use as a metaphoric springboard for their writing about their own personal journeys. Meanwhile, secondary students played with language–including a mini rap-battle–with Miranda Krogstad, honed their writing skills using techniques from improv theatre with kc dyer, and wrote terrifying ghost stories with J.J. Lee. There was definitely something for every writer in these engaging workshops.

The manuscripts were especially strong this year, and the Young Authors’ Conference organizing team enjoyed reading each and every submission. We are pleased to recognize the elementary and secondary recipients of the Marg Van Dusen Award:

Laycee Herman, a grade 4 student from Aberdeen Elementary, for the mature and insightful story, “The Branding.”
Shaelyn Christie, a grade 12 student from Valleyview Secondary, for the suspenseful psychological thriller, “Humanity.”

We would also like to recognize the following students who received honourable mentions for their creative writing: Zoe McCall, Geneva Wereley, Georgia Kelly, Megan Pretorius, Ondrea Wooley, Ciera (Asher) Earle, Payton Shields, Ashlee Crawford, Mylo Simcoe, and Georgia Morris. Well done!

A BIG thank you to the dedicated school contacts who proofread manuscripts and assisted with registration details so students could attend this unique conference. This event would not have been possible without you.

A Great Finish to SD73's Battle of the Books

Fri, 12 May 2023 21:45:00 GMT

It was an exciting finish to the Battle of the Books elementary reading motivation program this year! 28 schools participated in the program, and nine schools made it to the District Battle hosted on April 27^th at the Henry Grube Education Centre.

The Grade 3/4 battle ended in a three-way tie between Rayleigh, Bert Edwards, and Pinantan - with Rayleigh taking the Battle trophy in a final tiebreaker. The Grade 5 battle also ended in a tie with Arthur Stevenson beating Juniper Ridge. The Grade 6/7 battle was especially exciting as a one-person team from Pinantan Elementary took the battle trophy after acquiring an impressive 25 out of a possible 30 points! When asked how he prepared for battle, Travis from Pinantan says that he reads every day, often one book per day! Congratulations to all the teams that participated this year!

Watch for next year's Battle of the Books titles which will be posted soon on the Battle website - just in time for summer reading! Check out the Battle of the Books website for more information about this exciting reading motivation program.

Thank you to the teachers-librarians, staff and volunteers, and to Andrea Wallin, District Library Learning Commons Coordinator, for making this important annual event possible.

Superintendent's Update

Fri, 14 Apr 2023 22:30:00 GMT

Dear Parents and Caregivers:

I hope that you have had a good week back following the long weekend. In April, we are focused on stories about humility (Grandfather Teaching) and wellbeing (core value) in the 2022-2027 District Strategic Plan.

Juniper Ridge Elementary School

Principal Steptoe and Vice Principal Mangell walked with Trustee Hickson and I to share the learning happening in school. We started in Kindergarten where Mr. Lukow was reading aloud a picture book to Ms. Champness’ students. In the next Kindergarten class, Ms. Semesock was sharing a school-wide activity developed for the Day of Sucwentwe?cw (Acknowledging One Another) in the school. The school-wide activity was for every student to share who they are in drawings and text, and their composition was to be posted on a bulletin board along with all other classes. Each grade had a specific color and animal related to one of the seven Grandfather Teachings in the District Strategic Plan. It was a wonderful activity that was embraced by students and staff, and it showed how everyone was immersed in this year’s Day of Sucwentwe?cw theme– “Courage to Explore and Embrace Your Identity Which Involves Connection to Family, Community, and Culture,” which is based on the First Peoples Principles of Learning and Aboriginal Worldviews and Perspectives.

Ms. Mulholland’s Kindergarten class was sorting shapes, and when I stopped to ask one student what her favorite shape was, she said, “heart” because it means kindness. Ms. Sears’ Gr. 1-2 class worked with Ms. Gorman (Teacher Librarian) to study resources about different animal habitats. One group was just finishing their habitat of the Macaroni Penguin. As we continued, Ms. Plut’s Grade 1 and Ms. Storozak’s Gr. 2 classes were working on their identity circles using a range of materials including gluing beads. Ms. Klassen’s Gr. 3 class was engaged in “Daily Five” which involves students in diverse literacy tasks including reading stories, writing stories, and composing identity circles, to name a few.

We went to the gym to see the pictograph activity that had been led in a lunch time club by Mr. Laboucan (Aboriginal Education Worker). Mr. Laboucan also posed for a picture with Trustee Hickson because he had given Trustee Hickson his tie some years ago. Both spoke with kindness and gratitude for the other, which underscored the importance of relationships in nurturing individual and community wellbeing.

Mrs. Murray’s Gr. 7 class was investigating electromagnets and ultraviolet rays. We also met Peyton Morrissey, the Gr. 7 student who had won the District’s artwork contest for the Day of Sucwentwe?cw. Peyton shares her design and explanation of it on the Juniper website. To end our walk, we visited Ms. Water’s Gr. 7 class who were working on their identity circles, Mr. Richard’s Gr. 4 Math class who were forming equal sets, and then Mr. Kershaw’s Gr. 5-6 class.

Valleyview Secondary School

Principal Carmichael, Trustee Hickson, and I began our walk at lunch time. We first stopped in the kitchen to see Ms. Rife and Ms. Dinsdale who had just finished cooking with students to make bannock for the entire school. As we continued, Ms. Price and Ms. Sommer were working with students on a calzone and bannock cooking activity. They explained that they involve their students in wellbeing activities that give back to their local community – “class recycling” and “coffee and cart” projects, to name a couple of examples. While we stood in awe at what these staff members had co-created for their school community, each staff member shared their work as part of what they do rather than seeing their efforts as extraordinary.

Students were practicing in the hallway for the “A Wop Bop-A-Loo-Bop” musical, and Ms. Daniels graciously worked with the cast to do a rehearsal number (dance, singing) from this play. Ms. Daniels had shared that Ms. Magliocchi is also the director involved in preparation for the performance. It was truly fantastic to see.

We ended our walk in Mr. Paravantes’ class in which he was working with a teacher candidate, Mr. Caleb Rempel. This was an illuminating visit. Mr. Paravantes shared how students have been modifying spheros with an adreno to make a robot that senses objects and changes course.

Mr. Rempel shared that he had been an electrician for over a decade before deciding to leverage his skills and knowledge as an educator. He was most excited to share how he helped the students to make an IOT network. He also described how he helped to use 3D printer technologies and laser printer technologies for new designs of typical objects. He shaped an organizing tray that they had made for a number of staff and students. They also shared beautifully designed feathers that had been cut from leather. Mr. Parvantes explained that his class is premised on “waste nothing” and “fix everything” as a mantra. They host a “repair cafe” in which they fix broken items brought into class.

Homestay Families

In our school district, we value our International Student Program, which depends on having homestay families who are willing to have students live with them as the students attend one of our district schools. We appreciate all that our homestay families do for International students as they create home environments that support students’ wellbeing- physically, socially, emotionally, and physically. To learn about becoming a homestay family and the rich experiences of these families, Read more.

Heavy Metal Rocks

As we start the weekend, students who have taken part in the Heavy Metal Rocks Program will have their awards recognition event on Saturday. This program provides opportunities for students to explore career choices as heavy equipment operators in a variety of industries. Twenty six grade 11 and 12 students from SD73 will have experienced operating heavy machinery with one-to-one guidance and mentorship from a certified operator from April 12-15. Thank you to Director Kienlein who shared that Principal Ron Collins, supported by Ms. Debbie Isenor, and the Heavy Metal Rocks Committee of staff members and industry partners took on the leadership to implement this program that offers students more choices for career pathways.

We are so fortunate to have so many staff, students, parents, and community and industry partners who work together to inspire students to thrive every day. Thank you for all that you do every day to ensure that our students and staff stay well and enjoy learning. Have a good weekend!

Rhonda Nixon, PhD

Superintendent

Superintendent's Update

Fri, 05 Nov 2021 23:30:00 GMT

Dear Parents and Caregivers:

As we enter the week before Remembrance Day, it is timely to reflect on all of the people who served and sacrificed for our country. Our schools are engaging in creative, virtual and some face-to-face Remembrance Day Celebrations. To see what our schools are doing, check our website.

Take Our Kids to Work Day

The 27th annual Take Our Kids to Work Day took place on November 3rd and involved 250,000 Grade 9 students in Canada. Grade 9 student, Ashton Forsey, spent his day with his mom, Dawn Forsey, Executive Assistant to the Secretary-Treasurer. To read more about Ashton’s day and how others experienced it, go to this link.

South Sa-Hali Elementary School

Ms. Susie Mabee, principal of South Sa-Hali Elementary School, highlighted the work of Mrs. Leah Clare, Vice Principal. Ms. Mabee said, “This is Mrs. Clare’s idea to engage students in real world Math problems of the week.” Students choose to solve low- to high-level problems and put their solutions in an envelope. Mrs. Clare stated, “I always check their responses for their thinking, not just whether it is right or wrong.” Students who have correct responses have their names entered into a draw for prizes and a chance to have their pictures displayed.

Dufferin Elementary School

Mr. Gord Cumming, Principal of Dufferin Elementary, honored his students and his guests by drumming and singing the Welcome Song.” His drum was a gift from Mr. Felix Delorme, an Aboriginal Education Worker who recently retired from Marion Schilling Elementary School. Mr. Cumming shared, “I have learned so much from Elders and Knowledge Keepers about how to integrate First Peoples Principles of Learning into everyday life." He emphasized how he seeks to model being a learner who is not afraid to make mistakes. He explained, “I seek to bring something positive to the lives of others every day.”

Communicable Disease Prevention Plan

K-12 Sector Guidelines for Vaccination Policies

On Monday, October 25, 2021, the Board of Education passed a motion to direct the Superintendent to establish a committee to gather data and evidence in alignment with privacy laws (step one) as a starting point. Our committee prepared a survey to learn about staff perspectives of a Vaccination Policy. The survey is administered from Nov.5-12. The Board will receive the report with survey results after that date.

Thank you for taking time to remember those who served and sacrificed in our country on Remembrance Day. Enjoy learning together virtually and in person about those who include our parents, grandparents, and great grandparents. We thank those who have served Canada, and those who have made significant contributions to commemoration.

Rhonda Nixon, PhD

Superintendent

Locally Reviewed Novels

Thu, 13 Feb 2020 17:15:00 GMT

Now in its second year of a pilot, the Novel Review Team is pleased to share a Locally Reviewed Novels webpage. This intranet webpage is intended to highlight engaging literature and provide teachers with information to help them decide if the novels support their instructional goals, have literary merit, and are suitable for their students. These reviews are written for teachers by teachers. View over fifty titles, learn about the process, and to find out how to request a novel review. Watch for a slide deck too.

Locally Reviewed Novels

For further information or questions contact:

Andrea Wallin awallin@sd73.bc.ca

TriciaPersad tpersad@sd73.bc.ca

Building Resilience with Wheelchairs at Marion Schilling Elementary

Wed, 30 Jan 2019 17:00:00 GMT

When Jennifer Jones, a Grade 3 Teacher at Marion Schilling Elementary School, noticed her students applying lessons about resilience they learned from her friend Stu Wymer to their daily challenges, she knew she had to share.

“Students began taking what they see in Stu and what kind of person he is and how he focuses on what he can do instead of what he can’t do, and what’s amazing is they were able to transfer this approach to their own lives,” Jennifer said. “So if they were stumped in Math, for example, they would say, okay, I can’t do this, but here is what I can do. And they would keep at it until they solved their problem.”

Now the whole school has spent some time with Stu, a wheelchair advocate and user injured on the job in 2007. Stu now works to break down accessibility barriers and assumptions about what life is like in a wheelchair. He was active before his injury, and he remains active playing numerous sports including rugby, basketball and sledge hockey.

“It’s letting kids know that just because you are in a wheelchair it doesn’t mean you can’t stay involved in all kinds of sports and doing whatever you want to do,” said Stu.

There are eight wheelchairs available as a resource to elementary teachers in the district who want to teach empathy and a new approach to physical education in the district. The resource is booked up this year however, because it is a very popular program. It is also the only one of its kind in British Columbia, according to SD73 Health Promoting Schools Coordinator Sherry Stade. It has been in place for eight years.

“We offer this program in partnership with the Rick Hansen Foundation,” Sherry said. “It is a new kind of physical literacy, so that instead of looking at disability we are developing a new physical ability that is inclusive, and empathy building.”

Sherry said she has never seen anything more engaging or that builds empathy and awareness as when wheelchairs are brought into a physical education class.

“It’s a very joyful thing,” she said.

SD73 also offers 15 wheelchairs for secondary students in partnership with Kamloops Adaptive Sports (KAS), and booking these chairs involves negotiating transportation for the chairs to the school and working around dates when they are needed by KAS. For more information about using wheelchairs as a resource in the district, email Sherry.

For more information about bringing Stu into a classroom, email Jennifer.

Hairstylist Industry Dinner

Fri, 03 May 2024 20:15:00 GMT

Story provided by Sheila Brown, District Coordinator - Trades and Transitions

In the 2022-2027 District Strategic Plan, students who are exploring hairdressing are learning about one possible career pathway, which is the Career Development Priority.

On Wednesday evening, the Fourth Annual Hairstylist Industry Dinner was held at Norkam Secondary and the La Bella Saints salon. Kamloops-Thompson School District is a designated training provider under Skilled Trades BC, allowing students to complete the Hairstylist Foundation in Grade 11 and 12. The Hairstylist Industry Dinner supports students in the program as they prepare for their 300-hour practicum, working in local salons. At the dinner, students meet and begin to work with leading-edge stylists from across Kamloops and the region. The dinner is not only a highlight for the students in the program, but also one of the challenges they will conquer, learning in a post secondary training program while still in high school. This is often the first time they will have done any networking, job search, self-promotion, or even sat in a business environment with adults in their chosen profession. This Hairstylist cohort, like all those before, have big jitters and great anticipation before the dinner. As they faced this challenge with courage, humility, and respect, they grew to feel a sense of euphoria and accomplishment following the dinner. The excitement of the evening is contagious as students prepare for this exciting practical opportunity within the Hairstylist Foundation program at NorKam.

If your child is interested in attending a program like the Hairstylist Foundation, they should speak to their Trades and Transitions Coordinator. With prior arrangements, the NorKam salon, LaBella Saints, will host students for job shadow opportunities to explore the program. The best time to apply is in Grade 10, but accommodations might be possible for students applying in Grade 11.

SD73 Takes Pride in Our Learners

Mon, 26 Aug 2019 21:30:00 GMT

The SD73 banner carried by district staff during the Kamloops 2019 Pride Parade says it all from our perspective.

"Pride parades and celebrations are important gathering places to support people as they navigate their own unique journey of self-discovery and acceptance,” said Vessy Mochikas, SD73 District Principal, Inclusive Education. “This process is made easier with supportive parents, networks and resources.”

While this is not always a reality for all LGBTQ2S+ youth and adults, Pride parades build a sense of community and serve as opportunities to celebrate identities and diversity.

At its May 13th meeting, the SD73 Board of Education unanimously voted to support staff and students who wish to walk under the SD73 banner in a show of support for diversity and inclusion in the district. About 40 SD73 administrators and staff, together with family members and current and past students, walked in the third annual parade in Kamloops on August 26.

“Parades are meant to build community and celebrate allies and support networks, as well. We want to show LGBTQ2S+ youth and adults that they are not alone. We are sending the visible message that all of our students are supported and accepted for who they are,” said Mochikas.

View our SD73 Pride parade photo gallery

Hard Work Pays Off for New Health Care Assistant Grad

Thu, 07 May 2020 15:15:00 GMT

NorKam Senior Secondary Grad Mylee Rydoell couldn’t have timed it any better. She couldn’t have known, when she signed up for the Health Care Assistant program in grade 11 that she would step out of the classroom and straight into her career, but that’s what happened.

When in-class instruction was closed down in BC March 17 due to COVID-19, she was in the midst of completing her training in the SD73 Health Care Assistant certification program.

“I finished my practicum on March 17, graduated on March 31, and I started working full-time as a health care assistant on April 1,” she said. “I’m working the night shift, 11 PM to 7 AM, four days on, four days off, and as much overtime as I can.”

Rydoell decided in grade 10 that she would enroll in the program for her grade 12 year. In addition to having already graduated grade 12 with the completion of this program, she has earned this post-secondary certification through Thompson Rivers University, which allowed her to step right into the workforce as an accredited Registered Care Aide (RCA).

“These programs make a difference,” said Rob Wielgoz, SD73 District Vice-Principal, Trades and Transitions. “There’s no question students have to work hard to get to where Mylee is, and she has had to prioritize getting a head start on her career over spending time with her peers in high school, but she’s taken advantage of a great opportunity and she’s earned her position in the healthcare industry.”

The Trades and Transitions Program, also known as TNT, offers high school students numerous opportunities to earn post-secondary skills and credits during their grade 11 and 12 years.

Rydoell knows she is one of the lucky ones, even though her ‘luck’ means she is continuing to work hard.

“I’m going back to school in the fall, but I will keep working,” she said. “I want to continue studying in this field, and my eventual goal is to become a cardiologist.”

Some TNT students have had their learning put on hiatus through the pandemic.

“It depends on the program,” said Wielgoz. “Some students are able to complete their training online, including the Health Care Assistant and Early Childhood Education programs. Others, like the trades programs, have been put on hiatus and those students will have an opportunity to finish up their training in the fall – we have an agreement in place with Thompson Rivers University to let them complete their programs at this later date.”

Mental Health Literacy for Parents

Tue, 23 Apr 2024 15:15:00 GMT

Presented by Andrew Baxter, MHL Project Lead

This interactive session is intended for parents, caregivers and people who work with youth. Good mental health starts with an understanding of the brain and its primary roles. Key concepts in establishing and maintaining positive mental health in children and teens will be introduced.

Topics will include:

Stress and our responses to it
Promoting positive mental health
Signs of mental illness
When and how to access help

This free workshop will be held via Zoom on Wednesday, May 15, 2024, from 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM. If you are interested in attending, you are asked to register here. Following your registration, you will receive the link to the meeting.

Access mental health information for parents and students at: www.mentalhealthliteracy.org

Mental Health and Wellness In Action

Fri, 12 Nov 2021 21:45:00 GMT

A strong focus on mental health and wellness within the SD73 student and staff community was emphasized at the Nov. 8 Board of Education Meeting.

Deanna Brady, District Principal of Inclusive Education, along with her team comprised of Sherry Stade, Healthy Schools Coordinator, and Charmayne Wilson, SD73 Aboriginal Resource Teacher on the Land, discussed the importance of bridging the knowledge gap in mental health literacy with continuity of learning and utilizing a combination of age-appropriate content with the intention to empower students to address mental health needs.

“When we talk about mental health, or mental well-being, we mean the ability to cope well with the challenges and opportunities that life brings us,” explained Stade.

“About 70 per cent of psychiatric disorders can be diagnosed between the 12–25-year age range, following the onset of puberty. Generally, they affect about 20 per cent of young people,” Stade continued.

Stade and Wilson have worked tirelessly to provide appropriate curriculum to teachers that can then be delivered to specific age groups in the classroom.

“When common language is shared between educators, their students, families, and the community, our ability to care for youth significantly improves,” Stade said.

Specifically, Stade and Wilson have re-envisioned the Circle of Courage, a framework for positive youth development, originally created by Dr. Martin Brokenleg.

Focusing on the four components of mental health literacy consisting of belonging, mastery, independence, and generosity, Wilson was able to indirectly translate each concept using Secwépemctsín, the Secwépemc language, with a plan to deliver the concepts to grade 5 students around the district.

By using the values of the Circle of Courage as a framework to practice positive personal development and resiliency, students will begin noticing the interconnections with themselves, with others and with nature. To date, 22 schools have registered to participate in the virtual series.

Trustee Diane Jules commended the team on their work and the connection to Indigenous material: “I think the more we tune in to how First Nations People are with themselves, traditionally, our well-being around us, and what the land brings to us, [the better]. That’s how we start out with our little ones - simple ways of understanding our connections, and a lot of it has to do with the land.”

Vessy Mochikas, Assistant Superintendent of Inclusive Education, further highlighted the importance of checking in on students and staff, especially given the recent events that have impacted our community, not limited to COVID-19, the discovery of remains of 215 unmarked graves at the Kamloops Indian Residential School, and this summer’s wildfires: “We check in on each other, we check in on our youth, and we connect with families. We also realize that there are professionals outside of classroom teachers like school and family consultants, and Aboriginal family counselors, who will do some of that primary work, and always refer out to those clinical specialists for the deeper work that’s needed.”

SD73 Indigenous Parent and Caregiver Engagement Session #2

Thu, 07 Nov 2024 19:00:00 GMT

Bernice Jensen from the Kamloops Aboriginal Friendship Society will share information about their programs and lead a Christmas Dreamcatcher making activity. Additionally, Lii Michif Otipemisiwak Family and Community Services will be giving a presentation.

Refreshments, including coffee, tea, and treats, will be provided.

This free workshop will be held at the Henry Grube Education Centre (245 Kitchener Crescent) on Tuesday, December 17, 2024, from 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM. If you are interested in attending, please register in advance here.

Make SD73 The Best It Can Be

Thu, 14 Oct 2021 17:00:00 GMT

Education and the future of our schools is important, to all of us, and we want to hear from you.

SD73 is currently in the process of writing a new strategic plan, which will act as a roadmap for the future of our schools, and we want our plan to reflect the values and voices of our many communities. In this first phase of the process, we hope you will share your thoughts about where we are, how we are doing, and where we need to go next.

Our vision is to be a dynamic school district by achieving success for all students through a commitment to equity and excellence. Help us get there.

To register and complete the survey, click here. The survery closes on October 22.

Youth Work in Trades Deadline Approaching

Tue, 14 Sep 2021 22:00:00 GMT

For high school students thinking about career options, maybe $1000 and a few high school credits will help with the decision process.

According to Kerry Gairdner, District Vice-Principal of Career Programs with School District No.73 (Kamloops-Thompson) there is no time to waste if high school students want to make the most of their work experience and an opportunity to earn credits towards graduation.

Deadline to register is September 29. Formerly known as the Secondary Apprenticeship Program, the Youth Work in Trades provides skill development through practical, hands-on work experience.

“Students who have spent time working alongside a certified tradesperson can make those hours really pay off,” said Gairdner. “Maybe the job was in a kitchen, or on a construction site, or with a landscaper, or salon. There are so many ways students could have earned hours that would help them qualify.”

Students can talk to their school's Trades and Transitions coordinator, or email Kerry Gairdner at kgairdner@sd73.bc.ca.

Summer jobs qualify if they:

Were with a certified tradesperson and involved work related to a trade
Were covered by WorkSafe B.C.
Provided a paycheque or honorarium

120 hours worked = the equivalent of a high school course (4 credits) to a maximum of 4 courses (16 credits)

River as Classroom

Wed, 16 Oct 2019 16:00:00 GMT

Bert Edwards Science and Technology students enjoyed clear skies and sunshine as they participated in an outdoor classroom day on the North Thompson River Oct. 11. They spent the day moving through learning stations set up by community groups, industry and businesses. They learned river science, stories, and how this river and valley are reflected in Secwepemc culture.

“Sometimes we don’t always realize what’s happening in terms of the life and the cycle of the river,” said Bert Edwards Principal Frank Law. “This gives students a broader perspective of life at the river and throughout the community.”

SD73 Board of Education to Elect New Chair

Mon, 27 Jul 2020 18:00:00 GMT

Kathleen Karpuk announced she will be stepping down as the chair of the Kamloops-Thompson Board of Education, effective July 27, 2020.

Karpuk will remain in her role as a trustee.

“I have accepted a full-time position with the Ministry of Forests Wildfire Branch,” Karpuk said. “I have learned a great deal during my term as chair, but as I take on this new position I will have less time to carry out the extra duties required by the board chair.”

Elected chair in November 2018, and acclaimed to the position again in November 2019, Karpuk has served as a trustee since 2008 (re-elected in 2011, 2014 and 2018). She and her husband have three children enrolled in Kamloops schools. Along with being a trustee, Karpuk is an executive with the Kamloops Tsunami Swim Club and volunteers as an official at swim competitions.

The election for the board chair will be held at a special Board of Education meeting July 27, at 7 pm.

Board Notes from August 30, 2021

Thu, 02 Sep 2021 16:00:00 GMT

From the regular meeting of the Board of Education. Find out about prepping for Back-to-School and Project Definition Report for Pineview Valley Elementary. Read Board Notes here.

Superintendent's Update

Sat, 23 Nov 2024 00:30:00 GMT

Dear Parents and Caregivers:

This was a special week of students and staff celebrating change and looking ahead to new possibilities. Secondary students started to get Grad pictures, Grade 10 Indigenous students spent a day at TRU to see what it would be like in post-secondary, and staff at Brocklehurst shared how they had turned their courtyard into relaxation space as part of their transition from a middle to a secondary school this year. Nurturing Relationships/Connections and Well-being, and committing to Sustainability are important values in the 2022-2027 District Strategic Plan, and our stories this week show how we live these values.

Brocklehurst Secondary Builds Community and Connection in the Courtyard

When I visited Brocklehurst Secondary School, I noticed that a space that had been used for raising chickens had been turned into a courtyard.

During the change from a middle (Grade 7-9) to a secondary school (Grade 8-12) this past year, the staff and students worked together to reimagine their school spaces in order to nurture a sense of belonging.

Principal Perry shared, “We wanted to create a sense of calm with a new colour scheme and refreshed spaces that had a secondary feel.”

As a way to help with this transition and contribute to a positive new school culture, Brock Art Teacher, Steen Karpluk, had an idea to transform an old courtyard just off the art room into a fun and inviting space especially designed for students to connect with each other.

“I set up a courtyard space over the summer in order to create a place that students could call their own,” shared Steen Karpluk. “Over the summer I posted on a few Facebook groups looking for old patio furniture, decor, and games. I got a huge response, and was able to pick up almost everything for free. Students use the space to eat, play games, and hang out during mornings, lunches, breaks, and after school – my own classes sometimes use the courtyard as an alternative work space. It was important for me to create this space at Brock as our school was lacking many spaces that are FOR the students and we don't have a lot of outdoor seating, so I figured that this covered both of those bases.”

The courtyard, which was previously rarely used, is now filled with various seating areas, games and activities, plants and decorations, and students – thanks to generous donations from community members and the Brock Lions Club. Having a space of their own has made the transition easier for some students as it gives them a sense of belonging and connection. Since the start of the school year, students have been using the courtyard to hang out with friends between classes, play games, do homework, or work on art projects for Mr. Karpluk’s classes. Read more.

SD73-TRU Annual Indigenous Transitions Day to Post-secondary – November 19, 2024

I enjoyed starting my day on Tuesday, November 19, 2024 with Grade 10 students from secondary schools across our District.

As students began to enter into the large conference space at Thompson Rivers University (TRU), they could look at the booths set up along the side of the room.

Career Education Coordinator Sheila Brown and District Vice Principal Kerry Gairdner shared the different career pathways available to students while also providing them with information for further study when they left the day and wanted to reconnect with one of them to ask questions later on. Other booths from TRU invited students to learn more about arts, trades, nursing, business, and the Indigenous Development Program.

This year’s event started with a welcome and opening prayer from Elder Doe Thomas. Following the opening prayer, she welcomed each school individually, encouraging students to cheer for each other. TRU Indigenous Education Supervisor Jason Blair welcomed the students to TRU and talked about what a welcoming place TRU is. He also encouraged students to try things outside their comfort zones – expressing that he wasn't overly comfortable public speaking but was doing it today.

Mike Bowden, District Principal of Indigenous Education, encouraged students to take full advantage of the Transitions Day activities in order to starting thinking and planning for their future: “Grade 10 is a really important year, this is when you need to think about your future and what you’re taking in school and how you are engaging in your studies so that you have an opportunity to attend post-secondary, if you choose, and take all the knowledge to help with the future of the land, your peoples, and your communities. This is an important and formative year which is why you’re here today. You are here today to connect with TRU and to experience a post-secondary campus. The choices you make now will impact your choices when you graduate in three years.” Before moving into the day’s agenda MC Drew Rose encouraged students to be brave and ask lots of questions, sharing, “You are the future, this is a big step for you, learn as much as you can today.” Read more.

Students Discover Law Careers with TRU Law Faculty – November 15, 2024

Each year, the District Career Development Department partners with the Faculty of Law at Thompson Rivers University (TRU) to host a career exploration event for students interested in learning about the exciting opportunities of working in Law. On Friday, November 15, 2024, 45 Grade 10-12 students from schools across the District participated in Discover Day: Discover the Law to learn about careers in the justice system. Read more.

Girls Explore Trades and Technology at TRU – November 20, 2024

Throughout November, the District Career Development Department has been celebrating National Career Development Month with various career exploration and transition events. This week, trades-based career opportunities were promoted at Girls Exploring Trades and Technology. On Wednesday, November 20, 2024 48 female students in Grades 6-9 got hands-on experience in a variety of trades at the School of Trades and Technology at TRU, including welding, plumbing, electrical, and heavy duty mechanics. Read more.

Career Programs Parent and Caregiver Information Session – November 27, 2024

Next week, on Wednesday, November 27, 2024 from 6:00 pm–7:00 pm, District Vice-Principal of Career Programs, Kerry Gairdner, will host the Career Programs Information Session to provide information about the variety of District Career programs and events that are available to students. Read more.

Sníne Elementary Community Engagement

Disposition of Property Community Engagement

The potential sale of three properties had been a focus of broad consultation. Over the past few weeks, we have hosted a community webinar (watch it here) and gathered feedback through a community survey. The survey is now closed and the feedback collected was presented to the Board at the Regular Public Board Meeting on November 18, 2024. We have now submitted the results of consultation and the report on required information to the Ministry of Education and Child Care. There is now a minimum of a 90-day process for the Ministry to consult. To stay up to date on this consultation process, go here.

Board Notes

To learn more about the Regular Public Board Meeting on November 18, 2024, please feel free to read the Board Notes here.

Have a lovely weekend and enjoy getting outside as we start to experience winter weather.

Rhonda Nixon, PhD
Superintendent

Board Notes from April 7, 2025

Fri, 11 Apr 2025 19:00:00 GMT

From the regular meeting of the Board of Education. Find out about Barriere Secondary School, Commencement Schedule 2025, and Early Learning and Child Care Annual Report. Read Board Notes here.

Kamloops-Thompson School District Welcomes Executive Assistant and Secretary to the Board of Education - Chelsey Boissonneault

Thu, 11 Jan 2024 17:00:00 GMT

The Kamloops-Thompson Board of Education welcomes Ms. Chelsey Boissonneault as the successful candidate for the role of Executive Assistant and Secretary to the Board of Education.

“We are looking forward to working with Chelsey who has extensive experience as an executive assistant and secretary to councils, boards, and executive staff within the Kamloops-Thompson region and the Northern region of BC,” said Board Chair Heather Grieve.

Ms. Boissonneault identifies as Métis (Plains Cree and Treaty 7), a western European settler with mixed Indigenous ancestry living on the unceded territory of Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc Nation who was born and raised in Kamloops and returned 11 years ago to work and play in our beautiful region.

She has 15 years of combined experience as an administrative assistant. She recently served as executive and planning assistant with board and council secretarial duties for the Thompson-Nicola Regional District and provided coordination and administrative support for Development Services, Community Policing and Civic Operations for the City of Kamloops.

“I look forward to working with Ms. Boissonneault who has had an accomplished career and references indicating that she is highly collaborative and professional,” shared Superintendent Dr. Rhonda Nixon.

"I am honoured to be selected for this role as the Executive Assistant and Secretary to the Board," Ms. Boissonneault said. "I look forward to working collaboratively with such an ambitious, responsible, and forward-thinking group of professionals to help foster the well-being of our community and support opportunities for growth and learning in safe environments that encourage students to thrive."

Ms. Boissonneault begins her appointment on January 15, 2024.

Get Your Summer Music Plans Going

Tue, 26 Mar 2019 20:45:00 GMT

Now that Spring Break is over and the end of the school year is in sight, it’s time sign up for the Kamloops Interior Summer School of Music (KISSM). Early bird registration ends March 31. The Kamloops Music Collective is a local, grassroots, non-profit society that has offered music programming like the Kamloops Interior Summer School of Music for youth in our community for over 40 years.

“KISSM is a three-week music camp. It is an intensive music experience for kids,” said Kim Mangan, Executive Director, Kamloops Music Collective. “But when kids come to KISSM they find more than music. They make friends, they are finding mentorship, and they are finding new direction for their lives.”

KISSM runs from July 8 – 26 this year, offering over 50 classes, activities and performance opportunities to youth ages 5 – 18. Details about KISSM classes, how to register and how to apply for financial assistance can be found on the Kamloops Music Collective web page: https://www.kamloopsmusiccollective.info/kissm

Thank you for support this unprecedented year

Fri, 26 Jun 2020 17:45:00 GMT

Dear parents and guardians:

We have closed the books on a school year that has seen us working together in unprecedented ways. The efforts parents and staff have taken to keep each other and our students safe is inspiring.

Your kind and patient approach to supporting your child and your teacher has not gone unnoticed, and I wish to thank you for everything you have done to ensure students and staff are safe. While we do not know what September will bring, we anticipate having more students in class on September 8, based on recommendations from our Provincial Health Officer, Dr. Bonnie Henry.

In consultation with the Provincial Health Office, the Ministry of Education has developed a five-stage approach for operating schools depending on the risk of transmission of COVID-19. We will continue to be in touch with the Ministry of Education and Provincial Health Office over the summer months to plan for a safe reopening of schools. The District has developed specific plans for safely operating schools at each of the Ministry of Education’s five-stage plan. This ensures we can adapt quickly if changes are advised by the Provincial Health Officer.

SD73 is committed to keeping you well informed of the plans for September and ask that you watch for updates on school and district websites and through the email address you provided your school.

For additional details from the Ministry of Education and the BC Confederation of Parent Advisory Councils please read the June 25, 2020 Letter to Parents. We also request that you contact your school principal if you have any questions related to the health and well-being of your child.

Thank you once again for your patience, support, and understanding as we work together to ensure the health and well-being of all.

I wish you the best of everything that summer can bring.

Kukwstétsemc

Alison

Fire Response Phase Two Rests with Maintenance Crews

Fri, 25 Oct 2019 16:45:00 GMT

Getting displaced learners and staff into the Happyvale building by Christmas is going to be a great present for everyone involved – in particular, for the SD73 Maintenance and Building department.

“We have had every hand on deck since March when the decision was made to renovate Westsyde Elementary in time for this school year,” said Jim McFadden, maintenance and building manager.

The department is used to major projects, in any given year they may install several portables, build a few new playgrounds, replace HVAC systems and upgrade fire alarm systems. But this year has seen the crews tackle several years’ worth of major projects in the span of 9 months.

“There was some advance notice to reopen Westsyde Elementary,” said Art McDonald, maintenance and transportation director. “We were able to schedule the project and knew that the significant volume of work required would mean we had to defer many of the smaller, non-urgent tasks that we typically do day-to-day throughout the district.”

And Westsyde was opened on time. McFadden said the team was looking forward to getting back to regularly scheduled maintenance across the school district. Getting caught up on painting, installing whiteboards, and the myriad of requests that come in through the department‘s service ticket system.

But the exterior paint was barely dry on Westsyde Elementary when a fire destroyed Parkcrest Elementary School on Sept. 5. Without missing a beat, maintenance and building crews kicked into hyper response mode.

Almost every step involved in getting students back into classrooms quickly has required the touch of SD73’s maintenance and building crews. That includes helping with moving, renovating NorKam Senior Secondary to accommodate TREC, renovating TREC for Parkcrest students, moving two new portables to the George Hilliard site, renovating the Happyvale building and moving five new portables into that site.

UPDATE: Oct. 29, 2019 - Installation of new portables has begun, with the arrival of the first portable at the site Oct. 29.

“This continued, immediate response, with little to no time for planning, means we are relying on the years of experience of our highly skilled personnel (both management and trades), to provide effective solutions as fast as possible,” McFadden said. “All while maintaining those high standards that the district has become accustomed to. The work really shows the depth and capabilities of everyone.”

McFadden said all available resources have been poured into meeting the district goals to ensure people are not displaced for too long. The Happyvale project is on track to be completed by Christmas.

“I think we’ve done amazing work. I’m shocked when I see how much we have done, and how fast.” McFadden said the pace remains intense and while he knows his department is working to meet the goals of the district, he’s aware a lot of people across the district are waiting for maintenance work in their schools to be completed.

“It will be sometime after January before we will be able to get back to regularly scheduled maintenance, and that list is long,” McDonald added. “That means it may be a while before we can get things back to normal.”

3 Free Ways to Keep Students Reading This Summer

Wed, 26 Jun 2019 22:45:00 GMT

Summer is an important time for students to keep reading. It maintains and even improves their language skills, and it helps prevent the ‘summer slide’, or summer reading loss. Numerous studies show when students read during the summer break, it pays off for them all year.

There are a lot of ways to make reading fun during summer months. Here are three free ideas:

1. The Bright Red Book Bus

From July 2 to August 23, the Bright Red Book Bus (BRBB) will be visiting schools and parks around Kamloops. Children are invited to tour the bus, and choose a book to keep, each time they visit. There are a lot of great new titles available this summer. There will be storytelling, and stories read with children. The schedule for the BRBB is posted below.

The Bright Red Book Bus is a partnership between School District No. 73, LinK (Literacy in Kamloops), The Boys & Girls Club of Kamloops, The United Way, Play Kamloops, CML Properties, The Toronto Dominion Bank, The Government of Canada and the Columbo Lodge and Italian Cultural Center.

2. 2019 BC Summer Reading Club

Check out your local Thompson-Nicola Regional Library. This year’s theme is Imagine the Possibilities. From July 2 to August 18, children are encouraged to read every day and record their reading in a booklet. They receive stickers for books read and enter draws for prizes. They begin by registering. For more information, check out this poster.

3. Online books

Online books work well when children are on the move, and they can be engaging. Here are some resources that share books for free:

Unite for Literacy is an ebook for early readers. These books are about real-life experiences and they are illustrated. All books are in English, but you can listen to them in many other languages including French. Registration is not required.

Oxford Owl is an ebook library for ages 3 – 11. Titles come from Oxford’s popular Biff, Chip, and Kipper Stories and Project X, and they include an audio option. Registration is required but the service is free.

Wonderopolis has short, interesting nonfiction articles about all sorts of scientific topics older children may be wondering about. Each wonder has a brief, engaging video to introduce the topic. Registration is not required.

Bright Red Book Bus Summer Schedule July 2 – August 23, 2019

Weekday	School Location	Time
Mondays	Kay Bingham	10 am – noon
(July 8, 15, 22, 29 & August 12, 19)	Bert Edwards	1 pm – 3 pm

Tuesdays	Marion Schilling	10 am – noon
(July 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 & August 6, 13, 20)	Dallas	1 pm – 3 pm

Wednesdays	Arthur Hatton	10 am – noon
(July 3, 10, 17, 24, 31 & August 7, 14, 21)	Dufferin	1 pm – 3 pm

Thursdays	AE Perry	10 am – noon
July 4,11,18,25 & August 1, 8, 15, 22)	Arthur Stevenson	1 pm – 3 pm

Fridays	Lloyd George	10 am – noon
	PARK (see park schedule below)	1 pm – 3 pm

Fridays	Park Location	Time
Friday July 5	Prince Charles Park	1 pm – 3 pm
Friday July 12	Full Circle Youth Centre (1104 Kamloops Way)	1 pm – 3 pm
Friday July 19	McDonald Park	1 pm – 3 pm
Friday July 26	Brocklehurst Park	1 pm – 3 pm

Friday August 2	Pineview Valley Park	1 pm – 3 pm
Friday August 9	Riverside Park (Ribfest)	1 pm – 3 pm
Friday August 16	Albert McGowan Park	1 pm – 3 pm

Celebrating the Work of the Transportation Department

Fri, 18 Oct 2024 17:00:00 GMT

Story provided by Dr. Rhonda Nixon, Superintendent

In the 2022-2027 District Strategic Plan, the Board is committed to ensuring the system operates well through efficient, sustainable services (Systems Development Priority). Today, I want to highlight the work of the Transportation Services Department through the leadership of Director Sherry Kristjanson.

Our District covers more than 27,000 kilometres and busses about 4,700 students more than 9,100 kilometres every day. We have 62 regularly scheduled bus routes and six inclusive education buses. Our transportation department is one of the largest provincially. They accomplish such extensive travel daily, safely, and with very few interruptions because of the excellent work of 97 professional bus drivers, six Certified Education Assistants (CEA) who support students who have diverse needs, 10 shop staff, three office staff, an assistant manager, and Director Kristjanson. Transportation staff are located in Kamloops, Barriere, Clearwater, Chase, and Savona.

What Inspired Sherry to Lead in Transportation

As the Transportation Director, Sherry described her role, “I am here to support every individual in our department to be the best that they can be, and I need to make sure that they have all of the tools that they need to accomplish that.”

Sherry is proud of helping bus drivers who do rural routes which can be difficult and she communicates with them regularly. She was especially proud to share that she was able to get roads sanded and signs on the road (Do Not Pass When Lights Flashing) based on her close working relationship with the Ministry of Transportation. If there are problems at a school, Sherry comes to the school or location to be directly involved in the solution.

Sherry is inspired to lead transportation services because of her desire to ensure that students are safe when they travel to and from school every day. When she has an opportunity to positively notice the good that people do, her favourite part of her job is noticing that people are doing what they are supposed to be doing and she is able to recognize them.

Bus Drivers

Over 4,000 students start their school day by stepping foot onto the school bus. They depend on bus drivers who are trained to drive safely, and importantly, who connect with students on a human level by saying hello and goodbye, and by checking in. We are thankful to have driver roles filled daily and to have a reliable roster of relief staff.

As I discussed what makes bus divers successful, Sherry explained, “Three times a year, bus drivers participate in training about student management, winning students over, and practising real life scenarios to problem solve.” The result of recruitment and support of the development of bus drivers results in drivers feeling prepared and liking their jobs:

“Our workplace is the most supportive environment I have ever worked in.” – Warren James, School Bus Driver

“I love my job for many reasons that include my love of driving and working with great people that are like-minded with the safety of our passengers as first priority and that have many interesting stories to be shared. I enjoy being part of a positive start and end to the student's school day.” – Frank Luca, School Bus Driver

“Feels like family and driving a school bus is not just a job: it's a privilege to inspire and shape the future one mile at a time.” – Darrell Hanna, School Bus Driver

“I like working for School District #73 as a bus driver, it keeps me engaged with a responsibility to show up on schedule. I find it is a very dignified position which carries a big responsibility of safe passage from home to school and back. And with that I earn the respect from the parents I see at the stops along the way as they see their kids get on my bus everyday, there has to be a lot of trust there. I respect that it’s an honour. And hopefully I can be a good influence on some of my passengers, when I hear them say ‘That’s my bus driver’ it makes my day.” – John Haggarty, School Bus Driver

“We get to spend time with students and make sure that they get to and from school safely and happy every day.” – Celina Anderson, Relief CEA

“The best part of working with the Transportation Team is knowing we all have the same goal, and we love doing it. From the mechanics to CEAs we do our best for the kids and their families. The students' smiles are always heartwarming and rewarding.??” – Nikki McMurray, CEA

“It's wonderful to be part of a team that wakes up every morning to peacefully and calmly perform the orchestrated task of transporting students to school happy and safe.” – Kathi Bussey, CEA

Shop Staff

Sherry shared, “We have our new shop foreman Richard Horning, and he has been with the District for 23 years as a mechanic. He assigns and assesses the work, does inventory, shipping, receiving, and is on the floor when he needs to be. He supervises mechanics and an auto body technician who handles all rust repairs, chipped windshields, seat repairs, replaces windows, and a tire tech/wash bay who makes sure buses are clean and have proper seasonal tires. Shop staff work together to ensure the smooth operations of the bus garage.”

“I am a mechanic at SD73. I have worked for the District for 20 plus years. I started here because of the benefits and work environment, as in I enjoy the people I work with past and present. I feel good knowing that I do my part in keeping students and coworkers safe. That is why I have been a long-term employee with SD73.” – Lance McCauley

Office Staff

Dispatcher Brendan Macauley monitors bus routes, assigns field trips to bus drivers, and he replaces bus drivers that need relief. He makes their jobs better because they trust and like him. They go to him, and he is often their first point of contact. If a bus breaks down, he will help by arranging for another bus.

Transportation Clerk Lynn Neufeld processes field trips and payroll so it is ready for action. She prepares invoices to be signed. She helps people with other paperwork, and she posts routes daily indicating which buses are not available for service and repairs. She does the reconciliation, supports tasks in the office and keeps everyone organized. Lynn shared, “The best thing about working in our department is the people I work with. Such a fun, respectful, and caring environment. I enjoy coming to work!”

Regional Steno/Dispatcher Tina Tobin supports the community of Clearwater with their school bussing needs. Tina monitors bus routes and assigns field trips to bus drivers, and she replaces bus drivers that need relief. She also processes field trips and payroll so it is ready for action. She supports everyone in the transportation department and keeps things rolling. Tina shared, “I enjoy being part of a team who is more like family. We all work together to ensure that students are safe while we transport them.”

Assistant Manager Stephen Clarke supports Sherry with his technical skills and addresses student behaviour with principals. He is responsible for the student safety program and became a certified driver trainer. Sherry emphasized, “It has saved us because we do not need to bring in anyone else to do our training.” Stephen has also trained other staff members to assist with student training. Stephen shared, “As the Assistant Manager, it's fulfilling to support a dedicated team that ensures our students' safety to and from school every day.”

The Transportation Department enables students to travel to and from school and district events safely and efficiently. Sherry is proud of her team, and shared, “I am honoured to be working with such a large group of dedicated professionals. We are all like-minded and want the same thing for our students.”

2022 February Short-Film Festival: Respect For Diversity

Wed, 26 Jan 2022 19:30:00 GMT

As parents, you are invited to participate in the 2022 February Short-Film Festival: Respect For Diversity. This festival is a community-building activity dedicated to engaging learners in conversations about the important role diversity plays in the development of rich, caring, and inclusive cultures.

Diversity brings strength to our communities; we are stronger together. Our culturally rich and diverse community recently showed a resilient spirit by pulling together to support one another through some challenging times to rebuild and strengthen our neighboring communities. These acts of humanity – taking care of each other – reflect hope and demonstrate the compassion that lives within our region.

As we begin to understand ourselves, we grow as learners and humans. Through reflection, with patience and kindness, we develop our identity. As we acknowledge the differences and strengths around us, we build connections to our community.

To participate in the Short-Film Festival alongside your child, click on the file below to access each film of the day for the month of February. Enjoy!

SD73 Sagebrush Book Awards Reader's Choice/Reading Motivation Program - SD73 Students Have Spoken

Fri, 02 Jun 2023 17:00:00 GMT

Andrea Wallin, District Library Coordinator

Literacy is part of the Intellectual Development Priority of the 2022-2027 District Strategic Plan. To inspire students to share their love of reading and to have fun together, we have the Sagebrush Book Award Program in which grades 4-7 have taken part in voting for their favorite texts.

This year, we are pleased to announce this year's winners of the SD73 Sagebrush Book Awards (K-7)! Elementary students selected The Barnabus Project by the Fan Brothers and Two Degrees by Alan Gratz as their favourite picture book and novel from the SD73 Sagebrush Book Awards list of (16) popular titles.

"This new reading motivation program was a huge hit with students at AE Perry," says Teacher-Librarian Rick Rhynolds.

Rhynolds shared some of the program highlights below -

"In the Fall I read/shared each of the picture books with all students that I meet with in the library. We also did follow-up/extension activities with each of the picture books, which really made the storylines come alive for the readers. In May, voting was done as a secret ballot in our "polling" station where students just dropped a coloured square ballot (that matched the book they like best) into the ballot box that we had set up. Then we just counted the coloured square ballots and recorded the results as a running record. I created a chart to show the final school results with the students. It was lots of fun and the residual effect has been that students are still hyped about the books and are still signing them out." (Rhynolds, AE Perry and Dallas TL).

Highlights

19 schools participated
419 individual student votes and 17 group/class votes
participation across the grades
close results=quality/engaging books
many Canadian books selected=Canadian author/illustrator promotion

What's Next

June:

A poster highlighting the top three "picks" from 2022 - 2023 will be delivered to schools this month
Two book plate stickers will be delivered to schools this month. NOTE: Please add the book plate to the inside cover of Two Degrees and Barnabus.
TLs, please share this information with staff and students!

September:

2023 - 2024 titles will be launched and shared with schools in September! Check out https://sagebrushbookawards.weebly.com/ for more information. *Thank you to the Sagebrush Book Awards Team for reading and reviewing new books all year long and thoughtfully making title selections!
2023 - 2024 complimentary titles, one of each (16 titles in total), will be delivered to elementary schools in September, along with bookmarks and posters. *Thank you to the C & I Dept. for providing funding for this special program.

Thank you for participating in this new reading motivation program! We are excited to continue to promote these new picture books and novels with SD73 students and staff.

Happy reading!

Andrea Wallin

On behalf of the SD73 Sagebrush Book Awards Team

Secondary Schools Unite for the 7th Annual Food Drive

Mon, 15 Dec 2025 17:15:00 GMT

Story provided by Chelsea Isenor, Director of Communications and Board Administration

For the past several weeks, four Kamloops secondary schools have turned friendly rivalry into meaningful community impact by collecting thousands of pounds of food to support the Kamloops Food Bank and raise awareness about food insecurity in our community.

Students and staff at Valleyview, Westsyde, Sa-Hali, and South Kamloops secondary schools joined forces for the 7^th Annual Secondary School Food Drive. What started as a student capstone project 7 years ago has turned into an annual food drive that has made a significant impact on our community by helping families in need during the holiday season.

Beyond the competition, this food drive is a rewarding and powerful learning experience. By focusing on giving back and exploring the realities of food insecurity, students are reminded of the importance of community, how much they are grateful for, and that every contribution, no matter the size, matters and makes a difference.

On Thursday, December 11, the Kamloops Food Bank visited each school to pick up and weigh their total food drive donations. This year, all four schools combined donated 4,916 pounds of food (beating last year’s total of 3,217 pounds), which is the equivalent of $17,900 worth of food.

To ensure a fair competition between schools, the winner each year is determined by donations per student. This year’s winner was Westsyde Secondary School who collected a total of 1,729 pounds of food which equaled 2.25 pounds per student. Valleyview Secondary came in second, collecting a total of 2,054 pounds of food donations (1.76 pounds per student), while Sa-Hali Secondary (468 pounds) and South Kamloops Secondary (669 pounds) also collected a significant amount of food donations.

The Annual Secondary Food Drive is more than just a friendly competition—it is a reflection of SD73’s commitment community, connections, and District's core value of Equity. By working together, students are removing barriers throughout our community and contributing to a diverse, inclusive, caring, and sustainable society.

Superintendent's Update

Fri, 01 Apr 2022 23:00:00 GMT

Dear Parents and Caregivers:

As we prepare to return to school on Monday, April 4, 2022, I am welcoming each of you back and sharing updates from the Ministry of Education.

On Thursday, March 10, 2022, Provincial Health Officer, Dr. Bonnie Henry announced changes to safety measures for K-12 schools, which are detailed in the Provincial COVID-19 Communicable Disease Guidelines for K-12 Settings. These changes started on the first day of Spring Break, which was March 21, 2022 in our district. Employees who worked over Spring Break will have had a head start on students and staff who will experience these changes upon return to school after Spring Break on April 4, 2022.

Summary of Safety Measures:

Continue daily health checks, stay home when sick, and practice hand hygiene and respiratory etiquette.
Return to classroom and learning environment configurations and activities that best meet learner needs and preferred educational approaches. We will consider strategies to create space between people.
For events with visitors in schools (e.g., parent/caregiver spectators):

- Should not exceed 50% capacity and proof of vaccination should not be implemented while the PHO Gatherings and Events Order is in place.

- When the PHO Gatherings and Events Order is lifted (expected end of day April 7, 2022), we can return to 100% capacity.

Follow routine sign in/sign out practices. Schools do not need to keep a list of the dates, names, and contact information of visitors for communicable disease prevention purposes.
Continue field trips, and schools should make every effort to avoid venues/locations that place additional requirements that could prevent a person from being able to participate. If the trip cannot occur otherwise, schools can require participants to confirm they are able to meet additional requirements (e.g., are able to provide proof of vaccination).
Wearing a mask or face covering is a personal choice. A person’s choice is to be supported and respected. If you have been travelling internationally, please see the explanation as to requirements for masks in schools as provided by the Ministry of Education.

On March 28, 2022, Deputy Minister Zacharuk communicated the following information about International Travel Requirements with respect to wearing masks after travel:

Following Return to Canada from international travel, staff, students, and families are responsible for understanding and adhering to all COVID-19 international travel requirements outlined by the Government of Canada, including those required following return to Canada.

Requirements currently include that adults and children (aged 5 and older) who travelled internationally must wear a well-constructed and well-fitting mask in indoor and outdoor public spaces, including K–12 schools, for the first 14 days after entry. This means wearing a mask at schools is not a personal choice for those who have travelled internationally for 14 days after entry.

Adults and children must also monitor for symptoms for 14 days after entry and follow federal requirements for self-isolation and quarantine if symptoms develop and/or they test positive for COVID-19. When there are differences between federal and provincial rules, individuals must follow the stricter rules. Full details on requirements for travellers are available here.

In addition to this ministry update, community use of facilities will be reviewed and communicated next week.

I hope that you have enjoyed your time over the last two weeks, and we look forward to welcoming everyone back on Monday, April 4, 2022.

Rhonda Nixon, PhD

Superintendent

Fostering Mental Health and Cultural Identity

Thu, 30 Jan 2020 20:00:00 GMT

The education topic presentation succinctly summed up one of two initiatives supporting the mental health of students throughout the district.

Director Vessy Mochikas introduced Amanda Big Sorrel Horse, Aboriginal Youth and Family Consultant and Nicole Richter, a grade 11 student from NorKam who described their experiences as a facilitator and participant with Aboriginal Girls Groups.

The group for Aboriginal Girls, along with another group for Aboriginal boys are offered in elementary, secondary, rural and urban schools, the groups attracted 350 students last year.

“The purpose of these groups is to create a healthy understanding of identity within the context of cultural identity,” Director Mochikas said. “They provide our youth with opportunities to explore their experiences and challenges in a safe, non-threatening environment.”

“We provide experiences on the land, in nature, going back to our roots to enhance the youth’s cultural identity,” Amanda said, giving examples of collecting sage, building sweat lodges, participating in sweats and making drums, traditions she learned from generations of her matriarchal ancestors who grew up on the land.

There are big ideas behind the founding of the groups. Fostering social-emotional health, building each student’s sense of belonging, resiliency, and connections, connecting them to their interests and passions, and honouring the First Peoples' principals of learning and Aboriginal worldviews and perspectives.

For Nicole, the programs are about taking on the responsibility to carry on traditional and ancestral knowledge, often alongside an elder who may be leading the sweat or demonstrating how to tie a drum.

“We need to stay connected with our elders or that tradition and knowledge will be lost,” she said. “These groups are valuable in every concept. They give us a safe space to express ourselves and how we are feeling, in a judgment-free setting. Every time the group meets – it doesn’t matter where – it’s the people that make it feel like a safe haven.”

David Thompson Bike Rodeo Empowers Young Riders with Safety Skills

Fri, 20 Sep 2024 19:00:00 GMT

Story provided by Chelsea Isenor, Director of Communications and Board Administration

On Thursday, September 19, 2024, students at David Thompson Elementary School (DT) started their day learning about bike safety at the DT Bike Rodeo. This fun and educational day aimed to promote physical health and safety for a vibrant school community that values outdoor play.

“David Thompson Elementary is in a community that values and promotes children playing outside,” shared Principal Dyan Gunnlaugson. “Many students here grow up playing outside, camping, fishing, hiking, and playing sports. We view the school as an extension of the community and aim to promote physical health literacy and mental wellness.”

Students from Grades 1–7 of all abilities were invited to bring their helmets, bikes, scooters, and striders to school to participate in games and safety lesions. Partnering with RCMP, ICBC, BC Alliance for Healthy Living, local bike mechanics, and community volunteers, the DT Bike Rodeo offered four interactive stations, each designed to teach essential biking skills and safety.

At the helmet check station, RCMP Corporal Dana Napier checked each student's helmet and taught everyone how to make sure their helmet is tight enough and in the correct position to protect their heads. Once the student’s helmets were secured on their heads, they learned the hand signals for left, right and stop.

At the Bike Check station, Marty (a bike mechanic and previous president of the BMX club), taught the ABCs of bike check safety: A for Air in your tires, B for Brakes, and C for Chain. After checking their bike tires, brakes, and chains, students were ready to tackle the Bike Rodeo obstacle course.

Students went through the obstacle course on foot, bikes, three-wheelers, accessible bikes, and scooters to practise braking, turning, and manoeuvring around safety cones.

The Bike Rodeo also featured lots of fun games including a tire throw and spin the wheel.

While the games and outdoor play made for an exciting morning, many students commented that their favourite part of the day was learning about helmet safety and the ABCs of bike safety.

The DT Bike Rodeo was testament to the District’s value of Equity and commitment to removing barriers and creating environments that provide accessible and empowering opportunities for all students and staff to thrive from the 2022-2027 District Strategic Plan. Each activity was accessible to all students, regardless of ability or skill level. As Grade 4 student Ella shared “It doesn’t matter your skill, everyone can have fun riding.”

The Bike Rodeo not only equipped students with valuable skills but also reinforced the message that being active and safe while enjoying outdoor activities is essential for a healthy lifestyle.

Leaving school that day, students were eager to ride their bikes safely and confidently in their neighborhoods!

Thank you to all the volunteers who made the DT Bike Rodeo a day students will remember: Alex Inglis (SD73 Health Promoting Schools Coordinator), Ingrid (ICBC), Corporal Dana Napier (RCMP Liaison Officer), Sofie Winkels (RCMP School Resource Officer), Sim (Crime Prevention Liaison), and Marty (previous president of the BMX club).

English Language Learning in Action

Tue, 11 May 2021 20:45:00 GMT

The District’s 235 English Language Learners (ELL) speak over 60 different primary languages, the Board of Education learned at its regular board meeting May 10, 2021.

These students are entitled to five years of supported learning. Their circumstances include being:

born and raised in Canada, and their primary language is not English,
children of parents in Canada on work visas or studying at TRU,
permanent residents or new Canadians,
refugees from various countries.

The district has four ELL teachers who act as case managers for these students, coordinating with teachers, administrators and parents to provide services and support.

“The best part of our roles is working directly with students,” said Lori Nelson, ELL teacher. “We meet weekly with students in small groups or individually.”

Students are encouraged to retain their cultural identity and their primary language while embracing Canadian culture and values.

Lucas and Lily An are examples of ELL students who were provided support for five years.

“Life in Canada was very hard to adjust because we have such a different cultural background,” said Lucas. “We had a lot of difficult times even just understanding in English but also at school to speak and to actually fit into this society.”

“The most challenge I had at school was trying just to fit in,” said Lily. “We were the only Asians in our school, which took us a while to get used to.”

“We also had a lot of positive experiences in school and that is mostly linked to teachers who took the time to support us for language,” said Lucas. “They help us fit into friend groups, and also those friends who were understanding and those who took the differences as something unique.”

“The ELL teachers helped us a lot through language barriers, for example, there is no past tense in Korean,” said Lily.

Pink is for Kindness

Wed, 26 Feb 2020 19:30:00 GMT

Pink Shirt Day gives students and staff across the district an opportunity to foster inclusivity, kindness and respect.

Activities focused on building connections with each other, wearing pink shirts and talking about the significance of this day.

Pink Shirt Day began in B.C. in 2007 and it has grown into a movement, supporting youth anti-bullying programs across Western Canada. Students and staff in 20 district schools participated in anti-bullying and kindness programs throughout the month of February.

For example, Savona Elementary decorated pink paper t-shirts, made a mural and planned for an open house in early March where they will demonstrate their learning with parents. Rayleigh Elementary practiced random acts of kindness, added blooms to a kindness tree, and exchanged positive notes. Twin Rivers Education Centre is promoting and participating in the Diversity Film Festival. Logan Lake Secondary has been making draws for kind acts, Pacific Way Elementary is holding a two-week kindness challenge, and Sun Peaks Elementary is participating in a month of kindness activities including a slogan contest, diversity videos and a kindness photobooth.

Watch this space for weather-school bus- updates

Mon, 07 Nov 2022 21:30:00 GMT

Weather-School Bus-Advisory: Parents and Caregivers, please watch this space for updates regarding bus transportation in the SD73 Kamloops-Thompson district. We are watching the weather and staying in touch with transportation authorities. As you know, no school busses are running today. We'll keep you posted by sending advisories as needed regarding the impact of weather conditions on bus schedules for tomorrow.

Recognition for Former Superintendent

Mon, 17 Jun 2019 22:45:00 GMT

Karl deBruijn, an educator and leader who spent 40 years with the school district received an honorary degree from Thompson Rivers University. The Doctor of Letters, honoris causa was in recognition of his longstanding commitment to advancing education at the elementary, secondary and post-secondary level for all learners in the region.

His career began in 1977, teaching for 10 years, serving as co-ordinator and then principal and administrator of the McQueen Lake Enviromental Education Centre, and as principal of George Hilliard and Parkcrest schools. He was CEO and superintendent from 2016 until he reitred. He has served as chair of teh TRU Board of Govenors and teh 2017 Special Olympics BC Summer Games and as past president of the Kamloops YMCA/YWCA board. Watch his acceptance speech, below.

SD73 Anti-Racism Poster Contest

Fri, 17 Mar 2023 16:30:00 GMT

SD73 students participated in the second annual Henry Grube Education Centre Library Learning Commons Anti-Racism Poster Contest in February.

The goal of the poster contest was to encourage students to celebrate and honor diversity and multiculturalism in School District No. 73. Our theme this year encouraged students to reflect on how diversity makes our community stronger.

“This project offers opportunities for school-wide conversations about racism. It also encourages staff and students to celebrate the cultural diversity that enriches us collectively. I am so excited to see so many students get involved in this project and learn from their reflections,” stated Andrea Wallin, HGEC Library Learning Commons Coordinator.

Student Mya Burnell also reflected on the learning experience:

"What came to my mind when I was doing my art is that everyone belongs. It doesn't matter if you are a different colour, shape, or size. You are human and you are important" Mya Burnell (Pacific Way Elementary).

Three posters were selected to use as title pages for new HGEC Library Learning Commons Teacher Resource booklets.

Congratulations to Thanisha Thanisha (AE Perry), Mya Burnell (Pacific Way), and Shayla Chadwick (Westsyde Secondary) who have been awarded book prizes for their submissions. All posters will be displayed at our upcoming Anti-racism Student Leader event later in March. Additionally printed copies of posters will be available for interested schools.

Thank you to Andrea Wallin, SD73 Library Learning Commons Coordinator, for connecting us to our Cultural and Identity Development Priority in the 2022-2027 District Strategic Plan.

Essential Grad 2020 is Underway

Thu, 28 May 2020 18:30:00 GMT

Grads began crossing the stage at Valleyview Secondary this week as schools across the district prepare to host their commencement ceremonies following strict safety protocols.

Individual families are attending mini-ceremonies over a five-day period at Valleyview, with video crews present. This process will continue for all grads in SD73 until the end of June, and videos for each class will be posted as they are completed.

We visited Valleyview on day two, to see how things were going.

New Accessible School Bus Joins SD73 Fleet & Expands Equity in Transportation

Wed, 28 Jan 2026 19:30:00 GMT

Story provided by Chelsea Isenor, Director of Communications & Board Administration

A new accessible school bus is on the road this week, transporting students in Kamloops and expanding equitable field trip transportation opportunities in the Kamloops-Thompson School District.

The full-size, 56-passenger school bus is equipped with one wheelchair space and a seating bench featuring two harnesses for students who require extra support. Unlike the district’s existing accessible buses—which are only available for field trips between 9:15 am and 1:15 pm—this new bus will operate on a regular scheduled route. This change significantly expands the hours during which accessible transportation can be booked for field trips, opening availability from 8:30 am to 2:45 pm.

By integrating an accessible bus directly into the daily route system, the district is reinforcing that accessible transportation is a standard part of operations, not a separate or specialized offering. This approach supports the District Strategic Plan value of Equity by working to remove barriers and create environments that provide accessible and empowering opportunities for all students and staff to thrive.

“Having this bus available throughout the full school day means more classes will be able to travel to field trips together,” shared Sherry Kristjanson, Director of Transportation. “Students with mobility needs can now travel to field trips and learning experiences with their peers, without needing separate transportation arrangements.”

The addition of this brand-new accessible school bus to SD73’s transportation fleet marks an important step forward in creating more inclusive and equitable transportation options for all students.

Annual Book Serves to Honour Day of Sucwentw�cw

Wed, 16 Mar 2022 17:45:00 GMT

Every year, the SD73 Aboriginal Education Department pens a children's book that aligns with the theme of the Day of Sucwentwécw (Acknowledging One Another), a district-wide celebration that takes place annually on April 7.

This year’s book, Fox's Journey of Well-Becoming, based on the day’s theme of “Well Becoming Through Emotional, Physical, Intellectual and Spiritual Indigenous Values,” tells the story of a little fox who feels ill and decides to connect with her community for help in finding wellness.

Authored by District Aboriginal Elementary Resource Teacher and member of the Syilx Nation, Trudi Nielsen, and Illustrated by George Ignace, member of the Skeetchestn Indian Band, the book includes illustrations that can be used as colouring pages, Secwepemctsín words (Secwépemc language), as well as traditional plants local to the region along with their uses.

“The team helped me brainstorm the general idea for Fox's adventure by using the animals we already use for the District’s core competency characters,” said Nielsen. “We then decided the fox should learn something from each animal encounter like plant medicine and a daily health practice. I really wanted it to be a rhyming, fun book that would engage even primary students and I wanted students to walk away with some knowledge around everyday traditional health practices that can contribute to a sense of well-being.”

Special Kukwstsétsemc (thank you) to:

Jackie Jules, Museum Cultural Educator (Secwépemc Museum & Heritage Park)
Carolyn Anderson, District Coordinator of Aboriginal Education
Brenda Celesta, District Aboriginal Resource Teacher
Charmayne Wilson, On the Land Resource Teacher
Raven Manuel, District Indigenous Language Worker

“Fox’s little adventure was a delight to write because of the input from all of the above-mentioned individuals,” said Nielsen. “The Day of Sucwentwécw means acknowledging one another, and had it not been for all of your insights and perspectives, both Fox and I would not have been able to find our way through this journey of well-becoming.”

“I am so delighted with the final result and I am happy that George was able to perfectly draw what I envisioned into the illustrations,” said Nielsen.

Students and staff throughout the District will spend April 7 recognizing and celebrating the Secwépemc People (Secwepemcúl’ecw) and other Aboriginal people residing within the Secwépemc Territory in various ways through gatherings that include storytelling of this book and others, songs, drum circles, and other activities.

Enjoy a reading of the book by author Trudi Nielsen:

Task Force makes recommendations

Wed, 20 Jun 2018 17:15:00 GMT

SD 73 will begin work to implement Task Force’s recommendations on sexual misconduct in schools

The work of implementing recommendations designed to help and protect students who face sexual misconduct in schools will get under way immediately, trustees were told Monday.

Alison Sidow, Superintendent for School District No. 73 (Kamloops-Thompson), presented a final report from the Superintendent’s Task Force on Student Safety at the Board of Education’s public meeting. The 12-page report outlines the comprehensive work of the committee, the group’s key findings as well as recommendations that stem from the findings.

Sidow said she is extremely satisfied with the Task Force’s work, noting the recommendations will help improve the experience of students on many fronts. She added the recommendations will inform future District policies, protocols and decision-making, and improve staff training and educational programs for students. The work of developing an implementation plan and schedule will be formally developed through the summer.

The Task Force was formed in March after two parents complained to the District about unrelated incidents involving sexual misconduct and their children. The parents were concerned about the nature of the incidents and the way their complaints were initially addressed.

“I was deeply disturbed when these issues arose,” Sidow said. “The District’s intention is always to provide a safe, productive learning space for all our students and staff, and it was clear that some did not believe this was the case. I am confident these recommendations will guide us so that the District can better ensure students have positive school experiences.”

The Task Force was asked to examine District policies, protocols and practices to ensure that they consider not only actions required to prevent and address acts of sexual misconduct but also the needs and perspectives of those who are impacted.

The District invited representatives from agencies such as the RCMP, Ministry of Children and Family Development, the Kamloops Sexual Assault Counselling Centre, school and District administration, parents, the Aboriginal Education Council and the Board of Education to the Task Force.

As well as policy reviews, the Task Force consulted with local parents, students, teachers and Aboriginal leaders to hear firsthand about their experiences with education and sexual misconduct. The Task Force also sought counsel from Kevin Cameron, the Executive Director of the Canadian Centre for Threat Assessment and Trauma Response, who is a renowned subject-matter expert in the field of threat assessment and trauma response.

"The Superintendent's Task Force report is evidence of the power of multi-disciplinary collaboration in both assessing and intervening in one of the most complex issues we are facing today,” said Cameron. “This initiative will set the standard for other Canadian communities to follow as a first step in openly addressing sexualized violence."

The Task Force recommended:

• Promoting and/or creating reporting tools to ensure those who may be impacted have the means to seek out the supports they require;

• Informing the parent(s) of the policies, procedures and processes that will be used when responding to an issue of sexual misconduct, including the process a parent can follow to provide feedback, issue a complaint or request an appeal;

• Providing ongoing learning opportunities, starting at the elementary school level, to educate students about healthy relationships as well as measures they can take to report incidents or seek support;

• Defining what constitutes sexual misconduct in schools;

• Developing policies and procedures that specifically address sexual misconduct;

• Revisiting District policies that contemplate violence, harassment, bullying, intimidation and other forms of discrimination to include the definition of sexual misconduct in both intent and implementation; and,

• Reviewing response protocols to ensure that all District staff working with children know how to receive complaints in a way that respects the rights and needs of those known to be impacted.

Sidow said she believes the Task Force’s work showed that overall, SD 73 schools do a good job of providing positive, safe environments for students. The recommendations, however, will help the District address issues that arise within our schools from our society at large.

“It’s my hope that the leadership shown by this Task Force in providing these recommendations will serve our community and society at large by helping to ameliorate the underlying conditions that so often propagate these behaviours,” she said. “I hope this will report will enable us to take a definitive step forward in preventing sexual misconduct in our schools and by extension, in our community at large.”

Celebrating the Second Regional Indigenous Student Summit at TRU

Thu, 09 May 2024 16:00:00 GMT

Story provided by District Principal, Mike Bowden

On May 7, 2024, the Okanagan Mainline Regional Indigenous Education Council (OMRIE) came together in partnership with the Ministry of Education and Child Care, Kamloops-Thompson School District, and Thompson Rivers University to host eleven school districts at the Brown Family House of Learning at Thompson Rivers University.

The purpose was to provide students with opportunities to build on their conversations from last year about Indigenous Anti-Racism, Indigenous Culture in Schools, and Indigenous Student Health and Well-Being. On May 6 and 7, 2024, the focus is Indigenous-specific anti-racism.

In our school district, we have a Cultural and Identity Priority in the 2022-2027 District Strategic Plan, which depends on initiatives like the Indigenous Student Anti-Racism Summit to have honest conversations about what racism means so that we can do something individually and collectively about it. The summit provides a safe space where Indigenous students are able to express themselves within an environment that promotes cultural safety and humility, one that ensures that everyone feels safe, included, cared for, and that they belong.

The Okanagan Mainline Regional Indigenous Education Council (OMRIE) consists of representatives from eleven school districts. OMRIE initiatives aim to provide Indigenous students and staff with opportunities to share perspectives on what it means to design learning opportunities in which Indigenous students reach academic excellence in environments that are welcoming, caring, and fostering a sense of wellbeing and belonging. This council established the first Annual 2023 Indigenous Student Leadership Summit which was hosted in Kamloops on May 16, 2023 at Thompson Rivers University. The summit brought together students from schools within the Kamloops-Thompson School District and schools in ten other school districts, including SD8 (Kootenay Lake), SD19 (Revelstoke), SD22 (Vernon), SD23 (Central Okanagan), SD53 (Okanagan-Similkameen), SD83 (North Okanagan-Shuswap), SD74 (Gold Trail), SD58 (Nicola-Similkameen), SD67 (Okanagan Skaha), and SD93 (Le Conseil Scolaire Francophone). The goal was to focus on issues of importance to Indigenous youth such as Anti-Indigenous Racism, Indigenous Culture in Schools, and Indigenous Student Health and Well-Being.

“We started the morning with Knowledge Keeper Jackie Jules saying ‘children are our teachers’, and it was the children who led us in the first summit to understand their experiences of racism and in the second summit, their thoughts about how to grow a culture of anti-racism,” said Superintendent Dr. Rhonda Nixon.

At this year’s summit, students gathered to share their experiences and thoughts around the topics of Personal and Interpersonal Racism and Structural and Institutional Racism. Sharing their final thoughts at the end of a day filled with open dialogue and important discussions, students shared feedback for their school districts and the Ministry of Education that included, incorporating Indigenous teachings into everyday classes, the need and want for more cultural events, open minded and inclusive education opportunities, and more.

“We really hope that all those here today gained a feeling of honour, you have been brave enough to come out today and speak your truth.” said the student MC’s after the final presentations. “We hope you feel proud that what you said is heard by those that can input change and make the difference that you all hope to see.”

District Principal, Mike Bowden shared the final words of the day, highlighting the honour and courage witnessed throughout the day: “Our ancestors are listening, and I think they are proud of you and the work you are doing and how you are leaning into the work because it takes courage to do that. I am so proud of you for coming together and speaking your truth today.”

SD73 wins ITA Trades Performance Award

Wed, 12 Feb 2020 17:15:00 GMT

The SD73 Trades and Transitions program has won a Trades Performance Award from the Industry Training Authority (ITA) for its 2019 program. Each year, ITA awards school districts with the highest program registrations in their region. The award includes $5,000 in additional funding for its Youth Work in Trades program.

The Youth Work in Trades program allows students to begin a paid work-based training component in an apprenticeship while still attending secondary school. The program allows students to spend up to 80 per cent of their time on the job site, helping them get the hands-on experience that is essential to trades training.

“It’s an honour to be recognized for our commitment to training youth apprentices,” said Rick Kienlein, director of instruction, secondary education and learning services. “We are grateful for our partnership with the ITA, and with local business and industry sponsors, whose support and encouragement helps us provide strong, relevant trades training to connect our students with great careers.”

In addition to SD73, seven other school districts received a Youth Work in Trades Performance award. Each winning district is considered a top performer supporting trades in their region. Kienlein said a ceremony is being planned to celebrate the award later this year.

Truth and Reconciliation in School District No.73 (Kamloops-Thompson)

Wed, 01 Jun 2022 17:00:00 GMT

By Diane Jules, Trustee

June 1, 2022

Weyt-kp

I am a member of the Adams Lake Band and the daughter of a survivor of the Kamloops Indian Residential School. As a Secwepemc First Nation mother, sister, daughter, and auntie, I am proud to also be a trustee who represents the TNRD Areas L and P, the Village of Chase, and the Municipality of Sun Peaks.

It was one year ago, almost to the day, that our local, provincial, national, and international communities stopped to listen to the widely broadcast announcements of the tragic discovery of Le Estcwicwéy? (the missing).

For residential school survivors and their families, we have known the truth of residential schools for a long time from the stories of our mothers, fathers, aunties, and uncles. Hearing the truth from mayors, premiers, and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was a moment of reckoning for the world.

Since last spring, investigations across the country have found evidence of more than 1,100 missing children. While the hurt does not disappear, the public recognition of Le Estcwicwéy? (the missing) at Kamloops Indian Residential School opened up a wider conversation.

Six years ago, SD73 Board of Education had started this wider conversation when we signed the first Aboriginal Education Enhancement Agreement. It emphasized the need to increase awareness and understanding of Aboriginal culture, traditions, languages, and historical and contemporary contributions for all students and staff.

This past week, at the Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc powwow arbour on May 23, Governor General Mary Simon, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, and Kúkpi7 Rosanne Casmir stood together to honour Le Estcwicwéy? (the missing). On May 25, Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc opened their arbour to students and staff and hosted School District 73’s first district-wide powwow. Two-years in the making, having the first powwow during the same week as the anniversary was powerful for all who attended.

Being part of the powwow’s grand procession, which led the school communities into the arbour, and sharing proudly my Aboriginal traditions and culture with this generation of students was an unspeakably moving experience. My mother survived the Kamloops Indian Residential School, so, at the powwow, when Ted Gottfriedson Jr. said, “Each dance step you (students) take power away from that building.” I believe that it was. Only steps away, we could see the school as we danced, and with each step, we honoured the survivors and all of us that have been impacted by the legacy of residential schools.

We will continue to reconcile the past as we celebrate with 230 Aboriginal students from each of the regions’ schools including St. Anne’s Academy, and Skeetchestn Community School, in a district-wide graduation later this week. I was one of the four Aboriginal students in the original Aboriginal graduation celebration hosted by the Aboriginal Friendship Society in 1983, so this is another example of how we are reconciling the hurt by honoring future generations.

Being an Aboriginal person at this time within our history is quite exciting, never before have our voices ever been so loudly. Truth and reconciliation has been talked about at the table for a long time, but it is happening through district, classroom and school events, and daily conversations.

This column appeared in Kamloops This Week: View from SD73 on June 1, 2022

Board Notes from June 30, 2025

Fri, 04 Jul 2025 15:30:00 GMT

From the regular meeting of the Board of Education. Find out about Board Award of Recognition Celebration, 2025-2026 early closure dates, and field trip mileage rate. Read Board Notes here.

Beth Dye Awarded RCGS Camsell Medal

Fri, 22 Nov 2019 18:45:00 GMT

TREC vice-principal Beth Dye was recognized for her outstanding volunteer work with the Royal Canadian Geographic Society at an event in Ottawa this month. She was awarded the Camsell medal, which expresses the society's appreciation to individuals for their outstanding service.

Since 1995, Beth has served in the following capacities:

- BC Coordinator for the Canadian Geography Challenge, 1995-2000

- National Coordinator for the Canadian Geography Challenge, 2004-2016

- BC/Yukon Representative for Canadian Geographic Education, 2000-2004

- National Chairperson for Canadian Geographic Education, 2004-2010

- Chaperone for World Geography Championships, 2005-2013

- Co- chair of the International Geography Olympiad, Quebec City 2018

- Governor of the RCGS from 2004-2010 and 2013-2016

- Executive Member for the RCGS Board 2010-2013

The RCGS mandate is to make Canada better known to Canadians and to the world, particularly its natural, cultural and social heritage. The society also promotes geographic education across Canada, through its educational program, Canadian Geographic Education, which provides free geographic educational supports, products and materials to more than 21,000 member educators from coast-to-coast-to-coast.

Once a year, the RCGS College of Fellows meets in Ottawa to "celebrate all things geography."

Open Letter to the Communities of Blue River, Vavenby and Clearwater

Wed, 26 Jun 2019 18:15:00 GMT

At the regular meeting of the Board of Education, the Board expressed its regret about the closure of the Canfor mill in Vavenby and the impact the loss of the mill will have on families living in the communities of Vavenby and Clearwater. The Board agreed to waive the normal facility rental fee for the community meeting that will be held July 9 at Clearwater Secondary to discuss the impact of the closure. A letter was sent by the Board Chair confirming that schools are open and will be welcoming students this September. Counselling supports are available for students and staff who are impacted.

Students Dig Into Career Exploration at Heavy Metal Rocks 2025

Tue, 15 Apr 2025 22:00:00 GMT

Story provided by Chelsea Isenor, Director of Communications and Board Administration

For 17 years, the Kamloops-Thompson School District’s Heavy Metal Rocks program has been offering hands-on career exploration experiences for students interested in careers in trades. This annual career development event provides a unique opportunity for secondary students to explore career choices as heavy equipment operators in a variety of industries.

This year, thirty-two Grade 11 and 12 students participated from secondary schools across the District, including Barriere Secondary, Brocklehurst Secondary, Chase Secondary, Clearwater Secondary, Logan Lake Secondary, NorKam Secondary, Sa-Hali Secondary, South Kamloops Secondary, Valleyview Secondary, Westsyde Secondary, and Twin Rivers Education Centre. In order to take part in this popular Trades and Transitions program, students had to submit their application and then be interviewed by a panel of District staff and industry professionals.

From April 9–12, 2025 at the Tk’emlúps Gravel Pit, participating students gained valuable experience operating heavy machinery with one-to-one guidance and mentorship from certified operators and mentors. With 16 different stations to explore, students were able to focus on forestry or construction machinery, depending on their area of interest and career goals. As part of the program, students also received certifications in first aid, site safety, WHMIS, forklift operation, and aerial platform lift operation.

The industry professionals who train and mentor the students on heavy equipment and machinery are volunteers or sponsored by their companies who donate staff time and equipment to support the program. These operators are extremely passionate about their work and providing relevant training opportunities for students. Stu Ford is an operator who has been volunteering with Heavy Metal Rocks since 2012, taking time off work and travelling from Fort McMurray to attend every year. Stu shared, “I wish we had this when I was in high school. These kids are extremely fortunate to have this program and I make sure every one of them knows how lucky they are. I am passionate about what I do, I love running equipment for a living… so for me to be able to give that back to the kids and see kids that come up here and are excited to run it like I would be, that's what gives me the joy. I love what I do and I love being able to pass it on.”

While learning the machinery and equipment, students were encouraged to have fun, be safe, and not be afraid to make a mess so they could learn what the machines can do. Most students participating in the program had never operated heavy duty machinery before and after working at a few stations many expressed “that does way more than I thought it could.”

Willow Hart, a Grade 11 student at NorKam Secondary, described her experience at Heavy Metal Rocks as “really fun. It was interesting to be able to work on the machines with a bit of freedom.” Willow has been accepted into the Heavy Duty Mechanics program at TRU during her Grade 12 year in Fall 2025 and when thinking about her future career goals, she expressed that “operating seems like something I could have a sustainable future with later on”. When asked if other students should apply to the program, Willow said, “I would tell them to do it. You have an opportunity to win things and get job experience… Now I can say I’ve worked on a rock truck, I know the basics about excavating, and I know other things about forestry and construction.”

On Saturday, April 12, 2025, after three and a half days of on-site, hands-on learning, students gathered at the Heavy Metal Rocks BBQ and Awards Ceremony with the Steering Committee, District staff, volunteers, families, friends, and special guests including Trustee O’Fee, Trustee Hickson, and Trustee Kang from the Kamloops Thompson Board of Education. Students were presented with completion certifications and several awards were handed out to celebrate the students’ hard work and commitment (see full list of awards below).

Ron Collins, Logan Lake Principal and Chair of the Heavy Metal Rocks Steering Committee, emphasized the benefits provided to students and the committee’s hope of expanding the program to include more students in future years. “The program started with 12 students in our first year and has grown to the point now where we have 32 students participating this year, and we are hoping to grow it to possibly 40 students next year,” he shared. “The biggest thing students takeaway is that they can make an informed decision about whether or not they want to continue on as a heavy equipment operator, whether it's in the forestry stream or the construction stream. They have spent three and a half days on the equipment and got some certifications which makes them more employable if they continue on.”

Heavy Metal Rocks is made possible thanks to the Heavy Metal Rocks Steering Committee and volunteer efforts of 120 companies and sponsors within our community. There are only a handful of similar programs in the province, making Heavy Metal Rocks a remarkable career exploration opportunity for students and a valuable resource to address a growing skilled trades labour shortage. Learn more about the program here and watch the Heavy Metal Rocks video here.

2025 Heavy Metal Rocks Student Award Winners

Best Overall Student Operator, Construction: Keegan Fretz, South Kamloops Secondary
Best Overall Student Operator, Forestry: Deagen Lamarche, Westsyde Secondary
Best Overall Student Operator, Female: Willow Hart, NorKam Secondary
Best Overall Student Operator, Aboriginal: Hudson Damberger, Logan Lake Secondary
Most Improved Rookie Operator: Brodie Collins, Sa-Hali Secondary
Steering Committee Choice Award: Kileigh Foisy, Clearwater Secondary
Steve Rothman Pit Boss Award: Jayse Tinline, Twin Rivers Education Centre
Student’s Choice Team Spirit Award: Brodie Malcolm, Westsyde Secondary
Exemplary Safety Award, Construction: McKinley Journeay, NorKam Secondary
Exemplary Safety Award, Forestry: Alexzander Hedman, Clearwater Secondary
TRU Awards: Zane Biggar, Valleyview Secondary & Deagen Lamarche, Westsyde Secondary
Stobbe Rodeo (Mini-Excavator) Competition:
Fastest Female Time: Willow Hart, NorKam Secondary
Fastest Male Time: Richard Blanke, Barriere Secondary
International Union of Operating Engineers Heavy Equipment Operator Training prize: Jeremy Stein, Westsyde Secondary

Teaching the Career Educators - More than a Resume

Wed, 11 Sep 2019 00:00:00 GMT

The Ministry of Education has designated Career Development as the third pillar of Education in the newly redesigned curriculum. This means that every student K-12 will have Career Education as a course. In the ever-changing world that we live in, educators will need to help students plan for a future where they are expected to have 7-12 careers.

With many jobs, and careers not yet invented it becomes crucial to teach our students how to identify their own competencies, values, passions, and interests. While they learn about themselves they learn how to navigate into a preferred life journey so that when they leave school they are on a course towards a career and/or further post-secondary education and they understand what it means to have a life plan.

Career development is not an area most teachers have studied in university. It is so much more than filling out a resume and writing a cover letter. Our team has developed a comprehensive collection of resources and Coached our 23-teacher cohort for the past 18 months. Through release days and dinner theatres secondary teachers have been provided training for the two new courses Career Life Education and Career Life Connections and have collaborated on all the big ideas and learning standards in the curriculum. It has been a journey for them as well.

In addition to the resources created and collated the career education team has invented Career Talks and now has over 140 community people willing to come to secondary classes to talk about elements in their own job field that relate to the new curriculum. It has been a wonderful partnership with our community and over 2400 students have had a community member come to their classroom and discuss success and the hows and whys of work!

This year the Career team is focusing their efforts in supporting the Elementary division and subject area teachers in high schools. The more education becomes relevant for our students, the more they benefit from what they learn. Teachers do not teach something "just because" - but sometimes showing why things are relevant to the world of work and bringing in community specialists and partners to reinforce how important these learnings will ultimately help kids our set a trajectory for a successful future.

Summer Learning Sets Students Up for Future Success

Thu, 25 Jul 2024 16:00:00 GMT

Story provided by Chelsea Isenor, Director of Communications and Board Administration

It may be summer but learning in the Kamloops-Thompson School District has not stopped. The District’s mission of supporting learning opportunities and environments which inspire students to thrive continued into the summer months with Summer Learning opportunities designed to set students up for success in their next school year.

With a focus on the Intellectual Development priority from the 2022-2027 District Strategic Plan, in-person Summer Learning opportunities focused on literacy, numeracy, and transition strategies were offered to over 500 elementary and secondary students during the month of July.

“The main goal of summer learning is to provide additional learning support and extra practice for students who need it,” shared Paul Hembling, Summer Learning and @KOOL Principal. “It’s an opportunity for kids who need a bit more time and support to gain valuable tools and lessons that can help maximize their success as they continue into the new school year.”

Elementary Summer Learning offered Primary Summer Reading and Intermediate Summer Math programs to students at Barriere Elementary, Haldane Elementary, Heffley Creek Elementary, Raft River Elementary, AE Perry Elementary, Logan Lake Secondary, and South Sa-Hali Elementary. Throughout July, these programs provided additional time and support in smaller group settings where students could focus on subjects that may be challenging for them.

Summer Learning’s research informed curriculum was developed by District Literacy and Numeracy Coordinators to make learning fun, engaging, and adaptable for the students’ needs. Classes grouped by reading and math levels created an encouraging and supportive environment for students to learn with others at a similar level. Smaller classes created opportunities for more one-on-one instruction time to address what each child needs to improve.

Intermediate Summer Math was offered to students in Grades 4–7 who were referred by their school because they would benefit from building new skills in math. The focus was on number sense, patterns, and numeracy relationships. Math lessons that included interactive games and fun activities helped students approach math with a new mindset and confidence.

Primary Summer Readingwas offered to students in Grades 1–3 who could benefit from extra support with reading and writing. With a focus on literacy instruction and personal reading levels, teachers worked with students to help them gain more confidence in their approach to reading.

One of the main benefits of the Primary Summer Reading program is to help minimize summer reading loss that is common for students over the summer months as they aren't getting the same intense daily academics as they do during the school year. As one Summer Learning teacher shared, “usually over the summer kids slide back quite a bit in their reading and writing… [at Summer Learning] we see them having way less of a slide over summer so they come back almost as strong as they left.”

Another teacher shared that several students in her summer reading class had actually increased their reading levels over the course of summer school—crediting these gains to the intensity and focus of the learning and how students immersed themselves over the three weeks of lessons.

Not only were elementary students excited to be learning in a reading and math camp setting, they also got to visit the Bright Red Book Bus in their second and third weeks of Summer Learning. This was a highlight for many kids as they got to take home a book of their choosing, which was one more way for them to discover the joy of reading.

Secondary Summer Learning was offered to students ranging from Grade 8–12 at Sa-Hali Secondary School, plus International students from Taiwan who are part of the International Education Program. For secondary students, Summer Learning provides an opportunity to gain additional learning time to improve their proficiency level, successfully complete a course they’d prefer not to repeat next year, or upgrade a course they need for future courses or their post-secondary education.

Teacher Seana Trimble shared that students in the program benefited from working at their own pace, having more direct instruction to help with areas of struggle, and learning to look at subjects they may not enjoy in a different way. “My experience is they often leave not hating the subject as much because they’ve had a good experience.”

Students expressed that they found the Summer Learning program an easier environment to learn in because they could access more one-on-one support, had more time to focus on specific subjects, and better understood the path forward to help achieve their goals. “I don't mind coming to school when I have my own time to learn,” one student shared.

While a classroom may not always be their preferred summer location, students shared that they appreciated the teachers' support so they didn’t have to repeat a class and the understanding that they still wanted to experience their summer break. For most secondary students, their summer classes were half-day, and as one student shared “you still have summer but you also still have learning.”

Working in groups with students from across the District also meant that students could build connections and friendships with peers they relate to.

For students of all ages, Summer Learning provided a positive working environment for them to approach learning in a different way, build resilience, and focus on skills that will set them up for success as they move into the new school year. When asked how they felt about the upcoming school year, students expressed feeling more prepared after what they learned this summer—“I’m ready!”

SD73 2026 School Calendar Consultation

Fri, 06 Mar 2026 20:45:00 GMT

Dear Staff, Parents, and Caregivers,

The Kamloops-Thompson School District has started our annual review of future school year calendars and is inviting feedback from staff and families.

We encourage you to review the proposed calendar for the 2028-2029 school year, now available on the District website here. The Board of Education has reviewed the 2028-2029 draft calendar and has already approved the 2026-2027 and 2027-2028 calendars after receiving and considering community feedback last year.

Please note that Collective Agreements set parameters for the start and end of the school year, winter break, and spring break. As a result, these dates cannot be adjusted.

Please review the draft calendar for 2028-2029 here and send your feedback to jwiedrick@sd73.bc.ca by April 3, 2026.

The District Calendar Committee will meet again in early April to consider all feedback before the Board makes a final decision.

Thank you in advance for your review and input on our proposed school calendars.

Respectfully,

District Calendar Committee

Laurel Macpherson, President of the KTTA

Bev Brown, Vice President of the KTTA

Kerilynn Scott, KTTA

Dawn Armstrong, President of CUPE Local 3500

Mike Johnson, KTPVPA

John Wiedrick, Associate Superintendent

#brake4buses Campaign Gains Traction

Tue, 23 Oct 2018 17:45:00 GMT

For Sherry Kristjanson, SD73’s #brake4buses campaign is personal.

It’s personal because she’s the manager of transportation for the Kamloops-Thompson district’s fleet of 61 school buses.

It’s personal because every day one of her 80 drivers tells her about a close call they’ve had while transporting 4,600 children to and from school.

They tell her how, despite the 6-foot swing arm and the 40-foot yellow and black bus stopped at the side of the road, dozens of drivers fail to stop when a school bus has its flashing red lights on.

“Our drivers have seen some scary near misses,” Kristjanson says. “Sometimes it is because people are in a hurry, or they are just not paying attention. But it doesn’t matter what the excuse is, you have to stop when you approach a school bus that has its red lights flashing.”

To help address district's drivers’ concern that motorists seems to have forgotten a primary rules of road safety, SD73 has produced a 30 second public service announcement with Joy Factory Films of Kamloops.

The video was first released in September, but Oct. 22 – 26 is National School Bus Safety Week and the video’s message is timeless.

“It’s a powerful, impactful video,” Art McDonald, SD73 Director of Facilities and Transportation said. “But we made it to share. To share with each other, to share with other school districts. It’s an important message for all of us who care about the safety of children.”

“Kudos to SD73 for their support for bus safety and to the SD73 team who created the Bus Safety Awareness Video #brake4buses, which is a realistic depiction of what we need the general public to be aware of," said Robyn Stephenson, President of the Association of School Tansportation Services of BC. "ASTSBC has made this exceptional video available on their website and is receiving thanks from many districts for this great awareness tool."

SD73 covers an area of more than 26,000 sq. km. There are 61 buses logging approximately 8,200 kms. transporting children to and from school every day.

Superintendent's Update

Fri, 22 Sep 2023 23:30:00 GMT

Dear Parents and Caregivers:

As we continue into a lovely, warm weekend, thank you for such a positive school start up. It takes the efforts of every staff member, parent, and caregiver to support students to get to school and to be supported as learners before, during, and after school. We have so many stories about students, staff, and parents enjoying making new connections and relationships while taking part in the school and District events and activities.

Savona Elementary

Principal Scott Galloway, Trustee Cara McKelvey, and I visited Ms. Regan’s Gr. 5-6-7 class. We met with students who shared their learning about writing. Mattias (Gr. 7) was developing a story about zombies and told us that one of his favorite District events is attending “Young Authors” where he worked with multiple authors to learn about story writing. Maysa was learning about coral and writing about it.

We then went to Ms. Moore’s Gr. 2-3-4 class, where they had just finished the picture book “Stolen Words” about residential school experiences. Students were contrasting their experiences of school with what they had learned about in this book.

Sunshine, Jocelyn, and Grayson were discussing their pictures and the details that best showed similarities and differences.

In Ms. Gill’s K-1 class, they were playing a game of counting to decide who would get snacks, and she shared, “I trick them into learning even at snack time.” We visited the daycare and learned about the importance of looking to the future to consider how to provide more child care spaces.

SD73 Runs the Terry Fox Marathon of Hope

SD73 schools took part in Terry Fox runs and supported events throughout this week to study Terry Fox’s life and his dreams of raising money for cancer research, which reflected his relentless commitment to worldwide wellbeing, a core value in the 2022-2027 District Strategic Plan. He also challenged people’s attitudes towards individuals who are disabled by setting an extraordinary goal as an amputee of running over 3000 miles across Canada. To learn more about what our schools engaged in this week, read more.

International Day of Sign Languages

School District No. 73 (SD73) is committed to providing equitable opportunities for all students. This value commitment is especially important when working with students who have diverse abilities or disabilities. As we prepare to celebrate the International Day of Sign Languages on September 23, 2023, we would like to share insights into the power of sign languages, its historical roots, and its importance within the Deaf community to illuminate how equitable learning opportunities are at the forefront of our work in classrooms with students, parents, and partners of the deaf and hard of hearing community. Read more.

Howling Coyote Golf Tournament

In the2022-2027 District Strategic Plan, we are committed to connections and relationships through partnerships and events. Fifteen years ago, the Aboriginal Education Council and Kamloops-Thompson staff members collaborated on a committee to raise funds for Aboriginal scholarships and bursaries.

Thank you for all that you do to participate in and support District and school events, and to give to students and families through your roles as school and district staff, parents, and volunteers. We could not achieve our District mission without you.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Rhonda Nixon, PhD

Superintendent

Getting Ready for Grad 2020

Mon, 20 Jan 2020 18:45:00 GMT

The Class of 2020 will be the first to graduate under the parameters of the new BC curriculum.

Career development is the third pillar of education in the district. Under the leadership of Sheryl Lindquist, district principal curriculum and careers, and Allisson Badger, district career eduction coordinator, SD73 has launched an extensive coaching program for teachers to support this work and help teachers from K to 12 navigate the big ideas and content areas in career education courses. Included in this work is helping students as they develop and present their Capstone projects.

This month, secondary students across SD73 are presenting their Capstone projects to teachers and family members, where they map out what their life might look like after graduation.

“Capstone is a graduation project where students get to celebrate their learning,” said Sheila Monkman, Trades and Transitions coordinator at NorKam Senior Secondary. “Some students have done a hands-on project, and some have done a career research project in their field of interest. They are all working on their personal journey, and what their life is going to be. It is a really unique experience for them.”

These projects are now one of the requirements for graduation for a number of reasons, according to the BC Ministry of Education. Benefits are said to include increased student motivation, confidence and engagement.

“Today we live in a state of constant change,” says the BC Curriculum website. “The way we interact with each other personally, socially, and at work has changed forever. Knowledge is growing at exponential rates in many domains, creating new information and possibilities. This is the world our students are entering.”

“I think it is an amazing experience,” said Olivia Busenius, a grade 12 student at NorKam Senior Secondary. She is planning to become a nurse, and she said the project helped her better understand her strengths and weaknesses. It also gave her some perspective on the importance of budgeting.

Kyra Warren, a grade 12 student at Valleyview Secondary, is planning for a career as a respiratory therapist, and she said the financial planning part of the project was also a big help for her.

“It really helped me solidify a plan to go into my future,” she said.

The project made a big difference for grade 11 NorKam student Zoey Martin. “Doing this project was a lot harder than a lot of people would say it was,” she said. “I went from saying I was going to fail, I’m not going to do it, I’m not going to pass the class, I’m not going to graduate’, to talking to my teachers, them helping me, talking me through it, and encouraging me. I am actually really happy with my project.”

Liam Marks wants to attend TRU to become a heavy-duty mechanic. Working with his Dad, he builds trucks and cars. He had a truck on display and his presentation included photos of another truck he is currently working on.

“I think learning looks different for just about every student,” said Monkman. “By grades 11 and 12, the students are all figuring out what their own path looks like and how they learn best. The learning is really dynamic today. It is really so different from the bum in seat, row of desks that was the style when I was going to school. The kids are working in such a different manner because they need different skills than we did.”

Mapping Kamloops 2020 - SKSS Visual Arts Fundraiser

Mon, 18 Nov 2019 22:00:00 GMT

Mapping Kamloops 2020 celebrates the 14^th year of this unique opportunity for youth to represent their community through artistic vision.

“Drawing and painting students created these artworks with creativity, enthusiasm, and perseverance,” said Lisa Yamaoka, visual arts instructor, South Kamloops Secondary School. “Inspired by Becky Cooper’s Mapping Manhattan collaborative project, 52 SKSS students investigated maps as places to tell stories about their community and share their own stories as mapmakers.”

Each year students seek inspiration from a theme directly related to Kamloops by infusing learning about the community through visual art. A presentation from Adam Chadwick the City of Kamloops GIS Mapping Manager set the tone for the mapping project.

Special Thanks!

The Visual Arts Department at South Kamloops Secondary School would like to sincerely thank all the members of the school and community that helped make this project successful. A special thank you to the Community Jurors who had the difficult task of selecting images for this calendar: Adam Chadwick, City of Kamloops GIS Manager; Christy Gauley, SD73 Arts Education Coordinator; Mr. Brent Thibault, SKSS Teacher, and Mr. Scott Simpson, SKSS Vice Principal. Thank you to the SKSS PAC and the City of Kamloops Arts & Culture Engagement Group for their ongoing and generous support. Also, thank you to SKSS alumnus, Amanda Johnson, Graphic Designer, for her professionalism in bringing this calendar to print.

Typically, the SKSS project is supported by the SD73 Graphics Department but this year a change in staff left Lisa Yamaoka scrambling to find someone to pull the classes’ fundraising calendar together.

“I love Lisa, she’s awesome… she was panicking, it had to happen,” Amanda Johnson said about stepping in to help her former art teacher at SKSS with the graphic design.

Support Youthful Artists

Students are hosting a community reception Nov. 20, starting at 6:30 pm, at the Sagebrush Theatre. Mapping Kamloops 2020 Calendars and postcards are available for sale at the Kamloops Art Gallery, Kamloops Museum & Archives, The Art We Are, and South Kamloops Secondary School. Proceeds from the sales of this calendar fundraiser will support future SKSS Visual Arts student initiatives.

Kamloops-Thompson Board of Education: Excited about the Funding Announcement for a New Elementary School in Pineview Valley

Thu, 09 Mar 2023 16:30:00 GMT

By Heather Grieve, Board Chair

March 8, 2023

On February 22, 2023, the Kamloops-Thompson Board Education received a Ministry of Education and Child Care funding announcement for a new school in the Pineview Valley community.

Pineview Valley Elementary School has been on the Board’s Capital Plan since June 2018 (3rd Priority) and was our first priority in June 2021. It first appeared on the Board’s Capital Plan in 2014-2015.

We look forward to the opportunity to open a new school in 2026 that will have 456 seats (operating capacity) for Pineview Valley students. It is the second largest school after Parkcrest at 476 seats.

We are thrilled to share the good news of the much needed funding announcement by the Ministry of Education and Child Care for a new elementary school in Pineview Valley in Kamloops.

The Board of Education has been advocating for a new school in this community for multiple years. On June 14, 2022, I had sent a letter on behalf of the Board to the former Minister Jennifer Whiteside to emphasize the extreme need for a new school in Pineview Valley because McGowan Elementary School, where the majority of students in Pineview Valley attend, was at 166%.

On January 23 and 24, 2023, the board was honoured to welcome Minister Rachna Singh for her visit to Kamloops to meet with the Board and to spend time with the Aboriginal Education Council, Inclusive Education staff to learn about inclusive sexual health, and with the Student Equity Council just prior to the provincial announcement of the K-12 Anti-racism Action Plan. The Board posted the brief that they had shared with Minister Singh, which identified their capital priorities, namely the need for a new school in Pineview Valley Read more.

As we wait for the design and building process to unfold, we will continue to work collaboratively with the community to alleviate space pressures when possible until the new school is complete.

Director McDonald and his team have been working hard to expedite all aspects of this project, and Superintendent Nixon and the senior executive team have been meeting with McGowan staff and parents and will continue to meet with them to ensure that supports are in place as they await the new school.

We are looking forward to the next phase of the journey of planning, designing, and opening a new school in SD73.

This column appeared in Kamloops This Week: View from SD73 on March 8, 2023

Keeping You Informed

Tue, 10 Mar 2020 20:00:00 GMT

School District No. 73 is working closely with the Ministry of Health, the Office of the Provincial Health Officer and the BC Centre for Disease Control regarding COVID-19.

The District has plans in place to respond to this new illness, as the province is preparing for the possibility of a pandemic. We are committed to keeping parents, students and the community informed about health and safety issues.

Coronavirus is not airborne and the risk in BC remains low. Simply do the same things you would do to avoid common viruses. The best defence is to regularly wash your hands and avoid touching your face.

We will provide regular updates. Read our current update here, and download our app to receive updates as we post them. You can download the SD73 Mobile App through Apple or Android.

Information about COVID-19, including advice and guidance to schools, is regularly updated on the BC Centre for Disease Control site.

Family Day Wellness Activities

Fri, 18 Feb 2022 21:00:00 GMT

Discover various Family Day Wellness activities for Monday, February 21.

Join us for a Family Yoga class with Lacey

Designed for a family friendly experience including young children

FAMILY YOGA

Date: February 21, 2022 Time: 9am – 9:30am Location: ZOOM LINK

Join us for a family yoga class with Uncle Chris the Clown & Tammy

FAMILY YOGA WITH A BIT OF MAGIC

Date: February 21, 2022 Time: 4pm – 4:45pm Location: ZOOM LINK

Join us for Mindful Storytime with Ms. Scott

Designed for ages 2-10

MINDFULL STORY TIME

Date: February 21, 2022

Time: ANYTIME Click on links below

BREATH LIKE A BEAR – DO NOTHING MOMENT

BREATHE LIKE A BEAR – LISTEN

BREATHE LIKE A BEAR – SEND GOOD THOUGHTS

Get Ready with the Wildfire Preparedness Guide

Mon, 12 Jul 2021 22:15:00 GMT

It looks like we are in for a smoky summer, filled with news of wildfires and evacuation alerts, and the BC Government has shared a Wildfire Preparedness Guide with the District in the hope that parents will find it helpful.

“Wildfires are already happening in and around the Kamloops-Thompson School District, and some of the information in this guide might make the difference for some families,” said Dr. Rhonda Nixon, School Superintendent. “It’s important information for all of us. We need to know how to be ready on short notice, and unfortunately, we may need to maintain this readiness for much of the summer.”

The guide includes a list of what to pack in a go-bag, like phone chargers, flashlights and important personal documents in addition to food, clothes and water.

“Know your evacuation stages,” says the guide. “Understand the evacuation stages in British Columbia, and what to do for each. This will help you respond quickly and confidently.”

The guide lists each of the three evacuation stages (Evacuation Alert, Evacuation Order, Evacuation Rescind) and tells you what to do for each stage.

Some things might surprise you. For example, for an Evacuation Alert, taking down flammable curtains and window treatments and filling large containers with water (pools, hot tubs, garbage cans) can help firefighters. For an Evacuation Order, closing all the doors and turning on all the lights (both interior and exterior) makes your home visible to firefighters in heavy smoke.

In addition to having go-bags packed and staying aware of the situation in your community, you should always keep your vehicle’s gas tank at least half-full.

Board Notes from September 25, 2023

Fri, 29 Sep 2023 15:00:00 GMT

From the regular meeting of the Board of Education. Find out about Reconciliation, Inspire Kids FASD, and School Learning Plans. Read Board Notes here.

Student Innovators Represent Kamloops at the 2025 Canada-Wide Science Fair

Fri, 06 Jun 2025 17:00:00 GMT

Story provided Morgan Whitehouse, Valleyview Secondary Science Teacher

From May 31–June 6, 2025, two students from the Kamloops-Thompson School District travelled to Fredericton, New Brunswick to represent our district and showcase their innovative projects at the prestigious Canada-Wide Science Fair—Canada’s largest annual youth science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) event.

Hosted by Youth Science Canada, the Canada-Wide Science Fair (CWSF) has been bringing together top student finalists from regional STEM fairs across the country for over 60 years. This national event is a unique opportunity for students to share their research and innovations, connect with like-minded peers, compete for awards, and share their passion for science and discovery.

Following this year’s Cariboo-Mainline Regional Science Fair, two students were selected to represent the Kamloops-Thompson School District at this year's CWSF. Benjamin Stroich, a Grade 9 student from South Kamloops Secondary Secondary, presented his root system simulator invention that mimics tree root systems to help prevent landslides. Joel Defouw, a Grade 7 from Juniper Ridge Elementary, showcased an AI-powered project that uses real-time data to maximize the energy output of solar panels.

Joel Defouw’s project won a Bronze Excellence Award in the Junior division. When asked about his project and CWSF experience, he shared, “My project is called AI-Powered Green Energy—I got AI to give me suggestions on how to optimize the power output on a solar panel based on what's actually happening to that solar panel. I got to present my project to the judges and a lot of them said they really liked the project, one judge even took a picture of it. It felt really good knowing that all my hard work paid off and that this is all of Canada and I had a really good project.”

When asked about his experience at CWSF, Benjamin Stroich added, “It was fun because there were so many people there and they’re all really enthusiastic about science and interested in learning more about your project.”

Throughout the week-long fair, SD73 students didn’t just compete with their STEM projects, they also explored the local area, built new projects, and collaborated with students from across Canada. Some highlights included hands-on lab experiences at the University of New Brunswick, tours of top tourist attractions in Fredericton, and a day exploring New Brunswick’s iconic Hopewell Rocks at low tide to discover fossils that are billions of years old. Joel Defouw worked with other finalists to code Sphero Bots in a game of ping pong and participated in computer programming to create animation. Benjamin Stroich built his own working speaker using everyday household materials, electromagnetism, and wiring.

Teacher Morgan Whitehouse attended the fair with both students and shared, “The CWSF is truly a world-class STEM event with incredible kids from across the country. Throughout the week, I saw the students from Kamloops grow in confidence and excitement for Science. They are truly making memories that will last a lifetime, and it is thanks to their teachers for introducing them to these concepts in their classrooms. For students who are curious and motivated, there are amazing opportunities out there if you just ask! I would encourage interested families to talk to their schools and get information from their Science Fair reps on how to get involved. Participating at the regional level is a great first step—you can also get empowered and informed through organizations like the Big Little Science Centre or the BC Science Fair Foundation.”

For students interested in participating in a science fair next year, Benjamin Stroich shared some encouraging words of advice: “Find something that you are really passionate about and if it doesn't work and you don't win the first time keep improving it because it can always get better.”

Superintendent's Update

Sat, 30 Nov 2024 00:30:00 GMT

Dear Parents and Caregivers:

It is hard to believe it is almost December. As we lead up to the holiday season, I hope you and your family enjoy the festivities and celebrations at schools and take time to connect and nurture relationships and well-being, which are core values in our 2022-2027 District Strategic Plan.

NorKam Secondary School – November 26, 2024

Principal Sdoutz and I started our visit in the library. Mr. Hafeli emphasized, “It is wonderful to have Grades 8 and 9 again, and I have been able to add more books and appreciate the new shelving put in by the District carpenters.” He is also very proud of how much the students are reading—“I am having a hard time keeping up with adding titles as fast as students are reading them, which is a good problem to have!” Principal Sdoutz acknowledged that Mr. Hafeli has made a very positive difference in these students’ lives with his passion for reading and inspiring students to not only talk about books, but also to critically analyze them, creatively represent them, and to join one of the largest District Battle of the Books teams amongst the secondary schools. The NorKam team held their own in the recent District Battle of the Books Championships in the question-answer rounds and in their creative challenge shown in the picture.

We then met with Mr. Pendergast and Mr. Swint who were planning together for their Middle years International Baccalaureate (IB) Programme classes. Mr. Pendergast enthusiastically explained, “We have 23 students, and we realize now that we could have had even more if we reduced the application process. Our goal is to double the number of students!” When I asked how they had found student uptake, he shared a calendar of all of the classes and how students provided positive feedback and indications of planning to continue into high school courses and the Diploma Programme. For example, students in Spanish 8 IB will join with Grades 9-11 next year. They have a full range of courses taught using IB approaches which focus on concept-based curricula, and students’ competencies development such as critical thinking, creative thinking, and innovative and collaborative problem solving, to name a few. They took the time to visit Johnston Heights IB World School in Surrey as well as others in the Lower Mainland. Through these examples and their own work with staff to co-develop a vision for MYP, they aim to have the entire school taught using an IB approach so that every student has access to MYP. “I see the whole school being an IB school,” emphasized Mr. Pendergast.

Ms. Horton’s Grade 8 MYP Science class enthusiastically shared how their learning experiences have been different in MYP. When I asked them how it has been different, Daniel said, “We are engaged in a lot more discussion and group work,” and Avery highlighted, “I find it to be more focused.” Quinn and Hannah agreed and shared that the posters of MYP showed who they are becoming as students, with a focus on competency development.

Mr. Bauhuis engaged his Physics 12 class in a practical study of how electricity travels through different mediums. The first experiment involved a student in standing next to and touching an electrostatic generator. The result was positive ions travelling from the generator into the student’s hair which became positively charged and standing up on end. The students expanded their study of how ions travelled using a water bottle to see whether the charge would travel through the water and bottle, and they also experienced how creating a human chain by holding hands caused the electric charge to travel through their hands to the last person in heir human chain who got a shock by touching a metal light switch. These active demonstrations inspired discussion about how the charges travelled, what kind of charges they were, and what grounded the unit.

Mr. Van Der Merwe was teaching Grade 8 MYP robotics. Students were coding their robots to travel at different distances, curves, changes in directions, and at different speeds to compete through a maze. This took a fair amount of trial and error by coding and re-coding the robots to travel as fast and efficiently as possible through increasingly more complex mazes. The students shared how they had to be very good at judging other forces like the slipperiness of the surface, the weight of their creation, the distances to turn and the curve needed to turn, and to reflect these ideas in how they coded their changes in motion for their robots. This kind of scientific activity showed the students working intensely together, trying, checking where they needed to adjust their calculations, and then trying again. Persistence, resilience, and analytical thinking were developed throughout his project.

South Kamloops Secondary Teams – Ethics Bowl Interior Regional Winners

We have had a NorKam Senior Secondary team win the National Ethics Bowl in 2023 and in May 2024, the South Kamloops Secondary team became the National Ethics Bowl Champions. This is a significant academic accomplishment that reveals students’ abilities to research controversial issues of importance, consider different perspectives on these issues, and position themselves to defend a perspective as a team.

These teams discuss current ethical dilemmas of social, political, economic, scientific, or cultural nature. Prior to the day, all “bowlers” research and develop the cases and arrive at the Ethics Bowl prepared to discuss their ideas and to listen to other perspectives. Students are evaluated on communication, use of relevant information, critical thinking, and collaboration, among other academic skill sets.

At this year’s Interior Regional Ethics Bowl, we had more teams participate than previous years, including teams from South Kamloops Secondary School, Sa-Hali Secondary, Valleyview Secondary, Westsyde Secondary, and NorKam Secondary. While all teams did very well, South Kamloops Secondary School had two teams win first and second place in the interior regional competition. Read more.

Sníne Elementary Community Engagement

With the District’s newest school, Sníne Elementary, currently being built and anticipated to be opened in the Fall 2026, we are engaging with school communities who would be sending students to the new school. We’ve enjoyed connecting with Sa-Hali, Aberdeen, McGowan, Dufferin, and South Kamloops Secondary staff and parents so far. By December 4, 2024, we will be ready to share the proposed catchment changes in a webinar for parents and staff who will be directly affected. To learn more, please go here.

Board Notes

To learn more about the Regular Public Board Meeting on November 18, 2024, please feel free to read the Board Notes here.

As you prepare for upcoming concerts, celebrations, and holiday cheer, I hope that you and your children continue to love learning together and seeing the beauty of the wide range of programming in our schools. It has been delightful to see students enjoying learning and feeling inspired to share it. It is and has been a gift to learn alongside them.

Rhonda Nixon, PhD
Superintendent

Elementary Students Select 2025 Sagebrush Book Awards Winners

Thu, 22 May 2025 18:00:00 GMT

Story provided by Andrea Wallin, Library Learning Commons Coordinator

In the 2022-2027 District Strategic Plan, The Kamloops-Thompson School District is committed to supporting students to develop foundational literacy skills and passion for multi-literacies by providing diverse learning opportunities that promote joyful reading, thoughtful written responses, and interesting conversations.

The SD73 Sagebrush Book Awards is a Library Learning Commons reading motivation program that was proudly created by the District Teacher-Librarians in 2021. Each year, 8 fiction and 8 picture books representing a variety of styles and reading abilities are selected by a committee of Teacher-Librarians. Elementary students are then encouraged to read or listen to as many of these books as possible and vote for their favourite title.

From May 1-12, 2025, elementary students and staff had the opportunity to read this year’s book selections and cast their votes for the books that they enjoyed the most. Votes were tallied by the committee and the one picture book and one novel that received the most student votes were named SD73 Sagebrush Book Award 2025 winners.

This year's winners of the SD73 Sagebrush Book Awards, selected by elementary students across all grades (K-7), are Flat Cat by Tara Lazar and Odder by Katherine Applegate.

Top 3 Picture Books

Flat Cat
How to Make a Peanut Butter Sandwich
Yetis are the Worst!

Top 3 Novels

Odder
The Skull
Lightfall

Thank you to the small (but mighty) Sagebrush Book Awards Team for creating and organizing this readers choice award program which is unique to our District!

Superintendent's Update

Sat, 10 Dec 2022 00:30:00 GMT

Dear Parents and Caregivers:

We continue learning about and championing human rights for Human Rights Month, and we are focused on our core values of wellbeing and wisdom.

Wisdom and Wellbeing

In December, we are focused on the core values of Wellbeing and Wisdom in the 2022-2027 District Strategic Plan. Wellbeing is fostering opportunities to promote emotional, psychological, and physical, wellbeing for all students and staff. Through consultation with the Aboriginal Education Council, we learned that the “Beaver” represents “Wisdom” and is known to guide communities through role modelling hard work.

NorKam Senior Secondary School

Principal Sdoutz and I started in Mr. Sjokvist’s Theory of Knowledge class in which students were applying ways of knowing to a movie assignment. We then met Ms. Anderson, who was cooking, and she shared how they feed 50-70 students daily. Ms. Mousseau, Ms. Boisclair, and Ms. Orlando came in to assist with the meal program and shared about their student support services programming. We visited different classrooms that offered varied choices for students in their “WISE” block (designated time to assignment support or options). Mr. Williams was teaching Science and students had created notes that were then used to develop test questions. This motivated students to be accurate and succinct as they collaborated to write them on the white board. We met with Ms. Beers and her students who had been making drums using traditional supplies and protocols in the ABLE program. One student commented, “It is my favourite block.” Mr. Pendergast and Ms. Stewart discussed the value of the extracurricular debate program in their school. Mr. Pendergast emphasized, “This is one of the most rewarding experiences in my teaching career because students learn so much from delving into case studies and ethics.” The program has doubled in size over the last couple of years, and it is growing quickly through the support and passion of staff.

CAKE Musical at the Paramount - Dec. 4

I enjoyed opening and closing the Kamloops Thompson Honour Choir that performed their winter concert on Sunday, December 4, 2022 at the Paramount Theatre. Read more. Thank you to Choir Director, Jennica Alpaugh, Manager, Cyndy Olsen, Accompanists, Lori Jane Froese and Kerry Tarwnosky; and to District Coordinator of Arts Education Janet McCloy for contributing to the development of students’ wellbeing through music, a core value commitment in the 2022-2027 District Strategic Plan.

Preparing for Schools of Choice Registration and Kindergarten Open House

Stay safe as you continue with outdoor and indoor activities with family and friends.

Rhonda Nixon, PhD

Superintendent

Kamloops-Thompson Board Meets Minister of Education and Child Care to Share Priorities: An Urgent Need for More Space and A Passion for Co-creating More Inclusive Spaces

Tue, 31 Jan 2023 23:30:00 GMT

By Rhonda Kershaw, Vice Chair

January 31, 2023

Our Board of Education was honoured to have Minister Singh join us on Sunday, January 22, 2023 to learn about our 2022-2027 District Strategic Plan priorities in connection to her mandate letter. We appreciated how open Minister Rachna Singh was to learn about our District and that she sought to have genuine conversation about the needs of our communities.

We shared our urgent need for more space and our passion and dedication for co-creating inclusive spaces in our district.

In her mandate letter, Minister Singh aims to respond to the needs of fast-growing communities. To that end, we shared that we desperately need financial support in this February 2023 budget for a new school in Pineview Valley:

Kamloops is in the top five fastest growing communities in BC.
May 19, 2021- Minister Whiteside announced support for a business case for Pineview Valley.
Since April 2021, we have completed 13 school catchment changes impacting 25% of our K-7 schools and re–opened a school in Southwest Kamloops.
McGowan Elementary School is at 160% utilization capacity with 4 portables. The 3 nearby schools that would be eligible to undergo a redistribution of students through a catchment change are at approximately 150% utilization capacity, on average, so they are overly full and relying on portables.
There is no room in nearby schools to do a catchment change, so our only option is a new school in Pineview Valley.

We also shared that we urgently need a financial contribution ($7.5 M) in this February 2023 budget to purchase the site for the Secondary School in Aberdeen.

In 5 years, students in southwest Kamloops will need a secondary school.
The current high schools are anticipated to be at 146% capacity.
On April 11, 2022, we had written to Minister Whiteside to share that we have a one-time chance to buy the only existing land available in Aberdeen for a price of $6.1M, prior to December 31, 2022. We still have this option, but there is immense pressure on the owner to sell, and the cost of the land has increased.
Securing this land is crucial to support our current and future secondary capacity needs in the southwest of Kamloops.

We also shared our connection to the Ministers’ mandate letter by declaring our passion for and dedication to co-creating inclusive spaces by working directly with students. This was the purpose of Minister Singh’s visit– to launch the province’s K-12 anti-racism action plan during the first Student Equity Council Summit held at the Henry Grube Centre where 150+ students co-developed an SD73 K-12 Anti-racism action plan.

The students shared powerful stories with the Minister and her team (Assistant Deputy Minister, Jennifer McCrae, Associate Superintendent of Indigenous Education, Brad Baker). Everyone was moved by the leadership shown by the students who gifted us with their lived experiences as our starting point for co-creating a district anti-racism action plan.

We enjoyed our visit with Minister Singh, and we truly appreciated that she made our district her first stop in her new role as the Minister of Education and Child Care.

This column appeared in Kamloops This Week: View from SD73 on Jan 31, 2023

Expanded Partnership with Discovery Education Launched

Tue, 02 Mar 2021 21:15:00 GMT

All grade 4 – 7 teachers in the district now have access to the Discovery Education (DE) Science Techbook an award-winning digital textbook. DE is known as the global leader in standards-based digital curriculum resources.

"Discovery Education has had a long history in many of our elementary schools,” said Morgan Whitehouse, district science coordinator. “I am excited to offer it now, to every intermediate teacher and student in the district, allowing for equitable access of this great science resource."

The science techbook provides access to multi-media virtual activities and hands-on labs.

Universal Designs for Learning is a priority, and the techbook is designed to meet diverse student needs. It is curated by experts and the quality of its multi-modal content will help break through learning barriers to engage students, improve their academic vocabulary and develop higher-level thinking skills.

It supports students of different abilities, learning styles and language needs by delivering information through interactive games, multi-media resources and core interactive text features including text-to-speech and adjustable reading levels.

The techbook also brings real-world educational content from a growing collection of partners including MythBusters, Cheddar, NBA, Shark Week, MLB and Street Science into the classroom.

“This is a one-stop for everything students want and teachers need,” Whitehouse said. “It offers a variety of relevant resources mirroring the students’ interests to help them make lasting connections between science and everyday life.”

How SD73 Busing and Maintenance Staff Keep Things Rolling

Tue, 12 Feb 2019 20:15:00 GMT

Understanding what happens on the ground for school buses and district maintenance operation is important for School District 73 Trustees and Administrators. They toured district transportation and maintenance facilities Feb. 11.

Transportation

Manager of Transportation, Sherry Kristjanson, walked them through the life cycle of a school bus and how a bus is tracked and maintained through its time in service. The transportation department oversees busing in Kamloops, Barriere, Chase, Clearwater, Kamloops, Savona, Westwold and Vavenby.

“There is a lot that goes into the day-to-day operations,” Sherry said. “From being cleaned to tires and services, to planning of routes for field trips, there are a lot of people involved.”

It takes 83 bus drivers operating 76 buses to move nearly 4,000 students across almost 9,000 kilometres every day. This includes an average of 25 field trips on any given school day.

The bus garage is located near Thompson Rivers University, just off McGill.

Facilities

The Facilities Department is housed nearby, on Notre Dame Drive. There are more than 200 people in the facilities department, which includes journeymen, tradespeople, custodians and grounds maintenance staff. They look after school district facilities and grounds that cover more than 2 million square feet of building space and more than 350 acres of land.

“The work being done by our transportation and facilities staff is exceptional. Their time, expertise and commitment is what keeps us all moving forward,” said Superintendent Alison Sidow. “It’s important to acknowledge the daily effort required to maintain our district operations so we can safely transport our students, and we can provide great learning and working spaces for students, teachers and staff in the district.”

SD73 Music Teacher, Jaymi Daniels, Wins the 2023 Canadian Educators' Association/Acme's Award for Excellence in Leadership

Fri, 08 Dec 2023 21:45:00 GMT

Jaymi Daniels, a music teacher at Valleyview Secondary School, won the 2023 Canadian Music Educators' Association/Acme's Award for Excellence in Leadership. This award honours music educators who provide exceptional leadership in music education.

Jeff Weaver, President of the Canadian Music Educators Association, shared, “Jaymi Daniels won an award for her exceptional leadership in music education in her role as conference chair for the British Columbia Music Educators' Association.”

Mr. Carmichael emphasized, “Jaymi is passionate about the music program at Valleyview Secondary and providing opportunities for students to explore, engage, and find their own love of music whether in choir, jazz or general musical exploration. She works closely with our Drama department to support plays, productions, and other collaborative presentations. Within the district, Jaymi supports honour choir and band, tours elementary schools to perform with our band and promotes music programming across the district.”

Jaymi Daniels was also selected for an employee recognition award by her colleague, Jamey Lee who submitted the excerpt about Jaymi:

Music teachers make such a significant positive impact on students, dedicate countless hours outside the timetable to their programs/students, and Jaymi has done amazing work for School District 73, the Kamloops music community, and for BC music teachers as a whole. Some of her involvements and accomplishments include:

Provincial Board of Music Educators (BCMEA) Conference Coordinator - she organizes professional development for all music teachers in BC
Thompson Rivers University (TRU) Teacher Candidates Elementary Music Methods Instructor - she teaches prospective elementary school teachers how to teach music
Band Together program founder and instructor - Jaymi approached Kamloops Music Collective to help create an after-school program for grades 6 and 7 students - mostly enrolled at Valleyview family of schools, but open to any students in the city interested in joining band. KMC provides the instruments, the District provides the space, and Jaymi provides instruction. The program not only teaches students to play a band instrument, but also facilitates a feeling of connection and community; elementary students are mentored by current high school band student-volunteers, which no doubt helps to smooth the transition for those students into grade 8 when the time comes.
Kamloops Interior Summer School of Music (KISSM) Director of Bands
Co-Conductor of Kamloops Community Band
Cantabile Singers of Kamloops choir member
At Valleyview Secondary School, Jaymi has grown a large music program consisting of 5 bands (grade 8, 9, 10-12, and jazz) numbering a total of 151 students, a choir composed of 45 singers, and a Music Council of 10 members. In addition, she and the drama teacher, Marietta Magliocchi, have collaborated on several musicals over the past few years. This year, the musical - Popstars: The 90's Musical - has a cast of 25, and will include musical numbers made famous by Janet Jackson, Bon Jovi, Backstreet Boys, Billy Ray Cyrus, TLC, and more. Jaymi supports a student-led rock band and small choir ensemble at VVS as well.

SD73 is proud of Jaymi Daniels and appreciates her many contributions to music education in her school, district, and in the larger community. We congratulate her on this tremendous accomplishment.

Wildfire Smoke and Your Health Factsheet

Wed, 17 May 2023 20:30:00 GMT

The Canadian Air Quality Health Index (AQHI) is designed to help people understand how air quality can affect their health, and how they can protect themselves when air quality is poor. It uses a scale of 1-10+ to indicate potential health risk and to recommend actions for reducing risk. Read more.

Girls Who Like Trades

Mon, 16 Dec 2019 17:30:00 GMT

A group of SD73 students explored potential careers in welding, carpentry, auto mechanics, and instrument technology Dec. 11 at Thompson Rivers University (TRU).

“There’s only five per cent of women in trades right now across the province,” said Kerry Gairdiner, District Trades and Transitions Coordinator. “A day like today is offering our young females a chance to see this as a career for them, to increase the number of women in trades, and to get hands-on experience in areas they maybe never have before.”

It’s all part of a collaboration between the district and TRU called Mind the Gap. The goal is to expose female youth to trades and encourage them to consider the possibility of choosing a trade as a rewarding career.

“I like the carpentry,” said Taytem Jackson, in Grade 6 at Barriere Elementary. “I have always loved doing woodwork and I have always helped my Dad out with it. Just being able to come here and see other girls doing this, it seems not so scary.”

“Welding was the best, it’s really fun,” said Rhiannon Charlie Sampson, in Grade 6 at Arthur Hatton Elementary.

Madison Vershore, also in Grade 6 from Arthur Hatton, agreed. “You could create anything if you put your mind to it,” she said.

Paula Erler, a Grade 8 student from Sun Peaks Secondary, also loved the welding.

“Just what you can do, what you can build,” she said.

Every one of these girls said they are now considering a career in trades.

“It’s different, thrilling, exciting,” said Erler. “Days like today are very important because you can really realize what you can do with your life. Instead of choosing something you don’t enjoy, you can look at the trades and find something that you want to do in your future.”

There will be one more Girls Exploring Trades and Technology (GETT) day at TRU in early 2020, and possibly two. These days are made possible through sponsors. The Industry Trade Authority (ITA), in partnership with the Canadian Association of Women in Construction, donated $12,000. Mind the Gap, a collaboration between TRU and SD73 provided $2500.

Board Notes from April 28, 2025

Thu, 01 May 2025 22:00:00 GMT

From the regular meeting of the Board of Education. All about Artificial Intelligence Framework, OMRIE Indigenous Student Summit, and CommunityLINK Report. Read Board Notes here.

Superintendent's Update

Sat, 23 Dec 2023 00:30:00 GMT

Dear Parents and Caregivers:

Thank you for your dedicated efforts to attend concerts and take part in important activities that support families and community members such as donating food and gifts for hampers, making meals, and clothing drives, to name a few. Parents and caregivers are the foundation of our work in schools, and we appreciate your time, energy, and commitment to our children throughout the year.

As we end December, the stories this month focused on wellbeing and the Grandfather Teaching of Wisdom–role modeling hard work to guide communities and listening to advice of diverse perspectives in the 2022-2027 District Strategic Plan.

Westsyde Seondary’s Empty Bowl Event

In SD73, our vision is fostering educated and resilient citizens empowered to contribute to a diverse, inclusive, caring, and sustainable society. This year, students at Westsyde Secondary School held its first Empty Bowls event on December 7th, to raise money for the Kamloops Food Bank. Students and staff from various disciplines worked together to raise approximately $2,700 for families facing food insecurity this holiday season. Read more.

Street School Continuing Education Holiday Luncheon

Principal Johnson and Leanne Holmes, ICS Outreach worker, stood beside the cooks- Pierrette Thifault, who is 73 and Barb Lundstrom who is 72 years old. Although graduated, Barb is continuing to take further upgrading courses and Pierette is completing semester two courses and expects to cross the stage at the end of this year. Pierette explained the importance of “keeping our brains working as we age to stay mentally fit.” Barbara and Pierette had cooked ham, potatoes, carrots and yams as well as desserts - apple pie with ice-cream. It was a lovely meal that was shared with students and staff, including Vice Principal Finley.

South Kamloops Secondary School

Principal Kirschner shared the renovations which have been completed to make a new fitness room and an area to gather where the previous fitness room had been. He also showed the current renovations in which the computer lab will become a Learning Hub for small group, one-on-one, blended learning (for students working on online courses), and a location for students who require a different, quieter space to engage in course work. He was appreciative of the support of the Facilities Department in expediting these requests to better accommodate students.

We visited Mr. Ansley who was teaching Career Life Education 10. The students were creating shoe boxes with supplies for the women’s shelter and boxing food for the Kamloops Food Bank. He also shared the students’ projects about studying a person whom they admired and tracing that person’s career pathway, noting the challenges along the way and how they worked through them. One student had done Taylor Swift and asked, “Whatever you do, do not put one mark on this paper because I want to keep it.”

The students then gathered in the Sagebrush Theater for the “Christmas Bride” musical play directed by Ms. Fonseca and supported by Ms. Storz, Assistant Director, and Ms. Smith, Stage Manager. The play had a large cast, with a main cast, understudies, extras, elves, penguins, and sugarplum fairy dancers. The narrative was a parody of the movie, Princess Bride, where the scene that is woven throughout is of the story being read as it is performed. It was an amazing performance with superb acoustics and stage management.

Sa-Hali Secondary School

Principal Brady and I visited with Ms. Cacaci whose Gr. 9 and 10 Art students shared their three dimensional pottery art of food that were designed for the “Empty Bowls” fundraising event. As I asked students to explain their pieces, one student shared that the cup was overflowing to metaphorically represent the greed and waste of food in Canada. A few others had designed food from their backgrounds including Indian dishes such as samosas and jalebi, as examples. Ms. Cacaci shared that many of the students who organized the Empty Bowls fundraiser were part of the UNESCO student group who had developed many projects that promoted sustainability. She shared that Ms. McVittie had started the UNESCO work in 2018, and Ms. Penny, who is also a teacher at their school, is a provincial leader in UNESCO and has taked students to International Conferences to present their work.

We visited Mr. Rutley, Music teacher, who was teaching Gr. 10,11, and 12 students how to play Beatles songs. Mr. Brady emphasized that Mr. Rutley is very committed and even has practices early in the morning. The students were looking forward to being able to play some classic pieces. Mr. Robertson, Math teacher, engaged students in determining how to represent numbers using hundreds, tens, and ones visuals. We visited Ms. Farcus and Ms. August, Aboriginal Education Workers, who were working with students and sharing how they were indigenizing various school spaces. Mr. Remesz had Gr. 10 students finishing a test and continuing their work in Genetics. Ms. Carroll’s Gr. 9 Physics class was also competing work on friction and resistance and the impact on movement of various objects.

We walked through the Learning Hub where Ms. Halliwell, Macpherson, and Simoes were working with students one-on-one and in small groups. Some students are working on courses and then returning to class while others are online. Then we entered the learning commons where Mr. Kitamura was supporting students who were working on varied literacy assignments. We ended our walk in Phys. Ed.,where Gr.8-10 students were working out in the fitness centre while others played games in the gym.

Ralph Bell Elementary School

Principal Mangell and I had a wonderful visit starting in Ms. Rasmussen’s Gr. 5-6 class, where she was working on Science Technology Engineering and Math (STEM) activities. We then visited the sensory room which was redesigned for students who require different spaces to engage in learning. The space was a collaborative effort involving Ms. Moore, an Inclusive Education Support Teacher. We had a discussion with staff about supporting students with diverse needs, and Ms. Lawson, Learning Assistance Resource Teacher, commented that one student said, “Since I’ve been coming to you, I can read now.” She shared that she has been using phonetic sound strategies rooted in research-based ways of teaching reading.

Ms. Bojeson’s Gr. 3-4 class was engaged in beading and Ms. Neighbour’s Gr. 2-3 class was creating wooden snow people, penguins, and gingerbread people out of wood donated by Home Hardware. Ms. Grimm’s Gr. 6-7 students were practicing for the concert and also engaging in a writing exercise about their senses on a winter day. In Kindergarten, Ms. Gavin’s students were singing ‘Let It Go” by reading the words in a picture book. Ms. Thompson’s Gr. 1-2 class was coloring addition and subtraction solutions to problems. Ms. Pehowich’s Gr. 2 class was enjoying snack time before recess.

To end our visit, we went into the gym in which the stage crew of students (Bridgett, Ella) were planning the stage items for the show, and the student music crew (Adam, Lucas, Carter) were sharing their sound system and the plans for supporting the play, choir, and speakers.

École South Sa-Hali Elementary’s Winter Concert

On December 20, 2023, South Sa-Hali upper elementary students shared their vocal and instrumental talents to get everyone ready for the holiday. Mme Funk’s class sang “Up On the Housetop”. M. Bourassa’s band played a compilation of “Don’t Stop Believin’”, “Sing, Sing, Sing”, and “Bang on the Drums All Day” as well as “Band on the Housetop”. Mme Wallis’ and M. Hughes’ band played, “Any Way You Want It”, “The Nutcracker March”, “A Rather Bumpy Sleigh Ride”, and “Mamma Mia”. Mme Magalie’s class played and sang “Mister Frosty Winter” and “Sleigh Bells (bucket drumming). Mme Graf’s students drummed “Carol of Bells” and Mme Charlotte’s group drummed “Rocking Around the Christmas Tree”. The finale of the concert was Mme Charlotte’s and Mme Graf’s “Here Comes the Snow”. It was a delightful ending where every row in the audience joined into a personalized version of the 12 Days of Christmas. Thank you to the students, parents, administration, and staff of École South Sa-Hali Elementary. What a lovely way to share joy before the holiday.

Kindergarten Information Nights

Kindergarten Round-Up Information Night: Wednesday, January 31, 2024 - 6:30 PM -7:30 PM (virtual session) and Schools of Choice Information Night: Wednesday, January 10, 2024 - 6:30 PM - 7:30 PM (virtual session). Read more

I hope that you look forward to a wonderful break and take time to do what you most enjoy over the holiday and stay safe and healthy.

I am looking forward to seeing everyone return to school feeling refreshed and ready for 2024!

Happy Holidays!

Rhonda Nixon, PhD

Superintendent

Rayleigh Elementary Students Share Songs and Compassion with Seniors on Valentine's Day

Fri, 14 Feb 2025 21:00:00 GMT

Story provided by Chelsea Isenor, Director of Communications and Board Administration

This Valentine’s Day students from Rayleigh Elementary are living the District value of Relationships and Connections by sharing songs, stories, and compassion with people of all ages.

On February 14, 2025, Ms. Jasmine Rempel’s Grade 2/3 class and Ms. Christy Gauley’s Grade 6/7 class visited The Shores Retirement Residence to share songs and stories, creating cross generational connections with seniors.

As a school, Rayleigh Elementary’s core values include belonging and compassion. These two classes are “buddy classes” who meet once a week to read and play games together, which is part of the larger school goal to increase all students’ sense of belonging and build compassion and understanding between ages.

When thinking of ways to extend their compassion project beyond the school, Mrs. Rempel and Ms. Gauley had an idea to involve more “buddies” of different ages, so they reached out to The Shores Retirement Residence to set up a visit on Valentine’s Day.

The students performed two songs for their new senior friends. The first song was called ‘You Are Enough’ and shared a message about believing in yourself even when life is challenging.

The second song was a favourite of the teachers, students, and seniors, ‘What a Wonderful World.’ Before singing the song, students were asked to share what they think makes the world so wonderful. One student responded, “I think the world is wonderful because people are kind,” while other students shared that “family and friends” and “delicious food” make the world wonderful.

After sharing their songs, the students handed out Valentine's Day cards and letters to the seniors. Throughout the room, students and seniors were creating meaningful connections by listening to each other's stories and learning new things about each other’s interests and lives.

When asked why this was an important experience for students, Ms. Gauley shared, “One of our main school goals is to build a sense of belonging and one of the tools to do that is to increase our skills and capacity for compassion, which is part of what we do in our buddy classes… It made a lot of sense to take our core value of building compassion within our classes and our school outward into the community. [The students] really love it because this gives them a chance to have a more experienced ear to listen to some of their challenges and joys…all together it is just a great way of building understanding of who we are as humans.”

Kamloops-Thompson Students and Staff Honour Day of Sucwentwe?cw 2025

Fri, 11 Apr 2025 20:00:00 GMT

Story provided by Chelsea Isenor, Director of Communications and Board Administration

Day of Sucwentwe?cw is an annual day of recognition in the Kamloops-Thompson School District (SD73) that acknowledges the Secwépemc Nation, their territories, and history. This year, schools, staff, and students honoured the day by gathering and learning together on April 7, 2025.

Sucwentwécw means acknowledging one another. The Day of Sucwentwécw is unique to SD73, and takes place in order to recognize and celebrate Indigenous people, worldviews, and perspectives, especially the history of the Secwépemc people and other Indigenous people residing within the territory of the Shuswap Nation, Secwepemcúl’ecw.

Initially, the idea for this day came from a former student at South Kamloops Secondary School. The Social Justice Committee, part of the Kamloops-Thompson Teachers’ Association, brought the idea forward – it was supported by the Indigenous Education Council and the Board of Education and became an annual day of learning and celebration throughout the District.

“The Day of Sucwentwe?cw, acknowledging one another, reminds us that learning rooted in respect, relationship, and reciprocity is foundational to who we are as a district,” shared Mike Bowden, District Principal of Indigenous Education. “It’s an honour to see students, staff, and communities come together to ‘bridge’ and celebrate our relationships and learning by uplifting Secwépemc voices and other Indigenous ways of knowing.”

This year’s Day of Sucwentwe?cw theme, “The Bonds of Respect that Bridge Us Together”, is based on the First Peoples Principles of Learning and Aboriginal Worldviews and Perspectives. Maddy Arial, a Grade 7 student from Bert Edwards Science and Technology School, designed this year’s poster (pictured). The 2025 Day of Sucwentwe?cw story is Nexléwsten skmews (The Bonds of Respect that Bridge Us Together), was written by Mike Bowden and illustrated by Jordan Froste, a local Simpcw woman.

Schools across the District host various Day of Sucwentwécw gatherings in collaboration with their respective First Nations communities. Many school celebrations included singing the Welcome Song, visits from Elders, school-wide assemblies, drumming, dancing, storytelling, and lessons about the Seven Grandfather Teachings.

David Thompson Elementary partnered with the Aboriginal Friendship Centre for their Day of Sucwentwe?cw gathering. Students and staff started the day outside with an opening gathering that included an opening prayer from Elder Rose Wilson followed by drumming and dancing. Students then rotated through learning stations that included drumming, dancing, storytelling, and dream-catcher, bracelet, and key-chain making.

South Sa-Hali Elementary students started their morning classes by reading the Day of Su?cwentwecw book and doing related activities. The school hosted their third annual École South Sahali Pow Wow in the afternoon with Bernice Jensen and her drum group.

Chase Secondary invited Elders from the community to a Welcome Ceremony and classroom visits to share knowledge and stories about Secwepemcúl’ecw. The school also served a lunch of stew and bannock and students participated in a game of Secwépemc Bingo.

Rayleigh and Heffley Creek Elementary schools spent the week before learning about the Secwépemc Calendar based around the moon cycles. Each class chose a different phase of the moon to learn about and on Day of Sucwentwe?cw staff and students set up displays about their learnings and shared knowledge with each other.

Kamloops School of the Arts hosted a school-wide assembly with Elder Morgan Christopher and storyteller Kenton Thomas. Students participated through drumming circles, Jingle dances, and traditional pow wow dances in their regalia.

The Kamloops-Thompson Board of Education and the Indigenous Education Council with representatives of seven Secwépemc First Nations and Métis Nations communities are committed to supporting events, activities, and learning connected to the District’s Cultural Identity Priority from the 2022-2027 District Strategic Plan.

SD73 Kamloops-Thompson School Board in partnership with the Aboriginal Education Council Signs the Fifth Aboriginal Education Enhancement Agreement

Thu, 22 Feb 2024 21:00:00 GMT

Story provided by Trustee Diane Jules and Board Chair Heather Grieve

Me7 n7ek’re Sw7ec-kt e Txwimime?n′tmes

We are here to change by Working Together

As the Chair of the Aboriginal Education Council (Diane Jules) and Chair of the Kamloops-Thompson School Board (Heather Grieve), we stand together to acknowledge, honour, and respect the history, culture, and language of the Secwepemc People on whose territory we reside.

Kamloops-Thompson School District covers approximately 27,000 square kilometres, 18 urban and rural communities, 48 schools, 2,650 employees and a diverse approximate population of 16,000 students, 18% of which are of Aboriginal ancestry.

“As both a trustee on the Kamloops-Thompson School Board and Chair of the Aboriginal Education Council, I am proud to say that our school board has had a strong, positive working relationship for over 25 years,” shared Diane Jules. “Together, we have been committed to supporting, enhancing, and increasing school success for all First Nations, Inuit, and Métis students in the District.”

On February 22, 2024, we (Board Chair Grieve and AEC Chair Diane Jules) signed the fifth Aboriginal Education Enhancement Agreement. An Aboriginal Education Enhancement Agreement (EA) is a working agreement between the school district and the Aboriginal Education Council designed to enhance the educational achievement of self-identified Aboriginal students.

At the same meeting, the council reviewed some of the successes of this long-standing quarter century relationship:

Self-determination: One of the important milestones of this working partnership is that the Aboriginal Education Council determines the allocations of the Ministry of Education and Child Care Aboriginal Targeted Enhancement funds provided to the District to support all self-identified Aboriginal students of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis ancestry.
High school completion rates: A second important milestone is that high school completion rates are the highest that they have ever been in our district. 2022-2023 5-year completion Aboriginal Student completion rate exceeded the previous cohort’s (2021-2022) completion rate by +4.6%. Completion rate for Aboriginal students living on-reserve increased by +19.4% from the previous cohort.
Student Voice: There has been an increased focus on student voice and responding to results (e.g., SD73 Aboriginal Student Leadership Council, Indigenous Student Summit, GSAs, Student Equity Committee, District Student Advisory Council).
Family Voice: There has been an increased focus on connecting with families (e.g., Aboriginal Education Outreach Workers, District School Completion Coordinator, Aboriginal Graduation Support Teacher, Aboriginal Family Counselors, Home Hospital Teacher) and on families having a voice (Indigenous Family Voices For Education).
School Choice: There has been an increased focus on ensuring that Aboriginal students choose where to go to school by being provided with options to attend any school in the district.
Staff Choice: There have been increased professional learning opportunities focused on understanding racism and changing structures, practices, language, and beliefs to improve life chances for Aboriginal students. (Aboriginal Ed School Lead Sessions, Indigenous focused Pro-D Day, Access and awareness with the new Indigenous Grad course requirements, Aboriginal Transition to post secondary and trades days, Universal Design for Learning, LART and CEA training).

“I am looking forward to what will grow from this strong foundation,” stated Chair Jules. “It has been a year of collaboration and review of how to live, learn, and work from a framework of Aboriginal values defining student success.”

The outcomes and successes of the fifth AEEA are based on the Brendtro, Brokenleg, and Van Bockem’s Circle of Courage (2003) of Aboriginal youth development which is based on the belief that all individuals, especially young people, have four universal needs: belonging, mastery, independence, and generosity. When these four core values are nurtured and supported, young people are more likely to develop resilience, positive self-esteem, and a sense of purpose and belonging. It provides a framework for promoting positive youth development and guiding interventions and programs that support the holistic growth of young people. The success of the Circle of Courage framework requires an approach that balances all the four core values.

“I am hopeful about our future as a district because of the leadership and commitment that we have developed over the many years as a Board and Aboriginal Education Council,” shared Board Chair Grieve. “It is only a beginning to a long road of realizing truth and reconciliation.”

School Bus Safety

Thu, 20 Oct 2022 21:00:00 GMT

During School Bus Safety Week October 17 – 23, the theme was We Stop – You Stop.

SD73 Transportation Director Sherry Kristjanson says during this week, and every week during the school year, we need to remember the reason for those flashing red lights on school buses.

“Keeping the safety of our children is top of mind for our school bus drivers every school day,” she said. “Our district covers more than 27,000 kilometers and on each school day our drivers make sure about 4,000 students travel safely by bus more than 9,000 of those kilometers.”

It’s the law in British Columbia that drivers must stop if they see red lights flashing on a school bus.

"This year's theme, We Stop - You Stop, really speaks to the community partnerships the District is privileged to be a part of," said SD73 Secretary-Treasurer Trina Cassidy. "We do all we can to help get our school bus students safely to school and home again, and when drivers see and then stop for those flashing red lights on school buses, they are doing their part, too."

Superintendent's Update

Sat, 03 Feb 2024 01:00:00 GMT

Dear Parents and Caregivers:

February is kindness month, so it is an opportunity to be intentional about recognizing those who engage in quiet acts of kindness as well as stories that illuminate equity (removing barriers and creating environments that provide accessible and powerful opportunities for all students and staff to thrive). The core values of relationships/connections, equity, wellbeing and sustainability are foundational to who we are in SD73 as described in the 2022-2027 District Strategic Plan and are illuminated in the stories shared.

Arthur Hatton Elementary School

Principal Charron and I began our learning walk by speaking with Ms. Fehst who shared how the Gr. 4-5 students were preparing to cook lunch for students at noon. Different classes take on this learning and sharing about how to grow, purchase, budget, prepare, and serve food for guests. Feeding Futures has enabled the staff to develop resources for teaching food literacy so that students gain a repertoire of strategies to prepare varied dishes. Ms. May, Aboriginal Support Teacher, organizes guest speakers and cultural programming such as drum making, seasonal rounds, and loose parts activities.

Ms. Zanders’ Gr. 5-6 class was engaged in problem solving fractions and receiving one-on-one teacher coaching. Similar to the primary grades, Gr. 5-6 teachers have regrouped their students for literacy time to be able to teach collaboratively and share strategies.

Ms. Sweeney’s Gr. 5-6 students were working independently and in partners on math problems. They also work with Mr. Denby’s class to prepare 40 starfish backpacks for families every Friday. Mr. Denby’s Gr. 5-6 class was also engaged in math and he shared how students integrated math into taking care of the garden outside, when seasonally possible, and microgreens inside.

Ms. Elwood stopped to discuss the learning centre and sensory room and how it is used for soft starts, breaks, and one-on-one and small group learning.

Mr. Kershaw was reviewing hibernation with Gr. 1, and Ms. McMillan’s class was sharing their sayings on their shirts because it was “Read My Shirt” Day. Ms. Sutherland’s Gr.1 class was preparing for recess and finishing snacks.

Career Education Programming

In our 2022-2027 District Strategic Plan, Career Development is a priority and our ultimate goal is that every learner will graduate, know who they are, and have plans for who they aim to become through their career pathway.

To support high school students to consider varied career pathways, SD73 Career Education staff organized evening sessions for students to learn about the hairstylist progression of learning, and the Digital Arts and Technology Academy (DATA). These evening sessions inspired attendees who learned from students currently in these programs and from staff who were passionate about the career possibilities connected to them. Read more.

New Bachelor of Engineering Program at Thompson Rivers University

In SD73, we have a strong partnership with Thompson Rivers University and we aim to share information to support students and families to learn about new career pathways supported by TRU. For the Fall 2024, TRU is starting their new Bachelor of Engineering in Computer Engineering program. Read more.

Student and Family Affordability Fund

On August 29, 2022, the Ministry of Education and Child Care announced that school districts in BC would be provided with a one-time fund ($60 M) called the Student and Family Affordability Fund (SFAF) intended to provide additional funds to parents to offset costs of food through meals programs in the school, school supplies, and any additional fees so that students can take part in activities, such as field trips, athletics, and fine arts.

School District No. 73 received $1,656,248 in November 2022.

As of January 26, 2024, the District has spent approximately $670,000 which has provided assistance with an estimated $17,000 school fees.

There is $226,000 in funding available for the remainder of the school year that will continue to provide support for school supplies, course fees, academy fees and enhancement fees. To access these funds - Read more.

As we begin February, Kindness Month, take time to be kind to yourself and do something that you enjoy this weekend.

Rhonda Nixon, PhD

Superintendent

A Sign of Students' Support for TNT

Thu, 06 May 2021 14:00:00 GMT

Trades and Transitions Department staff are delighted with a new sign made for them by two grade 10 students at Clearwater Secondary.

Thomas Lamash and Haileigh Goodie made the sign under the supervision of Dayton Fraser, Clearwater Trades and Transitions Coordinator.

“Thomas made the sign by first finding an image of the TNT logo, tracing it with a CAD program, then attaching a toolpath to the vectors he created for our CNC router,” said Fraser. “After he finished laminating the wood panel, we machined the sign program with the router.”

Thomas and Haileigh painted the pockets to make the design more defined, and once the paint was dry, they put the sign through a sander. They completed it with several more coats of finish on top.

“We are so impressed with their work,” said Rob Wielgoz, District Vice-Principal, Trades and Transitions. “I can’t think of a more fitting sign for our Pineridge office than this.”

SD73 Offers Education for All Ages

Wed, 15 Dec 2021 16:00:00 GMT

It could be assumed that School District No. 73’s educational programs and services end for students by age 19 but one District program is proving that students come in all ages.

SD73’s Continuing Education is a no-cost paper-based program for students over 18 years of age looking to upgrade their courses or work towards their Adult Dogwood Diploma.

“We provide an opportunity for adult students to re-engage in their education,” said Continuing Education Principal Cory Carmichael. “A whole host of different students come in. It can be an opportunity to upgrade in English and Math or it could be students that have a couple of previous courses and aren’t quite across the finish line for graduation. It’s a flexible, self-paced course.”

Since its inception in 2007, Continuing Studies has seen an ebb and flow in enrolment, from two graduates in its first year, to 43 grads at its peak. Typically, the school’s demographic is mid-twenties to fifties, but adults of any age are welcome: “Our oldest grad was in her 80s,” said Carmichael.

“It’s grown a lot since 2007,” said Dyan Gunnlaugson, Continuing Education Vice-Principal. “The program began in a church off Tranquille Road and is now housed in a storefront in Northills Mall, that includes two classroom areas and a kitchen providing hot lunch services for students, which is an initiative sponsored by foodSHARE and supported by donations from Cain's Your Independent Grocer.”

Among the many community partners that work alongside Continuing Education, Interior Community Services (ICS) provides an immense amount of outreach support for students who, for a variety of reasons, haven’t completed their education.

“Our partnership with ICS is fantastic,” said Carmichael. “The way we describe it is ICS meets the human needs of the students, so that teachers can meet the educational needs of the students.”

“As much as we are looking to complete students’ educational skills,” continued Carmichael, “we’re really looking to support and grow their social-emotional stamina and their basic core skills to go out and be successful when they do achieve their graduation.

“In light of the changing economics and job requirements, it’s just a reminder for people when they’re putting out their resumes or looking to re-enter after an absence from the workforce, it’s a place where they can come in and upgrade their skills, freshen up again, and build some confidence as they go out to enter the workforce again.”

For more information or to register for SD73’s Continuing Education program, visit their website.

Summit Elementary PAC Encourages Sustainable & Equitable Gift Giving with Green Christmas Market

Wed, 17 Dec 2025 23:00:00 GMT

Story provided by Chelsea Isenor, Director of Communications and Board Administration

Last week, the Summit Elementary School Parent Advisory Council (PAC) kicked off the holiday season with their annual Green Christmas Market—a beloved school tradition that brings joy to students and families while promoting sustainability.

The idea for the Green Christmas Market started four years ago when a parent brought forward the idea based on a similar event they had planned at another school. The event has grown into a popular annual holiday event for both parents and students at Summit Elementary and has even spread to other SD73 schools.

Breanna Clive from the Summit PAC shared, "We just love the look on the kids' faces when they find the perfect gift. It’s nice to have a moment where they're thinking about other people. Young kids can be more focused on ‘what do I want for Christmas?’ so to have a time when they think about their family is important. And when they come up to have their gifts wrapped and they're showing you everything they got—they're so excited”

For the past several weeks, PAC members have been collecting gift donations from the community and storing them in their garages. On Thursday, December 11, the PAC transformed the school gym into a festive marketplace. Students visited the market in the classes throughout the day and were able to buy a present for each of their immediate family members.

The students took their time exploring all the donated treasures to find the perfect gifts for their mom, dad, and siblings (and sometimes grandparents, aunts and uncles too). Gift items included everything from puzzles and books to toys and stuffed animals, jewelry and beauty products, as well as Christmas decorations.

One member of the PAC shared, "I think everybody loves getting rid of old stuff but also being able to give it a new life. The kids love it. And the parents get a hoot out of it because the stuff that comes home is hilarious. My kids remember what they bring me and then I can't get rid of it.”?

After selecting and paying for their perfect gifts, PAC members wrap the students' items to ensure they remain a surprise until Christmas. No student is left out, as green Christmas “credit card” vouchers are provided for any student who needs it.

Summit Principal Jennifer Boyle shared, “It's such a good event. The kids are so proud when they can say, ‘I bought that under the tree.’ They look forward to this all year long.”

The Summit Elementary Green Christmas Market does more than just spread holiday cheer and generate excitement, it reflects the District’s core values of Equity and Sustainability—creating a holiday tradition that celebrates generosity and care for the environment and community.

Become a Homestay Family

Mon, 13 Dec 2021 19:45:00 GMT

The District is seeking homestay families for February and September 2022.

In addition to helping a student from another country while they attend school, School District No. 73 currently compensates families at a rate of $875 per month per student. That is $4,375 per semester and $8,750 per school year. Effective, September 1, 2022, the monthly compensation rate will increase to $1,000 per month.

"This District is considered a leader in the province, and British Columbia is recognized as one of the world leaders in English, Math, and Science,” said Bill Hamblett, Assistant Superintendent - Secondary. “Following the District's Communicable Disease Prevention Plan, we are continuing to deliver this International program safely. This means we are looking for Homestay families for the next school year. Hosting an international student is a wonderful experience and a great way to expand your family's horizons and see your surroundings with a fresh perspective."

Your duties as a host family will include providing a private room for each student, having regular meals with your student, assisting with school start-up routines, and providing guidance and support while the student studies in Kamloops. Families may host multiple students if they wish.

While families from all parts of the city are eligible for hosting, the greatest need for host families is in the Valleyview, Juniper, Aberdeen, Sa-Hali, North Kamloops/Batchelor Heights, and Westsyde neighbourhoods.

COVID-19 protocols and procedures are in place for this program. If you are interested in hosting one or more international students, or if you know a friend or family member who may wish to register as a host family, please contact our Homestay Manager, Leslee Faubert at lesleefaubert@shaw.ca.

For additional information, visit the Kamloops-Thompson International Student Program page.

Superintendent's Update

Fri, 16 Jun 2023 23:30:00 GMT

Dear Parents and Caregivers:

As we attend events and continue to get important work done to end this year, we enjoy the focus on our core value commitments of relationships/connections, wellbeing, sustainability, and equity in our 2022-2027 District Strategic Plan.

District Employee Recognition

On June 13, 2023, 75 people came together to celebrate SD73 employees who have served from 10 to 45 years, and retirees who have dedicated their lives to serving in our district. This year, our District Employee Engagement Survey results indicated that we need to take time to stop and recognize one another for important milestones and accomplishments, and we need to be present and make relationships and connections a priority.

One change that we made this year was to include retirees in the 2023 District Employee Service Recognition event. Approximately 15 retirees joined our group of 75 guests in the Mountain Room at Thompson Rivers University. It was a magical night! Read more.

@KOOL School

Principal Hembling and I reviewed the preparations of @KOOL to prepare to be one of 18 BC school districts to become Provincial Online Learning schools for 2023-2024. @KOOL staff have been attending professional development about building courses in BrightSpace, the new Provincial Learning Management system, and collaborating to share engaging online course materials and pedagogy.

@KOOL staff and students had recently celebrated their “@KOOL Aboriginal Cultural Day”, which involved all staff and students from the school’s multiple locations. Principal Hembling stated, “It was a great day, and we had a lot of students/families attend. Participants rotated through our eight learning activity stations, each of which highlighted a different aspect of Secwepemc culture. We were lucky enough to be joined by Knowledge Keeper Jackie Jules, whose station focussed on Ethnobotany and Traditional Secwepemc Medicines and their uses, pictured here with several of our students from around Kamloops/Thompson. Some families traveled from as far away as Venables Valley, a community near Ashcroft, BC.

Another popular learning activity was the student-run Secwepemctsin (Secwepemc language) Bingo station, which gave students the opportunity to learn common/useful words connected to the Secwepemc culture and everyday tasks and objects. Chelsea Ross, the SD73 Aboriginal Education Coordinator, ran an outdoor stick and ring game (pictured left) that most students had never played before.

The day culminated in a lunch provided for students and their families that gave attendees the opportunity to connect, socialize and meet people face-to-face that in an online school setting they may have only met virtually. Vice Principal Laurel Seafoot described the day as “a hugely successful first annual event that we look forward to repeating next year and for years to come.” She and Principal Hembling were particularly thankful to the @KOOL staff who all pitched in to organize and run the day. “It was truly an example of staff from all our @KOOL sites working together to make the day a success for our students” said Principal Hembling.

Marion Schilling Elementary School

Principal Deb Piggin and Vice Principal Karla Chernoff shared with Trustee Hickson and me that the Gr. 6/7 students really enjoyed creating their “stamp canvases” of little pictures in a tile format around themes of personal significance like their families, their passions (sports, fine arts). We then viewed pictures of their recent 80s dance that was organized by the Parent Advisory Council (PAC). Their school focus on belonging has also been enhanced by their whole school’s work on a new school theme song. It was inspiring, and they are working with an outside group to fine tune it. As we continued, we witnessed the vibrant Strong Start program in which preschool children and parents attend five days/week. Principal Piggin attributed the strength of the program to their facilitator, Ms. Shea Bauer.

Mr. Bell’s Gr. 6-7 class was working on an inclusive sexual health lesson, and students were discussing how to set health relationship boundaries. Ms. Ray’s Gr. 6-7 class was studying goal-setting and focused on financial goals and strategies. Ms. Hanlon had a small group that was engaged in small group vocabulary instruction. Mr. Desaulniers’ Gr. 3s were playing “Math Buzz” and working in pairs and independently. Mr. D. was helping students by giving feedback and support on their work. The students explained that they apply math skills in their class “store”. They collect points for demonstrating competencies that promote belonging– being kind, helping others. When they collect points, they spend them in their class store which has a range of donated items. During recess, we met Hayden who played “Ode to Joy” and “Jingle Bells” on his recorder. As we ended the visit, Ms. Patton’s K-1 class had made monster pictures after reading “Everybody”. To conclude our walk, we talked with Daryll Laboucan, Aboriginal Education Worker, who described how he was making rattles with students and how rattles are used in ceremonies.

Second Annual District Powwow

The second annual District Powwow began with the Grand Procession led by the Arena Director, Cecil Sheena and District Principal, Mike Bowden carrying the Eagle Staff gifted to the School District. Dignitaries and dancers in regalia followed.

Students in Grade 5 and Grade 5 split classes from 35 elementary schools entered and were seated with their school banners in the Tk'emlups arbor. They watched and learned from the Powwow Master of Ceremony, Gord Cuthbert who stopped to teach them about the different aspects of the Powwow. He explained that the Grand Procession is a way of entering to begin the Powwow. There are times when all students and dignitaries would join in the Grand Procession; however, in this case, with 2500 people, he elected to have only the dignitaries lead the procession into the Tk'emlups arbor. Read more.

Graduations

Thank you to everyone who continues to support our graduates of 2023. To read the speeches of valedictorians, Read more.

Thank you for everything that you are doing to support families, students, and each other during June. Enjoy your weekend with family and friends.

Rhonda Nixon, PhD

Superintendent

Welcoming SD58 Families to Kamloops

Sat, 20 Nov 2021 00:30:00 GMT

SD73 welcomes families from Merritt and other communities in School District No. 58 who were displaced by recent floods.

“Our Board is committed to the safety and wellbeing of these families,” said Heather Grieve, Kamloops-Thompson SD73 Board Chair, “We welcome each of these community members, and we aim to be responsive to their needs.”

When Merritt was evacuated, Superintendent Rhonda Nixon made contact with Steve McNiven, Superintendent of SD58 (Nicola-Similkameen). Superintendent Nixon said, “Our senior leadership teams connected immediately and are working together with school principals to respond to the needs of families. We have also established a district coordinated effort through Vessy Mochikas, Assistant Superintendent, Inclusive Education and members from the SD58 senior leadership team.”

“Our first consideration for parents and caregivers contacting our schools about enrolling their children, is to respond from our hearts with empathy and compassion,” said Vessy Mochikas, Assistant Superintendent Inclusive Education. “We will check in with the parents and caregivers and ask if they are safe, and in need of help and inquire about any services they may need, such as food, clothing, shelter, or counselling for example.”

Over the last two days, Deputy Minister of Education Scott MacDonald organized a meeting with Nicola-Similkameen Superintendent Steve McNiven and his senior team with neighbouring districts, including SD23 Central Okanagan Public Schools, and SD 83 North Okanagan-Shuswap, and cross-ministry staff. This tiered approach in which a provincial cross-ministry team will check in regularly with these superintendent teams and BC School Superintendent Association to ensure that resources and services are mobilized to meet the needs of staff and families in these areas.

“At this time, we are welcoming Merritt families, and we welcome anyone who has been displaced from floods into SD73 (Kamloops-Thompson),” added Board Chair Grieve. “Everyone will come together to make Kamloops a ‘second home’ for these individuals and families.”

SD73 is collaborating with the City of Kamloops, and an ESS reception centre has been set up to provide for the immediate essential needs of people affected by a disaster. This assistance includes food, lodging, clothing, emotional support, and family reunification. Reception centres are not set up with the means and capacity to receive, sort, and store donations such as food, supplies, or clothing.

Residents of Merritt that have been evacuated due to flooding and require supports should register online at https://ess.gov.bc.ca/ and then go to the emergency evacuation reception centre at McArthur Island Sport and Event Centre to access referrals to needed supports. The reception centre located at 1655 Island Parkway is open 8:00 am–6:00 pm daily. This will help ensure that your loved ones and communities know where you are and know that you are safe.

If you do not require Emergency Support Services, simply register online at https://ess.gov.bc.ca/

Westmount and Pacific Way Students Curb School Waste

Wed, 26 Jun 2024 22:00:00 GMT

Story provided by Chelsea Isenor, Director of Communications and Board Administration

Students at two Kamloops-Thompson elementary schools have created school-wide recycling and compost programs to reduce school waste. Over the past few months, Pacific Way Elementary and Westmount Elementary both participated in a curbside organics pilot program with the City of Kamloops, resulting in a significant decrease in school garbage.

At Pacific Way Elementary, a group of Grade 7 students were inspired to join the City’s curbside organics pilot program after participating in Learning for a Sustainable Future—a program designed to empower students to take action on climate change.

With the help of Grade 7 teachers Ms. Beth Morgan and Ms. Shelley Wiwchar, students started a composting pilot project where they collect paper towel and food waste from classrooms, bathrooms, and around the school. The students then organize the materials and sort them into City curbside organics bins.

According to the custodians, the composting initiative has reduced the school’s garbade by over half.

The students’ work on the composting pilot project recently received an honourable recognition award through Learning for a Sustainable Future—coming in 4th place out of hundreds of projects across Canada. The school won a $500 prize to be put towards a project with future environmental impact, which they are planning to use to build a shed to house all the organics bins (which are currently being stored in their outdoor bathrooms).

To keep the project going into the future, the Grade 7 student organizers have trained a group of Grade 6 students who will run the composting project next year.

At Westmount Elementary, Principal Roy Styles introduced the idea of a larger recycling program to be implemented with the City curbside organics pilot project.

Before implementing their new recycling and composting initiative, Westmount completed a waste audit through the City’s EcoSmart team. In this audit, they discovered that almost 95% of their school’s waste could be recycled or composted.

Now, every classroom has their own recycling stations, with bins for compost, soft plastics, curbside recycling, and garbage. The bins have a colour coded system so kids of all ages and reading levels can participate. Bathrooms also have paper towel only bins so that used paper towel can be recycled.

For the past few months, Grade 6 students have been running the recycling and composting program. After lunch, students collect all the recycling bins from each classroom and throughout the school, they sort the items to ensure everything is disposed of in the proper area, clean plastics and recyclables, and then wash and return the bins to all classrooms.

Since starting this school-wide recycling and composting initiative, Westmount Elementary school's garbage went from approximately 12–15 bags a day to 1–2 (not even full) bags a day.

Throughout this process, the students have become more aware of how they dispose of waste in an environmentally responsible way, and have taken many of these lessons home to their families. Custodians also have appreciated the program as it cuts down on the time needed for garbage pick up so they can focus on other projects.

To keep this program running for years to come, a new class of Grade 6 students will start leading in the recycling and composting program as of spring break each year, continuing until spring break of their Grade 7 year.

For both schools, a big part of starting these projects included educating students and staff on the importance of recycling and composting to ensure everyone throughout each school is contributing to make impactful changes.

“The biggest impact has been the learning,” shared Westmount Principal Roy Styles. “The environmental impact is great, but learning and knowing you can make a difference has been important for students.”

Pacific Way teacher Beth Morgan added, “It really empowers kids that they can make a change when it comes to climate action, and leave a legacy… they’ve learned to advocate for something that is important to them and they’ve learned to take action and follow up on what they value is important.”

We Celebrate Pride Month in June in the Kamloops-Thompson School District

Fri, 24 May 2024 20:00:00 GMT

We celebrate Pride Month as one key strategy to ensure that we bring alive the District’s Cultural and Identity Priority, where every learner will feel safe and thrive personally and culturally.

In our District Strategic Plan Cultural and Identity Priority, we aim to ensure that every student feels safe and thrives personally. Through consultation with 2000+ students, staff, and community members in 2021-2022, we learned that, sadly, students do face barriers to feeling accepted, included, welcome, and safe in our schools. Therefore, as a District, we chose to commit to equity: removing barriers and creating environments that provide accessible and empowering opportunities for all students and staff to thrive.

To create accessible and empowering learning opportunities for every student, especially those who have experienced barriers such as racism and discrimination, we focus on creating safe and inclusive spaces for students to share their perspectives on barriers that they have faced and their suggested actions to eliminate them.

In our District, our goal in the Cultural and Identity Priority is: Learners will have educational experiences that are free of racism, discrimination, sexism, harassment, and homophobia.

Please join us in this goal and consider the strategies that we have committed to in our District Strategic Plan:

Visibly acknowledge and celebrate diversity in our learning environments (e.g., multicultural events, multi-languages on signs, Pride poster).

To visibly acknowledge and celebrate diversity can mean wearing Pride colors, having a Pride sticker on your personal items, or hanging a Pride flag. Wearing or sharing Pride colors means “standing up for” or “being an ‘ally’” to 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals and communities. This is an important step in showing that everyone is welcome, included, and safe with allies who acknowledge and celebrate diversity of individuals’ identities.

We invite everyone to learn more in June about Pride and how to recognize visible symbols that show support for 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals and communities.

Q. What is Pride Month?

A: This video explains what pride means, the history, acronyms, and what it means to celebrate Pride month. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oA7yke3k254

This first video is only 45 secs long and features kids speaking about being themselves: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-LR9pu9tEOw

The video features pride week in Kamloops: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bc36sq5517s&t=4s

Q: What is the Pride flag?

A: Rainbow flags have existed in many configurations representing many peoples and experiences throughout human history. The current Pride flag’s exact colours and dimensions have changed from the Gilbert Baker flag, which first appeared as a representation of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community in 1977. The Rainbow flag is strongly connected to the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, it also is a representation of social change cited as being a symbol of hope and peace.

Q: What do the colors mean on the Pride flag?

A: The six colours of the traditional flag represent the following:

Red = Life
Orange = Healing
Yellow = Sunlight
Green = Nature
Blue = Harmony
Violet = Spirit

Q: How can we celebrate Pride by being an ally?

A: There are 8 steps to meaningful allyship. You can read more here:

Let the stones hit you – and do so even when afraid. Let someone know when they have said something hurtful. Standing in the way of harmful words or actions from others can go a long way to prevent harm.
Presume competence by honouring lived experience. Consider people experts on their own experience and respect them as such. Inviting 2SLGBTQ+ organizations, colleagues, or students to speak to their experience ensures their voices are uplifted.
Transfer your privilege. Use your privilege to benefit others, for example by advocating for changes to policy or ensuring your 2SLGBTQ+ colleagues are being heard.
Own your mistakes and decenter yourself. Acknowledge that even if you feel hurt, defensive, or guilty, this is not about you.
Have a growth mindset. Commit to learning even when it is challenging.
Walk your talk. Use people’s names and pronouns, show up at events, and ask how you can best be of help.
Value compassion over comprehension. We don’t need an intimate understanding of someone’s experience to extend them empathy and kindness.
Respect privacy and confidentiality. Someone’s identity is not yours to share – take their lead on how public or private to be with their information.

Celebrating Student Athletes in the Kamloops-Thompson School District

Thu, 26 Jun 2025 19:00:00 GMT

As we come to the end of the 2024-2025 school year, we want to celebrate and congratulate all of the incredible, hardworking, and talented student athletes and coaches across the Kamloops-Thompson School District.

As a District, our mission is to support learning opportunities and environments which inspire students to thrive. This year we saw countless students thrive and succeed at all levels of athletics. Student athletes and coaches trained hard to compete at local, regional, and provincial levels this past year.

Students of all ages joined teams for various sports including volleyball, basketball, badminton, wrestling, tennis, soccer, rugby, curling, football, ultimate, track and field, and more. Not only did many teams earn the opportunity to compete at the provincial level, they also learned valuable lessons about teamwork, sportsmanship, dedication, and resilience that they will carry with them into their futures.

Congratulations to all the student athletes, staff, coaches, and volunteers who represented our District at all levels of school sports this year. We are proud of your hard work, dedication, and achievements.

Explore 2024-2025 highlights below to learn about just a few of this year's elementary and secondary athletics achievements.

ELEMENTARY ATHLETICS:

The fall season started with six Cross Country events followed by Volleyball season. Basketball season started in the winter and culminated with several teams competing in the playoffs, which ended with two exciting Tier 1 Championship games in March.

Elementary students also competed in a six week Flag Football season leading up to a Jamboree with approximately 25 teams competing at McArthur Island Park in early June.

Track and Field season was also a highlight, with elementary schools hosting school track meets for students to compete to earn a spot in one of four Zones competitions. Nearly 1,000 students competed at Zones and the winners from each moved on to the District Track and Field meet. Congratulations to this year’s District Track and Field aggregate winners:

Hannah Leduke – Ralph Bell Elementary
Ethan Jangula – Kamloops Christian School
Ruby Szantho – Sun Peaks School
Reeve Lee – McGowan Park Elementary
Avetta Steele – Kay Bingham
Katie Fischer – Kamloops Christian School
Brayden Kelly – Dallas Elementary
Olivia Omajali – St. Ann's Academy
Zander Kilba – Rayleigh Elementary
Weston Greer – Pacific Way Elementary
Vittoria Beck – McGowan Park Elementary
Amelia Kocak – Lloyd George Elementary
Hudson Van Nes – Kamloops School of the Arts

SECONDARY ATHLETICS:

Secondary sports teams and student athletes garnered numerous awards, medals, championships, and we saw an incredible number of students and teams compete at Provincial Championships throughout the year.

Chase Secondary:

Lacey Boileau won a bronze medal in Pole Vault at the Track and Field Provincial Championships

Barriere Secondary:

A Girls Basketball and Tier 2 Junior Boys Basketball teams won 1st place at the West Zone Championships

Brocklehurst Secondary:

Grade 8 Girls Basketball team won the West Zone Championship and finished 15th at the Provincial Championships
Junior Boys Rugby 7s team placed 3rd at the Okanagan Valley Championships
Student Grayson Sodke competed at Track and Field Provincials in three sprint races and finished 5th in 100 meter hurdles

Kamloops Schools of the Arts:

Senior A Boys Volleyball Team were West Zone Champions
Senior A Girls Soccer Team were West Zone Champions

NorKam Secondary:

Boys Curling team were Okanagan Champions and placed 7th at the Provincial Championships
Senior Boys 7's Rugby team placed 9th at the Provincial Championships
Senior Boys Badminton team completed at the West Zone and Okanagans championships and won a birth to the Provincial Championships
Junior Boys Basketball team competed in the Fulton Cup and West Zone Championship tournaments
Senior Girls Basketball team qualified for 4A Okanagans
Wrestling team won three gold medals (Annika Roberts, Alicja Tomczyk, Malik Alhajan) and three silver medals (Kris Coriale, Daniel Turvey, Oliver Hoffmann) at Okanagans and four students moved on to compete at the Provincial Championships (Annika Roberts, Alicja Tomczyk, Kris Coriale, Daniel Turvey)

Sa-Hali Secondary:

Sa-Hali teams were West Zone Champions in Cross Country (Raiya Matonovich and Ethan Peregrym), AA Boys Soccer, Grade 8 Boys Volleyball, Grade 8 Girls Volleyball, Junior Boys Volleyball, AAA Girls Volleyball, Grade 9 Boys Basketball, Junior Boys Badminton, Junior Girls Badminton, and Track and Field (Grade 8 Sadie Durnin in 1500m & 3000m, Grade 8 Carys Milne in long jump & triple jump, and Ethan Peregrym Senior Boys 3000m & 2000m Steeplechase)
Sa-Hali teams were Okanagan Champions in Cross Country (Raiya Matonovich), Junior Boys Basketball, AAA Girls Basketball, Wrestling (Willow Wood and Kane Gaehring), and Track and Field (Carys Milne in Grade 8 Girls triple jump)
Senior Girls 3A Basketball team won the Fulton Cup and a silver medal at the Provincial Championships which was the first ever Senior Girls Basketball medal for Sa-Hali. Neva Nogic earned the Most Valuable Player award, Iyin Aina 1st Team All Star, and Izzy Phillips was named a Second Team All-Star.
Willow Wood won a gold medal at the Wrestling Provincial Championships
Raiya Matonovich won a silver medal at the Cross Country Provincial Championships
At the Track and Field Provincial Championships, Carys Milne placed 4th triple jump, Sadie Durin placed 14th in 3000m, and Ethan Peregrym placed 8th in 2000m steeplechase and 16th in 3000m.

South Kamloops Secondary School:

SKSS teams were West Zone Champions in Cross Country, Senior Boys Volleyball, Gold Girls Volleyball, Silver Girls Volleyball, Junior Ultimate, Senior Ultimate, and Senior Girls Rugby 7’s
Senior Ultimate, Senior Boys Tennis, Senior Girls Soccer teams were Okanagan Champions
Several teams competed at Provincial Championships and won the following:
Senior Boys Soccer (13th)
Senior Boys Volleyball (17th)
Senior Girls Basketball (11th)
Senior Boys Rugby 15’s (8th)
Senior Girls Rugby 7’s (11th)
Senior Ultimate (3rd)
Senior Boys Tennis (3rd)
First year wrestler Ben Carroll place 4th in the Provincial Championships
SKSS Basketball Coach Del Komarnski was a 2025 recipient of the BC School Sports Citation of Excellence.

Valleyview Secondary:

AAA Senior Girls Basketball team places 14th at the Provincial Championships
On the Wrestling team, Willow Wood won first place in all of BC and Maddex McGrath placed 6th in the Provincial Championships

Westsyde Secondary:

Girls Curling team won the Regional Playdowns and then went on to win Silver at the Provincial Championships
AA Senior Boys Basketball team placed 4th at the Provincial Championships
AA Senior Girls Basketball team placed 12th at the Provincial Championships
Senior Girls 7's Rugby 7s team places 10th at Provincials
Senior AA Girls Soccer team placed 14th at the Provincial Championships

Understanding Indigenous Principles of Learning Series 1

Wed, 12 Jan 2022 18:00:00 GMT

SD73 presenters Trudi Nielsen, Aboriginal District Resource Teacher K-3, and Charmayne Wilson, Aboriginal Distict Resource Teacher On-the-Land, will be sharing local and traditional medicines from the territory. They will also be using and teaching Secwepemctsin (Secwepemc Language) terms and references. This will lead to a deeper understanding of the local language, as well as local Indigenous ways of knowing and doing.

The workshop will be held via ZOOM on Thursday, January 27, from 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM. If you are interested in attending, you are asked to register here, and you will be provided with the link to the meeting.

Who Am I? Events - Brocklehurst Middle School - December 14, 2023 and January 11, 2024

Fri, 12 Jan 2024 21:00:00 GMT

Allisson Badger, District Career Education Coordinator

In the 2022-2027 District Strategic Plan, student and staff wellbeing is a core value commitment of the district. The Career Development Team works with teachers to provide students with learning opportunities that inspire them to thrive.

Brocklehurst Middle School held two Who Am I?, hosted by two grade 7 teachers: Taylor Rae and Taylor Carmichael. Who Am I? is an event where students guess the job of three guest speakers and learn about their careers. A big thank you to Caity Klaudt, Occupational Safety Officer with WorkSafeBC, Julianna Duplessis, Diagnostic Medical Sonographer and Echocardiographer with Interior Health, Jasmine Bigham Engineer Wood Producer Team Lead and Designer with Kamloops Truss, Lisa Newman Red Seal Electrician, Industrial Technician and Safety officer with New Gold, Stephanie Drake, Environmental Engineer with Trace Associates, and Cristen Fleck, Medical Laboratory Assistant with Interior Health.

The goal of the events is to introduce students to new careers and career areas. Students offered their feedback on the “Who I Am” events:

“The guests enjoyed ‘helping our future to dream big’ and encouraging students to "think outside the box," stated Julianna.
"I got to meet cool people with cool jobs,'' said Drey Dennis.
Ben Rhone described the event as a "really fun activity and we got to learn about stuff, especially Caity Klaudt's job where she works in the wilderness and Jasmine's job where she engineers wood.”

Taylor Carmichael, a teacher, shared, "It was really interesting to see students interact with people that have careers that they would not have thought of off hand. You can see that when they guessed they really thought about the careers."

The “Who Am I” events exposed students to new jobs and aims to expand horizons and increase aspirations by meeting local community people with unique and engaging jobs. This event could not run without the enthusiastic students and the positive contributions from community partners.

We are Stronger Together as a Community

Wed, 01 Sep 2021 15:30:00 GMT

By Rhonda Nixon, Superintendent

September 1, 2021

In less than one week, 2,000 teachers, administrators and support staff welcome 15,000 K to 12 students back in class for full-time learning. Kamloops-Thompson students can look forward to resuming sports, music, and other extracurricular activities.

While we recognize that families and students are excited to see each other in school in September, we know that there is some anxiety about what school will look like. Safety remains our top priority. Back-to-school is not quite the normal that we had hoped for, but we are confident that our health and safety guidelines: continued mask wearing, daily health checks, staying home when sick, a continued focus on hand washing, daily cleaning and disinfecting protocols, and other health and safety measures will keep students, parents, and staff safe.

The updated COVID-19 communicable disease guidelines for K-12 schools align with current public health advice and were developed in collaboration with the Office of the Provincial Health Officer, BC Centre for Disease Control, WorkSafeBC, and the Education Steering Committee. Based on these guidelines and in consultation with Interior Health, our COVID-19 Response committee has co-developed our SD73 Communicable Disease Prevention Plan, which will be available this upcoming week as our staff continue to work together to ensure a safe school start-up.

While the pandemic protocols for the restart have certainly been top of mind, so has SD73’s role in Truth and Reconciliation. On my first day in the district, May 28, the devastating news of the discovery of 215 children’s bodies at the Kamloops Indian Residential School was released. Given that this is an especially vulnerable time for our communities, school and district leaders began the year with professional learning on August 26 to learn how we can continue to move forward with Truth and Reconciliation.

Throughout July and August, the District’s Emergency Response Committee activated its protocols when Evacuation Alerts or Orders were issued for several of our communities, which also affected the families attending those eleven schools. My heart goes out to those staff and families who work or attend Westwold and who lost their homes or who were impacted by the fires. District and school staff continue to support those individuals impacted.

We will continue to monitor the situation, to work together to ensure the safety of students and staff, and to attend to air quality, should it become an issue.

In my role as the new superintendent, I marvel at the resiliency of the people in our rural and urban communities. This has been evident in the way that everyone has helped each other to persist through the challenges of the past year, which I witnessed first-hand during this summer’s intense wildfire season. There is no doubt that we are stronger together as a community. I look forward to continuing to get to know more people and to learn firsthand about our communities throughout the school year.

This column appeared in Kamloops This Week: View from SD73 on September 1, 2021

Logan Lake Students' Para Ice Hockey Experience

Tue, 03 Mar 2020 19:15:00 GMT

Students in grades 2 through 4 at Logan Lake Elementary recently enjoyed an adaptive sports experience playing para ice hockey as part of a physical education class.

“Thanks to a grant from PacificSport and the Adaptive Sports Association, we were one of the first schools to try out the brand new, kid-sized sleds,” said Jayne Latta, vice-principal, Logan Lake Elementary. “It's something different and the wonderful thing is it allows students of all abilities to participate in Canada's official game. Our kids were thrilled to try it out.”

Para ice hockey, also called sledge hockey, uses a sledge that is set on two blades, equipped with a bucket seat and a backrest. In para ice hockey, players use two sticks with a hooked blade and a pick at the other end. It is different than regular hockey as players are not able to move backwards. It takes a lot of upper body strength for players to make their way around the ice in order to shoot the puck at the net.

There are a few schools in SD73 piloting sledge hockey as part of their winter skating times. Classes interested in trying out para hockey as part of their physical exercise programs can contact Andrew Abley with Kamloops Sledge Hockey (250) 819-7670.

Blazers Teammates, Valleyview Scholars Honoured

Fri, 15 May 2020 22:30:00 GMT

A group of Valleyview Secondary students who play for the Kamloops Blazers have been recognized for their outstanding academic achievements, including goalie Dylan Garand.

The Western Hockey League has named the Kamloops Blazers as the scholastic team of the year, and Garand has been named the WHL scholastic player of the year. The eight players completed 33 core courses with an average of 90.8 per cent and 49 overall courses with an average of 93.6 per cent. In January, three of them graduated early.

Garand, who was born and raised in Victoria, said he can’t remember a time when he wasn’t playing hockey. For the last two years he’s been attending VVS and playing for the Blazers, and he has maintained a 96 per cent average.

“I was just super happy for the opportunity to come to Kamloops to play, and for the chance to go to Valleyview,” said Garand. “I think they were the best teachers I’ve had in my life, they were so supportive with helping me stay on top of my school work when I had to miss classes.”

“We are so proud of how well all these players did with their studies,” said Barb Hamblett, Principal, Valleyview Secondary. “To have this team recognized this way on top of what they’ve managed to achieve on the ice this year means they have become top academic athletes. That’s pretty impressive.”

Hamblett points to their exacting schedules, including being up early for practice, then attending classes, and often having to leave partway through the day to travel for games, spending hours on the road.

“This is a hard-working group, they the defending BC division champions, they probably missed about 35 per cent of their class time and for them to receive these premier awards is really exciting” said Victor Bifano, Academic Advisor for the Kamloops Blazers. “It’s critical to acknowledge the collective effort it took to support these players from across the community, including at Valleyview Secondary, the teachers and their counsellor, Ariane Gavelin.”

“The Blazers continue to be leaders in the classroom among WHL member Clubs, guaranteeing that student athletes meet and exceed their academic potential consistent with the WHL Education Standards and Policies,” said the WHL website. “The academic standing of the Blazer players at Valleyview Secondary School continues to be a source of pride for the Blazers organization, community and the school. In the past 17 years, the Blazers have maintained a 100 percent high-school graduation rate.”

Kamloops-Thompson School District Celebrates Pink Shirt Day - February 28, 2024

Wed, 28 Feb 2024 17:00:00 GMT

In the 2022-2027 District Strategic Plan, our Cultural Identity Priority reinforces the need to ensure that every student feels safe, welcomed, included, connected, and has a sense of belonging in their schools.

Wednesday, February 28, 2024 marks the 17th Pink Shirt Day provincially, and it is an opportunity to celebrate diversity and inclusivity.

“Our Board is committed to making sure that all students are proud of who they are in the fullness of their identities (cultural, family, ethnic, religious, age, sexual orientations and gender identities, and disabilities or diverse abilities) to feel safe, accepted and respected in our schools and district facilities,” stated Board Chair Heather Grieve.

“We have many opportunities for students to have a voice (District Student Equity Council, District Student Advisory Council, Aboriginal Student Leadership Council, Indigenous Student Summit, to name some examples). In these groups, students feel safe to express themselves about barriers to feeling included (racism, discrimination, bullying),” shared Superintendent Dr. Rhonda Nixon. “I am proud of the work of all staff who lead these groups to help us to change procedures and practices that prevent students from feeling safe, included, and having a sense of belonging in schools.”

“The District Accessibility Committee is a group of individuals 50% of whom have visible and invisible disabilities. They have developed an accessibility plan and have recently collected feedback on this plan,” shared Assistant Superintendent Mochikas. “I believe that this group is already making a positive impact on our district because they have identified actions such as having the Rick Hansen Foundation review our facilities to assess a school’s overall accessibility. This process would provide valuable information to assist in making schools and District facilities more accessible.”

“Pink Shirt Day signifies the importance of the Cultural and Identity Priority in the District Strategic Plan and all that we are doing to embrace every person for who they are and who they become in environments that enable them to flourish,” shared Board Chair Heather Grieve.

We encourage you to spread positive messages of inspiration and share words of kindness this Pink Shirt Day, using the social media hashtags: #PinkShirtDay, #LiftEachOtherUp and #erasebullying.”

Kamloops Thompson Honour Choir Shares Music and Holiday Joy

Thu, 12 Dec 2024 21:00:00 GMT

Story provided by Chelsea Isenor, Director of Communications and Board Administration

The Kamloops-Thompson Board of Education is invested in supporting the Fine Arts including music, drama, art, and digital arts that inspire many students to discover their passions. Student performances hold a special place on the public agenda for the Board of Education each December. At the Regular Public Board Meeting on Monday, December 9, 2024, the Board was delighted to experience a special performance from the Kamloops Thompson Honour Choir.

The Kamloops-Thompson Honour Choir is made up of Grade 3-8 students throughout the District, each of whom audition for a place in the choir. Students meet each week at Kamloops School of the Arts to hone their skills and share a love of singing.

On Monday evening, the Board of Education was joined by the Alanna Mounsey (District Fine Arts Coordinator), Jennica Alpaugh (Choir Conductor), Lori Froese (Choir Accompanist), Taqueesha Lightfoot (Choir Manager), Mike Woods (Drummer), Sam Suppanz (Assistant Choir Director), and 60 students from the Kamloops-Thompson Honour Choir. Family and friends of the choir members packed the public gallery at the Board meeting to watch the performance.

“We are excited to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of this choir this spring,” shared District Fine Arts Coordinator, Alanna Mounsey, as she introduced the choir before their performance.

The Honour Choir performed three songs including Turn, Stretchy Pants, and A Christmas Medley (a mashup of familiar holiday songs including Deck the Halls, Jungle Bells, Ding Dong Merrily on High, and more).

Following the performance, students shared their favourite parts of being in choir, expressing their love of singing and performing. One student shared that she wanted to join the choir ever since she saw them perform in Grade 2. Another student shared, “I really enjoy singing and performing, it's just one of those things that make my day.” Several students talked about making friends and the choir being a positive community. “Choir is a really good community because everyone who is here wants to be here…coming to choir is really fun because you get to see your friends and sing with them,” one student shared, while another described Honour Choir as “a big family of singing kids.”

Board Chair Heather Grieve shared, “This is one of our favorite nights of the year because we get a chance to celebrate the holiday season and to celebrate you all who are singing your hearts out… The words you have spoken about your experience in the choir are just as meaningful and powerful as what you sang. On behalf of the Board of Education, thank you for your commitment, your time, and for sharing your talents with us. What a talented group of young people you are and we can't wait to see where your futures take you.”

This annual performance from the Kamloops-Thompson Honour Choir is a special event for both the choir and Board of Education. There is nothing quite like the sound of beautiful voices singing songs of the season to bring everyone into the holiday season spirit.

Superintendent's Update

Sat, 20 Jan 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Dear Parents and Caregivers:

As we continued through this past week with wintery weather, thank you to staff who supported the snow removal in our district and to Transportation managers and bus drivers for staying in regular contact every morning and throughout the day to assess road conditions. Thank you to staff and families for their patience and for staff and parents who supervised in cold weather. Everyone showed a collective commitment to connections/relationships and the Grandfather Teaching of Respect in the 2022-2027 District Strategic Plan, which are a focus of stories in January.

RL Clemitson Elementary School

Principal Buemann and I started our visit in Mrs. Strom’s Gr. 6-7 class studying French and stating what they liked and didn’t like in French. I also learned that Mrs. Strom was planning a Robotics Olympics event and students are excited to take part in it for the first time in the school. Mrs. Munden’s Gr. 5-6 class was designing Heritage stamps and stories to submit to the Heritage Stamp contest.

In Mrs. Macdonald’s Gr. 3 class, students were working on planning and creating stop-motion animation. Before we left the class, one student came up to share a joke- “What do you call a funny mountain?” Answer- Hill-arious. Mrs. Jenkins’ Kindergarten class was sitting at the carpet and individual students were coming up to the front to point to one of a selection of paintings to say which one evoked happy feelings and why. Mrs. Young’s Gr. 3 class was studying how to make a winter home. Mrs. Burn’s classroom held two groups of students (Gr. 2 and 4) for a buddy reading activity.

Mrs. Ngo’s Kindergarten class was playing in stations. Mrs. Lam’s Kindergarten children were also playing in stations while Mrs. Lam engaged children one-on-one in the Kindergarten Survey. As we were ending our walk, Mrs. Wilmot’s class was preparing for the break and Mrs. Froese was on prep and took time to share her excitement about the upcoming RLC Spring Production of “The Greatest Showman”.

Black Excellence Day - Jan. 15

Black Excellence Day was created by Ninandotoo Society and takes place on January 15th each year to celebrate the civil rights activist, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. who was born on January 15, 1929. To learn more about how we celebrated this day in our district, r ead more.

SD73 Participates in Welcoming Thompson-Nicola Regional District (TNRD) Public Library Print/Braille Books

The Kamloops-Thompson School District is committed to the literacy development of every student as part of the Intellectual Development Priority in the 2022-2027 District Strategic Plan.

On January 4th, 2024, students and staff celebrated World Braille Day. This important day marks the birthday of Louis Braille, the man who developed the braille code making print materials accessible for partially sighted and blind people. Louis Braille was born 215 years ago in France on January 4, 1809. To learn more about Louis’s important contribution click this link. Read more.

Accessibility Survey

School District No. 73 is committed to removing barriers and creating environments that provide accessible and empowering opportunities for all students and staff to thrive. As part of this commitment, SD73 has formed an Accessibility Committee and we would appreciate your feedback based on your experiences within the school district. Staff, students and families are encouraged to complete the SD73 Accessibility Survey to help shape the District's Accessibility Plan. The survey will be open from January 11th to January 26th. Please see the current Accessibility Plan here. If preferred, you can also share your thoughts by:

Emailing HERE
Calling (250) 374-0679, and the receptionist will connect you to a committee member,
Mailing written feedback to the School Board Office at 1383 9^th Avenue, Kamloops, BC, V2C 3X7, or
Completing a paper copy of the accessibility survey and deliver/mail it to the School Board Office.

Invitation to Join Us in Naming the New School in Pineview Valley

After eight (8) years of working with the Ministry of Education and Child Care, the Kamloops-Thompson Board of Education received funding for a new school in Pineview Valley on February 22, 2023. This new K-7 elementary school will have a capacity of 453 students and is expected to be complete prior to September 2026. The Board of Education would like to invite members of the Kamloops-Thompson School District community to submit a name for the new school. Please provide suggestions based on the following criteria:

name of the street on which it is located (Copperhead Drive)
name of the geographic area (Pineview Valley)
name with historical significance to Indigenous rights holders
name that is reflective of local, provincial, and national diversities
name that reflects a positive image of the board
name of a person, if there is written support of a family representative, and if the name is used posthumously, and after five years of their passing

Naming of the New School in Pineview Valley form can be filled out HERE.

An invitation was sent out to all staff and parents. Read more here.

Deadline: March 1, 2024.

Kindergarten Round-Up Information Night

If you would like to learn more about how to register for Kindergarten in our district, please join us on Wednesday, January 31, 2024 - 6:30 PM -7:30 PM (virtual session). Register here to listen and ask questions of community partners and School District 73 staff about Kindergarten 2024. For more information, read the Welcome to Kindergarten Handbook and visit our webpage. Read more

District Parent Advisory Council - Parent Education Night

The SD73 District Parent Advisory Council is hosting a session to learn more about Interior Health’s mental health and substance use supports available in the soon to be open Foundry in Kamloops: Featuring - Interior Health’s Jen Howes: Team Lead Substance Use Team MHSU Kamloops and The Foundry’s Lisa Johannesen: Manager – Foundry Kamloops. Read more

Please join: Wednesday January 24th from 7:00 - 8:00 PM, Register: HERE

As we welcome the snow, I hope that you have fun outside and stay safe.

Rhonda Nixon, PhD

Superintendent

SD73 Opens Ralph Bell Elementary Child Care

Mon, 04 Dec 2023 19:45:00 GMT

On December 4, 2023, Honourable Grace Lore, Minister of State for Child Care officially announced (ministry news release) the opening of a new child care centre at Ralph Bell Elementary School in the Valleyview area.

Minister Lore emphasized, “Being able to access affordable, quality child care is so important for parents and families, and allows them to work, study or pursue other goals.” She added, “Children, their families and Kamloops’ local economy will benefit from these (72 at Happyvale, 72 at Ralph Bell) new licensed infant-toddler child care spaces that were identified as much needed in the Kamloops region.”

“We know that families in the Kamloops-Thompson communities across our district are in much need of child care,” stated Board Chair Heather Grieve. “We began the journey of opening our first child care in the District more than two years ago with our first applications for 144 spaces for two locations, Ralph Bell and Happyvale/Twin Rivers Education Centre.”

“The vision for the future of child care within the district is to continue to work with the Ministry of Education to access the New Child Care Spaces fund and to collaborate with community partners to discern locations for new child care spaces,” stated Superintendent Dr. Rhonda Nixon. “This is our first experience creating spaces devoted to childcare by accessing New Spaces funding, which will inform future applications for new child care spaces.”

“We have been working with Inquiring Little Minds (ILM) to design and prepare for the implementation of a child care with 48 spaces for 3-5 year olds and 24 spaces for Infant/Toddler care from birth - 30 months of age,” explained Assistant Superintendent Grant Reilly. “Currently, ILM has 12 infant-toddlers registered, which is the capacity of one Infant Toddler program.”

Once ILM has another Infant Toddler Educator, they will be able to enroll an additional 12 children. Qualified ECE Infant/Toddler specialists are in short demand currently across BC.

“The best part about opening our first child care has been the working relationship between the Facilities and Maintenance and the Early Learning and Child Care teams of SD73, and the Inquiring Little Minds team,” shared Ms. Tanya Rogers, District Principal of Early Learning and Child Care. “And, ultimately, the ability to support additional child care spaces for families here in Kamloops.”

“These new spots are more than childcare for families in need, they are the light at the end of a long tunnel. They are a step toward ensuring a bright future with quality education for children of all ages,” shared Ms. Emma Silver, Manager for ILM, Ralph Bell site.

“It is so exciting to meet the child care needs of some families, and we recognize that we must continue to work with partners to enable more families to access quality child care in both our urban and rural areas,” stated Board Chair Grieve.

Competition between Secondaries to Benefit Less Fortunate

Mon, 20 Dec 2021 16:00:00 GMT

Four SD73 high schools participated in a friendly food drive competition to support the Kamloops Food Bank.

“This competition was originally created by a group of SKSS Leadership students three years ago but over the last few years, [Valleyview] has decided to take it on and challenge the other high schools and our middle school as a friendly competition to donate as much food as possible for the Kamloops Food Bank,” said Christine Yamaoka, teacher at Valleyview Secondary. “Over the last few years, food insecurity has increased in Kamloops and the Leadership class realized we needed to keep the competition alive. I believe this helps to unite a school at a time when spirit is not as high and students need a united sense of purpose outside of themselves.”

The deciding factor for the competition is determined by the total weight of the donations, so the strategy quickly became requesting heavy items, such as jugs of juice and jars of pickles from each school’s communities.

The breakdown of total weight by school was as follows:

Westsyde: 307
South Kamloops: 767
Sa-Hali: 837
Valleyview: 1694

The grand total was 3,605 pounds of nutritious non-perishable food donations with Valleyview Secondary coming out as the clear winner for the second year in a row.

Battle of the Books - a 35-Year Tradition in SD73

Fri, 21 Apr 2023 17:00:00 GMT

School District No. 73 students are busy reading, discussing, and preparing for this year's Battle of the Books! This popular reading motivation program is meant to encourage reading and to broaden reading interests. Students participating each read 12 books. Teacher-librarian organizers carefully select 36 suitable and engaging books for the three categories of competitors to read. The committee varies the titles chosen by genre and difficulty so that the readers may encounter a broad range of books.

Three lists of books are chosen, one for each of the grade categories. Students read the books, discuss them, quiz each other on the contents, and compete in teams of three to correctly answer the questions based on the books. The questions are all trivia style, beginning with “In what book...” so that the answer will always be the title of a book. Battle of the Books proves to be effective in its specified purpose – to stimulate an interest in reading.

Originally, an Alaskan Reading Motivation Program, a local teacher-librarian introduced the program to SD73 in the spring of 1987. That fall, SD73 teacher-librarians reorganized the program to incorporate Canadian content and developed a district model.

The first official district battle was held at Parkcrest Elementary School on April 13th, 1988. Eighteen elementary schools from the district participated. The Kamloops Battle of the Books program has grown to include as many as 30 elementary schools. The high school version, Battle Reboot, has been running for three years and has expanded this year to include grades 11-12 students. While the format is more of a jeopardy style with creative competitions, the goal remains the same - to encourage students to read and to foster a joy of reading. The District event takes place this year on April 27th.

This year we have 28 schools competing in the elementary Battle of the Books. These schools will participate in Zone battles on April 20. The top two teams of each of the three grade levels at the four zones will advance to the District Battle of the Books at the Henry Grube on April 27 from 12:30-2:30.

Parents as Education & Career Coaches Workshop

Fri, 06 Oct 2023 16:00:00 GMT

Parents and student supporters are invited to join a virtual Parents as Education & Career Coaches (PECC) Workshop to learn how you can help support your student in planning for their future. The information will be especially helpful for families with students in Grades 10-12.

The workshop is scheduled for Tuesday, October 17, 2023, from 7 pm to 8:30 pm on Microsoft Teams.

For more information and to register, go to the event posted in the Trades and Transitions calendar.

What the BC Gov't Travel Advisory Means for Schools and Spring Break

Fri, 13 Mar 2020 19:00:00 GMT

What are the school district's obligations as an employer during this pandemic? Will schools re-open after Spring Break? What do I need to know about travel outside Canada? What conditions require me to self-isolate? These are just a few of the questions we address on our March 13 Staff COVID-19 FAQ. Please take some time to read them before heading out to Spring Break. To stay updated through the break, check our SD73 COVID-19 Update page for regular updates.

KSA student wins 2019 Rotary Grade 6/7 Speech Contest

Thu, 07 Mar 2019 20:15:00 GMT

Mandisa Volo, a grade 7 student from Kamloops School of the Arts, won the 2019 Rotary Grade 6/7 Speech Competition in Kamloops. She won by beginning and ending with her own poetry, providing personal insights and offering some ideas to combat racial discrimination.

The school level competition for the Rotary Speak Off began the week of Feb. 4 and culminated with the District Speak Off Mar. 4. Students in grade 6 and 7 could chose form three topics: enter to learn; go forth to serve, life is too precious don’t destroy it or help shape the future.

We asked Mandisa for an encore of her speech in the video below.

Prizes were awarded by Alison Sidow, Superintendent SD73 to Mandisa Volo (1st) and Sydney Stone (2nd).

Judges for the evening were Miki Andrejevic, Tim Shoults and Danalee Baker, M.C. for the evening was Al Thompson. Organized by Rotarian and former SD73 Principal Chris Rose, the speech contest included students from nine elementary schools.

TNT Industry Career Fair

Thu, 16 Mar 2023 16:00:00 GMT

Almost 100 students from across SD73 gathered at the Coast Hotel and Conference Centre on March 7^th for this School District initiative: A Career Fair connecting trades-minded students with 23 local employers. There are a couple of things that make this career fair unique. First, we focus on students interested in a future in Trades, highlighting trades as an excellent first-choice career. Second, we support students to have deeper, meaningful conversations with the men and women working in their preferred industries. Students identified their primary interest as Construction, Mechanical/Industrial or Hospitality, and then were seated at dinner with the tradespeople, business owners and/or Human Resource managers within that industry. Following dinner students could wander the room, meet more employers, and explore the amazing trade fair booths that employers had set up.

This event highlights the Career Development Department's commitment to equity and connection/relationships. One employer commented that it was "very encouraging to see so many female students interested in the trades although our population is almost 50/50 there are only about 5% of women in the trades." Another employer was so impressed with the young men and women of SD73: "It was extremely uplifting to witness these young adults step outside their comfort zone and put themselves out front and center. I was impressed with the attitudes and respectfulness in which everyone conducted themselves."

Thank you to all the businesses who joined us on March 7th and to all the Trades and Transitions Coordinators and Career Education teachers who supported students.

Sheila Brown, District Coordinator – Trades and Transitions

Why Band is So Cool

Mon, 28 Jun 2021 19:00:00 GMT

The band program is growing at South Kamloops Secondary, and Music Teacher Michelle McRae believes it's because her band classes are having so much fun through the pandemic.

“They have drive and ambition, and they love to play music,” she said. “There have been no band trips, they have not been able to play many live performances (except outside, for fellow students), but they are so genuinely happy when they play together, it’s getting noticed.”

McRae the band has held three different concerts outside with various groups performing, so each time, the student audience sees different groups. Other students have taken notice throughout the year.

“They’re seeing how these band students are creating a family of kids, a safe place for each other, a home away from home,” she said. “They come and ask, ‘how can I join?’ and I tell them, everyone is welcome.”

As a result, the band program is growing from four to five classes for next fall.

Four students from the SKSS Senior Band explain why they love playing in school band.

Graeme Hanks, grade 10

Trumpet

For Graeme Hanks, playing music during the pandemic has opened up the world of arranging music.

“I love working with soundtracks like ‘Narnia’ and ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’,” he said. “Working with existing music and re-writing different parts for different instruments.”

Several members of his family play music, and they spent time together playing pieces Graeme had arranged.

He’s still exploring how music could be a part of his career path, and in the meantime, he is having a lot of fun with the music.

“It’s not a class, it is a community,” he said. “Everyone gets excited before a concert, and everyone gets nervous. You have the grade 12s helping out the grade 8s and 9s, helping each other to find a consistent practice and focus.”

Leo Mete grade 11,

Drummer - Percussionist

Leo Mete has been playing in a school band since grade 7.

“I always liked playing drums,” he said. “Playing in this band has been challenging, and it has helped me become better.”

During the pandemic, he has developed an interest in composition.

“I have become more curious, I guess I always listened for the details in the music, and composing is the next level, being able to appreciate and understand how a school band comes together and writing a part for each instrument.”

Leo would like to attend the University of Toronto after graduation, where he would like to study music and composition.

“There are lots of different directions music can take you,” he said. “Band isn’t for everyone, but if you have a passion for it, you should go for it.”

Senora Dunford, Grade 12

Instrument: Euphonium and Trumpet

Senora is heading to the University of Victoria (UVIC) to study music, with the goal of becoming a music teacher.

She began in band playing the trumpet, but a few years ago when there was a need for someone to play the euphonium for some pieces, she volunteered to learn that instrument.

“I tried it, and I really liked it,” she said. “I love the full, rich sound of it, and I like the role it plays in the band, supporting the sound. It’s a foundation for the music.”

Despite the pandemic, and the restrictions that kept the band apart through the spring and summer of 2020, and the limits that continued through this past school year (including being unable to perform for live audiences), Senora said the band kept going.

“It’s been a weird year,” she said. “But we made it work. Being in the band, being a part of something, really helped because even though I was playing by myself, I was still a part of this community.”

Xavier Marican, Grade 12

Instrument: Saxophone

Xavier is also heading to UVIC, to study classical saxophone performance in the fall.

“I am particularly drawn to the saxophone because of its place in the culture of classical music,” he said. “It hasn’t been around as long as music has been made. It is newer. So the music that has been written for it defines what is new and exciting about the world of classical music right now, and it is exciting to be a part of it.”

His long-term goal is to study in Europe, and eventually to foster saxophone quartets and offer musical clinics in high schools.

"I have had a bit of experience with that here coaching our saxophone quartet,” he said. “Getting these really talented musicians together and offering them the resources they need to learn just how amazing it is to make really great music has been so fulfilling to me, I want it to be at the core of what I do.”

Here is the SKSS Sr Band playing ‘Game of Thrones’ for fellow students June 18.

Here is the SKSS Sr Concert Band and Jazz Band’ 2021 Final Concert, held at the Sagebrush Theatre.

Student Digital Safety Session

Fri, 07 Jan 2022 16:00:00 GMT

The Ministry of Education - Student Wellness and Safety will be offering a virtual information session for students in grade 8-12 covering all things digital, from how to be a good digital citizen to the criminal consequences of cyberbullying. Some of the most prominent concerns currently surrounding students’ use of social media platforms and smartphones will be discussed.

Date: Thursday, February 3, 2022 from 6:30-7:30 PM

Students can register themselves or parents/guardians may be interested in registering and/or participating in this virtual session alongside their child. On the registration page, complete your name and email address, then for “Your School District” select “73 Kamloops/Thompson” and under “Role/Title” select “Student” or “Parent.” The ZOOM login will be sent a few days prior to the session.

Interior Health In-school Vaccination Clinics Underway

Fri, 17 Sep 2021 15:00:00 GMT

Kamloops-Thompson secondary schools in Chase, Clearwater, Barriere and Logan Lake will be the site for Interior Health’s in-school vaccination clinics beginning Thursday, Oc.t 7, 2021.

The clinics will provide access to COVID-19 vaccine for eligible students 12 years and older, teachers, staff, and community family members. Parents are welcome to accompany their child at the time of their vaccination.

“We have worked with the Interior Health public health nurse manager and vaccination coordinator to prepare for hosting the vaccination clinics in schools,” said Dr. Rhonda Nixon, Superintendent, School District No. 73. “Secondary schools hosting the clinics will be sending the parents and caregivers information from Interior Health.”

SD73 is working closely with Interior Health to ensure measures are in place to protect the health and safety of students and staff. Entrances and exits to the clinics will be through exterior doors and will be clearly marked, and all visitors to the clinic will need to follow the clinic’s health and safety guidelines.

“We pride ourselves on being partners with Public Health to support access to vaccinations,” said Rhonda Kershaw, Chair SD73 Board of Education. “We are pleased to continue this important role in keeping our communities safe.”

The rescheduled in-school vaccination clinic at South Kamloops Secondary will take place Friday, Oct. 1, 2021.

Date	School
October 1, 2021 12:00 to 4:30	South Kamloops Secondary
October 7, 2021 2:00 to 4:00	Chase Secondary
October 8, 2021 2:00 to 4:00	Clearwater Secondary
October 13, 2021 2:00 to 4:00	Barriere Secondary
October 13, 2021 1:00 to 3:00	Logan Lake Secondary

Raft River Elementary School: Leading the Way in Sustainability

Tue, 22 Apr 2025 21:00:00 GMT

Story provided by Jayanthi Saravanan, Raft River Elementary School Teacher

Raft River Elementary School in Clearwater, BC is taking some exciting steps toward sustainability and environmental excellence. This year, with the support of Principal Carmella Mathieu, Raft River staff and students launched an Eco Club. Under the leadership of Ms. Elizabeth Shook and a dedicated team of teachers, including Ms. Victoria Cooke, Ms. Christina Scrivner, and Ms. Jayanthi Saravanan, the school is working toward achieving Platinum Certification from Eco Schools Canada.

One of Raft River’s standout initiatives is the Goose Paper Drive, an innovative project that encourages the reuse of partially used paper. This simple yet impactful project has received overwhelming support from both students and staff, significantly reducing waste while promoting sustainable, eco-friendly habits. The participation of everyone in this initiative exemplifies the school community’s commitment to making a positive difference in the environment.

In addition to the Goose Paper Drive, Raft River Elementary also has several other sustainability initiatives, including school gardens, composting systems, and energy-saving programs, which have been in place for years. These efforts not only align with their sustainability goals but also provide invaluable hands-on learning opportunities for students.

Students and staff are also excited about upcoming projects planned for the next few months, which will further foster environmental awareness and responsibility within the school community. These initiatives are a testament to the enthusiasm and dedication of Raft River students and staff. The Raft River school community is proud to be working together toward a greener, more sustainable future.

The Kamloops-Thompson School Districts is excited to celebrate this story on Earth Day, an annual global event on April 22 where people all over the world demonstrate their support for environmental protection. Sustainability is one of the core values in the 2022-2027 District Strategic Plan – as a District we are committed to embracing our responsibility to contribute to a sustainable environment. Thank you to the staff and students at Raft River Elementary School, and all schools across the District, for the work you are doing to ensure sustainability remains at the forefront of your schools and communities.

Superintendent's Update

Thu, 29 Sep 2022 23:30:00 GMT

Dear Parents and Caregivers:

We are in the final days of September and looking forward to Fire Prevention Week (October 3-7), and World Teachers’ Day (October 5). Thank you to parents, students, and staff who shared in reading stories of connecting and developing relationships to help everyone feel welcome, cared for, and to have a sense of belonging in our schools and district buildings.

October: Equity and Courage

Throughout October, I will highlight stories about equity: removing barriers and creating environments that provide accessible and empowering opportunities for all students and staff to thrive. This is one of the four core values in our 2022-2027 District Strategic Plan. To remove barriers takes courage, which is one the Seven Grandfather Teachings: Bear ském? cis represents Courage crelrelállts?e and is known to be the medicine keeper who guides communities with the knowledge held in the medicines. The picture of Mount Peter and Mount Paul inside Bear’s paw represents how Bear holds the knowledge of Mother Earth in his steps and he has the courage to assist those in need by carrying medicines to them.

National Day for Truth and Reconciliation- Remembering the Children

I am proud of the staff and students who engaged in activities throughout the week (September 26-30) to remember the painful history of residential schools, and those impacted by them. We also honour the 215 children who lost their lives in the Kamloops Indian Residential School who are known as “Le Estcwéy”, which means ‘the missing’. Read more

Rae Bennett’s Healing Journey- A Story of Courage

Aboriginal Education Worker Rae Bennett shared her life story of losing her mom who was a victim of the tragic history of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG) in Canada. Ms. Bennett explained how her trauma was transformed into inner courage to share her story with others. Sharing her “truth” created a positive focus on inspiring others to develop a deeper understanding and awareness of how this tragic history is part of the truth in Truth and Reconciliation. Ms. Bennett explained how she was devastated by her mother’s end of life, but she used it as a source of digging deep within who she was– “I carried on and I discovered the importance of a self-love journey. I want others to know that the more they can experience joy in doing positive things, the more healing they will find.” In this way, she unleashed within her listeners a sense of hope from this tragedy. Hope that expands beyond one person to many creates “hope-filled communities” that can “remove barriers” and “create environments that enable all students and staff to thrive (equity). I am grateful for having heard her story and even more honored that she agreed to have her story told in greater detail on our District website- Read more.

Kay Bingham Elementary School- Gift of the Drum

I am grateful to Daniel Lysons, Aboriginal Education Worker at Kay Bingham Elementary School, who gifted me a drum that he made to take part in traditional Secwépemc ceremonies.

He has invited me to sing the Welcome Song when I return to the school, and he encouraged me to join in drumming with small and large groups to feel the “heartbeat” of the Aboriginal community in my hands and in my heart.

Staff and Family Affordability Grant

SD73 was allocated $1,656,248 which can be used to: improve students’ access to nutritional food / meals, before, during and after the school day by increasing nutritional opportunities throughout the day, providing students meal supports, and/or supports to dependent children in their families. To learn more about how to access the funds, Read more.

Enjoy the second National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on Friday, September 30, 2022. Stay well and continue to nurture positive connections and relationships with family and friends.

Rhonda Nixon, PhD

Superintendent

SD73 RCMP Youth Academy 2023

Thu, 23 Mar 2023 17:00:00 GMT

Heather Grieve, Board Chair

The Kamloops-Thompson Board of Education celebrates the 13 youth who have embarked on the journey of learning about law enforcement in the annual RCMP Youth Academy.

This academy experience is one week (March 18-23) over Spring Break, and it is designed to resemble cadet training with the RCMP. Once a cadet is accepted, they are assigned to a troop of 32 members and then take part in an extensive 26-week training program at Depot, which is the RCMP Academy in Regina, Saskatchewan. Once they successfully complete the Cadet Training Program (CTP), they are then offered employment with the RCMP and given peace officer status.

The SD73 - Kamloops RCMP Youth Academy has been conducted each year since 2011 and is similar to RCMP Youth academies that are conducted in Williams Lake, Vernon and Richmond, BC. This year, students came from School District No. 73 (Kamloops-Thompson), Quesnel, Hope, Seabird Island, Harrison Hot Springs, and Agassiz. We were fortunate to have officers such as Corporal Rebecca Munro from Lillooet who joined us to share her role in recruitment of Indigenous youth into the RCMP, and Sergeant Brenda Winpenny and her team from CFSEU who traveled from Surrey to inform students about the dangers of gang life.

Director Kienlein stated, “These students have been on site since 1:00 pm on Saturday, March 18th, 24 hours per day. The immersive nature of the experience helps each student to gain insight into whether they want to investigate being in the RCMP further or whether they are not suited. It also exposes them to other related to law enforcement careers such as the Conservation Officer Service, Corrections Service, Sheriff's Service, Canada Border Services Agency, Commercial Vehicle Safety Enforcement and CP Police”.

The students took part in classes both inside and outside over the course of the week. There was a blend of learning about the importance of note-taking and notebooks to reading someone their rights, arrests, handcuffs, and searches as related to the fundamentals of the Criminal Code. Students also learned the basics of conducting investigations, of personal defense tactics, and about the importance of determination, precision and teamwork.

Students received presentations from a variety of RCMP units: Targeted Enforcement Unit (TEU), Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit (CFSEU-BC), Tactical Unit (TAC), Police Dog Service (PDS), Emergency Response Team (ERT), Forensic Identification Service (FIS), and the Indigenous Police Service (IPS). Students also received presentations from related law enforcement agencies, BC Prosecution Service, ICBC and the TRU Police and Justice Studies Program.

“The value of this academy is getting the opportunity to interact with people who are in law enforcement. It has given me the opportunity to ask questions and to learn about what they do. It is providing me access to first-hand experience so that I can be better-informed about this career”, stated Norkam Senior Secondary grade 12 student Meredith Franks.

“I have taken part in two of these academies in the last two years and I notice a huge transformation between how each student begins (nervous) to how they end (confident),” stated Superintendent Nixon. “I am grateful to Superintendent Pelley, Staff Sergeant Butler, Corporal Napier, Corporal Tunbridge, Corporal Elwood, Corporal Underhill, and Constable Martin as well as all of the officers who supported the programming. I also appreciate Amanda and Randy Big Sorrel Horse for opening with a smudging ceremony, and to our staff who were here throughout the week: Rick Kienlein, Kerry Gairdner, Allisson Badger, Sheila Brown, Angela Pinette, Julia Carlson and Lynn Mazur.”

The Board of Education is thankful to the students and parents who took part in this year’s and past year’s RCMP Youth Academies. Career Education, in which every learner will graduate and come to know who they are and have plans for who they aim to become through their career pathway, is a key priority. As Board Chair, I admire these students for their passion and persistence to learn more about themselves and their potential future career pathways in law enforcement. It is a gift to be able to attend closing ceremonies to see how proud these young people are and to listen to where they hope to go next.

Board Notes from Oct. 7, 2019

Fri, 11 Oct 2019 22:00:00 GMT

From the regular meeting of the Board of Education. All about Leadership Development Program candidates, information about early learning and our Kindergarten programs, and Aboriginal Education Funding highlights are just a few of the items discussed at the Oct. 7 Board of Education meeting. Read Board Notes here.

Starfish Backpacks: Still Supporting Vulnerable Students

Mon, 20 Apr 2020 19:45:00 GMT

The District is continuing to deliver the Starfish Backpack program to vulnerable students and their families even while schools are closed.

“The Starfish Backpack program typically occurs at the Kamloops Foodbank and a group of volunteers come there Friday mornings and they have an assembly line and they stock backpacks full of food for vulnerable students and families for weekends,” said Vessy Mochikas, Director of Instruction, Elementary Education and Learning Services.

During the pandemic and due to the level of demand upon the food bank, and considering now the need for social distancing required, the food bank is not able to continue with the program. As a result, SD73 has taken on the program, working with the same catering company that supplies lunches to schools, who have helped secure food from their vendors.

“We want to continue to support our students, so the food comes to us at Bert Edwards Science and Technology Elementary. We have two certified education assistants, Amanda Nikula and Suzanne Lloyd, who have done a great job organizing this,” said Mochikas. “The food is either picked up by students at the school or delivered by certified education assistants or by Aboriginal education workers.”

For Rae Bennett, Aboriginal education worker for Arthur Hatton Elementary, participating in the program and keeping the connection alive with Aboriginal families is important.

“So far, all the families appear grateful and appreciative when I come up to their door with a cheery disposition just to deliver their lunches,” Bennett said. “I will see the students waving ‘Hi’ from their living room windows and smiles on the parents’ faces. Even though I don't expect anything in return, I'm glad the families will see how our Arthur Hatton school shows our support and how we still care for them.”

140 packages of food, in plastic bags instead of backpacks for safety reasons, are being delivered to students and their families from 13 schools in Kamloops each week. In addition, schools in Kamloops have identified 157 students who are receiving lunches, daily. Rural schools are continuing to support their own students through their own programs.

“Food is a basic need, but I would say the benefit of this program goes beyond just supplying nutrition to our families,” said Mochikas. “We are keeping that social-emotional connection with our students, whether it’s seeing them when they pick up the packs at schools or waving at them through a window. We are able to connect and know that our students are doing well and the studnets know we care about them, miss them and are here to support them.”

Mochikas said if people’s needs change they can talk with their school principal or vice-principal about receiving support.

Superintendent's Update

Sat, 25 Nov 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Dear Parents and Caregivers:

In the 2022-2027 District Strategic Plan, we have embraced what it means to develop learning opportunities through professional collaboration that have supported students to thrive (District mission).

École Lloyd George - November 21

Principal Dumas and I visited Mme Bossio and Mme Ramunno in the Library who shared how students were working on projects about goal-setting by creating a digital competency portfolio. Under the leadership of Mme Bossio, the students had worked together and independently for one hour in the learning commons. These two teachers had collaborated with Mme deVries, SD73 District Technology Coordinator and participated in a recent professional learning opportunity about Artificial Intelligence. The results of teacher collaboration and the extended block is deeper learning linking competencies such as researching, fact checking, and understanding privacy guidelines.

Mme Erin’s Gr. 6 class was making a coding challenge for their grade 2 buddies. Mme Stafford (Gr. 2 teacher) took time to share how she was transferring learning that she had done at Aberdeen Elementary with Anthony Michel about the Seven Grandfather Teachings. The students were exploring “Honesty” and had learned about the story of the Swan (speqmíc). This legend tells of Swan resolving differences through the spirit of respect, reciprocity, and by sharing knowledge with others. Swan takes action and leadership to overcome problems. The students enter the classroom each day and place their names which are on magnets above a goal related to honesty and then discuss what they did to enact it. They had moved beyond “telling the truth”, to other related competencies such as solving problems.

Robotics Collaboration

In the District Strategic Plan, students are to develop a lifelong appreciation of learning, a curiosity about the world around them, and a capacity for creative thought and expression (Intellectual Development Priority). To support students to develop intellectually in a time of fast-paced emerging technologies, teachers need to be willing to take on new learning themselves. Read more.

The International Baccalaureate (IB)

Trustee Karpuk and Assistant Superintendent Hamblett attended the IB Diploma Programme Information evening at NorKam Senior Secondary, which included presentations by four current IB students and an IB parent. IB Coordinator Trevor Pendergast provided the overview of the IB Diploma Programme (DP), and there were over 100 parents and students who participated in this evening presentation. While this presentation was primarily focused on the DP Programme for grades 11 and 12, the upcoming Middle Years Programme (MYP) was also profiled as a new opportunity for grades 8-10 students, which starts with grade 8 students in the Fall of 2024.

Last night, there were also presentations about the TRU Trades Sampler and Hairdressing for students starting these programs in February 2024. Vice Principal Nikki Stewart, District Vice Principal Kerry Gairdner, and Dwayne Geiger Partnerships Transitions Coordinator, TRU co-led the orientation for the TRU Sampler program. The TRU Trades Sampler orientation introduced three programs (construction, mechanical, industrial samplers) to over 50 parents and students.

For the hairdressing program, Ms. Gairdner and Mr. Adrian Parker, hair stylist instructor, shared with parents and students the expectations of the program and how to be successful. This also included a tour of the La Bella Saints Salon. There are 11 students in this program.

As we engage in different parent education nights and learn about new programming, it is an exciting time. Thank you for supporting your children and the school community.

Take time to enjoy your weekend.

Rhonda Nixon, PhD

Superintendent

Human Rights and Anti-Racism in Action

Wed, 26 Jan 2022 18:00:00 GMT

Two secondary student leaders are paving the way for a more inclusive school culture, based on equity, diversity, and societal change.

Sarah Kwak, a grade 12 student at Sa-Hali Secondary, and Annecia Thomas, a grade 11 student from South Kamloops Secondary School grade 11 inspired the Board of Education at the regular meeting on Monday, January 24 with their vision for a just future.

Kwak created the Sa-Hali Social Justice Club in early 2021 with the main goal of practicing non-optical allyship – meaning allyship that serves beyond the surface level – while also providing a safe space for marginalized students.

“We aim to recognize the importance of educating our peers through videos, monthly posters, participating in conversations about difficult topics, brainstorming different events, and fundraising for organizations that work towards societal change,” said Kwak.

Kwak also serves as social media manager for Motion of Colour, a local youth-centered, student-led organization focused on racial justice through youth-facilitated discussions and an education-based approach to anti-racism. Motion of Colour was co-founded by former SD73 students Mary Falade and Joy Kwak.

Noting her belief that education plays the biggest role in both anti-racism and activism, Kwak said, “Organizations like Motion of Colour and clubs such as my own play a large role in the community. It is my hope that students are able to establish and take part in these communities in order to grow, learn, and evolve as future leaders.”

The Sa-Hali Social Justice Club plans to widen the circle of solidarity alongside Thomas’ Social Activism Club at SKSS, as well as through the Anti-Racism Student Leadership Council led by Assistant Superintendent Vessy Mochikas.

Thomas is piloting a Black History Month fundraiser with Kwak’s club as a joint project: “It is our collective goal to be able to create social change through education, solidarity, and student leadership in order to make our school an anti-racist space,” said Thomas.

The SKSS student also hosts a podcast for Motion of Colour and has been named to the BC Ministry of Education’s Youth Dialogue Series on Social Justice, as part of the Ministry of Education’s K-12 Anti-Racism Action Plan. Thomas and 22 other youth from around the province will spend the year working collaboratively with Education Minister Jennifer Whiteside to create a space for youth to meaningfully contribute in discussions regarding the anti-racism action plan.

“Creating an equal education system requires many steps,” said Thomas. “And by taking it to a provincial level, it extends the opportunity for change to be made on a larger scale. I am happy to broaden my experience and passion for social justice by representing my lived experiences with racism.”

The next step for the two students and other student champions is to develop a survey for students and district staff to inform on peoples’ lived experience of racism. From there, resources and kits will be developed.

“With the students’ help,” explained Mochikas, “we will be providing training and education sessions for staff. While we acknowledge that we have many plans underway and lofty goals, we do also acknowledge that we have a long way to go. I have no doubt with student leaders such as Sarah and Annecia leading the way, the adults will continue to learn at a faster pace than we would without them. These are two amazing young leaders who are not waiting until the future to make an impact.”

View an educational video created by Sarah Kwak and the Sa-Hali Social Justice Club:

Board Notes from Mar. 9, 2020

Wed, 11 Mar 2020 17:15:00 GMT

From the regular meeting of the Board of Education. Find out how the Board hears about moms and babies at First Steps and capital approved for 2020-2021. Read Board Notes here.

Summit Elementary's Award-Winning Filmmakers

Tue, 21 Apr 2020 17:15:00 GMT

A grade 6-7 class from Summit Elementary is learning to see the world through a different lens, and winning prizes in the process. Two of their student-produced films won top honours at the Kamloops Independent Film Festival in March.

“I am so proud of these students,” said their teacher, Terri Anne Wilson. “It was a lot of work, a lot of planning, and a lot of writing for them. They really engaged in the process of bringing a creative idea from concept to completion and learned what it takes to work collaboratively.”

The whole class won the Top Film Youth Award with their collaborative film Letters Home, the WWI film they screened last November at their school Remembrance Day assembly.

Best Public Service Announcement went to Out of Bounds, a film about the true (and imaginary) perils of out-of-bounds skiing.

“Much to everyone’s surprise and delight who attended, Out of Bounds also took top honours for Audience Favourite,” said Wilson.

She describes these awards as ‘the gravy,’ because the real win for students was in the creation of the films and getting them ready in time for the festival.

“There were so many opportunities for problem solving, trouble shooting and working on a deadline, just to name a few areas of growth and experience that came with this,” she said. “They had a lot to overcome and it was a real pleasure to watch how excited they were that they got to see such a result from their hard work and effort.”

“Getting the films across the finish line was reward enough for all of us. Seeing them up on the big screen in a real movie theater was very special. But then, they competed alongside some really experienced artists and they won honours too. I couldn’t ask for a more exciting outcome. It was their passion, their creativity and their desire to reach higher, and to do something they could be proud of that won the day. It’s been such a privilege to work with this team.”

Letters Home

Out of Bounds

Board Notes from April 26, 2021

Thu, 29 Apr 2021 15:00:00 GMT

From the regular meeting of the Board of Education. Find out about Outdoor Education, Superintendent's report, and District Student Advisory Council report. Read Board Notes here.

Day of Sucwentwecw 2021

Thu, 25 Mar 2021 19:15:00 GMT

The Day of Sucwentwecw, on April 7, is an annual district-wide event held to recognize and celebrate the Secwepemc People (Secwepemcul’ecw) and other Aboriginal people residing within the Secwepemc Territory.

“This is an opportunity for schools to continue to embed the First People’s Principles of Learning, and to address the Calls to Action as outlined in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission,” said Superintendent Dr. Terry Sullivan.

Now in its eighth year, the idea for the Day of Sucwentwecw was proposed in 2012 by the Kamloops Thompson Teacher’s Association’s Social Justice Committee and endorsed by the Aboriginal Education Council. It was approved by the Board of Education in 2014, well before the province revised the curriculum to include the First People’s Principles of Learning.

The theme for 2021 is ‘Learning together: In Memory, History, and Story, using Aboriginal Perspectives.’

For the second consecutive year, the day will be a virtual event due to the pandemic, with a focus on the concept of gathering and presentations of learning in all district schools. Resources have been put together for teachers that include recorded messages from local Aboriginal Leaders and elders, songs and stories, and a video of the Welcome Song performed by students from Arthur Hatton Elementary under the guidance of Bernice Jensen, Cultural Education Coordinator with the Kamloops Aboriginal Friendship Society..

"The Welcome Song is our Secwepemc Song that is sung all over the Secwepemc Nation," said Bernice Jensen, Cultural Education Coordinator with the Kamloops Aboriginal Friendship Society."It welcomes all of us; it welcomes the people, welcomes Mother Earth and welcomes our ancestors. The beat of the drums is the heart beat of the nations coming together strong and powerful. It’s part of our ceremony and helps us connect to the creator to offer prayers of healing and to give thanks to all. All My Relations."

"In addition to our students performing the Welcome Song, our students had an opportunity to dress up in beautiful regalia and moccasins," said Rae Bennett, Aboriginal Education Worker. "In the Secwepemce cultures, only certain pieces of regalia were displayed while dancing to the Welcome Song. All the girls wore yokes, long skirts, leggings, moccasins, and accessories. Their hair accessories had feathers and beads that matched their regalia. The boy dancers each wore vests and moccasins. The drummers and singers wore the Secwepemc colours of the medicine wheel - black, white, red, and yellow."

To see some of the videos and for more information, check the Day of Sucwentwecw page.

Superintendent's Update

Fri, 03 May 2024 23:30:00 GMT

Dear Parents and Caregivers:

The month of May is full of hope with many special days of celebration and recognition. In this update, I concentrate on the many ways that we continue to build relationships and connections.

Sun Peaks K-9 School

Principal Boyle began our visit in Ms. Rinaldi’s Gr. 1-2 class, where prep teacher Ms. Erickson and the students shared the topics of the upcoming Spring concert songs —“Salish Sea”, Watershed”, “Life Cycle” and “Compost Bin”— which connect with the District Strategic Plan value commitment, sustainability. They were preparing to go to their practice, so on our way, we stopped to see some of the favorite spots where they love to plan, making nature their playground.

The students were just coming from recess, and they were excited about three favorite stations outside. We started at the “campfire station”, where students have made a pretend campfire, and they sit around it and sing “campfire songs”. They have also built a fort. Three students–Rex, Matteo, and Andrew– took time to show me the staged dam that was collecting water and funneling it away from the walking trails. It worked beautifully!

We visited Ms. Mann’s Gr. 2-3 class who shared how they get to colour a turtle as they do things to show truth and honesty because the turtle represents the Grandfather Teaching of Truth. The students in every class had co-developed what belonging looks like and sounds like, and they committed to acting in ways to bring alive the Grandfather Teachings to ensure that everyone feels safe to share their truths, ideas, and to be humble about learning from each other.

Ms. Schmalz’s Gr. 3-4 class was engaged in a “Math Rotation” which are stations that offer students choices of activities using white boards, manipulatives, and games to practice, in this case, division strategies. Ms. Schmalz shared that the teachers have worked together to develop Math rotation resources, and they got the idea from “Daily Five” for Literacy. They made a similar, differentiated approach of teaching the whole class, small groups, and one-on-one. They have seen positive growth in students’ math and numeracy skills as a result.

We then watched Ms. Shirley lead the K-4 students in a practice for the Spring Concert. They sang and danced “Voices of Nature”, “Salish Sea”, and the “Compost Song”. The Spring concert idea came from a picture book, “Dear Children of the Earth”. Ms. Boyle shared how she loves this story and one of the lines in their concert, “We are the future and we are counting on you” captures the theme of the book and play. It was such a wonderful opportunity to see the students so engaged in the words, actions, and dance.

We visited Ms. Nelson’s Gr. 6-7 class and two students, Kyle and Quinn, showed me how they started their own coffee business to raise money for their trip to Vernon at the end of the year. They had raised over $400 so far, and Principal Boyle and I drank some of their delicious blend and contributed to their fund. We also talked with the class as the students were working in groups on building games out of cardboard boxes.

Ms. Greer’s Gr. 4-5 class was studying lava that comes from volcanoes and analyzing the difference in rock form based on temperature and thickness of the lava. She shared pictures of her trip to Iceland, which engaged students in questioning the different rock forms. Mr. Massey’s Gr. 8-9 class was working on a project to calculate their run time by engaging in trials using a Micro:bit coding box, and sharing their projects in which they had studied boiling and melting points as well as densities of Halogens. We visited the Gr. 10-12 Academy and talked with the teacher, Ms. Caputo, who shared the AI tools of “Magic To Do” that offers guidance or coaching to students who ask a question instead of immediately doing the task.

Heffley Creek Elementary School

We first met Ms. Nelson, the steno, who shared that it had been a great morning. Ms. Silva’s Gr. 1-3 class was working on making their own books using “Book Creator”. One student, Malachi, showed me his book on fast cars, and another student, Rhaege, pointed to the pages in his book about aliens. We also read “Moose- The Story of a Family”. Most students showed me their books, which centred on the lifecycle of the chicken, starting from an egg. They had observed the lifecycle in their classroom and only recently sent the chicks to a farm. They were excitedly awaiting the same process with turkey eggs that Ms. Nelson brought in from her farm.

In Kindergarten, Ms. Dilman had just purchased a number of new centers–sorting letters, painting with watercolor from used felts, matching colours, making roadways, and creating rainbows from wax sticks, to name a few. The students enjoyed playing alone and in partners or groups of three at the centres. We ended our tour in the library where they have added $3000 worth of new books due to generous donations from the Tolko Industries.

Young Artists’ Conference — April 30, 2024

In the 2022-2027 District Strategic Plan, we are committed to students developing multiliteracies (print, visual, music, digital, drama) as part of the Intellectual Development Priority to share their talents and to explore career pathways. On April 30, 2024, we celebrated the creative young artists in our district at the Young Artists’ Conference Gallery Grand Opening Celebration at the Old Courthouse on Seymour Street. Read more.

Hairstylist Industry Dinner

In the 2022-2027 District Strategic Plan, students who are exploring hairdressing are learning about one possible career pathway, which is the Career Development Priority. On Wednesday evening, the Fourth Annual Hairstylist Industry Dinner was held at Norkam Secondary and the La Bella Saints salon. Read more.

Red Dress Day — National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and LGBTQ2S+ people

In the 2022-2027 District Strategic Plan, we are committed to students developing a sense of cultural safety and humility in communities so every learner can feel safe and thrive personally and culturally. On Sunday, May 5, 2024, we encourage everyone to take a moment to honour Red Dress Day and remember the countless Indigenous women, girls, and Two-Spirit people who have experienced disproportionate violence in Canada. This year’s National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and 2SLGTBQIA+ was honoured by several Kamloops-Thompson School District schools on Friday, May 3, with students, teachers, school leaders, and administrators encouraged to wear red, displaying red clothing, and create impactful and education displays. Read more.

District Parent Advisory Council

The logo contest is now finished, and the District Parent Advisory Council has selected its new logo. Read more. Also, PACs apply for their gaming grants for next year from April 1^st to June 30 and the details can be found here: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/sports-culture/gambling-fundraising/gaming-grants/pac-dpac-grants. If PACs would like some help to apply they should reach out to DPAC at: sd73dpac@gmail.com for support. Late applications are unlikely to be approved. This grant provides $20 per student to Parent Advisory Councils and can make a big difference to students and schools.

Thank you for all that you do to make this time of year fun and filled with engaging learning opportunities and events. Take time for yourself this weekend to rest and rejuvenate.

Rhonda Nixon, PhD

Superintendent

Consent Caf� Parent Night

Wed, 19 Oct 2022 15:15:00 GMT

Presented by Chelsea Corsi, TRU Senior Wellness Coordinator and Tanya Pawliuk, TRU Associate Teaching Professor.

Talking to teens about consent and sexualized violence prevention can be challenging. Join the Consent Café Parent Night to help enhance your skills and confidence in this area.

Our activity-based information session aims to build on parents’ knowledge and skills about consent, communication, relationships, and sexualized violence prevention and response.

Together we will:

discuss our comfort and confidence in speaking to teens about consent
participate in activities to strengthen our knowledge about consent, relationships, sexualized violence prevention and response
learn how to access evidence-informed resources and supports
connect with other parents navigating consent conversations with their teens

This session will be held at the Henry Grube Education Centre on Tuesday, November 22, from 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM. If you are interested in attending, please register here.

Brocklehurst Secondary Builds Community and Connection in the Courtyard

Tue, 19 Nov 2024 23:00:00 GMT

Story provided by Chelsea Isenor, Director of Communications and Board Administration

Staff and students at Brocklehurst Secondary School have been fostering new connections and building their school culture this year. At the start of the 2024-2025 school year, the school transitioned from a middle school to a secondary school (Grade 8–12) as part of the recent North Shore and Brocklehurst catchment changes and grade configurations.

When a school goes through significant changes like this, it can be challenging for staff and students but the community at Brock Secondary have used this as an opportunity to reinforce their school’s commitment to building positive connections and relationships (one of the key values in the 2022-2027 District Strategic Plan).

“Our transition to becoming a secondary school has taken a great deal of planning. Throughout the process, our staff really focused on finding ways to best support students impacted by the catchment changes for our transition to Grade 8-12,” shared Brocklehurst Secondary School Principal, Tonya Perry. “Early on staff indicated that they wanted to create 'new' spaces for Brock students – that felt refreshed, mature, and welcoming for all students. Steen's vision was to establish a courtyard where students were excited to be, would take ownership of the space and could meet and make new friendships. It is very exciting to see students utilizing this space to enjoy their lunch, play some relaxing games, and connect. It has also inspired other staff to take on new challenges and refresh other school spaces to promote our school goal of building positive connections that enhance our students' sense of belonging.”

The courtyard, like the school community, will continue to grow and develop to fit the schools needs. The goal for the courtyard space is to display student artwork, create more spaces for activities, and build a covered area so it can be used in different seasons.

Thanks to the work and determination of Mr. Karpluk, Principal Perry, staff, and the entire Brock community, this courtyard project has helped students, new and old, build a sense of belonging and school community as they transitioned to a secondary school.

Board Notes from May 27, 2024

Thu, 30 May 2024 17:30:00 GMT

From the regular meeting of the Board of Education. All about Young Authors, International Education Report, and Funding For Food For Aboriginal Students. Read Board Notes here.

Superintendent's Update

Fri, 26 Apr 2024 23:30:00 GMT

Dear Parents and Caregivers:

It has been an inspiring week of learning in many areas- literacy, numeracy, healthy relationships, sustainability and Earth Day lessons, to name a few. We also enjoyed the opening of the second child care, Happyvale and the naming of the new elementary school in Pineview Valley.

David Thompson Elementary School

Principal Gunnlaugson and I had a wonderful time meeting staff and students. Mr. Grigg, the Day Custodian, offered inspiration for how to shape a positive culture starting by meeting students at the door. He said, “I meet students every morning and share reminders like, ‘Take your boots and shoes off’ to instill respect for the school as a facility.” He explained that greeting students daily enables students to take off their boots and shoes without being asked and it creates a sense of order and cleanliness by everyone, for everyone. Wellbeing is a cornerstone value of the District Strategic Plan, and the school is gleaming with smiles and clean floors thanks to Mr. Grigg’s diligence about modeling respect for everyone and everything.

We entered Mr. Aitken’s Gr. 4 class that had just finished studying the History of Lacrosse and were reading and writing following the lesson. We continued on to see Ms. Jorgenson’s Kindergarten students who were making Earth Day posters and one student shared that “they were writing ways to be kind to the Earth.” When I asked her for examples, she said, “not littering” and “saving water”.

Ms. Svenson’s K-1 class was invested in learning about the lifecycle of a butterfly and one student showed me their live caterpillars eating and preparing to cocoon on branches. Another student shared how he used his scooter to get from one room to another. Ms. Kawa was singing about the continents and the Gr. 1-2 students happily joined in and answered questions about locations of the continents on a map. Ms. Gurski’s Gr. 1 class was learning how to use their hands and chants to recall how to make doubles. They went into math stations to apply their learning.

Mrs. Webster’s Gr. 1-2 class was focused on positive self-talk and they had worked independently and with others to create booklets of positive self affirmations. They had just finished a lesson from the EASE program focusing on social emotional literacy and resilience. Ms. Bentz’s Gr. 3 students were learning how to multiple and apply active strategies to multiply by four.

As we entered the LART room, we met Hayley who was preparing to lead the Boys and Girls Club mentorship program outside with high school buddies. We also went into their regulation room, where staff work with students on a range of activities such as using a tent, rocker, sensory mats, and a body sock. They have started with a small number of 20 students who are trying these strategies and they have learned that 75% of the students respond positively to having time in this space and engaging in a range of sensory activities designed for refocusing and decompressing.

We continued into Mr. Mattes’ Gr. 3 class where Ms. Baker was teaching Health. Mr. Cinel’s Gr. 6-7 class was working on probability, but the students stopped to share songs that were written which were extended metaphors. Mr. Marchese’s Gr. 4-5 class was eager to share a range of their lessons from growing fruits and vegetables and holding a sale to inspire students to eat healthy. Another student shared their government unit based on Elections Canada resources. Another student showed how they also studied “Great Canadians.” Ms. McCauley’s Gr. 6 class was studying personal boundaries and in deep discussion about example scenarios in which they applied their learning. Ms. Morrison’s Gr. 2-3 class was working on Earth Day poems and preparing for hot lunch. Ms. Morrison took time to share results of a professional learning session in which she learned how to make a Secwepemc mat of the seasons wheel. Mr. Covaceuszach’s Gr. 4-5 class was engaged in reading and Ms. Podovennikoff shared her work to support neurodiverse students.

Opening of Child Care, Happyvale

On Monday, April 22, 2024, we enjoyed a beautiful day at the opening of the Kamloops-Thompson Board of Education’s second Inquiring Little Mind’s Child Care, Happyvale. We recognize the need for child care in Kamloops, and I am proud of the staff for their hard work in applying for and receiving New Spaces for Child Care funding. Read more.

Celebrate the First Braille Library- RL Clemitson Elementary School

Michael Barrett, an 8-year old student at RL Clemitson, along with Rebecca Anderson, his CEA Braillist have worked hard this year to create the first braille accessible library in our school district.

At the special unveiling of the braille accessible library on April 24, 2024, Michael spoke with the gathered guests who have all supported the process along the way. Michael shared, “I like taekwondo, checkers, chess and running… I started using braille when I was three. I am a forever braille user. I do everything in braille, including reading, writing, and math.” Read more.

Numeracy Professional Learning

In the 2022-2027 District Strategic Plan, numeracy is a foundational skill to develop in all students. Supporting students to develop numeracy skills happens when staff engage in powerful professional learning. Read more.

District Parent Advisory Council

https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/sports-culture/gambling-fundraising/gaming-grants/pac-dpac-grants

If PACs would like some help to apply they should reach out to DPAC at: sd73dpac@gmail.com for support. Late applications are unlikely to be approved. This grant provides $20 per student to Parent Advisory Councils and can make a big difference to students and schools.

Budget Consultation

We engaged in our public budget presentation on Wednesday, April 10, 2024. For parents who missed it, you have access to watch it on YouTube and to provide budget feedback until April 28, 2024. More information is available here.

Have a wonderful weekend with your family and friends.

Rhonda Nixon, PhD

Superintendent

Kindest Grade 4/5 Class in Canada Wins Pizza Party

Wed, 03 Mar 2021 23:45:00 GMT

A grade 4/5 class from Rayleigh Elementary has been named one of the kindest classes in Canada by a Calgary-based company that runs a social emotional learning program called Depths of Comfort. The company ran a country-wide contest for schools during the month of February. The students won in their grade category, and their prize is a class pizza party, courtesy of Pizza Hut.

“The platform tracks the number of kindness engagements a class has,” said Cole Levitt, CEO. Ms. Tweed’s class had the following: 111 reported acts of kindness, 494 kindness challenges completed, and they sent or received 528 compliments, for a total of 1,133 acts of kindness throughout the month.”

Teacher Kim Tweed says her students were excited to participate in the contest, because they were already using the platform.

“My class has been working hard on sending meaningful compliments to others in the class,” she said. “It’s a great way for students to feel included and it is nice for them to be recognized for their acts of kindness. Everyone in the school has benefited from the different activities. Notes of appreciation have been given to the custodians, other students and staff, support workers and the principal. Not only are we spreading kindness in our class but all over the school as well. All of these activities help build a positive classroom and school community.”

Kindness is measured and tracked three ways by the Depths of Comfort platform:

Sending and receiving compliments – this is a simple idea but it makes a world of difference to somebody who may be struggling.
Reporting acts of kindness – students look for someone who is being kind, and they report that to their teacher on their platform.
Kindness quest –each student is assigned five kind activities as their unique and personalized quest, and they are to try to complete this quest by the end of the week.

“Our best intervention for things like bullying, mean behaviour, and social conflict is kindness, said Levitt. “We need to flip the script and double down on the positive aspects of human behaviour and the things we can control. When we celebrate and invest time, resources and energy into kindness the results can be monumental.”

“It’s a great way to start our day,” said Tweed. “It’s a great conversation starter for students to share their own connections, experiences and strategies.”

SKSS Visual Arts 2021 Theme: Scientific Illustration

Fri, 27 Nov 2020 22:30:00 GMT

This year, the South Kamloops Secondary Arts Annual Art Exhibition is virtual.

An Illustrated Journey l Kamloops 2021 is inspired by local nature. The images are the result of a workshop with artist and illustrator Anisha Parekh (who is currently a student at Thompson Rivers University) followed by a field trip to the BC Wildlife Park.

The students’ 2021 calendar features many of these images. SKSS Arts Education teacher Lisa Yamaoka said students investigated imagery and information as a way to connect to the community and share their research as visual artists. The theme addresses nature illustration and journaling by focusing on observing and recording their surroundings or personal experiences in Kamloops.

“This project celebrates 15 years of youth representing our community through artistic vision,” she said. “Proceeds from the sales of this calendar fundraiser will support future SKSS Visual Arts student initiatives.”

The calendars are now available for purchase at the SKSS main office, The Art We Are, and the Kamloops Art Gallery.

Local Fly Fishers Support Experiential Learning at KSA and Brock Secondary

Fri, 07 Feb 2025 20:15:00 GMT

Story provided by Chelsea Isenor, Director of Communications and Board Administration

The Kamloops Fly Fishers Association is sharing their love of fly fishing and the importance of environmental stewardship with students and staff at Kamloops School of the Arts (KSA) and Brocklehurst Secondary School (Brock).

The Kamloops Fly Fishers Association (KFFA) is a local non-profit organization committed to promoting the sport of fly fishing in the Kamloops area. Since 1972, KFFA have been helping the local community practice fly fishing with events and activities, including fish outs at local lakes, fly tying and fly casting sessions, rod building workshops, and other community events. KFFA, along with the Sport Fishing in the Fly TV Series, have donated various fly fishing equipment and supplies (such as fly boxes, hooks, wool, threads, tying stations, and more) to help instill a love of fly-fishing in school-aged students, with the goal that they will carry the passion forward in their adult lives

KSA and Brock both offer Fly Fishing Board/Authority Authorized Courses to Grade 10-12 students. These courses offer students unique experiential learning opportunities as they learn the science and art of the sport while also gaining valuable life skills.

Science teacher David Coleman, who teaches Fly Fishing at Brock, shared that the course teaches students “critical thinking and patience.” He has noticed students who may find it hard to focus in other science classes, are more “level and focused” as they tie flies and learn about fly fishing.

Students from KSA and Brock will both participate in KFFA programs and activities, including educational YouTube videos and possible fly fishing field trips. Mr. Coleman shared “We can now have more experiences of going to different lakes. Some of my students have fished but some of them have not, and getting them out to experience the wilderness is what I’m looking forward to.”

KSA teacher Simone Stella, who teaches Outdoor Education 10 and Fly Fishing 11/12, describes the fly fishing courses as a place where “kids can come in and just be themselves – it is very low stress and low impact, yet high benefit in terms of self confidence. They get into a zen mode when they are in here, they come in here and just tie flies. When I see the smiles on their faces, and see how they can struggle but then accomplish patterns and when they’re done they walk out proud of themselves, that's the best thing to me”

For students, Fly Fishing class offers a balance of science and art in an environment where they can unwind and focus. Grade 12 KSA student Amelia shared, “This was a course that I could just come and forget about all my academic workload and all the stress of being in high school. This was the first time I ever came in contact with [fly fishing]... it's a mashup of art and science, and those are my two favourite subjects so when I can combine that and do something with my hands and create, while also learning the science behind all the bugs and fish, that was my favourite part.”

The Kamloops-Thompson School District’s mission, as outlined in the 2022-2027 District Strategic Plan, is to support learning opportunities and environments which inspire students to thrive. By offering unique experiential learning opportunities such as fly fishing, students get the opportunity to explore a new activity that may turn into a lifelong passion, while learning about science and art in a new way and developing important life skills.

When talking about the lifelong benefits of fly fishing, KFFA President and BC Federation of Fly Fishers Director, Leonard Piggin shared, “It’s relaxing, it’s soothing, and it teaches you patience.”

Kamloops-Thompson Board of Education Announces New Secretary-Treasurer Kim Morris

Mon, 08 Dec 2025 20:00:00 GMT

Following a comprehensive search, the Kamloops-Thompson Board of Education has appointed Kim Morris as the new Secretary-Treasurer for School District No. 73 (Kamloops-Thompson), effective March 1, 2026.

“The Board of Education is thrilled to welcome Kim Morris to the Kamloops-Thompson School District’s leadership team,” shared Board Chair Heather Grieve. “With her extensive executive and financial leadership experience in school districts across BC, we know she will provide strong financial leadership and operational oversight to support our district’s vision and strategic goals.”

Kim Morris is an accomplished leader in BC school districts, with over 15 years of experience as a Secretary-Treasurer. She joins SD73 from the Peace River South School District in Dawson Creek. Prior to that, she was an integral member of executive leadership teams at school districts in Victoria, New Westminster, Nelson, Trail, and Prince Rupert.

“I'm very excited and deeply appreciative of the opportunity to join the team in the Kamloops-Thompson School District,” shared Kim Morris. “Making a positive impact on student success is the most important work we do. I hope to contribute fully through my experiences in the province while learning alongside the Board of Education, First Nations, staff, partners, and community to fulfil the goals of the District Strategic Plan with transparency, sustainability, and commitment.”

In her work as a Secretary-Treasurer, Kim has led complex budget development processes, multi-year technology action plans, long range facilities planning, asset management, capital projects, and strategic operational planning with credibility, confidence, and compassion. Her financial management and public sector leadership has continuously demonstrated a steadfast commitment to student success in both urban and rural school districts.

Kim’s appointment as Secretary-Treasurer comes shortly after the Board announced Mike St. John as the next Superintendent of Schools. Superintendent Mike St. John will join the Kamloops-Thompson School District in February 2026, with Secretary-Treasurer Kim Morris arriving soon after in March.

Incoming Superintendent Mike St. John shared, “I am very excited that Kim is joining our team at SD73. Her values and beliefs clearly align with our district’s commitment to supporting and developing staff to best serve our students and communities. Kim's broad and diverse experiences as a Secretary-Treasurer over many years will be invaluable as we collectively navigate our path forward.”

Students Focus on Inclusion and Equity

Tue, 29 Oct 2019 17:15:00 GMT

The SD73 District Student Advisory Council (DSAC) is working to help students across the district to focus on inclusion and equity practices in their schools. In a presentation to the Board of Education Oct. 28, two students from the council, both from Sa-Hali Secondary, provided an overview of the discussions and collaborations they will be pursuing through the school year.

“First, we are taking the message to each of our schools about the importance of inclusion and equity,” said Trevor Schyiak, DSAC member. “Things like peer tutoring and time set aside during the school week to facilitate connections between students and teachers are part of this effort.”

He said it might look a bit different in each school, since DSAC representatives are customizing these ideas to reflect their school’s needs.

“We are really excited about this opportunity to bring positive change,” said Olamide Olabiyi, DSAC member. “We want to honour the different ways students learn, whether they are more comfortable as visual or kinetic learners, and encourage the district to reflect this in the curriculum in ways that will improve students’ emotional and educational experiences.”

Fostering an inclusive, adaptable and accountable culture in the school district is one of the SD73 strategic plan priorities.

“Working together is the only way to ensure that we can deliver on the expectations of our communities and educational partners and provide an education that serves the needs of our youth,” states the plan.

The SDAC is working with two district leadership sponsors. Rick Kienlein is Director of Instruction for the district, and Rachael Sdoutz is Principal at Sa-Hali Secondary.

The Happiness Project at Kay Bingham Elementary

Thu, 18 Jun 2020 19:00:00 GMT

Kay Bingham Elementary Teacher Lisa Pye believes happiness is an essential life skill that anyone can cultivate. ‘The Happiness Project’ is a pilot program she began at the school to teach students how happiness works.

“It’s not where you are, or what’s happening around you that creates happiness,” she said. “It’s based on the idea that happiness can be as simple as deciding what you choose to focus on. If you focus on well-being, you can develop the ability to create a sense of peace and contentment for yourself. If you continue to develop this ability, this is a way of living that can stay with you all your life.”

She said one of the goals of the project is to help students develop a happy approach to life as one way to help them move through adolescence with more self-confidence and good mental health habits.

The project includes studying concepts like mindfulness, compassion, kindness, gratitude, and what happens when a person spends time in nature.

“Students are taught to cultivate a positive focus, and to work with ideas and activities that help them develop insight into what brings them peace, what makes them happy,” she said.

Examples include creating sidewalk chalk murals and kindness calendars, making tie-dyed shirts with happy slogans, interviewing the happiest person they know, and journaling.

The challenges of the pandemic have impacted the project because of decreased class time, and the need for social and physical distancing.

“We had hoped to start sooner than the end of May, and we were planning to do some social entrepreneurship, but with a shorter time frame and the need for social and physical distancing we have had to adjust,” said Pye. “This means, among other things, that we are concentrating on small experiences that may take 10 minutes.”

One example is to go outside, find a small object in nature like a rock or a leaf or a twig, bring it inside and write a poem about the object.

“Sustainability is really at the heart of the whole thing,” said Pye. “This project takes aim at the idea that the goal of education is well-being for all, forever. The idea is that we can promote sustainable living via happiness. Humans are accepting that we need to change how we live, but instead of telling people what not to do, we highlight how to find joy in your present circumstances. People are tired of hearing not to use plastic bags or disposable cups, but they experience positive emotions when they're encouraged to get outside. Being outside feels good and connects them to nature, where they can appreciate the environment and not want to contribute to damaging it.”

Pye is hoping to expand the program next year to include more classes at Kay Bingham, and other schools in the district.

Schools, Sheriffs and Mounties Stand for Anti-Bullying on Pink Shirt Day

Tue, 23 Feb 2021 22:45:00 GMT

It’s easier to stand up to bullying when you know you’re not alone -- it’s pretty easy to see who’s standing with you on Pink Shirt Day.

On February 24, numerous Kamloops students, school staff, sheriffs, and police officers will add a splash of pink to their wardrobe to show the community where they stand against stopping bullying.

“Pink Shirt Day is a reminder of what the District strives for every day, which is having programs and services that encourage healthy self-esteem and relationships, a positive sense of belonging, as well as teaching kindness, compassion and empathy,” said Vessy Mochikas, Director of Instruction, Kamloops-Thompson School District.

“The District appreciates this partnership we have with the RCMP and Sheriff Service and the leadership they're providing to create safe, responsive environments that help address bullying,” she added.

Throughout the school year, local law enforcement partners work with students to help encourage them to make safe and positive choices when faced with peer conflict.

“Bullying is an unwelcomed or aggressive behaviour that often makes a person uncomfortable, hurt or scared,” said Corporal Dana Napier of the Kamloops RCMP Crime Prevention Unit. “It can occur face-to-face, online, at school or anywhere else in the community, and its long-term effects can be devastating to victims, as well as bystanders and witnesses.”

Pink Shirt Day serves as a good reminder to parents, adults, caregivers, and school and community leaders to talk about bullying, its impacts, and what part we all can play to prevent it from continuing.

Recognizing Red Dress Day - National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and 2SLGTBQIA+ on May 5, 2024

Fri, 03 May 2024 20:30:00 GMT

Story provided by Chelsea Isenor, Director, Communications and Board Administration

On Sunday, May 5, 2024, we encourage everyone to take a moment to honour Red Dress Day and remember the countless Indigenous women, girls, and Two-Spirit people who have experienced disproportionate violence in Canada. This year’s National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and 2SLGTBQIA+ was honoured by several Kamloops-Thompson School District schools on Friday, May 3, with students, teachers, school leaders, and administrators encouraged to wear red, displaying red clothing, and create impactful and education displays.

The beginnings of Red Dress can be traced back to a powerful art installation. In 2010, Métis artist Jaime Black hung hundreds of red dresses in public spaces as a way to bring awareness to missing and murdered Indigenous women.

At Valleyview Secondary, a Red Dress display hung in the library as a reminder of a day which may be difficult for some students to talk about.

Through the Mind Medicine program, supported by the YMCA, Valleyview Secondary is able to offer mental wellness support and tools—such as breathing techniques, mindfulness tools, and connections with others—on days like Red Dress Day and throughout the school year. Valleyview Principal Cory Carmichael says this program helps students “develop the tools and resilience to manage their emotions around days like Red Dress Day and everyday.”

When chatting with a group of Valleyview students who participated in the Mind Medicine program, they described the experience as a safe space where they could learn to manage their anxiety and stress while connecting with new people. A student named Lily shared, “It has helped me through so much stuff, and knowing that I wasn’t going through things alone and that I can connect on different levels with different people…it was very inspiring.”

“Yesterday I had a conversation around my desk with a couple of girls about the Red Dress and it got really somber at some points, but it was nice because they were able to actually speak exactly what they wanted to say, so it is a safe space for them,” stated Aboriginal Education Worker MJ Johnson. “I was happy they felt safe enough that they could come in here.”

UPDATE: Forestry and Environment Careers Camp Deadline extended to Oct. 9

Fri, 02 Oct 2020 18:30:00 GMT

There’s a great learning opportunity at McQueen Lake this fall for secondary students considering forestry or environment careers.

The Forestry and Environmental Studies Camp is planned for Oct. 15 at the McQueen Lake Environmental Education Centre.

Grade 11 and 12 students can apply to attend a one-day hands-on camp to learn about careers involving ecology, silviculture, tree planting, and aquatic ecosystems on 640 acres of forest, lakes and grasslands located 16 kilometers northwest of Kamloops.

UPDATE: The deadline for applications has been extended to Oct. 9, 2020. There is a $40 fee to attend.

"We are very excited to be able to offer the Forest & Environmental Studies program at McQueen Lake in a day camp format on October 15th,with a modified format to ensure all activities are Covid-19 compliant," said Rob Wielgoz, District Vice Principal, Trades and Transitions. "This career development experience is ideal for students who value the environment, enjoy hands-on experiences, and would like to learn about numerous career opportunities in natural resources."

Students will:

learn from career experts about aquatic ecosystems
walk through the forest with an environmentalist
learn how to effect environmental change with seedlings, planting, and tree restoration with timber authorities in timber sales
dive into ecology and silviculture with a scientist
explore natural resource career opportunities and the numerous paths from secondary school to post-secondary with a post-secondary student and professor

Covid 19 Safety Preparation

All students will have individual seats and wear masks while being transported by bus to and from McQueen Lake.
Learning session are outside with Covid-19 safety protocols
The Natural Resources careers path exploration is inside with masks and Corvid safety protocols in place.
Individual lunches are being provided.

For more information, and to apply for the program, check the TNT Forestry and Environmental Camp page. Or, apply for the program here.

SD73 Welcomes Lisa Carson, Assistant Superintendent Of Secondary Education

Fri, 28 Jun 2024 20:00:00 GMT

The Kamloops-Thompson Board of Education supports Lisa Carson as the successful candidate for the role of Assistant Superintendent of Secondary Education.

Following a competitive, national search for the role of Assistant Superintendent, Lisa has been selected as the chosen candidate. With over 20 years of experience in education, Lisa brings a vast knowledge of K-12 curriculum, instructional leadership, differentiated professional learning structures, and background in diverse secondary portfolios including humanities and arts-based teaching. She has district experience managing departments, including Curriculum and Instruction, Inclusive and Indigenous Education, elementary and secondary education, budgets, and supervision and evaluation of principals and district staff.

Since 2010, Lisa has been a senior team member of the Superintendent’s administrative teams in two large school districts, including five years as the Assistant Superintendent in School District No. 57 (Prince George) and, most recently, the Director of Instruction for the past seven years in School District No. 73 (Kamloops-Thompson). Lisa’s experience also includes supporting the development of District and School Learning Plans, oversight of the implementation of BC’s revised curriculum, and being a member of the provincial working group for the examination and redevelopment of Dimension of Practice (leadership standards) for the British Columbia School Superintendents’ Association.

“We welcome Lisa to her new role as Assistant Superintendent of Secondary Education, and we look forward to continuous improvement in student learning through her secondary portfolios and designated K-12 Families of Schools,” shared Board Chair Heather Grieve.

Lisa holds multiple post-secondary qualifications, including a Bachelor of Arts (Brandon University), a professional teaching certification through the Professional Development Program (Simon Fraser University), Masters of Education in Curriculum and Instruction (Simon Fraser University), and the Transformative Educational Leadership Program (University of British Columbia).

“Lisa is a proven leader, a skilled educator, and a supportive senior team member who understands the learning opportunities and challenges facing schools. Having supported schools and students from pre-K to Grade 12 through various portfolios throughout her career, I am excited to work with Lisa as part of our executive team,” shared Superintendent Dr. Rhonda Nixon.

“I am honoured to be selected as the next Assistant Superintendent of Secondary Education. I welcome this opportunity to support educational leaders as they strive to maintain quality learning experiences throughout the District. I look forward to carrying on the work of supporting schools and leaders in SD73 as we continue to build learning environments that value equity, inclusion, and focus on student learning,” Ms. Carson shared.

Ms. Carson begins her appointment on August 1, 2024.

TRU and United Way offer space for displaced students

Thu, 12 Sep 2019 19:15:00 GMT

When a recent fire destroyed Parkcrest Elementary School, two long-time district partners reached out with offers of space for School District No. 73’s Four Directions (4D) Program.

Four Directions students will start school at 9 am on Monday, Sept. 16 in the Xchange Lab at the newly constructed United Way building at 285 Tranquille Road.

The Xchange Lab is space dedicated for Thompson Rivers University, which will serve as a community research hub for students, faculty, and the community to work collaboratively on research projects that explore solutions to community challenges. It will house the school district’s 4D program on an interim basis.

“The United Way and TRU’s response to provide a space for our students is an excellent example of the support we have had from our partner agencies during this challenging time,” said Alison Sidow, Superintendent of Schools. “The outpouring of support from throughout the community and the province this past week has been remarkable.”

“TRU is pleased to make this space available to the school district during this time of great need. The timing was right as we have yet to move in and we're still exploring how this space would be best used to meet the needs of our community,” said Brett Fairbairn, president of TRU.

“We’ve worked closely with the TREC programs over the past five years. Our hearts are with all of those who are impacted by this crisis, and that includes all of the students and families of Four Directions,” said Danalee Baker, Executive Director United Way, Thompson Nicola Cariboo. “Events like this are exactly why we built the Xchange and we’re excited to welcome these students into our space just as we open our doors to the community.”

TRU will continue to have access to space for its community research and public engagement activities.

United Way TNC prides itself on its ability to fill in gaps that arise when a crisis unexpectedly impacts the community. “We were especially pleased to support the School District 73 as they create solutions after the Parkcrest Elementary fire,” Baker added.

The United Way and TRU hope that the Xchange will be a welcoming interim home for the students. The Four Directions Program provides an alternative learning environment designed to serve secondary students of Aboriginal ancestry who are more likely to succeed in a smaller, more personal and flexible setting. In addition, the program includes a significant focus on Aboriginal culture and a variety of out of school activities.

National Career Development Month

Fri, 10 Nov 2023 16:15:00 GMT

SD73 began National Career Development Month by celebrating Take Our Kids to Work Day. Throughout the month of November, the SD73 Career Development Department is promoting District Career programs and events to all secondary school students in grades 9 through 12. These activities align with the Career Development Department priority outlined in the District Strategic Plan 2022-2027.

The District team is scheduled to visit each high school during the month of November to present programs and events at Grade assemblies. This year, the team is promoting both the dual-credit program opportunities (in preparation for 2024-2025 course selection) and transition events (such as Girls Exploring Trades and Technology, Heavy Metal Rocks, and RCMP Youth Academy). Industry and community partners are joining the presentations, when available, to provide further information to interested students. For instance, TRU Future Students is aiming to have an advisor attend each presentation to provide guidance around academic planning and future studies at TRU.

The District Career Development Department is supporting career professional development this month through two events. On November 1, 2023, the Department provided release time to Career Education teachers and school counselors to attend TRU's "Fall Counselor Update" session. School counselors and District staff received information on services offered by TRU Future Students including academic planning support, new program initiatives, and applications for awards and bursaries. On November 20-21, 2023, the District team will be attending the annual BC Career Education Society conference in Vancouver. The Department will also provide support for a group of Career Education teachers, school-based Trades and Transitions Coordinators, and school counselors to attend this conference.

A career development opportunity was provided to girls in grades 6-9 on Thursday, November 9, 2023. Forty-eight girls in grades 6-9 attended a one-day trades exploration, Girls Exploring Trades and Technology, at TRU. They were mentored throughout the day by nine Senior trades students from grades 11 and 12. The students participated in four hands-on activities in the electrical, piping, refrigeration, and Horticulture shops at TRU, taught by their Red Seal Instructors.

To learn more about SD73 career programs visit the Trades and Transitions website.

SD73 Acknowledges the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

Wed, 04 Oct 2023 16:45:00 GMT

By Diane Jules, Trustee

October 4, 2023

Weyt-kp

Today, I am writing to you as a Secwepemc First Nation mother, sister, daughter, and auntie.

I am honored to be the daughter of a survivor of the Kamloops Indian Residential School. I am also proud to be a member of the Adams Lake Indian Band and a trustee who represents the TNRD Areas L and P, the Village of Chase, and the Municipality of Sun Peaks.

In SD73, we recognize the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation as an important day to honor and acknowledge that we are living on the traditional territories of the Secwepemc people. In celebrations that have taken place during the week of September 25-29, I am grateful to elders and knowledge keepers who welcomed guests to the territory and to those who shared stories of the care that First Nations have taken to nurture Mother Earth that has sustained us physically through food and medicines that grow on the land, and spiritually through ceremonies, stories, celebrations held on the territories where our ancestors live.

In various activities that took place over this past week, participants learned about Aboriginal ways of knowing and being, and about historical truths of living in residential schools and being impacted by the Sixties Scoop, as well as more recent examples of racism and discrimination. These truths are hard to hear and traumatizing for those impacted, but when we continue to learn together about them, it is an opportunity not to repeat them, to engage in reconciliation.

One example of a powerful guest speaker was Carolyn Anderson who has been a District Coordinator of Aboriginal Education and now a TRU professor who provided the gift of her personal story of being a Sixties Scoop Survivor. She shared how she was taken from her birth mother and grew up not knowing her First Nations community, language, or tradition. Carolyn spoke about her gratitude for being raised by an adoptive mother who was half English and half Cree, and she said, “I believe the half Cree part of my adoptive mom helped me cope during my childhood as she was authentically Indigenous in many ways.” She went on to share, “Understanding Indigenous ways of knowing and being helped me feel connected, safe, loved, and understood which was very important as most Sixties Scoop survivors feel disconnected from their lives.”

I am grateful to the collaboration between SD83, SD73, and Adam’s Lake Indian Band who brought the Kulak family from Saskatchewan who shared their story of discrimination that had a good result of establishing National Ribbon Skirt Day. The Kulak family members (Chris, father; Lana, mother; and Bella, Malena, Salena, Christina, Shania, five of their daughters) came together to support Bella who is from the Cote First Nation to share her story.

On January 4, 2023, Bella was bullied for wearing her ribbon skirt, a skirt that she was proud of and that was gifted to her to wear in traditional ceremonies. The family members each spoke about how Bella was not herself following the incident at school where she was told that she should have worn something else, not her ribbon skirt. Bella explained that she felt a sense of shame, but she is glad to turn something hurtful into something good. On January 4th, they encouraged everyone to wear something on National Ribbon Skirt Day that represents their identity– a ribbon skirt or shirt, a hockey jersey, or any attire that reflects your heritage.

The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and the week that has taken place in SD73 and in communities across Canada helps everyone to know the importance of truths that have happened historically and that, unfortunately, still happen today.

It is important to continue our collective commitment to learn about and not to forget the emotional weight of the stories told and retold. I am grateful to everyone who has taken time over this last week including on the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation to reflect on what can be done personally and collectively to reconcile such tragic histories by taking steps together to prevent racism and discrimination, which are at the root of these histories and to set our hearts and minds to a more hopeful future.

I have shared before that being an Aboriginal person at this time within our history is exciting and hopeful. Never before have our voices had local, national, and international spaces to share stories, perspectives, and lessons with those who truly wanted to hear them. I am grateful to be part of a district community and provincial, national, and international community and time in history that not only acknowledges the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, but who will walk together every day in the spirit of reconciliation.

Kukstsemc

This column appeared in Kamloops This Week: View from SD73 on October 3, 2023.

SD73-TRU Annual Indigenous Transitions Day to Post-secondary

Fri, 22 Nov 2024 21:00:00 GMT

Story provided by Chelsea Isenor, Director of Communications and Board Administration

On Tuesday November 19, 2024, approximately 88 Indigenous Grade 10 students from secondary schools across the District gathered at TRU for the SD73-TRU Annual Indigenous Transitions Day to Post-secondary.

The 2022-2027 District Strategic Plan outlines our commitment as a District to supporting students in achieving their career, continuing education, and life goals (Career Development Priority) while also ensuring that every learner feels safe and thrives personally and culturally (Cultural and Identity Development Priority). This annual event is just one way we can support these value commitments for Indigenous students.

Each year, the Indigenous Transitions to Post-secondary Day offers Grade 10 Indigenous students the opportunity to learn more about post-secondary options available in both academics and trades. Students get access to information about the supports and mentors available for post-secondary Indigenous learners and listen to stories and experiences from current post-secondary learners.

This year’s event started with a welcome and opening prayer from Elder Doe Thomas. Following the opening prayer, she welcomed each school individually encouraging students to cheer for each other.

TRU Indigenous Education Supervisor Jason Blair welcomed the students to TRU and talked about what a welcoming place TRU is. He also encouraged students to try things outside their comfort zones.

Before moving into the day’s agenda MC Drew Rose encouraged students to be brave and ask lots of questions, sharing, “You are the future, this is a big step for you, learn as much as you can today.”

Following the opening and welcome, students had a quick snack break before participating in a TRU Faculty Mixer. Booths were set up around the room with TRU faculty and staff ready to share information and opportunity in various fields of study. Students had a passport card that encouraged them to visit all the booths to learn about the variety of opportunities available.

Student had the opportunity to meet and talk to Carolyn Anderson (Nuxalk), Coordinator Indigenous B.Ed Coordinator from the Faculty of Education and Social Work; Adam Florence (Metis), Assistant Teaching Professor from the Culinary Arts Program; Murray Sholty, Assistant Teaching Professor from the Faculty of Law; Meghan Low, Women in Trades Office Coordinator from the School of Trades and Technology; Dr. Elizabeth Reimer, Associate Dean of Arts from the Faculty of Arts; Lex Edwards, Ts’kw’aylaxw Indigenous Mentor and Communications Coordinator from Indigenous Student Development; Gwen Campbell MacArthur, a Metis Elder with the Faculty of Nursing; Tiffany Adams, Indigenous PLAR Developer from Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition; Sammie Hanson, Qelmúcw (Indigenous) Future Students Advisor from the Future Students Office; Dr. Jess Allingham, Assistant Teaching Professor from the Faculty of Science; and Kerry Gairdner and Sheila Brown from the District’s Career Development Department; as well as current students, student advisors, and student mentors from several faculties and programs.

Following the Faculty Mixer, student could join one of two campus tours: a Future Student Academic Tour with Sammie Hanson or a School of Trades and Technology Tour with Dwayne Geiger

Following lunch, District students heard stories and advice from a TRU Student Panel. The panel included current TRU students: Kassidy Porlier and Lexi Grisenthwaite from the Indigenous B.Ed Teaching Program, Women in Trades student Paisley Cadarette, Faculty Adventure, Culinary, Tourism student Emma Gottfriedson, Masters of Human Rights and Social Justice student Wynona Edwards, Faculty of Business studentXeni Lulua, and a member of the Indigenous Law Students Association.

The TRU student panellists shared about their post-secondary experiences and advice for future students. They encourages future students explore and take advantage of resources available on campus (“there’s lots of resources that can support students at TRU”), work hard in their courses (“you have to show up and put in the work to succeed”), and search out and find a support system to help when you are struggling. They are shared that students will need to be adaptable in their post-secondary experiences, many on the panellists expressed that figuring out what you want to be is an ongoing process and your plans will likely change (“It’s okay if your plan changes, it will all come together in the end, don’t stress out”). When asked what their favourite things at TRU are, several students on the panel shared appreciation for their instructors and the support systems they’ve built on campus, others talked about taking part in cultural activities, House 5 (Cplul'kw'ten) being an important gathering place, and small class sizes making it earlier to learn, make connections and friends, and get to know your professors.

Paisley Cadarette from the student panel is a current SD73 Grade 12 student at Sa-Hali Secondary. After participating in the District’s Trades Sampler Program, Paisley finished all her required secondary courses early and is now spending her Grade 12 year at TRU in the Heavy Mechanical Foundation Program.

When asked about her experience at the Transition Day, Valleyview Secondary student Elli Ross shared, “This offers students a chance to find a sense of community and realize that there are other like-minded people around them, not just in your own school you can find them spread out in the community. Not everybody knows what they want to be, it's honestly very difficult because there are so many jobs that you can do. Going to things like this definitely helps let you know what's out there and then you can decide what you’re interested in. My hope is that everybody here today got that sense of community and a feeling of more assurance in what they want to do. I hope more events like this can happen because it really helps.”

Addison, a Grade 10 student, shared what she was taking away from the event, saying the day reminded her “how important it is to be Indigenous and how it can affect your upbringing.” She also shared how the day’s activities helped her think about her future, “After exploring the nursing building, I think I might want to go into nursing now because I think it’s really cool. I learned today to be comfortable in my own skin. I think this was a valuable experience.”

The day wrapped up with closing remarks from Jason Blair who thanked everyone for helping organize the day and thanked the students for participating wholeheartedly. He shared, “A really good symbol of what we’re doing here is the round dance that we did where we were all in a circle together – moving forward, helping each other, caring for one another, lifting each other up – to me that's the essence of what we’re doing here today. It’s about bettering ourselves and in turn bettering each other.”

Board Notes from October 27, 2025

Fri, 31 Oct 2025 22:30:00 GMT

For updates from the regular meeting of the Board of Education, featuring Annual Trustee Elections, Student Enrolment Update, Out-of-Province Field Trip Request, Sa-Hali Park Land Disposal, SchoolCash Online Update, and more, read Board Notes here.

Creating a Culture of Learning with New School Leaders

Wed, 10 Jul 2024 21:00:00 GMT

Story provided by John Wiedrick, Associate Superintendent of Human Resources

As outlined in the 2022-2027 District Strategic Plan, the Kamloops-Thompson School District is committed to supporting and mentoring school leaders. District leadership has supported this commitment by offering a Professional Learning Series for all school leaders in the first two years of their assignment.

This year’s inspiring group of new school leaders includes Hayley Hurren (Vice Principal, Lloyd George Elementary), Amanda Nixon (Vice Principal, Dallas Elementary), I-Wen Bluhm (Vice Principal, Pacific Way Elementary), Sonja Corea (Vice Principal, South Sa-Hali Elementary), Grady Sjokvist (Vice Principal, Brocklehurst Secondary School), Curtis Wiebe (Vice Principal, Bert Edwards Science & Technology School), Jeanine Traudt (Vice Principal, Kamloops School of the Arts), Laurel Seafoot (Vice Principal, @KOOL School), Melanie Gregg (Vice Principal, Valleyview Secondary), Kristy Dolha (Vice Principal, Sa-Hali Secondary), Alyssan Gauthier (Vice Principal, Raft River, Blue River, and Vavenby Elementary), Cammy Plummer (Vice Principal, A.E. Perry Elementary), Andres Ruberg (Teacher, McGowan Park Elementary and Barriere Secondary), and Jen Bubela (Vice Principal, Westsyde Secondary).

As part of the “Creating a Culture of Learning” series, this group of motivated school leaders attended three in-person, all-day learning sessions in February, April, and July 2024 at the Henry Grube Education Centre. The series topics were centered around feedback received from an all school leaders survey in 2023, with sessions focused more on ways to create and support learning environments where Indigenous and non-Indigenous, diverse and non-diverse learners can engage at equitable levels in all classrooms across the District.

The focus of each session was to grow the participants skills and abilities in having conversations with colleagues that create positive change at their worksite. To centre this work, the group studied the books "School Culture Rewired" by Todd Whitaker and Steve Gruenert, "Instructional Coaching" by Jim Knight, "Fierce Conversations'' by Susan Scott, and "Street Data" by Shane Safir. Throughout the process, participants developed skills in addressing both conduct and competence issues with their staff in respectful and growth oriented ways.

“This experience has given me essential tools to navigate different aspects of leadership with support from fellow school leaders,” shared Pacific Way Vice Principal I-Wen Bluhm. “For me, the HR aspect of school leadership is a new and uncomfortable area… coaching has provided invaluable perspective and direction.”

Between each in-person session, participants were invited to multiple individual one-on-one coaching sessions. These virtual sessions were designed to respond to the individual learning needs of each participant based on their particular leadership context. These conversations and coaching sessions addressed topics from how to improve our Health and Safety reporting to how to effectively address employee attendance concerns and everything in between.

Valleyview Secondary Vice Principal Melanie Gregg shared, “This professional learning series for school leaders is the best professional development opportunity I have participated in as an administrator or a teacher. The learning is grounded in high-quality research, provides practical best practices that I can utilize immediately, and allows for meaningful reflection on my personal practice as well as the state of learning in my building. An invaluable use of my time!”

A.E. Perry Elementary Vice Principal Cammy Plummer shared, “It has been an invaluable learning experience and I am very grateful for the time and opportunity. It has allowed me to connect with fellow leaders and share my journey as a beginning vice principal. This series has highlighted the importance of creating a culture of learning within our schools and the profession. The exchange of ideas and strategies has been enriching, providing new perspectives on leadership. It has reinforced the need for collaboration and support among school leaders. Overall, this series has significantly contributed to my professional growth and I look forward to year two.”

As this school leaders cohort moves into the 2024-2025 school year they will continue to build their skills on how to have difficult conversations with staff, improve the quality of teaching in both big ways and small ways, and learn more about leadership and change management. The District is also excited to support the continuation of this work with a new group of school leaders during the 2024-2025 school year.

Superintendent's Update

Sat, 16 Nov 2024 00:30:00 GMT

Dear Parents and Caregivers:

We have acknowledged war veterans on Remembrance Day and National Indigenous Veterans Day this past week. We also lowered flags to recognize former BC Premier John Horgan who passed away from a courageous battle against cancer at the age of 65 on November 12, 2024. These celebrations reflected our commitment to living a core value of Relationships and Connections, and the Grandfather’s Teaching of love in the 2022-2027 District Strategic Plan.

Kamloops-Thompson Provincial Online Learning – November 4, 2024

Principal Hembling is leading the District’s Provincial Online Learning School (POLS), which was selected to be one of only 21 such schools provincially. They offer a full range of K-12 courses to students inside and outside of the District in elementary (K-7), middle school (8-9), high school (10-12), and adult learning programs (graduated and non-graduated adults). He is supported by a wonderful office team, Ms. Smith and Ms. Wright, and Ms. Hurtgen.

I met one student, Xavier, who is currently taking all Grade 11 courses online, and he said, “I am looking forward to returning to school for Grade 12.” When I asked him why, he shared, “For graduation and all of the activities leading up to it.” Ms. Goodrich shared that students like Xavier choose to come into the school on a scheduled basis to ensure that they get the help they need. Xavier added, “It helps me keep up because I have to get my work done to have it checked.”

Mr. Hembling explained that some students, like Xavier, prefer online education as their main approach to K-12 education. He added, “It just fits the lifestyle for some students who have speciality programs like academies and they could not otherwise get the courses they want.” He also said, “Since we have become a POLS, we collaborate with multiple districts and other POLS from around the province.”

For example, Principal Hembling described how our POLS is working with SD27 to provide courses to Grade 8 and 9 students living in remote communities, for whom the hiring of subject specialist teachers has been a challenge. Our POLS is also offering opportunities for middle school teachers to work with a cohort of Grade 8/9 students twice per week via Zoom and Brightspace to teach Math, Science, Social Studies, and English.

Our POLS is also collaborating with SD74 (Goldtrail) to offer Grade 10-12 students one or more courses to supplement the offerings available at their face-to-face schools. One example is that students from Lytton are cross-enrolled to @KOOL for Career Life Education, Foods, Anatomy and Physiology, and Career Life Connections. These students are provided with support from their SD74 teachers on site, while they are simultaneously provided with curriculum and a fully qualified teacher from @KOOL.

We continue to work with students who are ordinarily residents in BC, but temporarily living elsewhere while they compete at an elite level of sport. WHL players playing in Red Deer, Seattle, Victoria, Spokane, Regina, Everett, Kamloops, Calgary, and Saskatoon have taken courses with @KOOL in the 2023-2024 school year. @KOOL also has students who are training and competing in swimming, basketball, rodeo, skiing, and mountain biking. These students are able to successfully continue their studies with @KOOL while temporarily living in Florida, Alberta, Switzerland, New Zealand, and many other countries.

We have witnessed a steady increase in students due to the breadth and depth of coursework available and the expertise of staff who offer synchronous and asynchronous learning to meet students’ learning preferences. Our enrolment has more than doubled over seven years, so many students choose POLS because it is another pathway to graduation that fits their schedules, course requirements, and ways of blending speciality programs or interests.

Kamloops School of the Arts – November 8, 2024

Principal Lloyd and I started our school visit with Mateo, a student who is known as the “office business manager” who visits the office and shares the joy of doing tasks for the principal and school secretaries. Mr. Lloyd emphasized, “It is interesting to see how Mateo has grown in his comfort level and verbal skills as he makes it a routine to come to the office. Mateo has also helped students’ leadership skills in Grade 12 because they work with him in their teaching assistance blocks.”

Principal Lloyd and Vice Principal Jeanine Traudt and I continued on our visit by stopping at the “wall of belonging” where staff share their pictures and fun facts about themselves. “This helps students and parents get to know our staff, and it’s fun.”

We visited Ms. Richmond’s Grade 2-3 class who were taste testing brownies. Ms. Norman’s Grade 2 class is reading “Stink in the Bank” while individuals practice reading one-on-one.

Mr. Crummey’s Foods class was just finishing their meal planning and preparations. I learned that Dylan, a Grade 11 student, had completed a project of a 100 day cooking video that shared what he had made for meals for 100 days for his family. This was a significant accomplishment and a testament to the importance of Foods classes to translate into real life competencies.

I then met Mrs. Coates, a Grade 1-2 teacher, and she shared a reading resource that she and Ms. Woods and Ms. Richmond had created for parents to learn the basics of how to support their children to learn how to read. This program is so well received that they had over 40 parents attend the evening before to learn these home reading strategies.

Mr. Sadik was preparing Grade 6-7 students for how to support transition times in school. Ms. Kubin, LART, was supporting a small group of students with literacy.

Mr. McCaugherty’s Grade 11-12 Physics class was working independently on completing problems. Mr. Stella’s Gr. 10 Art class was practicing origami.

Remembrance Day Ceremony

We then took part in the Remembrance Day and National Indigenous Veterans Day Ceremony.

Mr. Lloyd offered opening remarks and reminded everyone, “Remembrance Day Ceremonies have a sombre seriousness to them as we pay our respects to the men and women who have lost their lives in service of our country and the resulting freedom that we enjoy today.”

A student, Myla McGarry, shared the land acknowledgement and then we sang “O Canada” while students faced the audience and engaged in sign language for “O Canada”. This led us into hearing the choir sing, “Hands United in Peace”, followed by a drama performance, “The Paint Box”, and the secondary band played, “All Things”.

The Senior Dance students shared a dance, “Harry Patch”, in memory of Harry Patch who was the last survivor of World War One. He was 111 years old when he died. Students danced to a Radiohead song in a performance they created in his memory. We then witnessed a beautiful drama, choir, dance piece called “Reconcile” while Grade 8 students shared a speech drama.

Ms. Traudt shared remarks about the National Indigenous Veterans Day, “It is?an important day of remembrance that?honours?the contributions of First Nations, Métis, and Inuit people who participated in Canada’s military efforts.”

She explained, “People gather on November 11 to honour the courage and devotion of the many brave men, women and children who lost their lives in two world wars, The Great War (1914-1918) and World War II (1939-1945).” She added, “But it is also to show recognition to the families that still have loved ones fighting in wars overseas and who have lost loved ones on the battlefields. The hostilities of the First World War ceased on November 11, 1918, at 11:00 a.m. the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month.”

Following her remarks, secondary students presented their drama speech of “In Flanders Fields” followed by senior dance students expressing thoughts of war with a piece entitled, “All We Do”.

Principal Lloyd then shared, “You will now hear a piece called ‘The Last Post’. People will often take time to think of friends that fought in the war. Others may remember grandparents, great grandparents that fought in the war. Some people will just be quiet to show thanks and gratitude for soldiers that are still fighting in wars. After the one minute of silence, you will hear a second piece called, “Rouse”. This signals that the war is over and is a symbol of the new chance that we have to live in peace.”

They concluded the ceremony with each class placing wreaths at a cenotaph and the Junior Dance Majors performed “Awake my Soul”, followed by the Secondary Choir and a Creative Writing / Media Arts collaboration sharing, “Wanting Memories”.

This was a truly moving experience to take part in multi-modal presentations of reflections and interpretations of the history and lived experiences of those who have been in world wars and those who suffered loss. I am grateful to have ended my visit with this commemorative school-wide and school community recognition of loss, love, and the commitment to peace and hope for future generations.

Sníne Elementary Community Engagement

Disposition of Property Community Engagement

The potential sale of three properties are a focus of broad consultation. Over the past few weeks, we have hosted a community webinar (watch it here) and gathered feedback through a community survey. The survey is now closed and the feedback collected will be presented to the Board at the Regular Public Board Meeting on November 18, 2024. To stay up to date on this consultation process, go here.

Board Notes

To learn more about the Inaugural Board Meeting and Regular Public Board Meeting on November 4, 2024, please feel free to read the Board Notes here.

Take time to do what you enjoy this weekend and to spend time with those who inspire you.

Rhonda Nixon, PhD
Superintendent

Sharing a Sense of Pride in a Safe Space to Generate Rich Dialogue

Fri, 28 Jun 2019 17:15:00 GMT

An Arts Education Teacher is sharing the powerful outcome of a long-term student choice project. A group of secondary students were asked to design something engaging that would take time to create. It had to be of interest to them, and it needed to reflect something that mattered to them. For example, it might reflect their culture, personal interests, or world views. Some of the students in the group connected with ideas of climate change, gender identity and their passion for arts and culture. Several students connected with the First Peoples worldview, and their work is being shared on the Aboriginal Education What’s New Page.

“I believe it is so important for all our students to be able to connect with what matters to them and share their personal stories. I am inspired to see more students bravely speaking their truths,” said Jen Cacaci, Arts Education Teacher, Sa-Hali Secondary. “Specific to the First Peoples worldview, I witness the cathartic benefits of our Aboriginal students reflecting on the past and creating powerful, meaningful imagery. I also witness the emotional response of our non-Aboriginal community who are drawn in by these compelling pieces of art. Rich dialogue occurs, along with increased awareness, and potential for more positive actions moving forward.”

Cacaci said the biggest challenge is creating a space where students feel safe to engage with sensitive topics and respectful of other students opening themselves up in similar ways.

“In the end students feel a great sense of accomplishment having challenged themselves with something so meaningful. That becomes a shared sense of pride with their families and circle of friends,” she said.

Secondary Battle of the Books Reboot 2023

Fri, 02 Jun 2023 15:30:00 GMT

May 31, 2023

On Wednesday, secondary students from NorKam, Sa-Hali, Westsyde, South-Kam, and Valleyview descended on the Henry Grube Education Centre to engage in an epic contest of scholastic prowess to see which team would emerge victorious in this year’s Secondary Battle of the Books. Throughout the day, students participated in a series of literary challenges designed to test their knowledge, creativity, and teamwork, including a Book Pitch Competition, three grueling rounds of Jeopardy, and an intellectually demanding Loose Parts design contest.

In the early rounds of Jeopardy, it looked like Sa-Hali Secondary was unstoppable, but a hard-fought Loose Parts Contest placed victory within the grasp of all five of these amazing teams heading into the final round of Jeopardy. When the dust settled and the final scores were tallied, however,NorKam had edged out the competition to become this year’s champions, heading home with bragging rights and a stylish trophy lovingly crafted by Ms. Bell.

Sa-Hali placed second, followed by Westsyde, South-Kam, and Valleyview. Every member of every team should be proud of their performance.

This year, a record sixty students took part in The Secondary Battle of the Books. Each year, the number of participants increases, largely due to the tireless efforts of teachers and teacher-librarians who work with students at their respective schools, organizing book clubs where everyone can feel safe, heard, and included. These clubs are places that help to foster a love of reading and a sense of community and shared interests, and the competition at the end is just for fun.

The secondary “Battle Books” are largely chosen by the students themselves, and represent a diverse range of perspectives, authors, and genres. This year’s list consisted of more than ten titles, including Motorcycles and Sweetgrass by Drew Hayden Taylor, Born a Crime by Trevor Noah, and A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson. Some students read all of the listed books, while others only read one or two. Still, if one student reads just a little more than they might have otherwise, or, more importantly, finds themselves at home in a book club where they feel just a little less alone, everyone wins.

The Battle of the Books is far more than a competition because it embodies many of our SD73 priorities: it helps ensure that every student acquires strong foundation skills and core competencies, particularly literacy skills and critical and creative thinking abilities. The Secondary Battle also helps connect students to their passions, honours First Peoples’ perspectives and worldviews (as well as a myriad of other perspectives and worldviews), and helps foster an inclusive, adaptable and accountable culture.

So, although NorKam took home the trophy, everyone went home a winner after this year’s Battle of the Books.

Graduation Dates: Mark Your Calendars!

Fri, 22 Mar 2019 17:30:00 GMT

Graduation celebrations all focus on that pivotal moment when families and friends gather to watch their grads walk across the stage. Wherever they go from this moment, this is the time to acknowledge their achievements. Here are the dates, venues and start times for School District No. 73 graduation ceremonies.

2019 Date	School	Venue	Start time
Friday, May 24	Barriere Secondary	Barriere Curling Club	6 p.m.
Thursday, May 30	District Honours Reception	TRU Grand Hall	7 p.m.
Monday, June 3	Twin Rivers Education Centre	TREC Gym	6 p.m.
Tuesday, June 4	Four Directions	TREC Gym	5 p.m.
Thursday, June 6	Continuing Education	Alliance Church	5 p.m.
Friday, June 7	Logan Lake Secondary	Logan Lake Secondary	7 p.m.
Monday, June 10	Aboriginal Graduation	McArthur Island Sports Centre	5 p.m.
Tuesday, June 11	NorKam Senior Secondary	McArthur Island Sports Centre	7 p.m.
Wednesday, June 12	Westsyde Senior Secondary	McArthur Island Sports Centre	7 p.m.
Thursday, June 13,	Valleyview Secondary	McArthur Island Sports Centre	7 p.m.
Friday, June 14	Kamloops School of the Arts	TRU Grand Ballroom	7 p.m.
Friday, June 14	South Kamloops Secondary	McArthur Island Sports Centre	7 p.m.
Saturday, June 15	Sa-Hali Secondary	McArthur Island Sports Centre	2 p.m.
Friday, June 21	Chase Secondary	Chase Secondary Gym	4 p.m.
Friday, June 21	Clearwater Secondary	Clearwater Secondary Gym	6 p.m.
Tuesday, June 25	Sun Peaks Education Society @KOOL	Sun Peaks	4:30 p.m.

Participation in Pursuit of Hypothesis

Wed, 06 Mar 2019 17:45:00 GMT

It’s Science Fair season.

Students from grade 4 to grade 12 are presenting their findings in their own schools, honing their theories in anticipation of a spot in the historic Cariboo Main Line Regional Science Fair at TRU on April on April 11 and 12.

At Dufferin Elementary, grade 6/7 teachers Seema McGarry and Kevin Bamsey hosted their science fair Feb. 27.

“We start in January, getting the students to think about questions they may want to explore,” said McGarry. “The focus is on the scientific method of inquiry, the topics may be simple or complex, that’s up to each student and their interests.”

And although the students present the questions scientifically, the inquiry may have been generated through personal interests such as a favourite sport such as fastball or soccer or learning more about the glycemic index you’ve been living with since being diagnosed as a Type 1 diabetic at the age of two.

Jora Singh Nahal drew his inspiration from the success his older siblings have had at the regional science fair. The lone grade 4 student examined the Efficacy of Antifungals: Chemical vs Natural. He proved efficacy by measuring the amount of water displaced through the gas production of each of the anti-fungal agents tested.

“The Science Fair has been around for a long time. For teachers, it’s a great way to bring inquiry-based learning into the classroom and it gives students an opportunity to collaborate if they want to,” said Bamsey. “It’s also about time management, the students have to make good use of their class time to get their projects done.”

Eight to 10 of the students from Dufferin will go on to present in the Cariboo Mainline Science Fair. “The main emphasis of the fair is on student participation and encouraging students to pursue their interest in science,” said Grant Naylor, SD73 Cariboo Mainline Regional Science Fair coordinator.

“Our intent is to provide students with a good science fair program and allow them the opportunity to explore the many educational opportunities available at TRU.”

The deadline to register for the Cariboo Mainline Science Fair at Thompson Rivers University in Kamloops is Mar. 15, 2019. TRU and the Interior Science Innovation Council will be working with School Districts 27, 58, 73, and 74 to host the fair for students in grades 4 - 12.

As the home base of the regional science fair and the largest of the four school districts attending, Naylor expects to upwards of 150 SD73 students to participate, contributing at least 70 per cent of the over 200 projects on display at the fair.

The Cariboo Mainline Science Fair is Apr. 11 and 12, check out the displays in the TRU Gymnasium.

WSS honours Black Excellence Day and Black History Month with Lesra Martin

Fri, 24 Jan 2025 19:15:00 GMT

Story provided by Aleasha Kachel, Westsyde Secondary School teacher

One of the Kamloops-Thompson School District’s core values from the 2022-2027 District Strategic Plan is Equity. As a District, we aim to remove barriers and create environments that provide accessible and empowering opportunities for all students and staff to thrive. In honour of Black Excellence Day on January 15 and in lead up to Black History Month in February, schools across the District are fostering learning opportunities for students to engage in conversations around Equity and the District’s Cultural and Identity Development priority.

On Thursday, January 16, 2025, Lesra Martin, a motivational speaker, writer, and lawyer, visited Westsyde Secondary School (WSS) to speak to students about hope, heart, and the human spirit. His presentation expressed the importance of education and how that shaped his life. He shared his inspiring life story, from realising he couldn’t read at 15 years old, to becoming a lawyer, to being featured in a blockbuster film, and eventually appearing on Oprah, accomplishing all of this through believing in himself. Lesra talked about growing up in poverty, dealing with gang violence, and not being provided with a good education. He almost gave up hope until a group of Canadians took him in and surrounded him with books, education, and stability. One of the books he was inspired by was one about the wrongful conviction of the boxer Rubin “Hurricane” Carter which led him and the Canadians to work to free Carter from prison.

In his speech, Lesra highlighted that no one can take a good and decent education away from you, especially when you have worked so hard for it. In addition, he stressed the importance of literature and reading in his life as key factors in his success. He spoke about how you need to believe in yourself and not let go of your dreams as you are truly capable of anything. When asked about the importance of celebrating Black History and Black Excellence, Lesra highlighted the importance of focussing on the positives that have come from struggles in Black History and to remember that success cannot be achieved without difficulties and hurdles.

Grade 12 students Amara Ezedbego and Ellelis Parrott felt it was important for WSS to offer this event for students and staff as it showed how valuable education is, while Grade 10 student Paisley Podovennikoff noted she is inspired to, “think of one positive thing for every negative thing.” WSS students Jayme Konrad and Maya Stodola highlighted Lesra’s message that, “you can always overcome your challenges, no matter how dark they may seem,” which has inspired them to believe they can do anything they set their minds to. Finally, Hannah Ezedebego, a student in Grade 10, connected with Lesra’s remark that, “the purpose in life is to live with purpose.”

Principal Dominic Comita, who reached out to Lesra to present at WSS ahead of Black History Month, remarked, “It was a true privilege to have Lesra Martin speak to our students to kick off Black History Month. As someone whose personal story exemplifies resilience, determination, and the power of literacy, Lesra inspired everyone in attendance. His message served as a powerful reminder that no matter our starting point, our choices and determination can lead us to remarkable achievements.”

Superintendent's Update

Sat, 22 Feb 2025 00:30:00 GMT

Dear Parents and Caregivers:

It was a wonderful week of the District Student Advisory Council meeting to review our Artificial Intelligence framework and Anti-racism action plan, the Indigenous Education Council consulting about budget, a student voice panel taking part in an Elders’ Luncheon, and community engagement about catchment changes for Sníne Elementary, which opens in the Fall of 2026. Importantly, many schools were sharing their continuation of the “Real Acts of Caring Week” (February 9-15), which fits our core values of Relationships/Connections, Well-being, Equity, Sustainability, and the Grandfather Teaching Courage in the 2022-2027 District Strategic Plan.

McGowan Elementary School – February 19, 2025

It was a delightful visit with Principal Latta, which started in Ms. Reilly’s Kindergarten classroom. The students were focused on completing an art project of a heart that will have “Be Kind” as part of it.

We then spent time with Ms. Carrigan’s Gr. 1 class and they were working on journals after visiting Save On Foods and Earls. They had gone on that trip to learn how to make chicken fingers. The trip inspired lengthy journal entries for some students. Others were reading and another student was completing a math assessment.

Ms. McCaugherty’s class was finishing making hearts and preparing to write words in the hearts that were “kind words about each other.” They were also continuing a lesson about identifying geometrical shapes.

Ms. Bone was on her prep, and she was happy to talk and take us to see her Kindergarten students in the gym. The students were enjoying playing ball with each other with Ms. Howard.

Ms. Scott’s Kindergarten class taught by Ms. Lyons was working in centres. One student, Ben, proudly showed me his rocket built out of lego. Other students played with vertical white board puzzle pieces, and others were drawing and writing cards.

Ms. Covaceuszach had students practice writing numbers in decimals on their individual white boards. The numbers represented different amounts of money.

Ms. Pawliuk was engaged in a read aloud with Gr. 2. Ms. Kossey invited her Gr. 2-3 students to predict what the book, “Oystercatcher” was about, and students related it to their background knowledge of studying Haida Gwaii.

We ended our visit in Mr. Blower’s Gr. 7 class where students were searching for current news articles of interest to learn more about. They were sharing in partners the articles on various media sites and deciding on which articles interested them the most. They then answered questions about them.

Elders’ Luncheon – February 20, 2025

Knowledge Keeper Joan Arnouse hosted the elders’ luncheon in Quaaout Lodge. Students from Kamloops-Thompson School District (SD73) and K?wsaltktnéws ne Secwepemcúl'ecw School District (SD83) came together on a student panel to share what they most liked about school and what they found challenging.

They highlighted boys’ and girls’ groups in which they engaged in culturally significant activities such as making drums, drumming, making rattles, and learning from elders. They shared how support from Indigenous Education Workers especially had shaped who they are, and they still have long-standing relationships with them as an extended part of their families.

The students spoke about some of the challenges such as “finding it hard to sit as much as they do in the day”. One student shared, “It was nice when we had gym in the third block because it was the break that was needed.” Another student shared his strength is “sleeping too well” and “not making it to school on time or enough”

Elders and knowledge keepers took the time to share their family backgrounds, some of the challenges that they had faced growing up as well as what they most looked forward to in school such as “playing basketball” and “learning from their elders telling stories with teachings that stick with them today.

Thank you to Education Manager Diane Anthony for supporting and organizing this important annual event. The students who came told us that they would like to do this more often. One student shared, “One of my best days at school is today.”

Wishing you a wonderful weekend with many moments of relaxation and joy.

Rhonda Nixon, PhD
Superintendent

Superintendent's Update

Fri, 27 May 2022 23:30:00 GMT

Dear Parents and Caregivers:

Thank you for honouring the anniversary of the discovery of Le Estcwicwéy? (the missing) at the Kamloops Indian Residential School. Our hearts go out to every person who is impacted.

Marion Schilling Elementary School

Vice Chair Wade, Principal Piggin, Vice Principal Chernoff, and I enjoyed seeing the buddy reading and “roll and read” game in Mrs. Patton’s class. As we walked to the next classroom, a beautiful bulletin board– ”Love Grows”-- reinforced the importance of treating everyone with love and kindness. Students enjoyed learning choice board activities in Ms. McMillan’s class. In the library, one student who was reading in a rocking chair shared that she loved the literature choices, which were displayed by a bulletin board, “Where Reading Makes Your Mind Bloom.” As we continued, Mr. Evans’ class was solving money problems, and Mr. Bell shared how his class applied for and received a trades grant and then built bean bag target boards which are commonly used at break times. Mrs. Piggin emphasized, “Everyone is engaged in learning and we focus on growing acts of kindness every day in our school.”

District Powwow at Tk’emlúps te Secwe? pemc

On May 25, 2022, Vice Chair Wade, Trustee Jules, and Assistant Superintendents Mochikas and Reilly joined together at our first District Powwow. We participated in a procession led by Tk'emlúps te Secwe? pemc Nation representatives, Kúkpi7 Rosanne Casimir and council members, Mr. Justin Gottfriedson and Ms. Morning-Star Peters, and District Principal Bowden. We took part in the Welcome Song and Eagle Song as an eagle soared above the arbour. We listened to speeches and took part in dancing and singing, and games throughout the morning.

Truth and Reconciliation

Today is the one-year anniversary of the announcement of the unmarked graves on the grounds of the Kamloops Indian Residential School. Mr. Ted Gottfriedson Jr. said, ‘Rather than referring to the unmarked graves as ‘215’ lost lives, we think of these lives lost not as numbers but as Le Estcwicwéy? (the missing).’ Mr. Gottfriedson mentioned that children in residential schools were referred to by their number, and Elders felt that using a number to refer to the lost children would not honour them. Students and staff engaged in various activities throughout this past week to honour the missing, and to move forward in learning together about Aboriginal cultural traditions and making connections with elders and knowledge keepers.

Communicable Disease Prevention Plan

We continue to have high absenteeism amongst our staff and a gradual increase in absenteeism amongst our students this past week. Interior Health has advised us to continue to emphasize the practice of daily health awareness strategies– staying home when sick, practicing good hand hygiene and respiratory etiquette, and making choices about wearing masks–see our District’s Communicable Disease Prevention Plan for more information.

Thank you for continuing to focus on learning while also taking time to enjoy field trips, musicals, graduation ceremonies, honours receptions, and other celebratory events.

Rhonda Nixon, PhD

Superintendent

Board Notes from April 25, 2022

Thu, 28 Apr 2022 20:00:00 GMT

From the regular meeting of the Board of Education. All about Budget for 2022-2023 approved, new day care spaces, and support for a school at Batchelor Heights. Read Board Notes here.

Kamloops parents supported to help keep kids safer

Tue, 25 Feb 2020 16:30:00 GMT

Parents in Kamloops are encouraged to attend an upcoming education session as part of B.C.’s school-based gang prevention initiative.

“This session is focused on raising awareness of local risks and giving parents the tools and supports they need to keep their children out of gang life,” said Rob Fleming, Minister of Education. “Training opportunities like these can help parents ensure their kids get the support they need earlier, so they can continue to work together toward positive futures.”

The upcoming parent education session in Kamloops is being offered Tuesday, March 3, at 6:30 pm at the Henry Grube Education Centre, 245 Kitchener Crescent. No registration is required. The session will run about 90 minutes.

“Prevention and intervention involves everyone, and parents can play an important role in keeping young people out of gangs,” said Mike Farnworth, Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General. “Sessions like this can dispel myths and help parents recognize the signs of at-risk behaviours, so they can help keep their kids on a positive path.”

Parents will leave these sessions with a greater understanding of what they can do to prevent their children from getting involved in gang activity. Topics include:

an overview of the current B.C. gang landscape,
information on how gang members are recruiting using social media.
and what attracts children and youth to the gang lifestyle.

“In partnership with parents, our district plays a critical role in educating young people about healthy choices,” said Alison Sidow, superintendent, Kamloops-Thompson School District. “The world is complex and we all have a responsibility to ensure our youth are equipped with the information they need to critically think about how their decisions affect their futures.”

The gang prevention program provides education and training opportunities for students, parents, educators law enforcement officials and representatives of community-based organizations. The Province is investing $4.93 million over the next three years to provide gang prevention and awareness training programs in 16 communities throughout B.C. This builds on an initial $1.12 million investment that has had more than 8,000 students, parents, educators and community partners participate in 110 training and education sessions.

Kamloops is one of the 16 priority communities identified by police and safety experts as those that could benefit from additional gang prevention support. Other communities include Campbell River, Chilliwack, Courtenay, Hope, Abbotsford Burnaby, Delta, Langley, Nanaimo, Prince George, Surrey, Vancouver, Victoria and Williams Lake.

Learn More

Read a news release on Erase. Read more about Erase.

Superintendent's Update

Fri, 27 Oct 2023 23:30:00 GMT

Dear Parents and Caregivers:

As we enter the final week of October, it is hard to believe that we are almost in November. To conclude this month, I continue to share stories about Equity and Courage as well as the Priorities in the District Strategic Plan.

South Sa-Hali Elementary

Principal Mabee started in the hallway where the local Secwépemc artist, Kelsey Jules, had designed the eagle/falcon symbol with both South Sa-Hali’s and Lloyd George’s colors to show how the two schools are one French Immersion community on two different campuses. The combined logo emphasizes a focus on belonging- Ta place est ici (You belong here.).

Mme Jayme’s K-1 class was sharing their morning routine in French, asking how each student was feeling that day and when they stated their response in a complete sentence, the student put a star in their jar towards a class treat later. Mme Wigness’ Kindergarten class sang the names of the month and then discussed the upcoming field trip to the pumpkin patch. Mme Venables’ and Mme Hawes’ Kindergarten class were predicting the size of pumpkins they were going to find at the pumpkin patch that day.

Grade 2-3 students in Mme Bauhuis’ class were studying verbs and Mme Viaud’s Gr. 1 class were studying how to make numbers between 1 and 100. Mme Evelyne’s Gr. 3s engaged in a read aloud about monsters and then later created their own monsters. Mme Muraca’s Gr. 2 class engaged in differentiated literacy activities (small group reading, looking for sounds, studying vocabulary words about autumn, creating spelling words). Gr. 1 students in Mr. Hall’s class were writing sentences such as “Can I fill up my water bottle?” Mme Cornell’s Gr. 1-2 students were starting Daily Five. Mme Nancy’s and Mme Stephanie’ s Gr. 3 students were studying trees and animals who lived underneath them. Mr. Hugues’ Gr. 6-7 class was studying positive and negative numbers. Mme Magalie’s class was identifying what was bizarre or didn’t fit in a picture by using French vocabulary related to diverse spaces. Mme Hunter shared how “loose parts” activities encouraged student imagination in speaking and writing. Mme Funk’s students were writing about the school of their dreams. Mme Graf’s Gr. 4-5 students were preparing to play football. Mme Mahoney’s students were enjoying making Halloween pictures.

Drop Everything and Read in SD73

On Monday, October 23, 2023, in celebration of National School Library Day, 12,470 students and staff from 42 schools with SD73 participated in the annual Drop Everything and Read Day (DEAR). This activity illuminates the importance of literacy in our everyday lives (Intellectual Development Priority) in the District Strategic Plan 2022-2027. Read more.

Discover Day: Discover the Law

The Career Development Priority is about inviting students to consider varied careers that suit their passions and interests. The Faculty of Law, Thompson Rivers University, hosted and engaged 48 students in the career event - Discover the Law. Students tested their legal knowledge with Legal Jeopardy, met the Law Student Club, negotiated a complex legal case, and met with local lawyers.

Inquiring Little Minds Child Care Centre at Ralph Bell Elementary School

The Kamloops-Thompson Board of Education looks forward to announcing the opening of the child care centre at Ralph Bell Elementary School, operated by Inquiring Little Minds (ILM), soon. Read more.

Thank you for taking a moment to recognize the positive work that your peers are doing this week. Also, take a moment to recognize something that you enjoyed doing and that you know made a positive difference for someone in your school community.

Enjoy your family and friends this weekend.

Rhonda Nixon, PhD

Superintendent

TteS and SD73 Celebrate Inaugural District Powwow

Thu, 26 May 2022 21:45:00 GMT

Language, tradition, and learning were among the takeaways from the Kamloops-Thompson School District’s first-ever powwow.

Hundreds of grade 4 and 5 students came together on Wednesday, May 25 at the Tk’emlups Arbour to join hands – literally and figuratively – and participate in what proved to be an immersive cultural experience complete with traditional prayers, hand drumming, dancers in regalia, and singing.

“We welcome you with open arms and an open heart,” said Tk’emlups te Secwépemc Councillor Morning-Star Peters. “We want to share our culture because at one time, we weren’t allowed to do that. This is so important for us to do this together to build unity and for us to be inclusive with each other.”

Earlier in the week, a memorial was held to commemorate the one-year anniversary of the discovery of the unmarked graves just a short distance away from the powwow site.

During the powwow, many speakers including dignitaries and elder Evelyn Camille discussed the tragedy, how it has impacted their lives, and how it will change the future, as a way to educate the audience of children on the magnitude of the findings.

“Back when the children’s lives were ended, they were known as a number,” explained Tk’emlups te Secwépemc representative Ted Gottfriedson. “Our elders, who are also survivors of [the Kamloops Indian Residential School] and other residential schools, have decided that they no longer wanted to call our kids who were confirmed there ‘the 215’ because they felt it wasn’t appropriate to refer to them as a number anymore.

“Our elders have decided to call the children, Le Estcwicwéy, and if that’s something you would like to learn how to say, I think that that would be really appropriate and it would really honour those kids.”

NorKam Christmas Lunch

Thu, 19 Dec 2019 23:15:00 GMT

The amazing annual NorKam Senior Secondary Christmas Lunch went off without a hitch Dec. 18. The school provided about 800 students with a hot meal of turkey, mashed potatoes and all the fixings – in under an hour. The success of the event relies on the exceptional logistical abilities of staff supported by a contingent of community volunteers including Mayor Ken Christiansen, members of the Kamloops RCMP, and SD73 administration staff.

Parent Engagement Session: TRU Education and Skills Training Program

Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:00:00 GMT

Presented by Saskia Stinson, TRU Education and Skills Training Program (ESTR) Program Coordinator

Thompson Rivers University (TRU) offers opportunities for everyone in the Education and Skills Training (ESTR) program. Learn more about education and employment opportunities at this information session.

The ESTR program at TRU provides knowledge about future employment opportunities and training in a specific area for people who are neurodivergent. During the full-time, nine-month program students divide their time between classes, labs, and work placements. TRU offers certificates in: Career Exploration, Kitchen Assistant, and Retail Worker.

This workshop will be held via Zoom on Wednesday, March 5, 2025, from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM. If you are interested in attending, please register in advance here. Following your registration, you will receive the link to the meeting.

Indigenous Exploration Day: A Celebration of Learning, Culture, and Connection at Brocklehurst Secondary

Fri, 20 Jun 2025 22:00:00 GMT

Story provided by Chelsea Isenor, Director of Communications and Board Administration

On June 19, 2025, staff and students at Brocklehurst Secondary School celebrated National Indigenous Peoples Day with a full day of experiential learning, cultural exploration, and community connection at their Indigenous Exploration Day.

This impactful day of learning and exploration was the result of thoughtful collaboration and planning from Brock teachers. The idea for the day started with Brock’s Humanities Professional Learning Community of teachers who were looking for activities that would offer students an opportunity to learn more about languages, including Secwépemctsin. Taking inspiration from Brock’s history of offering activity days, the idea then grew into a full day of hands-on and on-the-land learning experiences focused on Indigenous culture and centred around National Indigenous Peoples Day. Teachers, elders, knowledge keepers, and community members came together to offer unique lessons, workshops, and field trips to mark a meaningful step forward in the school’s ongoing journey toward reconciliation and deeper understanding.

“We really wanted to make an impact in June [for National Indigenous History Month],” shared Brock teacher Katee Smeaton. “We decided we were going to take on reconciliation of our practice, bring in knowledge keepers and have this be an authentic learning experience for our students—and create something that, in our first year as a secondary school, we can be really proud of and have moving forward annually.”

The Day began with a Welcome Assemble where Brock students were joined by Grade 7 students from the neighboring Kay Bingham Elementary School. Peter Michel and Ivy Chelsea led the school in the Welcome Song, setting a respectful and joyful tone for the day’s activities.

From there, students took part in a wide range of hands-on, land-based, and culturally rich learning experiences that offered a deeper understanding of Indigenous culture, stories, and traditions.

Throughout the day, students rotated through a variety of activities and field trips that were led by educators, knowledge keepers, elders, and community members. Experiences included:

Storytelling, drumming, and ethnobotany sessions at McQueen Lake Environmental Education Centre
Hiking and on-the-land learning at Paul Lake
A biking cultural exploration field trip in downtown Kamloops
Four-station cultural games and medicine, featuring lacrosse, ball hockey, stick games, and traditional medicine-making
A full-day ribbon skirt sewing project
Traditional games and Lahal
Medicine making, including cotton bud salves and natural bug repellent
A wood burning art project using cedar BBQ scrapers and Indigenous-inspired stencils
Bannock cooking, pine needle basket weaving, journaling, art, painting, and more

Each activity offered students the chance to learn by doing, and to connect more deeply with the land, their peers, and the local Indigenous community.

“It's nice to have hands-on activities for the students,” shared teacher Kristine Chan. “For them to be able to sit with knowledge keepers and elders and have conversation while doing hand-on learning rather than traditional lectures, research, or book learning—I think they’re getting more out of it by being with people.”

The day also offered opportunities for students to step up as leaders, including Indigenous students who helped lead some learning and songs throughout the day.

When asked about the students’ experience, Katee Smeaton, the group organizer for the McQueen Lake field trip, shared, “There wasn't a moment when the student didn’t have the biggest smile on their face. Whether they were inside doing hands-on learning, making, or drumming, or they were outside exploring the trail… I’m excited to have this be an annual day of learning.”

This powerful day of learning would not have been possible without the generosity and support of the elders, knowledge keepers, and community members who shared their knowledge, gifts, and stories with the students.

Special thanks also go out to the dedicated teachers who organized and planned the event: Nicoletta Appleton, Lacey Banman, Kristofer Braun, Marie Busch, Kristine Chan, Kevin Chow, Ivy Chelsea, Andrew Clare, Brad Dalke, Ashley Lowndes, Mike Lowndes, Val Shannik, and Katee Smeaton

Brock’s first ever Indigenous Exploration Day was an engaging day of learning and a wonderful opportunity to incorporate important cultural learning around National Indigenous Peoples Day.

Others schools throughout the District honoured National Indigenous Peoples Day on Friday, June 20 with various activities and events, including gathering together to share the Welcome Song, lessons on traditional buildings and weaving, learning about Indigenous history and terminology, participating in Lahal tournaments, going on nature walks for on-the-land learning, and engaging in meaningful classroom lessons.

KSA Takes Home First Place in Santa Claus Parade

Tue, 30 Nov 2021 18:30:00 GMT

Close to 100 students from Kamloops School of the Arts (KSA) participated in the 41^st annual Santa Claus Parade on Sunday, November 28, taking home the first place Elf Award based on float entries by children.

Members of the school’s community, including faculty, students, and PAC representatives helped construct the winning float, that included a 3-foot-tall lit star made of wood designed and painted by grade 8 KSA students Charlotte Kaltenrieder and Amelia Jones.

The school’s float designers made sure to incorporate drama, dance, visual art, media arts, and music as part of the presentation, in an effort to showcase the wide variety of talents and skills of the students.

“Grade 12 student Westin Newcomen led us in the parade and carried our banner. We had senior student leaders handing out candy, along with our grade 5-7 dance squad, and grade 10-12 dance company, as well as our elementary singers on the float,” said KSA Vice Principal Jayne Latta. “It was a wonderful community event. This was our first time participating in the parade and our students were continually commenting that they wanted to be involved again next year.”

Numeracy at Board of Education Sept. 23 Meeting

Mon, 30 Sep 2019 15:30:00 GMT

The Board of Education Regular Meeting Sept. 23 was held at Sun Peaks Elementary.

Numeracy at Sun Peaks Elementary

Regular Meeting of the Board of Education
September 23, 2019

EDUCATION TOPIC

Numeracy Strategies
Sun Peaks’ Principal Mike Johnson introduced Emily Fell and her team of amazing students, who under close observation by the Board, demonstrated how a variety of strategies could be used to solve 8 + 9. Keaton, Soleil, Minjun, Emma, and Sophia each found the solution using the strategies of counting on with cubes, pictures, number line, near doubles and creating tens.
Read more.

REPORTS FROM SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS

District Equity, Inclusion, and Diversity Annual Report
Director Trish Smillie and District Principal Vessey Mochikas presented an overview of the first District Equity, Inclusion and Diversity Annual Report and its ten action items including; expanding vision screening to students in Grade 3 and Grade 6; introducing the Preventure program to three pilot schools to prevent substance abuse; and, a multi-agency plan to reduce vaping. Read the full report here.

Parkcrest Elementary / Twin Rivers Education Centre
Just 17 days after a fire destroyed Parkcrest Elementary School, Assistant Superintendents Rob Schoen and Bill Hamblett summarized actions taken on behalf of the students and school staff, and the whirlwind of meetings, decisions, and actions required at all levels. Read more.

REPORTS FROM SECRETARY-TREASURER

Audited Financial Statements
Secretary-Treasurer Stretch and Director of Finance Cassidy presented the Financial Statement Discussion and Analysis Report following a report from Mario Piroddi of BDO Canada LLP who confirmed the audited financial results for 2018-2019. Mr. Piroddi responded to questions from trustees and complimented senior administrative staff on sound financial management. Read more.

CHAIR'S REPORT

Board and MLAs met Friday, Sept. 20 to discuss the capital plan submission and vaping. A Vaping Reduction Strategy working group will be formed with Todd Stone, MLA for Kamloops-South Thompson, and Trustees Grieve and Jules.

UBCM Advocacy Committee, Chair Karpuk, Trustee Sim, Superintendent Sidow, Secretary-Treasurer Stretch and members of Kamloops City Council met to prepare for their presentation to the Provincial Government at the Union of BC Municipalities meeting, Sept.26.

Date Change: Due to the Federal Election on Oct. 21, 2019, the Board Meeting planned for this date will change to Monday, Oct. 28, 2019. Trustee Wade, Chair for Education, confirmed that this also applies to the Education Committee meeting.

TRUSTEE REPORTS, INQUIRIES, AND GOOD NEWS

As Chair of the Aboriginal Education Council, Trustee Jules, along with Superintendent Sidow have been invited to meet with the Minister of Education on Oct. 16 to discuss the Tripartite Agreement and Aboriginal student success.

Trustee Grieve reported on the opening celebration for Westsyde Elementary on Sept. 19. The new school has been fully renovated and there is a positive atmosphere amongst the 178 students and 18 staff. Principal Don Poelzer welcomed families to the newly opened school and students celebrated with face painting, a bouncy castle, and hotdogs. Trustee Grieve said, “It was such a pleasure to talk with many families who are happy with the school and the revitalization it has brought to Westsyde.” Read more.

NOTICE OF MEETINGS

Schedule of Upcoming Meetings
September 26, 2019 - UBCM
September 30, 2019 - Sun Peaks Steering Committee
October 4, 2019 - Premier's Awards for Excellence in Teaching
October 4-5, 2019 - BCSTA Okanagan Branch Meeting

The next regular Public Board Meeting will occur on: Monday, October 7, 2019, at 1383 - 9th Avenue, Kamloops.

Read the Full Agenda

Board Notes are highlights from the regular meeting of the Board of Education for School District No.73 (Kamloops-Thompson). Expect your next issue of Board Notes after the Oct. 7, 2019 meeting.

Copyright © School District No. 73 (Kamloops-Thomspon)

Our mailing address is:
1383 Ninth Avenue, Kamloops, BC V2C 3X7

Superintendent's Update

Thu, 17 Apr 2025 23:30:00 GMT

Dear Parents and Caregivers:

This has been an exciting time of learning and preparing for celebrations and sports events in the District. Thank you for the work that you do to connect with students and to nurture their well-being – one of our core values in the 2022-2027 District Strategic Plan.

Dallas Elementary School – April 15, 2025

Principal Orr and Vice Principal Nixon started our visit by sharing their “Students of the Month” bulletin board, which displays students’ pictures and names who have been honoured by their classes for virtues such as “sportsmanship” and “responsibility”. Students are nominated by others who witness acts that show these values. Ms. Nixon said, “Parents have started attending the celebrations and everyone really enjoys it.” Mr. Orr added, “It has been a surprise because we don’t tell students ahead of time, but now when they see their parents, they know they are getting an award, and it builds a sense of pride within the families and school community.”

The day starts with BOKS (a physical activities program supported by Healthy Schools BC). Grade 6 and 7 classes played a “rock, paper, scissors” relay in the gym, where each member of the team ran to meet an opponent in the middle of the gym and played a round of “rock, paper, scissors” while doing different physical activities (push-ups) until one person wins. It is an active way to start the day, and it is also a lot of fun. After 30 minutes, the Grade 6-7 students go to class and Grade 4-5 students come in to engage in a BOKS activity. BOKS has been associated with students improving their focus, mental health, and social relationships.

Mr. Ruddick had students practice their fluency with multiplication facts on a wheel, and students were checking their answers prior to going to BOKs.

Mrs. Kolasa’s Grade 6-7 class had just returned from BOKs and started by sharing the “Good Dog of the Day” story. In this case, Mrs. Kolasa said, “Today, our story is about Winston AKA Kitty.” Students enjoyed learning about a classmate’s pet, before starting their math lesson about fractions. She explained, “I like to start with a story,” and she shared, “It is Hudson’s birthday, and every student will get half a cake, and there are three students who cannot have any.” They drew pictures of the cakes and then divided them in half and determined the improper and mixed fractions that represented how many pieces of cake were eaten. The students used white boards and visuals to figure out the answers to Mrs. Kolasa’s questions.

As we walked to the next class, Mr. Orr pointed out their Dallas Hockey League bulletin board that showed how a lot of students play hockey intramurals. The students are also very involved in swimming and flag football and are gearing up to host a big Parloff event in partnership with Juniper Ridge Elementary.

We spent time in the library where primary students were working one-on-one with support practicing letter sounds. We also saw the last display left in the library from the Science Fair, and Mr. Orr noted, “The Grade 6-7 students were involved in the Science Fair and this library was filled with projects.”

In Ms. Chapman’s Grade 1-2 class, they were sitting in a circle on the carpet and practicing from the Heggerty resource. Ms. Chapman would prompt the students. For example, “How would you say ‘howl’ without the ‘l’ sound?” and the students would respond in unison, “how”. Students are learning how to listen and imagine new words from the one shared based on letter sounds left off the new word.

Mrs. Brar’s Grade 5-6 class was studying angles and they got into small groups and used tape to create shapes that had different angles (e.g., acute, obtuse, right). Some used the wall and others the desks and floor. They practiced with protractors of different sizes to measure the angles and then record them. It was an engaging way to have students apply their knowledge. These students also run the “Snack Shack” at the school. They handle the money and ensure healthy snacks are available. Mr. Orr reinforced, “This is such a help to the school community through the student and staff leadership. The students just love it!”

Ms. Pearson’s Grade 2 class was also studying measurement using large and small rulers and some played math games with cards when they were finished.

Mrs. Watson’s Kindergarten students were looking for Easter words and they had to find as many as possible and when they found one. Mrs. Watson reminded them, “Sound it out, say it, clap it, write it.” They worked hard in partners and small groups to find all of the words.

Mrs. Thompson’s Grade 3 class was focused on “Spring Egg-citement”, and Esme and Maddy shared the incubator with the eggs in it. As students reviewed the lifecycle of a chicken. Mrs. Thompson had students share their poetry. All of them had written haikus (5 syllables on the first line, 7 syllables on the second line, and 5 syllables on the third line) written about nature, and they also wrote the opposite (lowku).

Mrs. Kaczur’s Grade 3-4 class was studying fiction and non-fiction text features, and groups of students shared their results. They shared what was the same or different between fiction and nonfiction texts.

Students Dig Into Career Exploration at Heavy Metal Rocks – April 9-12, 2025

For 17 years, the Kamloops-Thompson School District’s Heavy Metal Rocks program has been offering hands-on career exploration experiences for students interested in careers in trades. This year, thirty-two Grade 11 and 12 students participated from secondary schools across the District, gaining valuable experience operating heavy machinery with one-to-one guidance and mentorship from certified operators. Willow Hart, a Grade 11 student at NorKam Secondary, described her experience at Heavy Metal Rocks as “really fun. It was interesting to be able to work on the machines with a bit of freedom.” Read more.

SKSS Destination Imagination Team Wins at Provincials – April 12, 2025

On Saturday, April 12, 2025, a team of South Kamloops Secondary School (SKSS) students became provincial champions at the 2025 Destination Imagination Provincial Tournament in North Vancouver. The SKSS team won first in the Instant Challenge, first place in the main World Beyond Science Challenge, and earned a Special Award for the team that showed the true spirit of Destination Imagination, by showcasing creativity, communication, collaboration, and problem solving. Grade 12 student Sadie Baker also received one of three Destination Imagination Scholarships. Congratulations to the SKSS team, including students Sadie Baker (Grade 12), Oscar Firth-Gieben (Grade 12), Martin Gjaltema (Grade 11), Calliope Leadbetter (Grade 11), Delainey Rusk (Grade 9), Harper Marchand (Grade 9), and Emma Willms (Grade 9), as well as teacher, Ms. Brandi Rusk, and teacher candidate, Giovanni Trotta. Read more.

Students Win Silver and Bronze Medals at Skills BC Provincials – April 16, 2025

On Wednesday, April 16, 2025, several students from across the Kamloops-Thompson School District competed at the Skills Canada BC Provincial Competitions at TradeX Exhibition Centre in Abbotsford. Congratulations to all the students who qualified for provincials and to the following students who earned provincial medals: Rayna Blondal (TREC) and Tarynne Gray (NorKam Secondary) won Silver in the 2D Animation competition, Ariana Groess and Alyssa Smith (Brocklehurst Secondary) won Silver in the Jr. Skills Spaghetti Bridge competition, John Tompkins (Chase Secondary) won Silver and Jensen Webster (Chase Secondary) won Bronze in the Jr. Skills Sumo Robot competition, and McKinley Journey (SKSS) won Bronze in the Carpentry competition. Read more.

Board Notes

To learn more about the Regular Public Board meeting on April 7, 2025, please read Board Notes here. To learn more about the 2025-2026 Preliminary Budget, watch the presentation from April 9, 2025 here. Feedback on the Preliminary 2025-2026 Budget is due by April 21, 2025 – learn more here.

As we end this week, about to enter into the Easter long weekend, I hope that you have plans to enjoy time outside and with family.

Rhonda Nixon, PhD
Superintendent

Battle of the Books: Reboot is Back

Fri, 17 Jun 2022 15:45:00 GMT

A group of highschoolers recently came together to participate in Battle of the Books: Reboot, a reading motivation competition for students in grades 8 to 12.

Roughly 20 students from Valleyview (VSS), Westsyde (WSS), and South Kamloops Secondary (SKSS) engaged in friendly competition which consisted of three rounds of Jeopardy.

“In between each round of Jeopardy, we had a different kind of challenge,” explained co-organizer Dianne Bell, Teacher Librarian (TL) at VSS, who has been running the program with TL Aleasha Kachel of WSS and TL Trisha Rimmer of SKSS since 2018. “This year each school had to pitch one of the books as THE book everyone should read - like Canada Reads - and in the second break, students had an escape or breakout box challenge based on the novel The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness.”

In previous years, students have done a loose parts challenge based around a theme in the books and a Trashion Show, where teams had to create the costume of a character from a specific novel but only use found items - nothing purchased.

This year, the home team, Valleyview Secondary, came out victorious.

“It has been a fantastic and fun thing to help organize and it's always a great group of students to work with - every teacher's dream!,” said Bell.

Board Notes from September 13, 2021

Mon, 20 Sep 2021 15:00:00 GMT

From the regular meeting of the Board of Education. All about in-school vaccination clinics, more FTE teaching staff for elementary, and audited financial statements. Read Board Notes here.

Raise-a-Reader Day

Wed, 25 Sep 2019 17:00:00 GMT

If someone wearing a bright orange t-shirt asks you for a donation today, don't hesitate. Donate. This is Raise-a-Reader Day, devoted to raising funds for literacy. For more information, read more.

Youth Work in Trades Deadline Approaching

Fri, 11 Sep 2020 21:45:00 GMT

For high school students thinking about career options, maybe a $1000 and a few high school credits will help with the decision process.

According to Rob Wielgoz, District Vice-Principal Trades and Transitions with School District No.73 (Kamloops-Thompson) there is no time to waste if high school students want to make the most of their work experience and an opportunity to earn credits towards graduation.

Deadline to register is September 30. Formerly known as the Secondary Apprenticeship Program, the Youth Work in Trades provides skill development through practical, hands-on work experience.

“Students who have spent time working alongside a certified tradesperson can make those hours really pay off,” said Wielgoz. “Maybe the job was in a kitchen, or on a construction site, or with a landscaper, or salon. There are so many ways students could have earned hours that would help them qualify.”

Students can talk to their school's Trades and Transitions coordinator, or email Robert Wielgoz at rwielgoz@sd73.bc.ca.

Summer jobs qualify if they:

Were with a certified tradesperson and involved work related to a trade

Were covered by WorkSafe B.C.
Provided a paycheque or honorarium

120 hours worked = the equivalent of a high school course (4 credits) to maximum of 4 courses (16 credits)

Superintendent's Update

Fri, 23 Sep 2022 21:00:00 GMT

Dear Parents and Caregivers:

To coincide with the arrival of Autumn, students are well established in their classrooms and courses and student learning is advancing in earnest. In this Weekly Update, I spotlight some of the tremendous learning resources and opportunities being developed for students by the Curriculum Department. As you will read, these stories highlight the importance of developing and maintaining relationships and connections, a core value in our 2022-2027 District Strategic Plan.

Literacy - Travelling Library Collection

The people pictured here are only a few of the many who collaborated to make this resource possible. The English First Peoples Travelling Library Collection showcases wonderful, authentic Indigenous books including children’s literature, classic and contemporary novels, poetry anthologies, short story collections, and multimedia resources. These resources provide teachers and students with greater access to a wide variety of engaging Indigenous literature.

Numeracy - Primary Learning Series

The SD73 Numeracy Curriculum team is finalising the planning to offer a Primary Learning Series set of workshops, which includes a kit of resources and manipulatives to support students. Students will come to know their facts by constructing a range of increasingly sophisticated numeracy strategies. Through the repeated practice of these strategies, every student has the opportunity to become mathematically proficient.

The SD73 Numeracy Team, led by Monica Bergeron and Cynthia Morrow, is visiting classrooms this month to demonstrate using manipulatives and to work with all teachers to develop deeper thinking numeracy practices. These practices will help students develop more sophisticated numeracy strategies and become more confident mathematicians!

Raise-a-Reader

On Wednesday, September 21st, SD73 schools partnered with the Literacy in Kamloops organization and many community supporters to collect donations for Raise-a-Reader. This was another tremendously successful campaign, as the community raised $8200 cash from donations to community partners and schools on Wednesday. This number will only increase as online and corporate sponsor donations have yet to be counted. The 31 Kamloops area schools participating raised $1563 in less than 30 minutes with a few more donations to still come in - AMAZING! All rural school donations will be totaled and added to their own local community funds.

The money collected during Raise-a-Reader stays locally and goes directly to Literacy programming, such as: One-to-One Reading, Parent-Child Mother Goose, Come Read with Me, the Bright Red Bookshelves and the Bright Red Book Bus, among others. SD73 learners benefit from the ongoing strong relationship the District has with Literacy in Kamloops!

Truth and Reconciliation Week

Truth and Reconciliation week occurs from September 26 - 30, with the second National Day for Truth and Reconciliation being held on September 30, 2022. This is a reminder that schools will be closed on September 30. This day honours children who never returned home, survivors of residential school, as well as families and communities impacted by residential schools. During this week, students and staff will engage in learning experiences and participate in various activities to raise awareness around residential schools and their impact.

All Candidates Forum for School Trustee Candidates - Hosted by DPAC

The District Parent Advisory Council is hosting an All Candidates Forum for school trustee candidates on September 28th from 6:30 to 8:30 pm. The forum will take place at the Henry Grube Education Centre, located at 245 Kitchener Crescent in Kamloops. No registration is required to attend.

I hope that everyone has the opportunity to enjoy the Autumn sunshine this weekend before we begin the final week of September!

Rhonda Nixon, PhD

Superintendent

Electric School Buses Coming to the District

Wed, 30 Sep 2020 17:45:00 GMT

The Kamloops-Thompson Board of Education has approved $65,000 in funding to proceed with a carbon neutral capital plan project.

Work on the design, tender and construction of an electric bus charging infrastructure will begin soon with an expected completion of March 31, 2021.

The District will take delivery of its first electric bus in early 2021. SD73 is one of 13 districts in the province that are part of the Clean BC Go Electric Bus Program to see how the electric vehicles perform in the extreme range of BC’s weather and topographical conditions.

Sherry Kristjanson, SD73 Transportation Manager, says the 76-passenger electric bus is a welcome addition to the existing fleet of 84 diesel powered buses. The project is jointly funded by the Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources (EMPR), the Ministry of Education, the Association of School Transportation Services of BC and SD73.

Superintendent's Update

Sat, 09 Nov 2024 00:30:00 GMT

Dear Parents and Caregivers:

This has been a powerful week of remembering and acknowledging the recent passing of the esteemed Justice Murray Sinclair who passed away on November 4, 2024, at the age of 73. Dr. Sinclair, a prominent Indigenous leader, former senator, Manitoba’s first Indigenous judge, and the esteemed chair of Canada’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), dedicated his life to the pursuit of justice, equity, and reconciliation for Indigenous peoples across Canada.

Remembrance Day and National Indigenous Veterans Day

Thank you for taking part in Remembrance Day ceremonies that had local veterans share stories of loss and love, students providing remarks, stories, song, and dance–diverse ways of commemorating Justice Sinclair’s passing on November 4, 2024, National Indigenous Veterans Day on November 8, 2024, and Remembrance Day on November 11, 2024.

Barriere Elementary School – October 29, 2024: A Journey in Truth & Reconciliation

Principal Brogan shared how Paul and Thomas (Facilities Department) had assisted to install their mural in which every child and adult at Barriere Elementary had created a tile of Secwépemc beliefs and ways of living for good health.

Simpcw First Nation staff and community members shared teachings that were represented on the tiles. Mr. Brogan and the staff are very proud of this collaborative art installation. He said that it furthers their journey in Truth and Reconciliation and is a legacy for the future.

Mr. Brogan and I visited Ms. Matthews’ Grade 3 class, and they were solving a Math Mystery-Case of Trick or Treating. As Mr. Brogan asked the students about what their school stands for, they shared that students are focused on being kind, respectful, safe, and responsible. They enjoyed sharing examples such as “I was helping a friend”, “I walked with a new friend”, and “I picked up his bag when he dropped it”.

Ms. Miller was covering Ms. Bonderud’s Grade 5-6 class, and they were discussing what it means to be a leader and the ways that they share their skills as outside mentors who help students when they get hurt or need support with conflict resolution. We visited Ms. Smailes’ Grade 4-5 class who were working on a “count back” strategy. They also asked me questions about what it is like to be in my job and they posed questions such as, “What is your favourite school?” and I described how I go to every school and they each have unique strengths.

After recess, we went into Ms. Kivari’s Grade 3-4 class who were enjoying their snack. We toured the renovated kitchen through Feeding Futures funding, and Mr. Brogan shared how they prepare lunches every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, and they provide free flowing snacks for all students. Annie and Angela were in the kitchen and they showed me their delicious menu, and Mr. Brogan said, “And the most important aspect is that it is made with love.”

We then visited Ms. Peterson’s Grade 1-2 class, where they were reading and students were using their favourite book choices for group reading. Ms. Fraser was teaching Phys. Ed. Ms. McGravey’s Grade 2-3 students were learning about shapes and solids, and provided examples of each when asked.

Mr. Scott’s Kindergarten class was learning about “x”, studying patterns with “x”, and he drew images that represented a word with “x” in them such as “x-ray” and “box”. They showed me a graphing exercise where they charted on a bar graph their preferred treats.

Ms. Eustache had a small reading group who talked to me about their book, which was “Trapped in Ice” by Eric Walters. They summarized key events and shared themes such as “overcoming challenges”. Ms. Eustache also shared her passion for beading and showed us her earrings and how they were made. Ms. Collier’s Grade 6 class stopped to share how they are leaders in the school, and they were proud to share examples such as being good role models, helping others, and being good lunch and outdoor monitors.

Barriere Secondary School – October 29, 2024

Principal Markides and Vice Principal Ruberg and I started our school visit by attending one of Barriere’s first Grade 7-8 drama productions. Ms. Fennel shared that the production had three parts. It began with a monologue by Georgia (Grade 9), which continued into a short play about a haunted house, and it concluded with a play about a community seeking to get rid of an evil witch with the help of a King and Queen. Mr. Markides explained that this was the first time in six years that they have been able to establish their drama class with interest from all grades. It is an exciting opportunity to continue to build this program based on students’ genuine interest and investment of time and passion in learning and sharing their learning.

Before carrying on to see more classes, we stopped to talk with Laura, the cafeteria cook and manager, who works with students to mentor them in how to plan and cook meals for students and for themselves. Laura helps them to see how this is a life skill as well as potentially a career that is fulfilling and brings joy to others. The school uses Feeding Futures funding as well as local grant funds to prepare breakfast three days a week and lunch every day. “I love what I do,” shared Laura.

We visited Mr. Fielding’s Grade 9-12 Shop program and students were working on planning, including designing an item that they had researched and pricing the materials. Mr. Fielding explained, “It is about preparing the students to know how to choose something to build and to know the cost and materials before starting the project.” The competencies of collaboration and critical thinking are developed through their work together. Students made the items which were things that they will use at home including a shelf for books and a bench.

The Food 10-12 class was making cookies, and two students, Sophie (Grade 9) and Teagan (Grade 10) were preparing for their cookies and the cookie display to be part of a contest.

Take Our Kids to Work Day – November 6, 2024

Take Our Kids to Work Day is a national event throughout Canada where students in Grade 9 are invited to attend work for the day with a family member or friends to learn about careers. SD73’s Manager of Health and Safety Melissa McGarry and daughter Naveah McGarry worked together at the School Board Office on Wednesday. Thanks to everyone who welcomed students into their workplaces this week.

SKSS Students Showcase Artwork at 19th Annual Exhibition – November 6, 2024

On Wednesday, November 6, 2024, South Kamloops Secondary School hosted a community reception for their 19th Annual Art Exhibition and Fundraiser. The Perspectives of the Grasslands Exhibition featured a collection of 50 original artworks by Grade 10–12 SKKS Art students. The students’ works were inspired by the importance and beauty of the Interior Grasslands of BC. Read more.

Sníne Elementary Community Engagement

Disposition of Property Community Engagement

The potential sale of three properties are a focus of broad consultation. Last week, we hosted a community webinar, which is available to watch here. There is also a survey (available until November 12, 2024 at noon) for you to share your views on whether the Board should consider selling these properties or other possible uses. To learn more and to provide feedback, go here.

Inaugural Board Meeting and Board Notes

On Monday, November 4, 2024, the Kamloops-Thompson Board of Education held its Inaugural Board meeting and elected the positions of Chair, Vice-Chair, British Columbia School Trustees' Association Provincial Council representative, and British Columbia Public School Employers' Association representative of the Board for the 2024-2025 term. Read more.

To learn more about the Regular Public Board Meeting on November 4, 2024, please feel free to read the Board Notes here.

District Parent Advisory Council (DPAC)

Join DPAC for their 2nd annual PAC Workshop on November 14, 2024 at the Henry Grube Education Centre. This year, the workshop theme is Opening our Circle and the focus will be on the basics of running an inclusive, thoughtful, and effective parent group. You'll have a chance to connect with District mentors in treasury, fundraising, running meetings, setting up bylaws, and more. Tips will also be shared on volunteer recruitment and retention, goal setting, and school community building. The evening is open to up to four members of each PAC executive. You must RSVP to attend. Dinner, childminding, swag, and take-home tools are all included. Breakouts and info-sharing start at 5 pm, followed by dinner and presentations at 6:30 pm. Travel and hotel subsidies are provided for out-of-town schools. Please RSVP to sd73dpac@gmail.com.

This weekend, I wish you time to reflect on the past and remember those who lost their lives in war and to treasure the time that you have with those you love.

Rhonda Nixon, PhD
Superintendent

SD73 Students and Staff Celebrate Pink Shirt Day

Wed, 26 Feb 2025 16:15:00 GMT

Story provided by Chelsea Isenor, Director of Communications and Board Administration

The Kamloops-Thompson School District is committed to supporting learning opportunities and environments which inspire students to thrive. The 2022-2027 District Strategic Plan outlines a commitment to supporting students to feel welcome, safe, and connected.

One important day that reinforces the values of kindness and belonging is Pink Shirt Day—a globally celebrated movement with a mission to create a more kind, inclusive world by raising awareness for anti-bullying initiatives. Every year, on the last Wednesday of February, people all over the world are encouraged to wear pink shirts to show their solidarity and stand together against bullying and harassment.

On Wednesday, February 26, 2025, schools across the District are celebrating Pink Shirt Day with school assemblies, displays promoting kindness, anti-bullying lessons, and by wearing pink shirts.

This year’s SD73 Pink Shirt was designed by KSA student Sylas Pretula. Sylas’ love of art, nature, and bees inspired the design centered around the message “When You Can Be Anything Bee Kind.” After designing the pink shirt artwork using a sketchbook drawing app, Sylas commented, “I never thought I would see any of my digital art on something real, especially out in the school district, I think that's really cool and I’m excited to see it around.”

When asked about Pink Shirt Day’s message of kindness and anti-bullying, Sylas shared, “It's a very important message and a very important day to be recognized for diversity and inclusion. Diversity is cool.” KSA Principal Blair Lloyd added, “We’re over the moon proud of Sylas and what he has done to represent our school and promote inclusiveness for not only KSA but the entire District.”

While students and staff across the District wear the pink shirt designed by Sylas, they’ll also be learning important lessons about anti bullying and inclusivity.

In preparation for the day, Savona Elementary School students designed signs with positive messages to be displayed around the school. On Pink Shirt Day, students will wear pink and participate in Anti-Bullying Day lessons, Bucket-Filling and Kindness Ninja activities, and a school wide assembly about the history of Pink Shirt Day.

Kay Bingham Elementary School also created a visual display in advance of Pink Shirt Day, with eleven giant t-shirts displayed outside the library that will be filled with the little pink shirt gotcha messages by the end of the month. Students and staff will also gather for a school assembly to discuss the importance of Pink Shirt Day to help create a sense of belonging in the school.

As students and staff carry lessons of kindness and acceptance beyond Pink Shirt Day, we are reminded of the importance of living the District's core values—Relationships and Connections, Equity, and Well-being—not just today, but every day.

School Board Office Meets Ashton Forsey

Thu, 04 Nov 2021 17:30:00 GMT

Grade 9 student Ashton Forsey spent Wednesday at the School Board Office and it wasn’t for bad behaviour.

The 27^th annual Take Our Kids to Work^TM day took place on November 3 and Forsey, along with 250,000 other grade 9 students around the country, opted to spend his day seeing where his parent works; at the Board Office where his mom Dawn Forsey, is the executive assistant to the Secretary-Treasurer.

During his one-day tenure, Forsey was sent on various tasks including a photography assignment for the Communications Department, as well as scanning and shredding for the Finance Department.

Among the 14-year-old’s favourite parts of the day was a tour of the server room and exploring the IT Department, as that is an area he is “really interested in.”

According to Allisson Badger, District Career Education Coordinator, Take Our Kids To Work Day was a great success. “Participating students were able to go to work with a parent, relative, friend, or volunteer host,” she said. “The event gives an opportunity for parents to have career discussions with their students, and for students to have hands-on experiences that encourage them to make informed decisions about potential possible future goals.”

“I also got to go up to the bus garage, which was really cool to see,” said Forsey, a Brock Middle School student, acknowledging that the annual initiative, "...is a good program for kids to get involved in, and it can help kids figure out what they want to do when they finish school.”

While after graduation Forsey has hopes to become a math or science teacher, he now knows that there are a few other career opportunities within the school district.

A national initiative from The Learning Partnership since 1994, the one-day event encourages collaboration and participation with schools, parents, and community organizations each year.

For further information on the program, visit The Learning Partnership.

Serving on the Kamloops-Thompson Board of Education

Wed, 07 Sep 2022 15:00:00 GMT

By Meghan Wade, Vice-Chair

September 7, 2022

In this column I am sharing my thoughts and experiences on serving as a Trustee, Vice Chair, and Chair of the Kamloops-Thompson Board of Education while also hoping to inspire others to consider putting their names forward. I am not seeking re-election on October 15, 2022, so I want to share how grateful I am to the voters of Kamloops who have given me the privilege of serving this District for four terms.

When elected to public office, you are given a trust that requires your time, commitment, skills, open mind, and patience. A trustee’s work is complicated. You become one member of a nine-person corporate board that must collaborate and compromise. There is no room for a narrow personal agenda, nor advocacy for a single organization or group. You must always be willing to maintain an open mind to engage with all district and community members within the context of the District’s Strategic Plan and your role as a governor.

As a new trustee, there is an immense amount to learn about the entire district, the School Act, the Board’s relationship to the Ministry of Education, the Board’s role as employer to various employee groups, and the list goes on. A team of skilled professionals will help you learn what you need to know. But it will take time. Start the term by being curious and asking lots of questions. The Board table will consist of incumbents who will absolutely support you in the learning. Improving student outcomes requires that all trustees be prepared to collaborate, compromise, listen and debate, consistently maintaining the line between governance (your role) and operations (the professional staff’s role).

So why run? You would be joining a Board that celebrates student success in literacy, numeracy, and high school completion rates. There will be tough times, tough decisions, endless meetings, difficult conversations, and challenging correspondence but none of that outweighs walking into a classroom and having a primary student proudly read to you or receiving a student’s or a parent’s thank you email because you helped make a difference in their life. If students are always at the centre of what you do, the work is incredibly rewarding. I have no regrets.

Over my 14 years, Aboriginal graduation rates have significantly improved but we are not done yet. The district is working hard on Truth and Reconciliation, a continuing journey of which I am extremely proud. October 2022 will have the official opening of the expansion of Valleyview Secondary School: an event over 5 years in the making. Hopefully, we are only months away from a funding announcement for an elementary school in Pineview Valley as advocating for capital investment is forefront with trustees. During my terms, the district opened schools of choice plus academies focused on meeting the needs of our diverse student population. The district’s new comprehensive strategic plan, created through extensive consultation, provides strong direction for the next 5 years. This was the third district strategic plan I participated in, and implementation will be exciting.

There is so much I am proud of and grateful for over the past 14 years. This District is not perfect and there is much we can do to improve our students’ outcomes. If you have the passion to truly be of service, consider running for school trustee and continue the work of moving this district forward. Plus, VOTE. An elected school board is the public in Public Education.

This column appeared in Kamloops This Week: View from SD73 on Sept 7, 2022

David Thompson Elementary Celebrates 50th Anniversary

Fri, 27 Sep 2024 21:00:00 GMT

Story provided by Chelsea Isenor, Director of Communications and Board Administration

On Thursday, September 26, 2024, students, staff, and alumni gathered to celebrate David Thompson Elementary School’s 50th Anniversary at the school’s Welcome Back BBQ.

Since the school opened in 1974, David Thompson Elementary (DT) has been a true extension of its community and a hub of Westsyde community and culture for generations of students and families.

“The Westsyde and David Thompson community demonstrates that people have a way of coming home. We see many people coming back to David Thompson to teach and raise their children and families in the community near here. Seeing so many familiar faces today is a testament to David Thompson Elementary as a school, and the community that has been built within the school,” shared Board Chair Heather Grieve.

Throughout David Thompson’s school history, it has gone through catchment changes, transitioned from an English and French Immersion school, housed the Big Little Science Centre and the Salmonid Enhancement Program, and undergone a few internal renovations, but as a whole the building and spirit of DT continues to thrive thanks to the community that surrounds it and has built it into what it is today.

Over the years, many staff and principals have shaped this community school, from DT’s first principal Mr. Gordon Moffat, who was a beloved teacher and school leader, to its current Principal, Ms. Dyan Gunnlaugson, who is also a former DT student.

“Many David Thompson teachers and staff have been students here or have their own children in this school. This is important because it means as a group we are very invested in the school, the culture, and the neighbourhood," shared Principal Dyan Gunnlaugson. "For the staff at this school, this is not just a job, this is a means to help shape and maintain the values of our community.”

David Thompson is a multi-generational community—former students are now parents and grandparents of current students and several current teachers are also alumni. The DT family is invested in the school’s history, culture, and community values.

Gerry and Judi Gellowitz, who were teachers in the school’s first years, shared photos and stories from the school's history, including memories of field trips to Barkerville and stories of their own children and grandchildren attending the school.

The DT community spirit was on full display during Thursday’s 50th Anniversary Welcome Back BBQ. Students and families gathered for fun and games, shared memories while eating burgers, participated in a 50/50 for the 50th, and cheered for the new DT Tigers mascot as it was revealed by the DT PAC.

Last year, students participated in a contest to design a DT school logo incorporating the year the school opened, the school mascot, and Indigenous content. The winning logo, designed by Grade 7 student Cambria Edgecombe, was displayed on hoodies worn by staff at the event.

“Over the years, many David Thompson Elementary principals have shared the motto of “Better Together” for this school and community. I appreciate how you continue this tradition of strong positive relationships and connections not only within your school but between all Westsyde schools,” shared Superintendent Dr. Rhonda Nixon. “I look forward to seeing how each of you carries on this wonderful 50 year tradition of being better together.”

TNT Program Focused on Quality Student Experience

Thu, 27 Feb 2020 00:45:00 GMT

The Board of Education learned how the Trades and Transitions Program (TNT) is moving beyond enrolment to focus on the quality of student experience, at its regular meeting Feb. 24.

“We are building on our program, in which we are among the leaders in the province,” said Rob Wielgoz district vice principal, trades and transitions. “We are also focused on inclusivity strategies for under-represented demographics including females and indigenous persons.”

“Our programs connect students with their passions and interests and contribute to their career development,” said Rick Kienlein, director, secondary learning services.

Trades

The program offers students opportunities in trades training through partnerships with Thompson Rivers University (TRU) and the Industry Training Authority (ITA). Students are able to explore, work and train in trades, receiving high school credits and credits with TRU and the ITA.

Transition

The program also offers students dual credit opportunities to earn a TRU diploma while earning a high school elective credit, transfer credits, Prior Learning and Assessment Recognition credits or credits for university courses while attending high school. In addition to international baccalaureate, early childhood education, health care assistant and digital technology programs, TNT has a new offering this year, a police and justice program.

Transition Events

The program hosts a number of events throughout the year to provide students hands-on experiences to expand student awareness of potential educational and career opportunities. Events include Heavy Metal Rocks, RCMP Youth Academy, BC Wildfire Jr. Fire Crew, and Aboriginal Transitions to Post Secondary.

Elementary Supports

Several programs are in place to introduce TNT pathways to elementary students, including maker and trades grants, Girls Exploring Trades and Technology (GETT), Jr. Dragon’s Den, and the IBM STEAM camp.

The TNT program recently won a Trades Performance Award from the Industry Training Authority, in recognition of its high performance.

Helping Your Child Transition to Kindergarten

Tue, 08 Oct 2019 15:00:00 GMT

The district is working to establish relationships with families before they register their five-year-old children for Kindergarten.

“It’s important that we know ahead of time who is coming, what school they want to attend, and whether they will require additional resources,” said Marianne Vande Pol, district early years coordinator, in a presentation to the Board of Education rmeeting Oct. 7. “This helps us better prepare to welcome students and to make sure their needs are met.”

Two provincial projects focused on helping families, daycare providers and Kindergarten teachers to help four-year-olds get ready for Kindergarten were highlighted at Monday’s regular Board of Education meeting. Marianne Vande Pol, the district’s early years coordinator, said SD73 has been invited by the Ministry of Education to participate in Changing Results for Young Learners (CR4YL), and to continue its involvement with Strengthening Early Years to Kindergarten (SEY2K).

The CR4YL program will be piloted in Arthur Hatton Elementary and Beattie Elementary, along with the Child Development Centre and Cariboo Childcare.This new program will connect early childhood educators and teachers through the common goal of working on children’s social and emotional well-being.

Parents who want to learn more about getting their children ready for Kindergarten are invited to attend a free event at John Tod Y, 150 Wood Street in Kamloops Nov. 21, from 6 pm to 8 pm.

Superintendent's Update

Sat, 11 Mar 2023 00:30:00 GMT

Dear Parents and Caregivers:

Thank you for continuing to focus on developing relationships/connections, and focusing on wellbeing, equity, and sustainability in the 2022-2027 District Strategic Plan.

Pinantan Elementary School

With a school-wide focus on Numeracy, Principal Naylor shared that the staff has been learning together through a book study, Building Thinking Classrooms in Mathematics, and then applying what they learned in a common school-wide numeracy block. We started in Ms. Head’s Gr. 2-3-4 class working on white boards on different ways of solving addition, subtraction, and multiplication problems. Mrs. Hrycan’s K-1-2 class was also solving addition questions using ten frames and number lines. Mrs. Hrycan shared, “I find that students are so engaged when they are standing up and working together to solve problems.” Ms. Selski’s Gr. 5-6-7 class was working in small groups to choose which classroom pet would be best. They calculated each pet’s needs (food, cage supplies, cost of care). By comparing the needs of each pet, each group eventually arrived at consensus.

Mr. Naylor and I visited their new multi-age numeracy learning commons. Each class has time each week to work with partners to engage in easy-medium-hard numeracy-based activities. One student was working on his own because the multi-age room is also used as a multi-purpose space for students to work independently, in pairs, and groups.There are noon-hour clubs that play games, read books, and put together puzzles.

Layla, a Gr. 5 student, presented a thank you card from the Plant Club members (Layla, Eliza, Mikhail, Sienna, Gaven, Eleanor, Ms. Selski, Mrs. Van Laer). She appreciated support from the Student and Family Affordability Fund for their new planters and soil being used to grow vegetables to feed the school community. Layla explained, “We are growing plants inside and then eventually we will transplant them when it is warm enough.” Layla recalled that last year, the Plant Club made salads for the whole school and she shared how they will be doing that again. One of her favourite lessons learned from gardening is, “To recognize that planting seeds is almost ‘like magic’ because the ‘the plants seem to magically appear’.” The Pinantan Plant Club is an example of sustainable living by growing their own food to share in the school community. Thank you, Pinantan Plant Club!

SKSS Music

In the 2022-2027 District Strategic Plan, our students explore their talents and passions and grow in their competencies through multi-modes of communication– writing, drama, art, and music. The SKSS Music Department is super excited to hold its first post-Covid SKSS school show and is celebrating the music department's musical successes with the school population. Even though the term two students have only been playing together for four weeks, they sound amazing… Read more.

Thank you for all that you do to support your children and to help our school communities.

Rhonda Nixon, PhD

Superintendent

RCMP Youth Advisory Committee meets with RCMP

Tue, 17 Dec 2019 21:45:00 GMT

Grade 11 and 12 students representing the majority of SD73 secondary schools provided the RCMP with their views on a range of topics at the fifth annual RCMP Youth Advisory Council session.

Facilitated by Trades and Transitions, twenty-eight youth applied to participate in the day that included sessions on vaping, Car 40 responses to metal health situations, and simulating the operation of a vehicle under various levels of intoxication through distortion goggles.

Mental health, drug use and wellness were the predominate focus of the question and answer session with community panel members including RCMP Superintendent Syd Lecky, District Heath Promoting Schools Coordinator Sherry Stade, City of Kamloops Councillor Dale Bass, SD73 Board Chair Kathleen Karpuk, and Child and Youth Mental Health representative Sue Peterson,

“We organize this as an opportunity for the RCMP to have an open dialogue with youth to better meet their needs,” said Rick Kienlein, Director of Instruction-Secondary. “Once all the discussions and activities are done, we (SD73 organizers) get together with RCMP liaison officers to find themes for the RCMP to consider regarding their approach to the issues youth are facing.”

“A couple of our students will go on to the provincial advisory council, and sometimes to the national session in Ottawa.”

Student Project Comforts Grieving Parents at Royal Inland Hospital

Tue, 16 Aug 2022 19:00:00 GMT

A short lifetime of memories are attached to a project undertaken by Clearwater woodwork students last spring for grieving parents at Royal Inland Hospital.

For the students who carefully handcrafted the beautiful memory boxes, it taught knowledge and skills and also compassion in the face of deep sorrow.

For parents leaving the hospital with only memories of a baby, it provides a beautiful, engraved keepsake – a place to store tangible remembrances like photographs, clothing or tiny hand and foot prints.

Clearwater Secondary School teacher Dayton Fraser was first approached about the woodworking project by a colleague whose daughter, Keira Geiger, was a nurse working on a preceptorship (practical experience and training) in the obstetrical unit (OB) at Royal Inland Hospital (RIH).

The idea was to build memory boxes and donate them to the hospital where they could be given to parents going home with only a broken heart.

Dayton, who is always on the lookout for projects that will engage students and teach them their craft, eagerly embraced the concept.

“It was a great project for our senior woodworking students. It got them on every machine from table saws to lasers for engraving and it gave them insight into life circumstances,” he said.

“It’s such a tragedy to lose a child and these students were really motivated to build a beautiful keepsake that these parents would be able to cherish forever.”

Fifteen students participated in the project and they did an “awesome job.” Each one is engraved with a butterfly and some other design, such as a baby toy or teddy bear.

Dayton said it took longer than anticipated and not every student completed their box, but those boxes will go into the inventory for next semester.

As the project progressed, Keira completed her preceptorship and Dayton remained in contact with the OB clinical practice lead, Val Kloska. In July, she was excited to get a call from him, saying he was ready to drop off the first instalment of the memory boxes.

When he arrived at the new labour and delivery unit in the Phil & Jennie Gaglardi Tower, he was met enthusiastically by Val and the labour and delivery team who understand just how much the boxes will mean to devastated parents.

“It was such an amazing project for both the school and the obstetrical unit,” said Teressa Allwood, clinical operations manager, maternal and child services. “These memory boxes will support our families during the hardest times of their lives.”

The project will continue during the next school year and be more streamlined.

“I’ve been able to fine-tune the process for next year. The first time I do a project, I’m learning the whole time,” said Dayton.

The project also epitomizes community, which is important for Dayton as a teacher.

The wood came from the property of a retired doctor, known in Clearwater as “Dr. Bob” (MacKenzie).

During COVID when students were not in school – with Dr. Bob’s consent – social studies teacher Sylvain Menard and Dayton took down the trees, which was on the path of the Trans Mountain pipeline. Dayton, metalwork and automotive teacher Bryn Leary, and retired woodworking teacher Brent Buck milled it with Brent’s portable sawmill.

Dayton views the memory box concept as reflective of the philosophy he learned from his predecessor, Brent.

“We teach our kids skills and knowledge, but what is the point if we are not using those skills and knowledge to give back to our communities?”

Effective Communication Between Parents and Schools

Thu, 25 Jan 2024 21:00:00 GMT

Presenter: Chelsea Jelic, POPARD

Families and school teams work together in a variety of ways throughout the year. Research shows that promoting family-school engagement leads to increased trust and collaboration, as well as improved student achievement and development. This session will:

Briefly review research and the new “family-school engagement playbook” to highlight important themes
Provide strategies to enhance collaboration and communication between family and school
Discuss connections between the roles, rights, and responsibilities of teaching staff, administrators, and parents.
Review how to work towards solutions in times of conflict or differences
Information on advocacy steps and supports.

This workshop will be held via Zoom on Thursday, February 22, 2024, from 6:30 PM to 7:30 PM. If you are interested in attending, you are asked to register here. Following your registration, you will receive the link to the meeting.

Senior Bands Prepare for Festival Season with Feedback Session

Wed, 16 Jan 2019 19:00:00 GMT

A fast-paced Band Arts Festival at the Sagebrush Theatre January 15 hosted six Senior Bands from across the district to help them fine-tune their performance. After each band played, a local adjudicator provided a five-minute feedback session.

“It gives them a chance to see where they’re at as some of them prepare for upcoming performances during the festival circuit,” said Christy Gauly, Arts Education Coordinator for School District #73. “This was also an opportunity for students to connect with other schools and to hear each other’s music.”

“Strengthening partnerships between teachers, students and the wider community through music is an important part of this program,” Gauly said.

Key dates for SD73 Arts events

March 5 - Choral Arts Festival
April 17 - Secondary Art Show reception
April 30 - Young Artists reception

Superintendent's Update

Thu, 29 Jan 2026 23:15:00 GMT

Dear Parents, Caregivers, and Staff,

As new Superintendent/CEO Mike St. John commences his duties in our school district, I want to share my thanks to the Board of Education for their confidence and support during my tenure in the Kamloops-Thompson School District. Over the past seven months, I have appreciated trustees’ efforts on behalf of Kamloops-Thompson communities and their commitment to our Strategic Plan that serves as our system’s road map to support learners.

I also wish to honour staff for their contributions to the kind of future we want for our children. In partnership with families, our schools create environments that build compassion, resilience, skills, curiosity, and adaptability. Across our district, we see countless examples of positive and engaging teaching and learning dynamics. Beyond the classroom, our students continue to learn through extra-curricular activities, supported by staff and community volunteers. When we align our efforts—from the Board table to schools to home—there is no doubt that we are better together.

Thank you for what you do to contribute to a school system that works to support every child, every chance, every day. It has been my honour to join you on that journey.

Over to Superintendent Mike St. John to introduce himself.

Sincerely,

Mike McKay
Superintendent

A message from incoming Superintendent Mike St. John

I am honoured to introduce myself as the new Superintendent of the Kamloops-Thompson School District and am truly humbled by the trust the Board of Education has in me to serve this great system. It is a privilege to join a community with such a strong commitment to student learning, well-being, and public education. I look forward to getting to know our schools, staff, students, families, and educational partners. I will listen carefully and learn continually as we walk together toward knowing each learner and preparing all students for the future.

Building connections and fostering authentic relationships are foundational to developing a shared purpose. With a commitment to continuous improvement, together we will build on the significant strengths of our district while remaining focused on the Board’s Strategic Priorities and always keeping students at the heart of our work. I am excited about what we can accomplish collectively. We are committed to creating the most richly imagined, best possible learning environments so that our children run to school and walk home.

Thank you for the warm welcome I have already received. I look forward to meeting many of you in the weeks and months ahead and to working in partnership as we shape the future of learning in our district.

Finally, as I begin this role, on behalf of SD73, I offer heartfelt thanks to Superintendent Mike McKay. His leadership, wisdom, and authentic and unwavering care for students has laid the foundation for continued success for our students and schools.

Warm regards,

Mike St. John
Superintendent

DISTRICT NEWS

Kamloops-Thompson Board of Education Announces New Secretary-Treasurer Kim Morris

On Monday, December 8, the Board of Education announced the appointment of Kim Morris as the District’s new Secretary-Treasurer, starting March 2, 2026. Kim is an accomplished leader in BC school districts, with over 15 years of experience as a Secretary-Treasurer in both urban and rural school districts.

HIGHLIGHTS FROM DECEMBER & JANUARY

Starfish Backpacks Deliver Nourishment and Equity to SD73 Families

Through the Starfish Backpacks program, the Kamloops Food Bank provides nutritious, easy-to-prepare food to school aged children every Friday to help address food insecurity over the weekend. A total of 275 Starfish Backpacks are distributed every week—resulting in approximately 4,400 packs being delivered so far since September.

La Bonhomme Carnaval at Summit Elementary School

Fri, 15 Mar 2024 19:30:00 GMT

Story provided by FRÄNZI KARLEN, EdD

District Language Coordinator - Coordonnatrice des programmes de langues

In the 2022-2027 District Strategic Plan, in the Intellectual Development Priority, our Board values rich language learning and development in all languages through curricular and extracurricular activities.

During the month of February, people in many parts of the world celebrate Carnaval.

It is the second largest winter carnival celebration in Québec City where Bonhomme Carnaval comes out of hibernation for a two week party in the ice and snow. Bonhomme is the official representative of the Québec Winter Carnival. White as snow, wearing a red tuque and arrow sash of heroes of our past, Bonhomme embodies the joie de vivre of Quebecers!

Bonhomme is known as a timeless character who first appeared on January 9, 1955 at Porte Saint-Louis. He was there to mark the beginning of a public invitation to celebrate during the three weeks prior to the carnival. Wilfrid Hamel, then mayor of Quebec City, also took the opportunity to give Bonhomme his first set of Keys to the City. This tradition continues to this day with the mayor of Quebec City giving Bonhomme the Keys to the City at the start of each Carnival. This symbolic gesture confirms Bonhomme’s status as a proud international symbol of winter tourism.

Many classes in School District No. 73 were able to welcome Bonhomme Carnaval into their school and together they built sugar cube ice palaces, built Bonhommes out of toilet paper, sang songs and enjoyed Carnaval food.

The class of Ms. Wilson at Summit Elementary put together a lovely video collage of their Bonhomme visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pjF98QCjWJk

Literacy in Action

Wed, 12 Jan 2022 16:00:00 GMT

The District Literacy Team helps lead SD73 readers to excellence through the various stages of reading development.

Affirming that “Teaching reading is rocket science”, in their presentation to the Board of Education on Jan. 10, they highlighted how children and youth acquire reading skills along a predictable continuum. With teachers’ support, students move from learning to read to reading to learn, typically by grade 4.

The team, based out of the Henry Grube Education Centre, is comprised of Tricia Persad, District Literacy Coordinator, Pamela Thomson, Literacy Resource Teacher for Elementary, and Mike Carson, Literacy Resource Teacher for Secondary.

To help students progress through Dr. Chall’s Stages of Reading Development, “effective literacy instruction includes the systematic teaching of these five pillars of reading: phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension – these pillars are referenced in our District Learning Plan,” said Persad. With instruction and practice, most students should be able to develop phonemic awareness, phonics knowledge, and basic fluency in the early grades. These are crucial and correspond to the first three stages identified by Dr. Chall. “Teachers in our district make this learning joyful and engaging for students,” explained Thomson.

“By the end of stage three, most students have made sense of all of those puffs of air that make up speech and all those squiggles that make up written language,” said Carson. “They understand the connection between the sounds of language and its visual representation. Now the lifelong journey begins – reading to learn.” Reading focus increasingly shifts to building vocabulary and deepening comprehension skills.

The District Literacy Team’s work centres on supporting foundational aspects of reading and writing and working with teachers and students to strengthen them. “That way,” Carson said, “all students can avail themselves of the innumerable benefits afforded by strong literacy skills.”

Following the presentation to the Board, Superintendent Rhonda Nixon commended the Literacy Team and the work they are doing in schools: “On my school visits, I often hear of the work you do – the after-schools, the residency projects – and it is surprising to me how in-depth you are able to go in a short period of time.”

City-Board Meeting Highlights

Thu, 25 Mar 2021 21:15:00 GMT

The semi-annual meeting between the Board of Education and Kamloops City Councillors addressed school site acquisition charges, the Long-Range Facility plan and renewed the two local levels of government to continue to work together to advocate for improved facilities for students in Kamloops.

At the joint meeting held March 23, Superintendent Terry Sullivan provided an update to city council and senior city staff regarding the District’s continued work with Interior Health and the process that is followed for COVID-19 exposures in schools. While there was a peak of exposures early in the new year and there are ongoing cases in schools, investigations by IH confirm that relatively few transmissions are occurring within schools. He noted that the District expects to hear more about the roll out of vaccinations for the K – 12 sector soon.

Director of Facilities Art McDonald reported that the Ministry of Education would provide its response regarding school site acquisition charges by May or June. He further clarified that the site charges would only apply to development within the City of Kamloops.

He also provided an update on the construction at Valleyview Secondary School, saying the project is on track for a spring 2022 opening. The roof is expected to be installed on the expansion in the next week or two.

By the end of this school year the public will be able to see the design for the new Parkcrest Elementary School. The City will be contributing up to $2.5 million to allow for a larger gymnasium to serve both school and community needs.

Director McDonald provided Council and SD73 Trustees with a presentation outlining current enrollment projections and capital needs. Extracted from the Long-Range Facilities Report that goes to the Board of Education on April 12, he highlighted the steady growth that is projected for enrollment throughout the next 10 years, which is leading to overcapacity at all education levels. New schools are proposed for Aberdeen, Batchelor, and Juniper West over the next decade.

Superintendent's Update

Fri, 23 Jun 2023 23:00:00 GMT

Dear Parents and Caregivers:

Thank you for continuing to prioritize our core value commitments of relationships/connections, wellbeing, sustainability, and equity in our 2022-2027 District Strategic Plan. It is a pleasure to share the positive stories about celebrations, graduations, and the positive contributions made by individuals, groups, and school and district staff.

OWL Award Recipients for 2023

At the Board meeting on Monday, June 19, 2023, Board Chair Heather Grieve was very proud to present these two groups: Ms. Tracy Clarke and Mr. Steven Powrie and Mr. Wayne Deptuck and Mr. Dan Sargent.

Each submission was supported by letters or recommendation, and the recipients are long-standing and amazing professionals who have been long-serving in their roles. Read more.

Westwold Elementary School

Principal Buemann, Trustee Hickson, and I visited Ms. Glichrist’s and Ms. Casponi’s classes who were learning about aerodynamics and how airplanes fly from a guest speaker. As we toured other parts of the school, Mr. Buemann explained how RL Clemitson and Westwold staff and students collaborate (i.e., ArtStarts Concerts, Track & Field) and in the upcoming week, all primary students from both schools are going to the BC Wildlife Park.

As we toured the outside of the school, Mr. Buemann introduced us to the Grounds crew (Left-Right: Trustee Hickson, Principal Buemann, Riley, Quinton, and Terry). As we viewed the hand painted logo of the tiger mounted on the outside of the school we learned that Randy (District Painter) had recreated the mural that had once been on the wall of the school. Due to aging paint and paint peeling, the painters had painted over the tiger and it had to be re-created, and the school community was grateful to have this tiger repainted as it was a longstanding logo that had historical and emotional importance as a legacy visual in the school community and local community of Westwold. In addition to this wonderful story of district and school staff coming together to celebrate the history of the school, Mr. Buemann also shared how hand carved signs on the outside of the school were also important to the community and have been restored and hung in the gym to protect them from the weather. One of them identified that the Pringle family had donated the neighboring parkland to provide the community with a playing field.

As we completed the school visit, the Gr. 4-5 students were writing and the primary students were engaged in stations. As we walked through the library, we met Ms. Eddy (Certified Education Assistant) who was working with a student on gross motor skills and a decompression break in the library. Mr. Buemann highlighted how their library had been vetted of out-of-date books, with the help of Ms. Andrea Wallin (District Library Coordinator), Ms. Lisa Imeson (Library Assistant) and Ms. Roberta Kuan (School Librarian). The school was alive with positive energy and optimism.

McGowan Park Elementary School

Principal Zryd and Vice Principal Wourms and I visited Gr. 6-7 who were studying how to decrease their carbon footprint. Ms. Ruberg’s Gr. 4-5 class was engaged in a solubility experiment, and Mrs. Underwood had her class reimagine classroom design using scale, design and legends. Ms. Abraham’s Gr. 3 class was just about to go outside to play kickball. Ms. Baerg’s Gr. 6-7 class was preparing to go to Eagle Bay with Aberdeen’s classes, and Ms. Bone’s Kindergarten class was just coming back from being at the Wildlife Park, and they were excited to describe how rubber snakes felt. One said, ‘they are smooth” and another student said, “Their skin is kind of bumpy too.” They enjoyed the visit. Ms.Covaceuszach’s Gr. 3 class was working on writing about the novel, “Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes”. Some students were also working on origami and were sharing their different creations including making paper cranes and folded paper hats.

As we headed back to the office, we stopped to look at the box, “Thankful Thursdays” and I learned that this was an idea that had come from the student advisory council (SAC) based on strategies to create positivity and a sense of belonging in their school community. Anyone can put a note of gratitude in the box, and then these comments are read aloud to the school community over announcements. Ms. Zryd said that it enacts their value of positivity by promoting “an attitude of gratitude”.

Dallas Elementary School

Principal Sullivan met with Acting Principal Scott and me to discuss the school learning plan and to visit classrooms. In the Gr. 6-7 classroom, Ms. Saemerow’s class was preparing for the meetings with parents, grandparents, and or caregivers to review their scrapbook (looking back on the year) and their poetry books while also sharing their homemade muffins.

Mrs. McCarthy’s Gr. 3-4 class was working on solving an investigation into who had messed up their classroom (i.e., it was an inferring activity based on using several clues).

Ms. Pearson’s Gr. 1-2 class was involved in a game that had them use numbers and clues from words to guess people, places, and things. We met Ms. Norton who was working in the library. Then, we visited Ms. O’Neil’s K-1 class as they enjoyed snack time. Ms. Reid’s class was reading a story.

Ms. MacInnis’ and Ms. Moretti’s class were working as cross-graded partners to build towers out of newspapers. We ended our tour with Ms. Kolasa’s Gr. 6-7 class who was working on writing self-reflections about their competencies.

National Indigenous Peoples Day and Aboriginal Student Wellness Gathering

The Kamloops-Thompson Board of Education honors National Indigenous Peoples Day as part of the commitment to furthering Truth and Reconciliation in the 2022-2027 District Strategic Plan. The hearthfire is at the center of the District Strategic Plan’s symbol developed through consultation with the Aboriginal Education Council last year. On June 21, 2023, we honored National Indigenous Peoples Day. Read more.

KTTA Retirement Recognition Banquet 2023

This was a heartwarming gathering of many school and district staff, trustees, and family members and friends who came together to celebrate the 23 retirees who have served dedicated careers as teachers in our district. We appreciate the efforts that had gone into hosting this wonderful event by the KTTA Executive, Darcy Martin and 1st Vice President Teri Allen-Innis as well as Ms. Marney Bethell, President of Kamloops Retired Teachers’ Association (regrets), Sheila Parks, KTTA Past President, and Betty Karpuk (Vice President) for honoring retired teachers in our district. We look forward to staying connected to each of the retirees and warmly welcoming them back to let us know how they are doing. Congratulations on this next phase of your life journey.

Mix and Mingle Executive Employee Group and Kamloops-Thompson Board of Education

On June 22, 2023, the Kamloops-Thompson Board of Education hosted the three employee groups at the Coast Hotel. This was an opportunity for trustees, employee group executives, and senior staff to celebrate the year and to reflect on the successes.

Secondary Coaches Appreciation Evening

On June 20, 2023, Chair of the Secondary Athletics Association, Mr. Walt Kirchner was the Master of Ceremonies and he opened by saying, “ We want to acknowledge and celebrate all that each of you do and have done for years for secondary students as coaches.” It was a wonderful evening and the turnout was fantastic (about 150 coaches!). Read more.

Thank you to BC Interior Community Foundation for delivering the annual Deed of Gift from the SD73 Scholarship Bursary Fund

Thank you to Teri Mochikas and Wenda Noonan (not pictured) from the BC Interior Community Foundation for presenting Secretary-Treasurer Trina Cassidy and me with a cheque in the amount of $7,331.91. These monies represent the annual Deed of Gift paid out from the School District No. 73 Scholarship Bursary Fund and go directly to the graduates who were chosen to receive a scholarship or bursary in 2023. The School District No. 73 Scholarship Bursary Fund has been held in trust by the BC Interior Community Foundation since February 2008 and has provided consistent funding for scholarships and bursaries for graduates of SD73.

Graduations

Thank you to everyone who continues to support our graduates of 2023. To read the speeches of valedictorians, Read more.

Rhonda Nixon, PhD

Superintendent

Board Notes from February 10, 2025

Fri, 14 Feb 2025 16:15:00 GMT

From the regular meeting of the Board of Education. Find out about Education topic: Montessori, public presentations - Tranquille Valley community feedback, and Sníne Elementary project update. Read Board Notes here.

Building Community Through a Circle of Courage

Tue, 20 Oct 2020 06:00:00 GMT

Haldane Elementary School Principal Katrina Sewell updated the Board of Education on the school’s Positive Behaviour Intervention Strategies (PBIS) matrix during its regular meeting on Oct. 19, 2020.

Before launching into the presentation, Sewell shared a video of student Lightning Rose saying a Secwepemc prayer.

“We began our journey to develop our PBIS matrix more than two years ago, so this is a good time to show how far we have come,” said Sewell. “While most schools work with a specific matrix and an acronym to help students and staff remember it, we have chosen to work with a ‘Circle of Courage,’ with four quadrants that signify respect, responsibility, belonging and safety.”

The PBIS is something many schools in the District use to establish expected behaviors and a common language.

Located in Chase, 48 kilometers east of Kamloops, nearly half of the Haldane’s 250 students are bused in from the surrounding area including Pritchard, Turtle Valley and Squilax, with the number of Indigenous students varying between 47 to 51 per cent each year.

Sewell said the school worked in consultation with the local community, which includes the Neskonlith, Little Shuswap, and Adams Lake Indian Bands, to develop the medicine wheel at the centre of the PBIS matrix.

In addition, the school worked with District staff and connected with every staff member to ensure everyone was on the same page.

“This has been an inclusive process and we have worked hard to build community – to show students how their individual strengths add to the community of the school, which adds to the strength of the wider community,” said Sewell.

The Haldane Hawk display created at the beginning of this school year is a visual representation of the matrix, features a feather from all the students and staff at the school.

“The hawk is our traditional symbol, and this is a way we felt we could help everyone feel a sense of belonging to school, especially this year,” she said.

Ivy Chelsea, Haldane’s Secwepemc Language teacher, sang the Honour Song to conclude the presentation.

Superintendent's Update

Fri, 11 Nov 2022 00:30:00 GMT

Dear Parents and Caregivers:

As we prepare for Remembrance Day, thank you for remembering and honouring those who sacrificed and lost their lives in war. Throughout November, we share stories that show the Grandfather Teaching of Love and the value commitment of sustainability, which are part of the foundational framework of the 2022-2027 District Strategic Plan.

Beattie Elementary School

Principal Orr and I visited students and staff. Mr. Orr shared, “This year we have focused on how to be good to one another, and it has been a calmer environment.”

We started in Ms. Carlson’s Grade 2-3 class who sang “Remember Flanders Fields”. We then joined Ms. Williams’ Gr. 1 class as they engaged in “mindfulness minute”. Ms. Hunter’s Gr. 2 class read aloud examples from their journals. Ms. Ratuski’s K-1 class was painting poppies. Ms. Neigel’s Kindergarten class was printing the letter, “A”. Ms. Mulhern’s class was sharing and we walked in while one student shared about studying kangaroos. Ms. de Jardin’s Gr. 2-3 students were writing. Mr. Bush’s Gr. 5 students studied federal, provincial, and local government. Ms. Kansky’s class were preparing to go to the library.Ms. Fabbro-Smith’s Gr. 4 class were learning about the “4 square apology”. Mrs. Baker’s Gr. 2-3 students were composing Remembrance Day posters. Ms. Bailey’s class participated in an auction by applying their knowledge of budgets and classroom economies. Ms. Dunstan’s Gr. 6 class created poppy moulds from styrofoam and then used them to make prints of poppies and other flowers. Ms. Baglee led a social group that reviewed rules of engagement. Mr. Dillon’s Gr. 5-6 class was writing, and Ms. Simpson’s Gr. 7 students were studying Mesopotamia, completing Math assignments, and selecting skates to prepare for their skating field trip.

Kamloops School of the Arts- Lest We Forget – Remembrance Day (Nov. 11)

On November 10, 2022, students, staff, parents, Trustee McKelvey, and I joined the community for their Remembrance Day celebration in the gym. Students took a key leadership role and led us to collectively honour and acknowledge veterans and those who lost loved ones in the World Wars or other battles. The celebration was a beautiful and poignant combination of singing, dancing, and dramatizing the messages of remembrance. Thank you to each of our school and district communities for pausing to remember for Remembrance Day on November 11, 2022.

I hope that you have a reflective and peaceful Remembrance Day. Stay well and safe.

Rhonda Nixon, PhD

Superintendent

After-School Programs Engaging SD73 Students

Tue, 25 Jun 2019 14:30:00 GMT

While all students in the district are looking forward to the end of their school year, there may be some things they will miss, like connecting with friends and participating in fun after-school programs.

“This year I learned how to play our national sport of lacrosse and got to play basketball with a TRU Wolfpack athlete,” said Julian Cruz, a grade 5 student at Parkcrest Elementary.

He is one of 2,000 students from 13 different schools across the district who took part in SD73 programs provided through the After School Sports and Arts Initiative (ASSAI).

In a report to the final Board of Education meeting of the school year, Alexandra Inglis, the After-School Activity Itinerant Teacher for SD73, said the district offered 55 eight-week programs in arts and sports activities, and 15 five-week cooking programs between September 2018 and May 2019.

“We have professional working artists, TRU athletes, national level coaches, all who bring their passions to our programs every single day,” said Inglis. “One of the goals of our program is to give the students a voice, a choice, in terms of the programming they want to participate in.”

The ASSAI programs run in eight-week cycles, for two to three hours at a time, twice a week. For the most part, programs are aimed at intermediate students in grades 4 to 7, who may not have access to these opportunities otherwise.”

The arts program is a hands-on experience that includes sketching, sculpting and painting. The movement program is about physical literacy and developing students’ confidence so that they may pursue activities and sports of interest in the future. The Cook it, Try it, Like it program promotes healthy eating habits.

Financial support for the SD73 ASSAI programs is provided by the BC Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, the Ministry of Children and Family Development, the City of Kamloops and the United Way.

During the 2019-2020 school year the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture will provide an additional grant to pilot an after-school program for girls in grades 8 – 12.

“We are so grateful to our partners for their funding and support, because these programs really provide a safe space for students to go during those vulnerable hours after school where they can connect with their peers and a safe and caring adult,” said Inglis.

Nothing is Slimpossible for This Team

Thu, 04 Apr 2019 18:00:00 GMT

Mission Slimpossible, the aptly named team representing SD73, handily won the Y Strong Kids Fundraiser trophy for the third year in a row.

With more donations still to come, Slimpossible raised $8,113 towards The Strong Kids Campaign to provide financial assistance to kids and families, ensuring that Y programming is accessible to everyone. Parkcrest, Aberdeen, and Dallas Elementary schools along with the Juniper PAC joined in the fundraising with school activities.

District departments participated through donations, raffles, silent auctions, and a garage sale.

Not only exceptional at fundraising, the team of Tammy Dauost, Dana Heyman, Trina Cassidy, Tara Murray, Carol Defehr, Rob Schoen, Kelvin Stretch, Dan Blanchard and Christine Loney also came in second place in the fitness challenge held March 31 at the Kamloops Y.

Stories from Barriere

Fri, 29 Oct 2021 17:00:00 GMT

Dear Parents and Caregivers:

Many of you began Halloween festivities in your classrooms, workplaces, and homes. I wish you many moments of fun with family and friends in your costumes and as you enjoy your favourite treats on Halloween.

Barriere Elementary School

I visited Ms. Tiffany Hawkins, principal of Barriere Elementary School. She described how, when she began her role in 2019, the staff reviewed reading results and decided to implement an early reading intervention program to improve them. Ms. Hawkins stated, “Our Learning Assistant Resource Teacher (LART), classroom teachers, and I take reading groups each week. Our goal is that students spend 90% of their time reading texts at their level and to have direct instruction using research-based reading strategies.” There has been a steady increase in students’ reading results over the past two years. “We meet every two weeks to discuss students’ progress,” Ms. Hawkins shared, “This is how we can assess whether our strategies are working and build on common instructional practices.”

District Strategic Plan Update

Our District Strategic Plan 2017-2022 has been our roadmap for student success because we focused on excellence and equity. This year, we invite you to join us in re-visioning our strategic plan for the next five years. So far, over 900 participants have taken part in either focus groups or our survey to answer: What type of world do you imagine/hope that our children will create?, What skills, attitudes, and competencies will they require to make that world possible?, and How do we get them there? Focus group participants represented 25 staff, student, and partner groups. In November-December, PCG Consultants will provide an analysis of the feedback, which will help us develop our new mission and vision. Watch for these updates as they are available at SD73Connects, and join us when we have our next round of opportunities to see what is being developed and to provide your feedback.

Communicable Disease Prevention Plan

We continue to focus on our daily health checks, staying home when sick, and implementing all of the health and safety measures in our District’s Communicable Disease Prevention Plan. This past week, because of everyone’s diligence, we continue to see a downward trend in our potential school exposures, which are published by Interior Health. That said, community cases in Kamloops-Thompson have been rising, so we will need to remain extra vigilant:

Wearing masks indoors and on busses
Washing hands and using hand sanitizer
Covering our mouths when we cough
Keeping respectful personal distances
Using specific entrances and exits
Limiting visitors to schools
Staying within gathering guidelines and limiting congestion within small spaces such as hallways
Using recommended HVAC filters and air flow procedures
Cleaning, sanitizing, and disinfecting in all areas

As directed by the Provincial Health Officer, Dr. Bonnie Henry and Interior Health Medical Health Officers, our School District staff will continue to rely on Interior Health’s reporting of potential exposures. We rely on Interior Health only for the following reasons:

As per Public Health guidelines, not all school cases are infectious at school, so advising about these has no benefit to the school community
Public Health has the expertise to do the exposure assessment and will post on their website when the assessment is complete
Further notification beyond what Public Health provides can be harmful, promote rumours, and breach the privacy of individuals.

Thank you for your efforts to have fun this Halloween while also staying safe.

Rhonda Nixon, PhD

Superintendent

Superintendent's Update

Wed, 29 Jun 2022 23:30:00 GMT

Dear Parents and Caregivers:

You made it! The end of June brings with it memories of challenges and celebrations experienced throughout this year.

Pinantan Elementary School

Principal Chris Wood began our tour in the library, where students designed spaces for quiet time (bench and nature wallpaper). Primary students were sharing their boats that they had tested for strength, capacity, and ability to float. For recess, students shared their community garden and their goal before they left for the summer was to make salad for their year-end celebration.

Intermediate students played a timed math game that tested their fluency with math facts and capacity to solve addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division problems quickly and accurately. “We are preparing for our afternoon of activity and fun, and the students will meet the incoming principal. They are very excited!” shared Mr. Wood.

Clearwater Secondary School

Principal Darren Coates, Trustee Shelley Sim, and I walked through the school to see the redesigned spaces, including the workout area, which has been expanded and opened up to accommodate a class. “This space is well used by staff, students, and the community,” stated Mr. Coates.

We ventured into the world of metal works, woodworking, and digital creations. We first met a grade 10 student, Sam, who shared her coffee table made from horseshoes. A grade 10 student, Owen, had reframed a trailer by making it bigger and installing new axles. In the digital lab, Thomas, a grade 11 student, who also plays the bass guitar, piano, and banjo amongst other instruments, shared his love of designing engines using the 3D design software Onshape. Mr. Dayton Fraser, the woodshop teacher and Trades and Transitions Coordinator, shared some special woodworking projects (salmon for daycare, memory boxes).

Tyson, a grade 9 student, ended our tour by showing us his fishing net that he intends to use in Alberta to fish for pike this summer. “We enjoy a wide range of Applied, Design, Skills, and Technologies (ADST) options, and we have passionate staff and students who achieve incredible results,” shared Mr. Coates.

Congratulations Graduates of 2022

Thank you to everyone who took part in creating the pictures and contributing wishes to every SD73 graduating class of 2022. We are so proud of you! We appreciate and celebrate each of our 1,100 unique graduates.

Congratulations on Finishing the 2022-2027 District Strategic Plan

After ten months of meeting with 2000+ participants (students, parents, staff, community partners), the Aboriginal Education Council, and the Board of Education, we completed the 2022-2027 District Strategic Plan. Thank you for making a plan that we can each connect to and walk together as our roadmap into a hopeful future. Read more…

Summer Wishes

I am so fortunate to have joined SD73 a year ago. Parents have been partners who have been strong supporters in moving Truth and Reconciliation forward and in working together through the changes in safety measures throughout the pandemic.

Thank you for supporting your children to celebrate graduations, awards, and end-of- the-year celebrations.

I wish you a summer in which you experience good health and fun-filled, joyous days punctuated by moments of peace. Stay safe. Be well. Take good care of each other.

Rhonda Nixon, PhD

Superintendent

New District Vice-Principal - Career Programs Appointed

Mon, 30 Aug 2021 20:00:00 GMT

Effective immediately, Kerry Gairdner is appointed to the position of District Vice-Principal - Career Programs. Since 2018 she was the SD73 District Coordinator - Trades and Transitions. Kerry has a Masters of Education Degree in Counselling and has previous experience as the Women in Trades Coordinator at Thompson Rivers University, as well as prior teaching experience in Brandon, Manitoba and Fort Nelson, BC. She is currently in the SD73 Leadership Development Program, working with Principal Orr at Beattie Elementary.

Congratulations Kerry on your appointment to the position of District Vice-Principal - Career Programs.

School Tour: What School Looks Like Now

Fri, 18 Sep 2020 16:15:00 GMT

We know school looks different this year, and parents have been asking for a chance to see what steps are being taken to keep students safe. Deanna Steptoe is the Principal at Arthur Stevenson Elementary School, and she walked us through the protocols that have been put in place at the school for students and staff. Like all schools in the District, Arthur Stevenson is following the protocols outlined in the SD73 Health and Safety Guidelines as part of the SD73 Re-start Plan.

“As the first line of defense, parents have signed a letter of agreement (Acknowledgement of Health Assessment Form), agreeing that each morning they will go through a health check with their children,” said Steptoe. “Each morning we know they will have gone through the list of questions, so we know they will not be sending students to school if they are ill.”

Next, arriving at school, the nearly 340 students have designated entrances and exits so there are not multiple cohorts of students coming into the school building together. When they come into the school, they are sent immediately to designated areas to wash their hands.

“We have some staff letting students in doors, other staff in classrooms, and some staff in areas where the sinks are so that the students will be supervised while they wash their hands, and then they immediately go to their classrooms,” said Steptoe.

Lockers are not being used, and students are keeping their belongings with them.

“We are also being careful about bathroom facilities. Only two at a time can use the bathroom.”

There are markers in place outside each bathroom. Students move the marker with their feet to indicate they are using the bathroom. Other students line up in the hallway using physical distancing outside the bathroom to take their turn.

“The hallways are very quiet, students are not just milling about in the hallway. There is a conscious effort involved anytime students leave their classrooms and move to another space,” said Steptoe.

Where some classrooms had tables where students would sit face-to-face, the tables have been replaced with desks so the students all face in the same direction.

Recess and lunch times are staggered so each cohort has time and space on the playground.

“The learning groups have designated areas on the playground where they can play. Within their learning cohort they need to minimize their physical contact, and with students in other cohorts they need to maintain physical distance.”

Half of the school, or three learning groups, go out for recess from 10:00 AM until 10:15 AM, followed by a five-minute transition time to allow this group to return to their classrooms.

During the second recess, the remaining four learning groups go out from 10:20 AM until 10:45 AM.

“Lunchtimes are staggered the same way, so that there is more room and kids can run and play and not worry too much about someone who is not in their learning group.”

The students eat lunch in their classrooms, at their desks. The desks are cleaned every night. The teachers also have cleaning and disinfecting solutions they can use as needed throughout the day.

Despite these changes, there is a calm in the school, and a buzz of activity in the classrooms.

“It’s wonderful to have our students back. The excitement in the air among the students and staff is amazing. The students are happy to be back and we are happy to have them,” Steptoe said.

The Kamloops-Thompson Board of Education supports Michelle Mattes as the successful candidate for the role of Assistant Superintendent of Inclusive Education

Fri, 24 May 2024 18:00:00 GMT

After taking part in a competitive, national competition for the position of Assistant Superintendent of Inclusive Education, Michelle was the chosen candidate. She has had a rewarding 20-year career as an educator in diverse roles focused on Inclusive, Indigenous, and Alternate Education. She has served as the District Principal of Safe and Caring Schools, District Secondary School Services Coordinator, and as a Principal, Vice Principal, Counselor, and Teacher within the Kamloops-Thompson School District.

“We are excited to see how Michelle continues to grow strong, inclusive education programming, supports, and services within our district. I am looking forward to innovative solutions to creating inclusive programming that is responsive to the ever-increasing complexities in classrooms,” stated Board Chair Heather Grieve.

Michelle holds multiple post-secondary qualifications, notably a Master’s Degree in Leadership and Administration (Gonzaga University), and a Professional Certificate in Counselling Psychology (UBC).

“I am looking forward to working with Michelle as part of our senior leadership team with her wealth of knowledge and expertise as an educational leader. I appreciate her empathetic, compassionate approach to working with students, families, and staff to ensure that every student is included and cared for in our school system,” shared Superintendent Dr. Rhonda Nixon.

“I am deeply honoured to be selected for this role as the Assistant Superintendent of Inclusive Education,” Mrs. Mattes shared. “I am excited to work as a senior team leader who supports all members of our learning community, increases access to positive and empowering educational experiences, reduces barriers for equitable and excellent educations, and maintains culturally safe, responsive, caring, and inclusive school environments that allow students to thrive.”

Mrs. Mattes begins her appointment on August 1, 2024.

SD73 District Honour Band and Honour Choir at Sagebrush Theatre

Fri, 10 Feb 2023 18:45:00 GMT

In the 2022-2027 District Strategic Plan, our District mission is to provide students with learning opportunities and environments that inspire students to thrive.

On the evening of February 8^th, 2023 at the Sagebrush Theatre, 59 secondary music students from across the district performed in the District Honour Band and Honour Choir Concert. The program is a tradition that has been going on for more than 40 years, and is a prestigious event that allows music students the opportunity to expand their musical abilities.

Janet McCloy, District Coordinator of Arts Education, explained, “Music directors at high schools across the district encouraged students to audition, and then rehearse with SD73 music directors a few months before the performance. A few days before the concert, specialist music conductors came into town to work with the groups. Their mentorship raised the participating student’s musical capabilities to the next level and it gave them a taste of what it's like to enter into a music program in university and become professional.”

McCloy continued, “Working with professional conductors also gave students an idea of what it would be like to join a symphony, a professional choir, or to become a director themselves.”

Jaymi Daniels, the Music Director at Valleyview Secondary, said SD73 is one of the few school districts in the province that still has honour ensembles.

“It’s quite special, and not having it over the course of COVID was disappointing,” Daniels said.

“It’s a great opportunity for students that are from all over the district to come together to make bigger ensembles. … It's a fantastic experience for them to play and sing with a full range of instruments and a full range of musicians.”

The two guest conductors, Mr. Jeff Weaver from the Greater Victoria School District for the band, and Ms. Taylor Bone from the Central Okanagan Public Schools for the choir, chose pieces for each ensemble that celebrate diversity and have unique background stories. During rehearsal on February 6^th at the Sagebrush theatre, the band ensemble virtually connected with the composer Cait Nishimura regarding her piece they will be performing titled “Chasing Sunlight”. Percussion student Kadance Beardwood said the ability to hear from the composer her intention behind the piece gave her “a perspective of where the piece is coming from, and it let me know exactly how the piece should be played in order to capture that intention”.

When asked about what the most important part of being in the ensemble was, choir student Tristan Millions stated, “Meeting new people and increasing my vocal range and capabilities, and the performance, of course!”

Thank you to Janet McCloy, District Coordinator of Arts Education, who worked with choir directors and conductors from within and outside of the district who made this event and story possible.

Congratulations to SD73 Skills Canada Competitors

Fri, 02 Jun 2023 15:45:00 GMT

Sheila Brown, District Coordinator-Trades and Transitions;

In the School District 73 Strategic Plan Priorities, the Career Development team has committed to prepare students to reach their career and occupational objectives, and graduate, knowing who they are and having plans for who they aim to become through their career pathway.

Two shining examples of this work in Career Development are Nolan Ilic (NorKam Senior Secondary) and Logan Jones (Barriere Secondary). In the week of May 23^rd Nolan and Logan were competing at the Skills Canada Nationals in Winnipeg, where Nolan earned a gold medal in Secondary Welding, and Logan earned a silver medal in Secondary Carpentry. Clearwater Secondary graduate Matthew Lavigne (grad 2022) also earned a Silver Medal in Post Secondary Carpentry. Nolan and Logan have worked diligently to develop knowledge and skills in their chosen trade.

Logan was a key member of the Barriere Secondary Youth Explore Skilled Trades class, where they built several sheds as they studied Carpentry, Electrical and Plumbing. Logan says that experience really helped him solidify his knowledge and gave him confidence. His peer (Austin) was quick to point out how valuable Logan’s leadership in class had been, as he was mentoring his peers. Logan reported that his favourite part of the project was seeing everyone’s finished sheds.

Nolan has participated in several Career Programs through the School District, including Youth Train in Trades (Welding Foundation) at Thompson Rivers University (TRU) in grade 12, Trades Sampler at NorKam in grade 11, Youth Work in Trades, Heavy Metal Rocks, and the Trades Career Fair. Nolan has worked closely with his teachers and Trades and Transitions Coordinator since grade 10, planning his path to graduation. In grade 10, Nolan worked with his Metal teacher, Mr. Al Kotani, to design and fabricate large wall frames to display pictures of NorKam Trades students.

Matthew (Clearwater, grad 2022) also explored career opportunities and pathways offered through SD73 programs. In 2021/22, he took the Carpentry Foundation at TRU, and helped build the 2022 Y Dream Home in Tobiano.

Congratulations to all three of these students, as they continue to excel in their chosen career path.

Sheila Brown, District Coordinator – Trades and Transitions

The Home Stretch for SD73's Secretary-Treasurer

Wed, 10 Feb 2021 19:15:00 GMT

Kelvin Stretch, SD73 Secretary-Treasurer, has announced his plan to retire on July 31, 2021.

His departure marks the end of a 24-year career with the district, the last 15 as the CFO/secretary-treasurer, now overseeing an annual budget of $205M.

When announcing Stretch’s retirement to the Board of Education at its regular meeting on Feb. 8, Superintendent Sullivan took the opportunity to comment on his colleague’s years of unfailing service to SD73.

“When I hired Kelvin to be secretary-treasurer I had very high expectations of him. He quickly exceeded all those expectations and proved that he was not only a solid accountant but that he had great interpersonal skills and was a superb manager of people,” Sullivan said. “The positive outlook and perspective that he brings to work every day are going to be missed by all of us who work closely with him.”

“It’s been a pleasure working at SD73,” Stretch said. “I equate the work to playing for a Stanley Cup championship team with all-star staff led by incredibly dedicated board members. I have worked with five terrific, yet different Boards of Education as well as a tremendous complement of staff in all departments who are dedicated to making SD73 the great school district it is today”.

In her remarks, Board Chair Rhonda Kershaw said, “Your leadership for this board, and for many boards before us has resulted in us being in a very good financial position. And I know your leadership throughout the province has been very much appreciated.”

Recruiting will start immediately for a candidate to fill the role of Secretary-Treasurer.

Superintendent's Update

Thu, 27 Jun 2024 23:30:00 GMT

Dear Parents and Caregivers:

Thank you for making the year-end wonderful for students and staff. It has been a pleasure to attend so many events and to recognize what you do every day to make students’ lives better.

Thank you to over 2,000 parents and staff who provided excellent feedback about our newly revised District Student Code of Conduct. Thank you to 58% of all staff who participated in the 2024 District Employee Engagement Survey. I’ve provided a brief overview of survey results below with more to come in August and September.

District Student Code of Conduct – Excellent Survey Response

Thank you to the 2,599 parents, caregivers, and staff who reviewed our newly revised District Student Code of Conduct and answered the question about whether they agreed with the changes. 95% supported the changes. Every school community contributed to this survey.

Comments: Thank you for your 2,070 comments! These were very helpful, and we will provide a detailed report for administrators to share with parents in August-September (back-to-school). Some broad themes were that many secondary parents agreed with limitations of personal digital device use during class, but some parents want students to have access to communicate with devices on breaks. A number of parents wanted to know that if a device was confiscated that a student would get the device back at the end of the day. In elementary school, parents generally did not see personal digital device use as a problem, mainly because students do not own devices that they would take to school. Some parents were interested in limiting social media access and offering digital safety education.

School principals will be using the newly legislated guidelines in the District Student Code of Conduct to outline more specific approaches to implementation through their work with feedback in the Fall. This will necessarily be a “work-in-progress” as it is experienced. We expect to adjust and revise throughout the year based on what works well and requires revision based on feedback.

10th Anniversary of the Bright Red Book Bus – 34,000 Books Given Away

Thank you to Ms. Tricia Persad and Ms. Andrea Wallin for their District leadership in maintaining and identifying, collecting, and installing book collections needed for summer reading. Thank you to the Bright Red Book Bus contributing partners for supporting this initiative: Literacy in Kamloops, School District No. 73, Boys and Girls Club Kamloops, Raise a Reader Kamloops, and CML Properties.

Trustees and District staff appreciated learning that this bus has given away 34,000 new and gently used books to thousands of children and youth over a decade. The bus was originally sold for $750 by the Boys and Girls Club of Kamloops to these partners to be able to tour during summers and transition times away from school for families to continue reading. Launched with seed money from the Stollery Charitable Foundation in 2014 with encouragement from Spencer and Janet Bryson of Kamloops, the Bright Red Book Bus is a community partnership, primarily between SD73, Literacy in Kamloops, and BGC Kamloops. Other funding partners currently include Raise a Reader and CML Properties. Read more and explore the 2024 summer schedule here.

While the joy of reading is the goal of the partners, we could see the joy on the faces of those who have invested volunteer hours over years as they recounted the process of first applying to the Stollery Foundation (after being encouraged by Spencer and Janet Bryson) and receiving the original grant funds to purchase and stock the bus. This initiative has grown to include red book shelves in rural schools to share the same books across 27,000 square kilometers. I have witnessed firsthand the importance that the red bus and red book shelves have on families in our communities. Thank you for this opportunity to experience the history of this remarkable, unique literacy initiative.

Young Artists Share Their Work and Process

Ms. Jayne Latta opened the Young Artists’ presentation by sharing how on April 30, 2024, student artists in Grades 4 through 7 from every school across the District, shared their remarkable talent for drawing, painting, sculpting, weaving, and creating mixed media art. These creative young artists were celebrated at the Young Artists’ Conference Gallery Grand Opening Celebration at the Old Courthouse on Seymour Street. The Young Artists student artwork will be displayed at the School Board Office over the next year.

The most important aspect of the student presentations was how each student willingly described what inspired them to start their projects and what they learned about themselves through creating them. I will touch on a few examples to illuminate how each student developed personally through their artistic decisions and process. It was their learning about who they were and what they cared about that resonated for me.

Vaughn Smith (Grade 4, Dufferin) shared how his subject is “welding” and he enjoyed “putting nuts and bolts together”, and it was by tinkering with how the metal pieces could go together, he realized that it could be a “man”. This experimentation that was described by Vaughn as “fun” is why he enjoyed completing this striking piece.

Paisley Powell Mathers (Grade 6, Westmount) shared that her inspiration for this piece was that “no matter what people say about you, you can still be yourself.” She explored a variety of methods to create this artwork, and this kind of experimentation was also what motivated her: “To complete this piece, I used pencil crayon, water colour, marker, and sketching pencils.”

While every student’s presentation was inspiring, what struck me was how we continue to expand in media that students bring forward—sculpture, fabric art, and photography. I am looking forward to this kind of personally meaningful exploration in next year’s Young Artists’ conference and celebrations. Read more here.

OWL Award Winners – June 24, 2024

The OWL Award for Excellence in Public Education has been a Board of Education Award since 2016. This award was developed over a decade ago to recognize and honour such individuals, groups, and organizations that have enriched and advanced public education through their significant contributions that have made significant, system-wide, and outstanding accumulative contributions to public education in School District No.73 (Kamloops-Thompson) over five years or more. The OWL Award committee had a record number of 14 applications this year.

2024 OWL Award Recipient: Ms. Annemarie Watts

Board Chair Heather Grieve thanked Mr. Walt Kirschner for nominating Ms. Annemarie Watts who has 25+ years of local, regional, and provincial impact on students and public education through secondary athletics. Some examples of her service include, but are not limited to, serving as Chair of the SD73 Secondary Athletics Council and Director of British Columbia School Sports. She designed and implemented innovative programming such as Super Fit, which was used District-wide. She coached at all levels of multiple sports for her entire career. Most recently, she received the 2023 BCSS Honour Award recognizing a lifetime of distinguished service to SD73, the OVSAA, and BCSS Board of Directors.

2024 OWL Award Recipient: Mr. Brent Buck

Chair Grieve welcomed Mr. Brent Buck up to receive his OWL Award. Mr. Buck has had a 30+ year career and has served as a teacher on a letter of permission part-time, and in that time he started and popularized the Forestry Logging program that began in Clearwater Secondary, and it expanded within and beyond our District due to his leadership. While he attended post-secondary school to complete his Education Degree, he volunteered weekly for three years, offering his mentorship in classrooms within Clearwater Secondary and at multiple high schools in our District to provide a foundation of Forestry education at the secondary level.

The province recognized his contributions by sharing Board Authorized Authority courses in forestry and outdoor education, and he was called upon to offer his mentorship to other districts.

Both award winners demonstrated a system-wide impact on our District and beyond at the provincial and national levels. Read more here.

Honoring Assistant Superintendent Hamblett on his Retirement

Board Chair Heather Grieve honoured Mr. Bill Hamblett on his retirement at the end of July 2024. She shared key moments from Bill Hamblett’s accomplished 34-year career as a dedicated educator who has lived and worked in both Alberta and British Columbia and served as a teacher, vice principal, principal, and District leader. The Board provided Mr. Hamblett with the gift of an Air Canada gift card as he expects to spend time travelling back and forth to see his children and mother who live in the Lower Mainland. Congratulations on a wonderful career, Bill!

Secondary Coaches Recognition – June 25, 2024

Congratulations to the more than 300 coaches in our District who have impacted the lives of 2,000+ students in 19 sports. This is the second annual recognition event in which a number of speakers shared their remarks about the importance of sports to our children and youth, and they celebrated those who are retiring. Mr. Hamblett was honoured for his contributions for over a decade to the Secondary Athletics Sports Council. It was a night of fun with a Kahoot about sports, and time to enjoy a meal with one another.

Congratulations Graduates of 2024

Congratulations to Graduates of 2024! We had 20 graduation celebrations, including the Aboriginal Graduation and celebrations hosted for Adams Lake Band Graduation (June 17), Skwlax te Secwepemcúl?ecw Graduation (June 18), and Neskonlith Graduation (June 20). To read valedictorian speeches, go here.

Summer Wishes

I wish you a summer of seeing family, friends, and loved ones, and taking time to be well, stay safe, and enjoy many moments of complete relaxation.

Rhonda Nixon, PhD

Superintendent

Lest We Forget - A Week of Remembering Nov. 8-14

Tue, 07 Nov 2023 17:00:00 GMT

National Aboriginal Veterans Day (Nov. 8) and Remembrance Day (Nov. 11)

On November 11, 2023, we remember and honour more than 118,000 Canadians who have died in military service over 200 years. To start this acknowledgement of such an important week of remembering, schools and district departments will lower their outside flags from November 8-14, 2023.

“We will begin this week of remembering lives lost on November 8, 2023, National Aboriginal Veterans Day and hold ceremonies on November 10th to honor and acknowledge all veterans and those who lost loved ones in the World Wars or other battles,” stated Dr. Rhonda Nixon, Superintendent of Schools.

“The Aboriginal Education Council advised that lowering the flag is an important signifier of the need to remember that Aboriginal peoples had an important role in World War I and II, the Korean War, and Canadian Armed Forces. This is one way to further Truth and Reconciliation in our community,” shared Diane Jules, Director of the Aboriginal Education Council.

The Canadian government marks November 8th across Canada by hosting ceremonies in which citizens learn, listen, reflect, and stand together in silence to acknowledge the important contributions made by thousands of First Nations, Métis, and Inuit veterans who served in both World Wars and in the Korean War.

Aboriginal people have a long military history in Canada, including their integral role in Canada’s efforts in the War of 1812 against the Americans. More than 4,000 Aboriginal people served in the First World War and 3,000 in the Second World War. Currently, more than 2,700 members of the Canadian Armed Forces are Aboriginal and Aboriginal soldiers have continued to serve in many deployments like Canada’s mission in Afghanistan from 2001 to 2014 with the Canadian Rangers.

“Aboriginal veterans have historically been prevented from honouring lost lives of friends and family members in Royal Canadian Legion ceremonies until 1951, including Remembrance Day,” said Michael Bowden, District Principal, Aboriginal Education. “It wasn’t until the mid-1990s that Aboriginal veterans and families were invited to lay wreaths or to have their own guards at the National War Memorial in Ottawa on Remembrance Day.”

“Throughout history, Indigenous veterans have not always been treated equally,” said Michael Bowden, District Principal, Aboriginal Education and Veteran with his 12 year Canadian Armed Forces Service Medal. “November 8 during Veteran’s Week, serves as a reminder of the contributions, bravery, and service of Indigenous veterans made and are still making a difference to help bring peace and stability during some of our most unstable times. On November 8, to match the similar lowering of the flag on the Peace Tower in Ottawa, we will be lowering our flags at all schools in the School District.”

“There is a need to ensure that today’s youth have a fundamental understanding of what their great-grandparents, grandparents and in some cases, their fathers and mothers were called upon to do to defend the freedom and democracy that we enjoy today,” according to the Legion National Foundation Teacher’s Guide. “An understanding of the sacrifices that many Canadians made to preserve and protect our way of life.”

Local branches of The Canadian Legion encourage “youth involvement in Remembrance in a variety of ways,” reports the Legion website. “From holding Remembrance ceremonies at schools, speaking with students and youth organizations about Veterans, inviting youth to participate in community and Branch commemorative services, to inviting Cadets to help with the Poppy Campaign.”

“The war proved that the fighting spirit of my tribe was not squelched through reservation life. When duty called, we were there, and when we were called forth to fight for the cause of civilization, our people showed all the bravery of our warriors of old.” - Mike Mountain Horse, WWI Veteran

Sa-Hali Secondary Outdoor Learning Academy - A New Learning Opportunity in SD73

Thu, 08 Feb 2024 19:30:00 GMT

Story provided by Jonathan Brady, Principal and Greg Wagner, Teacher of Sa-Hali Secondary

On January 15, 2024, the Kamloops-Thompson Board of Education approved a new Outdoor Education Learning Academy at Sa-Hali Secondary School for Fall 2024.

“I got the idea for this Academy from participating in various leadership roles in the outdoors and seeing the transformative effect the natural environment can have on student learning and well-being. I also wanted to design an educational experience that would be accessible for all types of learners while maximizing the potential for experiential, practical, land and place-based education in the beautiful natural environment in and near Kamloops,” said Greg Wagner.

“When we presented the idea to our PAC and students and asked for their feedback, it was clear Mr. Wagner’s idea had a lot of merit,” explained Principal Jonathan Brady. “Our students and parents were in favour of the concept of four courses, taught together by the same teacher, leading to graduation. This was a similar approach to the DATA Academy currently housed at Valleyview Secondary.”

Mr. Brady emphasized, “68% of 405 Sa-Hali students who responded to a survey about the academy reported that they would be interested in enrolling in this academy. We felt that with such strong support to move forward, it was important to bring this to the Board of Education.”

The Academy would consist of the following BC Ministry of Education and Child Care Curriculum courses: Outdoor Education 12 (Physical Education and Health credit), Life Sciences 11/Environmental Sciences 12 (Science 12 credit), Career Life Connections 12 (Graduation requirement credit), Contemporary Indigenous Studies 12 (Indigenous Focused Graduation Requirement credit).

Assistant Superintendent Hamblett shared, “Through the Ministry-authorized courses, the teacher embeds outdoor experiences to provide a rich, place-based, inquiry-focused, active, experiential, and practical learning experience.”

Secwepemc knowledge, history and teachings, reconciliation, seasonal rhythms, conservation, ecology, and sustainable practices would provide the basis for all learning in the Academy. Examples of these learning activities could include trips to McQueen Lake or Lac Le Jeune.

Mr. Wagner added, “In addition to the course mentioned above work that would be completed, students can complete certifications. Food Safe and First on the Scene First Aid certifications would be earned by each student. Further certifications based on class desire and activities may include flat water canoeing, personal craft operators’ card, bear awareness and WHMIS. These certificates would add to students’ experience and help them be successful in their post-secondary journeys.”

Following graduation, students who participated in the Academy would have relevant experience that would help them succeed in their future studies, including the Bachelor of Natural Resource Sciences program, the Adventure Sport Certificate, Diploma and Bachelor of Tourism Management programs at Thompson Rivers University.

An academy focusing on outdoor education would allow students to access a wide variety of activities outside of the school and, therefore, free up classroom space when the students are not in the school. Additionally, the size of the Academy would be just one cohort of students for the semester with an average class size of approximately 25. Therefore, it is likely that the ability for students from other schools to access the Academy would be limited, but this is not unlike other academies in the District.

SD73 Honoured to Welcome the Kulak Family from Saskatchewan

Fri, 29 Sep 2023 22:00:00 GMT

Our Cultural and Identity Priority (District Strategic Plan) is focused on every person knowing who they are, being proud of their backgrounds, and sharing their identities.

On September 29, 2023, as part of recognizing the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, students and staff from Haldane Elementary School and Chase Secondary School had the immense pleasure of meeting the Kulak family and hearing their inspiring journey which has led to National Ribbon Skirt Day.

Isabella (Bella) Kulak is a young Indigenous girl who was shamed for wearing her traditional ribbon skirt to school. Bella's experience led to a movement where thousands of people across Canada and the world showed support by wearing ribbon skirts and shirts. Senator McCallum introduced Bill S-219, which received unanimous support and became law in December 2022.

National Ribbon Skirt Day, celebrated for the first time on January 4, 2023, was established to recognize and celebrate Indigenous traditions and combat racism and discrimination. Bella and her family aim to promote reconciliation and cultural understanding. The ribbon skirt movement has garnered significant attention and support, emphasizing the importance of unity and awareness.

Chris Kulak, Bella’s Dad, introduced himself in both Saulteaux and English. He explained that he was given his Indian name, a-sin-na-tu-ani-ni, during a ceremony held on Cote First Nation at his late mother-in-law’s home in Saskatchewan. This means “The Eagle Who Stands On The Rock”. His name helps to protect the identity of his family, and identifies him as a community member on the Cote First Nation. As a non-Indigenous person, he expressed his gratitude to his late mother-in-law, Stella Pelly, for changing his life and showing him a different way of being. She taught him what he needed to know to raise their children. Without the Elders and Knowledge Keepers who preserved their culture, the community would have not only lost its past but the future of continuing with their traditions, wisdom, and ways of knowing.

“Lana and I love to share our knowledge of the lands as well as traditional craft making with people who are interested in learning our culture.”, said Kulak.

Chris engaged with the students by asking them if they have ever been bullied. He went on to explain that Bella was bullied that day for wearing her ribbon skirt; the skirt that gifted hands had created. The Kulak family took this bullying experience and turned it into a teaching moment that their family has learned from.

Kulak shared, “It is important for all children to walk their own path and be proud of who they are. On January 4^th, I encourage everyone to wear whatever represents their identity. Whether it’s a ribbon skirt or shirt, or any attire that reflects their heritage.”

“We are deeply honoured to have welcomed Bella and her family to our school, where their inspiring story resonated with both students and staff.”, said Principal Greg Gartrell. “Chris Kulak’s message that everyone should be proud of their own identity, history, and beliefs connects to everyone of us.”

“Through the unity and awareness sparked by the ribbon skirt movement, we’ve come to appreciate the significance of encouraging everyone to embrace their own paths with pride, celebrating their unique identities every day.”, said Principal Colleen Topolovec. “Bella’s journey exemplifies the strength of community, the power of education, and storytelling’s role in creating a more understanding and compassionate future.”

Parks Canada has committed to making space for Indigenous peoples’ histories, voices and perspectives at heritage places. This August/September, the Kulak family travelled to Kingston, Ontario to approve a Parks Canada project in which Bella’s story will be on full display at Bellevue House, the house of the first Prime Minister of Canada. In the future, a room within the Bellevue House National Historic Site of Canada will be dedicated to Bella and the ribbon skirt. This room will feature visual aids telling Bella's story, with the National Ribbon Skirt Day Act displayed in a glass cabinet, alongside art exhibits from First Nations artists from across the region.

“By participating in this project with Parks Canada, we have the opportunity to give voice to our daughter and her family for generations to come. Bella’s voice and spirit will grace the walls alongside Chief Poundmaker from Saskatchewan and Louis Riel of Manitoba. We do not shy away from the past; instead, our aim is to provide visitors to the site with an authentic education that fosters a deeper understanding of both Canadian and Indigenous identities.”

"In witnessing the profound impact of the Kulak families’ journey, we are deeply honoured to have welcomed them into our District. Their story has resonated strongly with staff and students, reaffirming the importance of embracing our unique identities, histories, and beliefs. We are inspired to carry forward the message of unity, cultural understanding, and compassion that the Kulak family embodies as we move towards a future where Bella's story becomes an enduring part of Canada's historical narrative," stated Superintendent Nixon.

As we look forward to a future where Bella’s story finds a permanent place in Canada’s history, we are inspired to continue celebrating diverse identities and promoting understanding and compassion, which is central to the Cultural and Identity Priority in our 2022-2027 District Strategic Plan. We thank Adams Lake Indian Band and School District No. 83, who made this opportunity to learn from Bella and her family in School District No. 73.

Making Classroom Learning Relevant Through Outdoor Education

Thu, 11 Apr 2019 17:00:00 GMT

Raft River Elementary teachers have a vision for outdoor learning. In a presentation to the School District No. 73 Board of Education, a teacher from the school spoke about the ways outdoor learning enriches and enhances student learning and engagement.

"It helps students develop a deeper connection to the curriculum,” said Elizabeth Shook, Teacher. “We notice this is a great approach for students who might be a little less comfortable in a traditional learning environment. I would argue though, that this is also a great learning opportunity for all students.”

For example, she said, a top academic student who had already completed her reading and writing for the morning chose for several days in a row to work outside and finish digging the ditches for the school's new garden irrigation system.

Raft River teachers have created learning opportunities for their students through a wetlands project, a pollinator garden and a vegetable garden. They are tapping into local knowledge and community volunteers to learn about plants and birds and beekeeping, and they are accessing grants to provide tools and equipment for these projects.

Other examples of outdoor learning includes:

A group of community volunteers offering skating lessons to every class in the school.
A local farmer lets students use the field next to the school for cross country skiing program.
PAC and Community Forest supplied them with class sets of skis and boots.
Planting the vegetable garden and the pollinator garden in May, and harvesting the vegetable garden in September.
Park hikes and river rafting in June.

“We would like to add a permanent outdoor structure so that more teachers can take the learning outside,” said Shook.

Kamloops Thompson Honour Choir Performs for the Board of Education

Fri, 15 Dec 2023 23:00:00 GMT

The Board of Education is invested in supporting the Fine Arts because we know how music, drama, art, and digital arts inspire many students into careers based on these passions. On Monday, December 11, 2023, at the Regular Public Board meeting, it was a joy to welcome 65 grades 3-7 students from across the District who are members of the Kamloops Thompson Honour Choir.

The evening was facilitated by Music Coordinator, Alanna Mounsey. The choir developed under the exceptional leadership of the Choir Director, Jennica Alpaugh, Accompanist, Lori Jane Froese, and Choir Manager, Taqueesha Lightfoot. The Board enjoyed the culmination of this choir’s work throughout the winter season.

“These students and teachers have worked tirelessly to create a magical and heartwarming performance. The guidance of the choir leaders has brought out the considerable talent of these students and we are so fortunate to have them share it with us tonight.”, said Alanna Mounsey, Music Coordinator.

The first performance was a song called X’pentes. A talented former choir member, Madeline McMillian, composed it as a poem and, with former accompanist Kevin Mulligan's help, turned it into a song. This song celebrates the joy of singing together in this special place. It truly embraces the joy and peace that comes with this season. The final song, “The Polar Express” was a holiday medley. This grouping of songs included “Believe”; “Hot Chocolate”; “The Polar Express” and “Spirit of the Season.” While the choir continued to sing, one member danced and served hot chocolate and cookies to the audience.

“It is inspiring to see how these students, some as young as eight years old, are brave enough to perform for large audiences. We as a board are incredibly privileged when we get to see our students take the spotlight and share their passions with us,” shared Board Chair Heather Grieve.

“I am impressed by the months of practicing and preparing that students and their families had committed to in order to perform at such a high level,” said Dr. Rhonda Nixon, Superintendent of Schools.

We are grateful for the parents and staff who continue to support The Kamloops Thompson Honour Choir that has been a part of the school district for forty-five years.

A Special Superintendent's Update: Health and Wellbeing

Fri, 18 Nov 2022 00:30:00 GMT

Dear Parents and Caregivers:

Because Wellbeing is a core commitment in our 2022-2027 District Strategic Plan, with the start of influenza season, it is timely to share important information to foster physical well-being of students and staff.

Increased Absenteeism

Increases in absenteeism is expected at this time of year during flu season. Since Nov 1, 2022, the K-12 absenteeism rate is approximately 5% higher than last year at this time.

Collective Attention on Prevention

Everyone is hearing about surges in children’s illnesses and hospitalizations in Ontario, Alberta, and Manitoba as a result of the “triple threat” (COVID-19, flu, and respiratory syncytial virus [RSV]). Dr. Bonnie Henry, Provincial Health Officer, emphasized that we are not in the same position provincially due to higher rates of immunization. Dr. Fenton, Interior Health Officer, confirmed that in SD73, it is timely to invest in a proactive strategy of sharing preventive health strategies to support staff during this elevated trend of illness and absenteeism.

Provincial Health Guidance

In our district, we will continue to monitor absenteeism rates for students and staff and share Provincial Health Officer, Dr. Bonnie Henry’s key messages:

Get all recommended vaccines including influenza and COVID-19 boosters; getting vaccinated is the best way to prevent serious illness
Do daily health checks
Stay home when sick
Engage in regular hand washing and hand sanitizing
Cough and sneeze into your elbow
Avoid touching your face, especially your eyes, mouth, and nose.

We will also highlight Interior Health Public Medical Health Officer, Dr. Carol Fenton’s key messages:

What: respiratory season is here, but it is just the beginning.
So what: we need to prevent as many infections as we can.
Now what: Get up to date with COVID and influenza vaccinations. Stay home when you’re sick. Wear a mask in crowded indoor spaces

The British Columbia Centre for Disease Control remains an excellent source of information on how to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and other infectious diseases such as the flu in our communities. We encourage you to visit their website to gather more information on actionable steps you can take in your professional and personal lives to keep you and your loved ones safer.

We will continue to receive updates on how we are doing with absenteeism and preventative measures in Friday updates. Thank you for staying home when sick, getting vaccinated and keeping up with booster shots, and not being afraid to wear a mask.

Stay well and know that we will continue to improve together with “collective attention on prevention.”

Rhonda Nixon, PhD

Superintendent

After-School Pilot Program Empowering Girls

Thu, 30 Jan 2020 17:00:00 GMT

The Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture and Kamloops-Thompson School District No. 73 want to help high school girls to become more physically active.

A pilot project involving 240 female secondary students from six secondary schools will kick off Feb. 5, 2020 during an EmpowerHER Forum at the Tournament Capital Centre. The forum, in partnership with FitSpirit, PacificSport Interior, the City of Kamloops, and the Kamloops YMCA-YWCA, will introduce the girls to the FitSpirit experience through physical activities and connect them to an activity of personal interest.

The forum will also connect them with community organizations to help each girl find HER way to succeed in physical activity. Paralympic athlete Jessica Vliegenthart will speak at the event, bringing a message of inspiration about her personal journey with movement. Each student will be personally invited to join FitSpirit, a free 16-week after-school program, to be held at their schools.

School District No. 73 and PacificSport Interior have partnered with FitSpirit, a Montreal-based organization, offering activities designed to get girls moving to encourage an active and healthy lifestyle.

Girls from grades 7 - 12 at six schools: Chase Secondary, Brock Middle School, Valleyview Secondary, Westsyde Secondary, Norkam Senior Secondary and Kamloops School of the Arts are invited to participate in this program. They can sign up by registering at their schools' office.

“Sport and physical activity play a powerful role in helping people lead healthy, productive lives. It also has the power to drive positive change for gender equity in our society and empowers girls and women to be active participants and leaders,” said Lisa Beare, Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture. “This pilot initiative is a wonderful collaborative effort designed to expand opportunities for young women and girls so they can explore their potential and enjoy the immense benefits of being active.”

Backed by a community of inspiring and dedicated girls and women, FitSpirit transforms every activity into a memorable experience with friends, role models and fun. FitSpirit has positively impacted the lives of more than 185,000 girls aged 12 to 17 since it was founded in 2007.

Kamloops is one of two cities selected in Western Canada to pilot FitSpirit.

“This is an incredible opportunity to change the current narrative around physical activity,” said Alexandra Inglis, SD73 after-school program coordinator. “We want to inspire movement, reduce barriers to participation and connect girls with some amazing role models in our community. We want girls to be excited about physical activity and to help them to find success in their own way.”

“We are so excited to be the first in Western Canada piloting this initiative. This program reaches beyond a local community initiative and illustrates that this program is an investment in the health and well-being of girls across the province,” said Katie Klassen, sport participation coordinator, PacificSport Interior.

“It is such an honour for FitSpirit to enter this new partnership with these dynamic organizations. Staying active is an integral part of young women’s physical, mental and emotional health,” says Claudine Labelle, FitSpirit President and Founder. “If girls commit to an active lifestyle in their teenage years, they are more likely to continue to be active in adulthood. For me, it’s a dream come true to provide a safe and supportive space for girls from coast to coast to pursue the fun of being physical active.”

A FitSpirit celebration event will be held at Riverside Park in Kamloops June 3. Participants will enjoy a day of physical activity and fun with friends. Every girl, regardless of skill or fitness level, will go on a 5K or 10K walk and/or run without worrying about their times.

Superintendent's Update

Fri, 21 Oct 2022 22:30:00 GMT

Dear Parents and Caregivers:

As we prepare for another lovely weekend, thank you to everyone for sharing stories of equity and courage, value commitments that are central to our 2022-2027 District Strategic Plan.

Kamloops School of the Arts

Principal Lloyd and I visited music, arts, dance, drama, and science classes. Principal Lloyd emphasized, “It is important to provide every student with opportunities to be who they are and to express themselves through the arts.” I witnessed how every student integrates the arts into their daily routines, and they were encouraged to show courage about exploring multimedia.

Mr. Simone Stella’s high school biology students explained their collaborative writing process of picture books designed to teach younger students about the properties of water. Ms. Piroddi’s Gr. 4 students studied “Peter and the Wolf”, and Ms. Williams’ junior dance class was tap dancing, and they were also preparing for Remembrance Day. Ms. Pendergast’s class explored diverse media (charcoal, paint, pastels, pencil crayons, ink) and a student named MaryJane said, “I used paint to create my picture because I don’t typically use paint.” Students were praised for having courage to try new materials to create art. Mr. Weisgerber’s junior band class played a new song, and he shared his excitement about forming a KSA drumline.Mr. Smigielski’s Gr. 8s and 9s were performing mimes, and we observed a very realistic “making cookies” mime. Ms. Gilmar’s class was in the hall making their robots move using EdScratch. Ms. Wendy Leonard told me the story of how she had gone on a salmon run and then taught about the importance of the salmon to her community to students and staff.

Family of Schools

School leaders meet in families of schools (groups of schools that stay together throughout the year to share school learning plan goals, strategies, and results). Yesterday, I took part in the South Kamloops/South Sa-Hali family of 13 schools that worked together as small groups, and their goals were to support the foundational framework of the district, to engage in professional learning as leaders, and to support the school learning plan process with staff. They also shared what they were doing in their schools and district departments to enact equity, a cornerstone value of the District Strategic Plan. School improvement through research-informed practices is the centre of their professional learning.

Bus Safety Week (Oct. 17-23)

Transportation Director Sherry Kristjanson reminded us to watch for the red flashing lights on a bus as one important way to be safe. It is bus safety week and Secretary Treasurer Cassidy is working with the Transportation Team to celebrate our work on a video on bus safety that is now used provincially. Read more.

Nov. 21 PD Day

The ministry closed schools on September 19, 2022, for the National Day of Mourning to mark the passing of Queen Elizabeth ll. Because September 19 was a planned District-wide Professional Development day for all SD73 staff, it has been re-scheduled as a Pro-D day for November 21, 2022 and there will be no school for students. Read more

Enjoy your family and friends this weekend.

Rhonda Nixon, PhD

Superintendent

Board Notes from March 13, 2023

Mon, 20 Mar 2023 20:15:00 GMT

From the regular meeting of the Board of Education. Find out about Day of Sucwentwécw, District Employee Engagement Committee, and Family of Schools’ Mid-year Reviews. Read Board Notes here.

A Return to School Message from Dr. Sullivan

Fri, 04 Sep 2020 18:45:00 GMT

Hello, My name is Terry Sullivan and I was appointed as the superintendent of schools for School District 73 Kamloops-Thompson effective September 1st of this year.

I want to introduce myself and to give you some information about school start up next week. You should have received information via email this week from your child or children’s principal regarding orientation week, new health and safety protocols and the student health assessment agreement. On Tuesday or Wednesday of next week a staff member from your child or children’s school will be contacting you regarding your intentions with respect to school attendance starting next week or alternative learning models.

We are all aware that COVID-19 is a communicable disease which is being dealt with by school districts not only in Canada but around the world. It is a significant challenge for us and for you, but I want to assure you that our school start up plan has been approved by the Ministry of-Education and meets all the requirements for school start up established by the Provincial Health Officer.

Please refer to our school district website or the website of your child or children’s school to review our district start-up plan. We will continue to post all current information regarding this matter to these sites as this issue continues to evolve. Please refer to these sites frequently to remain informed.

We appreciate your support as we work together to provide an environment where children can return safely to school.

Thank you for listening.

Superintendent's Update

Fri, 24 Sep 2021 18:15:00 GMT

Dear Parents and Caregivers:

It’s hard to believe that it’s almost the end of September. Students and staff are preparing for the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation (September 30). Barb Hamblett, principal of Valleyview Secondary, recounted how they are furthering Truth and Reconciliation in her school.

Truth and Reconciliation in Valleyview Secondary

Principal Hamblett explained, “We have a committee called Téxemnem-kt meaning ‘paddling together’, which includes representatives of diverse stakeholders in our school community.” The power of this committee is that they have been together for some time working on improving Indigenous education for students including “searching for opportunities to teach where we haven’t gone yet.” This year, in preparation for the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, this team recognized the work they have been doing to understand the impact of residential schools, but they felt they needed to start learning more about some of the root causes of residential schools. Through a video project last year, students expressed curiosity about the Indian Act and the impact it continues to have on people today. They prepared a menu of learning choices for classes including Bob Joseph’s interview about his book, 21 Things You May Not Know About the Indian Act: Helping Canadians Make Reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples a Reality (2018). As each class lives their learning together this week, they will write their thoughts using an iceberg to go from their initial learnings recorded on the “surface of the iceberg” to their “deeper learnings”, with evidence, which are recorded on “lower levels” of the iceberg. This focus on learning together about the Indian Act and the impact on Indigenous people today will prepare the students to consider lessons learned prior to lowering the flag in honour of our first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation in our district.

COVID-19

On September 21, 2021, Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry stated that broad school notifications about COVID 19 cases in schools had caused anxiety last year, which was the reason for not continuing school notifications this year. After our first few weeks of school, she concluded “that parents require an authoritative source to understand what is happening at their children’s schools.” Dr. Henry indicated that Interior Health plans to notify parents about COVID cases in schools. Superintendents take direction from Public Health, the Ministries of Health and Education, and BC’s Public Health Officer in the area of Health, and we will follow the recommendations once released about how these broad notifications will happen.

We have updated our District’s Communicable Disease Prevention Plan regarding spectators at secondary sports events. Although the school year started off with no spectators, the District has now completed its review on how to safely operationalize secondary athletic events with spectators. Regional restrictions remain in place for the Interior Health Authority, which has placed restrictions on spectators and event sizes:

Indoor events are not to exceed 50 persons present (spectators)
Outdoor events are not to exceed 100 persons present (spectators)

Interior Health vaccination clinics in secondary schools continue and are listed here.

I appreciate your patience in working through the changes to our COVID-19 protocols as we live them. As we enter into this last week of September, everyone’s efforts to come together as a community and to share uplifting stories about Truth and Reconciliation has been and will continue to be inspiring.

Rhonda Nixon, PhD

Superintendent

Preparing for a Phased Return to School

Tue, 04 Jan 2022 17:00:00 GMT

By Heather Grieve, Board Chair

January 3, 2022

On December 29, 2021, I participated in a meeting with BC school board chairs and superintendents. We were told that a full restart of K-12 school will be delayed until January 10th. Following the meeting, Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry announced a phased return to school for January 2022.

The BC Education Ministry website has indicated that some students can attend school on January 4, 2022:

Students with disabilities and diverse abilities
Students whose parents work in the health care system
Students whose parents are other essential workers, as school district capacity allows. Please refer to this government list of essential services workers which can be found online at https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/family-and-social-supports/covid-19/list_of_essential_services.pdf

All other children will return one week later on January 10.

We understand the purpose of the delay in school restart will allow the district and school staff to plan for how to implement recommended enhanced safety measures. We were also advised that the phased restart gives the province time to better assess the impacts of the Omicron variant and develop enhanced safety measures for a return to classrooms.

Superintendent Nixon has met with district staff to discuss the enhanced safety measures for schools. More information about plans for learning continuity and for enhanced safety measures will be made available soon. The uncertainty for all impacted may be difficult but we will ensure that we update our staff and community as we are apprised of any new information. At this time, all parents can expect their children to return to school on January 10th. We have been informed that school sports will continue with restrictions on spectators and no tournament play.

Minister Jennifer Whiteside said, “As we know the pandemic is changing, but the education system is nimble and strong. Our efforts are truly focused on minimizing disruption and absenteeism.” Our understanding is that the goal of the phased restart is to decrease the possibility of school closures in reaction to the pandemic evolution. The minister emphasized that there will not be a series of school closures as a strategy for keeping schools safe; instead, this phased restart is “to ensure that we can keep everyone safe upon return and keep schools open.”

Many of the current safety measures will continue such as: using the daily health check, having staff and students stay home when sick, wearing masks that fit properly (this can continue to be non-medical masks), limiting time in crowded locations, proper respiratory and hand etiquette, maintaining personally respectful spaces between people. Our staff will implement the following enhanced safety measures, which include: arranging classrooms for maximum space between students and staff; limiting visitors to the school/worksite to those that are supporting activities that are of benefit to student learning and wellbeing (e.g., teacher candidates, meal program volunteers, etc.); and reducing crowding at transition times such as staggered start/stop times, breaks, lunches. We look forward to welcoming our students and staff back to school for a vibrant new year of learning.

This column appeared in Kamloops This Week: View from SD73 on January 3, 2022

Board Notes from September 27, 2021

Fri, 01 Oct 2021 20:30:00 GMT

From the regular meeting of the Board of Education. Find out about successful LDP candidates and Board approves District Learning Plan. Read Board Notes here.

Career Education in Action

Wed, 27 Jan 2021 22:30:00 GMT

The District has formed an updated Career Development department by combining Trades and Transitions with Career Education, the Board of Education learned during a presentation at its regular meeting Jan. 25.

“We lead the province in this work, and we want to continue to do so,” said Rob Wielgoz, district vice-principal, Trades and Transitions. “By creating and supporting robust delivery, and by continuing to develop and maintain our strong community partnerships.”

For example, career education district coordinator Allisson Badger has created a program called Career Talks, a network of professionals in the community willing to share their experiences with students sharing what they are passionate about in their work.

Career Education is a growing program in the district, beginning with grades 9 – 12 with courses that focus on helping students explore possibilities. Recently the program expanded to grades 4 – 9 with a focus on positive community engagement and how students can make meaningful contributions. A pilot program with K-4 students promoting self-awareness around who students want to be in the world will soon be expanded across the district.

“We want students to have the understanding and the experiences brought together to more successfully navigate that transition from secondary to post-secondary,” he said. Whatever their aspirations may be, and then also have the flexibility to change and pivot as the world changes around them.”

Students heading into the world of work face 15 – 30 career changes over their lifetime while 85 per cent of the jobs that today’s college students will have in 10 years have not yet been invented.

Rusky Fontanilla, a grade 12 student at SKSS, presented part of his capstone project about photography and cinematography to the Board.

One of the great lessons in this program, he said, was the need to explore and investigate his passion to learn what skills he could adapt and take on in his working life. He plans to explore a career as a photographer, a cinematographer and an entrepreneur.

“You can use a lot of skillsets,” said Fontanilla. He chose to see how far he could take his skills by putting together a 10-minute video. It helped him feel what the career would be like.

“I had time crunches, it was fantastic, I am glad I did it,” he said. “I learned from my mentor to take new paths, because if you’re not learning about the things you love you’re never going to learn about yourself.”

Fontanilla plans to explore a career as a producer of content for Instagram and Youtube and other social media.

“My next goal is to work on myself and my brand,” he said. “Because I want to build a community around my name as a photographer and a cinematographer.”

“That is a great example of different paths that all of our students can take once they finish grade 12,” said Board vice-chair Meghan Wade. “This is an example of very interesting careers being done by recent graduates.”

She said having students like Fontanilla coming back to speak with students in three years would speak volumes to students.

“It would give them ideas about pathways that are closer to them where they are now,” she said.

“I think that is an outstanding idea,” said Weilgoz.

Welding Instructor Jim McCarthy Recognized with Board Award of Recognition

Thu, 03 Jul 2025 20:15:00 GMT

Story provided by Chelsea Isenor, Director of Communications and Board Administration

On Monday June 30, 2025, the Kamloops-Thompson Board of Education awarded the second annual Board Award of Recognition to Jim McCarthy.

The Board Award of Recognition was established in 2024 to recognize individuals who are collaborative, enthusiastic, selfless, generous, and positive risk takers who make school environments better by supporting growth for all learners, promoting emotional, psychological, and physical well-being for learners who have been historically marginalized, and removing barriers and providing accessible and empowering opportunities for students to learn and grow.

This year’s Board Award of Recognition recipient, Jim McCarthy, is a well-known and long-standing welding and fabrication instructor who has taught at both TRU and NorKam Secondary for over 10 years. Mr. McCarthy volunteers for the United Way and multiple community organizations and works to remove barriers for students to realize their potential and give back to their communities. His shop is known as “a sanctuary for anyone who has been hard done by the status quo of conventional education. Everyone is welcome to be their true self in Jim’s inclusive environment.”

Many of his students have expressed how Jim’s combination of learning and listening make him a good teacher, mentor, and friend. One student said “it's like he is a bundle of goodness all in one person,” while another student shared, “Jim is a phenomenal instructor, he truly is the reason why so many kids come back and go into welding… He actually treats us like workers, he gives us respect, he has so much knowledge, and he's so open to projects where we can express ourselves in different ways. He does so much for the community and helps us be part of it which helps us grow as well.”

Mr. McCarthy’s accomplishments also include legacy projects such as developing the NorKam Mechanical Sampler classes, building an Indigenous-themed gazebo with his students that will be displayed at TRU in the future, and creating an Indigenous bench as a gesture of Reconciliation which now sits outside of the head office at NorKam.

Recently, Jim partnered with Insight Support Services to offer a class of Insight students the opportunity to work with Mechanical Sampler students at NorKam Secondary. This day was inspired by Jim’s desire to break down barriers and offer students with an autism diagnosis the opportunity to learn about welding with hand-on mentorship from the Mechanical Sampler students. Jenica from Insight Support Services shared, “It's a really amazing experience for Insight students… so many of our students haven't had exposure to these experiences. Today provided exposure to different things they can do, including different education and different job opportunities that are out there.” Jim’s goal is to make the Insight Day an annual event so that it can continue to benefit a variety of students in the future.

At the Board Award of Recognition celebration, Board Chair Grieve shared, “On behalf of the Board of Education, Mr. McCarthy really does embody everything we had hoped a Board Award would be. It is a real privilege for us to be awarding you this Board Award of Recognition this evening. Thank you so much for removing barriers for students to accomplish ways to give back to the community while realizing their own potential as learners and human beings—it's the most we can ask from the people who are involved with our students.”

After accepting the award, Jim McCarthy shared his story and gratitude, while emphasizing the importance of trades education and offering opportunities for students to explore different paths in order to find success and fulfillment:

When I found out about this nomination and award, I felt very proud. But, in some ways I also felt like an imposter. Mostly because I didn’t grow up wanting to be a teacher (or even believing I could be). And—if I’m being very honest—I didn’t grow up wanting to be a welder either.

But after I reflected back on all the students I’ve taught over the past several years, I realized: my students usually don’t grow up wanting to be welders, either—at least, not at first.

It’s not the kind of job you dream about when you’re little. In my experience, it’s where you often end up when the world isn’t kind to you. Or when you’re just that fish from Einstein’s famous quote who’s been asked to climb a tree, and when it can’t, it ends up believing it’s whole life that it's stupid.

I didn’t choose this path because welding inspired me. I chose it because I was a fish, and school was a tree.

In fact, at the age of 15, I left school and got a job as an “office lad”—running errands in an industrial, postwar factory in Liverpool. I didn’t leave school because I didn’t care, or didn’t try—but in my part of Liverpool, you either went on to take your academic exams and finish school—as my brilliant wife did (those results would determine your future success)—or you found a way to feed yourself.

In my family, if you didn’t succeed, you didn’t eat. So, as a student who struggled with heady academics and focus, I knew there was only one option.

After a few months working as an office lad, I heard about an opportunity in the same factory to apply for an apprenticeship in one of 3 roles: electrician, carpenter, or welder. I jumped at the chance to make a higher wage and finally have a real career. I went through a series of aptitude tests and interviews and eventually got the chance to meet with the hiring officer for a formal interview. I had nothing to wear, so I borrowed an oversized suit jacket from a neighbour.

When I went into the interview, I requested to be an apprentice electrician. It seemed to carry the most pizazz. But, the hiring manager told me “that wasn’t for me” (probably because he saw my aptitude test). But after watching my work ethic for many months in the office, I’m certain he felt like he should probably give this poor kid a chance, and he said I could choose from one of the other two: carpentry or welding.

I didn’t know much about either, so I just said the first thing that came to mind: Welding. Maybe it was the easy sound of it. (Two syllables instead of three. Could remember the spelling). Maybe it was the possibility of playing with fire. Maybe it was just pure shock at being offered an opportunity. Whatever it was—that was the moment welding became my future.

And all these years later, I’m still here. Because someone saw that maybe I couldn’t climb a tree, but I might be able to swim real fast if given the right stream.

The point is: what began as a way to survive for me… became the way I’ve helped others live.

As a teacher in my old age, I now know: That’s what trades can do. I’ve watched it again and again… Young people walking into my classroom with their shoulders hunched and their confidence cracked. Kids who’ve been told they’re not academic. Not enough. Not likely to make it. Kids from all walks of life. Fish trying to climb trees.

But give them a torch, give them a weld, give them something they can make with their own two hands…Give them an opportunity from someone who sees their determination, someone who sees that capability isn’t always summed up in medical school and law school…and something clicks. They start recognizing their own power.

Not long ago, I hosted a forging workshop for children with autism. One boy came up to me after and said it was the best class he’d ever attended—and promised he’d be back to visit.

Then there’s Alexis. She came through my program and went on to complete the Foundation Welding Program. She competed in the Regional Skills Welding Competition and won gold. Then gold again at provincials. Then bronze at nationals—third in all of Canada. She was the first woman at TRU to achieve that. And I’m certain it won’t be her last success in the trades.

But not every success comes with a medal. Sometimes it’s much quieter—like the boy who came to class without saying a word, completely shut down by trauma. He was a natural talent. One day, Principal Johnathan Brady stopped by the shop and said hello. From his seat, that boy looked up—and for the first time ever—said, “Hi.”

Moments like that are powerful. But they’re not rare. I see them all the time. And that’s why this award means so much to me—because it’s not about me. It’s about what trades can do. It’s about what happens when someone is seen, given a chance, and offered the dignity of purpose.

And it’s about people like you—who choose to recognize that. You’re not just honouring me today. You’re giving these students a voice. And a real chance at life.

My work is not just about welding. It’s about worth. It’s about taking young people who’ve been overlooked, underestimated, or counted out—and giving them a trade, a skill, a way in. Without demanding they put on that suit jacket or be anything other than who they are. Kids just like me.

It’s about saying: That thing out there…may not be for you. But you still matter. You can make something that lasts. And they do. Because without welders, doctors have no hospitals to work in. Lawyers have no offices. The Bridges that get all of us to work don’t hold. Cities don’t grow. No one. And I mean NO ONE gets to lead the life they want. Without tradespeople, none of us move forward.

This award may have my name on it, but it belongs to every student who ever walked into my workshop feeling unsure… And walked out knowing they could make something strong. That they were something strong. No matter how many trees they once failed to climb.

And who knows—Maybe someday, welding will be the thing kids dream of doing. Not the fallback. Not the last resort. But the spark that starts it all.

That’s why I’m so grateful for this award today. Because you didn’t just recognize me. You recognized them. You recognized the trades. And you recognized the power of opportunity. And if that’s the future we’re building together—I think we’re all swimming up the right stream.

Board Notes from January 11, 2020

Fri, 15 Jan 2021 16:00:00 GMT

From the regular meeting of the Board of Education. Find out about the Importance of Early Learning, COVID update and land disposal in Chase. Read Board Notes here.

Unplug and play Family Literacy Week

Tue, 14 Jan 2020 17:45:00 GMT

The Unplug and Play Family Literacy Week Committee is inviting schools to participate in Interior Savings Unplug and Play Family Literacy Week which takes place Jan. 25 to Feb. 1 2020. Check below for attachments providing events-related information.

Families are also invited to Family Literacy Day at the Henry Grube Education Centre on Saturday, Jan. 25, from 9:00 AM to 12:30 PM. Activities will include storytelling, interactive stations, face painting and crafts.

“Our goal is to encourage families to find a healthy balance and enjoy the many fun events and activities hosted by School District No. 73 community partner groups,” said Andrea Wallin, district library coordinator. “This has become an annual event in Kamloops-Thompson with over 5,500 students participating each year, increasing an awareness that healthy balance equals healthy families.”

Interior Savings Unplug and Play School Challenge

One way to motivate school-aged children to Unplug and Play is to offer them the School Challenge. They pledge to reduce or eliminate recreational screen time for three days. There is a daily check-list to record achievements. Many free activities are offered throughout the week for families to enjoy. A list of events will be included in the Student Challenge. Each participating school will receive a prize.

Here are some tips to make healthier choices for screen time based on information from the Canadian Pediatric Society.

Try to expose babies and toddlers to as little screen time as possible.

The Canadian Pediatric Society recommends no screen time for children under two years old.
Help older kids understand that using screens is a health issue, like eating well or brushing their teeth.
Set limits that include all screens and establish certain times and places as no-screen zones.

Use screens mindfully, as an activity you choose rather than as something that is on in the background or that you turn on as a habit.

Turning on a device should be something you turn on for a specific reason.
Get creative – encourage children to draw, write or act out their stories.

Curate your children’s media, setting household rules and co-viewing when possible.

With younger kids, select their media choices yourself, and only allow older kids to watch or play media you have approved.
Educational media is most effective when it iwatched with parents who can help to extend and reinforce learning content.

Model good media use for your kids.

Pay attention to your own media use, and think about what messages you are sending.
Think about ways to use screens together as a family, such as video chats with friends and relatives or using the internet to investigate hobbies or interests together.

Problems with too much screen time range from shortened attention spans to less time spent reading and less outdoor play. Here are some signs to look for that children may be spending too much screen time, according to the American Academy of Pediatricians.

Wanting to get on a device first thing in the morning, right after they wake up.
Complaining or throwing a temper tantrum when they are told it is time to turn off the device.
Always thinking about or talking about favourite shows, games or videos.
Sneaking a device or lying about how long they have been using a device.
Using the device to feel better if they have had a bad day.
Not getting enough sleep.
Constantly asking to use a device and always wanting more screen time.

District Spirals of Inquiry Project Underway

Wed, 20 Nov 2019 22:00:00 GMT

As part of a school-year long Spirals of Inquiry initiative, the District is working with educators to strengthen relationships with students and be more responsive to their individual needs. In November, during the first of this year’s three workshops, educators worked with Dr.’s Linda Kaser and Judy Halbert from UBC to explore what is going on for learners across the District.

Prior to the workshop, a few grade 6 – 12 students in schools across the district were asked to create short videos using their phones to answer two questions: Can you name two adults in your school that believe you will be a success in life? If so, what have these adults done to show you that? This selfie-survey was compiled and presented during the workshop.

“The way students experience their school, teachers and learning matters to us,” said Barb Hamblett, principal at Valleyview Secondary and one of the leaders of the project. “We want their learning experience to be positive, interesting, helpful, and sometimes even fun. To help us get it right, we asked kids what it feels like, right now, for them at school.”

She said the students’ authentic responses had an impact on workshop participants and provided a great foundation for the work ahead. The student-focus will also set the stage for the next two workshops, which will be held in March and June 2020.

The Spirals framework helps to transform learning for students through collaborative inquiry. By working and learning together, teams of educators are using authentic student voice to guide their next steps in making a difference for all kids in the Kamloops Thompson school district.

May is Milling Month for Future Woodworking Projects

Tue, 28 May 2019 17:45:00 GMT

The school year may be winding down but woodworking teachers are stacking materials for next year’s projects.

“Every year about this time, our woodwork teacher, Sue Scallon, spends a day milling donated trees to make wood for the junior woodworking program at South Kamloops Secondary,” said Walt Kirschner, Principal, SKSS.

The portable sawmill is a district resource used by certified operators like Dan Sargeant, the resident caretaker at McQueen Lake.

“This allows us to use trees donated by the community, in particular the City of Kamloops,” said Kirschner. “It means wood that might otherwise not be used can be recycled for the benefit of students.”

After being cut, Scallon takes a day to help Sargeant with the mill and make sure the wood is stacked. Once stacked it’s dried for six to 10 months for future student use in woodworking projects.

“It’s wonderful to see the partnership with McQueen Lake and SKSS, and a real focus on sustainable practices that add value to our students,” said Alison Sidow, School District No. 73 Superintendent of Schools. “This project reflects so many of our strategic priorities, including community partnerships, responsible use of the district’s publicly funded resources.”

Girls Explore Trades and Technology: Empowering Young Women in Trades

Fri, 10 May 2024 17:00:00 GMT

Story provided by Sheila Brown, District Trades and Transitions Coordinator

The Kamloops-Thompson School District Strategic Priorities, as outlined in the 2022-2027 District Strategic Plan, has the mission of “supporting environments that provide accessible and empowering opportunities to thrive.”

The semi-annual Girls Explore Trades and Technology (GETT) offers female students the opportunity to try out a sampling of different trades to gain confidence through hands-on experience and learn about future career opportunities. The goal of this event is to support equity in career exploration in the trades, where women have traditionally been underrepresented and faced many barriers. GETT supports students as they learn about potential careers in the trades while building networks with older students enrolled in career programs as well as tradeswomen in industry.

On May 8, 2024 at TRU, 48 students from Grades 6–9, descended upon TRU for an exciting and engaging day of hands-on learning. Under the guidance of Red Seal instructors and student mentors from Grades 10–12, students learned to weld under the supervision of a TRU Trade Foundation class, practiced bending different types and sizes of pipe in the electrical and refrigeration stations, and got to check out some of the semis and other equipment maintained and repaired by the Heavy Duty Mechanics. At lunch, students met two of Teck Highland Valley Copper’s female Industrial Electricians, and learned about their work and training.

One of the projects students participated in was “The Refrigeration Project”, which was designed and taught by 5-time GETT participant Sunny, who was a delegate at the first annual event when she was in Grade 6. When Sunny was in Grade 10, attending the NorKam Trades Sampler, she was invited to be a mentor—from then on she was hooked on the positive community spirit of the event. Each time the event is promoted, Sunny asks if she can join because she is committed to building a strong and positive community of tradeswomen. Now, in Grade 12, and attending a Foundation program, she designed a project, and then worked with her peers from the class to teach that project to the delegates. As Sunny approaches her graduation, SD73 Career Programs have supported her to know who she is and who she aims to become through her career pathway.

This fun, engaging, hands-on career exploration supports young female students to overcome some of the barriers they may face entering a career in trades, by building a sense of community and belonging among tradeswomen of all ages and at all stages of their career.

McGowan Park Elementary Students Build Birdhouses for Future Sn�ne Elementary

Fri, 25 Oct 2024 16:00:00 GMT

Story provided by Chelsea Isenor, Director of Communications and Board Administration

As the Kamloops-Thompson School District prepares to open its newest school, Sníne Elementary, students are helping to construct a unique part of the school.

As part of the habitat compensation efforts related to the school’s construction, the District planned to build and install eight bird nest boxes around the site of the new school in Pineview Valley.

On Monday, October 21, 2024, Grade 6/7 students at McGowan Park Elementary received a hands-on lesson in bird house construction. Led by SD73 Cabinet Makers Becki Lamb and Fiona MacInnis, students built the Sníne nesting boxes using rough cut boards. Students expressed that they enjoyed using tools to screw the bird houses together. Thank you to Chris Rice, one of the District’s electricians, for donating the wood for this project.

These birdhouses are specifically designed to provide a nesting habitat for the Lewis's Woodpecker – a bird species that is protected under the Species at Risk Act. The Lewis's Woodpecker nests in cavities of large diameter trees that are living, partly decaying, or dead. The recently built nesting boxes will be installed in live trees at a height of 13' to 15' in the Pineview Valley area around Sníne Elementary.

Construction is currently underway on Sníne Elementary, which is expected to open in Fall of 2026. Stay up to date on construction and community engagement for the new school here.

District Flags at Half-mast

Fri, 09 Apr 2021 19:00:00 GMT

Pursuant to the British Columbia policy for Half-masting (Section 12), the Canadian flag on all British Columbia government buildings and establishments across the province will be flown at half-mast from now (April 9, 2021) until sunset on the day of the funeral and memorial service (to be determined) to acknowledge death of His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh. Superintendents are asked to have all schools lower their flags to mark this occasion as well.

VSS Grad Chooses UVIC Scholarship

Mon, 19 Apr 2021 16:00:00 GMT

A gift for music has paid off for Valleyview Secondary Grad.

With exceptional talents in several instruments Kayla Oerlemans was offered musical scholarships from the University of Manitoba, the University of Alberta, and the University of Victoria.

She has chosen to attend UVIC, where she has been given a $27,500 scholarship.

“The audition process for music programs is quite rigorous with each school asking for different requirements,” said Jaymi Daniels, music teacher at VSS and Oerlemans’ mentor. “For the UVIC audition, Kayla had to submit 30 separate video recorded requirements, which took an untold amount of work to capture. In addition to private lessons, she had to work with an accompanist, and study advanced music theory on her own.”

Oerlemans plays clarinet as her main instrument, she sings alto in the school choir, and for fun she plays ukulele, guitar and keyboard. She has also spent time learning other band instruments as part of her work as a teacher’s assistant.

She will pursue a Bachelor of Music and then a Bachelor of Education, followed by the post degree program for her K-12 certification.

“My plans for my career are to teach music at a high school level and then eventually continue my education so that I can teach music at a university level,” she said. “The things that inspired me to choose this path were definitely my passion for music and the important music teachers in my life like Jaymi Daniels. She, among others, continuously pushed me to be the best musician I can be.

“I’m incredibly thankful for all of the supportive people in my life who helped me achieve this and that hard work really does pay off in the end. Overall, I’m just super grateful to have this opportunity and I can’t wait to continue my musical journey.”

Community Spirit Shines Through Myriad Challenges

Wed, 03 Jun 2020 21:00:00 GMT

By Kathleen Karpuk, Chair Board of Education

June 3, 2020

The word “unprecedented” has been thrown around a lot lately, but all aspects of the word describe this past school year perfectly.

This has been a year of chaos and constant challenge and it looks like it could continue into the fall. Yet through it all, the Kamloops-Thompson community has shown itself to be courageous, kind and generous

It started with the fire at Parkcrest elementary last September.

Two school families were displaced, a treasured school building disappeared and the impact rippled through our system.

But within days, students were back in class, TREC students relocated to the United Way and NorKam secondary and, by December, brought back together at Happyvale elementary.

The community responded with overwhelming generosity to our students and our staff, providing food, space and much-needed replacement supplies.

In February, we began to hear rumblings about the pandemic. In March, school buildings closed and again our entire system had a reset.

Teachers scrambled to connect with students through online learning and students learned to cope with not seeing friends.

It’s been a challenging time — teachers having to completely adapt to a new way of teaching and connecting and worried about students that don’t have the access to technology that many of us take for granted.

Students have struggled with learning new concepts without as much support, using technology in unfamiliar ways and missing the peer contact and reassurance from their friends.

Parents have risen to the challenge of trying to help children learn concepts that they themselves don’t understand, often stepping in to provide tech support as they have balanced their own stay-at-home workloads, along with the many other pressures that have occurred as a result of the pandemic.

Through it all, our community has again shown its true colours.

The Caremongering group came together to support those who needed help. The COVID Meal Train is making sure food is available to those who needed it.

There are hearts in the windows of houses, inspirational messages scribbled in chalk on the sidewalks and parades of cars celebrating birthdays, students and teachers.

There are beautifully painted rocks to gladden someone’s day and smiles and nods as people practise physical distancing in the parks.

As the provincial school system moves back to some in-class instruction, we know our community will again shine.

Conversations with our employee groups have been ongoing to ensure that when students and staff return this week, things will be done right to keep everyone safe.

This includes increased cleaning, hiring more custodial staff and taking our time to make good decisions based on science and the expert knowledge of Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry.

We know not everyone is able or comfortable returning to school and that’s OK.

Let’s continue to be gentle with our expectations of each other, patient when things don’t go as expected and generous in spirit.

In the words of Dr. Henry “be kind, be calm and be safe.”

This column appeared in Kamloops This Week: View from SD73 on June 3, 2020.

Board Supports One-Stop Youth Services Network in Kamloops

Tue, 14 Jan 2020 17:30:00 GMT

The Board of Education is supporting a new youth-focused service in the community, following a presentation at its regular meeting on Monday, Jan. 13.

Val Janz, Chief Operational Officer for Kamloops Interior Community Services (ICS) told the board she is hoping to hear, in March, whether Kamloops will be chosen as one of six new locations for the one-stop youth services network for ages 12 - 24 known as the Foundry.

“We are excited about the level of support and access this would provide to youth in Kamloops,” Janz said. “The provision of this kind of team-based care will make a big difference.”

ICS is currently in the running to become a partner organization to work with the Foundry in delivering these services, and part of the application process includes seeking letters of support. Janz asked Board Trustees for their support and if they would consider ways that SD73 could assist the organization.

In a letter supporting ICS, Chair Kathleen Karpuk said a Foundry in Kamloops is vital because it will increase youth and parents’ access to help and support. She also said the district has worked closely with ICS and benefitted from social programming for vulnerable youth and families.

“ICS is a proven leader in the community and has positive collaborative working relationships with community agencies and service providers,” Karpuk said.

The Foundry offers counselling, mental health and healthcare services for youth all in one location, so they do not have to travel to many places in different parts of the community to get the help they need.

How Full is Too Full in District Schools?

Fri, 12 Nov 2021 23:00:00 GMT

By Heather Grieve, Board Chair

November 10, 2021

On September 28, 2021, I was privileged to present to the Select Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services. I was honoured to represent the SD73 Board of Education and district community to highlight the immense challenges that we face within our district regarding our space crisis and lack of capital funding amidst rapid enrolment growth projections.

The presentations were brief, but we were each able to paint a picture of the issues that our districts were facing. I emphasized SD73’s current enrolment pressures— we are growing at a rate of one medium-size elementary school (250 students) each year and our available spaces do not serve our families in reasonably accessible areas in our district. Accessible areas are in rural areas which have available space, and our enrollment pressures are in Kamloops. Given this reality, we highlighted that catchment changes are our only strategy left, but not a solution. In making the catchment changes, we are temporarily solving our over-enrollment pressures and such changes are not favored by some, and rightfully so.

We are quite simply asking for help. We noted that there are no clear and defined criteria that stay the same year-to-year for how capital funding is allocated. How can we meet the requirements to get projects on our capital plan approved? We asked for consistency and clarity. There appears to be no transparency when projects are approved provincially and as education providers in our province, we asked the question asked to us by our community, “How full is too full?” with respect to our schools. The committee was advised that we require provincial support to provide the type of educational environment that our entire school community both need and deserve. We have known for a long time that our district needs more schools, more classrooms, more capital funding, and more support from our provincial government to make this happen. Our efforts have been recognized with one capital announcement, Valleyview and the replacement of Parkcrest Elementary School, which was destroyed by a fire. While appreciated, it will not come close to addressing our district needs.

During our consultation process for catchment changes the word “transparency” continually came up. The question: How full is too full? needs to be answered in a clear, transparent way, one that will enable our Board to share those criteria with our community. Only then will we be positioned to walk alongside our community to meet this bar. Otherwise, how can we be transparent with our community? How can we provide information about our efforts to advocate for capital funding? and how can we assure our community that we are doing everything we can to create the best educational environment within our district?

As a start, we can make our efforts visible and accessible.

As a Board of Education and a District, we will continue to advocate for new schools, more funding, and bring attention to our current crisis. We will continue to ask the Province, “How full is too full?” in our schools.

This column appeared in Kamloops This Week: View from SD73 on November 10, 2021.

Kamloops-Thompson Board of Education Celebrates Valleyview Secondary Expansion

Tue, 01 Nov 2022 22:30:00 GMT

The Kamloops-Thompson Board of Education hosted the grand opening of the Valleyview Secondary Expansion project on November 1, 2022.

“This $34.8 million addition has resulted in 20 new classroom spaces and expanded common areas that enable staff and students to be more comfortable and connected,” said the Board Chair Heather Grieve.

In the decades since the last major capital project, the design for school learning spaces has changed. The east wing at Valleyview Secondary has expansive windows, common areas for students to gather casually between classes, natural wood accents, and inclusive washrooms.

“There are now 525 more seats which are much needed now that our school has over 1000 students,” explained Principal, Mr. Cory Carmichael. “The students enjoy the flexible seating throughout the school, the wide hallways and stairwells, and outdoor gathering spaces.”

“Our students and parents are also looking forward to a new gymnasium, multipurpose spaces and innovative classrooms like film studios, and a drafting room,” stated Superintendent, Dr. Rhonda Nixon

On March 8, 2022, there was an informal gathering to walk through the new wing. SD73 Facilities Department was celebrated by the Board of Education for persisting through supply chain issues that arose especially in the final stages of the project. At that time, the wing was under construction, so students and staff used parts of it for some classes.

For the celebration on November 1, 2022, Kukpi7 Rosanne Casimir brought greetings on behalf of Tk?emlúps te Secwépemc Nation; Mayor Christianson shared his excitement on behalf of the City Council; Shelly Frost spoke on behalf of MLA Todd Stone; Kamloops-Thompson Board Chair Heather Grieve sent her regrets and Vice Chair Meghan Wade read Minister Whiteside’s statement and spoke on behalf of the Kamloops-Thompson Board of Education; Director of Facilities Art Mcdonald highlighted the work of his team; Superintendent Dr. Rhonda Nixon highlighted the work of staff; Valleyview Secondary PAC Chair, Tara Hess emphasized parental support for this expansion; Teacher Tracy Thomas spoke about the value of added space for her language program;Teacher Roger Turner shared the positive impact of the extension on teaching and learning; and students, Danna Campbell, Rachel Farrow and Levi Purves spoke to their current experiences learning in a rejuvenated space and one that has released pressure on what were overcrowded hallways and classrooms. Students shared some of the following comments of hope regarding this extension of their school:

“I believe that the expansion of Valleyview Secondary will uplift students and their well-being in the new learning space provided,” said VVS student Danna Campbell.

“Students at Valleyview Secondary are able to better their education in a new space where everybody feels welcome,” said VVS student Rachel Farrow. “We have seen improvements in the overall learning environment, with benefits to students and teachers alike.”

“I am deeply thankful for the gracious effort and work of so many people to make this dream a reality,” said VVS student Levi Purves. “Valleyview Secondary has become a place for resident students and teachers to be proud of, and I am grateful for a new chapter in our school’s history.”

Valleyview extension was a long-time coming, and we are proud that students are finally experiencing the benefits of it in 2022.

News Release from Ministry of Education and Childcare: Kamloops students benefit from expanded school, new gym

Raise a Reader 2020 Campaign

Fri, 11 Sep 2020 19:30:00 GMT

The Raise a Reader campaign raises funds to support these local literacy programs: One to One Reading, Parent-Child Mother Goose, Come Read with Me, the Bright Red Bookshelves and the Bright Red Book Bus. COVID-19 has changed how this important campaign will run this year. Instead of having Volunteers out in their bright orange t-shirts, hawking papers for a donation to literacy, the campaign has developed three ways you can support Raise a Reader in 2020:

Loonies for Literacy – Students, please bring a Loonie for Literacy during the week of September 18-25 (Cans to collect them will be provided).
Donate online at www.raiseareader.ca (click on the community you want to support).
Enter a team in a virtual Trivia event on September 22 (see website for more details).

Board Notes from August 25, 2025

Fri, 29 Aug 2025 17:30:00 GMT

From the regular meeting of the Board of Education. All about Disposition of Real Property and the Chair’s Report. Read Board Notes here.

District Strategic Planning Begins

Fri, 15 Oct 2021 22:45:00 GMT

October has been a month of special days, notably World Teachers’ Day (Oct. 5) and World Mental Health Day (Oct. 10). Everyone has a favourite teacher who has made a positive difference in their life. This past week, I visited Chase Secondary and Haldane Elementary Schools and learned how teachers have implemented Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS), which is central to how students, parents, and staff are developing students’ positive behaviour, which contributes to their overall well-being.

Chase Secondary School

Mr. Greg Gartrell, Principal, and Ms. Erin Khelouiati, Vice Principal, emphasized how teachers have implemented PBIS common language to encourage positive behaviour. The administration posted signs with this language in the classroom, offices, library, and even washrooms throughout the school. Ms. Khelouiati said, “When students have the words right in front of them, they become problem solvers.” Mr. Gartrell agreed, saying, “I called a parent about a situation, and we discussed whether the teacher’s request was reasonable and the student’s response was respectful. So the common language of PBIS is assisting everyone.”

Haldane Elementary School

Ms. Colleen Topolovec, Principal of Haldane Elementary felt that the PBIS focus at secondary has bridged their work at elementary. Ms. Topolovec said, “It is a new school for me, and so much is already in place because teachers are student-centred and focused on PBIS. Our strong sense of belonging amongst students is the result of the everyday work of our staff, students, and parents.” Ms. Topolovec indicated that this is why student learning results continually improve. “Culture and learning go hand-in-hand. A positive sense of belonging ensures that students learn well.”

School stories, such as those just shared, have emerged from our District commitment to equity and excellence in SD73’s current District Strategic Plan 2017-2022. Every five years, our District engages our community to review and, if necessary, revise our plan. This year, we started this work with our District Strategic Planning Committee and all school leaders focusing on these three questions:

What type of world do you imagine/hope that our children will create?
What skills, attitudes, and competencies will they require to make that world possible?
How do we get them there?

Throughout this week, representatives from 25 different staff, parent, student groups, and community partner agencies have provided feedback to the District. We want everyone to have the opportunity to engage with these questions. If you are interested in sharing your thoughts, please participate in this survey.

Everyone has an opportunity to contribute until the survey closes on Oct. 22. PCG Canada will gather the responses, analyze them, and share key themes from the information provided.

Communicable Disease Prevention Plan

Thank you for continuing to work as partners in our health and safety protocols in our District’s Communicable Disease Prevention Plan which include the following:

Completing daily health checks
Staying home when sick
Wearing masks indoors and on busses
Washing hands and using hand sanitizer
Covering our mouths when we cough
Keeping respectful personal distances
Using specific entrances and exits
Limiting visitors to schools
Staying within gathering guidelines and limiting congestion within small spaces such as hallways
Using recommended HVAC filters and air flow procedures
Cleaning, sanitizing, and disinfecting in all areas

The number of potential exposures to COVID-19 in our schools has been posted on Interior Health’s website. Interior Health’s contact tracing confirms that the greatest risk of transmission is during activities taking place outside of school. As immunization continues to be the greatest protection for everyone, we continue to encourage everyone who can to get vaccinated.

As we enter mid-October, we look forward to a focus on literacy, with Dictionary Day (Oct. 16) and National Media Literacy Week (Oct. 25-30). Enjoy a good book this weekend and time with family.

Rhonda Nixon, PhD

Superintendent

SD73 Board of Education Pauses Staff Vaccination Procedure

Tue, 12 Apr 2022 15:30:00 GMT

At its April 11 Regular Public Board Meeting, School District No. 73 (Kamloops-Thompson) Board of Education paused the Proof of Vaccination Administrative Procedure pending further changes to public health orders and further information from BC Public School Employers’ Association (BCPSEA).

Pausing the Proof of Vaccination Procedure means that as of April 11, 2022:

Employees do not need to provide proof of vaccination or disclose their vaccination status;
Employees do not need to take a rapid test or provide results of rapid tests;
Employees will not be approved for an Extraordinary Leave of Absence as defined in SD73 Operations Procedure: Proof of Vaccination Regarding COVID-19

“Our board made this decision based on provincial health guidance and advice from BCPSEA. We will monitor and respond to the evolving COVID-19 data and changes to public health directives,” said Board Chair Heather Grieve.

The Proof of Vaccination Procedure was to ensure the health and safety of employees and students from COVID-19 at a time when hospitalizations with risks of serious health outcomes were related to low vaccination rates. On April 5, 2022, the Provincial Health Officer confirmed that vaccination is still considered to be necessary protection against severe outcomes if an individual contracts COVID-19. A new variant of COVID-19 is causing an increase in positive cases, but the outcomes such as hospitalizations and deaths peaked in early January and have leveled off in March and April. Therefore, as of April 7, 2022 at midnight, Dr. Bonnie Henry lifted the Gathering and Events Order that had restricted spectators to capacity limits, and proof of vaccination will no longer be required to access businesses, events, and services in B.C. K-12 sector safety measures (e.g., masks are a personal choice, gatherings are permitted) have also been relaxed by the Ministry of Education and Childcare.

“Our staff will continue to work together to follow provincial health and K-12 sector safety measures” stated Superintendent Dr. Rhonda Nixon. “Everyone adjusts to change in different ways, and we will emphasize empathy and kindness during this shifting landscape of COVID-19.”

Parent Engagement Session: Talking with Teens About Substance Use

Thu, 11 Sep 2025 16:30:00 GMT

Presented by Angela Lawrence, District Substance Misuse Counsellor.

Research shows that quick, non-judgemental, and direct conversations with youth about substance use can have a dramatic effect on their health. This workshop will offer parents of pre-teens and teens strategies to help increase connection and trust and thus the likelihood that their teen will listen to important health information. In addition to key communication skills, parents will learn about the developmental changes taking place in adolescence and why moving from “parenting” to “coaching” may be the most effective way to talk with their teen about drugs.

This workshop will be held via Zoom on Tuesday, September 23, 2025, from 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM. If you are interested in attending, please register in advance here. Following your registration, you will receive the link to the meeting.

Ignite! Scientific Curiosity with Discovery Education

Thu, 21 Apr 2022 15:00:00 GMT

Did you know all SD73 intermediate students (grades 4-7) have unlimited access to Discovery Education, a world-renowned, immersive, digital experience?

Discovery Education’s Social-Emotional Learning Center presents a curated collection of hundreds of resources designed to help all students develop social and emotional competencies, cultivate self-confidence, manage stress, look at situations and issues from a variety of perspectives, and maintain their well-being so everyone can thrive.

Discovery Education offers multimodal digital content, and immersive, differentiated learning experiences that is inclusive of all learners.

In Discovery Education's Young Scientist Lab channel, find Virtual Field Trips, hear from young change makers, and find experiments that can be done at home. Access Discovery Education’s featured videos and activities in the curated collection of Science channels and simulate science experiments using Discovery Education interactives. These resources provide engaging ways for children to explore their curiosity and investigate real-world science topics.

To learn more, attend the workshop via Zoom on Thursday, May 5, from 7 PM to 8 PM. If you are interested in attending, you are asked to register HERE and you will be provided with the link to the meeting.

Presented by Isha Seth - Morgan Whitehouse (Moderator)

Board Notes from January 24, 2022

Thu, 27 Jan 2022 16:00:00 GMT

From the regular meeting of the Board of Education. Find out about reports from the Superintendent and Secretary-Treasurer and Vaccination Policy Committee proceeds with vaccine status disclosure. Read Board Notes here.

Looking out for Mental Wellness During the Pandemic

Tue, 06 Oct 2020 21:00:00 GMT

By Heather Grieve, Trustee

October 6, 2020

The commencement of the 2020-21 school year has brought with it changes to the school system that we have not seen before and many of them are challenging our mental wellness. As a school district we are all trying to navigate through the uncertainty of this Global Pandemic. Traditionally the start of school brings familiar structure and certainty. As we see in the news daily, society continues to struggle to find a way to cope with the ever changing new normal. Schools around the globe have been faced with changes and challenges never seen before. The fact that school is not as it has been in previous years can have a significant impact on students, teachers, parents, support staff and administration. Pandemics in and of themselves can be stressful. People may be experiencing strong emotions like anxiety and fear and as the guidelines continue to evolve and change, the impact can be magnified.

School has started, and even with a new look, has brought with it some structure and some sense of normalcy after months of being at home. This is positive but we need to continue to monitor mental wellness. Even though many kids are back in school, what school looks like has changed dramatically and in addition its look is very susceptible to further change depending on what is happening within our schools, district, Province and even beyond.

Whether you’re a family that has opted to having your students homeschooled, or chosen to have your students engage in online learning, or have decided to have your student attend bricks and mortar school, the impact of the pandemic and change in our learning is being felt. Some may be grieving what school was and the losses in the school setting are all around us. Changes to structure include things like classes, breaks, extra-curriculars, clubs, sports, theatre, music and graduation. These are a just a few examples of the many ripples of change that have impacted our schools and may also impact our mental wellness. These changes have occurred out of the requirement to physical distance and with that physical distancing can come increased isolation. Mental wellness can be negatively impacted by this isolation. Connection and communication will be an important part of our path forward and as a school trustee, I have confidence in all those involved that we can continue to work through this together. Together might just look different.

Students can look to connect through phone calls and video chats that can assist in feeling more connected and less isolated. Self-care including regular exercise, well balanced meals and plenty of sleep will assist in taking care of both emotional and physical health.

As part of the district’s commitment to assisting students and parents in taking care of their mental wellness, the district has asked Katherine Gulley, a private practice clinical counsellor and former Child and Youth Mental Health Clinician to lead parent outreach sessions both in May and September. The May session focused on Parent Coping Skills for the Pandemic and in September the session’s theme was Providing Tools and strategies for Parents to Navigate Uncertainty Brought on by the pandemic. Both presentations were recorded and are available to view on the Parent Resource page on the SD73 website.

This column appeared in Kamloops This Week: View from SD73 on October 6, 2020

Board Notes from September 28, 2020

Wed, 30 Sep 2020 21:30:00 GMT

From the regular meeting of the Board of Education. All about stories from Clearwater and nominations are now open for the Owl Award. Read Board Notes here.

What Happens If There's a COVID-19 Case?

Tue, 06 Oct 2020 17:15:00 GMT

Keeping everyone safe in our schools is our biggest priority, and we are following strict health and safety measures outlined by the Provincial Health Officer and the Ministry of Education.

In the case of a confirmed or alleged case of COVID-19 in a school, the school district will follow the direction of the Medical Health Officer and will provide documentation to the health authority to support contact tracing of all individuals impacted by an exposure to COVID-19.

If there is a confirmed case of COVID-19, this how and when families will be notified.

Interior Health will contact the affected school.
Parents and guardians will be contacted by Interior Health if their child was exposed to the confirmed case while they were infectious. Staff who were in contact with the confirmed case will also be notified. Personal privacy rights and confidentiality will continue to be maintained for anyone with a confirmed case of COVID-19.
People who are notified that they have been exposed to COVID-19 will be required to isolate at home for 14 days from when their last exposure happened.
Interior health officials will work closely with the school district to determine if further actions should be taken, and the school will support student learning while they are in self-isolation.
Based on the direction of the Medical Health Officer, it may be necessary for the school and district to communicate with the school community. SD73 and the Medical Health Officer will work together to develop a communications plan to inform the school community.
When an exposure at a school is confirmed, this will become public information. The BC Centre for Disease Control will publish COVID-19 Public Exposures on their webpage.
A “school exposure notification” does not mean all students at the school have been exposed to COVID-19. If you do not receive a phone call or letter from Interior Health, your child should continue to attend school.

Board Notes from February 22, 2021

Mon, 01 Mar 2021 22:00:00 GMT

From the regular meeting of the Board of Education. All about Anti-Racism & Human Rights Education in Action along with an implementation Plan. Read Board Notes here.

Back-to-School Attendance Numbers

Fri, 12 Jun 2020 15:15:00 GMT

During the first week of the voluntary, part-time return to school for students across BC, attendance by students at all SD73 schools ranged from about 11 to 18 per cent per day.

“We had a total of just over 4,000 students from Kindergarten to Grade 12 who attended school on-site from June 1 to June 5,” said Trish Smillie, SD73 Assistant Superintendent, Elementary.

For the week, student attendance for elementary schools ranged from 75 to 20 per cent. For middle and secondary schools in the district, attendance ranged from about 35 to 12 per cent.

Beginning June 1, students in Kindergarten to Grade 5 were able to attend school up to 50 per cent of the time. Students in Grade 6 to Grade 12 were able attend up to 20 percent of the time.

The exceptions to these restrictions are students in Kindergarten to Grade 5 who are enrolled in a 5 day per week program as children of Essential Service Workers, or students in Kindergarten to Grade 12 who are enrolled in a 5 day per week program as priority learners.

The Ministry of Education is tracking student attendance to determine how many are coming to class, without penalizing students who are not attending.

School Bus Safety for Elementary Students

Wed, 16 Oct 2019 15:30:00 GMT

Every school day, our school bus fleet is responsible for the transportation and safety of 4,000 students to and from school and on field trips across the 27,000 square kilometres of our district.

“Helping students see the connection they need to have with their bus driver is an important part of keeping them safe,” said Dan Blanchard, Assistant Manager, Transportation. “Making eye contact with the driver and following the drivers’ instructions are essential.”

Blanchard and a team of bus drivers are traveling to elementary schools across the district to provide students with school bus safety training. The focus is on Kindergarten students and their big buddies, with a short presentation in the gym and then an exercise with a driver on a school bus. Along with basic rules including lining up in single file and sitting facing forward, each session includes learning how to exit the bus in the event of an emergency.

“The hands-on part is an important part of the learning,” said Blanchard. “And if students can take away even one or two things from these sessions, then it is time well spent.”

This is the second year for the school bus safety training program in the district. By training the youngest students and their big buddies each year, the aim is to spread the knowledge through all ages over the next several years.

Discover Day: Day in Engineering, December 7, 2023

Thu, 14 Dec 2023 16:30:00 GMT

Story provided by: Allisson Badger, District Coordinator

In the 2022-2027 District Strategic Plan, we are focused on ensuring that every student learns about themselves and their preferred career pathways. Students who enjoy engaging in robotics, coding, and designing objects for 3D printing, to name a few activities, often have a curiosity about becoming an engineer.

In SD73, 40 grade 10-12 students experienced a “Day in Engineering” hosted by the Engineering Department at Thompson Rivers University. One student described the event as "expanding their knowledge on different types of engineering and where they can go to take these courses." The day was very engaging, where students met faculty and engaged in university projects from Engineering students at different points of their academic career that ranged from creating ten points of movement to a dancing robot.

Students also were inspired by problems to solve to think like an engineer and pitch real solutions to world problems. For example, students made model structures of new ways to incorporate green vertical spaces to improve our environment.

A big thank you to the Engineering Department and guests who made this event possible. This career event connects to the District Priority to provide opportunities for students to experience post-secondary environments and career experiences.

String into Summer with Two More Concerts

Wed, 05 Jun 2019 20:00:00 GMT

There are just two more music events planned for district students this month, and they promise a rousing end to the school year.

Strings at Six, June 11

90 Beginner Strings students from 10 different schools in the district join together to experience an afternoon of hands-on, music-based workshops to explore different ways of expressing themselves through music.

“This is a glorious day to build community and connection between young musicians, and it happens in partnership with the Kamloops Music Collective,” said Christy Gauley, District Fine Arts Coordinator. “The KMC offers various workshops including Ukulele and Drum-line. The day concludes with the year-end concert, Strings at Six, for parents and community members, at 6 pm.”

Prelude to Summer, June 13

Advanced District Strings ensembles from across the district will offer their year-end concert, Prelude to Summer, led by Kate Zahir, and Steve Weisgerber. They will be joined by an ensemble from Clearwater directed by Sandy Crane. The concert begins at 6:30

“Let music move you into the glorious feeling of Summer with this beautiful concert,” said Gauley.

Both events will be held at the Bible Truth Church on Fraser Street in Kamloops.

Kay Bingham Students Honour Orange Shirt Day with Founder Phyllis Webstad

Thu, 26 Sep 2024 18:00:00 GMT

Story provided by Chelsea Isenor, Director of Communications and Board Administration

On Friday, September 20, 2024, Kay Bingham Elementary School hosted Orange Shirt Day Founder Phyllis Webstad.

Phyllis Webstad, whose grandchildren attend Kay Bingham Elementary, graciously shared her story and the origins of Orange Shirt Day with students and staff in advance in advance of Truth and Reconciliation Week (September 23–27, 2024). Starting in the Kindergarten class, Phyllis read her book, ‘Today is Orange Shirt Day’, to students and gifted each Kindergarten student a copy of the book to read along with her. She then joined the full school in the gym to share her story and read a longer version of her Orange Shirt Day book. Her message for each student was “every child matters, including me.”

Phyllis’s story is one of strength and resilience. Phyllis is Northern Secwepemc (Shuswap) from the Stswecem’c Xgat’tem First Nation (Canoe Creek Indian Band) and is a residential school survivor.

As Phyllis talked about residential school survivors, she shared “My name is Phyllis, and I am one of these children.” When Phyllis was 6 years old her grandmother bought her a new orange shirt to wear to school. As many students can relate, she wore her new shirt the first day of school with excitement. However, when she arrived at school her new orange shirt was taken away from her and she was never able to wear it again. Phyllis shared how this experience made her feel like she did not matter as a child.

While sharing her deeply personal story with family by her side, Phyllis emphasised her message that “every child matters, everyone matters, and you matter.”

At the centre of the 2022-2027 District Strategic Plan is the hearthfire—a symbol of gathering as a District community in ceremony, song, prayer, and studies that help students and staff to understand Indigenous peoples’ histories, perspectives, and experiences. With the hearthfire helping guide the strategic plan, the Kamloops-Thompson School District is committed to helping students develop a sense of identity as individuals and cultural safety and humility in communities through the Cultural and Identity Development strategic priority.

Schools in the Kamloops-Thompson School District will acknowledge Orange Shirt Day on Friday, September 27, 2024. Students and staff across the District will wear orange to honour Phyllis’ story and Truth and Reconciliation Week ahead of National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on September 30.

Learn more about Phyllis Webstad Orange Shirt Day at orangeshirtday.org.

Celebrating the First Regional Indigenous Student Summit at TRU

Fri, 19 May 2023 20:30:00 GMT

On May 15 and 16, 2023, the first regional Indigenous Student Summit began with the excited bus loads of students gathering from schools within the Kamloops-Thompson School District and schools in ten other school districts (SD8 Kootenay Lake), SD19 (Revelstoke), SD22 (Vernon), SD23 (Central Okanagan), SD53 (Okanagan-Similkameen), SD83 (North Okanagan-Shuswap), SD74 (Gold Trail), and SD93 (Le Conseil Scolaire Francophone).

Almost 140 students and staff gathered in the Thompson Rivers University Brown’s House of Learning designed to symbolize a traditional c7ístkten. The evening of May 15 began with students gathering, socializing, and sharing food in the House of Learning followed by a scavenger hunt around the TRU campus. The next morning, on May 16, students, staff, and guests gathered to share breakfast. After breakfast, students were drummed in by the Sage Hill Drummers and a traditional jingle dancer. Indigenous student leaders from the 11 School Districts entered the House of Learning carrying their District banners in a Grand March.

After the Indigenous student leaders took their seats, the SD73 District Principal of Aboriginal Education, Mike Bowden welcomed everyone and acknowledged the traditional territory of the Secwepemc peoples, specifically the Tk'emlúps te Secwepemc. Following the land acknowledgement, SD73 student Ava Jules, shared a beautiful prayer in Secwepemctsi?n. Elder Freda Jules from Tk’emlu?ps te Secwe?pemc then welcomed everyone to the territory and shared her teachings. When Elder Freda Jules concluded, Superintendent Rhonda Nixon echoed the words of Elder Joan Arnouse about “the hearthfire” or “the flame” at the centre of the Kamloops-Thompson District Strategic Plan. Superintendent Nixon reminded those in attendance to attend to “the childlike spirit within each of us” that is enlivened by coming together in community to focus on the agenda set by issues of importance to Indigenous youth– Anti-Indigenous Racism, Indigenous Culture in Schools, and Indigenous Student Health and Well-Being. Associate Superintendent of Indigenous Education Brad Baker, from the Ministry of Education and Child Care, followed this by talking about the courage the students had by gathering as Indigenous youth and sharing their voice. District Principal Bowden closed by drawing on the words of Autumn Peltier, from the Anishnabek Nation: “One day I will be an ancestor and I want my descendants to know that I used my voice so that they could have a future.”

The keynote speaker, Greg Hopf who is an Indigenous entrepreneur and co-owner of Moccasin Trails, born and raised in the Northwest Territories (NWT) and who has presented around the world on Indigenous issues, shared his story and experiences of resiliency. Greg shared his struggles growing up as an Indigenous youth with a single mother who struggled with addictions. He shared his experiences with extreme racism after he left his community, and finally how he overcame this to become a successful entrepreneur. He attributed his current success to learning to be brave and to trust the traditional knowledges he had. He asked that each student trust themselves, value what is ‘between their ears,’ and to be proud of their local and personal knowledges and histories.

After learning from Mr. Hopf to trust, try, and more importantly to be brave, students went into focus groups to share their own voices and discuss how to move forward on the topics of racism, Indigenous culture in the education system, and Indigenous student health and well-being.

The discussions were student-led and were centered by digging deep into why these themes were important to contemporary Indigenous youth. They came up with actions that could be done in the three circles of influence: School Community, District Community, and the Province.

When they completed their focus groups, the students gathered again as a larger group and presented these discussions and actions to the adult witnesses and adult change makers at the House of Learning. Each presentation was led by a speech from three representative Indigenous youth leaders from SD73, Mikey Friesen, Elle Ross, and Dakoda Kelm, who highlighted why student voice was important. They talked about how when the student voice is honoured and valued in an authentic way, youth will have more engagement and responsibility in their learning journey.

The students who discussed Indigenous Specific Racism talked about microaggressions as one of the issues. They gave examples of people talking like their culture is past tense, how they constantly feel like they are thought of as ‘dumb’ or not as capable as their non-Indigenous peers in academics, sports, and arts. Also, how if it is an Indigenous topic in school that they are expected to be the ‘experts’ and often put on the spot to be the expert when maybe they are not which makes them feel inadequate and ashamed. They talked about the imperative of educating non-Indigenous educators around trauma, cultural awareness, and cultural humility.

The students who discussed Indigenous culture in schools brought up the importance of not talking about culture always in the past tense. They also talked about how they felt that they only heard about the tragic events Indigenous peoples endured. Instead, they advocated for more acknowledgment of contemporary Indigenous culture and celebrating the positive contributions that come from their cultures.

Finally, students who shared about Indigenous student health and well-being talked about how it was important to foster a sense of belonging and safety. They discussed how to create spaces in schools and districts where there is a feeling of community among Indigenous peers that is grounded in cultural identity such as cultural clubs. They talked about leveraging Social Media in a positive way to promote healthy relationships and habits that are culturally grounded. They share ideas like being proactive with support, by starting younger and not waiting and reacting only when students are in crisis. Finally, they shared about having more opportunities like this summit, where they can gather, feel valued and proud, and have a safe place to give their authentic voice and where people actually listen.

The logo for the Summit was the bear and the medicine wheel. The bear symbolizes courage in many Secwepemc stories and the medicine wheel is about healing. It was reported by many of the Districts that the conversations continued when the summit ended among the students. The students reported they left feeling empowered; The adults that they left were better listeners and feeling reflective. The take away for this first Regional Indigenous Student Summit might be the power in creating space for student voice and for the adults, creating space to be witnesses and listeners and be more aware of their savior mentality.

SD73 Collaboratively Building Innovative and Inviting Library Learning Commons

Mon, 11 Dec 2023 21:00:00 GMT

Story provided by: Andrea Wallin, District Library and Learning Commons Coordinator

In the 2022-2027 District Strategic Plan, the District Mission is to provide learning opportunities and environments that inspire students to thrive. A central learning environment in most schools would be the school library or learning commons areas.

Many district departments have been involved in designing and building welcoming and flexible Library Learning Commons spaces and collections in SD73. Most recently, teams have supported Parkcrest and George Hilliard Elementary schools with space design and collection development. As you will see from the pictures, these spaces invite students to sit in groups, pairs, and independently. They involve students in discovering unique places to read like in a tent or cafe-style table. The idea is to open up many choices for learners to choose where and how to learn to be engaged based on personal learning preferences and needs.

Spaces designed to support engaged, participatory learning

Library Learning Commons (LLC) spaces are intentionally designed to support multiple literacies, innovation, and knowledge creation. With this in mind, the Henry Grube Education Centre Library Learning Commons staff collaborate with different departments (curriculum, Aboriginal Education, Inclusive Education) to discuss design ideas to support learners' evolving needs.

Supporting new school builds include planning and curating furniture pieces for library spaces, consulting with the District Carpentry Department, specifically the District Cabinet Makers, Becki Lamb and Fiona Macinnis, on possible design concepts and ordering, receiving, and setting up spaces. One recent highlight includes a consultation process between the HGEC LLC staff and District Cabinet Makers. Recognizing a need for a smaller desk which can be moved to accommodate different activities, the team met to discuss a new prototype, fondly called The Atwood. This smaller, modern circulation desk is on castors, and includes a detached book dropoff box. The Atwood has been a huge hit with schools! Students can roll the dropoff box into the hallway for an accessible book drop for classes and the desk can also be moved to accommodate different learning activities in the library. An added bonus includes the ability to use the dropoff box as an impromptu stand-up desk. School Library staff are looking for functional pieces that meet their unique and changing needs, supporting students' academic goals. Innovative and flexible designs from SD73 Cabinet Makerswill create efficiencies, improve library processes, and enhance patron flow throughout the space.

Collections to Foster Literacies and Empower Life-Long Learners

The HGEC Library Learning Commons staff have been busy preparing for the opening of George Hilliard Elementary School. Consultations with SD73 Teacher-Librarians and other HGEC Departments began in the early fall to support George Hilliard library collection development. This important interdepartmental curation work is valuable for the selection and evaluation process, as we work towards building culturally responsive library collections. The team is now processing and cataloging George Hilliard books to ensure they are shelf-ready on opening day. These wrap-around library support services are vital in making the transition to new spaces as seamless as possible for all staff and students. We look forward to opening day!

"Thank you to the work that has been done by those staff who helped catalogue our library books as well as the creative work done by SD73 carpenters who are creating a circulation desk that will be efficient for both staff and students " ~ Parkcrest Elementary Staff.

“We will be forever grateful to the wonderful cataloging staff at the HGEC library, as well as the entire HGEC Library Learning Commons staff, led by Andrea Wallin.

The help and huge investment of time and resources required to assemble a functioning library (in less than one month, post-fire), was nothing short of amazing!

We are grateful for the continued support we are receiving as we transition to our new library space in the new year, and feel so fortunate to have these experts in our corner -- many thanks to you all!” ~ With sincere gratitude and appreciation, Kristin Bond, Teacher-Librarian Parkcrest Elementary School

Westsyde Elementary is Ready for Students

Wed, 28 Aug 2019 23:15:00 GMT

Students attending the re-opened Westsyde Elementary can look forward to newly-refurbished surroundings. District crews spent about 9,000 hours renovating the structure this summer. In addition to new windows and doors, floors and walls and ceilings, the school also has a new library, gymnasium, computer lab and playground equipment.

The school's new Principal Don Poelzer and SD73 School Superintendant Alison Sidow toured the school with media on August 27.

"We are very proud of what we have been able to create here to provide new learning spaces for students," said Sidow. "I congratulate all the people involved in making this happen. From the community who were involved in consultation, to the board, our maintenance crews, the teachers and administration and custodian staff. When the doors open on the first day of school, we will be offering students and their parents and guardians a great new learning environment in the district."

"We are looking forward to welcoming our new students," said Poelzer. "Our new school colours are gray and red. We have retired the old 'Westsyde Lions' name and logo, and we will be asking students to help us decide what we will call ourselves. We all get to have a say in how we will build our new school culture. For me, that is the best part."

Secondary Students Champion Holiday Giving with Annual Food Drive Competition

Fri, 13 Dec 2024 21:30:00 GMT

Story provided by Christine Yamaoka, Valleyview Secondary Teacher

One of the core values in the 2022-2027 District Strategic Plan is Equity. In the Kamloops-Thompson School District, we aim to remove barriers and create environments that provide accessible and empowering opportunities for all students and staff to thrive. Secondary students are extending this value into the community this holiday season by working with the Kamloops Food Bank.

On Thursday, December 12, 2024, students and staff from Westsyde Secondary, Sa-Hali Secondary, South Kamloops Secondary, and Valleyview Secondary schools participated in the 6th Annual High School Food Drive. This annual food drive is a friendly competition between schools where students are encouraged to collect as many food donations as they can to help support the Kamloops Food Bank during this vital time of year.

When preparing for the food drive, students participate in lessons connected to mental health and food insecurity in Kamloops and across Canada. The focus of this learning is on looking past ourselves and giving back to the community.

Part of the competition at Valleyview Secondary (VSS) included Food Drive Bingo Cards that highlighted 25 different items that the Kamloops Food Bank needs – from canned goods, to toiletries, to baby food, to paper products, to dry goods, and more. VSS not only competed with the other schools but started a competition between classes to see which class could bring in the most weight of donations. This year, the top 5 VSS classes brought in 1,100 lbs worth of donations and the class that won had 307.2 lbs of donations.

On Thursday morning, the Kamloops Food Bank drove to each participating school to collect and weigh their donations. This year, the four participating schools collected a total of 3,217 lbs which equals to an approximate retail value of $11,500.

Kid Inventors' Day - January 17- SD73 Celebrates Creativity and Inquiry in Classrooms

Wed, 18 Jan 2023 18:00:00 GMT

Kamloops-Thompson School District acknowledges and celebrates “Kid Inventors’ Day” which is celebrated on January 17 each year. In our 2022-2027 District Strategic Plan, we aim to develop students’ competencies, including critical and creative thinking, collaboration, and foundational skills such as literacy and numeracy within the Intellectual Development Priority.

This day is observed internationally to emphasize the importance of developing competencies in children such as critical and creative thinking, and a disposition of inquiry and wanting to learn and grow.

In SD73, we have many staff and staff and students who foster these competencies and a disposition of inquiry within their classrooms and through district-supported activities and field trips.

Mr. Wood was kind enough to share what he is doing to design learning opportunities for his students that inspire them to thrive (our District Mission) and to foster their curiosities and creative thinking.

Mr. Wood’s Gr. 5/6 class runs their own business called Woodlands Coffee Shop, where they act in the role of “employees of the shop” and as such participate and design a variety of products to make “money”. For example, they create designs to print on clothing, pour-over coffee, soap, stickers, and so on.

This year, one student, Eoghan Russell, created a presentation to the class to propose making their own “fingerboards” (mini skateboards like “TechDecks”) from scratch. He researched and learned about the materials and skills needed, and the class approved it! Eoghan is the class expert and production manager for the fingerboards department of the class “business”.

During math blocks, students figured out the individual cost of each fingerboard (from the total costs of each product/material bought in bulk).

The class began by buying raw oak and maple veneer, wood glue and a fingerboard shaped plastic mold. The veneer is measured and drawn into “blank” rectangle layers and cut out by the teacher (just like plywood blanks that skateboard decks are made of). Five layers are glued together (in a specific order), then placed in the mold and clamped together to let dry for 24 hours. Once the board/deck has been formed, it is shaped and smoothed by sanding it down with sandpaper or a palm sander, and then holes are drilled for the trucks and wheels.

Mr. Wood identified a manufacturer for the metal trucks, bearings and hardware (screws), and purchased a bulk order for these parts directly from a small factory.

For the wheels, Eoghan measured the exact dimensions of a small (about 7mm wide) fingerboard wheel. Then, with the help of their teacher librarian, Ms. Kipp, the whole class used Tinkercad to design prototype wheels to be 3D printed with the school’s 3D printer (in collaboration with Science Coordinator, Morgan Whitehouse).

Ms. Kipp explained, “3D design and printing is a challenging but rewarding way to incorporate hands-on learning in classroom projects. We know that learning takes patience and time, and this is especially true with 3D design in a project like this where we had to measure very small parts to make these tiny wheels within a low margin of error. There are numerous opportunities here for students to develop resilience and perseverance while they build, explore, communicate, and create something with real-world applications.”

Currently, students are working through the first wheel variations and are narrowing down the adaptations that need to be made for the 2nd variation that will be printed next.

The class plans on 3D printing their own fingerboard molds to increase the production of the fingerboard decks.

Once the deck is complete, the students will be positioned to design the graphic for each board (paint pens), assemble the complete deck (deck, trucks, wheels and bearings, hardware, grip foam), and sell them.

Students are using a large range of skills and competencies while working on this project such as creating slide presentations to propose their idea, developing numeracy skills by estimating and confirming the cost per fingerboard, analyzing profit margins, communicating to manufacture the decks and 3D print the custom wheels, honing fine arts and trades skills, solving problems as a team, and using critical and creative thinking.

Eoghan explained, “This project helps me practice skills with woodwork, and teaches other kids how to do things that can bring more interest to school and spark ideas for later on in life. It is a creative way to build something, that once you are done, you can use it and look back on it and say ‘I built this’”.

Mrs. Edstrom, “This project really shows how we can engage students in their interest areas while fulfilling learning objectives. These students initiated this idea and have worked hard to develop their thinking. I am so proud of them”

We are proud of our staff and students in SD73 and we encourage and celebrate projects like these that encourage Kids to be Inventors!

Thank you to Ms. Edstrom, Mr. Wood, Ms. Kipp, and to the students, notably Eoghan, who shared their story.

Music Educator Honoured with Owl Award

Tue, 17 Dec 2019 18:15:00 GMT

Robert Hogeveen, a long-standing advocate for music education was recognized with the Owl Award for Excellence in Public Education for his contributions to learning throughout the region at the regular public meeting of the Board of Education on Monday.

“We are proud to honour Robert Hogeveen for his important roles in the community as an advocate for music education,” said Chair Kathleen Karpuk, SD73. “He is being recognized for his dedication, passion and extensive contributions to students as they expand their musical skills and learn to appreciate the joys of music.”

Whether teaching music to elementary children at Lloyd George, where he is currently, or at South Sa-Hali Elementary where he was from 2000 to 2011 or commanding the attention of young musicians at the Kamloops Interior Summer School of Music (KISSM), Hogeveen inspires young people to follow their passion and reach their potential throughout the district.

“This is such an honour, to be recognized for teaching music, a precious gift that I get to offer my students every day,” Hogeveen said. “Music class is a lab that offers the opportunity to teach the skill of music and how to learn, how to identify and clarify problems, and then how to creatively develop strategies to solve them.”

Hogeveen has introduced many initiatives to inspire the love of music including the annual Squeak and Squawk, collaboration with classroom teachers to connect classroom learnings to the musical repertoire of music class, joint concerts with other schools, and using technology for individualized teaching. He is the longest-serving faculty member of the KISSM.

A five-member review team consisting of Kathleen Karpuk, Chair; Alison Sidow, Superintendent; Airini, Dean, Faculty of Education Thompson Rivers University; Danalee Baker, Executive Director, United Way; and Diane Jules, Trustee, and Chair Aboriginal Education Council; recommended Robert Hogeveen as the recipient of the School District No. 73 Award for Excellence in Public Education.

Board Notes from February 23, 2026

Fri, 27 Feb 2026 19:15:00 GMT

For updates from the regular meeting of the Board of Education, featuring District Employee Engagement Committee Report, Owl Award and Board Award of Recognition and more, read Board Notes here.

Provincial Leaders Congratulate All BC Students and Grads for This Successful School Year

Mon, 14 Jun 2021 22:15:00 GMT

The Premier, Minister of Education, Provincial Health Officer and graduates offer their congratulations to all 600,000 B.C. students in Kindergarten to Grade 12 as the unprecedented school year comes to an end.

B.C. kept schools open and safe in spite of the pandemic in 2020/21. A special shout out went to all Grade 12 graduates. As the Class of 2021 – provincial leaders celebrate their resilience and determination - saying it will never be forgotten.

Superintendent's Update

Fri, 24 May 2024 23:30:00 GMT

Dear Parents and Caregivers:

As we enter June, we are embracing a time of celebration and special events from Graduations to the District Honours Awards for students, and District Long Service and Retirement events for staff. I look forward to seeing you at these events and enjoying the successes of everyone in the District.

Welcome the New Assistant Superintendent of Inclusive Education

Michelle Mattes is the successful candidate for the role of Assistant Superintendent of Inclusive Education, which begins on August 1, 2024. After taking part in a competitive, national competition for the position of Assistant Superintendent of Inclusive Education, Michelle was the chosen candidate. She has had a rewarding 20-year career as an educator in diverse roles focused on Inclusive, Indigenous, and Alternate Education. She has served as the District Principal of Safe and Caring Schools, District Secondary School Services Coordinator, and as a Principal, Vice Principal, Counselor and Teacher within the Kamloops-Thompson School District. Read more.

Blue River Elementary School- Lights, Camera, Action!

Thank you to Principal Mathieu and Vice Principal Gauthier for working with students, staff, and community partners to create a promotional video of their school. Filming took place both in the school and outdoors and showcased the school and community learning connection.

Students were filmed playing guitar with Mr. Cudmore, reading stories with children in the community, and learning about plants they are growing from seed for the community garden.

Despite the rain the students were filmed at the community garden and at Blue River, where they talked about releasing the salmon that they raised in partnership with Simpcw. PAC, staff, students, and parents participated in the filming. A community meal was shared with all involved at lunch break.

Students Enjoy the Gauss Math Contest

One of the goals of the 2022-2027 District Strategic Plan is to provide diverse learning opportunities to ensure an entry point for all learners that promotes a positive mathematical mindset and conceptual understanding. Participation in the Gauss Math Contest and Team Challenge provides one such opportunity around enrichment in mathematics for Grade 7 students. The Gauss Math Contest is a national event developed by the Center for Education in Mathematics and Computing at the University of Waterloo. The contest aims to grow students' interest in mathematics in a fun and accessible way. Students aim to solve questions, centered around a common curriculum from across Canada, that provide intriguing problems designed to test their ingenuity, logical thinking, and problem solving skills. Read more.

Preparing to Celebrate Pride Month in June

We celebrate Pride Month as one key strategy to ensure that we bring alive the District’s Cultural and Identity Priority, where every learner will feel safe and thrive personally and culturally.

Pride Month is an international celebration of coming together as a community to show support for students, staff, parents, and community members who are part of the 2SLGBTQIA+ (Two-Spirit, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer or Questioning, Intersex, Asexual, and additional sexual orientations and gender identities). In 1969, members of this community fought for their rights when riots and violence erupted and since that time, politicians internationally have declared and supported Pride Month. In our District Strategic Plan Cultural and Identity Priority, we aim to ensure that every student feels safe and thrives personally. Through consultation with 2,000+ students, staff, and community members in 2021-2022, we learned that, sadly, students do face barriers to feeling accepted, included, welcome, and safe in our schools. Therefore, we chose to commit to equity: removing barriers and creating environments that provide accessible and empowering opportunities for all students and staff to thrive. Read more.

Thank you for your dedication and passion to attend student celebrations and events, and to honour staff who have provided long term service and/or who are retiring this year.

Rhonda Nixon, PhD

Superintendent

Learning Begins: Be Mindful of the Challenges

Tue, 31 Mar 2020 23:00:00 GMT

On March 17 the people of British Columbia learned that in-class learning in schools throughout the province was suspended due to the global COVID-19 pandemic. This week, a full week ahead of the vast majority of BC school districts, learning has begun for the 15,500 students throughout SD73.

We are especially focused on preparing grade 12 students for graduation, protecting our vulnerable learners, ensuring the children of our essential workers are supported, and that our plan is sustainable for our staff, our students and their families.

Parents can be assured that there will consistency between all schools in the development and implementation of Continuity of Learning Plans while also providing flexibility for teachers to best meet the needs of their students.

It is important to remember that SD73 is not providing a full-service model of education. Providing learning opportunities for students and monitoring their progress is our professional responsibility and we will all do that to the best of our ability as we navigate these uncharted waters together. Teachers are connecting with each family and/or student and taking the time necessary to develop meaningful learning opportunities for our students. If you are unsure about how to proceed with your child’s learning, please do not hesitate to contact your local school principal or classroom teacher.

The challenges of moving a large education system from classroom learning to learning from a distance cannot be understated. We all must be mindful of the challenges that our communities are facing and be patient and kind with one another as we address this global health emergency together. Reach out to your neighbours and family and do not be afraid to seek support from our school personnel if the pressures are just too much at this time. We are happy to listen and direct you to one of our professional counsellors or community services.

We are grateful for the efforts of our healthcare professionals and first responders and plan on beginning the Essential Services Worker Program (ESWP) on Thursday, April 2. The first priority for the ESWP is our front-line health care workers. The program will be at two school locations, Pacific Way and Lloyd George Elementary. The ratio of students to adults will be very low to ensure we follow the guidelines set out by our Medical Health Officers. As our staffing resources increase, consideration will be given to increasing the number of ESWP classrooms to expand access to the children of emergency and civic workers.

We know that every student eligible to graduate from Grade 12 wil receive their Dogwood diploma. We also know that graduation ceremonies are an important rite of passage for our students and their families. I’d like to reassure all grade 12 students and parents throughout the district that it’s too early to make a final decision regarding graduation ceremonies.

On March 27, we heard from our Provincial Health Officer, Dr. Bonnie Henry, that we are beginning to see the positive effects of social distancing and she urged every citizen to ramp up their efforts and remain at home. We urge every parent to ensure their children practice social distancing and refrain from gathering in groups. If we remain united in our efforts, we will all contribute to protecting our loved ones, and our essential service workers who are sacrificing so much for our health and safety.

SD 73 set for start of new school year

Mon, 27 Aug 2018 23:00:00 GMT

Classes for nearly 14,000 students in School District No. 73 (Kamloops-Thompson) begin at 10:30 am Sept. 4.

Elementary students (with the exception of Kindergarten students) will end their day at noon while secondary schools will continue until 3 p.m.

Classes will begin on Sept. 5 at the usual starting times.

The parents of Kindergarten students should contact their schools to learn when their children’s classes will begin. Brocklehurst Middle School will start their school year for Grade 7 students on September 5, with all other grades in that school to attend on September 6 at 8:30 a.m.

Registration of pupils who are new to the district as well as Kindergarten students who have not yet registered will take place at all schools today (August 28) as well as August 29 and 30, from 9 a.m. to noon and from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. For information regarding bus schedules, school supplies and transportation polices, visit the district’s web site at www.sd73.bc.ca.

District Supt. Alison Sidow said she’s proud of the work done by district’s nearly 2400 staff members who have been preparing for the upcoming year.

“This year we continue to focus on the revised curriculum in grade 10 and to prepare for the full implementation of the new graduation program set out by the BC Government.”

“The new curriculum willprepare students for the challenges of our constantly changing world by providing them with the real-world skills they need for success in their future endeavors.”

The teacher staffing challenges faced by school districts throughout the province has eased this year. SD 73 successfully placed 132 teachers from across B.C. and Canada to start the 2017-2018 school year, this fall there are 93 available teaching assignments.

“Space continues to be a challenge at various schools in our district,” Sidow said. “We are hopeful that there will be capital funding announcements for our sites that are the most constrained; namely Valley View Secondary and Westmount Elementary, Sun Peaks and Pineview, and a new gymnasium for South Kamloops Senior Secondary.”

Portable classrooms have been installed at several local schools to accommodate the changes caused by both neighbourhood growth and last year’s court ruling limiting class sizes.

While the numbers of students appear to be stable at this time Sidow warned that the first week back might appear a bit hectic in some schools as staff adjust to enrolment patterns and shift resources accordingly.

“We encourage parents to enroll their children in advance of the first day but that does not always happen,” she said. “Inevitably, the first week of school requires flexibility and adaptability on the part of everyone. There is no question school space will be at a premium in some locations but we will make it work.”

Lastly, Sidow said, “I am looking forward to the year ahead and am proud to be leading on of BC model school districts. “We have exceptional teachers, principals and support staff,” Sidow said. “This is going to be a great year.”

-30-

For more information, contact:

Diana Skoglund
Communications Manager
250-377-2554
dskoglund@sd73.bc.ca

SD73 Begins Work on its School Re-Start Plan for September

Wed, 29 Jul 2020 20:00:00 GMT

In response to the Ministry of Education and Provincial Health Office announcement that the province will be moving to Stage 2 in its Re-Start Plan for September, the District is taking immediate steps to plan for a safe return to school for all students and staff.

“We now have a path forward to begin detailed planning in order to provide the answers parents and students will be looking for, and it provides us the flexibility we need to do what we can to get our students back to school in September,” said Board Chair Rhonda Kershaw. “I am confident our senior staff and planning team will put together a solid and workable plan in the coming weeks.”

“Schools play a critical role in the health and well-being of children,” said School Superintendent Alison Sidow. “We know the uncertainty over what September will look like is difficult for families and for our staff as we move forward. Every stage brings challenges and that’s why we know it is critical that we stay in touch as much as possible. We expect to begin providing answers to specific questions as early as the second week of August.”

Sidow said the District had a preview of what it will be like to return to school thanks to the efforts of teachers, support staff and administrative staff in June. She acknowledged their work, saying it goes a long way to helping the district get ready for this next stage.

The District has adapted to implement public health and infection prevention and control measures including staying home when ill, physical distancing, minimal physical contact, hand hygiene and frequent cleaning and disinfection.

Touchless water faucets are being installed in all SD73 schools, and the District is investing, with the financial support of the Province of British Columbia, just over one million dollars to add 17 more daytime custodians to our custodial staff. These are just some of the measures being taken to ensure the safe, full-time return of students and staff.

“We are grateful for the financial support of the province of British Columbia specifically the Ministry of Education for providing 45.6 million dollars for enhanced cleaning measures including custodial staff, funding for personal protective equipment, adaptive technology and software to support students across the province,” said Kershaw.

The District will be working closely with school leaders and its partners to develop its School Re-Start Plan for September.

Students and parents can expect to hear regular updates about what’s being planned, how it will affect them, and how they can get ready for September, beginning immediately.

Parkcrest Elementary Closed until Further Notice

Fri, 06 Sep 2019 03:30:00 GMT

District Superintendent of Schools Alison Sidow and district administrative staff have contacted staff and parents to let them know Parkcrest Elementary School has been extensively damaged due to a fire during the late afternoon of September 5.

Until further notice, Parkcrest Elementary School will not be open to students. Families are asked to make alternate arrangements for the supervision of their children beginning Friday September 6, and for the following week, September 9 through to September 13. District staff are developing a plan to ensure the emotional well-being and education of students.

"The loss of Parkcrest Elementary is devastating to students and staff who worked and learned in the building," said Sidow. "Children may experience varied reactions to this event, including trouble sleeping, concentrating or listening."

If a child becomes more irritable, sad, angry or worried as they think about what happened, Sidow said the first important step is to listen and pay attention to what they say and how they act, and remember that they may also show their feelings in non-verbal ways.

"Listen, observe, and note any changes in behaviour," she said. "Let them know that we are working to get them back to school as soon as we can. Please reach out to Principal Catherine Gorman if you have any concerns or would like to access counselling for your child."

Emotional support was offered during the evening hours of September 5 at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints on Parkcrest Avenue.

Please stay tuned for more updates as they are available.

SD73 Employees Take a Survey About Vaccination Policy

Fri, 05 Nov 2021 23:00:00 GMT

Employees in School District No. 73 (Kamloops-Thompson) are invited to complete a survey about their views on a vaccination policy.

“Our Board passed a motion on October 25th to direct the Superintendent to create a committee to provide the board with information about COVID-19 case rates, vaccination rates, and employees’ views of a vaccination policy,” said Rhonda Kershaw, Board Chair. “K-12 Sector Guidelines about Vaccination Policies issued by the Ministry of Education provide a roadmap to enable school boards to make an informed decision on a mandatory vaccination policy and help school boards to ensure that the continued delivery of safe in-person education is a top priority.”

“We developed a survey of employees’ views of a vaccination policy by working closely with representatives from our employee groups,” said Rhonda Nixon, Superintendent.

Paul Hembling, President, Kamloops Thompson Principals’ and Vice Principals’ Association (KTPVPA), Laurel Macpherson, President, Kamloops Thompson Teachers’ Association (KTTA), and Harmony Raine, Acting President, Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Local 3500 support a letter of introduction to the survey that will be sent to all staff on Friday, Nov. 5th.

“The survey is a vital part of the planning process, and it has been designed to minimize the collection of identifiable personal information,” Superintendent Nixon added. “The information that is collected through the survey will be used for the purposes of informing the Board about employees’ stances on a vaccination policy.”

“Our staff can be assured that all survey responses will be maintained in strict confidence by Human Resources,” said Shayne Olsen, Associate Superintendent of Human Resources. “The information compiled will only be shared on an aggregated basis.”

The District’s 2,000 employees will have until Friday, Nov.12 to complete the anonymous survey.

Board Notes from Sept. 09, 2019

Fri, 13 Sep 2019 21:15:00 GMT

From the regular meeting of the Board of Education. Trustees allocated $70,000 from the district business company, Global Education, to replace classroom and school supplies at Parkcrest Elementary lost in last Thursday’s fire. This and more from Monday's meeting. Read Board Notes here.

Raising Digitally Responsible Youth

Fri, 18 Nov 2022 18:00:00 GMT

Raising children in a digital era can seem overwhelming at times. Technology has entered our lives at a rapid pace over the past several years and continues to evolve. The reality is that apps and technological devices will change, but the behavior stays the same. Moderation is key to managing technology use in our homes. This does not need to be an "all or nothing" approach with either absolute prohibition or full unchecked usage.

It is beneficial to maintain an open, transparent, and ongoing dialogue with our children regarding the internet, technology, social media, and video games Remaining approachable could be the difference between whether our children come to us when issues or uncomfortable situations arise rather than feeling alone in the process of going to their peers to seek comfort and advice instead.

Technology is here to stay, whether we like it or not. The digital reputation of today's students, or how they choose to represent themselves online, is being evaluated and assessed by future employers or admissions departments. The goal of this parent guide is to help introduce the major social media platforms, video games, and relevant trends that are either being used already or have the potential to be used by our children.

Stay the course. We want to prepare our children for their tech-infused futures and walk down this digital journey alongside them.

For more information please see Raising Digitally Responsible Youth: A Parent's Guide.

NorKam Lockdown Investigation Update - November 7, 2025

Fri, 07 Nov 2025 23:45:00 GMT

Dear parents, guardians, and staff,

Thank you for your understanding and patience as District and school staff work with the RCMP to fully understand the situation of yesterday's lockdown at NorKam Secondary School.

Kamloops RCMP released an update on their ongoing investigation today, stating “police thus far have found no credible evidence to suggest there was a person with a firearm at the school on Thursday.”

The District and school are aware of concerning social media posts that were circulating among students and families yesterday evening. After investigating these social media posts, it appears the posts were taken from previous unrelated circumstances.

We continue to work closely with the RCMP and Safer Schools Together to investigate this situation further and ensure the safety of all students and staff. The RCMP shared that police will have an increased presence around NorKam Secondary School out of an abundance of caution.

Our focus remains on the safety and emotional well-being of all students, staff, and the NorKam school community. We will continue to provide additional counselling supports as needed. Parents and families are encourage to reach out to the school directly if you would like support for your child.

Superintendent's Update

Fri, 25 Apr 2025 22:00:00 GMT

Dear Parents and Caregivers:

We started the week by acknowledging Earth Day on April 22 and Administrative Professionals Day on April 23. Students took part in the Junior Fire Crew Workshop from April 23-26 and Battle of the Books on April 24. These events enable students to explore possible career pathways and to engage in reading alongside others in the District. Intellectual Development and Career Development are key priorities in the 2022-2027 District Strategic Plan.

Bert Edwards Elementary School – April 24, 2025

Principal Edstrom and Vice Principal Wiebe showed how they have students exploring their identities in a new project highlighting countries of the world on the wall. “We plan to have a Cultural Diversity Day and to have students share who they are—their families, traditions, celebrations, and histories. We aim to have this become a community in which we learn and share about our identities,” explained Ms. Edstrom. “The idea stemmed from having students in the school share who they are and where they or their families are from to feel welcome and included.”

She also shared the salmon run wall display, which involved everyone engaging in an activity about “respect” on the Day of Sucwentwécw on April 7, focused on the theme, “The Bonds of Respect that Bridge Us Together”.

Principal Edstrom said, “Students shared what respect looked liked and sounded like to them. Some drew pictures because the goal was to understand what respect means to our community.” This day is specific to our District and the intent is to recognize and celebrate the history of the Secwépemc people and other Indigenous people residing within the territory of Secwepemcúl’ecw. The students also learn a Secwépemc word of the day, which was also on the wall near the salmon run bulletin board.

We discussed a bulletin board done by the Kindergarten team, Ms. Bowden and Ms. Farber. They showed pictures and captions about their students’ learning in STEM: Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. Their students were collaborating to solve real world problems about shadows (how they are made and what happens when different objects are used to block light), and how to make a catapult. “This team engages their students in outdoor learning as part of being a science-focused school,” shared Ms. Edstrom. “They are always accessing the outdoors to have students explore key concepts in Science and other subjects.”

We visited Ms. Denison’s Grade 1 class. Ms. Denison differentiates students’ reading choices by not only the difficulty of texts students read but also by who they read with (students read with her, the Learning Assistance Resource Teacher, and independently), and students are exploring texts that range in genres and topics.

Ms. Adams’ Grade 1 class was practicing “Roll and Read”. Liam, a Grade 1 student, shared how the activity works—he rolled a die and the number that showed was the column of words he was to read. Once he read the word, he placed a rock on it. “Sometimes we just draw a circle around the word,” said Liam. Ms. Maposa, a student in TRU, was assisting students with this strategy. Ms. Adams shared her views of the value of the University of Florida Literacy Institute (UFLI, pronounced “you fly”) reading resources for teachers and students which are designed to improve literacy outcomes for children learning to read. She explained. “The value of the program is that it is systematic, based on reading research, and it enabled her to develop her own resources (e.g., sentence strips that students write and then read at school and home). Before I left her class, Anneaka (Grade 1 student) read words on her magnetic board.

Mr. Wood’s and Ms. Unsworth’s Grade 6-7 students were studying crystallization by dipping wooden sticks in sugar and then predicting by drawing before and after pictures of what they thought would happen when they dip their sticks in water. Students shared their drawings and discussed why some of them predicted different shapes of the before and after pictures.

The students were engaged in considering what water would do in terms of the “after” effects. Mr. Wood said that they take time to predict before doing the experiment to ensure that students are curious about the process.

Mr. Hummel’s Grade 4-5 class was working with Mr. Donnelly, a TRU teacher candidate, who was helping students to study how many times numbers go into whole numbers (division and multiplication) using a “Dungeon and Dragons” game concept. The students were very engaged because Mr. Donnelly had set the context for this lesson with compelling visuals and music. The TRU teacher mentor, a former principal, was also observing the lesson.

This was a wonderful visit with Principal Edstrom and Vice Principal Wiebe, and I was glad to have had this opportunity to learn about the vibrant learning in their school community.

Raft River Elementary: Leading the Way in Sustainability on Earth Day – April 22, 2025

Raft River Elementary School in Clearwater, BC is taking some exciting steps toward sustainability (one of the core values in the 2022-2027 District Strategic Plan). This year, staff and students launched an Eco Club. Under the leadership of Ms. Elizabeth Shook and a dedicated team of teachers, including Ms. Victoria Cooke, Ms. Christina Scrivner, and Ms. Jayanthi Saravanan, the school is working toward achieving Platinum Certification from Eco Schools Canada. One of Raft River’s standout initiatives is the Goose Paper Drive, an innovative project that encourages the reuse of partially used paper. Read more.

Board Meeting

To learn more about the 2025-2026 Preliminary Budget, watch the presentation from April 9, 2025 here. Results from feedback on this preliminary 2025-2026 Budget will be shared during the Regular Public Board Meeting on April 28, 2025 at 7:00 pm. Please watch it here.

I hope that you enjoy your weekend as we come to the final week in April and start May. Hopefully, you will find some time to enjoy the warm weather.

Rhonda Nixon, PhD
Superintendent

International Day of Sign Language with South Sa-Hali Kindergarten Students

Fri, 23 Sep 2022 18:15:00 GMT

To raise awareness about the significance of sign language, the International Day of Sign Languages is marked every year on 23 September. This day provides us with the opportunity to support the linguistic and cultural identity of deaf people and other individuals who use sign language. Included with students in classrooms all around the world, here is South Sa-Hali’s kindergarten 2022 class spreading a message of peace. They represent Canada in this video.

SD 73 implements Task Force's Recommendations on Sexual Misconduct in Schools

Tue, 30 Apr 2019 23:15:00 GMT

Implementation of the recommendations designed to help and protect students who face sexual misconduct in schools are now underway, trustees were told Monday.

Alison Sidow, Superintendent for School District No. 73 (Kamloops-Thompson), presented the significant work undertaken by the Joint Advisory Committee on School Safety and the Educational Programs Response to Sexual Misconduct in Schools Working Group to address the recommendations set out by the Superintendent’s Task Force on Student Safety.

The Joint Advisory Committee was compromised of District staff and members of the Board of Education, Kamloops Thompson Teacher’s Association, Kamloops Thompson Teachers and Vice-Principals Association, Aboriginal Education Council, District Parent Advisory Council, and Student Advisory Council.

The Working Group included the Director of Learning services, elementary and secondary principals, the library coordinator, school and family consultants, the healthy schools coordinator, the district principal inclusive education, a secondary counselor, and a secondary student.

"The work of the Task Force and the subsequent work of the Joint Advisory Committee and the Working Group are evidence of the power of multi-disciplinary collaboration in assessing, intervening and educating about complex social issues,” said Trish Smillie, Director Instruction Elementary Learning Services. “It’s been rewarding to work with so many stakeholders to set the standard for other Canadian communities to follow as a first step in openly addressing sexualized violence."

“The District plays a critical role in educating young people about healthy boundaries and relationships, in partnership with parents,” Sidow said. “We have a responsibility to respond with fairness and compassion to those who report incidents of sexual misconduct while ensuring that the principles of administrative fairness are maintained for both the alleged victim and the respondent.”

The work of the Task Force is unprecedented in British Columbia’s public schools and has garnered attention from the Ministry of Education and the Office of the Ombudsperson.

“It is our goal to be a strong voice for positive change in the lives of our students by addressing issues, such as sexual misconduct and violence that continue to plague our communities and disproportionately impact the lives of girls and Aboriginal youth,” Sidow noted to the Board.

Extremely satisfied with the Task Force’s work, she expects that implementing the recommendations will help improve the experience of students on many fronts. The recommendations have resulted in new District procedures and programming, and are leading to improved staff training and educational programs for students. The implementation of the work will begin this fall.

The Task Force examined District policies, protocols, and practices to ensure that they consider not only actions required to prevent and address acts of sexual misconduct but also the needs and perspectives of those who are impacted.

The Task Force recommended:

Promoting and/or creating reporting tools to ensure those who may be impacted have the means to seek out the supports they require;
Informing the parent(s) of the policies, procedures, and processes that will be used when responding to an issue of sexual misconduct, including the process a parent can follow to provide feedback, issue a complaint or request an appeal;
Providing ongoing learning opportunities, starting at the elementary school level, to educate students about healthy relationships as well as measures they can take to report incidents or seek support;
Defining what constitutes sexual misconduct in schools;
Developing policies and procedures that specifically address sexual misconduct;
Revisiting District policies that contemplate violence, harassment, bullying, intimidation and other forms of discrimination to include the definition of sexual misconduct in both intent and implementation; and,
Reviewing response protocols to ensure that all District staff working with children know how to receive complaints in a way that respects the rights and needs of those known to be impacted.

The District has met the obligations it set out for itself with respect to addressing sexual violence in schools and now the hard work begins to address issues that arise within schools from society at large.

“It’s my hope that the leadership shown in implementing the recommendations set out by the Task Force will serve our community and society at large by helping to ameliorate the underlying conditions that so often propagate these behaviours,” Sidow said. “I hope this will work will enable us to take a definitive step forward in preventing sexual misconduct in our schools and by extension, in our community at large.”

@KOOL Engages in Cariboo Mainline Regional Science Fair

Fri, 03 Mar 2023 22:00:00 GMT

In the 2022-2027 District Strategic Plan, our District Mission is to provide students with learning opportunities and environments that inspire students to thrive.

The Cariboo Mainline Regional Science Fair has been the flagship science competition and enrichment opportunity in the Kamloops-Thompson since 1990. This year's Regional Science Fair is on April 12^th at Thompson Rivers University. Each year thousands of dollars in prizes and scholarships are awarded to top achieving students in grades 4-12; our local top-achieving students are promoted to represent our Region at the Canada Wide Science Fair each May.

Participating in Science Fair helps students develop many important science competencies and foster scientific habits of mind. Further, engaging in science first-hand supports a positive attitude towards the value of science in everyday life and society more broadly. These in-demand, 21st century skills and attitudes, are a critical component in intellectual development, including: a curiosity about the world, the ability to analyse critically, reason and think independently and develop a lifelong appreciation of learning.

It takes courage for any teacher to support science fair projects in their class; teaching students through distance learning adds further challenges to engage students and support their passion in science remotely. It is worth the effort though, in the end, for both teachers and students. Kristi Nichol from @KOOL said this, after facilitating science fair projects for the very first time with her students, about William, an exceptional Grade 4 student.

I'm so impressed with all the skills he is learning doing this. Their plan for this week is to learn how to use Excel to make graphs/charts. He learned how to input data into a spreadsheet last week! It’s been a learning curve for me too, but a great experience!

Like a good lawyer, a scientist must back their claim up with reliable evidence. William’s family raises cattle, an important industry in our community. His science fair project addresses the question of if male or female calve weigh more at birth. He has learned amazing principles of scientific investigation including the power of having large sample sizes, eliminating outliers from your data and using consistent measurement procedures.

According to Let’s Talk Science, 70% of Canada’s Top Jobs require STEM education. Supporting science fair in your class or school is a personalized, rigorous, engaging, and equitable learning opportunity for students. Public viewing and awards ceremony for the 2023 Regional Science Fair is between 1:15 and 2:30 on April 12th at the Grand Hall; come see what all the buzz is about!

Thank you, Morgan Whitehouse, District Science Coordinator, who worked with teachers, students, and organizers from within and outside of the district who made this event and story possible.

Superintendent's Update

Fri, 30 May 2025 23:00:00 GMT

Dear Parents & Caregivers:

Developing positive relationships and connections is a core value in the 2022-2027 District Strategic Plan. At events like District Honours, school celebrations, or graduation ceremonies, it is evident how much students appreciate friends, family, and staff as they move to a new grade, school, or a post-secondary/career pathway after graduation.

Sa-Hali Secondary 50th Anniversary – May 23, 2025

I visited Sa-Hali Secondary’s 50th Anniversary Open House last Friday and it was spectacular. They had taken the time to gather decades worth of sports jerseys, yearbooks, pictures, and even found vinyl records of songs recorded at Capitol Records in California by students and staff. Present and past staff got together to have a picture taken.

Drama students performed a play, and art students had taken art from murals over the years and created the letters of the school’s name using the artwork. Thank you to Sa-Hali staff and students for going the extra mile to commemorate the traditions of their school community over the years. Read more.

Westsyde Elementary School – May 27, 2025

Principal Scott and I visited classes, and our first stop was to see Ms. Huva, Learning Assistance Resource Teacher who was sharing a new card game as part of the Orton-Gillingham approach to teaching reading (structured literacy approach including the reading and writing of letters, sounds, blends, words). In this case, the card game was similar to Uno, where the students are dealt cards and they are to match them to the sounds in the dealer’s card (e.g., bin). The object is to get rid of cards, and Reese and Izzie enjoyed the game.

Ms. Murray’s Kindergarten students were doing “Cosmic Yoga” when we observed. It was dark and they were each on mats and watching and copying a yoga instructor online. After that, they were going to have story time.

Ms. Dunn’s Kindergarten class was watching her measure different objects on a screen and they were sharing the length in cm of each object.

Ms. Glassel’s Grade 1-2 class was engaged in different literacy activities. Some were reading alone or gathered at the listening center. Others were practicing numbers, letters, or spelling. Ms. Boulter’s Grade 2 class was engaged in independent reading and responding to texts. One student, Jameson, explained that he loves “Albert Einstein” and he was learning about the theory of relativity.

Ms. Leblanc’s Grade 2-3 class were reading independently while Ms. Leblanc engaged in guided reading in small groups. Paisleigh showed me how their class had many of Mo Willems’ “Elephant and Piggie” books, and we shared favourite titles.

Mr. Martin’s Grade 7 class was just about to head out to go biking, and they had just finished working on their skateboards.

Ms. Kristjanson and Ms. Schneider’s Grade 4-5 classes had been learning about Secwépemc cultural traditions and histories. From that learning, they got together in partners and small groups to create scenes in a Secwépemc village. Ms. McCleaf, Indigenous Education Worker, supported this activity and commented that it is an excellent way to have students be creative and to talk about what they learned while making their village.

Two Grade 5 students, Aleigha and Mikaela, shared their idea of creating a “diversity book shelves” in their library. They got the idea from being in the school’s inclusive club. They had a range of easy to higher level reading books, including graphic novels.

Ms. Flamank, librarian, was with the Grade 5 students in the library as they created a planet to land on and learn about. Onyx, Tanner, and Jayde were working together to study Saturn as their destination planet. Our last class was Ms. Chretien’s Grade 3-4 class who was reviewing sentence punctuation as part of their writing lesson.

In the hallway, we met Aaron Goldade and his teammates who had just returned from Track and Field. Aaron won First Place for running the 1,000m race. They were so proud of how well they had done, and Aaron said, “I didn’t pay attention to anything, I just ran my hardest.”

Thank you, Westsyde Elementary for a warm welcome and amazing visit!

Haldane Elementary School – May 29, 2025

Principal Simpson had started his day playing hockey with a group of students before school started. He shared, “I do this to have a positive way to get to know the students, and we have a connection when they need a break.” We started our visit in the gym, where Vice Principal Wielgoz was teaching Kindergarten with half playing hockey and half playing basketball and hoops.

Ms. Huddart was teaching sight words and students were on the carpet and reading them together. One student came over to share the names of animals in Secwepemctsín. We then went to Ms. Kreutzer’s Grade 1-2 class who was engaged in calendar activities and included sharing time. One student shared how much he enjoyed going to hockey tournaments in Kelowna and then Surrey.

Ms. Hebert’s Grade 2-3 class was at literacy stations including technology, reading, hands-on, and small group reading. Everyone was highly engaged and enjoying their literacy activities. Ms. Liz Charleyboy was supporting one student with reading, and she was dressed up for medieval days and was wearing a suit of armour.

We visited the sensory rooms and how the activities and space had been redesigned with the support of District Principal Brady and Haldane staff working together. They have created activities and added equipment such as a “squeeze machine” for students who need them.

Ms. Fraser’s Grade 5-6 class was creating French menus and designing their plates, food, and even had Visa machines to be able to process orders for their French cafe. Ms. Fraser also shared how they have used “tableaux” to create frozen drama scenes to depict what happens in history (i.e., students study about World War II and then work as a team to create a scene and have a narrator share what is happening).

Mr. Craig Adams shared what he was teaching students in Secwepemctsín, including using a calendar to teach numbers, sequence, colors, and seasons. He also explained the alphabet chart. He teaches at both Haldane and Chase Secondary and I later saw his class in Chase Secondary. I ended my visit by meeting Danny who is one of the community members who serves breakfast daily in Haldane. He showed how he picks up donated bread as well as using Feeding Futures funding to make sandwiches and fruit snacks for students.

Chase Secondary School – May 29, 2025

Principal Gartrell and I started in Mr. Adams’ Secwepemctsín class, and students had integrated language and arts. Graydon and Aiden shared their beading work. Graydon said, “I made UBC because I like going there for basketball and I made ‘KD’, which represents Kevin Durant, a basketball player.”

Ms. Cash shared a picture of her grandmother, Catherine Kenoras, and said, “We have Elder Doreen come in and teach students how to use cedar root and birch bark to make baskets.” These activities inspire language use while creating and sharing about them.

Mr. Bakker’s Grade 7 band played “Fire Edge” that had a lot of energy with chanting, stomping, percussion, and full band instrumentation to depict a fire ball’s energy at the edge of Earth. Mr. Bakker had taken the students to Whistler to play and explained how the band program has grown to include more than half of the students in Chase Secondary.

Ms. Swain took time to share what she had developed with grant funds from “Book Dreams”—multiple mobile book shelves and hundreds of books. Ms. Swain had also designed a mobile seating unit that housed books. She had designed and made cushions for this unit based on her background in upholstery. Her commitment and dedication to the development and support of the library in both Haldane and Chase Secondary is commendable and much appreciated by students and staff.

Mr. Kanigan’s Chemistry 12 class was studying organic chemistry. They had also gone on a field trip to a water treatment plant as part of their studies. Mr. Seibel’s Grade 9 Inquiry class had taken part in investing as part of Junior Achievement. They were competing against some local schools including Valleyview and Brocklehurst Secondary. They were at a high ranking because of their acumen in investing wisely.

National AccessAbility Week – May 25–31 2025

This week was National AccessAbility Week and this year’s theme was “Breaking barriers together: Paving the way for an inclusive future.” École Lloyd George Elementary celebrated National AccessAbility Week with their annual Duchenne Walk, honouring classmate Jude with a ‘Hats Off to Jude’ theme. Students and staff wore their favourite hats and walked to SKSS, where Jude will be attending next year. Read more.

District Honours – May 29, 2025

I had the honour to attend the 47th Annual District Honours reception last night. It was a wonderful evening celebrating this year’s top graduating students who have not only achieved academic success but have also demonstrated commitment and excellence in extracurricular activities such as sports, fine arts, trades, and volunteering. Read more.

Celebrating Pride Month – June 2025

As we prepare to enter June, we are excited to celebrate Pride Month. As a District, we are focused on creating safe and inclusive spaces where all students and staff can thrive. Pride Month is a time to honour and celebrate the two-spirit, lesbian, gay, bi-sexual, transgender, queer, questioning, intersex, asexual, and other (2SLGBTQIA+) communities. Read more.

Board Notes – May 26, 2025

To learn more about the Regular Public Board meeting on May 26, 2025, please read Board Notes here.

As we prepare for end of year recognitions, awards, and graduation ceremonies, I look forward to connecting with many of you at these upcoming celebrations.

Rhonda Nixon, PhD
Superintendent

SD73 Acknowledges the Importance of Universal Human Rights Month in December

Fri, 08 Dec 2023 22:00:00 GMT

The 2023 Theme of the Universal Human Rights Month is Freedom, Equality and Justice for All. In the decades since the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) in 1948, human rights have become more recognised and more guaranteed across the globe. The UDHR has since served as the foundation for an expanding system of human rights protection that today focuses also on vulnerable groups such as persons with disabilities, Indigenous peoples and migrants.

The BC Human Rights Code defines identity as plural, with many facets–Indigenous identity, race, colour, ancestry, place of origin, religion, marital status, family status, physical or mental disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or age of that person or class of persons. Therefore, when speaking about human rights, we refer to many aspects of identity (who a person is) and not just one dimension of who they are.

“Our community, through extensive consultation, prioritized students knowing how they are and feeling safe to express their identities in the Cultural and identity Priority in the District Strategic Plan,” stated Board Chair Heather Grieve. “Our Board is committed to this priority and proud of the work being done to ensure that students feel welcome, safe, included, and cared for in our district.”

Superintendent Nixon shared, “In the last five years, the province of British Columbia has demonstrated a strong commitment to human rights education and school districts provincially have been focused on anti-racism, improving accessibility for persons with disabilities, and understanding discrimination from those who live these experiences in order to be inclusive.”

“On January 22, 2023, Minister Singh unveiled the provincial anti-racism action plan in our school district,” stated Assistant Superintendent Mochikas. “This day was memorable because Minister Singh and her team from the Ministry of Education and Child Care joined over 150 students who shared what racism meant from their perspectives in schools.”

Assistant Superintendent Mochikas explained, “At this time, we have student and staff leads completing the District’s Anti-racism Action Plan and I am extremely proud of students from diverse backgrounds leading this important work and creating powerful learning tools, such as the Aboriginal Student Leadership Council’s video on why anti-racism is so important.”

“On May 10, 2023, Assistant Superintendent Mochikas, the Chair of the District Accessibility Committee, began leading the work on improving accessibility for persons with disabilities in our communities,” stated Board Chair Grieve. “I am on this committee and appreciate that we have wide representation from inside-of-district and outside-of-district voices to shape the survey tool that will help to gather information about barriers for our students, staff, parents, and volunteers.”

“Since 2019, we are also moving forward with the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (Declaration Act), which became law in November 2019,” said District Principal, Mike Bowden. “This legislation guarantees that school districts are focused on the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UN Declaration) as the Province’s framework for reconciliation, as called for by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action.”

One of the important affirmations in this act is that it recognizes the importance of respecting and protecting the rights of Indigenous peoples to maintain and strengthen their distinct identities, cultures, and ways of life.

District Principal Bowden has established Aboriginal Education Lead sessions in which all school and district leaders join Aboriginal Education Workers, Aboriginal Community Outreach Workers, and Aboriginal Counselors who meet four times a year to learn about Truth and Reconciliation and how to enact it in our schools and departments.

One of the biggest steps towards reconciliation coming out of the School Lead Sessions has been the work at many schools in making Aboriginal learners see representations of their identities and their cultures in the school environment and resources. This is also reflected in the feedback from Aboriginal students on their sense of belonging. Although we have a long way to go to reach equity with non-Aboriginal students in this aspect, we are above provincial averages.

The District Cultural and Identity Priority, as described earlier, is about supporting students to develop a sense of who they are in the fullness of their identities, which includes student leadership groups in which students can learn from each other and express their questions and perspectives in a safe and caring peer group. We have over 700 students who took part and continue to take part in student leadership groups to understand and develop a sense of who they are:

26 students on the District Student Advisory Council (secondary student leads from across the district)
27 students on the Aboriginal Student Leadership Council,
24 students on the Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity (SOGI) inclusive education,
250 2SLGBTQAI+ students who took part in social activities last year,
100 students participated in the Indigenous Student Summit (Indigenous wellness goals)
150 students participated in the Wellness Student Summit,
160 students who took part in the Student Equity Council to develop the District anti-racism action plan.

Thank you to the students, staff, and parents who make human rights education a part of who we are and what we do every day in SD73.

Valleyview Secondary Student Ila Campbell Wins Loran Scholarship

Thu, 14 Apr 2022 15:00:00 GMT

One of Canada’s most prestigious scholarships has been awarded to Ila Campbell of Valleyview Secondary School.

This year, the Loran Scholars Foundation selected 35 exceptional young Canadians from a pool of 5,174 applicants who demonstrate a firm commitment to character, service, and leadership potential; breadth in academic and extra-curricular interests; integrity; and a high level of personal autonomy.

The prestigious award is valued at $100,000 over four years and is comprised of a $10,000 living stipend, up to $10,000 in tuition waiver per year, one-on-one mentorship, up to $14,000 in funding for tri-sectoral summer work experiences, annual gatherings, and a week-long orientation expedition with Outward Bound.

We visited Ila on the new east wing Learning Stairs at Valleyview Secondary to talk about the moment she found out she was a scholarship recipient and what she learned about herself throughout the extensive interview process:

Superintendent's Update

Sat, 08 Feb 2025 00:30:00 GMT

Dear Parents and Caregivers:

In February, we focus on Real Acts of Caring Week (February 9-15). During this month, not only do we focus on acts of kindness and caring, we also highlight stories that connect to the values of equity and courage in the 2022-2027 District Strategic Plan.

Aberdeen Elementary School – February 5, 2025

Principal deVries, Vice Principal Haw, and I visited Mrs. May’s Grade 3 class as they were engaged in language and literacy activities. One group was at a listening centre using a Yoto Mini that has cards that have stories, songs, and activities used by the group and continued from where they left off the last time that they were together. Others were solving puzzles and writing reflections on their learning.

We visited Ms. Woodley’s Grade 4-5-6 Montessori class who were involved in exploring different texts in literature circles. There were two classes that flowed between the two classrooms, and the students had committed to reading varied books and were engaged in reading in groups and responding individually. They wrote about their text-text, text-self, and text-world connections with what they read and themes in the texts. While most groups were reading, a couple of groups were working on mathematics, including prime factorization.

Mrs. Gliege’s Grade 2-3 class was engaged in Science lessons about force and motion. Students were comparing how much force is needed to push different objects in certain directions.

Mrs. Abate’s K-1 class was in “sharing time”, and one student had brought his toy raptor and he enjoyed encouraging questions about the toy that required him to share how it works and why he likes to play with it. It was a time when the students who share develop competencies of asking good questions, listening, and extending their questions based on others’ responses.

Mrs. Wojak’s Grade 4 class was practicing realistic drawings of natural objects of their choosing. Some had selected fruit and others had chosen faces. One student shared how she had never drawn an eye before and the eye was like “looking into someone’s heart and soul” and another student had selected an owl because he likes owls.

We went outside with Mrs. Salewich’s Kindergarten class who were blowing bubbles and learning what happened when they tried to blow bubbles in cold temperatures outside. Many students had successfully blown bubbles that floated in the air when we first arrived outside. As the temperature decreased, the bubbles began to freeze and it was fun for them to see the change in the way the bubbles looked.

Fly Fishing at Kamloops School of the Arts and Brocklehurst Secondary School

Local fly fishers from the Kamloops Fly Fishers Association are sharing their love of fly fishing and the importance of environmental stewardship with students and staff at Kamloops School of the Arts and Brocklehurst Secondary School. Both schools offer Fly Fishing Board/Authority Authorized Courses that provide unique experiential learning opportunities for Grade 10-12 students as they learn the science and art of fly fishing while also gaining valuable life skills. Read more.

District Parent Advisory Council (DPAC)

New alert from the BC Gaming for PAC Gaming Grants: All PAC's in BC must have a business BCeID to apply for the 2025-2026 grant for your school. To find out more or for help getting this important step completed, please see the DPAC webpage. Don't delay in getting your BCeID.

Take time to rest, relax, and rejuvenate this weekend.

Rhonda Nixon, PhD
Superintendent

RCMP Youth Academy in Full Swing Over Spring Break

Fri, 01 Apr 2022 19:30:00 GMT

Sixteen cadets joined each other at Brocklehurst Middle School over Spring Break for a week-long RCMP training opportunity that they won’t soon forget.

Coming together from Hope, Salmon Arm, Chase, Westwold, and Kamloops, the group of grade 11 and 12 students slept in barracks, participated in daily fitness activities, attended drill and police defensive tactic classes, participated in scenarios, and learned about the numerous units and partnerships within the RCMP. Presenters attending throughout the week included those from the Indigenous Policing Service, the Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit – BC, Underwater Recovery Unit, BC Sheriffs, BC Correctional Officers, BC Prosecution Service, among others.

This year’s RCMP Youth Academy was organized by SD73’s Career Development Department and the RCMP. They focused on starting with and integrating throughout, an Aboriginal policing lens. The academy began with an opening smudging ceremony led by Randy Big Sorrel Horse and Amanda Big Sorrel Horse and closed with remarks by RCMP Superintendent Syd Lecky, the city’s first Indigenous officer in charge.

“I appreciate Amanda and Randy Big Sorrel Horse who offered each attendee an opportunity to be smudged. Starting the smudging with our heads, and then our hearts, and whole body, they shared gifts of peace and wellbeing, which helped everyone to feel centered,” stated Superintendent Rhonda Nixon.

From this ceremony, students learned alongside Constable Dave Dixon and Constable Mark Janis of the Indigenous Police Service, Tk’emlúps Rural Detachment.

Following the graduation ceremony, three students were recognized for their achievements: Cadet Brayden Hughes of South Kamloops Secondary School was named Valedictorian, Cadet Tyler Shular of NorKam Senior Secondary School was awarded Most Dedicated, and Cadet Christopher Bux of Valleyview Secondary School was named Top Cadet.

“When I experienced the closing ceremonies, I was struck by how much 16 students had learned and changed over a short five-day timeframe. The RCMP Youth Academy is one example of the immersive career development programming in our district and the importance of those experiences. I am so proud of these 16 students, the staff, and the RCMP officers who volunteered their time to make this possible,” said Board Chair Heather Grieve.

School Trustee Candidate Information Session

Tue, 12 Jul 2022 16:15:00 GMT

Have you ever considered what it's like being a School Trustee? Join us on Wednesday, July 20 to learn about School District No. 73 (Kamloops-Thompson), the roles and responsibilities of the Board of Education, and of the School Trustee. This is an opportunity to ask District Leadership your questions. Access to helpful resources to assist you in making your decision will also be available.

Two sessions offered: 11:30 am-1:00pm and 6:30pm-8:00pm

Location: Henry Grube Education Centre, 245 Kitchener Crescent, Kamloops, BC V2B 1B9

If you are unable to attend in person, ZOOM links will be available for both sessions. Registration is required to Dawn Forsey at dforsey@sd73.bc.ca or call (250) 374-0679.

A Day in the Arts: Students Explore Artistic Learning at KSA

Mon, 02 Feb 2026 22:15:00 GMT

Story provided by Chelsea Isenor, Director of Communications & Board Administration

On Tuesday, January 27, 2026, Kamloops School of the Arts (KSA) opened its doors to students from across the Kamloops-Thompson School District for A Day in the Arts—an interactive event for future students to explore what learning through the arts looks and feels like at the Kindergarten to Grade 12 School of Choice.

Led by KSA teachers and student ambassadors in Grades 10–12, student visitors toured classrooms, met teachers, and rotated through sample arts sessions including Media Arts, Visual Arts, Drama, Dance, and Music. Throughout the day, prospective students were able to see firsthand how KSA blends rigorous academics with creativity, community, and connection.

Throughout the event, teachers shared how KSA delivers the full BC Curriculum while offering students specialized training in an arts major (Drama, Music, Media, Dance, and Visual Arts). With smaller class sizes, students build strong relationships with teachers who support their learning from elementary through to graduation.

The day highlighted that KSA is not only focused on arts, showcasing the school’s robust science programs, growing athletics opportunities, and the success of graduates who have gone on to pursue post-secondary studies and careers in arts-related fields.

Current students spoke with visitors throughout the day, sharing how KSA has shaped their learning, confidence, and sense of belonging. Many current students also shared that KSA’s arts-integrated approach helps them deepen their understanding across subjects—and how a small school creates big opportunities and deeper connections.

Grade 12 student Kaia Bryant, who started at KSA in Kindergarten (when it was Beattie School of the Arts), shared how the school’s welcoming environment and small classes have set her up for success in arts, athletics, and academics.

“KSA is a very welcoming environment. Majoring in Drama has improved my confidence, and I'm able to apply a lot of the things I learn in Drama to my other classes—like being able to present, memorize, and portray my emotions. If you have even an inkling that arts are for you, KSA is a really good place to be able to develop those skills and then work on math and science as well.”

Mary Jane Frey, a Grade 12 student who has been at KSA since Grade 4, said her experience proves that arts school doesn’t mean arts only.

“A lot of people think that we only do art at KSA, but there's also a strong science program as well—I love science. The support in the school is really awesome. You get to do a lot more arts integration, but you still get full academic learning. I still get to learn all the academics that I want while also getting to take art courses that I really want to take. The teachers are really awesome and very supportive and because it's a small school, you know everybody.”

Aisha Puig’s parents enrolled her at KSA in Grade 4 because they saw how strongly she expressed herself through art. Now in Grade 12, Aisha is encouraging others to join the school community.

“If you have an artistic drive and you are interested in any kind of art, KSA is the school for you. It's a community here and we build bonds with small classes... it feels like a family and you're free to be yourself.”

KSA’s mission is rooted in research-based, arts-driven education with a commitment to connecting learning to students’ passions, fostering an inclusive and welcoming school culture, and ensuring academic rigour alongside artistic growth. Through these values, KSA helps students develop strong foundational skills, confidence, and the creative thinking needed for future pathways—whether in the arts or beyond.

To learn more and apply to KSA, visit ksa.sd73.bc.ca

Career Development in Action

Thu, 07 Oct 2021 19:30:00 GMT

NorKam Senior Secondary student Sadie Levy inspired the Board of Education with her story of finding her passion within one of the district’s career programs.

SD73 Trades and Transitions Career Development team, led by Kerry Gairdner, District VP of Career Programs, and Sheila Monkman, District Coordinator of Trades and Transitions, introduced the Grade 12 student who has been participating in various trades programs including welding and mechanics since she began her high school career.

“I’ve had lots of great opportunities to be introduced to trades. In grade 8, I was able to do a metal shop class where I was able to play with torches and machinery. It made me realize that trades is something of interest for me,” Levy told the Board during its October 4 regular meeting.

Levy has continued her journey in a predominantly male industry by participating in the Girls Exploring Trades program in grades 9 and 10 presented by SD73 and TRU.

“I think being women [in the program] is so important because you’re not being influenced by men thinking that they know what they’re doing and that I don’t know what I’m doing,” said Levy when asked about her experience. “It’s a confidence booster. It makes you feel empowered by just having a bunch of ladies around you.”

Among many positive comments from the board on Levy’s dedication, Trustee Heather Grieve applauded the NorKam student’s hard work and willingness to get involved in a less common path of employment for women, “I love that you were able to represent that gender shouldn’t define roles that we decide to take on in terms of our career.”

SD73 has had a long-standing partnership with TRU to be able to offer such trades programs to students, male or female, in an effort to set them up for success following graduation. Other key partnerships include the Industry Training Authority, as well as other community partners such as Interior Plumbing and Heating who recently awarded two NorKam students bursaries to assist in continuing their education. One of those bursary recipients is Levy, who plans to attend TRU’s heavy-duty foundations program this coming February during her grade 12 year.

“It’s just such a big help for me and my family,” said Levy. “I could not thank them enough. It just brought a huge relief.”

Seamless Day Kindergarten Pilot Program

Tue, 19 Oct 2021 20:30:00 GMT

Kamloops-Thompson School District’s youngest learners and their families will soon benefit from an expansion of the Seamless Day Kindergarten pilot, which funds before and after school care for Kindergarten students in British Columbia.

Board Chair Rhonda Kershaw stated, “We are excited to be part of this program that began in four elementary schools in BC and has now expanded to 21 schools, including Arthur Hatton Elementary School. This is part of the government’s 10-year ChildCare BC plan, as the province works to build an inclusive universal child care system that meets B.C. communities’ growing child care needs.”

“Our participation in this pilot will improve access to before and after school care that parents need in our district,” said Superintendent Rhonda Nixon. “It has been an excellent example of an innovative step in the direction of providing that continuity of learning from the start to the end of a child’s day in school.”

“I am looking forward to how this pilot program will make it easier for busy parents to get to work and have peace of mind knowing their kids are cared for and learning, all in one spot,” said Grant Reilly, Assistant Superintendent of Early Learning and Elementary Education. “Our involvement in the program will enable the district to provide high quality, inclusive before- and after-school care for families in a structure that strengthens the continuity of children’s learning experiences.”

Beginning in January 2022, the Seamless Day Kindergarten program will be delivered in Arthur Hatton Elementary School in one classroom by a team that consists of a Kindergarten teacher and two Early Childhood Educators (ECEs). Marianne Vande Pol, District Early Years Coordinator noted, “The ECEs work alongside the teacher in the classroom during the school day and provide high-quality before and after school care within the same Kindergarten classroom setting. With minimum transition for the students, and team collaboration for the educators, students will excel in all aspects of their development.”

Board Chair Rhonda Kershaw emphasized, “I look forward to how this pilot program meets students’ and parents’ needs, and what we can learn from it to possibly expand into other locations. Kamloops-Thompson Board of Education will continue to work with parents, the Ministry of Education, and municipal governments to be innovative about how to cocreate these spaces for early learners.”

TREC Pow Wow 2019

Tue, 28 May 2019 17:45:00 GMT

The weather was spectacular for students attending the annual Twin Rivers Education Centre and Four Directions Pow Wow at TREC. The event included three drumming groups from Kamloops, the Sage Hill Drummers, Blackfoot Agency and Battle Mountain, and a drumming group from Lytton, the Shamamees. Williams Lake Sugarcane dancer Sky Moses also attended. Elementary and secondary students from 16 schools across the district participated in drumming and games at the Pow Wow on May 23.

“This is a highly successful event because it is more than a school event,” said Michael Bowden, District Principal, Aboriginal Education. “It is an event reflecting real partnerships with communities to help students learn local culture and protocols.”

The Kamloops-Thompson Board of Education Acknowledges the Bravo Coup de Coeur Award Recipients for Welcoming Students to RLC

Mon, 14 Nov 2022 21:00:00 GMT

The Kamloops-Thompson Board of Education is proud of the Communications team for their recent award for the “Welcome to RLC Video” as part of welcoming families who experienced a necessary catchment change to balance school enrollment across south shore elementary schools.

Catchment changes mean that students attending one school are asked to attend a different school. These changes happen as a last resort when there are more students than spaces in a school and a change of school is required to best meet students' learning needs.

“Last year, the Board was addressing space pressures in multiple elementary schools (Westmount Elementary, Dallas Elementary, Juniper Ridge Elementary, Marion Schilling Elementary) and South Sa-Hali Secondary School,” shared Board Chair Grieve. "We engaged in consultation to learn firsthand how we could support families in this transition."

“Assistant Superintendents Grant Reilly, Vessy Mochikas, Bill Hamblett, and Secretary Treasurer Trina Cassidy led consultation with parents about how best to support students who were leaving one school to attend another,” stated Superintendent Dr. Rhonda Nixon. “Strategies such as providing welcome bags to students, early opportunities to go to the school, and a welcome video were examples that came from consultation. The idea was to create a connection to the school staff, students, building, and programming before students changed schools.”

The Communications team (Manager, Ms. Diana Skoglund; Communications Coordinator, Ms. Jessica Johnson; Website Coordinator, Ms. Jessie Furnell; Graphic Artist, Mr. Cory Edwards) worked with staff, students, and parents from every school experiencing a catchment change to create a welcome video designed to introduce the students to their new setting, to meet the staff and students, and to learn firsthand about their programs.

The Canadian Association of Communicators in Education (CACE) BRAVO! Awards, which are the only Canada-wide awards program specifically designed to recognize excellence in school board communications, honored this team with the The Coup de Coeur Award. This award is given to candidates who submitted a single communication piece that had proven results of “having touched the hearts and minds of the intended audience”. SD73’s RLC Welcome video was such an exemplary example that achieved this award.

The Communications team and Principal Blake Buemann and Principal Claire Sullivan collaborated to make the video showcased for the award. The video was filmed at RLC Elementary School to welcome students from Dallas Elementary School. As a result of their collective efforts, they were selected for this honor.

“The Board of Education is proud of the Communications Team, District Staff, and RLC and Dallas students, staff, and parents for working together for making a video that warmly welcomed incoming students and their families,” stated Board Chair Grieve. “The Board of Education is committed to ensuring that students feel welcome, cared for, and a sense of belonging and connectedness to their school communities. This was one way to contribute to this goal.”

New, larger school for Parkcrest students, community

Mon, 25 Jan 2021 16:00:00 GMT

A new, expanded and energy efficient Parkcrest Elementary school is on the way for students, families and the Brocklehurst community to learn, grow and succeed in.

The new school will include capacity for more students, a neighbourhood learning centre and a larger gymnasium.

“Parkcrest students, staff and families have gone through a lot since they lost their school in a devastating fire, said Jennifer Whiteside, Minister of Education. “Schools are the foundation of our communities, and that’s why our government continues to invest in fast-growing communities like Kamloops. This new school will provide students, families and the community with an expanded, safe and modern learning environment that will allow them to grow and thrive in for many years to come.”

The Government of B.C. is investing $34.84 million and the Kamloops-Thompson School District is investing $300,000 in a new, 510-seat Kindergarten to Grade 6 Parkcrest Elementary. This replaces the former school, which was lost to fire in September 2019. The new school will be rebuilt with capacity for an additional 120 students to prepare for expected enrolment growth in the community.

“The board of education is pleased to be able to begin the process of rebuilding the Parkcrest school,” said Rhonda Kershaw, Kamloops-Thompson Board chair. “When completed, this bigger, brighter and modern space will be a welcome new home for the displaced school community. We look forward to our students and staff returning to their school and to be able to offer an expanded facility to the entire community.”

Construction is set to begin in summer 2022 and the school is expected to open by spring 2024. It will be built to Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold standards that will help to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions, while improving the school?s annual energy costs.

The City of Kamloops has committed up to $2.5 million for the additional space required for a larger gymnasium and changeroom facilities for sporting events. The school will also be home to a neighbourhood learning centre.

The funding provides an opportunity to create space promoting strong school-community partnerships, using school facilities to meet the needs of children, youth, families and the Brocklehurst neighbourhood.

“Rebuilding the school supports a revitalized and expanding neighbourhood, and we are happy to partner in this project,” said Ken Christian, mayor, City of Kamloops. “Council has committed to the reconstruction of Parkcrest by providing up to $2.5 million to increase the gym size from elementary standards to a full-size, multi-purpose gymnasium. This not only benefits students, but would also be available for booking by community and sport groups, providing much-needed access to indoor recreation space in Kamloops.”

“Our school community has been anxiously awaiting this news, and we are thrilled to learn that the funding is approved,” said Courtney Ball, chair, Parkcrest Elementary Parent Advisory Committee. “We look forward to seeing shovels in the ground and our students and staff returning to a new Parkcrest. Our hearts have ached when seeing the empty lot, and we can?t wait for students and families to make new memories in a brand-new school.”

Investments in upgraded schools are part of government’s commitment to ensure every B.C. student has better access to education, community services, recreation and culture. The Province recently invested $32.7 million in a 525-seat addition at the neighbouring Valleyview Secondary, set to open in September 2022.

In the last three years, the Province has announced more than $2.2 billion for 109 school capital projects, including nearly $760 million to create 13,280 student seats at new and expanded schools in fast-growing communities throughout British Columbia.

SD73 Students win Four Gold Medals at the Provincial Skills Competition

Fri, 26 May 2023 19:30:00 GMT

Sheila Brown, District Coordinator - Trades and Transitions

The School District has identified Career Development as a priority, supporting students to attain their career and occupational objectives. On April 20^th, SD73 sent 16 students to compete at the Skills BC Competition in Abbotsford, after they competed and won the Cariboo Regional Skills Competitions. Skills Canada helps young people explore the possibility of careers in skilled trades and technology sectors.

SD73 was proud to send 5 grade 12’s competing in Welding, Carpentry, Cabinetry, Culinary Arts and Electrical. There were 11 Junior Skills competitors competing in Sumo Robots and Wind Turbines, Potential Energy Carts and Gravity Vehicles. Clearwater grad 2022 student, Matthew Lavigne was also competing at the post-secondary level. Many of the young men and women representing SD73 faced challenges throughout the day. Brody Passmore (Culinary Arts), started the day with no power and water at his station. He was adaptable and resilient, earning a 4^th place finish. Caden Tondelvold competed in Electrical, with a broken collarbone, and earned a Bronze.

Secondary Gold Medal winners will compete at Nationals May 24-26 in Winnipeg. Best of luck to Nolan Ilic (NorKam, Welding), Logan Jones (Barriere, Carpentry) and Matthew Lavigne (Clearwater grad 2022, Carpentry).

Secondary Skills Competitors:

Ruby Dinn, South Kamloops Secondary, Cabinetry

Caden Tondevold, Valleyview, Electrical

Brody Passmore, Valleyview, Culinary Arts

Nolan Ilic, NorKam, Welding

Logan Jones, Barriere Secondary, Carpentry

Matthew Lavigne, Clearwater Grad 2022, Carpentry

Junior Skills Competitors:

Provincial Sumo Robot Competition:

Silver Medal: Aiden Guerin, Chase Secondary

Bronze Medal: Echo Horton, Chase Secondary

4^th place: Carmin Bojic, Chase Secondary

Reece Wilson, Brock Middle School

Provincial Wind Turbine Competition:

Gold Medal: Noah Brown

Silver Medal: Cash Boyce

Sixth Place: Kohl Nordquist, Skyelar Adam

Potential Energy Cart Competition:

Bronze Medal: Sam Hallam

Sixth Place: Owen Cormack, Chase Secondary

Gravity Vehicle:

Sixth Place: Ashton Easy, Chase Secondary

Board Notes March 11, 2019

Thu, 14 Mar 2019 22:15:00 GMT

EDUCATION TOPIC

From Library to Learning Commons

Led by District Library Coordinator Andrea Wallin, Raft River Elementary and Pinantan Elementary have started the journey from traditional library programs to the whole-school learning commons approach of participatory learning. They approached the change by inquiring, “when and how does a school library become a school learning commons”. Principals Lori Bradstock and Chris Wood established Library Learning Commons teams at each of their schools designing future-oriented hubs of learning innovation and knowledge creation. Read more

PUBLIC INQUIRIES, PETITIONS AND WRITTEN PRESENTATIONS

SD73 Business Company Presentation
A decision in 2006 by School District 73 to provide education opportunities to off-shore, non-resident students is now paying dividends for Kamloops and area schools. Directors of the School District No. 73 Business Company (SD73BC), Dr. Terry Sullivan, (retired superintendent) and Rob Wilson, (RBC Dominion Securities) presented a $100,000 dividend cheque to the Board of Education. Read more

REPORTS FROM SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOL

As per the Consent Agenda, the Superintendent’s Report was distributed. The full report can be found here.

Westsyde Elementary School to Re-open

Results from the community and staff consultations that began in January 2019, gave the trustees a clear indication that reopening Westsyde Elementary is in the best interests of the children and the broader community. The Board also approved the capital expenditure of $1.062 million for renovations that will begin immediately. The budget includes $150,000 to purchase resources for the library, textbooks, office supplies and gym equipment. Read more

Vavenby Expands from K-4 to K-7

The Board supported the initiative by parents in Vavenby to reconfigure the school from K-4 to K-7 by 2021. New students coming into the school along with the addition of more grades warrants the addition of a second division in the school. The second teacher allows for better classroom organization and teacher collaboration.

Enrolment Projections
The District is projecting an increase of 237 FTE students for September 2019 over last year’s projections. Estimated projections do not consider in-migration or out-migration leading up to the start of classes in 2019.

Board/Authority Authorized Courses

The Board approved the following courses after being reviewed by the BAA Committee and the Education Committee of the Whole to ensure they met the Ministry of Education’s curriculum guidelines:

English Language Development 10A
English Language Development 10B
RCMP Youth Academy Studies
School District No. 73 Tech Academy
Sport Specific Training
Video Game Maker 11
Video Game Maker 12

Once approved by the Ministry the course outlines will be posted to the website.

REPORTS FROM SECRETARY-TREASURER

Capital Budget Bylaw
The Board passed the bylaw approving the capital plans for upgrading the dust-collector systems in the trades training classrooms at Logan Lake and NorKam Secondary, a new energy-efficient condensing boiler at Bert Edwards Science and Technology and the four additional buses to service the new routes required to support enrolment growth. The $1,781,139 in funding was announced last week by the Ministry of Education. Read more

Rental Rate Report and Recommendations

The recommendations based on the review of community rental rates by Director of Finance Trina Cassidy and Manager of Finance Christine Loney were approved and will go into effect after July 1, 2019 for the next school year.

Schedule of 2019 Budget Meetings

April 1, 2019 Board receives draft budget
April 4, 2019 share the draft budget with employee groups, parent advisory councils and media
April 18, 2019 review feedback from stakeholders
April 29, 2019 Board approves the District’s 2019-2020 Operating Budget.

REPORTS FROM COMMITTEES AND CHAIR

Consent Agenda Items

Chair’s Activity Report

Education Committee of the Whole

District Parent Advisory Committee

Literacy In Kamloops Report

Work Underway on the SD73 Education Re-start Plan

Tue, 11 Aug 2020 18:00:00 GMT

Just six-weeks after the completion of June’s successful return to school in the midst of a pandemic, school leaders from across the District are hard at work developing the SD73’s Education Re-start Plan. This plan will outline how schools are to be organized for students returning to in-class instruction this fall and the health and safety measures put in place to minimize the transmission of COVID-19.

“Monday, the senior team finalized the guidelines to support schools in the development and implementation of their re-start plans,” said Alison Sidow, Superintendent of Schools. “Our principals and vice-principals returned from vacation yesterday and we have begun to finalize the plan in preparation for consultation with our partners.”

Following the direction of both the Ministry of Education and the Provincial Health Office, SD73 will put the plan together this week, and share it with partner groups for consultation and feedback. The plan is scheduled to be reviewed by the Board of Education on Aug. 19 and submitted to the Ministry of Education by Aug. 21. On Aug. 26, the District will communicate the plan to parents, staff and the wider community.

“We understand the anxiety faced by students, their families, as well as our staff as they wait for news of the final plan,” said Sidow. “We know there are concerns and that’s why we have a process for taking questions. We are listening and addressing these concerns with as much detail as we can until we have a final plan approved by the Ministry of Education and Health Authority. These questions are important, and we are committed to working with each family who requires additional information to make an informed decision about sending their child back to school this fall.”

The District developed its own deep cleaning and safety protocols for the partial return to school in June and have added 17 daytime custodians to its roster to ensure surface cleaning is done routinely throughout the day. These measures are being refined to reflect the government’s new guidelines for September.

“We are following the government’s guidelines to provide a safe learning environment for our students and our staff. We saw how the plan worked in June and I am confident in the Ministry’s direction. I believe in our school leaders’ abilities, and I am looking forward to sharing a finalized plan with our community on Aug. 26,” said Sidow. “In the meantime, the focus is on getting the plan together, and making sure we address everyone’s concerns.”

The SD73 website has posted a FAQ to its parents’ resources page. The FAQ will be updated regularly. Questions can be emailed to returntoschoolFAQ@sd73.bc.ca.

Robotics Collaboration

Fri, 24 Nov 2023 16:00:00 GMT

Elizabeth deVries, SD73 District Technology Coordinator

Two teachers, Christine McCauley and Melody Steffenson at David Thompson Elementary, took on such new learning and in doing so demonstrated what it means to be brave. They had the courage to be learners alongside their students by exploring the boundaries of new technologies.

They started out the school year with some new-to-them technology; LEGO Mindstorms EV3! They connected with the Technology Coordinator and tapped into a treasure trove of resources generated through past collaborations. On October 26th, the David Thompson students hosted Amanda Brennan's class from Kay Bingham to share their newfound knowledge and showcase their final challenges.

Throughout this month of learning, they encountered challenges that required troubleshooting, fostering collaboration, and honing their programming skills. Students learned to work together, support one another and code their LEGO robot to perform various tasks. The final celebration day, to share their learning with the new group of students, was a great success.

Mrs McCauley said "having an audience of students they didn't know really provided accountability for my students and their learning and presentation preparation" Ms Brennan reported that she and her students were very excited and inspired by what they had seen other students share, and they couldn't wait to get started!

Beloved Chase community member, Fran Connett, receives the first Board Award of Recognition

Wed, 08 May 2024 16:45:00 GMT

On Monday, May 6, 2024, The Kamloops-Thompson Board of Education joined together with the Chase Secondary staff and district community to honour Fran Connett with the first ever Board Award of Recognition.

“I was pleased to honour Fran Connett on behalf of the Board of Education with the first Board Award of Recognition,” stated Board Chair Heather Grieve. “On April 8, 2024, the Board learned that in the review of the OWL Award Committee applications that the Committee felt that there was a need to introduce an award that recognizes individuals who have significantly impacted public education within the district community because of service that has resulted in bringing the core value commitments of the District Strategic Plan alive. At that meeting, the Board passed a motion to start the Board Award of Recognition with Fran being the first recipient.”

“As the Chair of the OWL Award for Excellence in Public Education Committee, I am so proud of committee members for recognizing the need for a District Awards program for staff, and bringing forward Fran Connett as the first recipient,” shared Superintendent Dr. Rhonda Nixon. “During Monday’s event, the community heard all that Fran has accomplished in terms of immeasurable, positive impact on individuals through her relationships and connections over the years in the Chase community and in the district.”

For over two decades, Fran Connett has made a profound impact on the lives of countless students, staff, and families in the community of Chase. Fran is a dedicated individual who runs the Chase Secondary School cafeteria—she is committed to ensuring no student goes hungry, serving nutritious and hearty breakfasts and lunches, and doing it all with kindness, generosity, and a smile. Her impact goes beyond the food she serves, as one community member shared, “she is the grandmother of our school and she made everyone feel like they belonged.”

As Fran prepares for retirement, her community was excited to celebrate her and all that she has given to the students of Chase Secondary School. Principal Greg Gartrell organized a community celebration on May 6, alongside the School Board meeting at his school, to honour Fran’s immeasurable impact and join the Board of Education in honouring her with the Board Award of Recognition. In Greg’s words: “Tonight we are acknowledging Fran Connett, lovingly known as Frannie in our community, who has served students at our school cafeteria for the last 20 years. She does so much more than just serve food, she serves love, and she is a person that everybody knows they can go to in a time of need. Frannie’s been here for everybody in our community for the last 20 years and we just want to make sure she knows how much she’s appreciated.”

The recognition event was filled with energy and love from the community as community members, friends, family, and students filled the Chase school gym to celebrate their beloved community member. At the event, after being honoured with the Board Recognition Award, Fran expressed feelings of being overwhelmed with emotions and grateful for the honour. While little words were shared, emotions of gratitude were felt by all in the room.

Fran’s positive and immense impact on Chase, and specifically Chase Secondary School, will be felt throughout the community for generations to come. As Diane Jules, Aboriginal Education Council Director and Trustee of the Kamloops-Thompson School Board, explains, “Frannie is a legend. Even though she won’t be in our kitchen with our students anymore, her name will resonate in the hallways for generations to come. No one will ever beat Chase Secondary Frannie. Kukwstsétsemc Frannie for everything you’ve done for all of our children.”

English Language Learners Build Connections Across Schools

Wed, 03 Dec 2025 16:45:00 GMT

Story provided by Becky Webb, District ELL Resource Teacher

The Kamloops-Thompson School District’s English Language Learner Services team is committed to welcoming students whose primary language is not English into caring, inclusive learning communities that inspire learning and connection.

On Tuesday, November 18, 2025, over 120 English Language Learners and New-to-Canada secondary students from six Kamloops schools (Westsyde, Brock, NorKam, Sa-Hali, South Kam, and Valleyview) gathered at the Henry Grube Education Centre for a day of connecting at community building.

From the moment the students arrived, the room was buzzing with energy and excitement at the anticipation of meeting new peers with similar experiences and diverse backgrounds. These students are navigating language and cultural barriers and finding their way in new schools and communities.

Through engagement with personal land acknowledgements, icebreaker activities, listening to presentations from peers and settlement workers from Kamloops Immigrant Services, creating animal spirit guides, sharing ways to better cope with stressors in their lives, and participating in group yearbook photos, many left with a greater understanding of identity and togetherness.

Thanks to Feeding Futures funding, students were also able to gather and enjoy a hearty catered lunch.

“It was fun. The best part was meeting new people and talking to them, and lunch!” shared two Westsyde students.

This annual gathering reflects the District’s commitment to creating learning opportunities and environments where every learner feels safe and welcome, builds strong relationships and connections, and thrives personally and culturally, all in support of the values and priorities in the District Strategic Plan.

Raft River Elementary School's Excitement about their New Outdoor Learning Space

Fri, 26 May 2023 19:00:00 GMT

Carmella Mathieu, Principal, Raft River Elementary School

Raft River Elementary staff, students, parents and community members have been working diligently to plan and design a new outdoor learning space. As this space is almost ready to use, everyone is filled with a blend of excitement, gratitude, and pride in recognizing the incredible community effort and donations that have gone into designing, planning, and now breaking ground to build this amazing outdoor place of learning on Secwepemc Territory.

In the 2022-2027 District Strategic Plan, the District mission is to provide learning opportunities and environments that inspire students to thrive.

Trustee Shelley Sim shared, “This outdoor learning space is an environment that will enlarge the learning experiences and opportunities in the North Thompson for these students and their families. The vision and the fundraising efforts have been inspirational, and the community will benefit thanks to the committed efforts of many, and the generosity of local support.”

Early on in the project, students at Raft River were brought in to design a school wide outdoor learning space. The space is to provide learning opportunities for all students at Raft River. The design of the building has been done in such a way that the learning will take place in a natural way and is more than the building itself, but includes learning in the surroundings that will take place during both structured and unstructured lessons.

The vision is that students will naturally use this space for imaginative play, natural learning from the surrounding environment which is being built into the space. The open air classroom and amphitheater will be surrounded by learning stations such as a pollinator garden, wetlands area and a learning forest. Native plants and a traditional Medicine garden will also become a part of the landscape. During the day it will be used for Raft River students and teachers and it will be accessible to community groups after school hours.

Ms. Liz Shook, teacher, has been dedicated and passionate as well as the driving force behind the outdoor classroom design and plans for construction. She and a team of dedicated individuals, with the support of the community, and many donors have raised $202,000 to develop this learning space.

Liz shared “The students will have the opportunity to connect with nature, experience hands-on learning, and lessons that are place based. Students will have opportunities to use the space to connect with community experts and members and engage in learning differently. The outdoor classroom will provide a launching pad for access to the Clearwater area and the learning it holds, from Raft River to the Park.

I was able to witness first hand the benefits of outdoor education meeting the diverse needs of students. I have seen increased student motivation and a sense of accomplishment. Outdoor learning opportunities meet the needs of all students by offering different freedoms and flexibility. Learning outdoors provides the opportunity for movement and supports student regulation.”

“As Raft River Principal, I am grateful to the Facilities and Grounds department staff who have been an invaluable and integral part of the process as well and will continue to be central to making this dream come to fruition.

I have come into this project part way through. The work that has gone into this project has been tremendous. To hear the stories of what has gone into making this happen, but also the stories of passion and excitement of what is to come, speak to this project being a true community effort. Thank you to all involved. I look forward to hearing of the learning taking place and the stories of the students once the space is complete.”

The school community will come together to celebrate this unveiling this fall of what has been a labour of love.

District Shows Support at Pride Parade

Thu, 01 Sep 2022 16:00:00 GMT

SD73 staff and students spent a cheerful and sunny Sunday morning walking together for inclusivity and equity.

The annual Kamloops Pride Parade took place on August 28, 2022 with hundreds of onlookers and countless SD73 staff and students participating in the parade to show support and solidarity for the 2SLGBTQIA+ community and the importance of celebrating all walks of life regardless of race, culture, social, sexual, or gender identities.

“Our Board of Education prioritizes inclusive, caring, welcoming, and safe communities within our schools and district facilities,” said Board Chair Heather Grieve. “This priority starts with a strong focus on human rights education and on leadership at every level participating in and championing the rights of every person to express who they are.”

Among the crowds of SD73 representation included Board Chair Grieve, Vice Chair Wade, Trustee O’Fee, Superintendent Nixon, Assistant Superintendent Mochikas, CUPE President Miller, and staff from every employee group, as well as parents and students.

“The pride parade is an important event in our community and for our district,” said Mochikas. “It's a great way to visibly celebrate and support students and staff identifying as LGBTQ2S+ and for them to know they are free to be their authentic selves.”

Superintendent's Update

Fri, 03 Nov 2023 23:00:00 GMT

Dear Parent and Caregivers:

In November, I will focus on the value of Sustainability (embracing our responsibility to contribute to a sustainable environment), the Grandfather Teaching of Love (giving positive messages to those around us and accepting them for who they are), and stories about the District Priorities in the 2022-2027 District Strategic Plan.

Barriere Elementary School

Ms. McLaren is the first person who greets families when they enter the school, and I also met Ms. Collier. Both shared a warm welcome and made the start of my visit very inviting, one where the Grandfather Teaching of Love was apparent in the smiles and kind words. I then walked with Principal Brogan and met Ms. Sallenbach who shared the best part about being at Barriere Elementary is the staff and how inclusive they are. I witnessed Mr. Brogan sharing his usual “good morning” with classes in which the students shared examples of how they were living the values of the school - Being kind, respectful, responsible, and safe.

We started in Ms. Oates’ Gr. 3-5 class who told me that they were excited to write about what they did last night (Halloween) in their journals. We then went to Ms. Matthews’ class who were taught by Ms. Kivari who explained how they had just finished with their “spirit buddies” and shared what they did last evening. Ms. Levin’s Gr. 2-3 class as led by Mr. Beaudry (Teacher On Call) was reading and creating with blocks. Ms. Smailes’ Gr. 5-6 class had completed Tim Burton-inspired drawings and they were joining another class to practice for their Remembrance Day poetry about “Why Wear a Poppy?” We then met with Ms. Eustache (Aboriginal Education Worker), and she shared how she had been designing wall murals with students to Indigenize the environment and how she enjoyed engaging in cultural activities with students. She emphasized how appreciated she feels in the school.

As we concluded our visit, I witnessed differentiated literacy instruction in Ms. Peterson’s Gr. 1-2 class who were engaged in word work, guided reading, and literacy stations. Mr. Scott’s Kindergarten class was applying their concept of number in Bingo, and they read the morning message using left to right directionality, beginning letters to guess words, and then explored the letter “w”.

Barriere Secondary School

Principal Tyler and I first met a Gr. 11 student, Jesimae, who is working on the school yearbook team. She shared that since students have become directly involved in creating the yearbook, students are more invested in signing and sharing their best memories in the book. She also felt that having the Media Design students create the front and back of the book also inspired more demand to want a copy. We then visited Ms. Nomm’s Social Studies’ class in which students had explained how human and environmental factors influence society. Ms. Minaker’s English class, which was supported by Ms. Zerr, was researching the 94 Calls to Action as a way to set the stage for opening a storytelling unit. We then met with Acting Vice Principal Ruberg who shared his enthusiasm for being at Barriere Secondary.

We engaged with students in Mr. Gregory’s Pre-calculus class, and he was teaching graphing and students were exploring how their problem solving resulted in different graphs using the desmos app. We also discussed how AI technologies enable pictures of a problem to turn into computer-generated solutions that do not always read the handwritten problems as intended. There is a community of secondary teachers examining Artificial Intelligence tools and how they impact teaching and learning. We visited Mr. Whitmore (Teacher On Call) who was teaching science and students were working on an “Element SuperHero” project. Ms. McDougall (Learning Assistance Resource Teacher) was working with a student. Ms. Pellegrino’s Gr. 9-11 Foods students were roasting pumpkin seeds from the pumpkin carving done earlier in the week.

As we walked to the grade 7 wing, we stopped to see the delicious meals (perogies, cinnamon buns) that Ms. Mairs was preparing with Zoe Kershaw, a student helper, who helps Ms. Mairs with cash and other duties in the cafeteria. We also met with Gr. 7 students and the teachers (Ms. Brake and Ms. Davis) who were assisting with long division problems.

BC Anti-racism K-12 Educator Network Summit

As outlined in the District Strategic Plan 2022-2027, School District No. 73 (SD73) is committed to removing barriers and creating environments that provide accessible and empowering opportunities for all students and staff to thrive. Over the last two years, SD73 has actively participated in a provincial working group to develop an anti-racism plan at the provincial level. Last spring, District Principal Bowden and Assistant Superintendent Mochikas presented on the anti-racism work they have been doing in SD73. They highlighted their efforts which included developing and purchasing resources, developing lessons, promoting student voice, reporting acts of racism, helping school teams respond to acts of racism, and developing videos to help educators understand components of discrimination and racism.

SD73’s “Take Our Kids to Work Day”

Take Our Kids to Work Day is an annual national program in which Grade 9 (or equivalent) students are hosted by parents, friends, relatives and volunteers at workplaces across the country every November. The Take Our Kids to Work Day program aligns with our Career Development Priority outlined in the District Strategic Plan 2022-2027 by helping students connect school, the world of work, and their own futures. More than 250,000 students and 75,000 organizations take part every year across Canada, from Nunavut to Newfoundland participate in the program.

On November 1, 2023, Annika Dean, Grade 9 student from South Kamloops Secondary had the opportunity to experience the day in the life of a SD73 CUPE Staffing and Benefits employee. Annika is interested in a career in finance or human resources so it was fitting that she spent the day at the School Board Office with her mom, Jaime Dean. The highlight of her day was spending time with Director Tallon and learning about budgeting. Read more.

District Honour Band and Choir Concert

This year, the District Honour Band and Choir started their auditions in September. After selecting their members, they consisted of 37 Band Members and 19 Choir Members who dedicated late-night practice sessions throughout October, including three intensive full days from October 30 to November 1, 2023. This all came together with a concert scheduled for the evening of November 1, 2023.

During the late-night practices, students collaborated with dedicated community members and teacher volunteers from across the District, who displayed exceptional effort and care while working alongside these talented and committed students. During the final three days of practice, the students had the privilege of working with guest conductors Janine Webster and Frances Roberts, who helped fine tune the music that was to be performed. There was a lot of passion and energy put into every note of the concert.

The concert was a testament to the immense passion and energy invested in every single note, resulting in an unforgettable musical experience.

It has been a wonderful start to November, and I want to share how much I have learned by talking with you in schools and departments and by witnessing firsthand how you make a positive difference in the lives of students, families, and staff. Thank you for being invested in what you do.

Take time to rest and rejuvenate this weekend.

Rhonda Nixon, PhD

Superintendent

Historic Violin Awarded to Barriere Student

Thu, 17 Jun 2021 16:00:00 GMT

A violin with a significant local history will belong to Barriere Secondary grade 8 student, Missy Kjellstrom for the next 12 months.

With a past that reads a little like a mix between Pay it Forward and The Red Violin, this instrument was donated to the district by the family of John “Jack” Stewart upon his death in 2011. It was a gift to him in the late 1930s, from well-known Kamloops band teacher and music director Archie McMurdo.

The violin is a 1917 Otto Schonfelder, a handmade copy of Germany’s famous Antonius Stradivarius, with an equally prestigious bow.

A commitment to the violin

Missy’s teacher Kate Zahir has no doubt that playing Jack’s violin will help her work to improve, and she is grateful for the gift, because she is very committed, and even during the pandemic, she “… kept up her playing at a high level.”

“Missy takes her home rehearsal very seriously and regularly goes above and beyond expectations by finding a challenging repertoire outside of what is offered to her at school as a way of growing her musicianship,” said Zahir. “She also has excellent attendance, even though the class is offered outside of regular school hours.

“She actually started the strings program in Grade 3, even though it typically is offered to Grade 4-12 students,” said Zahir. “She was one of a few very keen Grade 3 students at Barriere Elementary who had their teacher ask me for special permission to join.”

At the end of her grade 6 school year in June 2020, she was concerned because she would be moving to grade 7 at Barriere Secondary, where there was no strings program.

With her parents, she successfully campaigned to have an after-school strings program at Barriere Secondary.

“Having a violin with a special historical significance which can be loaned to a deserving student, and who can be further inspired to make music a skill for life, is incredibly rewarding for all involved in the District Strings Program,” said Zahir. “It also enables an amateur musician to appreciate the tonal qualities and distinct nuances of a specially crafted instrument.”

Jack Stewart 1924 - 2011

Jack Stewart was born in 1924, and he graduated from KHS (now SKSS) circa 1941.

“He came from a family with 10 children,” said his niece, Betty Jakel, who lives in Kamloops. “They were a hard-working family, but they didn’t have a lot of money.

“The story goes that his teacher, Archie McMurdo, who was a band teacher, and musical director for KHS in the 1930s, ‘40s and ‘50s, gave it to him because he was deserving of it, and he played it all through his high school years,” said Jakel. “He always remembered the teacher who had given it to him.”

During his lifetime, Jack flew in the Royal Canadian Air Force, earned his Ph.D. in Agronomy, and lived in Illinois for most of his career, winning the Soil Science Professional Service Award. He was named a Fellow of the SSSA American Society of Agronomy, traveled the world and worked with the US Federal Government on Cost Control for the US Department of Agriculture.

Jakel, a retired music teacher herself (she taught in SD73), said Jack’s success in life could be attributed, in part, to his musical studies.

“Through all those years, my uncle kept his violin, which he continued to play. He loved music and he had a talent for it,” she said. “If you look at adults who are successful in their careers, whether careers in music or in other fields, you will often find that they were involved in their school music programs,”

After his death in 2011, his family gave his violin to the Kamloops-Thompson School District, so that it could be played by deserving students. Each spring, it is awarded to a student to keep and to play for that year.

Archie McMurdo 1901 - 1956

Archie McMurdo was born in Scotland and flew a Bristol Fighter with the Royal Air Force (British) during WW1 before moving to British Columbia in 1927. He grew up with a rich musical heritage, being an accomplished violinist by the age of 15, according to a KamHigh memorial webpage.

“At the age of sixteen, he conducted his first Symphony Orchestra,” said the memorial. “Among his many certificates, are two from the London Music Festival in London, England, classifying him as a ‘violinist extraordinary.’ Also Mr. McMurdo has the honor of being acclaimed one of he three best violinists in Canada.”

In the 1930s he moved to Kamloops to give private lessons in violin, viola and cello. In 1935, he became the musical director at KHS, although he left for a time during WW2 to help with the war efforts. He returned to the position in 1946.

The webpage also states that Archie often gave musical instruments to students.

“He worries more, cares more, for his students than for himself. If a pupil desires to play an instrument and that pupil has not got the money to buy it, Mr. McMurdo himself will buy it for him… (he) realizes the chances he did, and the chances he didn’t have when he was a young lad.”

In 1954, Archie took a group of 52 high school band students to Europe. For two months that summer, they traveled 18,000 miles across Canada by train, across the ocean by ship, and then across England, Scotland and Germany by train, to play more than 72 concerts and compete in two international band competitions.

In August 1954, the band entered a competition in Kerkrade Germany, involving “the world’s great bands who were all – except one English band – adults and semi-professionals like the Queen’s Guard Band of Holland,” according to a KHS teacher Jock Morse, at the time.

The band won first prize in the first-class concert contest, and first prize in the marching contest.

“Understanding the history of this violin is a key to the richness of the musical traditions in our District,’ said Lisa Carson, Director of Instruction and Curriculum.

“From strings to band to choral instruction, and through events like concerts, music festivals and adjudications – we are proud of the continuous musical learning students can access,” she said. “I like to think Archie McMurdo and Jack Stewart would agree. I wish Missy a wonderful year ahead with Jack’s violin.”

Jakel agrees.

“Jack’s wife Velma and his children and grandchildren will all be happy to know that such a deserving student as Missy will be playing the violin this year,” she said.

Superintendent's Update

Fri, 10 Feb 2023 23:30:00 GMT

Dear Parents and Caregivers:

In the second week of February, heartwarming stories continue to illuminate examples of positive relationships/connections, wellbeing, equity, and sustainability– core value commitments in the 2022-2027 District Strategic Plan.

Arthur Hatton Elementary School

Principal Johnson and I first met with their Learning Assistance Resource Teacher (LART), Tanya Elwood who was creating social-emotional learning resources for students. Ms. Bos’ Kindergarten class was engaging in “mental superpowers” (mindfulness strategies) to continue to improve their mental wellbeing. Ms. McMillan’s Gr. 2-3 class was writing spelling words and working together with partners to practice them. Ms. Pratt’s Gr. 1’s were engaged in mindfulness strategies, and Ms. Bailey’s Kindergarten class had some students painting and other students drawing fish tanks after learning about them. Ms. Silva’s Gr. 2 class was writing in their journals, and Ms. Fehst’s Gr.4 class was in a literacy block and students had chosen different activities (writing, reading, digital composing). Ms. Zander’s Gr.5-6 class studied different types of conflicts and was applying them to understanding the novel, “Hatchet.”

Ms. Hamer-Jackson was on her way to a classroom and while on her way explained how she supports martial arts programming for students. Principal Johnson proudly held up the shirt that their school made for this group– “Arthur Hatton Martial Arts”. Mr. Denby’s Gr. 5-6 class had prepared presentations on endangered animals and were sharing them with Ms. Sweeney’s Gr.4-5 class. Principal Johnson shared, “I continue to enjoy the strong collaborative team we have at Arthur Hatton, and we are focused on ensuring that everyone knows they belong at Arthur Hatton.”

Westsyde Secondary School

Principal Preymak and I began in Ms. Bernes’ LART and sensory rooms where students were working independently and one-on-one with staff. Ms. Beeds’ Math students were collaboratively problem solving at vertical white boards. She explained, “I think that it’s the lack of permanency of the writing on white boards that enables learners to take risks.” Mr. Comita was guiding groups of students through course selection to assist them to plan their secondary learning journey.

Ms. Kachel and Ms. Piccini shared their Black History month bulletin board, literature selection, and how students lead in the process. Before leaving the learning commons, Mr. Skalski, Computer Technician, was assisting with tech support and was praised for his reliability. As we entered the hallway, a group of grade 12 Psychology students asked Principal Preymak to participate in a short term memory experiment to assess whether numbers that have a context (e.g., “911”) are more easily remembered than numbers that do not.

Mr. Beeds’ Biology students were studying the atomic structures of fats by using manipulatives. Mr. Beeds also runs the school Climate Action Club, and he commented, “There are more students this year than last, so students care about sustainability.” Students had put on a thrift shop in which those who donated traded items and this was a very popular recycle-reuse-repurpose activity led by this club. Mr. Howard’s Gr. 9-10 shop class was planning how to make metal plant hangers, and Mr. Connolly’s Gr.9-10 class were designing cutting boards. At a different time, he shared how he led staff through the same project and they were reminded of what it felt like to navigate discomfort with unfamiliar technologies and processes.

Ms. Preymak’s Science 9 class was studying lab safety, and Ms. Ferns’ Textiles class was cross-stitching. Ms. Olstad’s Gr. 8 English students were reading, and Ms. Reid’s Gr. 9 English class was studying conflict in “Coach Carter” by wondering whether the coach was “too hard on the students”. Principal Preymak said, “We are using learning literacy strategies across grades and subjects and this has been helpful to have our English teachers support this learning with staff.”

MindUp for Mental Health at Summit Elementary

In our 2022-2027 District Strategic Plan, wellbeing is a value commitment that is central to who we are and we engage in programming that contributes to physical, mental, emotional, and social wellness strategies to help students lead well-balanced lives. Read more.

SD73 District Honour Band and Honour Choir at Sagebrush Theatre

On the evening of February 8th, 2023 at the Sagebrush Theatre, 59 secondary music students from across the district performed in the District Honour Band and Honour Choir Concert. The program is a tradition that has been going on for more than 40 years, and is a prestigious event that allows music students the opportunity to expand their musical abilities. Read more.

Enjoy some well-deserved time to get outside and enjoy the weekend.

Rhonda Nixon, PhD

Superintendent

SD73 Board of Education Celebrates the First Regional Indigenous Student Summit at Thompson Rivers University

Wed, 07 Jun 2023 22:30:00 GMT

By Diane Jules, Trustee

June 7, 2023

I am very proud of how Indigenous students came together from 11 school districts to share their lived experiences of Indigenous culture in the education system, Indigenous student health and well-being, and Indigenous-specific racism.

In January 2023, the Kamloops-Thompson Board of Education hosted Minister Rachna Singh to launch the provincial anti-racism action plan, and the Aboriginal Education Council spoke with Minister Singh about the importance of not only launching action plans but reporting back on how we are doing with them. One of the first steps in the provincial and district anti-racism action plan is to learn firsthand from students about what they see, hear, and personally experience as racism.

This summit was the first step in these plans. On May 15 and 16, 2023, Kamloops-Thompson staff members under the leadership of District Principal Mike Bowden organized the first regional Indigenous Student Summit. It began with almost 140 students gathering from schools within the Kamloops-Thompson School District and schools in ten other school districts (SD8 Kootenay Lake), SD19 (Revelstoke), SD22 (Vernon), SD23 (Central Okanagan), SD53 (Okanagan-Similkameen), SD83 (North Okanagan-Shuswap), SD74 (Gold Trail), and SD93 (Le Conseil Scolaire Francophone).

These students and staff gathered in the Thompson Rivers University Brown’s House of Learning designed to symbolize a traditional c7ístkten?. The evening of May 15 began with students gathering, socializing, and sharing food in the House of Learning followed by a scavenger hunt around the TRU campus. The next morning, on May 16, students, staff, and guests gathered to share breakfast. After breakfast, students were drummed in by the Sage Hill Drummers and a traditional jingle dancer. Indigenous student leaders from the 11 School Districts entered the House of Learning carrying their District banners in a Grand March.

These Indigenous student leaders took part in learning from a guest speaker, Mr.Greg Hopf, an Indigenous entrepreneur and co-owner of Moccasin Trails, born and raised in the Northwest Territories (NWT) and who has presented around the world on Indigenous issues, shared his story and experiences of resiliency. Students then worked in focus groups to examine the three agenda items that they had determined mattered most for this summit: racism, Indigenous culture in the education system, and Indigenous student health and well-being.

When they completed their focus groups, the students gathered again as a larger group and presented these discussions and actions. In the first group, Indigenous youth leaders from SD73, Mikey Friesen, Elle Ross, and Dakoda Kelm, explained why student voice matters. They talked about how when the student voice is honoured and valued in an authentic way, youth will have more engagement and responsibility in their learning journey. In the second group, students had discussed Indigenous Specific Racism and spoke about microaggressions as one of the issues. They gave examples of people talking like their culture is past tense, how they constantly feel like they are thought of as ‘dumb’ or not as capable as their non-Indigenous peers in academics, sports, and arts. They talked about the imperative of educating non-Indigenous educators around trauma, cultural awareness, and cultural humility. In the third group, students discussed Indigenous culture in schools and how they felt that they only heard about the tragic events Indigenous peoples endured. Instead, they advocated for celebrating the positive contributions that come from their cultures. In the last group, students shared about Indigenous student health and well-being and talked about how it was important to foster a sense of belonging and safety.

In the District Strategic Plan, Cultural Development is a Board priority and the goal is for every student to learn and share who they are and to be proud of their cultural backgrounds. This first Annual Regional Indigenous Student Summit was one location to empower Indigenous children and youth to be who they are and to be celebrated for sharing voices about topics of importance to them. It is our job now to do something with what we learned from them–to make our schools welcoming, caring, inspiring spaces for all students and families.

This column appeared in Kamloops This Week: View from SD73 on June 7, 2023

Kristjanson's Contribution to Games Recognized

Thu, 20 Oct 2022 21:15:00 GMT

In every one of the five major games events in Kamloops that she’s worked on, Sherry Kristjanson has experienced a moment of deep satisfaction in watching the excitement of the games catch hold.

During the 55+ Canada Games in August 2022, that moment found her during the opening ceremonies.

“Just seeing the looks on the athletes’ faces as they get caught up in the incredible feeling of being there,” Kristjanson said. “It’s a moment that I look for, and it happens every time. It’s what keeps me coming back.”

“We are proud of Sherry and the way she represents the District and our community,” said Dr. Rhonda Nixon, School Superintendent. “She leads a wonderful team and together, their work with community partners helps Kamloops to host seamless and professional major games events.”

Her work as the Director of Transportation of the Canada Games involved arranging bus schedules to move 2700 athletes between 26 different venues and 41 hotels for the opening ceremonies, the games themselves, and special events that were planned during the games.

“We used 28 of our buses and drivers, six buses from Thompson Valley Charters, two buses from E Bus and one bus from Grand Forks,” said Kristjanson.

“We first identified and visited all the sites to make sure they were accessible. We made detailed plans for the drivers about how and when they could approach a site, and then we communicated with the drivers and put together all the schedules. It was a huge undertaking.”

Beginning as the Transportation Chair in 2013 for the BC Seniors Games that year, she stepped into the role of Director of Transportation in 2015 for the Special Olympics BC Winter Games, the 2017 Special Olympics BC Summer Games, the BC Winter Games in 2022, and for the 55+ Canada Games. She’ll be doing it all again for the 2023 Special Olympics BC Winter Games.

“It’s the whole transportation team that makes this work,” she said. “We have a phenomenal team from SD73 who come forward, and we draw on each other for help. It’s their enthusiasm and skill and willingness to help, so I want to acknowledge the drivers, the dispatcher, the transportation clerk, the mechanics and the assistant manager.”

Kristjanson, who is the Director of Transportation for (School District No. 73 Kamloops-Thompson) was recently recognized by the senior leadership at SD73 for her volunteer efforts in making these games a success.

“In recognizing Sherry and her team's incredible contribution to these games, we're recognizing, too, that the resources available through the District to the community goes beyond equipment or facilities or even our bus fleet," said SD73 Secretary-Treasurer Trina Cassidy. "It's people too, and Sherry exemplifies that willingness to step forward and help where we can."

2025 Gathering Our Voices Conference Welcomes Indigenous Youth from across BC to Kamloops

Fri, 04 Apr 2025 15:00:00 GMT

From March 18–21, 2025, the annual Gathering Our Voices Indigenous Youth Leadership Conference brought together over 1,000 Indigenous youth from across BC in Kamloops.

For 21 years, Gathering Our Voices has been providing empowering experiences for Indigenous Youth to connect with their culture, celebrate their identities, and develop leadership skills. Throughout the conference, students engaged in leadership workshops, cultural sharing, and networking opportunities aimed at empowering the next generation of Indigenous leaders.

This year's conference was hosted in venues across Kamloops, including Thompson Rivers University (TRU), Tournament Capital Centre (TCC), and Valleyview Secondary School. Hosting the 2025 event in Kamloops offered organizers the opportunity to highlight the richness of Secwépemc culture and traditions.

The conference kicked off with Opening Ceremonies at the TCC on March 18, 2025. With an opening prayer from Freda Jules, music from DJ Kookum, drumming from Sage Hills, and remarks from Tk?emlúps te Secwépemc Kúkpi7 Rosanne Casimir, the Opening Ceremony set the tone for the entire event by encouraging students to make new connections, become leaders in their communities, and amplify each other’s voices.

With 65 students attending from Kamloops-Thompson School District, the District was excited to see this incredible event offered in Kamloops and honoured to provide transportation assistance for the conference and offer Valleyview Secondary as a workshops venue, using classrooms for various workshops and the gym for events like the Mini Pow Wow.

“We were excited and honoured to work with the Gathering Our Voices organizers to facilitate this event and to showcase our school, our district, and our community,” shared Chris Horton, Vice-Principal of Valleyview Secondary. “It is safe to say that the impact of this event was felt from the first moments of the Opening Ceremonies, through the workshop opportunities, to the power of the Sage Hills drummers at the mini pow-wow in the VSS gym, and to the closing ceremonies. We are so proud to have hosted Indigenous youth from all over BC, Kamloops, and the District who will tell stories in their own communities of their shared experiences here in Kamloops.”

Thank you to the BC Association of Aboriginal Friendship Centres and all the event organizers for offering this incredible event for Indigenous students across the province to gather and learn here in Kamloops.

School Bus Safety Week

Fri, 24 Oct 2025 22:00:00 GMT

Story provided by Chelsea Isenor, Director of Communications and Board Administration

October 20–24, 2025 is School Bus Safety Week — a week that aims to raise awareness and remind parents and community members of the importance of student safety on and around school buses and public transportation.

Student safety is the Kamloops-Thompson School District’s top priority. The District’s Transportation Department operates one of the largest student transportation systems in British Columbia. Our district transports approximately 4,700 students on 84 different school buses and travelling 9,100 kms per day, and coordinates over 3,700 field trips throughout the school year.

Keeping students safe on and around school buses is everyone’s responsibility — staff, bus drivers, students, parents, and the community. Elementary students are provided with School Bus Safety Training every year, but it is also important for drivers to understand school bus safety. Remember, drivers must come to a complete stop if they see an extended stop arm and/or red lights flashing on a school bus. When a school bus’ overhead lights are flashing yellow, drivers should be aware that the bus will stop soon to pick up and drop off students.

This year on School Bus Safety Week, we connected with the SD73 Transportation department to learn more about school bus drivers’ memorable moments and safety tips.

What do you enjoy most about being a school bus driver?

The satisfaction of doing something worthwhile and knowing you make a difference in students’ lives every day.

How do you build positive relationships with the students you transport?

Being fair and consistent with expectations (almost every school bus driver stated this!).

Ensuring that you say Hellos and Goodbyes to every student, whether they respond or not.

Treat every student with respect.

What are some of the most important safety rules students should follow on the bus?

Stay seated and no “seat-jumping” (overwhelming favourite from most school bus drivers).

What do you wish more drivers on the road understood about school bus safety?

Every bus has someone’s “special package” on it.

Understanding that the vehicle dynamics of a bus are completely different than that of a passenger vehicle — we do not stop “just like that” when you pull in front of us.

Thank you to all SD73 school bus drivers who keep students safe on the road every day! Your commitment and care make a significant difference in the lives of our students, not just during School Bus Safety Week but all year long.

Youth Train in Trades Build a Dream Home in Clearwater

Fri, 14 Jun 2024 21:30:00 GMT

The Kamloops-Thompson Board of Education is committed to community engagement with partners who can come together on learning opportunities that inspire students to thrive.

On June 12, 2024, nine Grade 11–12 Clearwater Secondary students and two local community members came together to share the “Dream Home” they’ve been building since February. Under the instruction of TRU's Tim Kasten, this group participated in the Carpentry Youth Train in Trades Level 1 program, offered through the synergistic partnership between the District of Clearwater, Thompson Rivers University, Borrow Enterprises, SkilledTrades BC, and the Kamloops-Thompson School District.

Trustee and Councillor Shelley Sim, stated, “I appreciate Leslie Groulx being the original catalyst who developed a team of partners who were committed, including Doug Borrow of Borrow Enterprises who provided the lot and foundation. Thank you to the adult community members who contributed their time and talent as mentors for the nine students in the Carpentry Youth Train the Trades program.”

Through this SD73 Career Development Program, students gained hands-on experience, developed foundational skills to guide them in future careers, and completed their Level 1 Carpentry program.

After viewing the house, Superintendent Dr. Rhonda Nixon shared, “This is an incredible dream house, which shows how when students can see the results of theoretical learning, it makes academic study relevant and engaging.”

Director Richard Kienlein expressed, “This positive result could not have happened without Mr. Dwayne Geiger, TRU Partnership Coordinator, and TRU instructor Tim Kasten who was extremely patient and generous with his time to mentor students through challenging parts of the build and academic coursework.”

The Clearwater Carpentry Training House project highlights the importance of making learning relevant and connecting it to community housing needs. Students could see the results of their learning and developed a close bond with each other and their mentors, while being pushed out of their comfort zone and creating lasting memories of their high school experience.

Trustee and Councillor Shelley Sim, whose son participated in the program, added: “The program inspired him to want to study, to perform well and to learn all that he could. His experience was so positive that he is looking forward to continuing with level 2 and beyond at TRU after high school.”

The Kamloops-Thompson School District Career Development Department offers a variety of programs and training to support student’s career and professional development. As outlined in the 2022-2027 District Strategic Plan, the goal of the Career Development priority is to ensure every learner will graduate, know who they are, and have plans for who they aim to become through their career pathway.

South Kamloops Secondary Students Won the 2024 National Ethics Bowl in Winnipeg

Mon, 06 May 2024 20:30:00 GMT

Congratulations to South Kamloops Secondary School (SKSS) students, who have won the Canadian National Ethics Bowl in Winnipeg on May 4, 2024. The Canadian Museum for Human Rights hosted twelve finalists of the approximately 150 original teams in a competition that occurred over an intense two days.

“We are so proud of the South Kamloops Secondary School Ethics Bowl Team taking home the title of National Champions in 2024!” shared Superintendent, Dr. Rhonda Nixon. “SKSS joins the NorKam Senior Secondary team who were National Ethics Bowl champions last year. This is a significant accomplishment two years in a row.”

Among the winning team were Grade 10 and 11 students: Jorden Atherton-Wyatt, Maeve Belomon, Izumi Heyland, Ava Rieger, and Yusra Rahman. SKSS teacher, Mr. Graeme Hallett supported students by being their mentor, coach, and key supporter during challenging moments. The depth of the team’s philosophical knowledge put into practice, their ability to support each other’s statements, and their unflappable demeanor were some of the key facets that made the difference over the course of the competition. “They worked hard for this,” said Hallet, “They’re amazing.”

An Ethics Bowl is both a collaborative and competitive event, where teams discuss current ethical dilemmas of social, political, economic, scientific, or cultural nature. Prior to the day, all “bowlers” research and develop the cases and arrive at the Ethics Bowl prepared to discuss their ideas and to listen to other perspectives.

Students were evaluated on communication, use of relevant information, critical thinking, and collaboration, among other academic skill sets. Some examples of the issues SKSS competitively discussed were: civil disobedience, AI art, compassionate robots, territorial acknowledgements, and the monarchy.

"Ethics bowl participants must be able to give and take criticism without hostility, which requires considerable discipline. When flaws in ideas are revealed, participants need both the knowledge base and the intellectual flexibility to modify complex ideas in real time. They navigated these challenges with grace and swift intellect,” said Graeme Hallet, teacher.

“I stayed in touch with Mr. Hallet throughout the three days they were in Winnipeg,” said Walt Kirschner, Principal. “It was very exciting to have a South Kam team participating at a national level event, and then to win the event with such a young team was amazing. Our Titan Nation is so proud of the courage, resilience, and dedication that our students and sponsor teachers displayed with this national championship performance.”

“It is an amazing accomplishment for this team and the district. I am so proud of the staff who supported them, and the students who developed their collaborative skills to such a high level,” said Bill Hamblett, Assistant Superintendent of Secondary Education.

How a Summer Trades Job Pays Off for Students

Thu, 03 Jun 2021 16:30:00 GMT

Families of students working in trades-related summer jobs need to know their students can earn more than wages. They can also earn credit toward their high school diploma, credit for apprenticeship hours, and a $1,000 Youth Work in Trades Award.

“We want families to know that if they have a student aspiring to work in a trade, there are more benefits available through their trades-related summer job than the money they will earn,” said Rob Wielgoz, District Principal, Trades and Transitions.

A student with a summer job in a trade can qualify for additional benefits if they are:

working with a certified trades person,
doing work related to a trade,
working in a workplace covered by WorkSafe BC,
being paid via a paycheque or an honorarium.

“Students who work alongside a certified tradesperson can make those hours really pay off,” said Wielgoz. “Maybe the job is in a kitchen, or on a construction site, or with a landscaper, or in a salon. There are so many ways students can earn hours that will help them qualify.”

For every 120 hours they work in a certified trade, a student earns the equivalent of one high school course (4 credits), up to a maximum of four courses (16 credits).

Students who complete 900 hours of trades-related work and graduate with a C+ or better average will receive a $1,000 award from the government for trying a trade.

If a student pursues an apprenticeship in the same industry, the Youth Work in Trades hours can be applied towards the work hours they require to become an apprentice.

To receive these additional benefits through the Youth Work in Trades program, students will need to register by September 30, 2021.

Students can talk to their school's Trades and Transitions coordinator, or email the Trades and Transitions team: tnt@sd73.bc.ca.

Superintendent's Update

Fri, 22 Apr 2022 23:00:00 GMT

Dear Parents and Caregivers:

Today is Earth Day, which reminds us that on April 22 annually people internationally acknowledge the importance of sustaining our natural resources and environment.

NorKam Senior Secondary

NorKam Senior Secondary is one example in our district of how school leaders go beyond celebrating Earth Day as a single day to developing a culture committed to the sustainability of environmental resources. Principal Brady honoured Grade 12 students in Ms. Epp’s Chemistry 12 class who completed a “Climate Change Action Project” in second term. These students investigated climate change problems, researched root causes and possible solutions to them, and then acted on and shared with others what they found. Developing competencies such as critical and creative thinking, communication, and environmental stewardship by solving such challenges nurtures students’ curiosity to pursue innovative environmental projects. The school leadership team has been highlighting outstanding projects such as “Monkey to the Rescue” about ecosystems, endangered animals, and deforestation. Ongoing celebration of students’ climate change research honors the spirit of Earth Day which is to see every day as a celebration of our Earth’s precious resources.

Communicable Disease Prevention Plan

On April 20, 2022, we revised our District’s Communicable Disease Prevention Plan which enacts safety measures in the Provincial COVID-19 Communicable Disease Guidelines for K-12 Settings, Provincial Health Officer orders, and public health guidance from BCCDC and Interior Health.

Summary of safety measures that will continue in schools and district facilities:

Daily health awareness check (language change from Daily Health Check), which refers to staying home when sick
Practice hand hygiene and respiratory etiquette
Continued regular cleaning and disinfecting of frequently touched surfaces, including water fountain mouthpieces
Practice strategies to create space between individuals when gathering or working together while also adhering to preferred educational approaches
Sign in for visitors, but the additional information (i.e., whether you have done a daily health check) and/or contact information is no longer required by public health
Wearing a mask is a personal choice, which is to be supported and respected
Going on field trips and avoiding locations that place additional safety measures that could cause some students not to participate

Enjoy time with friends and family as you enjoy the outside and some rest and rejuvenation.

Rhonda Nixon, PhD

Superintendent

How Health Checks Work

Fri, 18 Sep 2020 22:15:00 GMT

For parents or caregivers with questions about the Acknowledgement to Complete Daily Health Check, it’s worth taking a closer look at what they need to know about assessing the health of their child(ren) every morning. This is what they acknowledge actions they will take regarding key symptoms of illness, if there is a confirmed contact with COVID-19, or if there is international travel.

Key Symptoms of Illness

What does that look like, and what happens if a child has one of the symptoms, such as chills or a cough? The simple answer is that for all the listed symptoms, excluding fever, parents acknowledge they will keep that child home for 24 hours from when the symptoms started. If the child’s condition improves and the child is feeling well enough, they can return to school. Parents should seek a health assessment if: the symptom persists, or worsens; if the symptom is a fever; or if the child has more than two symptoms.

Students who experience seasonal allergies or other key symptoms that are related to an existing condition can continue to attend school when they are experiencing these symptoms, as normal. If they experience any change in symptoms, they should seek a health assessment.

Here is the list of symptoms parents and guardians are asked to check for:

Fever
Chills
Cough or worsening of chronic cough
Shortness of breath
Loss of smell or taste
Diarrhea
Nausea and vomiting

A health assessment includes calling 8-1-1 or a primary care provider like a doctor or nurse practitioner. If a health assessment is required, the child should not return to school until COVID-19 has been ruled out and symptoms have improved.

Confirmed Contact

If a child is a confirmed contact of a person who is confirmed to have COVID-19, parents acknowledge they must keep the child home, self-isolate, and take direction from Public Health.

International Travel

If the child(ren) have returned from travel outside of Canada in the last 14 days, parents acknowledge the child(ren) will stay home and self-isolate for at least 14 days from their arrival in Canada; or 10 days after the onset of symptoms, whichever is longer.

Children and Families Benefit from New Accessible Playgrounds

Tue, 10 May 2022 15:45:00 GMT

Students at Ralph Bell and Heffley Creek Elementary Schools will be able to play on new accessible playgrounds in the coming year.

Each school will receive a new, accessible playground based on universal design principles to make sure they are inclusive for all elementary-aged students regardless of ability.

Valued at $165,000 each, the playgrounds are two of 30 ministry-funded playgrounds in 24 school districts throughout B.C.

Safer, more efficient systems

In addition, the Ministry of Education approved several other minor capital projects submitted in the District’s Annual Five-Year Capital Plan. HVAC upgrades are planned for Sa-Hali Secondary, Westsyde Secondary, and South Kamloops Secondary and an electrical upgrade for NorKam Senior Secondary.

New buses for a growing district

The District has also received the go ahead to purchase five buses, ranging in size from 70-75 seats models to 80 seat models, and valued between $158,232 and $195,084. To address the 13 catchment changes, SD73 will require three additional bus routes and the expansion of a fourth route in Dallas/Barnhartvale beginning September 2022.

Read the ministry release here.

SD73's 2022-2023 Draft Annual Budget Revealed

Wed, 06 Apr 2022 18:30:00 GMT

School District No. 73 (Kamloops-Thompson) Board of Education presented its draft budget and priorities for the upcoming school year.

An estimated $207 million, the 2022-23 Annual Budget is comprised of three different funds: Operating, Capital, and Special Purpose.

Operating Funds are approximately 84% of the overall annual budget and are dedicated to staffing, programming, supports, and services enabling students to meet or exceed literacy and numeracy expectations, to transition grade-to-grade on time, and develop competencies to achieve their life goals through career programming. Operating funds also enable sought-after programming such as the RCMP Youth Academy. These experiences exemplify how SD73 supports learning opportunities and environments for students to thrive.

Capital Funds comprise approximately 6% of the overall annual budget and support facility upgrades, childcare spaces, and purchasing of portable classrooms. Exceptional growth in the community and region has put unacceptable pressure on a number of neighbourhood schools. With enrolment numbers climbing by the equivalent of a medium?- sized elementary school each year, SD73 has required 13 school catchment area changes since April 2021 and the re-opening of two schools in five years.

Special Purpose Funds are 10% of the overall annual budget and are targeted by the Ministry to their intended purpose such as CommunityLINK (e.g., food security), Classroom Enhancement Fund (Teachers), Support Staff Learning Improvement Fund (Certified Education Assistants), Early Learning (e.g., Seamless Day), Mental Health, and School Generated Funds (school activities, fundraisers). These targeted funds provide much-needed services and should ideally be part of operating funds.

Key initiatives:

Growth:

Enrolment, Safety & Cost Pressures:

Teacher Staffing
Additional custodians for increased space
Continued COVID-19 enhancements – day-shift custodians and MERV13 HVAC filters
Cost escalations – benefits, fuel, parts, utilities, custodial supplies

2022-2023 Draft Annual Budget – Summary
	Amount
Operating Fund	173,117,257
Capital Fund	13,486,863
Special Purpose Fund	20,534.89
	$207,139,013

Please review the 2022-2023 Draft Annual Budget and offer your feedback at budgetfeedback@sd73.bc.ca by April 19, 2022.

Board Notes from October 21, 2024

Thu, 24 Oct 2024 21:30:00 GMT

From the regular meeting of the Board of Education. All about Mental Health in Schools, Inclusive Education Staffing, and United Way Communication. Read Board Notes here.

Fluid and Emergent Response for Evacuees of the Nicola-Similkameen School District

Fri, 26 Nov 2021 22:30:00 GMT

Kamloops-Thompson School District’s response to families and staff evacuated from Merritt last Sunday has been fluid and emergent.

A team of counsellors, school and family consultants, mental health clinicians, and social emotional learning coordinators have been supporting the counsellors in SD58. “Not only are these counsellors charged with supporting the students, but they have been impacted by the floods themselves,” Mochikas said to the Board of Education at Monday’s regular meeting. “A number of check-ins are occurring as well with SD58 staff to identify their families that could benefit from extra support.”

Because of the volume of evacuees accessing Emergency Support Services (ESS) in the immediate aftermath of the worst flooding Merritt and surrounding areas have ever experienced, the @KOOL gym at 1770 Springhill Drive was opened on Saturday, November 20 to feed and clothe evacuees in the interim.

“The response from the Kamloops community has been overwhelming,” Mochikas said.

Schools participated in a short but effective campaign to adopt a Merritt family. The response in less than 5 days has been so great that the @KOOL gym has reached its capacity for donations and is only able to accept donations of cash and gift cards. Evacuated families continue to drop by to pick up items, with special efforts being made to ensure requests for specific necessities are met.

“I want to express my gratitude,” Chair Grieve said. “I had an opportunity to speak with Education Minister Jennifer Whiteside on Friday afternoon and we were able to talk about the response thus far and the things that we were doing, and her appreciation to our District. I can say, as a Board, we have the right people working for us because it is your team and the staff talking to families and being there that has made it all possible.”

On Saturday, Superintendent Rhonda Nixon was in line at a store to purchase items for Merritt families. “A woman in line voluntarily purchased $400.00 in gift cards. What struck me was her words-that if everyone does something, then the families can get through this,” Superintendent Nixon shared.

In addition to extra support such as food, toiletries, and clothing, district and school staff from both SD73 and SD58 facilitated the evacuated families’ connections with community supports such as MCFD, Child and Youth Mental Health, and Nicola Family Therapy to build capacity in the community as this is a long-term adjustment for families. On-going support will be needed.

A parent resource page has been set up for evacuees along with a dedicated email address to connect them with the supports they need. The District Parent Advisory Council (DPAC) has volunteered to staff the donation centre at @KOOL, Sa-Hali students have been on-site sorting donations, and the students from the First Steps Program have made chili to feed the evacuees.

Because the students, families, and staff of SD58 have been evacuated to eight different cities throughout the interior, SD58 administration is sharing the parent resource page to all of its families so that families get the support they need.

“This community, not just Kamloops, but the entire Kamloops-Thompson School District community has responded in a huge way to help these families and it is pretty amazing to witness,” Mochikas said.

Some Students' Perspective on Pandemic Safety

Wed, 03 Feb 2021 16:00:00 GMT

We know the pandemic is very much on students’ minds when we see this media arts stop-motion video using Lego blocks and figures, created by students at Kamloops School of the Arts.

As a Lego student goes into the school building, the message is, “My mask is always on when I am around others outside my cohort or family.”

The next scene has students lining up to wash their hands, and the thought bubble is saying, “I sanitize my hands whenever I enter a new space.”

A sign indicating the next structure is a bathroom says “Bathroom capacity: 1 person, stop the spread of COVID 19,” as a figure approaches, sees the bathroom is occupied and waits. The message is, “I obey all signs showing direction to walk, capacity, and regulations in place.”

Now the figure is in the bathroom, which has two stalls, but one is closed, with a sign that says “Closed for COVID 19 Safety.”

Several figures are then seen staying well apart, both standing and walking down a hallway, with the message, “I keep as much distance as possible between me and those outside my cohort.”

Now inside a classroom, two figures are working at desks with a barrier of blocks between them. The message, “When a barrier is used, I stay on my designated side as much as possible.”

In a humourous aside, the two figures attempt to climb the barrier as it grows taller, and the message shifts tone briefly – “(Unlike these two…)”

And the last scene has a person sitting at a desk, appearing to cough and sneeze. The message, “If I were to ever develop symptoms of COVID-19, I would notify all the necessary…”

And the final sound, as the scene goes black, is of a phone being dialed and then ringing, as if the person is now calling the people who need to be notified.

Board Notes from November 6, 2023

Wed, 08 Nov 2023 20:00:00 GMT

From the inaugural and public meeting of the Board of Education. All about Class Size and Composition Web Form Report and Naming of the New School in Pineview Valley. Read Board Notes here.

SD73 & Kamloops Regional Partners Sign VTRA Interagency Protocol

Tue, 10 Dec 2019 21:30:00 GMT

School District No.73 (Kamloops-Thompson) in conjunction with the Ministry of Education and Safer Schools, has developed a specialized Violence Threat Risk Assessment (VTRA) Protocol to address the need for a multi-disciplinary approach to potential threats in schools and communities.

Representatives from SD73 and its five partners from the Ministry of Children and Family Development, Lii Michif Otopemisiwak Child and Family Services, Secwepemc Child and Family Services, RCMP Kamloops Detachment and Kamloops Fire and Rescue signed the agreement and declared their continued commitment to participate in specialized VTRA training and the Protocol’s implementation in future emergency situations affecting schools and communities.

By signing the protocol, the partners pledge to involve children, youth and their families in planning for services and supports and to recognize that each child and youth has unique strengths and needs that should be considered when developing an appropriate support plan.

“Our work together is a process of learning, listening and understanding one another,” said Alison Sidow, Superintendent of Schools. “We are committed to working together to help children and youth become happy, healthy, active, involved, and caring members of the community.”

The Protocol’s development reflects multi-disciplinary, scientific research which includes insight from medical and mental health professionals, law enforcement and specialists in the field of threat management. The Protocol has been adopted by organizations across the country including mental health institutions, police services, children’s aid societies, probation offices and hospitals. The Protocol promotes common language and understanding of the VTRA model, makes use of a broad range of expertise and solidifies the importance of timely collaboration about children or youth who pose a risk of violence towards themselves or others.

World Teacher Day

Tue, 04 Oct 2022 18:45:00 GMT

October 5 is World Teacher Day, and this year’s theme is The transformation of education begins with teachers.

“The United Nations (UNESCO) recommended this theme to honor the efforts made by those teachers during the pandemic COVID-19,” said a World Teacher’s Day website. “...[P]eople were depressed and scared. However, it could not destabilize the dedication and courage of our teachers.”

Teacher DeNara Levin has just started her third year at Blue River Elementary School in Blue River, and she loves seeing her students enjoy ‘aha moments’.

“It’s eyes closed, head tilted back, and then they say, ‘Oh, I got it,’” she said. “These moments are a large part of why I became a teacher.”

Levin is enjoying the fact that she has begun her profession in a rural school. She is the only teacher at the school, and she teaches Grades 4-7. There are 7 students in her class.

“It’s an opportunity to really get to know the kids, and to follow them in their growth as students,” she said. “I really want to encourage teachers to consider working in a rural school. Among other things, you get the benefit of being closer to your students.”

While acknowledging how hard it has been to teach through the pandemic, Levin says it’s time for teachers to reconnect with the joy that brought them into teaching.

“COVID protocols can take the fun out of it, but now we can remember the joys of teaching, the things that got us into this job in the first place,” she said.

She gets to see lots of ‘aha’ moments in her classroom, particularly in mathematics, and she works with a whole brain teaching system called Super Improvers to keep her students motivated. Whole brain teaching is designed to activate the brain and maximize engagement in a highly energetic learning environment. The idea is to keep things interesting so students don’t become bored.

“I reward students when I see even small improvements,” said Levin. “with such a big age range in the classroom a student might be sad about their abilities compared to an older students’ and it is important to teach them not to compare themselves with others. Rewarding small improvements can build self-esteem.”

Individual students or the whole class can earn stars by following rules like raising their hand, moving quickly into another lesson, or making the team stronger by helping the class. As they earn stars, students can earn small amounts of money they can use to buy a dollar store toy (provided by the Clearwater PAC) and apply their math skills; or they can earn an extra five minutes of playing time. The class can also earn a class party.

“It’s okay not to know, but it’s not okay to not know and not try,” said Levin. “Mistakes are proof you are trying and learning.”

SD73 Celebrates International Day of Sign Languages

Fri, 22 Sep 2023 16:30:00 GMT

To provide insight into the daily realities of learning in SD73 for Deaf and hard of hearing students, one student, Aiden Coyle, wanted to share his lived experiences with sign language as not only a tool for learning but a tool for communicating, developing relationships and connections, and growing holistically as a learner who thrives academically, socially, and emotionally in our classrooms. Aiden also emphasized the importance of working with educators such as Melanie Thomas, an itinerant teacher for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing within SD73, who supports students across multiple schools and guides teachers and certified educational assistants in accommodating the students.

Aiden Coyle, a SD73 grade 10 student who has profound bilateral hearing loss and relies on hearing aids, has called American Sign Language (ASL) his first language for the past 14 years. For Aiden and many in the Deaf community, ASL isn’t just a means of communication; it’s a cultural identity, hence the capitalization of the term “Deaf”. ASL empowers Deaf individuals to express themselves through visual storytelling by using facial expressions and expressive signing.

There are many ways of supporting Deaf and hard of hearing students. Coyle shared, “Access to interpreters is essential, though their availability varies between larger cities and smaller communities. Learning Deaf history and sign language promotes awareness and understanding. Treating Deaf individuals as equals and avoiding perceptions of them solely as “deaf” or “disabled” is crucial. Also, speaking naturally and avoiding oversimplification in communication is encouraged. Non-verbal methods like charades and assistance with writing and note-taking can benefit Deaf students, given potential communication fatigue.”

Melanie Thomas shared her personal journey, experiencing hearing loss in her early twenties, led her to a fulfilling career in Deaf education. "Initially aspiring to become an English classics teacher at the University or high school level, I shifted my focus due to my hearing loss," shared Thomas. “I obtained my Master's in Deaf Education from the University of British Columbia and relocated to Kamloops.”

ASL's roots are intertwined with French Sign Language, reflecting the diversity of sign languages worldwide, including regional variations within North America. “There is a different sign for “Mom” in British Columbia and a different sign for “Mom” in Alberta.”, signed Coyle. However, there is not one ‘universal’ sign language. While countries have different sign languages, Deaf people from different countries can communicate more fluidly, sooner, than two people speaking completely different spoken languages. ASL is the official language of the Deaf in Canada and the United States.

The history of ASL dates back to 1814 when Dr. Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet and Laurent Clerc founded the first deaf school, Gallaudet University, based on ASL's vocabulary and its own unique, but intact grammar. The Gallaudet University is still operational today, and is the only one of its kind in the world. It is located in Washington, DC.

Throughout history, efforts to suppress sign language, driven by the belief that everyone should exclusively use spoken language, resulted in trauma for deaf individuals. Despite these hardships, the resilience of those who cherished sign language allowed it to survive in secret, passed down from generation to generation. “The overriding theme here is that the language stayed alive, even though it was supposed to be formally eradicated. But the people that claimed that as their own, kept it alive underground, until it surfaced again, and blossomed again.”, said Thomas.

SD73 recognizes the significance of continued support and inclusion, as it aligns with our commitment to providing equitable opportunities for all students. Embracing sign languages not only bridges communication gaps but also celebrates the diverse range of human expressions. We honour the International Day of Sign Languages by fostering understanding, empathy, and inclusivity for all.

Thank you to Aiden Coyle and to Melanie Thomas for sharing their commitment to co-creating equitable learning opportunities for all students, which is a core value commitment in the 2022-2027 District Strategic Plan.

Superintendent's Update

Fri, 18 Oct 2024 23:00:00 GMT

Dear Parents and Caregivers:

Thank you for supporting as parents everything we do at the school level to ensure that students’ environments and learning opportunities are inclusive, caring, and engaging. When I meet students in schools and at District events, they often share stories of how much they enjoy school. Connecting and relationships is a core commitment of the 2022-2027 District Strategic Plan.

District Employee Engagement Results 2024

Thank you to the Transportation Department for their willingness to share the passion for what they most enjoy about their work last week, which is in this story now posted on our website.

George Hilliard Elementary School - October 11, 2024

Principal Topolovec shared how much she appreciates the supportive families and staff at George Hilliard. She highlighted how older students act as supervisors during recess and they take their responsibility to be positive role models very seriously.

They have committed to leadership training for these students, and their focus is on being kind and showing respect on the playground, in the field, and inside the school.

We started our classroom visits in Mr. Rhynold’s library, where he shared new resources and how much he enjoyed setting up the new space. We then met Steve Johnston who was cleaning in the hallway, and he stopped to share that he was a student at George Hilliard and pointed to his family home across the field. He was excited to share, “I really liked this school as a student because it was so connected to where I lived and we played every day. What makes this place even more special is that a Grade 6 student’s grandfather is the first custodian at the school.” The school has a sense of community and pride amongst students and staff that can be felt and it is evident in the stories shared.

Ms. Goddard’s Kindergarten students were listening to a read aloud of the picture book about giving thanks, which fit the time of year as it was right before Thanksgiving weekend. She shared how they had done a “wonder walk” and chose items from outside to make pictures for Thanksgiving. Ms. Ficke’s Grade 1-2 class was also reading about being thankful and locating the “tricky” words. Ms. Jacobsen’s Grade 5-6 class was focused on what happens in a soft start to share with the two teacher candidates Maddy and Marlee.

“Softs starts” involve activities that engage students in different ways: Monday–surveys, “Tech” Tuesdays, Wednesday–Math Games, Thursday–Art, and Friday–Reflections on important topics.

Bert Edwards Science and Technology School’s Annual Rivers Day – October 11, 2024

On Friday, October 11, 2024, Bert Edwards Science and Technology School hosted its 13th Annual Rivers Day. Students, teachers, staff, and community partners gathered along the banks of the North Thompson River to learn about Kamloops’ local rivers and waterways, Indigenous perspectives, industry connections, the science of rivers, and how everyone can impact local rivers in a positive way. Read more.

TRU Open House – October 19, 2024

The Systems Development priority outlined in the 2022-2027 District Strategic Plan includes a commitment to building community partnerships and we are proud to have a strong community partnership with Thompson Rivers University (TRU). Students, parents, and guardians are invited to attend TRU's annual Open House on Saturday, October 19, 2024, from 9 am to 2:30 pm. The TRU Open House offers an opportunity to discover over 100 booths, displays, and hands-on activities showcasing TRU’s wide range of programs. Read more.

District Parent Advisory Council (DPAC)

Welcome back to all Parent Advisory Council (PAC) volunteers. PACs are open to everyone connected to a child in school so if you are interested in joining, please reach out. The District Parent Advisory Council is here to help – visit the DPAC page on sd73.bc.ca for DPAC’s contact information, meeting schedule, and meeting Zoom link.

As you enjoy this weekend, I hope that you take well-deserved time to rest and relax, and to reconnect with friends and family.

Rhonda Nixon, PhD
Superintendent

Board Notes from April 12, 2021

Wed, 14 Apr 2021 19:00:00 GMT

From the regular meeting of the Board of Education. All about Long-Range Facilities Plan and Proposed Reviews of 4 Catchment Boundaries. Read Board Notes here.

Superintendent's Update

Fri, 07 Oct 2022 18:45:00 GMT

Dear Parents and Caregivers:

I am grateful for a wonderful first week of October and what promises to be a seasonably warm Thanksgiving weekend. This week, we celebrated World Teachers’ Day (October 5) and stories about value commitments in our 2022-2027 District Strategic Plan.

2022 Prime Minister’s Teaching Excellence Winner

Mr. Brandon Bell received his Certificate of Achievement sponsored by Ms. Sarah Gjaltema who said, ”When I saw this award, I thought of Brandon because of his innovative ways of engaging students in learning.” Principal Deb Piggin and staff, students, and parents at Marion Schilling Elementary School are proud of Mr. Bell’s accomplishments. Left to right: Dr. Rhonda Nixon, Superintendent, Ms. Sarah Gjaltema, CEA, Mr. Brandon Bell, 6/7 Teacher, Mr. Grant Reilly, Assistant Superintendent. Read more

Sharing Teachers’ Stories of Inspiration, Dedication, and Courage

In honour of World Teachers’ Day, we are celebrating teachers who shared their stories of why they entered and stayed in the profession, and how they continued to thrive because of their dedication and courage during the global pandemic. Ms. DeNara Levin illuminates the beauty of teaching and learning in Blue River. Read more

Savona Elementary School

Principal Galloway and I visited Ms. Regan’s Gr. 5/6/7 class who were engaged in making a Thanksgiving project, Ms. Walker’s Gr. 2/3/4 class who were solving equations, ordering numbers, and playing problem solving games, and Mrs. MacBurney’s and Mrs. Fulton’s K/1 class was engaged in letter-sound writing and reading activities.

Parkcrest Elementary School

Principal Gorman and I visited Ms. Shantz’s class who had designed their salmon art projects after going to the Salmon Run earlier in the week. Ms. Ellingsen’s class sang and drummed the welcome song and shared their Thanksgiving poems. Mrs. Bouchard involved Ks in examining emotions. We took part in multiple classes singing “Just One Candle” for Remembrance Day with Ms. Quast leading the choir. We also shared in the study of ““Stone Fox”” and Daily Five activities.

District Parent Advisory Council (DPAC)

Parents are invited to attend the DPAC general meeting on October 18th: Join the Zoom Meeting–ID: 849 6862 0676 Passcode: 456446.

Kamloops Thompson Children’s Honour Choir Auditions

Kamloops Thompson Children’s Honour Choir Auditions are taking place on Dec. 6, starting at 3:30 pm; please contact Cyndy Olsen to schedule an audition for your child. Ktchildrenschoir@gmail.com or cell 250-682-0303

Thank you for making our school start up a success. Take time to enjoy your family and friends this Thanksgiving weekend.

Rhonda Nixon, PhD

Superintendent

"T-Rex" Teacher Librarian Inspires Students to Thrive Through Goal-setting

Thu, 09 Feb 2023 20:30:00 GMT

In the 2022-2027 District Strategic Plan, our District Mission is to provide learning opportunities and environments that inspire students to thrive. Recently, Ms. Wendy Cachelin, Library Assistant at Aberdeen Elementary School, reflected on her experiences with the teacher/librarian, who is new this year at their school. Her name is Amanda Therrien, (Erin) but Ms. Cachelin said, “We all call her ‘T-Rex’, here at the school (staff and students) because this is her nickname from students at Brock Middle School from 2011.”

Ms. Cachelin explained, “Erin was on the National Swim Team of Canada for ten years, from her teenage years, and she qualified to attend the 2004 Olympic Games in Greece! When she went to the Olympics, her specialty stroke was the backstroke. She devoted many years to the sport and has many wonderful memories of swimming around the world for Canada.”

T-Rex currently is sharing all of her experiences with our classes here at Aberdeen. Specifically, she teaches "goal setting" and how important it is to have goals in life and the road to achieving those goals. She relates all of her experiences with her own goals and how it all led to her becoming an Olympian. She does a slide show of her swimming for Canada and talks about her successes and failures over the years. She teaches the students about picking themselves up again after disappointments and how to persevere toward their dreams. She talks about having realistic goals versus those that would not be, and how the smaller ones can lead to the big ones. She wants the students to learn about how to make themselves better at whatever they choose to do in life, and she is bringing important life lessons to many of our classes. She truly cares about making a positive difference for our students.

“Our classes listen with intent and are very interested in her journey as an athlete. The ones that didn't know that she had been to the Olympics, are impressed to learn that one of their teachers actually did that. One even reminded her that he wanted an autograph as he signed out a book! She has promised to bring many of her medals to show the students and she proudly shows her Olympic ring, which has the five Olympic rings joined together! The students love seeing it!” shared Ms. Cachelin.

As T-Rex relays her journey, they start to talk about what their own hopes and dreams are, and what they hope to achieve in life. The goal-setting lessons are wonderfully taught when you have the real-life experience of having gone to the Olympics yourself!

T-Rex is a vibrant addition to Aberdeen this year and the students love her. She is a powerful teaching force and she brings with her, the strong work ethic that comes from many years of training as an athlete. She is always willing to help with anything and gives her best efforts in our school. It is a joy to work alongside a colleague who brings so much of herself to everyone who is a part of our school.

The students here are very fortunate to have her. They come through the library saying, "Hi T-Rex", daily and you can tell how much they all enjoy her.

Biographical Note: That is my experience with working with Erin. Thank you, Wendy Cachelin, Library Assistant

Students Showcase Winning Projects at Provincial Heritage Fair

Fri, 30 Aug 2024 20:00:00 GMT

Story provided by Jessica Greenwood, Pacific Way Elementary Teacher

In the 2022-2027 District Strategic Plan, the Kamloops-Thompson School District is committed to supporting students to develop a sense of identity as individuals as well as cultural safety and humility in communities. This commitment extended into the summer months as students continued to participate in educational activities and events, including the BC Provincial Heritage Fair.

In May 2024, students in Grade 4 through 7 from schools across the District participated in the Kamloops-Thompson Regional Heritage Fair—a multimedia, multi-disciplinary annual event was developed to inspire students to learn the history of their families, their communities, and their cultures. From over 50 participating students, the top three entrants won an all-expense paid trip to Victoria to participate in the BC Provincial Heritage Fair in July 2024.

This year’s winning Elementary students, Emma Greenwood (Pacific Way Elementary, Grade 6), William Campbell (Dufferin Elementary, Grade 6), and Sage Benson (Lloyd George, Grade 5) traveled to Victoria, BC from July 2 to 5, 2024 to represent the Kamloops-Thompson School District in the BC Provincial Heritage Fair. At this annual provincial event, elementary and high school students from across BC get the opportunity to present their winning Heritage Fair projects and learn about Canadian history.

This year’s Kamloops-Thompson students confidently presented their projects to the public during the provincial showing at the Royal BC Museum. These three young historians were recognized for their efforts during an awards ceremony at the Wawadit’la House, where they were presented with certificates and letters of success on behalf of Premier David Eby and Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau.

Will Campbell, whose project was on the History of Canadian Dentistry, shared “I liked presenting my project and talking to all the people who came to look at it. It made me feel appreciated.”

Emma Greenwood presented her project on Nancy Greene-Raine and enjoyed staying at UVIC during the fair, saying, “It made me feel grown up. We got to walk around UVIC and see what going to University might be like.”

Sage Benson shared a project on Japanese Internment Camps and expressed “I liked meeting new people from different regions of BC, learning about Canadian history that I didn’t know about, and the opportunity to share my history to others.”

Following the excitement of the fair, students toured the British Columbia Parliament Buildings, visited the Fort Rodd Hill and Fisgard Lighthouse National Historic sites, and journeyed through downtown Victoria, all while connecting with other elementary students from various parts of BC.

Congratulations on your success, Emma, William and Sage. You represented our District admirably!

Superintendent's Update

Sat, 22 Jan 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Dear Parents and Caregivers:

Thank you to parents and caregivers who have been patient, kind, and responsive as we have lived through high student and staff absenteeism and functional closures. We appreciate everyone adhering to the safety measures, checking for symptoms, and staying home when ill. While working through an admittedly challenging time, we have proven that we are here for each other, as a district-school-home partnership.

École Lloyd George

When I visited École Lloyd George Elementary School, Principal Mme Carol DeFehr shared their administrative team’s aim, which emerged from reflecting on the Seven Grandfather Teachings - To build a community of Student Success by focusing on the teaching of Humility and Bravery. When we walked through the school and met with staff and students, Mme Michelle Cauchon, the teacher librarian shared how she, Library Assistant Mme Andrea Schafthuizen and Aboriginal Education Worker Mme Brenda Jules have enjoyed creating “Aboriginal Calendar Kits” based on significant traditional Secwépemc cultural events and practices. She explained how she was humbled by seeking input from the Knowledge Keepers in our community such as Jackie Jules, Cultural Coordinator at the Secwépemc Museum and Heritage Park and Quanah George, Tk? emlúps te Secwépemc Community Member. Mme Cauchon has enjoyed collaborating and is energized by making these kits. The kits are still evolving as artifacts are found for each month. Mme DeFehr stated that Mme Cauchon illuminates their school motto - “Our role has been to remind all that “On ne cesse jamais d’apprendre” (We never stop learning).

Consultation about Vaccination

Based on suggestions by the Vaccination Policy Committee, on January 10, 2021, the Board passed a motion to direct administration to collect voluntary self-disclosure of proof of vaccination from employees beginning January 24, 2022. A notice will be sent to all employees to provide steps for how to submit proof of vaccination. This past week, we consulted with employee groups, the Aboriginal Education Council, parents, and partners on a draft operations procedure to collect mandatory proof of vaccination.

Interior Health Thresholds and Letters

Interior Health has requested that districts send letters home when absenteeism thresholds are reached:

one or more classes in a school has/have an absenteeism rate of 25% or greater; and/or
a school’s absenteeism rate exceeds 10% of the historical absenteeism average for the school for two consecutive days.

When a family receives a letter based on their school reaching one or more of the above thresholds, the letter means that Interior Health’s “potential activity signal” criteria has been met. Reaching these criteria means that our district staff are in contact with the Interior Health Rapid Response Team to review what might be done to further mitigate spread of the virus.

When more than 25% of staff in a school are away, this is a threshold for our district and school leaders to enact our Continuity of Operations Plan. The Continuity of Learning Plan sets out the steps clearly for moving from face-to-face education with enhanced measures to one of three other scenarios, if necessary.

Safety Measures

The District Communicable Disease Prevention Plan continues to reflect any changes based on provincial safety measures and K-12 guidelines. Every school has a revised communicable disease prevention plan posted on their website. The BC Centre for Disease Control website is also a good resource for frequently asked questions related to COVID-19. We also have a Frequently Asked Questions section of our website.

Thank you for continuing to complete the daily health checklist or use the K to 12 Health Check App. As we continue to work collaboratively, thank you for your generous spirit, patience, and kindness.

Rhonda Nixon, PhD

Superintendent

Rob Schoen to Retire

Sat, 31 Aug 2019 00:15:00 GMT

Rob Schoen, Assistant Superintendent-Elementary, has announced that he plans to retire December 31, 2019.

His experience in education has spanned thirty-four and a half years across five school districts. Rob was a teacher in both elementary and secondary schools and held roles as vice-principal, principal, district principal and associate superintendent of human resources before becoming assistant superintendent in 2015.

In addition to overseeing the district’s 33 elementary schools, Rob has been responsible for the International Student Program and has served as vice-president of Global Education.

Recruiting will start immediately for a candidate to full fill the role of Assistant Superintendent-Elementary.

In announcing his retirement to the Board of Education on Aug. 26, Superintendent Sidow took the opportunity to thank Assistant Superintendent Schoen for his years of unfailing service to SD73. “He has been a tremendous advocate for children, staff and the education system,” she said. “I have appreciated his council and insight and enjoyed his great sense of humour. Rob will be missed by his colleagues and his friends at the school board office and by the teachers and school leaders he supported. I wish him and his wife Leslie all the best in this next phase of their life together.”

Parkcrest Fire Investigation Completed

Thu, 16 Jan 2020 23:45:00 GMT

Investigations into the cause of the fire that destroyed Parkcrest Elementary School on Sept. 5, 2019 are now complete.

A report summarising the investigations, conclusions and recommended actions was presented to the School District No. 73 (Kamloops-Thompson) Board of Education Monday evening. Kamloops Fire and Rescue (KFR) Chief Mike Adams was at the regularly scheduled meeting to discuss the findings.

The cause of the fire was undetermined due to the extensive damage and the instability of the scene once the fire had burned out. Investigations by KFR, Fire Pro Investigator, and the RCMP determined the fire started somewhere in the walls or in a concealed space between the drop ceiling and roof above four classrooms on the west side of the building.

The fire alarm in the school worked as expected, alerting the three staff members in the building before the smell of smoke or signs of fire were detected.

Superintendent of Schools Alison Sidow told trustees that a staff member assumed the alarm was false and tried to reset the panel, but it would not reset, Staff then evacuated and called 911. It is estimated the attempt to reset the alarm may have resulted in a loss in KFR’s response time of three minutes and 46 seconds.

“In the world of fire investigation, I’m told, that is a significant amount of time, enough time that the fire can gain some traction,” Sidow said, adding a recommendation to include annually reviewing with staff the use of fire panels and alarm systems is a priority.

“The result of the fire was devastating for students, teachers, and parents and we understand that events like this can create anxiety in the community about the safety of older schools in the district,” Chief Adam said. “The School District has done an exceptional job at maintaining and testing its fire detection systems, as well as regularly practicing safe evacuation procedures with students and staff.”

There was no evidence of foul play.

During the investigation process Superintendent Sidow became aware of three previous minor incidents involving smoke at Parkcrest in 2015. Although KFR determined these incidents were not connected to fire in Sept. 2019, KFR has recommended SD73 review and strengthen incident reporting processes, including updating criteria for notification to District administration.

Other recommendations from the report include more meetings between the district and KFR to ensure KFR has up-to-date site maps of all SD73 facilities, and the installation of lock boxes at all sites so emergency personnel can enter schools if there is no one on site, as well as continued upgrading of sprinkler systems throughout the district.

Although a sprinkler system may have saved 20 per cent of the school, Chief Adams believes the outcome would likely have been the same, and demolition of the entire structure would still have been necessary.

Sprinkler systems are currently in 40 of the district's 60 buildings. Plans are in place to install these systems in the remaining buildings, but the budget priorities must be balanced between new roofing and flooring.

Each year the district receives $3.5 million in grants for facilities projects for things like roofing, flooring and water systems. The next sprinkler system installation is planned for Kay Bingham Elementary at a cost of nearly $350,000.

“It’s rare for a community to lose a school to fire, and the Parkcrest fire can serve as a reminder to all of us of the importance of regularly practising safe evacuation procedures with students and staff,” Sidow said. “Hopefully the fire will also remind families and our broader community to have smoke detectors and fire safety plans for their homes.”

Adams is confident in SD73’s commitment to supporting safe schools, noting that each school is inspected annually and practises fire evacuation up to six times a year.

SD73 Celebrates our Volunteers on International Volunteer Day - Dec. 5

Tue, 05 Dec 2023 20:45:00 GMT

We prioritize the value commitment of building relationships/connections in the 2022-2027 District Strategic Plan. One important way in which we do this is to work with volunteers in schools and district departments. Although there are countless stories to share on International Volunteer Day, we are highlighting a couple from Barriere Secondary School.

Fine Arts

Principal John Tyler shared how appreciative he is of the support of volunteers in the Fine Arts. He highlighted how Glenn Andrews and Bonnie Grunion volunteer to lead their after school Strings program. He said, “Every Wednesday, these two lead 10-12 BSS students through a variety of lessons supporting their development with Violin or Cello. Glenn and Bonnie accept all musicians whether they are total beginners or experienced artists. They also lead the Strings program at Barriere Elementary School. The commitment of these two volunteers enables Barriere students to pursue music at the school.”

Athletics

He also shared how in athletics, Kiera Eustache, Angie Rainer, and Rae Bowser are three of the volunteers who coach sports at Barriere Secondary. He shared, “Kiera and Angie both coach at least two seasons per school year, and Rae coaches all three seasons (in fact last year she coached four different sports!). Kiera primarily coaches boys’ athletics as well as coaching at Barriere Elementary. Currently, Angie and Rae focus their time with girls’ athletics. All three coaches focus on using athletics as a vehicle to develop well rounded individuals first, while finetuning their athleticism as a secondary focus.”

To provide more stories about volunteers who make a difference in the lives of students and staff in your schools and to the staff in your departments, please submit them to: media_sd73@sd73.bc.ca

Barriere Senior Boys' BB Team's Historic Run

Fri, 28 Feb 2020 22:00:00 GMT

For the first time in 20 years, the Barriere Cougars’ Senior Boys’ Single A Basketball Team is heading to provincials. They will compete in Langley March 4-7.

“This is a huge accomplishment for past alumni, current students and future students. It shows that anything is possible if you work hard,” said Brian Tommasini, former athletic director at Barriere Secondary, and current vice-principal at Sa-Hali Secondary. “These players have given their blood, sweat and tears to get to provincials. This community has supported not only this team, but all the teams in Barriere for a long time. The school is at the heart of the community and athletics are the blood that pump through the heart.”

The Cougars have been building toward this opportunity for at least the last three years, with help from returning alumni who laid the foundation, coaches past and present, the staff, parents and the community.

“We have a group of five grade 12 students who have dreamed about this since grade 5,” said Barriere’s current athletic director, and senior boys’ coach, Travis Repka. “They have come so close over the past couple of years. There is an older brother who has missed this, but there are two other brothers who will get to go.”

Alumni Tyler Shilling plays basketball for Thompson Rivers University now, but his brothers Tyson and Tanner, and his cousin Spencer are part of the senior boys’ team.

Tommasini and Repka say basketball is important to Barriere. With 140 students, the school boasts six basketball teams, and the gym is always full and buzzing for games.

“These players have worked incredibly hard and deserve to be in the position that they are in,” said Tommasini. “I wish them the best of luck and believe that they will make huge waves at provincials.”

Barrier Sr. Boys’ BB Team 2020

Grade 12
Rowan Johnson
Aaron VanSickle
Tyson Schilling
Cameron Kerslake
Kash Sigouin

Grades 10 and 11
Tanner Schilling
Spencer Schilling
Kaden VanNieuwkerk
Mackenzie Jackson
Levi Kempter
Thompson Mitchell
Ty Hartman

Athletic Director

Ashley Shannik – pre-2016

Brian Tommasini - 2016 - 2020

Travis Repka - 2020

Coaches

Current - Travis Repka, Ian Mitchell

Past - Dusty Pawloff, Nick McInnes

Past - Ashley Shannik

Teacher sponsors

Kristy Dolha and Katja Hundt

Supporters

Community of Barriere

School staff

Moms

Jen Kerslake and Jody Schilling, who both work for the district, have sons in grade 12 on the team.

Superintendent's Update

Fri, 09 Sep 2022 22:00:00 GMT

Dear Parents and Caregivers:

Thank you for a wonderful start to a new school year. There is a renewed sense of positive energy for staff, students, and families in these first days back to school.

New 2022-2027 District Strategic Plan

I will continue to share district and school stories that show our new District mission in action– Supporting learning opportunities and environments which inspire students to thrive. Students thrive when we commit to four core values: connections/relationships, well-being, equity, sustainability, and the 7 Grandfather Teachings. In weekly updates, stories will highlight one core value and one Grandfather teaching.

September: Connection/Relationships and Humility

In September, I will highlight the importance of developing strong relationships and connections that strengthen learning and growth, and Humility–our ability to compromise and to be humble, and honour each other’s ideas, values, and needs.

New Playgrounds: Ralph Bell and Heffley Creek

Principal Jennifer Boyle of Heffley Creek Elementary School, commented, “It was so wonderful to see all of the families from the community enjoying the playground last week!” Playgrounds inspire students to connect to new and old friends while exploring these vibrant play spaces.

Students and parents have grown in their excitement as they watched the development of new playgrounds at Heffley Creek and Ralph Bell Elementary Schools.

In the picture (above), Facilities staff (from left: Vic Khara, Brad Simpson, Kodi Taylor, Steven Reekie, John Kerssens, Ken Spivak, Robin Hodgson, Quinton Harasemchuk) stand together as a dynamic and productive team.

The replacement of playgrounds, while seemingly straight forward, requires a dedicated and coordinated team approach. Quinton Harasemchuk, SD73 Grounds Manager, and the grounds crew spent approximately 3-4 weeks during the summer months to ensure the old playgrounds were safely removed from the sites and the sites were reviewed for proper drainage.

In the case of Ralph Bell Elementary, the site of the new playground structure required the installation of a minor retaining wall on the North side due to the sloping topography within the space, along with improvements to the drainage.

The SD73 grounds crew delivered over 100 tons of dirt to Ralph Bell to level the space. To ensure accessibility and safety for all students, Manager Harasemchuk and his team paved a walkway from the school building to the playground, installed engineered wood fibre around the structure, and ensured a rubberized coating was placed beneath the accessibility swing. Often when a project is initially planned, unforeseen work is required resulting in changes to the scope of the project, timeline for completion, and the budget.

As I learned about and reflected on their highly collaborative process and the complexities that arise as they engage in their projects, I am humbled by the sophistication of these projects involving intricate planning, designing, repairing, and building to cocreate what has become a magnet of student and family excitement.

I am grateful for all that this team has done to create learning opportunities and environments that inspire our students to thrive!

Communicable Disease Prevention Guidelines

We continue to focus on ensuring the health and safety of students and staff in our SD73 Communicable Disease Prevention Plan. Some reminders:

Stay home when sick
Practice the daily health check and follow health advice
Wearing a mask is a personal choice
Practice good hand hygiene (wash hands, use hand sanitizer) and good respiratory etiquette (cover mouth when coughing; wash hands after coughing or sneezing)

As we celebrate our first week together, please take that positive energy into the weekend with family and friends.

Rhonda Nixon, PhD
Superintendent

YMCA Child Care Opening at Parkcrest Elementary School in September 2025

Tue, 27 May 2025 18:30:00 GMT

The Kamloops-Thompson Board of Education is excited to announce that 28 full-day child care spaces for children ages 0 to 5, operated by YMCA BC, are expected to open at Parkcrest Elementary School in September 2025.

YMCA BC already has a strong partnership with the Kamloops-Thompson School District, offering after-school care at Rayleigh Elementary. With proven experience in providing quality child care services, YMCA Child Care provides safe and welcoming environments where children can stretch their skills in mind and body while building positive relationships with caring adults. Their goal to ensure continued enthusiasm and capacity for lifelong learning for each child aligns with the District's Strategic Plan.

The YMCA expects to have spaces licensed and available as of September 2, 2025 (license pending). Hours of operation will be Monday to Friday from 7:45 am to 5:00 pm. More information regarding YMCA Child Care can be found in the YMCA BC Early Years Handbook.

Parents and guardians who are interested in accessing child care at Parkcrest Elementary, must register through the YMCA, as they are the operators of the early years programs at this location, separate from our District.

YMCA WAITLIST & REGISTRATION PROCESS

To ensure a fair and transparent registration process, YMCA BC will open the Parkcrest Child Care waitlist from June 9 to June 23, 2025. During this period, all families who join the waitlist will be entered into a lottery, which will determine the waitlist order. Families who join the waitlist after June 23 will be added on a first-come, first-served basis. This approach allows all families time to receive the information and participate equitably.

Registration forms will be provided to parents once they are offered a space in the program. YMCA BC will not collect personal information beyond the waitlist form until that time.

Please contact interior.childcare@bc.ymca.ca with any questions. To learn more and join the waitlist please visit kamloopsy.org/childcare.

Kamloops-Thompson Board of Education Honours 2024 OWL Award Recipients

Thu, 27 Jun 2024 18:00:00 GMT

Story provided by Chelsea Isenor, Director of Communications and Board Administration

On Monday, June 24, 2024, The Kamloops-Thompson Board of Education celebrated this year’s OWL Award recipients – Annemarie Watts and Brent Buck.

The OWL Award for Excellence in Public Education was started by the Board of Education in 2016 to recognize and honor individuals, groups, and organizations that have enriched and advanced public education through their significant contributions that had system-level impact.

“One of the best parts of the year is when we get to honour individuals with OWL Awards,” shared Board Chair Heather Grieve. “It is my pleasure to present this year's awards to two people who we are excited to recognize, celebrate, and thank for their significant dedication and service to their communities.”

This year, the OWL Award committee had a record number of 14 applications. The nominated recipients have each made significant, system-wide, outstanding contributions to public education in the Kamloops-Thompson School District over a period of five years or more. This year’s two OWL Award recipients have each had a positive impact on the development of students, parents, teachers, staff, and their communities.

For over 25 years, Annemarie Watts has had a local, regional, and provincial impact on students and public education through secondary athletics. Having served as Chair of the SD73 Secondary Athletics Council and Director of British Columbia School Sports (BCSS), Ms. Watts recently received the 2023 BCSS Honour Award, recognizing a lifetime of distinguished service to sports and education.

Nominated by South Kamloops Secondary School Principal Walt Kirschner who shared in Ms. Watts nomination package: “I would describe Ms. Watts’ legacy as one that is student centered and guided by her passion to motivate and engage all her students in a manner that focuses on a lifelong commitment to health and recreation.”

With her passion for fitness, health, and well-being, Ms. Watts has impacted thousands of students and athletes throughout her career. She coached at all levels for multiple sports and designed and implemented innovative programming such as Super Fit (which was used District-wide), and was one of the trailblazers in creating and developing physical education classes for females who did not feel comfortable in regular PE classes.

“The committee found that your accomplishments had exemplary system-level impact because of your local, regional, and provincial contributions to secondary sports locally, provincially, and nationally. Thank you for your dedicated service,” shared Board Chair Heather Grieve.

Throughout his 40 years as an educator, coach, mentor, and community champion, Brent Buck has made a profound impact on the students, staff, and the community at Clearwater Secondary School (CSS). Mr. Buck started his career in education as an instructor in a pilot forestry program under a letter of permission. While attending post-secondary school to complete his Bachelor of Education, Mr. Buck volunteered weekly for three years, offering mentorship in classrooms at Clearwater Secondary and multiple high schools in the District to provide a foundation of forestry education. Due to his leadership, the Forestry Logging Program expanded within and beyond the Kamloops-Thompson School District with the province recognizing Mr. Buck’s contributions by sharing Board Authorized Authority courses in forestry and outdoor education.

Nominated by Clearwater Secondary Teacher Lisa Fraser, the CSS community showed their support at the awards ceremony wearing ‘In Buck We Trust’ t-shirts. In his nomination package, CSS Principal Darren Coats noted “Brent’s passion for learning and for instilling a love of learning in others is well known. He is both loved and respected by staff and students alike. I would in fact use the word legendary as an apt description of how he is viewed.”

Mr. Buck was a teacher who knew every student’s name and his shop classes were known to be welcoming and accessible for all with the motto “shop classes are for everyone.” His passion for including the community in projects, and contributing time and expertise to many organizations instilled communal values in students. His work as a TTOC after retirement demonstrates a continued commitment to students and his community.

“Your impact has local and regional effects on public education in his various roles within and beyond the District. What was compelling is how you selflessly offered your time, effort, and expertise, even when you were not yet qualified to teach but helped others refine their practices. Thank you for your service in SD73 and beyond and for making many students’ and teachers’ lives better through learning about forestry and outdoor education,” shared Board Chair Heather Grieve.

During the awards presentation, the honourees were surrounded by colleagues, friends, and family cheering them on. The energy felt in the room was a testament to the positive impact they have had on their communities throughout their careers.

Board Notes from August 31, 2020

Wed, 02 Sep 2020 17:30:00 GMT

From the regular meeting of the Board of Education. Find out about the Re-start Plan and an update on the Summer Learning Program. Read Board Notes here.

Board Notes from March 10, 2025

Mon, 17 Mar 2025 16:00:00 GMT

From the regular meeting of the Board of Education. All about District Anti-Racism Action Plan, Appointments to the Indigenous Education Council, and School Calendar Consultation and Approval. Read Board Notes here.

Board Notes from May 11, 2020

Fri, 15 May 2020 15:15:00 GMT

From the regular meeting of the Board of Education. All about Young Artists’ Virtual Gallery and return to school update. Read Board Notes here.

Parent Information Night: IB Middle Years Programme

Fri, 14 Feb 2025 22:00:00 GMT

Families of students in Grade 7 or Grade 8 in the Kamloops-Thompson School District are invited to attend an informational meeting for International Baccalaureate (IB) Middle Years Programme (MYP) at NorKam Secondary School.

The IB Middle Years Programme (MYP) is a globally recognized educational framework designed for students going into either Grade 8 or Grade 9 that fosters intellectual curiosity, critical thinking, and personal development. Rooted in the IB’s commitment to holistic education, the MYP emphasizes interdisciplinary learning, real-world application, and international-mindedness. Students engage in a rigorous yet flexible curriculum across eight subject groups, developing strong academic skills while also nurturing creativity, communication, and social responsibility. With a focus on inquiry-based learning, service as action, and the development of key Approaches to Learning (ATL) skills, the MYP prepares students for success in the IB Diploma Programme (DP) or other advanced academic pathways, while equipping them with the skills and mindset to thrive in an increasingly complex world.

Read more about the International Baccalaureate Programme at NorKam Secondary School here.

This information night will be held on Zoom on Wednesday, February 19, 2025 at 6:30 pm. If you are interested in attending, please register in advance here. Following your registration, you will receive the link to the meeting.

Career Education Events

Fri, 03 Mar 2023 22:45:00 GMT

In the Career Development Priority in the 2022-2027 District Strategic Plan, every learner will graduate, know who they are, and have plans for who they aim to become through their career pathway. To assist with this goal, career education events inspire students to learn and consider career pathways as described below.

Discovery Day: Health Care - February 24, 2023: Over 60 grade 10-12 students from throughout the district participated in the Discover Day in Health Care organized by Allisson Badger (District Career Education Coordinator). The students were supervised by Sheila Brown (District Trades and Transitions Coordinator) and Julia Carlson (Westsyde Secondary Career Education Lead teacher).

“At the SD73 Healthcare Discover Day, we got to expand our knowledge base in multiple healthcare fields through hands-on learning opportunities and invaluable input from real healthcare professionals. Our day was spent experiencing Thompson Rivers University’s Nursing Simulation Lab and the Respiratory Therapy program, hearing from a variety of professionals in the healthcare field, and meeting other highly driven students hoping to enter a health-related career. We greatly enjoyed and are extremely grateful for the opportunity to learn new skills in the state-of-the-art facilities and gain an insider perspective into our future career options.”

Marlee Harasemchuk and Milena Chambers

Thank you to Ms. Brown and Ms. Carlson for supporting students to achieve the Career Development Priority in the 2022-2027 District Strategic Plan.

Discovery Day: Rocky Mountaineer – March 2, 2023: SD73 Career Development partnered with Rocky Mountaineer for a brand new Discover Day. Students explored the local headquarters here in Kamloops and had hands-on learning experiences with the Operations and Mechanics department. Students got to tour million + dollar cars, start a GP40-2 locomotive engine, learn how to lift and lower an entire 250,000 lbs car onto a wheel hold...and more! Students enjoyed a unique hands-on experience that felt like "playtime with trains". Thank you Rocky Mountaineer for hosting a fantastic career experience. Thank you to Ms. Allisson Badger for supporting students to achieve the Career Development Priority in the 2022-2027 District Strategic Plan.

Regional Skills Competition, Jr. Skills, and Try-A-Trade – March 3, 2023: Over 200 students across the district spent the day at TRU either competing in the Regional Skills Competition or building trades-related projects and learning about trades. Learn more at: https://www.tru.ca/trades/events/skills_canada.htmlThank you to Ms. Kerry Gairdner for supporting students to achieve the Career Development Priority in the 2022-2027 District Strategic Plan.

Career Industry Fair- March 7, 2023: For grade 10 and 11 students who have an interest in the trades, there is an opportunity to learn more in the Industry Career Fair on March 7, 2023.Read more. Thank you to Ms. Kerry Gairdner and Mr. Rick Kienlein for supporting students to achieve the Career Development Priority in the 2022-2027 District Strategic Plan.

Brock Middle Participates in Instrumental Workshop

Mon, 11 Apr 2022 18:15:00 GMT

On Friday, April 8th, the Brocklehurst Middle School Grade 9 band enjoyed a morning of instrumental workshops at the McQueen Lake Environmental Education Centre.

Four well-known guest clinicians from the Kamloops musical community joined the group including Dr. Tom Eccleston working with the string basses, retired Valleyview music teacher Kathleen Alcock working with the woodwinds, French horn player Jacqui Shinkewski from the Solara brass quintet, working with the brass musicians, and Daniel Allen, principal percussionist of the Thompson Valley Orchestra, working with the percussionists.

Superintendent's Update

Fri, 25 Oct 2024 23:30:00 GMT

Dear Parents and Caregivers:

As we enter into the last week of October, we have enjoyed a month of celebrating Career Education, National Library Day (Oct 21), School Bus Safety Week and National Media Literacy Week (Oct 21-25), and Halloween (Oct 31). This month, we have focused on highlighting stories about equity (core value) and courage (Grandfather’s Teaching) in the 2022-2027 District Strategic Plan.

Clearwater Secondary School – October 18, 2024

Principal Darren Coates, Trustee Sim, and I visited classrooms at Clearwater Secondary School. Before we left the office, Ms. Fraser shared her work with student voice and belonging in the school. Mr. Coates shared that one way students create an environment of acceptance and belonging is an emphasis on student leadership to give back. Sienna, Audrina and Nylah work together along with other students, who are not in the picture, to plan, prepare, and serve breakfast and lunch for all students.

Students commented that they looked forward to meeting friends, having a break, and enjoying a wide variety of food (i.e., cheese, crackers, fruit, smoothies, waffles, eggs, and bacon). Mr. Coates explained that the Feeding Futures funding had enabled them to expand their meal options. Ms Christine Trainor, Custodian, collaborates with Mr. Coates to prepare meals because meals are a location for sharing in the joy of supporting others.

Ms. Haring’s Gr. 9 Social Studies class played a Kahoot to share what they knew about a parliamentary democracy. When the majority of the class answered questions correctly, they kept playing and when they answered a question incorrectly, it was a cue to stop and explore their misunderstandings. This formative assessment strategy was a fun way to learn.

Mr. Dhanoa’s Gr. 10 class worked in groups to solve for common factors in polynomial equations, and Ms. Lavigne’s Gr. 8 Science students were examining survey data about individuals’ choices of favourite foods.

We met with Caitlyn, a Gr. 11 student, who was in a Virtual Conference class studying Anatomy and Physiology. She said, “It is my preferred way to learn.” She explained that what made it successful for her was the teacher’s preparation of a Google classroom with all of the videos and readings, and the teacher’s availability to answer questions.

Mr. James helped Alex (Gr. 11 student) practice guitar, and Alex played a Nirvana compilation. We ended our visits in the Foods lab where students were completing their elective foods class.

Raft River Outdoor Education Classroom – October 18, 2024

On October 18, 2024, a beautiful celebration took place to celebrate the opening of the Raft River Outdoor Learning Classroom.

Principal Mathieu opened with an acknowledgment of the land in the unceded territory of the Secwepemc people specifically Simpcw First Nation in Secwepemcúl'ecw.

Ms. Scrivner’s Gr. 3 students and Mrs. Sills sang and drummed the “Welcome Song”, Mrs. Murray and Mrs Shook’s class had their children perform a read aloud of an Eric Carle picture book, and Mrs. Jaya’s class performed “Save the Trees”.

Trustee Sim honoured Ms. Elizabeth Shook, Julie Bonhemor, and Joline McLarty, and she thanked Director McDonald and the staff who assisted this team from the early days of planning the vision to bring it to fruition as an incredible outdoor learning space.

She listed the community partners who have contributed time, talent, and over $200,000 in funding to enable this dream to become a reality: Wells Gray Community Forests, the District of Clearwater, Clearwater Sikh Community, Nest Timber Homes Design, KM Documentary Films, Yellowhead Community Services, Rotary International Clearwater, KDC Forestry, Caitlin McIntosh Mortgages, Fleetwest, Chia-Wen Chang, Transmountain, Melissa Hole Personal Real Estate Corporation, Autumn Visher, Brendon Benoit, Wells Gray Home Hardware, Adam Nelson, Crystal Augustine, Bannister Pipelines, Moose Camp, Jen Belle, and the Raft River PAC.

Ms. Mathieu called up Ms. Shook to celebrate her accomplishments. Ms. Shook described her passion for this project by sharing, “The students will have the opportunity to connect with nature, experience hands-on learning, and lessons that are place based. Students will have opportunities to use the space to connect with community experts and members and engage in learning differently. The outdoor classroom will provide a launching pad for access to the Clearwater area and the learning it holds, from Raft River to the Park. I was able to witness first hand the benefits of outdoor education meeting the diverse needs of students. I have seen increased student motivation and a sense of accomplishment. Outdoor learning opportunities meet the needs of all students by offering different freedoms and flexibility. Learning outdoors provides the opportunity for movement and supports student regulation.”

Principal Mathieu closed the celebration by sharing, “This will continue to be an outdoor legacy of learning for not only Clearwater students, but also community members who will be invited to make use of it starting that night.”

I was privileged to be a part of this work three years ago when I learned about the concept drawings and witnessed how students were already learning in the pollinator garden and wetlands surrounding what is now this beautiful wooden structure. I am amazed at how quickly this idea became a reality and it will draw community members to it as a source of inspiration for gathering, ceremonies, and learning.

Students Discover Careers with Non-Profit Organizations – October 17, 2024

On October 17, 2024, 15 students from the Kamloops-Thompson School District participated in Discover Day: Community Impacts – Careers in Nonprofits, hosted by the District’s Career Development Department and Katie Hutchins from The Mustard Seed. Each year this Careers Discover Day offers Grade 10–12 students from schools across the District the opportunity to learn about community impact, non-profit careers, and volunteerism. Read more.

School Bus Safety Week – October 21–25, 2024

The Board of Education is committed to safety as a top priority in their commitment to student well-being in the 2024-2025 District Strategic Plan.

From October 21–25, 2024, school districts across the country observed School Bus Safety Week. The week aims to raise awareness and remind parents and community members of the importance of student safety on and around school buses and public transportation. Read more.

McGowan Park Students Build Birdhouses for Future Sníne – October 22, 2024

As the Kamloops-Thompson School District prepares to open its newest school, Sníne Elementary, students are helping to construct a unique part of the school. On Monday, October 21, 2024, Grade 6/7 students at McGowan Park Elementary received a hands-on lesson in bird house construction. Led by SD73 Cabinet Makers Becki Lamb and Fiona MacInnis, students built eight bird nesting boxes that will be installed around Sníne Elementary. Read more.

Brocklehurst Secondary Honours Master Carver Frank Marchand – October 22, 2024

On Tuesday, October 22, 2024, Brocklehurst Secondary School students, staff, and community members celebrated the work of Master Carver Frank Marchand and the five-year project he’s led carving cottonwood canoes with students.

Frank Marchand is a master carver from Sylix (Okanagan) territory with ties to the Secwépemc Nation through his father. Frank is one of very few carvers left in BC and since 2019 he has been sharing his skills and knowledge about canoe construction with students at Brock. Read more.

Board Notes

To learn more about the Regular Public Board Meeting on October 21, 2024, please feel free to read more.

District Parent Advisory Council (DPAC)

I hope that you have had a great week and plan to enjoy a restful, rejuvenating weekend.

Rhonda Nixon, PhD
Superintendent

Superintendent's Update

Fri, 24 Sep 2021 23:00:00 GMT

Dear Parents and Caregivers:

Truth and Reconciliation in Valleyview Secondary

COVID-19

Indoor events are not to exceed 50 persons present (spectators)
Outdoor events are not to exceed 100 persons present (spectators)

Interior Health vaccination clinics in secondary schools continue and are listed here.

Rhonda Nixon, PhD

Superintendent

Board Notes from Feb. 10, 2020

Thu, 13 Feb 2020 23:00:00 GMT

From the regular meeting of the Board of Education. All about how the Board gets behind KPAC and school calendar consultation is underway. Read Board Notes here.

Students Explore Art, Design, and Programming at the Digital Arts and Technology Academy

Thu, 13 Feb 2025 22:15:00 GMT

Story provided by Chelsea Isenor, Director of Communications and Board Administration

The Kamloops-Thompson School District aims to ensure that every student has programming opportunities to explore their passions and consider related career and post-secondary education pathways. The 2022-2027 District Strategic Plan outlines priorities to support students in Intellectual and Career Development, and one way the District supports these priorities is through offering specialized academies for students to explore their interest and passions, while developing core competencies to achieve their career, continuing education, and life goals.

In the first semester of the 2024-2025 school year, 19 students from schools across the District participated in the Digital Arts and Technology Academy (DATA). Since 2013, this district-wide academy has offered unique opportunities for Grade 11 and 12 students to develop relevant skills in digital art, computer programming, video game design, and project management.

DATA is a Trades and Transitions program that offers four specialized secondary courses – students attend the academy full-time for one full semester at Valleyview Secondary School. The scope of the program includes components of art, sound, music, video production, programming, design, and storytelling, as well as problem solving using mathematics and physics. After completing the program, students can apply to be granted credits for up to two TRU courses in the Computing Science Program.

Valleyview Principal Walt Kirschner, DATA program instructor Rebekah Barendregt, and DATA students recently shared their experiences in the program at the Regular Public Board Meeting on January 13, 2025. The students talked about building technical skills, working on creative projects, gaining relevant career experience, building a supportive community through collaboration, and shared a highlights reel of their projects – watch their presentation here.

When asked about their experience in DATA, students shared that it was “the best semester of school so far,” and excitedly talked about their project inspirations and how the program helped them work toward their future post-secondary education and career goals.

While in the DATA program, students had the opportunity to visit studios and schools in Vancouver to connect with industry professionals and experience collaborative working atmospheres they may consider in the future.

Through project based instruction and experiential learning, students have an opportunity to learn each aspect of video game design, from art and design to computer science and programming to game development, and then take on roles such as programmers, artists, and coders as they work in teams on their final game design projects. By the end of the semester students have created their own video game and built a portfolio of work that they can then build on in their future educational and career experiences.

Program instructor Rebekah Barendregt highlighted the value of having students work collaboratively throughout the semester, sharing “The best part of this program, for me, is the way the students get to come together and form this community. They might not all have the exact same interests, but they all have something in common. There is a really incredible sense of community that forms in this program. The pride they each feel in themself and their teammates, I’ve never experienced that teaching anywhere else, it's really rare.”

2019 - A Remarkable Year for SD73

Tue, 07 Jan 2020 17:30:00 GMT

For many of us 2019 will be remembered for the fire that destroyed the Parkcrest Elementary school in early September. We will also remember the many milestones and achievements of students and staff during this remarkable year. Looking back over the nearly 200 stories posted on our website, we know these capture only a small sampling of the amazing things happening in our district every day.

This year-in-review offers a compilation of the most compelling story of the year, How SD73 Restored the School Year in 11 Days. It also offers highlights from each month that reflect the way our efforts met our priorities during the year. These include ensuring every student acquires strong foundational skills and core competencies, and connecting students to their passions and interests. They also include honouring the Aboriginal worldview and perspectives, fostering an inclusive district culture, strengthening partnerships, and ensuring sustainable use of our resources.

In particular, we note opportunities for our learners through consultation, expansion and completion rates. The decisions to re-open Westsyde Elementary School and to keep the Westwold school open both included consultation processes with our communities in the early part of the year. The announcement of the expansion of ValleyView Secondary school in April and news from the Ministry of Education that we are seeing the highest completion rates ever among all our students including Aboriginal students, were high points.

JANUARY 2019

SD73 plans consultation to re-open Westsyde Elementary School this September

School District 73 began the consultation process to re-draw the David Thompson Elementary catchment area and re-open Westsyde Elementary School for September 2019.

Climate Change Activist’s Optimism Inspires Sa-Hali Students

The world’s most difficult challenges can be solved by the current generation of students, according to Steve Lee. He is a climate change activist, a United Nations policy advisor and the executive director of the Foundation for Environmental Stewardship.

FEBRUARY 2019

Students’ Voices will Connect us to Ancient Wisdom in Nature

Some Chase Secondary School students in Grades 9 - 12 participated in a provincial pilot program to create a new way of experiencing a B.C. park.

KSA Students' Performance with Foreigner a Crowd Pleaser

Kamloops School of the Arts students helped Foreigner Rock the crowd at the Sandman Centre Feb. 24.

MARCH 2019

Vancouver Foundation Grant for $246,000 Awarded to Four Directions Secondary School

The Vancouver Foundation awarded a $246,000 Systems Change Grant to the Four Directions Secondary School.

Steady and Prudent Business Management Means More for SD73 Students

Directors of the School District No. 73 Business Company (SD73BC), presented a $100,000 dividend cheque to the Board of Education at its regular Mar. 11 meeting.

Westsyde Elementary School to Re-Open September 2019

School District No. 73 Board of Education voted unanimously to reorganize the catchment area for David Thompson School and reopen Westsyde Elementary for the 2019-2020 school year.

KSA student wins 2019 Rotary Grade 6/7 Speech Contest

Mandisa Volo, a grade 7 student from Kamloops School of the Arts, won the 2019 Rotary Grade 6/7 Speech Competition in Kamloops. She won by beginning and ending with her own poetry.

Dust-Collectors, Boilers and Buses in Sight for SD73

School District No. 73 will target school safety, transportation and energy efficiency with the $1,781,139 funding announced by the Ministry of Education.

APRIL 2019

Valleyview Secondary School Expansion Announced

A sea of red greeted Rob Fleming, Minister of Education when he arrived at Valleyview Secondary to announce the Province spending $32.7 million for a significant expansion to the school by September 2022.

Putting Faith into Community Schools

A large heart remains at the centre of Clearwater’s shrinking Sikh community. Part of the proceeds from the sale of their temple, $40,000, were donated to Raft River Elementary ($10,000) and to Clearwater Secondary ($30,000) schools.

SSS Student Selected to Attend National Youth Summit

Sarah Seymour is going to Ottawa to lend her voice to the development of Canada’s National Youth Policy.

VSS Student Wins $25,000 Scholarship

Jonah Saemerow tapped into a difficult problem, suggested a solution, and was awarded a $25,000 STEAM Horizon scholarship.

MAY 2019

BC Architect Firm to Bring Cutting-edge Design to Valleyview Secondary Expansion

A British Columbian firm with over 80 years of collective experience will design Valleyview Secondary’s $34.45 M expansion.

Arthur Stevenson Students Win Golden Star Award

Arthur Stevenson Elementary School is one of six recipients of the Golden Star Award from the B.C. Retired Teachers’ Association.

Starfish Backpack Program Wins Award

Sally Zryd and Beth Dye, members of Kamloops-Thompson Principals and Vice-Principals Association, announced the Kamloops Food Bank was awarded the 2019 BC Principals' & Vice-Principals' Association Partnership Award.

JUNE 2019

Sagebrush Theatre Repairs Underway Immediately

School District 73, the City of Kamloops and Western Canada Theatre announced work begins on the repairs to the Sagebrush Theatre roof.

Recognition for Former Superintendent

Karl deBruijn, an educator and leader who spent 40 years with the school district received an honorary degree from Thompson Rivers University.

Story Trail with Secwepemctsin Language Students’ Voices

The Tsutswecw Park Story Trail featuring Chase Secondary students and teacher voices opens.

The Long-Awaited Launch for Brock Middle School Students

After months of carving and carting away wood chips, and learning about the Secwepemc culture and tradition that goes into its making, Brock Middle School launched their canoe.

JULY 2019

SD73 Students Among NYT 2019 Blackout Poetry Winners

Kamloops students Shreya Sharma and Gracie Dempsey are awarded poetry prizes.

SD73 Finalists for Premier’s Awards are Helping Build Community

School District No. 73 is well represented with four 2019 finalists chosen for the Premiers’ Awards for Excellence in Education.

SD73 and Kamloops Music Collective Announce Formal Agreement

School District No. 73 (SD73) and the Kamloops Music Collective (KMC) announce a formal agreement that will benefit Kamloops youth and SD73 students through music programs.

AUGUST 2019

Westsyde Elementary is Ready for Students

Students attending the re-opened Westsyde Elementary look forward to newly-refurbished surroundings. District crews spent about 9,000 hours renovating the structure this summer.

SD73 Takes Pride in Our Learners

The SD73 banner carried by district staff during the Kamloops 2019 Pride Parade says it all.

SEPTEMBER 2019

How SD73 Restored the School Year in 11 Days

When the Parkcrest Elementary School building was destroyed by fire in September 2019, the Kamloops-Thompson School District No. 73 team moved quickly to restore the school year for displaced students and staff.

United Way Names SD73 ‘Organization with Most Impact’

School District No. 73 was singled out at the United Way 2019 campaign launch for its contribution to ‘Feeding the Future.’

OCTOBER 2019

Jordan Smith Wins Premier's Excellence in Education Award

Kamloops Teacher Jordan Smith received a Premier's Award for Excellence in Education during a ceremony at Government House in Victoria Oct. 4.

Sa-Hali Secondary Designated as a UNESCO School

Sa-Hali Secondary has achieved international status as a UNESCO-designated school. It is one of only three schools in BC, and 90 in Canada to achieve this designation.

Fire Response Phase Two Rests with Maintenance Crews

Getting displaced learners and staff into the Happyvale building by Christmas is going to be a great present for everyone involved – in particular, for the SD73 Maintenance and Building department.

Aberdeen Playground Open

The wait is over for Aberdeen Elementary students, following a ribbon-cutting ceremony opening their new playground.

NOVEMBER 2019

Valleyview Secondary School Expansion Plans Revealed

Staff and some students at Valleyview Secondary were shown the initial version of the expansion plans for their school Nov. 27.

CUPE 3500 and SD73 Ratify Three-year Contract

The Canadian Union of Public Employees Local 3500 voted 85 per cent in favour to ratify a collective agreement with School District No. 73 (Kamloops-Thompson) on Saturday, Nov. 16, 2019.

Beth Dye Awarded RCGS Camsell Medal

TREC vice-principal Beth Dye was recognized for her outstanding volunteer work with the Royal Canadian Geographic Society at an event in Ottawa.

SD73 Completion Rates Reach All-Time High

Completion rates for students in School District No. 73 have reached an all-time high in the district, according to BC Ministry of Education stats.

DECEMBER 2019

SD73 & Kamloops Regional Partners Sign VTRA Interagency Protocol

Music Educator Honoured with Owl Award

Robert Hogeveen, a long-standing advocate for music education was recognized with the Owl Award for Excellence in Public Education for his contributions to learning throughout the region.

Students Sharing Good Cheer

‘Tis the season, and in schools across the district, students and staff are going that extra mile to give hope and comfort to those less fortunate.

Sound of Music Experience Resonates

Six district students lent their voices to the spectacular The Sound of Music production by the Western Canada Theatre (WCT), which wrapped up Dec. 10, following its last performance.

District Cleaning Strategy to Include Electrostatic Sprayers

Wed, 28 Oct 2020 21:00:00 GMT

School District No. 73 is developing a strategy to use electrostatic spray technology to disinfect schools.

“We are taking every step possible to keep students and staff safe in our schools,” said Rhonda Kershaw, Board Chair. “This spray technology will add another layer of cleanliness for high-touch surface areas in our buildings.”

An electrostatic sprayer adds a negative molecule charge to the disinfectant as it is being sprayed, making it cling to all surfaces, and slowing down the evaporation process. The electric charge slows the evaporation time, allowing a longer contact time before it evaporates.

The District will use the same products in the sprayers that have been chosen for use in cleaning schools during the pandemic. These products are approved by Health Canada and demonstrate that they are likely to be effective and may be used against SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus that causes COVID-19. The products are RMC Enviro Care Neutral Disinfectant and Wood Wyant Saber Vert2Go Concentrate.

The sprayers were tested at NorKam Senior Secondary over a weekend in mid-October while no one was in the building, to allow for maximum disinfecting effect and to see how long the spraying process would take, in the largest school in the district.

“The detail crew was able to disinfect the entire building in eight hours using these units,” said District Operations Manager Allen Blohm. “This means that If we ever have to disinfect a building because there has been a confirmed case, and under the direction of public health, we would be able to disinfect all surfaces in the building overnight, and we would not have to shut the school.”

Mike Diettrich and Rob Dejong are the SD73 custodian detail crew, fully qualified custodians with extra training and certifications in remediation, high lift work, tile work, floor repairs.

“When you mist a table using this sprayer, the spray wraps around the table and clings underneath as well, not like a regular spray bottle that works using line of sight,” said Blohm. “This method allows us to fully envelop whatever is being sprayed. Another feature of the technology allows for spray to be turned to very small droplets (110 microns) which means you can mist paper without causing moisture damage. So we can disinfect paper and other objects without damaging them.”

“As we can all imagine, the workload on our custodians has increased significantly during this pandemic,” said Dr. Terry Sullivan, Interim School Superintendent. “With winter approaching and the need for additional cleaning looming, the arrival of this spray technology will be very welcome in our district.”

Blohm said 57 sprayers, certified by the Canadian Standards Association (CSA) and other international organizations, will be delivered to the District in a few weeks. They will be distributed to schools for use by evening custodians to speed up the general disinfecting of some frequently touched surfaces. They will be used for disinfecting certain frequently touched surfaces such as student desks, chairs and locker faces, and not used to disinfectant the entire school. The sprayers will only be used by trained Custodians during the evenings in unoccupied areas of buildings.

The cost of the sprayers is $123,000, which will be covered through the Supporting Safe Back to School funding initiative announced by the federal government on Sept. 3, 2020. This fund will also cover the necessary personal protective equipment each trained custodian will be required to wear while operating the device.

Promoting Girls in Trades in SD73

Fri, 16 Feb 2024 17:15:00 GMT

Story provided by Kerry Gairdner, District Vice-Principal, Career Programs

SD73 is committed to providing equitable access to Career programs by removing barriers and creating environments that provide accessible and empowering opportunities for all students to thrive.

Grade 10 student, Willow Hart, is currently in the Mechanical Sampler at NorKam Secondary School. Students are in the Welding section of the program, learning from TRU Welding instructor, Jim McCarthy. In the short 3 weeks since the program started, Willow has excelled, putting her newly learned skills to work creating a carefully crafted set of dice with two different types of flowers. While in the semester-long program, students will also sample Fabrication, Heavy Duty Mechanics, and Automotive Service.

Having women in trades promotes diversity and inclusion in the workforce. A diverse workforce brings together individuals with different perspectives, ideas, and problem-solving approaches, fostering creativity and innovation. Encouraging women to pursue careers in trades ensures equal opportunities for all individuals, regardless of gender. It breaks down stereotypes and challenges the notion that certain professions are reserved for a specific gender. Having visible and successful women in trades serves as inspiration for the next generation. It encourages young girls to consider non-traditional career paths, broadening their horizons and challenging gender stereotypes from an early age.

Parkcrest Elementary Sings at Kamloops Blazers Game

Mon, 30 Sep 2019 22:30:00 GMT

Hockey-goers donated more than $8,000 for Parkcrest School during a Kamloops Blazers hockey game Sept. 27. The Blazers and BCLC hosted the Parkcrest-Brocklehurst community, providing 1,000 tickets to the game, providing space for a cash donation table, and giving the school the proceeds from the game’s 50-50 draw. The cash donation table raised about $680 and the 50-50 draw provided just over $7400.

Parkcrest students were invited to sing the national anthem at the beginning of the game. Parkcrest students Marlow Bach (Grade 4), and Cooper Bach (Grade 2) dropped the first puck, with the help of BCLC Acting CEO Greg Moore and Kamloops Mayor Ken Christian.

Gorman said the high energy and welcoming atmosphere for students and staff and their families was appreciated by everyone.

“We want to thank the Blazers and BCLC for their generous gesture, and for the opportunity for us to connect with the wider community. It was a great experience for the kids,” said Parkcrest Elementary Principal Catherine Gorman. “Getting everyone together for a fun event like that seemed to be just what everyone needed.”

Gorman said the funds raised will be very helpful in the effort to re-build Parkcrest Elementary. The video below is a look behind-the-scenes as students were getting ready to sing O Canada.

Board Notes from May 1, 2023

Fri, 12 May 2023 19:00:00 GMT

From the regular meeting of the Board of Education. Find out about Young Authors and Brocklehurst and North Shore Future Growth Advisory Committee. Read Board Notes here.

Roko Huser Wins Skills Canada Gold

Wed, 30 Jun 2021 23:00:00 GMT

SKSS grad Roko Huser won gold for his carpentry expertise at the virtual Skills Canada National competitions, against carpentry students from across Canada.

Earlier this year, he won a Skills Canada British Columbia competition.

A student at the Residential Construction Foundation through the Youth in Trades program at Thompson Rivers University, he won gold in the secondary carpentry category. A fellow TRU student, Tim Eggers, also took gold in the competition.

Each year, students and apprentices compete at the regional, provincial and national levels. Competitors must win first place at the regionals to move up to the provincial competition, then they must place first at provincials to represent their province at the national competition.

"Roko's success is a great example of how partnerships like ours with Thompson Rivers University provides meaningful opportunities for students to pursue their passions and interests, said Rick Kienlein, director of instruction, secondary education and learning services. “We are proud to have sponsored Roko for post-secondary training in his grade 12 year."

"The competition was really fun, and I had an awesome experience. It’s crazy how much effort and time goes into putting something like this on,” said Huser.

“We are very proud that both our competitors struck Canadian Gold representing BC and TRU. It is a testament of the quality trades training provided at TRU and we congratulate Tim Eggers and Roko Huser in addition to their instructors Tim Kasten and Bryce Coombs for their incredible accomplishment,” said TRU Trades Program Chair Thomas Haag.

Superintendent's Update

Tue, 06 Sep 2022 15:30:00 GMT

Dear Parents and Caregivers:

As we savour the last days of summer, thank you to staff, students, and parents who have been working hard to prepare for back-to-school.

District Strategic Plan

As we begin living our new 2022-2027 District Strategic Plan, our mission is– Supporting learning opportunities and environments which inspire students to thrive. Students thrive when we create environments that foster our four core values: connections/relationships, wellbeing, equity, and sustainability, and 7 Grandfather Teachings. In weekly updates, I will share stories that highlight one core value and one Grandfather teaching.

September Stories

Throughout September, stories will highlight:

Connections/Relationships: Building meaningful relationships that support and strengthen learning and growth.

Humility: Kelsey Jules, a Secwepemc artist, designed pictures to show the Grandfather Teachings. She created Coyote sk?lep, which represents Humility tkwekweltkstsút-kt and is known to be the trickster and teacher in the Legend of how Coyote and Bear made day and night. Coyote had to compromise with bear who wanted night all the time while coyote wanted day. Their ability to compromise depended on having humility or being humble and valuing each other’s ideas, values, and needs.

Summer School

The District hosted its annual Summer Learning Program from July 4 to July 22 with 401 elementary and 87 secondary students. Enrolment was the second highest it's ever been at summer school.

Principal Hembling stated, “The success of the summer learning program was enhanced by the positive relationships that developed between staff and students. Summer school requires that both staff and students give up some of their summer vacation for the sake of learning, which is a significant commitment. Teachers see the positive results for students, and students experience their own success as a result; it is truly community-building for everyone involved.”

Kamloops Pride Parade

Board Chair Heather Grieve, Vice Chair Meghan Wade, and Trustee John O’Fee joined staff, students, and parents in the Kamloops Pride Parade on Sunday, August 28, 2022. The city streets were filled with the joy of waving, clapping, singing, and dancing. Accepting each other for who we are depends on humility– seeking to understand our similarities and differences as opportunities to learn and grow, and to celebrate diversity.

Assistant Superintendent Mochikas, who encouraged and supported district participation in this event, shared, “The pride parade is an important event in our community and for our district. It's a great way to visibly celebrate and support students and staff identifying as LGBTQ2S+ and for them to know they are free to be their authentic selves.” Read more.

Ralph Bell Elementary School Reopening

On September 2, 2022, Board Chair Heather Grieve, Vice Chair Meghan Wade, and I visited Ralph Bell to celebrate the efforts of staff who have worked so hard to prepare for a wonderful start-up. Principal Hawkins has been touring more than 40 families this week, and she commented:

“I am so thankful for our District staff who have been painting, re-flooring, building, and moving brand new educational resources into our school. A school reopening is about coming together to create a place of welcoming, caring, and belonging. I can already feel this positive energy, and I am so excited for the first day of school.” Read more.

Communicable Disease Prevention Guidelines

On August 25, 2022, we received the updated Provincial Communicable Disease Guidelines for K to 12 Settings and revised our SD73 Communicable Disease Prevention Plan. Some reminders for back to school are:

Stay home when sick
Practice the daily health check and follow health advice
Wearing a mask is a personal choice
Practice good hand hygiene (wash hands, use hand sanitizer) and good respiratory etiquette (cover mouth when coughing; wash hands after coughing or sneezing)

Enjoy the long weekend! We look forward to seeing you on Tuesday, September 6, 2022.

Rhonda Nixon, PhD
Superintendent

Mental Health Literacy for Parents

Wed, 21 Sep 2022 16:30:00 GMT

Presented by Lauren Matthews, Director of BC Inclusive Post-Secondary Education at STEPS Forward.

This session is geared for parents and people who work with youth. Good mental health starts with an understanding of the brain and its primary roles. This session will introduce parents to the basic concepts in establishing and maintaining positive mental health with their children. Topics will include:

The teenage brain
Common myths about mental illness
Teenage stress
Promoting positive mental health in my child
Getting help

This workshop will be held via Zoom on Tuesday, September 27, from 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM. If you are interested in attending, you are asked to register here, and you will be provided with the link to the meeting.

Family Support Institute of BC (FSI)

Wed, 06 Sep 2023 17:00:00 GMT

Do you have a family member with a disability?

Do you support individuals with a disability?

The Family Support Institute (FSI) has volunteer Resource Parent/Resource Peers (RP’s) who will support by:

Providing emotional support
Guiding you to community resources
Attending meetings with you, taking notes, debriefing
Mentoring and coaching on advocacy
Providing training opportunities
Sharing successes, celebrating families, and more
Learning about our peer-to-peer/family-to-family support model

This workshop will be held via Zoom on Wednesday, September 20, from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM. If you are interested in attending, you are asked to register here. Following your registration, you will receive the link to the meeting.

BC Gov't Advises Against Travel Outside Canada

Fri, 13 Mar 2020 17:45:00 GMT

Late Thursday (March 12) afternoon, the BC Government advised against all non-essential travel outside of Canada due to the growing COVID-19 outbreak. Anyone who travels outside Canada will be required to stay home from work or school for 14 days upon their return to the province. School District No. 73 (Kamloops-Thompson) will be providing more information Friday (March 13) about what this means for students and their families, and for SD73 staff. We will provide a more detailed update as soon as the information is made available by the medical health officer and the Ministry of Education.

See the BC Government announcement here. https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2020HLTH0077-000484

Board Notes from Nov. 4, 2019

Wed, 13 Nov 2019 17:30:00 GMT

From the regular meeting of the Board of Education. All about results from the mid-term inaugural meeting, the District Learning Plan and new Board policy manual. Read Board Notes here.

Superintendent's Update

Fri, 28 Apr 2023 23:00:00 GMT

Dear Parents and Caregivers,

As we conclude April, students share their strengths and talents in the Young Authors’ Conference, the Young Artists’ Conference, and Girls Explore Fire Crew, to name just a few learning opportunities. In each of these examples, students pursued learning from mentors in the fields of interest (creating art, composing texts, fire prevention and firefighting). Exploring passions independently and then seeking to continually improve is central to excelling in Intellectual Development, a key priority in the 2022-2027 District Strategic Plan. This week’s stories illuminate how mentorship is about seeking relationships and connections with adults who inspire students to learn, adapt, and apply new skills and strategies.

36th Annual Young Artists’ Conference

On Wednesday, April 25, 2023, Board Chair Grieve and I were honored to speak at the 36th Annual Young Artists’ Conference. Trustees Hickson and Kang joined Ms. Janet McCloy, District Fine Arts Coordinator, in celebrating young artists and their friends, families, and caregivers who gathered in the old courthouse to see students’ artwork. This year, the artwork ranged from two- to three-dimensional pieces. The addition of three-dimensional art was new, and students explored in varied media including clay, metal, wood, and textiles. Everyone at the School Board Office is looking forward to enjoying select art pieces that will be presented to the board at the Regular Public Board Meeting on June 19, 2023. These art pieces will be displayed in the School Board Office for one year. Thank you to Principal Jayne Latta, Chair of the Young Artists’ Conference Committee who has shared more details about how these students continue to learn from artists for a whole day on April 28th at TRU. Read more.

44th Annual Young Authors’ Conference

On April 28, 2023, SD73 students are gathering at TRU to meet with published writers who offer to mentor young writers as they consider their next steps with varied writing pieces. Over 275 Gr. 4-12 students took part in this creative writing workshop based on these young writers’ submissions of creative writing pieces that were selected for the mentorship opportunity. Thank you to Literacy Coordinator Tricia Persad, District Principal Deanna Brady, and Literacy Resource Teacher Mike Carson for writing about this day. Read more.

Trades and Transitions - Girls Explore Fire Rescue

The SD73 Career Development department works with many valued community partners to help students explore their sense of self and who they want to be in the world. On April 24th, Professional Development Day, 26 young women joined Kamloops Fire Rescue to participate in the first Girls Explore Fire Rescue event. Students learned fire suppression techniques, participated in fitness training, put out controlled mock fires in the training house and the training car, learned about vehicle extraction using tools like “the jaws of life” and had the chance to talk with female firefighters about working in the field. Thank you to Kamloops Fire Rescue, District Vice-Principal of Career Programs Kerry Gairdner, and District Trades and Transitions Coordinator Sheila Brown for providing this career experience opportunity.

Administrative Professionals’ Day

On April 26, 2023, we took time to acknowledge office and support staff who help us to manage our schools and departments seamlessly. We know that life in our schools and district departments is brightened by those who make the day-to-day flow of our work easier by lending a hand, greeting visitors, welcoming new students and staff, fixing things, installing electrical, putting in playground equipment, tending grounds, addressing facility issues, delivering mail, setting up concerts, taking pictures, putting out food, and the list goes on. A heartfelt thank you for all that you do each day.

National Day of Mourning

Every facility lowered flags to half-mast today in honor of those workers who have suffered serious injury or lost their lives through a workplace accident or tragedy. This day is also a day to collectively renew our commitment to improve health and safety in the workplace and prevent injuries, illnesses, and deaths.

Thank you for supporting this day and for participating in it by lowering your flags and continuing to share your care, empathy, and commitment to staff wellbeing, which is a core commitment in the 2022-2027 District Strategic Plan.

As you start your weekend, remember to take time for you–you matter.

Rhonda Nixon, PhD

Superintendent

Superintendent's Update

Sat, 11 Nov 2023 00:30:00 GMT

Dear Parents and Caregivers:

Thank you to the many staff, students, parents, and community members who came together today for Remembrance Day ceremonies. This year we lowered flags starting on November 8th to acknowledge the important contributions made by thousands of First Nations, Métis, and Inuit veterans who served in both World Wars and in the Korean War. We continued remembering, learning, listening, and reflecting throughout this week to honour more than 118,000 Canadians who have died in military service over 200 years. Read more.

SD73 Continuing Education: First Steps and Street School

First Steps

Principal Mike Johnson and I met with three students in the First Steps program for expectant mothers and mothers 14-24 years old. They each shared how their ability to take classes on a flexible schedule has enabled them to accomplish their goals.

When we entered the classroom, the Math teacher, Mr. Jason Karpuk and Ms.Cheyenne Kennedy, had just finished cooking “Big Mac Tacos” with the students. The students planned for how much they required of each item, researched where to buy the food for the best price, and worked within a set budget which required them to also have “substitute” ingredients in mind. Integrating math into cooking is a common life skills approach to teaching and learning in the First Steps program.

One student is expecting in May, and she shared how she appreciated being able to take courses to graduate as well as life skills training (cooking natural baby food, making meals, managing schedules). Two other students have had their babies and their children are in the daycare located next door. One student explained, “I am able to come here, drop off my baby and continue to learn and be here in case I am needed.” The other student shared, “I have learned so much from Anne Noble who has run the daycare for many years, and she has inspired me to want to work in a daycare.”

When I asked what the best thing about being in the First Steps program was, they shared: “It is easier to come here because it is small and I get to be with young moms”, “Teachers have more time for us so it makes the work easier.” Having the daycare attached is a huge relief”, and “I returned after coming here, leaving, and now I am ready.” First Steps is an invaluable program for our students, and it was inspiring to learn from these students and staff.

Street School

Principal Johnson and I then went to Street School which is for adult students who attend school by coming to NorthHills Mall for one-on-one instruction and online learning. One student was receiving help from Ms. Erika Dabner, the Humanities teacher and Street School Program Coordinator. She shared some graphics that students had completed about the “journey of a protein” and she explained, “We work with students one-on-one and find different ways to teach to inspire students to want to come back.” She emphasized the importance of creating a safe environment where students feel that coming to school is worthwhile so that they don’t avoid it and risk becoming isolated while learning only online.

We also met Ms. Leanne Holmes, the Outreach Worker, who shared how she has spent a lot of time with individual students this year who have returned to school, but it took persistence to get them to access counseling, stick with addictions treatments, and go to medical appointments. When I asked whether this is different than previous years, Ms. Holmes indicated that it is similar to other years but it seems more intensive this year. Ms. Ericka Dabner emphasized that Ms. Holmes’ intensive work is paying off, and she has also found that putting in the time to get students to the school and connecting with them is resulting in more students succeeding and staying in school.

SD73 Kamloops-Thompson Board of Education Inaugural Board Meeting

On Monday, November 6, 2023, the Kamloops-Thompson Board of Education elected the positions of Chair, Vice Chair, British Columbia School Trustees' Association Provincial Council, and British Columbia Public School Employers' Association representative for the Board for 2023-2024. Read more.

South Kamloops Secondary School’s Treescape Art Exhibit

On Wednesday, November 8, 2023, South Kamloops Secondary students shared their stunning paintings in an exhibit at the Sagebrush Theatre. Guided by a theme focused on Kamloops Treescapes, each painting had the student’s reason for selecting that particular tree and their personal connections to that place.

Mr. Walt Kirschner thanked the students and Ms. Lisa Yamaoka, the Art teacher, for her leadership. Many students shared their creations and their appreciation for Ms. Yamaoka. Thank you, SKSS students, parents, and staff for your investment in taking the time to coordinate this annual event to showcase students’ talents in the arts.

National Career Development Month

Girls Exploring Trades and Technology

On November 9, 2023, girls in grades 6-9 from SD73’s North Shore and North Thompson schools gathered at Thompson Rivers University (TRU) for the fifth annual Girls Exploring Trades and Technology (GETT). Read more.

Thank you for your efforts in preparing for the Remembrance Day celebrations which were beautiful and honoured veterans and those whose lives have been deeply impacted by loss in past and recent wars. As we continue into a weekend of remembering, please enjoy your families and those who make a positive difference in your lives.

Rhonda Nixon, PhD

Superintendent

Sidow Responds to Petition for More Black History and Experience Education

Thu, 25 Jun 2020 15:30:00 GMT

School District No. 73’s retiring superintendent is committed to addressing the issues raised in a petition calling for the District to be a space that welcomes and celebrates Black students and that teaches others to do the same.

Alison Sidow has reached out to petition organizer Mary Falade, who has just completed her second year at UBC. Sidow said she acknowledged Falade’s leadership in creating the petition, and she agrees wholeheartedly with her statements.

“As a Black woman and the leader of SD73, it is my honour to begin a conversation about the contributions and experiences of Black lives in Canadian society,” Sidow said. “As Mary points out in the petition, Black history and experiences have not been directly taught in our schools and this is both a factor in and a result of institutionalized racism that has excluded Black voices.”

Sidow is retiring on August 31, 2020, and she is ending her career in education with the same passion for equity she started with. Thirty years ago, as an elementary school teacher in the Bulkley Valley, she saw the systemic racism that prevented equitable educational outcomes for Indigenous students.

“Throughout my career I have worked to ensure students see themselves reflected in their learning and to challenge the racial biases that stigmatize and marginalize children,” she said.

Falade, a 2018 graduate of NorKam Senior Secondary, posted the petition to change.org earlier this week. In it, she addresses Sidow directly and asks for the incorporation of Black authors/artists/actors in school resources; a mandate for anti-racism and inclusion education in schools as a standard; Black history in social studies classes and a discussion of how racism is a systemic issue.

The Board of Education has requested that work begin this summer to develop a procedure to accompany the existing policy on Anti-Discrimination and Human Rights to address racism assertively. Also, in consultation with Director of Inclusion, Vessy Mochikas, and Falade, SD73 will form a working group of students and families of Black ancestry to review the lived experience of students of colour so that Black history and experience can be included in the curriculum.

“This is the work we can do as a school district,” said Kathleen Karpuk, Chair of the Board of Education. “We are impressed by the strength of the young people such as Mary who are challenging us and educating us about racism and the need for a more inclusive curriculum.”

“These are real and valid concerns,” said Sidow. “These steps will help us begin to address racism that continues to affect how we look at those who are 'different' than ourselves.”

Superintendent's Update

Sat, 25 Feb 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Dear Parents and Caregivers:

It’s hard to believe that we are almost at the end of February. It has been a wonderful week with a new school funding announcement for the Pineview Valley community, Pink Shirt Day events, and school visits which show the power of connecting, developing relationships, nurturing wellbeing, and ensuring equity, core value commitments in the 2022-2027 District Strategic Plan.

South Sa-Hali Elementary School

Principal Mabee and I started our visit with a review of the school learning plan goals, and she informed me that ensuring a strong sense of belonging is one goal the school has been working hard to define and develop. Principal Mabee was wearing pink, and she said, “I wear something pink all month to signify that treating each other with kindness is to happen every day, not just on Pink Shirt Day.” She pointed to a bulletin board where they have been collecting and celebrating acts of kindness all month. This month they are also exploring “Neuroplasticity” (how the brain grows and develops as we use it) and how it helps to develop their “Growth Mindset.” We walked into the Library Learning Commons, where Mme Hunter, their teacher librarian, was teaching students how to use text features in their textbooks by modelling the process. M. Hall’s grade 1 class was celebrating Hundred’s Day, and some students dressed up, imagining they were 100 years old (left,Lincoln; right, Mme Mabee).

Mme Funk’s students were located in multiple places to practice their upcoming Science Fair presentations, and Principal Mabee and I learned all about flowers that last the longest from two students, Kaitlyn and Madeline, who agreed to share their research.

We continued to walk around while students were on their lunch break. I learned that the PAC has been very helpful and dedicated to contributing to educational resources such as “loose parts” used by students to help build stories and for imaginative play during recess and lunch, especially on cold days.

Logan Lake Elementary School

Principal Collins held up a pink shirt, “Always Choose Kindness” that students ordered for Pink Shirt Day. Then, we went for a walk in the elementary school just before lunch.

Ms. Scarr’s class had just studied, “How to Be Kind” and they were writing. One student, John, shared how he had helped the class to learn about making Chinese Lanterns, and the class really benefited from asking him questions about what his family traditions are for Chinese New Year.

Ms. Balson’s K-1 class was building number lines, making numbers with playdough, and counting with manipulatives. As we left the classroom, we stopped to see the sensory room that they have been working on for students to develop gross and fine motor skills, and to engage in tasks to refocus and take a mental break. Students reported really liking their time in that room. We ended with Ms. Collins’ class that was reading, and we met a student, Bre, who shared one of her favourite books by Mo Willems, “We Are in a Book!”

Logan Lake Secondary School

As we transitioned to the secondary school, we started outside and met the students who were working outside in the Youth Train in Trades welding program. Even though it was a cold day, the students assured me that nothing could stop them from focusing on their projects. This year, there are nine grade 12 and three grade 11 students. Principal Collins introduced me to Mr. Michael Grainger and Mr. Dwayne Geiger, TRU staff who have been instrumental in helping to inspire these students in their program.

We visited Ms. Mackay’s Gr. 5-6 class as they worked on comic books, IXL reading, and dividing decimals. As lunch began, we passed through the gym where Mr. Daley, Ms. Cardinal, and Mr. Smith were playing basketball with students.

Pink Shirt Day- Feb. 22, 2023

Our schools and departments celebrated being kind and caring to ensure that everyone is accepted for who they are in inclusive environments Read more.

Enjoy your weekend and stay warm!

Rhonda Nixon, PhD

Superintendent

Reflections from the National Day of Truth & Reconciliation

Mon, 04 Oct 2021 15:00:00 GMT

Dear Parents and Caregivers:

As October begins, we reflect on our experiences leading up to the first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation (September 30). On Monday, September 27, staff engaged in professional learning about Truth and Reconciliation and throughout the week teachers taught age-appropriate lessons supported by the District Aboriginal Education Department. On Wednesday, September 29, principals and facility supervisors lowered flags to half-mast to honour residential school survivors and children who did not return home, and to prepare for our first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. Ms. Katrina Sewell, principal of A.E. Perry Elementary, recounts her story of inspiring professional learning.

Truth and Reconciliation

AE Perry Elementary’s Aboriginal Education Workers (AEWs), Ms. Kelsey Jules and Ms. Rae Bennett worked with Mr. Peter Michel, District Aboriginal Youth and Family Consultant, to lead A.E. Perry staff in a Kairos Blanket Exercise. Katrina emphasized that the emotional experience of learning firsthand about truths that may have been previously unknown and taking part in the physical, dramatic living of these truths enabled staff collectively to feel the impact of the tragic history of residential schools. Ms. Sewell also highlighted that she found that District Principal Mike Bowden’s lessons about territory acknowledgments were appreciated by her staff. She stated, “It was powerful to think about a land acknowledgment ‘as reconciliation’ when it comes from the heart and demonstrates an effort to understand the history and relevance of the land of the First Peoples. It was an opportunity to think again about when we say land acknowledgements and how we use them. The whole day was a success and I was grateful to have this time to prepare for our first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.”

Communicable Disease Prevention Plan and COVID-19

We are pleased that Interior Health will resume posting potential COVID-19 exposures at schools on their website.They will not share numbers of positive cases per school or differentiate between staff/student cases. While parents have asked school administrators to send school community notifications each time there is a potential exposure, Dr. Mema, Interior Health Chief Medical Health Officer has directed against this practice because Interior Health notifications are sent to those who are directly impacted. Therefore, sending notifications of potential exposures to everyone in a school community who are not directly impacted only serves to cause unnecessary anxiety.

On October 1, 2021, the Provincial Health Officer, Dr. Bonnie Henry announced that all students from K-12 will be required to wear masks in school as of Monday, October 4, 2021. The mask mandate will continue until further notice. This decision was made by the Ministries of Education and Health, and it is directly connected to the rising numbers of cases in the K-3 age group. While the number of potential exposures to COVID-19 in our schools has increased, Interior Health’s contact tracing confirms that the greatest risk of transmission is during activities taking place outside of school. The Ministry of Education has updated the Provincial COVID-19 Communicable Disease Guidelines for K-12 Settings with this change in measures for schools.

Ensuring students, staff, and visitors stay home when they are sick continues to be one of the most effective personal measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 from our communities into our schools. After vaccinations, completing and following the directions of the Daily Health Check is one of the strongest individual measures each of us can take to limit COVID-19 in our schools.

Thank you for your ongoing support of our work as a district community in Truth and Reconciliation. We value your dedication and passion, and we look forward to more inspiring stories as we co-create a hopeful future, together, for all students and staff.

Rhonda Nixon, PhD

Superintendent

Food Security Grows at Arthur Hatton

Thu, 21 May 2020 20:00:00 GMT

These past weeks, concern about supply chains and food security has been top of mind for many.

But food security has been on Paul Denby’s mind for years, as a grade 5/6 teacher at Arthur Hatton Elementary. His idea to provide fresh produce for families in one of Kamloops’ most economically challenged neighborhoods won a $15,000 first prize in Canadian entry in Nature’s Path’s Gardens for Good contest in 2019. He’s putting the prize money to good use.

“We quadrupled the amount of growing space we have. The area was fenced and irrigation to each garden area was put in,” Denby said. “There is still some more work to be done, as far as removing grass and finishing off the irrigation.”

Most of the construction work took place last fall right before the first snow fall, he said, noting that it has been amazing to see their vision for the space coming to fruition. Normally hands-on, this spring the students have been limited in their involvement because of the pandemic. However, they were able to start all the plants in the garden from seed indoors at school right before Spring Break.

Well cared for at his home, the seedlings have now been transplanted along with some directly seeded vegetables.

Peas, spinach, tomatoes, peppers, basil, dill, kale, lettuce, corn, cucumbers, pumpkins, watermelon, cantaloupe, squash and tomatillos are thriving in the new soil in the school’s sunny north shore location.

“We still have room to put in carrots, beets and a few others things,” Denby said. “We also want to have berries, grapes and a few other things along the fence. For our new and improved flower bed at the front, we have put in dahlias, geraniums, irises and cana lillies. Our tulips and daffodils are just finishing.”

The garden project is about more than food security.

“There will be an Aboriginal focus in the garden too. Obviously when the berries are planted, but there are plans for a pot or two of sweetgrass and other plants that are indigenous to our area,” said Roy Styles, Arthur Hatton’s Vice-Principal. “Paul and I are planning on speaking with some local experts about which plants will work. “

Despite the pandemic and the challenge of the keeping the spirit of project growing along with the seedlings without his students, Denby has not shifted any goals as far as how much he has wanted to plant or the scale of the garden. Student involvement has really taken a hit. But he is hopeful that students will return soon and they can have a hand in caring for the garden and beautifying the space and getting back to the real purpose of the project.

For years his classroom has been a dynamic example of BC’s new curriculum. The students grew and harvested micro greens for local restaurants, tended the small raised beds of produce for the Kamloops Farmer’s Market just steps outside the classroom. The social enterprise is all about inquiry-based learning, collaboration with community and so many more concepts that his learning environment exemplifies.

But perhaps most of all, teaching children about gardening lets them pass along their skills from school to their parents and have a hand in providing their own families with fresh, nutritious produce.

Celebrating the 36th Annual Young Artists' Conference in SD73

Fri, 28 Apr 2023 19:00:00 GMT

Jayne Latta

For over 36 years, the Young Artists Conference (YAC) has been a long-standing and powerful tradition in the Kamloops-Thompson School District.

Elementary students who love to draw, paint, sculpt, and create through art have the opportunity to showcase their artwork and take part in a series of workshops.

“Students look forward to this event, not only to work with professional artists, but also to make new friends with common interests from other schools,” said Jayne Latta, Young Artists Committee Chair. “We’re really excited that this year we have added a new category to our Young Artists conference and that is 3D art. This year we had a number of three dimensional pieces that were submitted to be a part of our art gallery.”

This year, the 2023 Young Artist Conference was held at the Thompson Rivers University in many classrooms and studio spaces. Students chose from a variety of sessions ranging from fibre art weaving, wood burning art, to UV Glow Art painting with instruction from professional community professional artists and art educators.

“The conference is an essential piece for young artists because it allows them to create relationships with professional artists which can carry beyond their initial meeting at the conference. Our student artists are also gaining new skills and techniques from some of the most respected local artists in the area,” said Janet McCloy, District Coordinator of Arts Education.

Over 120 students from grades 4 to 7 were selected to represent their schools in the YAC. A selection committee made up of teachers, administrators and community artists reviewed a variety of 3D and 2D artwork submitted and chose the following students’ artwork to be framed and hung in the School Board Office next year. These students will also be presenting their pieces to the Board of Education on June 19:

WINNERS:

Grade 7

Luca Petersen, Dallas Elementary

Wren Stewart, Arthur Stevenson Elementary

Lauren Leduc, Sun Peaks School

Lily Koehoorn, Sun Peaks School

Karlie Sandhoff, Kamloops School of the Arts

Frankiln Dusik, RLC

Grade 6

Eva-Mae Ekins, Barriere Elementary

Ben Fan, Pacific Way Elementary

Brooklyn Fantuz, Rayleigh Elementary

Ewan MacInnis, Parkcrest Elementary

Shanzay Shehzad, Aberdeen Elementary

Grade 5

Anaya Fuoco, McGowan Elementary

Dawsyn Lockwood, McGowan Elementary

Hanna Vieira, Aberdeen Elementary

Lyrik Kaczkowski, Westmount Elementary

Grade 4

Keyra Cortez, Beattie Elementary

Giordano Pagnotta, Juniper Ridge

HONOURABLE MENTIONS:

Alayna Mayer, Kamloops School of the Arts

Deveena Sri Poovaneswaran, Aberdeen Elementary

Serena Adolph, Westsyde Elementary

Daltyn Hillgardner, David Thompson Elementary

Sarah Fox Davidson, Juniper Ridge Elementary

Rylan Sandhoff, RL Clemitson Elementary

Louise Placente, Beattie Elementary

Kaycee Corbin, McGowan Elementary

Taya White, Kamloops Open Online Learning

“The experiences that connect our students to their passions and interests really help to make learning meaningful and these are the experiences that students will remember,” said Latta.

Special thanks to the entire Committee for their efforts:

Arts Education Coordinator, Janet McCloy
Chair: Vice Principal, Jayne Latta
Principal, Katrina Sewell
Principal Tiffany Hawkins
Vice Principal, Jeanine Wourms
Vice Principal, Kristen Crawford
Teacher, Sharon Richards
Teacher, Karim Sadik
Teacher, Melissa Pavluk
Teacher, Lauren O’Neill

Sound of Music Experience Resonates

Mon, 16 Dec 2019 15:00:00 GMT

Six district students lent their voices to the spectacular The Sound of Music production by the Western Canada Theatre (WCT), which wrapped up Dec. 10, following its last performance.

"It's been a wonderful experience working with local students on this production," said James MacDonald, Artistic Director, Western Canada Theatre. “They impressed everyone involved with their talent and commitment. We all very much enjoyed working with them."

The students in the production were Everleigh Rife from L’Ecole Lloyd George Elementary, who played Gretl Von Trapp; Seren Williams from Beattie Elementary who played Brigitta Von Trapp; Anna Hahn from Pacific Way Elementary who played Marta Von Trapp; and Abbie Israel-Armand from Kamloops School of the Arts, who was a part of the ensemble cast.

Also from KSA were Mandisa Volo and Ivan Vutev who played Louisa Von Trapp, and Friedrich Von Trapp.

The pair shared some insights about their experiences in the sixty-year old play’s production that is based on a true story about seven Von Trapp children living in Austria, whose mother died of scarlet fever in 1922. When Maria Kutschera, a novice at the Benedictine Abbey of Nonnberg in Salzburg, Austria was sent to the von Trapp estate to tutor one of the children, she fell in love with the children and their father Georg von Trapp fell in love with her. Maria and Georg married in 1927 and had three more children.

As Louisa Von Trapp, and Friedrich Von Trapp, Mandisa and Ivan say the themes of trying to do the right thing and working through family dysfunction still resonate.

“[The story is important because it is about] the virtues of different people and what they think is the right thing to do, and how the decisions they make affect other people,” Volo said.

“What I think is really powerful is the Von Trapp family starts out as a very dysfunctional family,” Vutev said. “This story shows how to bridge these problems with caring, with kindness, and with music, of course.”

Audiences enjoyed Volo’s performance as Michaela Hobbs in the WCT production of Elf, which also featured several student performers. The difference, for her, working on the Sound of Music, is the children sang and moved in much tighter and more precise sequences.

Vutev is a multifaceted performer, coming to his first WCT experience as an actor and a dancer He enjoyed his first opportunity to work in a professional setting, and he appreciated the focus on telling a fresh version of the story.

Superintendent's Update

Wed, 05 Nov 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Dear parents and staff,

I heard Wade Davis speak a few years ago. He is a BC-born cultural anthropologist, ethnobotanist, photographer, and writer. His impressive résumé and life experiences made for an enjoyable and impactful learning session. One comment he shared has stayed with me over the years. It isn’t original to him, but it frames his approach to many things, and he provided examples from his renowned career as a photographer. He said, “If you believe it, you will see it” and explained his approaches to capturing images in nature that tell a powerful story.

I was reminded of that as we all navigated our way through the recent fire at Westmount Elementary School. There was upset and anger, feelings of loss and trauma. There were, and continue to be, challenges as the school, the district, and families adapt to new routines that will be in place until the Westmount remediation is completed.

But there was also a belief that “we can do this.” It was evident in the work of the Westmount principal and staff who received the news on Sunday morning and were confronted with many unknowns. By first thing Monday morning, the Westmount team were developing detailed and thoughtful plans that would support learners. Staff at the district level explored and designed options for learning spaces, teaching and learning materials, transportation, and countless other details in preparation for students and colleagues arriving at their new host schools. Those schools — Kay Bingham, Parkcrest, and George Hilliard — rallied on short notice to provide a wonderful welcome to their guest learners and staff.

Our Operations Department and contractors were on site at Westmount as soon as our RCMP and Kamloops Fire Rescue partners gave permission for access. We all want the school to be up and running again as soon as possible.

So… “If you believe it, you will see it.” Many thanks to everyone who has contributed to addressing a very challenging situation and has brought skill, hope, and resilience to the teamwork that was and continues to be essential. When members of the senior team met with the Westmount PAC president last Monday, we were grateful for a conversation that was supportive and so very clear about the powerful sense of a neighbourhood that has rallied around their school community.

“If you believe it, you will see it.” Below are two photos that do a beautiful job of highlighting the sense of team, community, and welcome that greeted the students and staff when they arrived at one of their host schools. While local, national, and global challenges can seem relentless, it is good to believe in the common good and see examples that reinforce what community can and should look like.

One additional Thank You to offer: the team at Kamloops Fire Rescue responded quickly and effectively in the early hours of Sunday, October 26. Their rapid actions decreased the severity of the fire and allow us to plan for a return to Westmount sooner than might otherwise have been the case. We are grateful to the crews that attended and to all of the 165+ dedicated KFR personnel who work hard every day to ensure that the communities we serve are as safe as they can be.

Sincerely,

Mike McKay
Superintendent

Read more about how Westmount Elementary staff, students, and families found strength in their community and came together to help students successfully and positively transition to their new temporary classrooms at Kay Bingham Elementary, Parkcrest Elementary, and George Hilliard Elementary last week.

REMEMBRANCE DAY

On Monday, November 10, schools across the District will be honouring Remembrance Day (November 11) and Indigenous Veterans Day (November 8) with school-wide ceremonies and assemblies featuring student performances, music, poetry, and guest speakers.

The act of Remembrance is one of the most important ways we can honour and thank Veterans for their sacrifices. Lest we forget.

HIGHLIGHTS FROM OCTOBER

McQueen Lake Forestry and Environmental Studies Camp

On October 2-4, Grade 11 and 12 students from across the District participated in hands-on learning about Natural Resource career pathways at the McQueen Lake Forestry and Environmental Studies Camp. Read more here.

School Bus Safety Week

October 20–24 was School Bus Safety Week. This year, we connected with the SD73 Transportation department to learn more about school bus drivers’ memorable moments and safety tips. Read more here.

UPCOMING EVENT

Safer Schools Together Remote Session:

Establishing Safe, Caring, and Respectful Digital Communities

November 12, 2025 at 6:30pm

In partnership with the Ministry of Education and Child Care, this free online session covers all things digital — from how to be a good digital citizen, the consequences of cyberbullying, and concerns about the use of social media platforms, smartphones, and artificial intelligence. Learn more and register here.

UPDATES FROM THE BOARD OF EDUCATION

At the October 27, 2025, Annual Public Board Meeting, the Board of Education conducted their annual trustee elections, reelecting Trustee Heather Grieve as Chairperson, Trustee Rhonda Kershaw as Vice-Chair, Trustee Kathleen Karpuk as the BCSTA Provincial Council representative, and Trustee Cole Hickson as the BCPSEA representative. To learn more about the October Board Meeting, read the latest Board Notes here.

The next Regular Public Board meeting will be Monday, November 24, 2025, at 7:00 pm at the School Board Office.

Early Learning in Action

Wed, 02 Mar 2022 18:45:00 GMT

Early learning is a strong focus in SD73 with numerous programs aimed to enhance transition and learning opportunities for the youngest learners in the District.

With the recent shift of childcare from the Ministry of Children and Family Development to the Ministry of Education effective April 2022, the SD73 Early Learning team has been successful in piloting the first steps to a wrap-around universal system for children and families.

“The environments we create to enable inspiring learning opportunities and to foster children’s well-being are crucial to the success of early learners, both during the beginning years of learning and later in life,” said Grant Reilly, Assistant Superintendent of Elementary and Early Education.

The District is learning alongside children and families during this re-imagined Kindergarten transition journey with two pilot childcare programs, Seamless Day and Just B4 Early Childhood Education.

Seamless Day

This year, Arthur Hatton was chosen to be a pilot site for Seamless Day Kindergarten, a unique program that provides before and after school care for students in Kindergarten and beyond.

“Students are able to stay in the same caring and play-based environment throughout the day, which allows the educators to better meet the needs of the child and expand on their interests and wonders,” said Marianne Vande Pol, Early Years Programming Coordinator. The team of educators in the Seamless Day classroom include a teacher and two early childhood educators.

“With minimum transitions for the students, and team collaboration for the educators, students are set up to excel in all aspects of their development,” said Vande Pol.

Seamless Day is extremely beneficial for families based on the model of children at one location from drop-off to pick-up. The same belief systems and protocols that are prevalent in a regular classroom exist in Seamless Day, therefore, “children don’t have different expectations to learn and to adapt, which means students are more comfortable and thrive in one environment. More importantly, the space truly belongs to the children,” said Vande Pol.

Just B4 Early Childhood Education

The Just B4 program is specifically designed for four-year-old children to attend Just B4 Kindergarten. “With the hope of inspiring and supporting the creation of rich, joyful early childhood spaces, this program provides an opportunity to strengthen early years to Kindergarten transitions for young children and their families, but more importantly,” said Vande Pol, “they just get to be four and what an amazing age that is.”

The question then becomes, how is the District supporting all other schools with Kindergarten transition? That is where Strong, Prepared and Ready for Kindergarten (SPARK) comes into play. Previously only offered in select schools, SPARK now provides programming and resources for all incoming families to the District to increase equity and stability. Families are welcomed into their catchment schools as many as four times in the spring prior to coming to school in September. “The valuable playtime allows for schools to get to know children and their needs, but also allows families to ask questions, make connections, and even alleviate some anxiety,” said Vande Pol.

Secondary Students Discover Careers in Engineering

Thu, 12 Dec 2024 22:30:00 GMT

Story provided by Allisson Badger, District Career Education Coordinator

As part of the 2022-2027 District Strategic Plan Career Development priority, the Kamloops-Thompson School District is committed to helping prepare students attain their career goals. The District’s Career Development Department offers a variety of career exploration opportunities for students to explore a range of possible career pathways, including several Discover Day events throughout the school year that provide hands-on experience for students to explore their fields of interest.

On Friday, December 6, 2024, 15 secondary students from across the District attended Discover Day: Day in Engineering hosted by Molycop. This career exploration event offers students the unique opportunity to learn about career pathways in engineering from various engineers in the field, tackle real-world problems, and have fun completing hands-on activities with like-minded peers.

During this year’s Discover Day: Day in Engineering, students had the opportunity to meet and learn from engineers and employees at Molycop, toured the Molycop facilities, engaged in real-world engineering solutions, and participated in mock structural engineering activity.

Molycop Plant Engineer Brendan Gairdner hosted the students for the day and shared, “Molycop was thrilled to host the day in engineering because it’s a great way to expose students to different types and things that you can do with engineering. I really enjoyed seeing the students work together and to solve a real life engineering challenge that I have had to solve at Molycop.”

“I liked that we got to talk to everyday, real-life mechanical engineers and that it was at Molycop,” shared Valleyview Secondary student Kadance Beardwood. “I really liked that we got to see how everything worked.”

NorKam Secondary student, Ejaz Ovington, shared, “It was eye opening and let me explore new possibilities… I didn’t really realize the complexity of engineering, especially with the real-life experience of making steel balls.”

Learn more about upcoming Discover Day opportunities here.

Re-visioning the District Strategic Plan on a Landscape of Change

Thu, 28 Oct 2021 19:30:00 GMT

The District Strategic Plan 2017-2022 has been the roadmap to student success academically, socially, emotionally, and physically. Over the last five years, the Kamloops-Thompson School District has focused on excellence and equity for all students, especially Aboriginal students, and is proud of its continuous improvement (See District Learning Plan Report 2020-2021).

“The power of the focus on equity and excellence has helped 15,000 students and families and more than 2,000 staff continue to improve together,” said Rhonda Kershaw, Chair, Kamloops-Thompson Board of Education.

“We have experienced continual improvement in literacy, numeracy, and graduation rates for all students,” said Rhonda Nixon, Superintendent. “But we acknowledge that Indigenous students and students who have diverse abilities or diagnosed disabilities have not had the same success.”

“As we have been living the District Strategic Plan over the last five years, many things have changed,” Board Chair Kershaw added.

Since 2017, when the District Strategic Plan was adopted, the focus of attention has been on multiple important events on the local and global landscape.

BC has had two provincial governments, a new K-9 curriculum, and new graduation assessments. The loss of Jen Casey’s life in the Snowbird accident shook the communities while the full implications of a global pandemic were realized locally.

BC endured its second unprecedented wildfire season since 2017. Regionally, the tragedy of losing staff and student homes in Monte Creek and Westwold compounded the sense of loss still evident from the destruction of Parkcrest Elementary due to fire in 2019.

In 2021 the discovery of remains of 215 unmarked graves at the Kamloops Indian Residential School drew international attention in May and students, staff, and families who are residential survivors or who are close to residential survivors have been coping with trauma. All of this happened on a global backdrop of mobilization of youth through Greta Thurnberg’s call to action to political leaders worldwide to address climate change, and mobilization about systemic racism ignited by George Floyd’s tragic death, and sexual assault connected to the #MeToo movement.

“It’s abundantly clear that Kamloops-Thompson is a resilient community. Our students have reached new heights in literacy, numeracy, a sense of belonging, and graduation rates amidst all of this upheaval,” said Superintendent Nixon. “The question for our community now is, ‘How do we re-imagine our next district roadmap so that every student will thrive academically, socially, emotionally, and physically?’”

“Input from our communities is invaluable. We depend on diverse perspectives to navigate this landscape of complexity and change together,” Board Chair Kershaw concluded, “The Board of Education appreciates every one that has taking part in focus groups and surveys so far as we continue to share in this community re-visioning of our strategic plan”

The initial survey is open until Oct. 29, 2021. The next survey, looking at themes and potential wording heard during phase 1 will be posted in mid-November. Following that, the process will be moving in the operational themes (based on the current online survey feedback).

Board Notes from April 22, 2024

Wed, 24 Apr 2024 20:30:00 GMT

From the regular meeting of the Board of Education. All about Kamloops-Thompson Strings Program, Accessibility Committee Report, and Naming of the New School in Pineview Valley. Read Board Notes here.

Inspiring Students to Thrive in Literacy: Sagebrush Book Awards, K-7 Reading Motivation Program

Thu, 17 Nov 2022 19:30:00 GMT

In our 2022-2027 District Strategic Plan, our district mission is to support learning opportunities and environments to inspire students to thrive. For some students, inspiration comes from reading and for others, it can be hard to be motivated to read. This new K-7 reading program is designed to captivate readers to read-reflect-vote.

Through the leadership of District Coordinator Andrea Wallin, many students who may not have found connections and relationships to characters in stories, SD73 teacher-librarians have introduced a new reading motivation program - the SD73 Sagebrush Book Awards!

“Our goal was to encourage students to read or listen to as many books as possible with the hope of immersing themselves in the lives of characters that they can relate to,” explained Ms. Wallin.

Sagebrush Book Awards is a new Library Learning Commons program geared towards elementary school students. Selected by a committee of Teacher-librarians, the shortlisted 8 fiction and 8 picture books represent a variety of styles and reading abilities. Students are encouraged to track their reading using their bookmarks and read or listen to as many of these books as possible. Voting will take place in May 2023.

“The Teacher-librarian team which worked on this project; Nicole Gorman, Nicole Pereversoff, Renae Gartrell, Tori Cooke, Kelly Kipp, enjoyed collaborating with the District Graphic Designer in the creation of the logo, bookmarks and poster,” said Ms. Wallin.

Program Goals include

to inspire and motivate elementary students to read a diverse range of picture books and novels
to encourage learners to see themselves and learn about other perspectives
to encourage students to think about the books they read
to share their opinions and vote for their favorites
to foster a joy of reading by sharing books from our library learning commons collection

Selection Criteria

Each year, 8 picture books & 8 novels will be selected. To be nominated for the SD73 Sagebrush Book Awards, books should:

appeal to a range of ages
feature themes which reflect a variety of perspectives
promote joy of reading
generate discussion and reflection
stimulate personal growth and the growth of critical thinking

Note: An effort will be made to select books published within 3 years of the program year.

Selection Committee

The Selection Committee reads, reviews, and recommends books that meet the selection criteria and are deemed to be the best available titles for a given year. Committee members are practicing SD73 Teacher-librarians, who have a passion for spreading the joy of reading.

SD73 Program Delivery

Teacher-librarians will encourage their school community to read the suggested titles and vote for their favourite. To be eligible to vote, a student must read or listen to any number of the nominated books. In late spring, students will cast votes for the book that they enjoyed the most. Votes will be tallied by the committee and the book which receives the most student votes will be officially designated the SD73 Sagebrush Book Award winner! Following this announcement, school celebrations may take many forms, such as library book donations, author talks, literacy extension projects, or inserting book plates. Past winners will be archived on the SD73 Sagebrush Book Awards website.

For more information visit the Sagebrush Book Awards website or talk to your school Teacher-Librarian.

SD73 Board of Education's Pineview Valley Engagement Committee Feedback on Draft Plans for New School in Pineview Valley

Tue, 29 Aug 2023 16:30:00 GMT

Board Chair, Heather Grieve

The Kamloops-Thompson Board of Education has advocated for a new school in Pineview Valley due to notable enrolment growth and space pressures in schools in the south west sector of Kamloops.

On February 22, 2023, the Ministry of Education and Child Care announced funding for a new school in Pineview Valley. At that time, the Board had been working with the McGowan Future Growth Planning Committee to problem solve what could be done if space pressures continued in that school (160% capacity utilization).

The Board of Education is looking forward to the much-needed opportunity to have families experience the opening of this new school in 2026. We are especially excited about this unique location because it is located by Python Lake which is known for its natural beauty, protected species (Painted Turtle), and varied plants (mariposa lilies, yarrow, and giant wildrye) and animals (a variety of butterflies, songbirds, and ducks, as well as deer and many small mammals). This location opens up so many opportunities for land-based learning and outdoor education, and we are excited to be part of the development of this school.

The Board initiated the Pineview Valley Community Engagement Committee with representatives from Tk'emlups te Secwepemc, Aboriginal Education Council, KTTA, CUPE, Pineview Valley community, parents, staff, District Parent Advisory Council, City of Kamloops, Ministry of Education and Child Care, and Trustees to work together with Station One Architects and SD73 staff to review and provide feedback on draft plans for the new school. We aim to meet in a cycle of gathering feedback, working on plans to respond to feedback, and then bringing plans back to the group. The goal is to truly collaborate by listening to concerns and co-problem solving. This is a link to the draft plans of the school as a 3D rendering.

The themes from the first Pineview Valley Community Engagement meeting were reported to the Board on May 15, 2023, at the Regular Public Board Meeting. They included:

Importance of diverse indoor and outdoor spaces.

Small Learning Assistance Resource Teacher spaces that could double as meeting rooms.
Inclusion of Indigenous Garden area.
Gathering spaces.

Flexible, adaptable spaces: ensuring multi-use spaces and rooms.

Possible use of operable wall between Library and Multi-purpose Room.

Beauty of the lake and trails: using nature to teach.

Teach about ecology and species in the area.
Access to trails.

Neighbourhood Learning Centre.

Use space to expand gym.
Use space to add an Aboriginal Education room.
Use space to add a Before and After School Care room.

Pedagogies.

Place white boards on the classroom cubbies for vertical learning.
Bright open spaces.
Leverage the local ecology.

Facilities and grounds.

Review number of change room versus washrooms.
Multi-purpose room ensure - music, fine arts.
Accessibility of site without going through the building.

Storage: make sure there is enough.

In meeting with other partner groups (Ministry of Forests, Ministry of Environment, Kamloops Naturalist Club), the following themes were shared:

Maintain the look and feel of the natural environment as much as possible.

Consider grade alternatives to reduce the height of the field retaining wall.
Plant trees and natural vegetation to soften the feel of the field retaining wall.
Review vegetation and tree species to minimize water usage and connection to existing natural vegetation.
Take advantage of site topography to develop play opportunities for the students, where possible (e.g.,use some portion of the hills to create slides).
Maintain access to existing pathways that border the school and to Python Lake.
Review fencing of school district site considering animal and human access, and student safety.

Provide an appropriate development setback from riparian areas.

Provide natural vegetation for the relocated Python Creek stream channel.

Naturalize the west end of the site as much as possible to offset some of the natural features that will be removed.

Ensure that students are safe while also having access to the natural environment.

Develop a field that gives as much space as possible for students to engage in multi-use field activities.

The Board of Education looks forward to continuing to collaborate and engage with community partners through the committee as we look forward to the building of Pineview Valley Elementary School in 2026.

To learn more about Board advocacy for this capital project, please visit: https://www.sd73.bc.ca/pineview-valley

Connecting Through Music at Home

Wed, 09 Dec 2020 16:30:00 GMT

Secondary students in the District Strings ensemble demonstrated their passion for music in a virtual performance for the Board of Education at its regular meeting Dec. 7, 2020. Joining the Board via Zoom, the students played a video showing how they have reunited during this school year.

COVID-19 has changed how they learn and play but they are persevering through digital recordings of their music.

“When the schools were closed, we wondered how we could stay connected,” said Kamloops School of the Arts music teacher Steve Weisgerber. “We decided to follow the same path as a lot of virtual choirs that are out there. We created a virtual strings environment. Students created videos of themselves and submitted them to me to be combined into a performance.”

Since September they have been able to play together again by following protocols like wearing masks and keeping their distance.

Trustee Shelley Sim asked how they decided to keep going through the time of separation in the spring.

“There was a mutual understanding among everyone in the ensemble that we still wanted to remain connected,” said KSA student Eilidh Nicol. “It wasn’t really a question of if, it was a question of how, and it was something we had to work quite hard on.”

“We could feel that in the performance,” said Sim. “We are really glad you made that decision.”

Superintendent Dr. Terry Sullivan thanked the students for their performance, saying he believed the staff and members of the community who started the strings program would be very proud of them.

“I’ve always believed that as a public school system we have a responsibility to not only to contribute but to develop the arts in our communities. Even in challenging times, we continue to do that,” said Sullivan.

In the video presentation, the ensemble played 17 measures of La Bovia by Claudio Merulo, El Gaucho by Lob Lipton, a series of country dances by Beethoven, and Echoes of Ireland arranged by Carrie Lane Gruselle.

“What a wonderful performance,” said Rhonda Kershaw, Board Chair. “It was spectacular to watch such pure talent.”

KSA principal Blair Lloyd and vice principal Jayne Latta introduced the students and Weisgerber, who works with the secondary strings students, and Kate Zahir, who works with elementary strings students across the district.

The District also runs a beginner and intermediate/advanced elementary Strings Program under the direction of Kate Zahir. Approximately 150 students from grades 4 and up attend that program on Tuesdays and Fridays each week.

“The Strings Program has been in existence for 14 years,” said Lloyd. “It is offered in a few schools across in the District, and it is an excellent opportunity for students to learn a string instrument.”

The students who performed in the video are:

Kamloops School of the Arts

Eilidh Nicol, Mayanna Gehring, Rhiannon Drummond, Isaac McMillan and Sie Koopman

South Kamloops Secondary

Anglin Macintosh and Ariel Purves

Barriere Secondary

Josh Tremblay

Kamloops Open Online Learning

Caitlyn Neufield

Board Notes from February 27, 2023

Wed, 08 Mar 2023 20:45:00 GMT

From the regular meeting of the Board of Education. All about Early Learning, Reports from the Secretary-Treasurer, and Board Chair's Report. Read Board Notes here.

Board Notes from May 26, 2025

Thu, 29 May 2025 23:15:00 GMT

From the regular meeting of the Board of Education. To learn about the Logan Lake Student Panel, Safe Graduation BCLDB Funds, Pronvincal Online Learning School Progress Report, and more, read Board Notes here.

Kamloops-Thompson School District Celebrates Aboriginal Graduation

Fri, 07 Jun 2024 21:30:00 GMT

On Monday, June 3, 2024, families, friends, teachers, staff, community members, and graduating students gathered to celebrate the Kamloops-Thompson School District’s Aboriginal Graduation Ceremony.

Trustee and Director of the Aboriginal Education Council, Diane Jules, shared, “When I graduated, there were only 12 graduates and now to see over 250 Aboriginal students crossing the stage, it is a testament to how far we have come in Truth and Reconciliation.”

To start the procession into the graduation ceremony, District Principal, Mike Bowden, carried the staff gifted by Randy Big Sorrel Horse to the Board of Education and to be held in the care of the Aboriginal Education Council last June.

District Principal Bowden explained, “The staff was made with seven eagle feathers to represent the Seven Grandfathers and the journey through the stages of life. The bead work also represents the start and finish of day cycles, including birth and rebirth and the learning journey. The staff was hand created, smudged, and went through a sweat lodge ceremony as per protocol and tradition. Use of the staff is a privilege and sacred responsibility not unlike the responsibility of honouring a Slá7a (grandfather) and the ancestors.”

The Graduation began with staff and trustees processing into the hall at McArthur Island Sports Centre, followed by hundreds of Aboriginal graduates from every school across the District. To welcome the graduates, community members drummed and sang the Welcome Song while student’s shared dances on stage.

Superintendent Dr. Rhonda Nixon said, “It is a spiritual feeling with everyone together, precessing in and feeling the vibration of the singing and drumming. I am grateful for the experience and look forward to hearing the words of the elders who open the graduation ceremony.”

Elder Connie Jules began with words of encouragement from the ancestors who she shared are with us and watching over us. She said to stay close with family and friends and trust that you will be guided in life by those who care about you.

Board Chair Heather Grieve shared, “When we engaged with the community to make our District Strategic Plan, Knowledge Keeper Joan Arnouse emphasized that the hearthfire is the gathering place of communities. She asked us to remember that it is through community that we ensure children grow healthy and strong. Tonight, we gather to celebrate graduation which is the result of the support from those around you—your family, friends, staff, coaches, and community members”

Words of inspiration, hope, and pride resonated throughout the evening with a welcome from Elder Connie Jules, and messages from Elder Ellen Ahdemar, Tkwenem7íple7 Councillor Morning-Star Peters, District Principal Mike Bowden, and parent Bernice Jensen.

Diane Jules also shared a message of encouragement as the graduates enter a new chapter: “There are no reruns in life, but there are new episodes.”

Tkwenem7íple7 Councillor Morning-Star Peters said, “I could not be more proud of you for accomplishing this important milestone in your lives. What I hope for you now is that you are proud of yourselves and you carry that confidence with you.”

The evening's valedictorians encouraged the graduates to share their stories and stand up for what they believe:

“No matter where we come from, our stories are meant to be shared. Life's toughest battles and life's greatest accomplishments must be told and passed down from one generation to the next. Our own unique stories of how WE EACH were able to overcome challenges, to be able to attend school and then to be sitting here today, at our Aboriginal Graduation. We must share our stories, to inspire others, so that they too, will have the courage to reach their milestones in life.” – Chloe Anderson, Westsyde Secondary

“There will be times in life when you need to stand up for yourself. Times when the right thing is to back down and apologize. Times when the right thing is to fight, times when the right thing is to turn and run. Times to hold on with all you have and times to let go with grace. Sometimes the right thing to do is to throw out the old schools of thought in the name of progress and reform. Sometimes the right thing to do is to listen to the wisdom of those who have come before us. How will you know what the right choice is in these crucial moments? You won’t… The world that awaits us is vast and unpredictable, filled with both challenges and opportunities. It is up to us to seize those opportunities and pursue our passions with courage and strength.” – Danna Campbell, Valleyview Secondary

As each graduate walked across the stage to receive their diploma, loud cheers were heard from the audience as families, friends, and community joined together to celebrate the 2024 Aboriginal Graduates.

Vaccine Status Reporting Regulation Now Law

Tue, 02 Jul 2019 18:30:00 GMT

In an effort to increase immunization rates in British Columbia, a new regulation regarding vaccination records is now law.

Effective July 1, 2019, the Government of British Columbia’s Vaccine Status Reporting Regulation requires complete immunization records for each school-age child. This means every student from Kindergarten to Grade 12 in public and independent schools, or who is home-schooled, is required to have up-to-date vaccination records.

These records are kept in the Provincial Immunization Registry. A review of immunization records will begin in late August. Parents or guardians of children whose records are incomplete will be contacted by public health with instructions on how to proceed. The initial priority will be students in Kindergarten, Grade 6 and Grade 9 to ensure they get vaccinations on schedule. More information on the regulation can be found at ImmunizeBC, and HealthLinkBC.

The Kamloops-Thompson School Board Looks Forward to Working with Station One Architects to Design Pineview Valley Elementary School

Tue, 18 Apr 2023 15:45:00 GMT

On February 22, 2023, the Kamloops-Thompson Board of Education received a funding announcement from the Ministry of Education and Child Care to support a new elementary school in Pineview Valley.

The Ministry of Education and Child Care announced $65.3 million for a new 485-seat elementary school in Pineview Valley. The new school will serve students from Kindergarten to Grade 7 and includes the neighborhood learning centre, which will be used for programs and services, including child care, which benefit the broader community.

This school had been on the Board’s capital plan since 2014-2015. At the time, space pressures in South Shore schools emerged due to new developments, incoming families, and ever-increasing student enrolment in district schools. Now, these space pressures are urgent as McGowan Park Elementary School is at 160% capacity utilization.

“We have been working closely with the McGowan Park staff and parents to manage these burgeoning space pressures,” said Board Chair Heather Grieve, “We are relieved to have received a funding announcement and excited to establish the Pineview Valley Community Engagement Committee.”

On April 17, 2023, at the Regular Public Board meeting, the Kamloops-Thompson Board of Education approved the establishment of the “Pineview Valley Engagement Committee” comprised of community members, district and school staff, parents, and community partners to provide input to the School District. This group will meet to review early designs of the school and to provide input into the educational value of certain design features.

“We have had positive experiences working with Station One Architects on capital projects including the current Parkcrest Elementary rebuild, and the completed Valleyview Secondary expansion,” stated Director Art McDonald.

Station One Architects is a team of over 50 diversely skilled experts who will support the district in design of the plans for the school, landscaping of the school grounds or landscape architecture, project management, and interior design. They have experience in working on education projects and community facilities, which made them a perfect fit for the planning, designing, and visioning of our new school in Pineview Valley.

“In June, 2021, I was fortunate to join a Zoom call in which there was a virtual ‘community reveal’ of the new Parkcrest Elementary School,” explained Superintendent Dr. Rhonda Nixon. “It was inspiring to witness students’ and staff members’ excitement as they watched their new school unfold in front of their eyes in three dimensions on their virtual walkthrough.”

“Station One Architects is very excited and proud to have been selected for the design of the new Pineview Elementary School. We have had a wonderful experience working with the Kamloops School District staff, educators and the broader community on the Valleyview Secondary Addition and the Parkcrest Elementary School and look forward to pushing the envelope further on Pineview Elementary. The unique contours of the sloping site along with exciting provincial initiatives like enhanced greenhouse gas reduction, incorporation of mass timber and new 21^st century learning design features will surely result and a unique design serving Kamloops students and the local community,” said Justin Dyck, Principle Partner from Station One.

Pineview Elementary School will be sustainably built using mass timber. It will also include greenhouse gas reduction measures that will set the building's emissions at least 50% lower than the current LEED Gold Standards. In addition, the school will be built with a climate-resilient building design that will better equip the school to stay cool during extreme heat. Construction on the school is anticipated to start in spring 2024 and open in summer 2026.

Superintendent's Update

Fri, 07 Jun 2024 23:30:00 GMT

Dear Parents and Caregivers:

Join me in celebrating the excitement and vibrancy of learning during the day and in the evenings at schools and community venues. We continue to focus on building connections, while nurturing wellbeing, sustainability, and equity as core commitments in the 2022-2027 District Strategic Plan.

Kay Bingham Elementary School

As I walked into the school, Ms. Hebner from Kamloops Music Collective was leading a large group of students to play tub drums. This was a wonderful, energetic way to start the day.

Principal Caputo and I then visited Ms. Aaltonen’s Grade 1 class who were engaged in varied literacy activities—some were completing a written prompt: which dessert is best (choosing between ice cream and cupcakes). Jackson (student) shared how much he loved blue, purple, and orange ice cream with his grandpa.

Liam, another student, walked me into the hall to share his sister’s art for the Heritage Stamp contest. He was so proud to share her talents!

Ms. Read’s Kindergarten class was working on word sounds by listening to clusters and then identifying key sounds. For example, in “door” and “floor”, they said all together, “It’s ‘or’”. Ms. Petty’s and Ms. Ellis’ K–1 class was reading independently, in partners, and small groups. A few students were labeling key vocabulary words and coloring pictures that matched them.

Ms. Henderson’s and Ms. Bujas’ Kindergarten class was washing their hands to get ready for recess. They stopped to share their “I wonder” pictures, which were beautifully painted. Ms. Young (Learning Assistant Resource Teacher) was working with a small reading group. Mr. Johnson and Ms. McCowan were in the library and students had just chosen books and were reading. I spoke with one student who had selected two books about the history of Kamloops, and others who had a range of popular series novels and graphic novels.

Ms. Kelly’s Grade 5–6 class were heading outside for recess. After recess, Ms. Hebner was working with Grade 4–6 to play ukuleles. They played three notes and a number of songs. Ms. Brennan and Ms. Pye’s Grade 6 students were responding to a picture prompt to describe and then write their inferences about what was happening in the picture.

Liam (student) wanted to share how important the mood meter is to the class and as he shared that each day, each student puts their magnet on a word to describe how they are feeling that day, it was good because “the teacher will talk to you if you choose ‘sad’”, and “it lets us know when someone wants to be ‘quiet’”. Wraiden added, “it is important to see if you can have a better day, too.” Liam and Wraiden also showed how every student has a sticky and writes a personal goal for the day on it. As we continued, they shared how they all knew each other because Ms. Brennan requires them “to switch table groups every day.” A small group of students were planning the “Fun Day” and organizing the logistics of the day. This kind of leadership helps them to own the day and to lead it proudly.

Mr. Cory Swain, plumber, was working on the sink, and he shared that it has been a “group effort” to finish the kitchen. Crystal had designed and installed the shelving, and Ms. Mattes approved a new dishwasher, which Mr. Swain said he was installing that day.

Ms. Vermey’s Grade 1–2 class was engaged in music and Ms. Gardner was supporting. Overall, it is a busy day of learning at Kay Bingham, and students and staff were enjoying themselves.

Sníne Elementary School Groundbreaking Ceremony

On Monday, June 3, 2024, the Kamloops-Thompson Board of Education marked the start of construction on Sníne Elementary School with an official Groundbreaking Ceremony. Sníne Elementary, the Kamloops-Thompson’s newest school, will be located in Pineview Valley. This school has been a priority for the District since 2014-2015, due to notable enrollment growth and space pressures in nearby schools. Read more.

Cariboo Mainline Student Wins Bronze at a Canada Wide Science Fair

In the 2022-2027 District Strategic Plan, the Intellectual Development priority aims to provide opportunities for students to develop the ability to analyze critically while learning reason and to think independently. Participation in Science Fairs is one way that students can develop these skills while learning to discover, experiment, and innovate. The Canada Wide Science Fair (CWSF) is an annual event hosted by Youth Science Canada that celebrates the top 400 students across Canada with exceptional projects in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) and innovation. For 62 years, CWSF has brought students from all across the country together to discover, innovate, and inspire each other. Read more.

Barriere Secondary student wins Bronze at the 2024 Skills Canada National Competition

The 2022-2027 District Strategic Plan has the mission of “supporting environments that provide accessible and empowering opportunities to thrive.” Barriere Secondary School’s Alexis Nelson recently won a Bronze medal in Welding at the 2024 Skills Canada National Competition in Quebec. Skills Canada promotes skilled trade and technology careers to Canadian youth. Each year, more than 500 Canadian youth compete in over 40 skilled trade and technology competitions at SCNC. Read more.

Kamloops-Thompson School District Celebrates Aboriginal Graduation

On Monday, June 3, 2024, we had the privilege of taking part in the annual Aboriginal Graduation ceremony with over 250 Aboriginal graduates. Thank you to District Principal Bowden and the organizing committee for preparing student emcees to lead us, and for the ceremonial procession with drummers and a welcome that provided an opportunity to connect with graduates and their families. I look forward to this graduation at the start of grad season because it is a spiritually moving processing that grips our minds and hearts. Read more.

Thank you for participating in special projects, field trips, and events to make learning enjoyable and to celebrate the successes of students in graduations and awards ceremonies.

Rhonda Nixon, PhD

Superintendent

SD73 to offer 144 new childcare spaces

Thu, 21 Apr 2022 19:45:00 GMT

Kamloops parents will have more access to new licensed childcare spaces on the North Shore and in Valleyview.

School District No. 73 (Kamloops-Thompson) has received provincial funding, with a federal contribution, to create childcare spaces at Ralph Bell and Happyvale. Each project will have new spaces for 24 children (under 36 months) and 48 children (36 months to school age) for a total of 144 new childcare spaces.

“We recognize the pressing need to be innovative when considering how to increase the number of affordable, accessible, and high-quality childcare spaces offered to families where they need them,” said Heather Grieve, Board Chair, Kamloops-Thompson Board of Education. “We are pleased that School District 73 can offer these childcare spaces to children and families at the Happyvale and Ralph Bell locations.”

Each project is funded up to $2,810,000. As part of the funding agreement, School District No. 73 agrees to operate the childcare facilities for a period of no less than 15 years.

Work is underway to purchase portables for the new childcare spaces, although it is too early to provide an anticipated timeline for when the portables will be on-site, or when the daycare spaces will be ready.

In addition, Art McDonald, Director of Facilities, is finalizing the submissions for the building permits and working with the City of Kamloops to organize and resolve planning for public access, placement of portables, and site services.

For more information please see the release from the Ministry of Education

A New Champion Emerged at the 2025 Secondary Battle of the Books

Wed, 04 Jun 2025 22:30:00 GMT

The Kamloops-Thompson School District’s annual Battle of the Books is a beloved local reading motivation program that inspires a love of reading across all grade levels. This fun, engaging, and interactive event encourages students of all ages and reading levels to develop and deepen their passion for literature through friendly and spirited competition.

At the beginning of May, elementary students competed in the 37th annual Battle of the Books. Later that month, it was secondary students' turn to showcase their literacy knowledge and teamwork in the Battle Reboot.

On May 30, 2025, 45 students from six Kamloops secondary schools gathered at the Henry Grube Education Centre to compete in the Secondary Battle of the Books. This year’s battle included Grade 8-12 students representing teams from Sa-Hali, Westsyde, NorKam, Brocklehurst, Valleyview, and South Kamloops secondary schools.

The 2025 battle booklist included titles such as The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas, One of Us Is Lying by Karen M. McManus, Ready Player One by Ernest Cline, I Am Malala by Malala Yousafza, The Prince and the Dressmaker by Jen Wang, to name just a few.

Throughout the day, students competed in a series of book battle challenges. These included three rounds of Jeopardy-style trivia based on this year's books, a creative loose-parts challenge where teams has to symbolically represent the theme "transformation is never limited to one person" connected to three of the books they read using craft materials, and a persuasive "pitch" about the book they thought was the best. Teams earned points in each event, with the highest-scoring team declared the winner.

After winning the past two years, the defending champions from NorKam Secondary were narrowly defeated by the team from Westsyde Secondary. The Westsyde students not only earned bragging rights but also took home the coveted Battle trophy (a beautiful, unique award designed by Valleyview Secondary Teacher-Librarian Dianne Bell) for their school.

While Westsyde won the battle, it was a fun and rewarding day for all involved. All students impressed the judges and staff organizers with their in-depth knowledge of the books and their passion for reading.

Special thanks go out to the team of Teacher-Librarians—Theresa Beecher-Hafeli, Dianne Bell, Tara Fairbrother, Gregg Hafeli, Aleasha Kachel, and Trisha Rimmer—as well as Mike Carson, Secondary Literacy Resource Teacher, and Andrea Wallin, Library Learning Commons Coordinator, who organized this event. Their dedication and enthusiasm for Battle of the Books and other literacy initiatives helps to support and grow literacy strategies across the District, which is a key focus of the Intellectual Development priority in the 2022-2027 District Strategic Plan.

Re-Opening of Ralph Bell on the Horizon

Fri, 02 Sep 2022 21:30:00 GMT

Ralph Bell Elementary School is ready! The paint is dry, the library books have arrived, the gymnasium is ready for squeaky sneakers, and the staff are eager to welcome young learners next week.

On September 2, 2022, Board Chair Heather Grieve, Vice Chair Meghan Wade, and Superintendent Rhonda Nixon had a brief tour of Ralph Bell to celebrate the efforts of staff who have worked so hard to prepare for the start-up.

“I am so thankful for our District staff who have been painting, re-flooring, building and moving brand new educational resources into our school,” said Principal Tiffany Hawkins. “A school reopening is about coming together to create a place of welcoming, care, and belonging. I can already feel this positive energy and I am so excited for the first day of school.”

Principal Hawkins has toured more than 40 families around the newly renovated school this week and noted that they are in awe of the beauty of the environment, their new playground, and daycare spaces which will be available in 2023.

Since early 2022, contractors and maintenance crews have been hard at work giving the 60-year-old building a complete overhaul including installation of new flooring, lockers, roll shutters, doors, hardware, at a one-time capital cost of $759,000. The 10-room, 26,330 square foot space also features new IT infrastructure, including a Fibre Internet connection that is faster and with more bandwidth than any other SD73 elementary school. A new state of the art Wi-Fi system was installed to utilize this speed and bandwidth along with new server technology which will become the standard for all district elementary schools moving forward.

Outside, the exterior is freshly painted in gray and accented in spice red, all the asphalt has been repaved and perhaps most importantly for students, a brand new fully accessible playground is installed and ready to go.

For John Kerssens, the memories of Ralph Bell are particularly fond. John was the custodian at Ralph Bell when it shut down in 2010 due to declining enrolment and this week, he was part of the grounds crew in charge of building the new play structure for incoming students.

While the school opens on Tuesday at 10:30 am, the official opening and open house will be Thursday, Sept. 15, 2022 at 5 pm. Ralph Bell families and neighbours can expect to hear more about the event very soon.

Superintendent's Update

Fri, 15 Mar 2024 23:00:00 GMT

Dear Parents and Caregivers:

Thank you for your focus on relationships and connections, wellbeing, equity, and sustainability, core value commitments in the 2022-2027 District Strategic Plan. As we enter into the two-week Spring Break, many staff, students, and parents are traveling or staying home to take time to relax and rejuvenate. Others are working and enjoying the change of pace to focus on projects while also appreciating the longer days.

Westmount Elementary School

As I entered the school, Mr. Laboucan was working with a few students to take down the tipi to prepare for their upcoming book fair. As we started our classroom visits, Principal Styles and I met Jamie Garbutt, City Sustainability Coordinator, who was placing composting and recycling bins in the school. She shared, “We are very lucky to work so closely with students to address sustainability.” Mr. Styles remarked how they are fortunate to be receiving a grant from “Farm to School BC”, and they have used it to purchase a compost tumbler.

As we continued, Mrs. Caputo was engaged in an experiment with a balloon and candle showing how when she added baking soda to a gas called carbon dioxide (CO2) to be released. The balloon formed a seal around the bottle, and the gas produced couldn’t escape, so it filled up the balloon. The Gr. 2 students absolutely loved this experiment, and they asked to do it multiple times.

Next, we met Ms. MacDonald who was teaching Kindergarten, when she took a student, Henry P., to a wall chart of lists of facts that the class had developed about various animals. Henry had designed a bear out of painted boxes, and called it “Grizzy”. Ms. MacDonald assisted Henry to tell a sequential story from Grizzy’s point of view and then used the app, “Chatter Pix”, a software that animated his digital picture of Grizzy so that Grizzy’s lips moved to tell the story that Henry had created.

Ms. Evans and Ms. Williams were teaching Gr. 1 students to identify healthy and unhealthy snacks. Ms. Torchia’s Gr. 1-2 class was studying money trees to learn about needs versus wants.

Mr. Bigham’s Gr. 6-7 students were studying windmills. They tested the strength by how much weight a windmill could lift, starting with one, and then two, three, four, five, and six marbles. He taught students how to research the cost of building their windmill by starting with $3M and then having 1M to add items to them. Everyone was engaged working together to test for other variables such as time to lift objects.

Ms. Zirnhelt’s Gr. 3 class had been making arrays. They stopped to show me different ways to make 6 and then how to multiply using concrete representations of different numbers. It was close to lunch time, and as we proceeded down the hall, a child named Fynn said, “This is a great school! He [meaning Mr. Styles] is great!” We stopped to visit Ms. Ault’s gr. 3-4 class, and they were eating lunch and enjoying their afternoon.

Jesse Lipscombe’s #MakeitAwkward Campaign in SD73

Kamloops-Thompson’s Art in the High Country 2024

In the 2022-027 District Strategic Plan, we are committed to students’ intellectual development in multi-modal (print, digital, music, drama) literacies. On March 5^th and 6^th, SD73's Art in the High Country 2024 exemplified how students in grades 5 to 12 are keen to grow and share their passions and competencies in a wide range of performance literacies showcased at the Sagebrush theater. Read more.

La Bonhomme Carnaval at Summit Elementary School

I hope that you are looking forward to many days of fun, relaxation, and rejuvenation. For those who are traveling, I hope that you stay safe and arrive in your locations as expected, with your luggage.

Have a wonderful Spring Break!

Rhonda Nixon, PhD

Superintendent

Two-Week Spring Break & New Federal Statutory Holiday

Wed, 07 Jul 2021 18:15:00 GMT

The Kamloops -Thompson Board of education is seeking public feedback on new three-year calendars that reflect a two-week spring break and new federal statutory holiday.

At its regular meeting on July 5, 2021 the board approved submitting the new five-day and four-day school calendars for the 2021-2022, 2022-2023, and 2023-24 school years to the Minister of Education after it considers any comments received in the next 30 days.

“To ensure that the district meets the prescribed minimum hours of instruction each year in the regular five-day school week, the 2021-2022 school day will be lengthened by 11 minutes for elementary schools, and 9 minutes for secondary schools,” said Associate Superintendent Shayne Olsen. “For 2022-2023 and 2023-2024, the school day will be lengthened by 9 minutes for elementary schools and 7 minutes for secondary schools. This additional time will be added to the end of each school day.”

For the four-day school week, the four days of spring break will be spread out during the year by adding one additional Friday school day during the year. The other three will take place on the Thursday of a week where this is a non-instructional day on the Friday.

“We will consider feedback from parents and families before we submit the final calendars to the Ministry,” said Board Chair Rhonda Kershaw. “The public consultation period is open until Aug. 6, and comments can be submitted through the district website.”

The new calendars are a result of the successful negotiations with the Kamloops Thompson Teachers’ Association (KTTA) and CUPE Local 3500 (CUPE) for a two-week spring break to be held each March and an announcement by the federal government to add a new holiday, the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, which is to be observed on September 30.

Why the #brake4buses Message is Timeless

Tue, 03 Sep 2019 18:00:00 GMT

School is back, and for Sherry Kristjanson, SD73’s manager of transportation, it is time to remember why we must all #brake4buses.

Every day one of her 80 drivers tells her about a close call they’ve had while transporting 4,600 children to and from school. They tell her how, despite the 6-foot swing arm and the 40-foot yellow and black bus stopped at the side of the road, dozens of drivers fail to stop when a school bus has its flashing red lights on.

The video was first released in September 2018, but this message is timeless.

SD73 covers an area of more than 26,000 sq. km. There are 61 buses logging approximately 8,200 kms. transporting children to and from school every day.

Board Notes from May 12, 2025

Thu, 15 May 2025 23:30:00 GMT

From the regular meeting of the Board of Education. Find out about Young Authors Conference, Public Presentation by Lisa Johannesen from Foundry Kamloops, and Sníne Elementary Community Engagement Results and Plans. Read Board Notes here.

Day of Sucwentw�cw Poster Artist Winner

Tue, 22 Mar 2022 16:00:00 GMT

As part of the Day of Sucwentwécw celebration, a poster contest was held across the District to choose a design that would represent the theme of the year. This year’s poster contest winner is Teresa Seymour, a grade 6 student from Parkcrest Elementary. Her artist statement is below:

Hello, Weykt,

My name is Teresa Seymour. First I’m going to talk about myself and my family. I’m in grade 6 and I am 11 years old, soon to be 12. The school I go to is Parkcrest. I have a sister whose name is Rachel Seymour. She is 17 years old. She is lots of fun but she might say that she is not. My mom is so fun. One time she did a cartwheel in the house. It was so cool and funny. My dad is fun too but he can not do a cartwheel. Sometimes he does dad jokes. My whole family goes hunting, fishing, and camping. It's lots of fun. I have been doing art for about 3 to 4 years now. I mostly do nature scenes or people. Something like that. It is lots of fun. My friends are like family, they are really nice and fun.

Recently, I was very inspired by the Eagle painting that’s in the hallway of the school. It really inspired me to draw something similar. I thought of Eagle feathers growing, spiritually, emotionally, physically, and intellectually. l also thought of our traditional animals. One of the 7 teachings is the Eagle. It represents love. I thought of these special 4 words as spiritual indigenous values. The saying I went with was “The Eagle’s feathers are growing, spiritual, emotional, physical, intellectual.” The saying made me feel really grateful for my nice life.

Now about the Medicine Wheel and what it stands for. I think that the color white would stand for love. Everyone needs it. To show it I drew a heart. The color yellow stands for intellectual. To show it I drew a brain. The color black would stand for strength. To show it I drew a strong arm. The color red would stand for spirt. To show it I drew two hands praying. These four things represent many feelings that everyone has. I hope others will do kind things. Maybe they will help someone with something. These things we all need in life. Let's always remember it.

Sincerely

Teresa Seymour

Board Notes from November 23, 2020

Wed, 25 Nov 2020 21:00:00 GMT

From the regular meeting of the Board of Education. All about student advisory council connects and an update to early closures. Read Board Notes here.

Superintendent's Update

Sat, 19 Mar 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Dear Parents and Caregivers:

Many of our staff and students will be starting Spring Break this weekend, and others will be enjoying work that has a different rhythm and pace over the next two weeks. With more daylight and Spring conditions, I hope that everyone takes time to enjoy outside activities.

Rayleigh Elementary School

Principal Shaun McKenna introduced me to the Kindergarten class that had made leprechaun traps for St. Patrick’s Day. One student shared, “The way you catch a leprechaun is to put shiny, colourful treasures in your box.” Their enthusiasm was contagious as students shared their inventions. As we entered a band class that was practicing scales and preparing for their newest musical score, the grade 6 students played together like an experienced junior high band. Principal McKenna explained, “The reason why these students play well is because of their wonderful teacher and that they start in grade 4.” He modelled how students start on “ beginner” wind instruments. Rayleigh’s Random Acts of Kindness interactive bulletin board was designed by Ms. Crawford. There was no end to the many examples of how their community celebrates together and fosters a culture of care and kindness.

National Nutrition Month and the Launch of Hands-on Food

March is Nutrition Month and this year School District No. 73 is celebrating with the launch of the Hands-on Food resource, developed in partnership with Farm to Schools BC and Interior Health.
Hands-on Food is a locally created and developed food-literacy website designed with and for elementary teachers. From growing, to cooking and preserving, to recovering waste, these hands-on lessons provide students with the opportunity to dive deeper into the curriculum and experience the “doing” of sustainable food practices. This month, teachers can apply for a $500.00 grant to support growing seeds and cooking in the classroom. For the grant application form, click here. Get started today! A big thank you to all those who contributed to this project and an extra big thanks to the SD73 teachers and staff who took the time to mentor, pilot, and prototype lessons. Find out more here.

Continuity of Learning and Communicable Disease Prevention Plan (COVID-19)

On Thursday, March 10, 2022, Provincial Health Officer, Dr. Bonnie Henry announced changes to safety measures for K-12 schools, which are detailed in the Provincial COVID-19 Communicable Disease Guidelines for K-12 Settings. These changes start on the first day of Spring Break, which is March 21, 2022, in our district. Employees who work over Spring Break will have a head start on students who will experience these changes upon return to school after Spring Break on April 4, 2022.

Budget Consultation

The school district is undertaking a public consultation process to inform its stakeholders on its budget priorities and how they align and support the District’s vision. You are welcome to attend the budget presentation on April 5, 2022, and are encouraged to submit questions and feedback based on the budget priorities presented. Find more information or register to attend here.

Thank you for your dedication and collaborative efforts to stay strong as a community. It has been a challenging time with the changing landscape of the pandemic, and pulling together has been the signature strength of SD73. As we enter the last week of March, we can see signs of Spring, which brings hope. Continue to look for the best in each day and enjoy your time with friends and family.

Rhonda Nixon, PhD
Superintendent

Year End Concert Showcases Resilience for VSS Band and Choir

Thu, 10 Jun 2021 22:15:00 GMT

The Valleyview Secondary School Senior Concert Band and Concert Choir final concert of the year will be available on YouTube on Monday June 14 at 7:00 PM. The students took over the stage at the Sagebrush Theatre to record their final concert of the year in mid-May.

“This concert is the culmination of a year’s worth of hard work and dedication,” said VSS Music Director Jaymi Daniels. “The students in both ensembles followed strict safety protocols and showed resilience in the face of major challenges every day.”

There are 33 students in the band and 29 students in the choir, with 18 students who were in both groups. Senior band students are primarily in grades 10-12, with four grade 9s. In the choir they range from grades 8-12.

Both groups played a variety of music across all genres and styles.

“We recorded 19 pieces in total,” said Daniels.

Choir selections included the Canadian Folk Song Blackfly written by Wade Hemsworth, which talks about the prevalence of the blackfly in North Ontario, music from the motion picture A Star Is Born and a version of the New Zealand sea shanty The Wellerman, made recently famous on TikTok, and arranged by Daniels.

Band selections included English Folk Song Suite by R. Vaughn Williams which is a concert band classic and features a compilation of popular English Folk Songs, The Nine by Randall Stanridge which is a massive 10-minute work written about the end of segregation in U.S. schools, and some lighter pieces like Adele in Concert, which features three of the most popular songs written by the British singer/songwriter.

“This year has been very difficult, for everyone of course, but throughout the course of the year, music students encountered many different challenges,” said Daniels. “We had to find an alternative space to practice that was big enough to hold our entire group while remaining safely and physically distanced, which also meant that for every rehearsal we had to move all of our equipment in and out of that space. Because the space was not meant for music, it posed acoustic challenges as well.”

Due to cohort restrictions, music classes had to be held outside of the timetable, which meant many of the students were attending classes before and after school four days a week, in addition to their regular schedule.

“This posed challenges with transportation, increased workload and very long school days. However, we are grateful that we found a way to have music safely in our school,” Daniels said. “Despite everything they were able to learn, create, problem-solve, and thrive.

“I can tell by working with these amazing young people every day that the future is bright.”

The concert was captured by sound engineer Doug Perry, of Perry’s Recording Studio and videographer Christo Vutev of Vutev Video. If you missed the link above, here it is again: Valleyview Secondary School Final Concert 2020/2021.

SD73 and YMCA BC Celebrate the Opening the of YMCA Parkcrest Care and Learning Centre

Tue, 23 Sep 2025 16:00:00 GMT

Story provided by Chelsea Isenor, Director of Communications and Board Administration

On Monday, September 22, 2025, the Kamloops-Thompson Board of Education and YMCA BC, with support from the Ministry of Education and Child Care, celebrated the opening of the newest child care centre in the Kamloops-Thompson School District.

Last year, the District celebrated the reopening of Parkcrest Elementary School, which was newly rebuilt following a fire in 2019. The new school includes a Neighbourhood Learning Centre with 52 new licensed child care spaces thanks to funding from ChildCareBC. In one room, the District operates Before and After School Care programming for school aged children. This month, we are excited to celebrate the opening of the YMCA Parkcrest Care and Learning Centre in the other Neighbourhood Learning Centre rooms, including 28 spaces for infant and toddler child care (ages 0-5) operating Mondays through Fridays.

At the opening celebration, Kamloops-Thompson Board of Education Chair, Heather Grieve shared, “The Board of Education recognizes that child care for local families is something that is incredibly important in our district. As it stands right now, approximately half of our elementary schools throughout the district, have some form of early learning or child care programming on site. We are incredibly fortunate to have a partnership with YMCA BC in the opening of the new child care spaces here at Parkcrest. We also want to express our immense gratitude to the Ministry of Education and Child Care for supporting these child care spaces through the New Spaces Fund.”

The Kamloops-Thomson School District is committed to supporting early learning opportunities and environments which inspire children to thrive. Understanding the urgent need for families to have access to inclusive and welcoming child care spaces, and the Board of Education has been focused on productive partnerships to meet this need, previously opening child care centers at Ralph Bell Elementary in 2023 and Happyvale in 2024.

“This is a powerful testament to what happens when people work together and imagine a preferred future. That is what we are celebrating today,” shared Superintendent Mike McKay. “All of this is in support of children and their growth and potential, and in support of families who require and are attracted to this wonderful space that builds community and capacity. It doesn’t happen everywhere, and I think the fact that it’s happening here in our school district and community speaks strongly to the kind of partnerships and commitments that a dedicated group of people can achieve.”

YMCA BC already has a strong partnership with the Kamloops-Thompson School District, also offering after-school care at Rayleigh Elementary. YMCA Child Care provides safe and welcoming environments where children can stretch their skills in mind and body while building positive relationships with caring adults. Their goal to ensure continued enthusiasm and capacity for lifelong learning for each child aligns with the District's Strategic Plan.

“Most people know the YMCA for its health and fitness services, yet our organization has a long-standing history of serving communities in broader ways. We are a charity that ignites the potential in people,” shared Lauren Mathany, Senior Vice President of Health Equity, Child Care, and Camps at YMCA BC. “As the largest provider of licensed child care in BC, the YMCA recognizes how much families rely on these services and the profound impact that it has in the community. We are incredibly proud to further extend child care services with the opening of the YMCA Parkcrest Care and Learning Centre”

Parents and guardians who are interested in accessing child care at the YMCA Parkcrest Care and Learning Centre must register through the YMCA. Please contact interior.childcare@bc.ymca.ca with any questions. To learn more and join the waitlist please visit kamloopsy.org/childcare.

The Art of Making a Statement

Tue, 18 Jun 2019 22:15:00 GMT

As the school year draws to a close, art teachers across the District took some time to pick exceptional artwork by young artists, and present it to the Board of Education. This year, Katrina Sewell, coordinator of Young Artists, said there was an artwork to consider from every elementary school.

Each piece of artwork is framed and includes an artists’ statement. The pieces presented to the Board will be displayed in the Kamloops School Board Office for the next 12 months. See a photo gallery of their works here.

“The goal of the year-end exhibit is to remind the Board about the significance of this kind of learning for students,” said Sewell, who is also Principal of Haldane Elementary.

An important part of the curriculum in British Columbia, participation in fine arts encourage creativity, self-expression and engaged learning. Creativity is one of the core competencies outlined in the new curriculum, along with communication and critical thinking.

Yecwestsu?t-ca - 'To Care for One's Self'

Wed, 22 Jun 2022 16:30:00 GMT

In celebration of Indigenous Peoples Day in Canada, SD73 is hosting its first district-wide Aboriginal Youth Wellness Conference for students in grades 8 and 9 on June 22 at Thompson Rivers University. The theme for the conference, as identified and selected by students, is Yecwestsút-ca which means ‘to care for one’s self’.

This gathering presents a unique opportunity to learn how indigenous culture, used as the foundation for health and wellness, is effective not only for Indigenous individuals, families, and communities, but for everyone. The event is based upon the principal belief that Indigenous health must be approached from a holistic view, which encompasses body, mind, and spirit. Over 160 students are expected to attend.

Gino Odjick, a former Vancouver Canuck, and Peter Leech, a former professional hockey player, will keynote the event with Jeffrey McNeil-Seymour and Madelaine McCallum Mendez joining as special guests. Each student will have the opportunity to participate in two 45-minute breakout sessions with the sessions ranging from archery, medicine making, healthy relationships, jigging, consent, jewelry making, bush party safety and awareness, celebrating Two Spirit folks, and more.

Most of the day’s activity will be at the Grand Hall at Thompson Rivers University with breakout sessions taking place throughout Old Main and the outdoor space in front of the Campus Activity Centre.

Essential Grad for the Class of 2020

Mon, 25 May 2020 15:30:00 GMT

It isn’t optimal, but it is essential. Graduating students from the class of 2020 will begin crossing the stage, following public health safety rules, beginning today.

“I understand a petition is circulating among the class asking for a traditional ceremony, or a postponement of Grad commencement ceremonies,” said Alison Sidow, Superintendent of Schools. “I want to acknowledge their request, and let them know, with respect, that our grad plans are already in place and we will be proceeding with them. I know this is painful for everyone. Our commitment is to see each student cross the stage, and we are doing everything we can to make it happen.”

School leaders are working with students and their families to create a celebration experience for each student. This means they will be invited, one family group at a time, to experience their student walking across the stage at their school, to receive their diploma. Each family’s individual experience will be captured on video, and woven into a school video celebrating the whole class. Each video will include music, photos, and quotes chosen by the school. Each video will also include that school’s valedictorian address, a message from their principal, a message from a school trustee, and a message from the Superintendent of Schools.

Filming begins May 25, and wraps up June 26. Videos will be posted as they are completed.

February Deadlines Approaching for some Trades and Transitions Programs

Thu, 06 Feb 2020 18:15:00 GMT

It’s decision time.

If you are a student in grade 9, 10 or 11 and you are considering a career in any of the areas outlined below, please be aware you need to apply by Feb. 21, 2020 for some Trades and Transitions programs offered in the district.

To learn more about Secondary Programs of Choice, parents, guardians and students are invited to an information session at the NorKam Senior Secondary School cafeteria, 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM, Feb. 11, 2020.

Trades Programs

Trades Sampler programs are available to all district students in grades 10 to 12. This is a single semester program providing 16 credits earned through hands-on skills and an introductory understanding of a cluster of related trades, taught by Red Seal trades instructors. The three samplers include construction (carpentry, plumbing, electrical and construction), mechanical (automotive, heavy duty and motorcycle technician, and welding), and industrial (millwright, steamfitter/pipefitter, sheet metal, instrumentation) trades clusters.

Students in grade 12 with a goal of entering a specific trade can attend a Trades Foundation program at TRU through the Youth Train in Trades program, receiving high school credit as well as the foundation program certification. The school district covers the tuition cost of the program.

Digital Arts and Technology Academy (formerly Digipen)

Students entering grade 11 or 12 who are planning a potential career in the software industry may be interest in the Digital Arts and Technology Academy hosted at Sa-Hali Secondary. Student in the program spend one semester at Sa-Hali, immersed in the world of digital design, graphics and software development. Taught through the lens of digital game development, students receive 4 courses of high school credit as well as 4 courses of university credit at TRU towards the completion of a B.Sc. in Computer Science.

TRU Start Programs

TRU start programs are available to all district students in grade 12. In partnership with Thompson Rivers University, students earn a full year of grade 12 elective credit while attending a diploma program at TRU, with tuition funding provided by the school district. This transition opportunity is available for the Health Care Assistant Diploma, Early Childhood Education Diploma, and the new to our district Police and Justice Studies Diploma programs at Thompson Rivers University.

Students entering grade 11 who are interested in a rigorous academic-focused university preparation studies should consider the International Baccalaureate (IB) Programme. Students will earn advanced credits towards post-secondary degrees at numerous universities – including Thompson Rivers University - while in the IB Programme, an internationally recognized university prep program.

TRU Start Courses

For students who want to start their post-secondary training in grade 12, the TRU Start course program offers gives students the opportunity to take a university course each semester, which can then be placed on their high school transcript for elective credit. Students can apply for funding covering the costs of tuition and books. For more information, check the TRU Start page.

For more information on any of these programs and to understand the options students have in grades 10, 11 and 12 and for application forms, see the district Trades and Transitions site.

Clearwater Team Gets Help From Provincial Players

Mon, 01 Nov 2021 16:30:00 GMT

The power of social media had the Clearwater Secondary boys’ soccer team in its sights last week.

After qualifying for the provincial championships earlier this month, the team quickly realized they needed to start fundraising. Clearwater Mayor Merlin Blackwell tweeted a request for donations to help the team raise the estimated $5000 it would cost to send them to the Lower Mainland to compete.

Shortly after, Clearwater Secondary’s Principal Darren Coates received a message from none other than the Vancouver Whitecaps FC who were ready and willing to help in any way they could.

It’s the first time in the school’s history that the team has made it to the provincial level and with the help of the Whitecaps, the team will be provided with financial aid, as well as cleats and other equipment that is often hard to find in a remote area like Clearwater. The closest store to buy cleats is a 1.5-hour drive. What’s more, some players had never stepped foot on the pitch prior to this year.

The underdog Clearwater team will battle 15 other teams at the Burnaby Lake Sports Complex from Nov. 3 to Nov. 5.

SKSS Destination Imagination Team Wins Provincial Championship

Wed, 16 Apr 2025 22:30:00 GMT

Story provided by Chelsea Isenor, Director of Communications and Board Administration

On Saturday, April 12, 2025, a team of South Kamloops Secondary School (SKSS) students became provincial champions at the 2025 Destination Imagination Provincial Tournament in North Vancouver.

The SKSS winning team, The Tinkering Titans Nerd Herd, included students: Sadie Baker (Grade 12), Oscar Firth-Gieben (Grade 12), Martin Gjaltema (Grade 11), Calliope Leadbetter (Grade 11), Delainey Rusk (Grade 9), Harper Marchand (Grade 9), and Emma Willms (Grade 9). SKSS teacher, Ms. Brandi Rusk supported the students by being their mentor and teacher sponsor as they prepared and competed in the event. The team was also assisted by Ms. Rusk’s Teacher candidate, Giovanni Trotta.

Destination Imagination is a global educational non-profit dedicated to inspiring the next generation of innovators, leaders, and creative problem solvers. Destination Imagination operates educational programs and activities in 30+ countries around the world and more than 15,000 student teams (100,000+ youths) participate in their programs each year. Destination Imagination challenges allow students from pre-K through university to become part of a global community of confident creators and practice the essential skills needed to thrive in school, future careers, and beyond.

Ms. Rusk is no stranger to this competition, having led a team of students from Logan Lake Secondary School in 1998 to win gold in the Seniors Pageant Wagon Division at the Provincial Odyssey of the Mind competition (former name of the Destination Imagination competition). The team then went on to compete with some of the best student problem solvers in the world at the World Odyssey of the Mind competition in Orlando, Florida.

When asked about this year’s SKSS team, Ms. Rusk shared, “They excelled, not only were they brilliant in their prepared Science Challenge but they were also brilliant in their Instant Challenge. It’s a lot of work, but it's so incredibly rewarding. I was so proud of them, not only for what they’ve accomplished but also for how they’ve worked together as a group throughout this process.”

At the Provincial competition, the SKSS team won first in the Instant Challenge (a timed physics challenge) and first place in the main World Beyond Science Challenge.

To prepare for their World Beyond Science Challenge, the SKSS team were given a science problem to solve and then came up with a creative solution. Their challenge was to take a planet in our solar system (Saturn), do scientific research and discuss specific elements of the planet, introduce their own technobabble, and then present how they would encounter alien life forces on this planet in a theatrical way. The project encouraged students to combine science skills with creative thinking and artistic expression.

SKSS students also won a Special Award for the team that showed the true spirit of Destination Imagination, by showcasing creativity, communication, collaboration, and problem solving. SKSS students were praised for how encouraging they were to all the other teams and for being true role models for the younger students.

When asked about their Destination Imagination experience, the students expressed their favorite parts were working as a team, learning from each other’s strengths and interests, and having fun together. Grade 9 student Delainey Rusk shared, “Even though we’re all from different grades and specialized in different things, we all came together to create something that was really good.”

When asked what it felt like when they realized they won, Grade 11 student Martin Gjaltema shared, “I was in a bit of disbelief… I was super happy and proud of my entire team. I’m definitely going to do it again, it was super fun. It felt good to be part of something and join a club.”

Grade 12 student Sadie Baker also received one of three Destination Imagination Scholarships. When asked about the experience, Sadie shared, “I really enjoy being with these people and the challenges were really interesting. This was a lot different than other school experiences I’ve had. I'm on the debate team and though it includes public speaking and a lot of research and preparation, it doesn't include as much of the creative aspects [as Destination Imagination]. I thought it was interesting to use different parts of my brain and skills that I hadn't exercised before.”

Throughout their journey to becoming provincial champions, the SKSS Destination Imagination team showcased many of the values and priorities highlighted in the 2022-2027 District Strategic Plan, including the importance of Connections and Relationships, as well as a commitment to Intellectual Development and Human and Social Development.

Superintendent's Update

Fri, 04 Oct 2024 23:30:00 GMT

Dear Parents and Caregivers:

As we engage together in many activities throughout October, I will focus on stories about Equity and Courage and profile the Systems Development Priority which is about the operations side of the school district (Finance, Human Resources, IT, Facilities, Transportation) throughout the year. This priority and our core values are further explained in the 2022-2027 District Strategic Plan.

World Teachers’ Day – October 5, 2024

This year’s World Teachers’ Day theme, Valuing Teacher Voices: Towards a New Social Contract for Education reminds me of the important voice that the KTTA Executive have in our district. President Darcy Martin and Vice President Laurel Macpherson meet with us regularly to share perspectives of teachers on all matters from the personal digital device survey, district administrative procedures, budget, and teacher’ needs and concerns, to name a few.Teachers’ voices and perspectives matter to ensure that students’ needs are met through high quality education provided by all educators.

Please take time to share your gratitude for all that teachers do for our children. They are there with welcoming smiles, encouraging words, and teaching lessons to advance students’ learning every day. Teachers ensure the wellbeing of each child and generations of educated citizens who strive to make the world a better place. Thank you, teachers, for everything you do!

South Kamloops Secondary School – October 2, 2024

Principal Preymak and I visited Ms. Richter’s English First Peoples Grade 12 class. Students had read a chapter about transformation of animals into humans and humans into animals. Evidence of the significance of transformation can be found in some origin or creation stories. These stories usually tell of an ancient time when people and animals could communicate and transform shape. Discussion centred around the meaning of this transformation theme and connection to Indigenous ways of knowing and being through story.

Mr. Wilson’s English First Peoples Grade 12 class was studying Secwepemctsín.

We then stopped to talk with Ms. Hefington and Ms. Hanson, Aboriginal Education Workers, and they were completing the 1701 process to ensure student enrolment is correct. When I asked what they are excited about, they each shared the projects that they do with student groups. For example, making a video or ribbon skirts, and participating in the Lahal tournaments were examples of learning opportunities that they found students appreciated for their cultural teachings, and they looked forward to doing them again. They also support a drumming group that includes students from Valleyview, one that is led by Ms. Thomas.

Ms. Spada, a Teacher Teaching On Call, was teaching Grade. 8 band. The students willingly played a couple of songs, and they were simply excellent – great energy, focus, rhythm, and timing. Thank you Grade 8 Band!

We then visited Ms. Yamaoka who was sharing how her Art class had taken part in a study of the grasslands by learning about them from a presenter who works for BC Grasslands Conservation Council. Students were sketching, painting, and writing about personal and societal connections to grasslands. What an inspiring study involving multi-literacies – reading, listening, viewing, writing, drawing, sketching, painting, and digital representations. They will be creating a calendar, and everyone is looking forward to it.

Ms. Hilaire’s French Social Studies 10 class was discussing and researching the locations of World War I on a map. Ms. Rusk’s Grade 11-12 20th Century World History Class was studying the Russian Revolution. Ms. Rusk stopped to share how enthusiastic she is about this year because of the students she gets to work with every day at SKSS.

Behavioural and Digital Threat Assessment Signing Ceremony – October 2, 2024

Thank you to District Principal Carmichael and Assistant Superintendent Mattes who invited me to join partners in signing our new Behavioural and Digital Threat Assessment Interagency Protocol, formerly known as the Violent Threat Risk Assessment (VTRA) Protocol. Thank you to the partners who came together at the Henry Grube Education Centre to pledge our collective commitment to working together to reduce safety risks and to respond in timely and trauma-informed ways when such events happen. Read more.

Leadership Development Program – October 2, 2024

Thank you To Assistant Superintendents Carson, Mattes, and Reilly for organizing and supporting the community of Leadership Development Program Candidates (LDP) to meet for the first time this year. This year’s LDP candidates are: Amanda Jensen, Elise Hrycan, Andrea Dwyer, Tory Cardinal, Morgan Whitehouse, Morgan Kolasa, Jessica Baker, Denise Underwood, David Lam, Christina Gauley, Cheryl Volkaert, Brian Badgero, Ashley Moore, and Amber Dixon. They will be engaging in a series of ongoing professional learning about instructional and operational aspects of leadership within our District. The professional learning topics the LDP cohort will be engaging in this year include: Safe and Caring Schools, Curriculum Implementation, Equity Transformation Cycle, Human Resources Strategies for Instructional Leaders, and Financial Planning for Educational Leaders.

National Principals’ Month (October) and Principal and Vice Principal Professional Learning – October 3, 2024

Thank you to principals, vice principals, and district leaders who engaged in reflection on employee wellbeing and recognition and how to continue this work in meaningful ways this year.

District Parent Advisory Council (DPAC)

Board Notes

For those who would like to keep track of major events discussed at Board meetings, I will reference Board Notes (summaries of board meetings), which are available on the District website under “Our District/Board” under “Board Communications”. See Board Notes for the Regular Public Board meeting on September 23, 2024.

Thank you for all that you do and please continue to recognize each other and to enjoy time to rest, relax, and rejuvenate this weekend.

Rhonda Nixon, PhD
Superintendent

Students Dive Into History at the Kamloops-Thompson Regional Heritage Fair

Fri, 16 May 2025 17:00:00 GMT

Story provided by Chelsea Isenor, Director, Communications and Board Administration

The Kamloops-Thompson School District has proudly supported the Heritage Fair since its inception in 1994. This multimedia, multi-disciplinary annual event was developed to inspire students to learn the history of their families, communities, and cultures.

On May 8–9, 2025, students in Grades 4–7 from elementary schools across the District gathered at the Henry Grube Education Centre for two days of learning, exploration, and cultural sharing. Students presented their Heritage Fair projects for judging, with the top three winners earning the chance to attend the Provincial Heritage Fair in Vancouver this summer.

This year’s Kamloops-Thompson Region Heritage Fair featured student projects on a wide range of cultural topics, historic events, significant historical figures, and personal stories of heritage. Some of the topics included the Indian Act, Métis culture, Les Doukhobors, Residential Schools, World War I, women’s rights, the history of Canadian women in sports, Clara Hughes, the CN Railway, Terry Fox, 2SLGBTQIA+ rights throughout the decades, and the rise and fall of the fur trade, to name just a few.

Liv, a Grade 4 student from Aberdeen Elementary, created a project on the Okanagan Lake monster, ‘Ogopogo’. When asked why she chose the topic, she explained, “I saw Canadian sea beasts on one of the lists, and immediately I thought of Ogopogo, so I thought it would be a great topic.” While working on her project, Liv learned that “it can sometimes be hard to find information, but once you put it all together it can really go a long way.”

Liam, another Grade 4 student from Aberdeen Elementary, chose ‘The History of Hockey’ as his project topic. “I play hockey and I wanted to learn more about it—it really interests me. I learned a lot about Canadians, and that was really cool,” he shared. When asked about his experience at the Heritage Fair, Liam said, “At first it scared me, but when I got here, it was really fun and I really liked it. I’m really glad I did this. I would tell others to do it too—it’s really fun.”

When asked about their favourite part of the Heritage Fair, many students mentioned the Friday field trip to the Historic O'Keefe Ranch, where they explored “a really old house” and “bought candy at the candy store.”

“The Kamloops-Thompson Regional Heritage Fair is an excellent example of what student-led learning can look like,” shared Principal Kelly Charron, Kamloops-Thompson Regional Heritage Fair Committee Chair. “The passion and effort that the participants put into their projects is phenomenal. I have learned so much from these student experts.”

This year’s Heritage Stamp Contest winner, Lyrik Kaczkowski (Grade 7, Westmount Elementary), designed a stamp featuring a drawing of the Red Bridge fire. Lyrik shared, “Heritage means to me something that is passed down from generation to generation. It means something important that has probably been around for a long time, like the Red Bridge.” Lyrik’s winning design was featured on a t-shirt given to all Heritage Fair participants.

Intellectual Development is one of the District's key priorities in the 2022-2027 District Strategic Plan. As part of this focus, the District is dedicated to nurturing a lifelong appreciation for learning, curiosity about the world, and the ability for creative thought and expression. Participating in events like the Heritage Fair is just one way students can explore their interests and develop a passion for learning.

Raise a Reader 2022 Campaign

Tue, 13 Sep 2022 21:00:00 GMT

It’s time to start collecting your loonies – Raise a Reader day is fast approaching!

The 15^th annual Raise a Reader fundraising and awareness campaign supports family literacy programs in BC. The tradition will continue on September 21 in partnership with our local newspaper, Kamloops this Week.

The most effective way for SD73 families to make a difference is by participating in Loonies for Literacy, an elementary school-level initiative where students bring in a loonie on or before September 21, 2022 to help support the cause. Last year, the District raised $2,289.90 in just 30 minutes by collecting loonies and other monetary donations.

“The ‘Loonies for Literacy’ fundraising idea was created during the COVID years under the leadership of District Early Years Coordinator, Marianne Vande Pol, and her SD73 Literacy team,” said Trustee Joe Small during his report to the Board of Education on Monday, September 12.

Created by the Vancouver Sun newspaper in 1997, the programs and services provided by funds raised empowers children and families with tools to improve their reading skills. These skills are the foundation for lifelong learning that affects the quality of life and the health and social economic well-being of individuals and families.

Locally, all the money raised on September 21 in the two-hour period between 7 a.m. and 9 a.m. will go towards programs like One-to-One Reading, Parent Child Mother Goose, Come Read with Me, the Bright Red Bookshelves and Bright Red Book Bus, plus adult programs at the Kamloops Regional Correctional Centre and senior digital literacy assistance at local libraries.

By partnering with Postmedia, the Province of British Columbia, Decoda Literacy Solutions, and with support from the Ministry of Municipal Affairs, to-date the campaign has generated$1.3 million to support literacy initiatives in the Kamloops-Thompson area.

For more information, visit:

Literacy in Kamloops Facebook page
Raise a Reader Kamloops Facebook page
And pick up a print edition of the September 21st Kamloops This Week

SKSS Student Joins RCMP Youth Advisory Committee

Mon, 08 Nov 2021 16:15:00 GMT

Grade 9 South Kamloops Secondary Student Alya Van Laer has been selected to represent the voice of youth on the BC RCMP Youth Advisory Committee (YAC).

The BC RCMP brings together youth aged 14 to 18 from across the province together to share their thoughts about topics related to youth crime and victimization, as well as to gain insight on how the RCMP can deliver effective youth strategies and initiatives. Members of the BC RCMP YAC interact through a private Facebook group to discuss issues that matter to them.

“I heard it on the school announcements and I thought I should look into it,” explained Van Laer on her decision to apply for the program. “I ended up googling all about this amazing opportunity and reading about all the incredible things they do. The thing that caught my eye the most was how they give the opportunity to share a young person’s perspective on issues affecting youth. After learning all about it, I knew I should apply.”

Van Laer was “ecstatic” to learn that she had been accepted into YAC: “It meant I was finally able to use my voice to make a change.”

“I am very pleased to hear that an SD73 student has been selected to participate on the BC Youth Advisory Committee,” said Rick Kienlein, Director of Instruction for Secondary Education and Learning Services. “Alya's selection to the BC RCMP Youth Advisory Committee is quite an accomplishment.”

Van Laer’s own father is a local police officer and part of the reason why the program initially appealed to Van Laer. The other factor was career-driven: “I would love to be a crown prosecutor when I am older. I love the idea of working with the RCMP in court,” said Van Laer of her future aspirations.

Youth advisor participation runs from October 2021 to June 2022.

Board Notes from May 6, 2024

Thu, 09 May 2024 22:30:00 GMT

From the regular meeting of the Board of Education. Find out about Board Recognition Award Presentation, District Student Advisory Report, and Financial Projections. Read Board Notes here.

An Update on the Student and Family Affordability Fund in SD73 for Parents

Fri, 15 Sep 2023 20:00:00 GMT

In the 2022-2023 school year, SD73 families benefitted from accessing $760,237 of the $1,656,000 Student and Family Affordability Fund provided by the Ministry of Education and Child Care for food and fees for courses, school supplies, activities, athletics, and field trips.

This year, the School District carried forward $746,000 of the Student and Family Affordability Fund to support families with school fees. These remaining funds are available to assist students and families with the following fees:

School Supplies
Course Fees
Enhancement Fees (i.e., Woodwork, Foods, Textiles, Band, etc.)
Academy Fees

New and existing food and snack programs will continue to be offered at your school through the Ministry’s new Feeding Futures Fund.

There are two ways to access fee assistance: online through SchoolCash Online or by completing a paper copy of the fees form at your school. If you require more information about or assistance with accessing SchoolCash Online, please contact your school’s secretary or visit your school’s website. The District Finance Department expects that if all families access the fund for these fees, the remaining funds will be fully used. The District will monitor the use of the Student and Family Affordability Fund from September 5 - November 30, 2023. Depending on the amount remaining on November 30, 2023, assistance with additional fees will be considered. The additional fees may include:

Second Semester Fees
Athletic Fees
Field Trip Fees

There will continue to be two methods to access this fund: SchoolCash Online and paper copies of forms in your school office. We appreciate that the Ministry of Education and Child Care has allowed us to carry forward the unused portion of the Student and Family Affordability Fund to continue to offer support to students and families for the 2023-2024 school year.

If you have any questions, please contact your school principal.

Have you ever thought of becoming a homestay family?

Fri, 17 May 2024 20:00:00 GMT

There are many great reasons to become a host family, including making new friends from different countries, learning more about the world and discovering new cultures and customs, all from the comfort of your own home.

School District No. 73 compensates families $1 200 per month, per student. That is $6 000 per semester or $ 12 000 per school year. Families may host up to two students at a time. Homestays are also required for July and August.

Host families are needed throughout the Kamloops-Thompson area, primarily in Westsyde and Valleyview.

If you are interested in hosting an international student during the upcoming school year, or if you know a friend or family member who may wish to register as a homestay family, please apply at Homestay Application or contact our Homestay Manager, Alice Lamb – alamb@sd73.bc.ca

For additional information check Kamloops-Thompson International Student Program website here.

Personal Digital Device Use Survey Results

Fri, 13 Sep 2024 18:15:00 GMT

A message from the Superintendent

The following messages from Superintendent Dr. Rhonda Nixon was sent to SD73 staff, parents, and caregivers on Friday, September 13, 2024.

Dear Parents, Caregivers, and Staff:

Thank you for taking part in our survey in June 2024 to provide your feedback on our newly revised District’s Administrative Procedure 350: Student Code of Conduct, which included language to restrict personal digital device use in schools as required by Ministerial Order M89, which took effect on July 1, 2024.

Survey Results

I am sharing the results from that survey for your information and how we are responding to it in schools:

2,599 parents and staff responded to the survey and 95% agreed with the newly revised District Student Code of Conduct to restrict personal digital device use in schools.
42% of parents and staff provided 1,946 comments.

There were six themes from the qualitative analysis of the comments:

Majority agreed with the restrictions: Many parents feel that the use of mobile devices in classrooms should be strictly limited or entirely restricted to reduce distractions and create a more focused learning environment. They argue that the presence of smartphones and other devices can lead to students being distracted during class. Devices should be turned off and stored in lockers or designated areas during instructional time.
Digital literacy and responsible use: Parents highlighted the importance of incorporating digital literacy education into the school curriculum. They believe that in today's digital age, students must be equipped with the knowledge and skills to use technology responsibly and safely. This includes understanding the implications of their digital footprint, recognizing and avoiding cyberbullying, and navigating online information.
Balanced use of screen time: Parents are concerned about the excessive screen time that children might be exposed to and emphasize the need for balanced device usage. They advocated for policies that limit screen time during school hours and encourage students to engage in other activities. These activities could include physical exercise, social interactions, and creative endeavours that do not involve screens.
Role of teachers and school policies: Parents believe that teachers and schools should have clear and consistent policies regarding mobile device usage. They stressed the importance of professional development for teachers to help them manage and integrate technology effectively in the classroom. Consistent policies across the school would ensure that students understand and adhere to the rules.
Confiscation of devices: Parents have mixed feelings about the confiscation of devices in schools. While many acknowledge the necessity of having rules to manage device misuse, there is a general consensus that confiscation should be a last resort. Parents are concerned about the clarity of confiscation policies, the role of teachers in enforcing these policies, and the potential impacts on students.
Device use during breaks: Parents have varied opinions on the use of cell phones during lunch in schools. While some parents see lunch as a time for relaxation and socialization that should be free from device use, others believe that allowing controlled access to cell phones during lunch can be beneficial. The primary concerns revolve around balancing social interaction with modern communication.

On August 29, 2024, school principals learned about these results and they are working with their staff, students, and parents to determine what revisions are required to their expectations regarding personal digital device use in their school community.

Each school principal is working with the Communications team to post personal digital device expectations on their school websites under “Our Schools/Programs” in the menu, on the page titled “Personal Digital Device Guidelines”. You will find District and school guidelines in that location by mid-October, and feedback will be gathered on how school-based practices and expectations are working for parents, students, and staff.

Sincerely,

Rhonda Nixon, PhD

Superintendent of Schools

Board Notes from Dec. 16, 2019

Fri, 20 Dec 2019 17:45:00 GMT

From the regular meeting of the Board of Education. Find out who won Owl Award and hear the honour Choir. Read Board Notes here.

Celebrating Young Artists in the Kamloops-Thompson School District

Thu, 02 May 2024 15:30:00 GMT

On April 30, 2024, we celebrated the creative young artists in our district at the Young Artists’ Conference Gallery Grand Opening Celebration at the Old Courthouse on Seymour Street.

“This year, like every year, our young artists have once again submitted some amazing pieces of artwork,” stated Fine Arts Chair Jayne Latta. “Our SD73 student artists have been very symbolic in their visual representations and it is clear that so much thought, time, and energy has gone into preparing their pieces this year. The pieces are quite powerful and tell a story of something important and meaningful to them. We’re so proud of all of our young artists for 2024.”

Student artists in Grades 4 through 7 from every school across the district, have shared their remarkable talent for drawing, painting, sculpting, weaving, and creating mixed media art that spoke to our hearts as we read small stories connected to each one. As we shared in viewing their work and talking to the young artists, the amazing part of this event was how parents, students, staff, trustees, and community partners look forward to not only coming to the event and talking with artist but also in purchasing the cards to be given away to continue to share the talent beyond this event.

When asked what it meant to have their art featured in the Young Artist Gallery, several young artists expressed feeling proud and having a goal of being one of the featured art pieces next year. As one young artist named Emma expressed: “It means a lot because I don't know what I want to be when I grow up, and this kind of is a sign. It makes me really happy that people get to see what I did… It is very important to be able to express yourself.”

Amelia, from Sun Peaks, shared, “I got ideas for this drawing by looking at pictures that I liked online and then I imagined this one.” Offering students the opportunity to explore and share who they are, what they love, and what they care about, while developing an appreciation for fine arts, is at the core of one of our main strategic priorities, Human and Social Development.

“This is an event that moves me and then continues to move us in the Board office because we get to have a selection of this art on our walls.” says Superintendent Dr. Rhonda Nixon. “It speaks to the heart, everytime I see the pieces. I am affected every day in a good way by this art.”

The 37th annual Young Artist Conference continued May 1, 2024 with students attending workshops hosted by community professional artists and art educators at Thompson Rivers University. The Young Artists Gallery will remain open for the community to visit until Saturday, May 4 at the Old Courthouse, with the art then being displayed at the Board Office over the next year.

Board Notes from Apr. 27, 2020

Thu, 30 Apr 2020 15:00:00 GMT

From the regular meeting of the Board of Education. Find out about StrongStart online and the approved 2020-2021 budget. Read Board Notes here.

Parent Engagement Session: Examining Eating Disorders

Mon, 24 Nov 2025 19:30:00 GMT

Presented by Child and Youth Mental Health Eating Disorder Clinicians

Join Child and Youth Mental Health Eating Disorder clinicians as they examine eating disorders, what they are and what you can do.

In this session, you will:

Examine what an eating disorder is
Review the signs and symptoms to watch for
Explore what to do and how to respond
Identify supports available in the community

This workshop will be held via Zoom on Tuesday, December 9, 2025, from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM. If you are interested in attending, please register in advance here. Following your registration, you will receive the link to the meeting.

Employee Policy Advisory Committee

Thu, 07 Mar 2019 18:45:00 GMT

Responding to the recommendations set out in the Employee Engagement Report released on Feb. 8, the Employee Policy Advisory Committee (EPAC) has been formed and is already providing input on administrative procedures.

The five-member committee represents each of SD73’s employee groups, (Lorraine Balough- KTTA, Nicole Edmundson-CUPE, Peter Persad and Darlene Doric-Excluded Staff) and is chaired by Alison Sidow, Superintendent.

Established to advise the Superintendent on policy and administrative procedures prior to being reviewed by the Board’s Policy Committee, EPAC has reviewed two administrative procedures since being formed less than a month ago and is scheduled to meet again on Apr. 10, 2019.

Share Your Voice: 2026-2027 Budget Consultation

Thu, 05 Mar 2026 22:45:00 GMT

Dear Staff, Parents, and Caregivers,

As we begin the 2026-2027 annual budget development process, the Kamloops-Thompson Board of Education is inviting you to take part in this year’s budget consultation.

Each year, the Kamloops-Thompson School District aligns budget priorities with the 2022-2027 District Strategic Plan, focusing on supports for student learning, well-being, and equitable opportunities across our schools. Your feedback plays an important role in informing budget decisions.

How You Can Participate

Please join us for our upcoming budget consultation online information sessions to learn more about the budget, ask questions, and share your feedback.

Public Budget Consultation – Budget 101:

Date: Wednesday, March 11, 2026
Time: 6:30 – 8:00 PM
Online Access: Join the webinar on Zoom here (Passcode:137659)
What to Expect: An introductory presentation outlining the district’s budget process and funding and spending considerations.

Public Budget Consultation – 2026-2027 Budget Preview:

Date: Monday, April 20, 2026
Time: 6:30 – 8:00 PM
Online Access: Zoom link will be shared closer to the date
What to Expect: An overview of the 2026-2027 budget priorities that will go before the Board for initial approval on April 27, 2026, followed by information on how to provide further feedback.

Share Your Feedback

We invite you to share your budget feedback until April 3, 2026 in preparation for the Public Budget Preview on April 20, through the following channels:

Email: budgetfeedback@sd73.bc.ca
Traditional Mail: 1383 9th Avenue, Kamloops, BC V2C 3X7
School Principal: who will forward to the Board Office through interschool mail or email

You can stay up to date on the 2026-2027 budget consultation process and engagement opportunities here. Thank you for taking the time to share your perspective and input throughout this process.

Sincerely,

Heather Grieve

Board Chair, School District No. 73 (Kamloops-Thompson)

Supporting Those Impacted by Tragic Residential School Legacy

Wed, 02 Jun 2021 15:00:00 GMT

By Rhonda Kershaw, Board Chair

June 2, 2021

The Kamloops-Thompson Board of Education sends its deepest sympathies to Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc and all Indigenous Communities impacted by the finding of 215 children’s bodies buried on the grounds of the former residential school in Kamloops.

Confirmation of the residential school system’s historical atrocities last week is reverberating through our students, their families, our staff, our communities, and our country. Through the work of the Commission for Truth and Reconciliation many survivors’ stories have been heard, but this physical evidence of the atrocities of residential schools brings to the forefront the extensive work that is still required to right the wrongs of the past.

The school district honours the First Peoples’ principles of learning and Aboriginal worldview and perspectives. We are committed to ensuring Aboriginal students see themselves and their culture reflected in our schools and classrooms. All students moving forward must be given the information and knowledge necessary to appreciate and understand the long-standing historical contributions of Indigenous people and the local Secwepemc nation, as well as the truth of our history. It is our hope that a deeper understanding for all students will begin to facilitate reconciliation on a greater scale and deeper level.

In the coming days and weeks, the Aboriginal Education Council, comprised of local education Band managers, local Indigenous partner organizations, Board of Education representatives and District senior staff will come together to provide input on how the school district can best support all those impacted.

To honour those who suffer trauma and harm because of residential schools, and their families and communities who are mourning, all schools and District buildings will lower the Canadian flag to half-mast, as a sign of respect.

Throughout the week, staff and students will be asked to wear orange shirts as an acknowledgement of the trauma and harm caused by residential schools.

The tragic legacy of residential schools continues to impact communities and our country. The Board of Education cannot pretend to understand the depth of sadness being experienced by so many at this time, but we do grieve with those affected and we are committed to working in partnership towards a better future through reconciliation.

In the words of the Truth and Reconciliation Report:

“Getting to the truth was hard but getting to reconciliation will be harder. It requires that the paternalistic and racist foundations of the residential school system be rejected as the basis for an ongoing relationship. Reconciliation requires that a new vision, based on a commitment to mutual respect, be developed”.

This column appeared in Kamloops This Week: View from SD73 on June 2, 2021

The Pathway Home, to Secwepemc�lecw

Fri, 14 Jun 2019 22:45:00 GMT

The drums echoed through the arena, Aboriginal voices rose in song. The crowd of parents, grandparents, aunties, and uncles cheered as the procession of 130 Aboriginal students led by the drummers, grass dancers and Metis jiggers made their way forward. It was loud.

They came in gowns, Stetsons, ribbon shirts or dresses, little black dresses, and shiny white tuxedos. They wore headdresses, beaded mortar boards, feathers, ball caps, tiaras and cedar bark hats. They were proud. See photo gallery.

The region’s 30th annual celebration of Aboriginal graduation was held June 10 at McArthur Island Arena. For Trustee Diane Jules, the evening was a significant milestone. She was one of the four Aboriginal students at that original Aboriginal grad celebration hosted by the Aboriginal Friendship Society in 1989.

On this night, the graduates represented each of the regions’ schools and all its First Nations, including St. Anne’s Academy, and Skeetchestn Community School, with two students, its first graduates in five years.

Inspired by the valedictorians’ address at Simpcw community’s recent graduation ceremony, Superintendent Alison Sidow spoke about the importance of having a vision for the future.

“My vision,” she said, “Is for each of you to build a strong future for yourself and your community by living your purpose now. Each thought, word and deed should align with your vision for yourself and in doing so you will walk strongly now and into the future.”

Masters of Ceremonies were Janessa Toye from NorKam Secondary, and Kila Pigeon from Sa-Hali Secondary, while Liam Christy, from Westsyde Secondary and Mackenzie Gottfriedson, from Valleyview Secondary each gave inspirational valedictorian addresses.

Representatives from the Aboriginal Friendship Society, Thompson Rivers University, the Quaaout Lodge and the Little Shuswap Lake Band were among the organizations attending, to hand out 28 scholarships and bursaries to students.

Trustee Jules, Chair for the Aboriginal Education Council, also wished the students well in their future with a reminder, “As you set off on this next stage of your journey, remember the pathway home, to Secwepemcúlecw.”

Board Notes from November 20, 2023

Mon, 27 Nov 2023 22:00:00 GMT

From the regular meeting of the Board of Education. Find out about Mental Wellness, District Employee Engagement Committee, and Family of Schools’ Mid-Year Review. Read Board Notes here.

Superintendent's Update

Sat, 19 Feb 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Dear Parents and Caregivers:

These past two weeks have been about taking time to express kindness and care for each other. On February 23 (Pink Shirt Day), we continue with this theme of support for one another by celebrating diversity in our communities. Please take time this week to show others that they matter and are accepted for who they are. Every person is unique and brightens our lives.

Pink Shirt Day (February 23)

Markus Arella, a grade 9 student at Kamloops School of the Arts, has designed the motto, “Don’t be mean. Be magical!” This image and motto reminds us to stand together against bullying and to be an advocate for kindness and inclusivity by wearing pink on February 23, 2022.

Logan Lake Elementary and Secondary Schools

Principal Ron Collins and Vice-Principal John Blakley shared their focus on engaging students through personalized learning opportunities. In Mrs. Humphrey’s class, students were playing a spelling game with their words for the week. One student commented, “It is the best way to learn because she tells me a word and then I want to get it right to move forward on the game board.”

When we met with high school students who were video conferencing with a class from Clearwater Secondary, they commented, “It is just as good as learning face-to-face.” When asked how it is just as good, the students said, “We can easily ask questions or get help, and we can also help each other without disturbing the other class.” As we completed our tour, Principal Collins commented, “It was important to me that intermediate students experience the Applied Design, Skills and Technology (ADST) program which offers them woodworking, cooking, textiles, drama, and art at a young age to see what they might want to learn more about once they are in high school.” We talked with grades 5 and 6 students who were making simple machines that were researched in their English language arts classes. Logan Lake students have many diverse learning opportunities to explore their passions, and everyone was fully engaged in their learning.

Aboriginal Education and the BC Métis Federation

Assistant Superintendent Mochikas, District Principal Bowden, and I met with representatives from the BC Métis Federation. The District is collaborating with this partner organization to enhance curriculum that results in increasing awareness regarding Métis knowledge, language, and culture. I am sharing a link to curriculum resources available through the BC Métis Federation.

Leading Courageous Conversations about Trauma

On February 14, 2022, there was a session led by Alex Venet, author of Equity-Centered Trauma-Informed Education (2021). While there were many thought-provoking ideas in this session, one that struck me was “You have to feel it to heal it.” The idea was that we need to listen and to learn from the individual in pain to see past attempts to “fix” the pain and instead to understand what we might do to address the sources of it that are within our control (practices, policies, processes). If you would like to access the session, a video will be made available next week.

Continuity of Learning and Communicable Disease Prevention Plan (COVID-19)

This past week, our student and staff attendance has returned to what is typical for this time of year. Simultaneous to these normal absenteeism rates, the Provincial Health Officer, Dr. Bonnie Henry, announced the relaxing of restrictions in Public Health Orders for the community and K-12 settings.

The following changes will take place in schools starting today:

School gatherings and events.

There are no capacity limits on school gatherings and events where attending staff, students, and necessary volunteers are all from the same school. This includes:?

Large gatherings, like school assemblies
Staff gatherings, like meetings or professional development activities

At gatherings between schools, or school events involving participants or spectators from outside the school, limit attendance to 50 people or 50% operating capacity (whichever is greater). This includes:

Arts club performances, like a play or recital
Sports games and tournaments

Spectators (e.g., parents, caregivers, peers), may be present for gatherings and events (e.g., attend performance club theatre productions, inter-school sports games and tournaments, etc.) within capacity limits.

Proof of vaccination. Proof of vaccination is not required for attendance at school-led gatherings and events.

Visitors. Visitors are no longer limited to those supporting activities of direct benefit to student learning and wellbeing.

More information on these changes can be found on the Ministry of Education’s Covid-19 Safe Schools website.

Enjoy your friends and family on this wonderful Family Day Long weekend.

Rhonda Nixon, PhD

Superintendent

Fire Chief for a Day

Fri, 13 Oct 2023 17:15:00 GMT

Our District’s Career Development Priority in the District Strategic Plan 2022-2027 is to inspire students to examine possible career pathways for their future. The Kamloops Fire and Rescue organized a competition for grade four and five students, providing a unique opportunity to become “Fire Chief for the Day.” Becoming a firefighter is a dream for many students in Kamloops-Thompson because we need firefighters to keep everyone safe. Lexy Munroe, a grade four student from Kamloops School of the Arts (KSA), was the winner of the competition.

On the morning of October 11, 2023, the Kamloops Fire and Rescue team pulled out all the stops to make Lexy’s day unforgettable. Two firefighters and Sparky, the Kamloops Fire mascot, arrived at her school in a fire truck to pick her up.

During their visit to KSA, the firefighters shared a fire safety talk to nearly 100 grade 3-5 students. They learned tips about fire safety in their homes.

Lexy’s day continued with visits to various fire stations, lunch at the fire hall, learning how to use a fire pole, and uncovering what it means to be not only a firefighter but a fire chief.

Lexy saw firsthand the courage, determination, and selflessness required to be a fire chief. She summed up her experience briefly: "It was the best day ever!"

SD73 and The Kamloops School of the Arts extend their heartfelt gratitude to the Kamloops Fire and Rescue for this remarkable opportunity. Lexy's adventure as Fire Chief for the Day is a testament to the incredible impact a single day can have on a young mind – igniting a spark of curiosity, courage, and a lifelong commitment to safety.

SD73 Schools Prepare to Welcome Students Part-Time and Voluntarily

Fri, 22 May 2020 20:30:00 GMT

The colour of the arrows on the floor may not be the same in every school, but the safety protocols are.

And most important: Stay at home if you are ill with fever or infectious respiratory symptoms of any kind.

At South Sa-Hali Elementary, like every school throughout the district, administrators, teachers and support staff are decluttering classrooms for enhanced surface cleaning. They are separating desks, adding traffic direction markers to the floor, posting signs, and becoming familiar with the strict safety procedures now in place to ensure the safety of staff and students.

On June 1, students are returning to in-class learning, on a part-time, voluntary basis.

But it’s not a simple as grabbing your gear and heading to class. Health screening will occur every morning to assess each staff member and student.

Daily health screening is just one of a number of controls set out for schools by Public Health and WorkSafeBC. The others are:

Hand washing protocols
Respiratory etiquette protocols
Strict stay-at-home if sick guidelines
Surface cleaning and disinfection of facilities
Physical distancing as appropriate
Personal protective equipment for higher-risk student interactions

“With these controls, recommended by Dr. Henry, we are confident it is safe to have students and staff back in schools.,” said Alison Sidow, Superintendent. “Education is important. Providing students and their families the ability to regain a sense of community and connection to schools is critical as people begin to slowly return to a new normal. We are all looking forward to getting there.”

Here are some examples of what Sa-Hali staff are doing to prepare for June 1.

Blake Buemann

Principal Blake Buemann expects students to adapt well to the changes that have been made since the students were last in school before spring break. He credits staff throughout his school for the efforts they have made to ensure the physical distancing measures are in place and the signage posted of the other safety protocols.

Lisa Chave

Secretary Lisa Chave will be the first line of defence in ensuring visitors (including parents) are meeting the new safety guidelines for signing in and out, and for health screening. While her work station is well positioned to meet the new physical distancing requirements, she is looking forward to seeing the students before the end of the school year as she is missing the kids and thinks it is important to for them to get back to class even for a short time before school closes for the summer.

Andrea Schafthuizen

Library Assistant Andrea Schafthuizen is looking forward to having students using the newly renovated library. She is reshelving the 11,000 books in preparation for their return. Teacher Librarian Melissa Hunter consulted with District Library Coordinator Andrea Wallin to reimagine the space with banks of books, tables and seating areas that can be easily moved to accommodate collaborative or independent learning. A timely upgrade with new physical distancing protocols in place.

Barb Niwa

A recent arrival to SD73, TTOC Barb Niwa is stepping in to teach Evelyne Diederichs’ grade 2 French immersion class. At least half of the desks have been moved out of the large classroom. The remainder of the desks are widely spaced into two groups. It’s a similar set up in each of the elementary schools in preparation for the voluntary part-time in-class instruction two days a week, with 50 per cent of students.

Gaming Concerns, Balance, Addiction & Opportunities for Parents

Tue, 12 Dec 2023 21:15:00 GMT

Presented by The White Hatter

Gaming is a massive industry that for many young people is their primary mode of entertainment and hobby. For some, gaming can even lead to a career in the industry. However, this activity is not without problems that can lead to challenges in having a balanced lifestyle. Harnessing gaming in a safe and effective way can provide many opportunities for gamers of all ages.

In this session, The White Hatter will provide guidance to families on creating healthy gameplay while delving into research, stories, and firsthand examples of the positives and negatives in this industry. They will also examine the research surrounding the debate around addiction. This program addresses:

Problematic Gameplay

How much is too much gameplay
Age appropriateness
Staying safe in online games

Opportunities

What benefits can come from gaming
Jobs of the future

Addiction

Prevalence
Research

This workshop will be streamed live on Tuesday, January 16, 2024, from 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM and includes a Q&A segment. If you are interested in attending, you are asked to register here. Following your registration, you will receive a presentation link and password to the meeting.

Superintendent's Update

Sat, 15 Jan 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Dear Parents and Caregivers

We have had a very successful week with lower student absenteeism than what has been experienced historically. Thank you for having your children stay home when ill and for putting health and wellness first for everyone. While this is a time of uncertainty, our District Continuity of Learning Plan and commitment to existing and enhanced safety measures has been effective.

District Student Advisory Council

On Wednesday, January 12, our District Student Advisory Council, a group of secondary student leaders from every secondary school in our District, reviewed five-year trends for SD73 high school students’ sense of belonging. They found that a sense of belonging declines in grade 10 and increases in grade 12.

Some ideas about why the decline happened in grade 10 were:

change to a new location is hard (i.e., experiencing a new environment and social group) often created a feeling of loneliness and alienation (not belonging);
work often started in grade 10 and this was another change to adapt to while learning expectations of grade 10;
life becomes more serious in grade 10 because they are having to decide what to do for a career and set up their schedules to achieve it. Looking forward is pressure-filled.

Some ideas to improve this decline in grade 10 were:

sharing these trends to show that if someone in grade 10 feels that they do not belong when they enter high school, “they are not alone” and “they are normal”;
creating transition events (e.g., host a virtual “Link Day” for the students who will be entering high school to meet each other and to engage in team activities);
getting to know who they are (passions, values) can help to ground them so getting involved in clubs and teams is helpful;
seeing “school as a tool to pursue one’s passions” rather than “absorbing information”;
reframing school as a time to discover passions instead of studying to get high-paying jobs is what will fuel a sense of identity and belonging in school.

Deputy Minister Communication- Rapid Antigen Tests

Deputy Minister Christina Zacharuk and Dr. Réka Gustafson, Public Health and Wellness and Deputy Provincial Health Officer were on a Zoom call with superintendents today to share the anticipated news that rapid antigen tests will be distributed to school districts next week. The goal is to provide staff with tests so that when symptomatic, they can determine whether they have COVID and to discern, with health advice, when to return to work. This starting point is to ensure program continuity for students, and it was considered another tool, not a required tool, to remain operational during this Omicron variant wave.

Interior Health Communication

Superintendents received a letter from Interior Health (IH) confirming that contact tracing and public notification of potential exposures is no longer feasible or effective. As shared last week, Omicron is infecting individuals much faster than previous strains of COVID-19 and incubation periods are shorter, which makes calling those infected to be too slow. By the time calls are made, positive cases have been in close contact with others and symptoms have already resolved or increased. The direction from Interior Health for anyone who tests positive for COVID-19 is to self-report a positive test, self-isolate, and notify close contacts. This information, along with examples of close contacts, can be found on the Interior Health website .

Supporting Immunocompromised Learners

As indicated in the District Continuity of Learning Plan, students who are immunocompromised and/or have complex medical issues will be supported. For short-term absences, teachers will continue to support learners, with assistance from school teams. The District Home Hospital services team can provide additional support, if needed. Students requiring support for long-term absences can work directly with their school principal. School leaders will communicate with their respective Assistant Superintendent regarding programs and services that are available.

Existing safety measures

Continue to complete the daily health checklist or use the K to 12 Health Check App;
Ensure that students and staff stay home when they are sick or have symptoms;
Use available space to spread out and to respect others’ personal space;
Students and staff wear a mask when in schools or riding a bus;
Regular and effective hand washing and/or sanitizing;
Clean and disinfect surfaces at least once a day.

Enhanced safety measures

Continue to emphasize the completion of the daily health checklist or use the K to 12 Health Check App;
Continue to stay home when sick or have symptoms;
Continue to maintain personally respectful space between individuals;
Continue to wear a mask when in schools and when riding a bus;
Continue regular and effective hand washing and/or sanitizing;
Continue cleaning and disinfecting of surfaces at least once a day;
School events and assemblies will be virtual;
Adult-only meetings (e.g., staff meetings) will be virtual, whenever possible;
Visitors to the school will be limited to those who provide direct benefit to student learning and wellbeing (e.g., teacher candidates, meal program volunteers, etc.);
Spectators at school events, including sporting events, are not permitted;
School classrooms will be reconfigured to maximize the amount of personal space available;
Break times will be staggered and students will use outdoor classroom doors to reduce the congestion in hallways and shared spaces during transition and break times;
Restrict the sharing of food among students.

Enjoy your weekend after a successful return to school.Take time with family and friends while staying safe.

Rhonda Nixon, PhD

Superintendent

Fees for Future School Development Proposed

Wed, 11 Nov 2020 01:00:00 GMT

Planning for future school sites as the city of Kamloops grows, School District 73 is seeking public input regarding the implementation of a School Site Acquisition Charge (SSAC).

The District is proposing the implementation of a one-time SSAC within the municipal boundaries of the City of Kamloops. The purpose of this charge is to collect funds from new residential development to assist in paying the costs of new school sites which are necessary when constructing new schools to accommodate student populations generate by this new residential development.

The rates are $288 per unit for Single Family dwellings; $259 for Multi-Family, Low Density; and $201 for Multi-Family, High Density per unit charge. As per regulation, the SSAC would be collected by the City of Kamloops and forwarded to the School District.

“The city of Kamloops continues to grow,” said Rhonda Kershaw, Chair of the Board of Education. “Based on what the City of Kamloops has projected in their Official Community Plan, and if development materializes, the District will require a new secondary and a new elementary school in Aberdeen over the next 10 years. These new schools will be in addition to the current capital needs of School District No.73.”

On Monday, Nov. 9, 2020, the Board approved a notice of resolution and a recommendation for approval on Nov. 23, 2020, for the SSAC’s to assist in determining eligible school site requirements in the city of Kamloops.

The Board is seeking input from the public on the resolution until Nov. 23, 2020. Comments can be submitted to the district’s website @SD73.bc.ca for consideration during the public Board of Education meeting on Nov. 23, 2020.

The Board estimates the SSAC fee can be charged to 8,766 development units constructed in Kamloops over the next 10 years, with the addition of 2,354 more school-age children to the school district.

While some of those additional children will be accommodated in existing facilities, the projected growth for the Aberdeen neighborhood of Kamloops will require a secondary school site a minimum of 4.5 hectares in size, and an elementary school site a minimum of 2.5 hectares in size.

Based on current land values in that area, the two new school sites are estimated to cost approximately $7,276,000.

School districts must have SSAC’s in place to receive capital funding from the Ministry of Education for the acquisition of school sites. The City of Kamloops is the only jurisdiction in the Kamloops-Thompson school district that will require new school sites in the next ten years. Developments in Barriere, Clearwater, Logan Lake, Chase, Westwold, Savona, and Sun Peaks are not included.

Kamloops-Thompson School District Honours National Indigenous People's Day

Fri, 21 Jun 2024 21:30:00 GMT

Story provided by Chelsea Isenor, Director of Communications and Board Administration

On June 21, 2024, the Kamloops-Thompson School District recognized National Indigenous Peoples Day to honour the cultures, contributions, and histories of the Indigenous Peoples. Each year, this day features cultural celebrations and educational activities in schools as well as in respective communities across Canada. Honouring this important day is essential for fostering reconciliation, enhancing educational awareness, and celebrating the rich cultural diversity of Indigenous peoples.

“On National Indigenous Peoples Day, our schools and District take part in this special day by honouring the rich histories, cultures, and contributions of Indigenous communities.” shared Mike Bowden, District Principal of Aboriginal Education. “This also shows our commitment in working toward fostering an educational environment that celebrates diversity and promotes understanding and respect for all.”

Students, teachers, and staff across the District were encouraged to participate in school-based activities and community events. The majority of schools started the day with the Welcome Song and land acknowledgements followed by cultural activities throughout the day.

Each school recognized National Indigenous Peoples Day in their own unique way. Some schools offered Indigenous dance and drum making lessons, poetry reading and storytelling, land-based activities and nature walks, bannock and chili lunches, making and learning about pictographs, Lahal activities, and more. Schools also planned field trips to Riverside Park to participate in National Indigenous Peoples Day celebrations and community activities.

Barriere Elementary celebrated the week by unveiling their new school mosaic—a partnership with Neqweyqwelsten School with themes of reconciliation and connection. Read more here.

Juniper Ridge Elementary spent the week recognizing Indigenous Peoples Week, starting on Monday with a local walk in the community to collect sage and identify medicinal plants and wrapping up with a bannock lunch on Friday. The week also contained several other learning activities including string games, beading, drumming, storytelling, and an Indigenous artist visit and workshop.

Kamloops School of the Arts honoured the week with an Indigenization project in their outdoor courtyard, walking field trips, and some secondary classes visiting the Shay Paul Art project on display at the Courthouse.

Many projects and learnings inspired by National Indigenous Peoples Day will carry on into the future. Norkam Senior Secondary Construction Sampler students have been collaborating with Mr. Cartie's Grade 6/7 class at Dallas Elementary to begin construction of their Indigenous garden. On June 21, the Grade 10–12 Sampler students worked with the Grade 6/7 Dallas students to build three garden beds to plant Indigenous plants at the entrance to the school. The students were so engaged and excited working on the project that one student named River expressed, “even though this isn't a field trip, I think this is my favourite day.” The garden is a multi-year, multi-class project working towards reconciliation and decolonization of spaces. The idea for this project began with a story from Elder Jackie Jules about the grasshoppers and the ants, which has inspired many classes to participate and learn about traditional plants.

Gatherings in schools and departments to celebrate and learn about Indigenous histories, perspectives, and teachings help us to enact the District’s core value commitments (relationships/connections, wellbeing, equity, sustainability) and the Seven Grandfather Teachings.

Teamwork: An Essential School Cleaning Strategy

Wed, 14 Oct 2020 16:15:00 GMT

Staff, teachers and students are showing how teamwork is essential to keeping schools clean during the pandemic.

Teamwork and Support

There has been a shift in the way students and staff move through their day. District Manager Allen Blohm said there has been a big change in student behaviour, particularly among grade 11 and 12 students.

“Hallways are not busy. With multiple entrances, staggered breaks, no locker use and the shutdown of gathering spaces like cafeterias, there are no crowds of students in the hallways,” said Allen Blohm, District Manager of Operations. “This is even true in schools with large populations of students, like NorKam.”

The focus on cleaning high touch points at least twice a day has been a challenge in larger schools.

“In smaller schools, our custodians are able to clean the building in 90-minute cycles, which means some of them are being cleaned up to three times a day,” he said. “In larger schools, it’s happening with the assistance of teachers and students.”

The NorKam library gets cleaned in the morning and at noon, and students are stepping up here, too.

“We have wipes that students use to wipe down their Chromebooks and work areas,” said NorKam teacher-librarian Greg Hafeli.

“I try to get to every surface twice a day as a minimum,” said Allan Bancroft, a custodian at NorKam. We have also had bus drivers coming in to help with the cleaning, to make sure the school’s 17 bathrooms get cleaned twice a day. There are hand sanitizing stations set up and maintained at the four entrances to the building.”

“My students are really good at sanitizing,” said Jo-Anna Allen, a NorKam teacher. “They clean their tables and chairs at the end of each class and sometimes before class. They wash their hands before class at the sinks, they use hand sanitizers, they are all wearing their masks, they stay in their groups and they stay physically distanced as much as possible. It’s good.”

“In our classroom our students no longer have access to the kitchen or the microwaves, said Deb Dillman, NorKam district resource teacher. “They have their own bathroom, and they do extra cleaning. Everything gets sprayed down several times a day.”

Only products that meet rigid criteria are approved for use in the District. The products being used are RMC Enviro Care Neutral Disinfectant and Wood Wyant Saber Vert2Go Concentrate. These products are purchased with scent considerations such as scent-free or reduced scent.

“I take it very seriously,” said Bancroft. “I would feel bad if anybody here got sick, so we are doing the best we can to make sure everybody’s safe. That’s the bottom line.”

Valleyview Secondary Construction Underway

Thu, 03 Sep 2020 15:45:00 GMT

The Valleyview Secondary Expansion Project already has something in place for students and staff on the first day of school.

A new parking lot and a newly-turfed school field will be available for their use.

The new addition is on track to open by September 2022. It will add 525 seats, bringing the school’s capacity from 675 to 1,200 students, and eliminating the need for the nine portables currently in use.

“Kamloops is a growing community, and we are working quickly to ensure students are learning in positive and engaging environments,” said Rob Fleming, Minister of Education. “In addition to getting students out of portables, the school community will also benefit from a new gymnasium, enhancing access to physical health opportunities.”

The Government of B.C. is providing $32.7 million for the new addition, which will include 20 new classrooms, a new gymnasium, multipurpose space, special education classrooms and improved parking and play areas. The Kamloops School District is contributing $1.75 million to the project.

“This design incorporates many of the healthy and inclusive spaces that our students and staff imagined,” said Rhonda Kershaw, Board Chair. “It is exciting to see their concepts and ideas move closer to reality, and we are looking forward to the day our students and staff can learn, work and socialize in a modern and spacious Valleyview Secondary school.”

VSS Principal Barb Hamblett welcomes the early use of the parking lot and the school field.

“As we move more equipment in to do the construction, we will need a place for people to park, so that’s why this was done first,” said Hamblett. “And part of our field will actually be usable, not for sport or high activity, but students will be able to be on it.”

Nov 28 2019 Valleyview Secondary School Expansion Plans Revealed

May 23, 2019 BC Architect Firm to Bring Cutting Edge Design to Valleyview Secondary Expansion

April 12, 2019 Valleyview Secondary School Expansion Announced

SD73's 16th Annual Heavy Metal Rocks

Fri, 12 Apr 2024 16:00:00 GMT

The Kamloops-Thompson Board of Education is committed to the Career Development Priority to ensure that students explore diverse learning experiences in real world occupations.

Heavy Metal Rocks is an annual event for grade 11 and 12 students who apply to take part in learning about operational aspects of running heavy equipment in the field. The Heavy Metal Rocks Program in SD73 is celebrating its 16th year in operation. The program provides opportunities for students to explore career choices as heavy equipment operators in a variety of industries.

This year 32 grade 11 and 12 students from SD73 will gain experience operating heavy machinery with one-to-one guidance and mentorship from a certified operator. Students also receive certifications in first aid, construction site safety, WHMIS, forklift operation, and aerial platform lift operation.

Over the course of the program, students started with the experience of applying to a job, by submitting an application and then receiving a formal interview. There are several days of training prior to coming up to the pit that must be completed.

On Wednesday, students were welcomed to the on-site portion of the program by Logan Lake Principal Ron Collins, program chair, and received a safety orientation from Caity Klaudt, Prevention Safety Officer for Worksafe BC. Half of the group then attended the CVSE Weigh Scales in Kamloops for a presentation and low-bed demonstration, while the other half of the group toured Inland Kenworth. The day ended with an orientation of the Tk'emlúps te Secwépemc Gravel Pit which serves as the worksite from Thursday through Saturday.

During these days, students rotate through 16 stations associated with road construction and forestry. At each of these stations students get hands-on experience operating heavy equipment such as excavators, rock trucks, bulldozers, graders, loaders, processors, portable sawmills, rock drills, packers, skid-steers, screening plants, vacuum trucks and cranes. Students also receive instruction from the BC Wildfire Service and learn how to work a Telehandler. Each morning begins with a site safety meeting at 7:30 am, and students work on-site until 4:30 pm.

Bobby-Raye Farrow, Grade 12 Barriere Secondary School student shared, “Heavy Metal Rocks is a great learning opportunity and a great place to make new connections for potential jobs. It's a great opportunity to actually try out real machines with experts. I recommend to anybody thinking of going into operating or even if they are unsure about how to use heavy duty equipment to try HMR.”

Ron Collins explained, “HMR gives students the opportunity to get hands-on experience operating heavy equipment from the construction and forestry industry. It exposes students to various careers such as Heavy Equipment Operator, and several other unconventional trades. Students are mentored on a one-to-one ratio with experienced equipment operators who also speak to the job opportunities available. The excitement of the students and the trainers makes the extensive organization all worthwhile in partnership with industry.”

This program is a valuable resource to address our growing skilled trades labour shortage. The program is made possible via the donations and volunteer efforts of 120 companies and sponsors within our community. SD73 greatly appreciates and values their partnership.

The final celebration takes place at the Tk'emlúps te Secwépemc Gravel Pit on Saturday, April 13, 2024 at 1:00 pm, where we will see the results of the rich learning and hear from students and staff about this wonderful opportunity.

Schools Are Closed - Plans for Continued Learning Underway

Mon, 23 Mar 2020 16:15:00 GMT

Schools remain closed to the public as School District No. 73 makes plans this week with school staff to address the learning needs of students over the next several months.

Principals and managers are reaching out to staff starting today after the regular one-week spring break to provide them with a schedule for attendance to ensure social distancing measures are followed. Additionally, the district has scheduled a minimum of one custodian during the day for continuous cleaning and disinfecting, and additional support staff will be reassigned exclusively for surface cleaning.

“We are asking parents to please reassure your children that their teacher will be in touch with them very soon with a plan to reconnect them to their learning,” said Alison Sidow, Superintendent. “These are challenging times for us all, but I am confident that our amazing and dedicated staff will have many innovative ideas to ensure the children in our care continue to learn.”

SD73 is also requesting parents to ensure their children are practicing social distancing. “We are taking tremendous efforts to protect our students and staff at this time, yet many youth are gathering in large groups at beaches, in the outskirts of town, and on the playgrounds despite the advice from the Provincial Health Officer,” said Sidow.

The district is working on an expedited plan to have most of its school-based staff work from home. This option, however, is not possible for everyone. Additional precautions have been taken for employees who will remain on their regular work schedule including custodians, maintenance, IT, HR, communication, and finance staff who are doing everything they can to keep the organization running safely and smoothly.

“I cannot emphasize enough how important it is for all of us to remain calm, to be safe, and to be kind to each other during this these unsettling times,” said Sidow, in a message she sent to all staff on Sunday, March 22.

“I have been assured by a Medical Health Officer from Interior Health, that there are no confirmed cases of the COVID-19 virus in either our staff or our students at this time and I applaud those who have self-isolated when experiencing cold or flu-like symptoms as recommended by our Provincial Health Officer.”

In the wake of the news that in-classroom instruction was suspended, the district has been developing a continuity of learning plan to ensure students remain connected to their teachers and continue to learn. There is a particular focus on preparing grade 12 students for graduation, protecting vulnerable learners, and ensuring the children of essential workers are supported.

As preparations are underway to support student’s learning from a distance, schools will not be open to students or the public. Parents are asked not to return to school to pick up resources or personal effects unless contacted by their child’s teacher or principal. A schedule will be prepared by each school to allow for the safe pick up of resources and personal belongings that follows the social distancing guidelines set out by the Provincial Health Officer.

Your Child and the New Competency Based IEP

Thu, 17 Mar 2022 21:30:00 GMT

Due to technical difficulties, we have rescheduled the March IEP Parent Engagement Session to April 11:

Does your child have an Inclusive Education Plan (IEP)? If so, then this session is for you. SD73 is rolling out competency-based IEPs in September 2022. Learn how competency-based IEPs are similar and yet different from the current education plans being used. You will also learn more about how you, the parent/guardian, will be a significant stakeholder in the development of the new competency-based IEP process.

Presented by Pam Gurney, Inclusive Education Services Coordinator.

The workshop will be held via Zoom on Monday, April 11, from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM. If you are interested in attending, you are asked to register here, and you will be provided with the link to the meeting.

Anti-Racism and Human Rights Education in Action

Mon, 01 Mar 2021 21:45:00 GMT

The District’s schools, through the Diversity in BC framework, are developing strategies to promote mutual understanding and increased respect for cultural differences and to act against racism.

“Diversity refers to the ways in which we differ from each other,” said Vessy Mochikas, director of instruction, elementary learning. “Some of these differences are visible, for example, race age, gender and ethnicity, while others are less visible, such as culture, ancestry, language, sexual orientation, socio-economic background.

“The District has a role to play in eliminating racism and addressing the effects of historic racism by working together to create an awareness of racism, educating people about what they can do about racism, and developing strategies and procedures to take action,” said Mochikas.

She introduced a team from Aberdeen Elementary School who shared their experiences with the Board in learning about anti-racism this year.

Tanya Rogers, principal, and Tracy Clarke, a grade 7 teacher, were joined by three students. Their theme for this year, ‘We’re All in This Together’ is a slogan borrowed from U.S. Vice-President Kamala Harris has been top of mind.

“We strive to live in an inclusive world,” said Clarke. “The COVID protocols in our school have limited our outreach activities, but we are still active in the class, the school and the community, promoting inclusion and diversity.

In addition to promoting Orange Shirt Day in October to honour Indigenous children who were sent to residential schools, Black Shirt Day in January to mark the civil rights struggle of Black Canadians, and Pink Shirt Day in February to encourage kindness and inclusivity, students have been participating in the 2021 Short Film Festival titled ‘Our Diversity is Our Power’, a community building activity featuring short videos and discussions every day during the month of February.

Aberdeen Elementary School is also involved with PIT Stop Kamloops, an outreach program that provides meals for marginalized or street entrenched community members. Three times each school year, students volunteer to cook the Sunday afternoon meal for the community.

“This shows youth the power of volunteerism and paying it back when have more than others do,” said trustee Heather Grieve. “It’s a fantastic thing to teach our youth these are values that are lifelong and benefit everyone.”

Junior Fire Crew Offers Students a Fun and Challenging Career Exploration Experience with BC Wildfire Services

Fri, 02 May 2025 16:00:00 GMT

Story provided by Chelsea Isenor, Director of Communications and Board Administration

From April 23–26, 2025, 19 Grade 11 and 12 students from across the Kamloops-Thompson School District participated in Junior Fire Crew—an annual career exploration event offered by the District’s Trades and Transitions program.

Junior Fire Crew is a partnership between the Kamloops-Thompson School District and BC Wildfire Services. The purpose of the program is to provide a professional and engaging learning environment to introduce students to fundamental wildland firefighting skills and knowledge used by the BC Wildfire Service.

Over the four-day workshop, students gained hands-on training and real-life insight from wildfire fighting professionals in the classroom and in the field. Students received instruction, lectures, and field experience in fire behaviour, organizational structure, suppression tactics, water delivery, safety, communication, teamwork, physical training, and a variety of other topics.

In the BC Wildfire Service Junior Firefighter Program video, Wildfire Technician Les Leduc shares, “The goal on our end is to enhance recruitment, give [the students] a good idea of what we do in the Kamloops zone, how our fire crews work, and then retain these people for a number of years… In our program, the students are fully immersed in the zone life. They’ll show up at 8:00 in the morning, they'll run through an hour of fitness, they’ll do some classroom instruction, and then it's very much in the field.”

When asked about their Junior Fire Crew experience, many students expressed that it was challenging but fun. Carter Biggs, a Grade 12 student from Valleyview Secondary, shared, “It’s been really fun, it's a grind but I’m enjoying it.” Fellow Valleyview Grade 12 student John Hill also shared, “It's been a lot of fun but it's challenging—they work us hard…. The part that's worked me the hardest is the workouts in the morning, those are quite fun because they push you and I like working hard.”

As part of the Junior Fire Crew experience, students participate in the WFX-FIT Test—a challenging fitness endurance assessment that tests the students’ ability to meet the rigorous demands required to safely and efficiently complete the critical emergency tasks involved in wildland fire fighting in Canada. All BC Wildfire Fighters have to complete the WFX-FIT Test in under 14 minutes. This year, all Junior Fire Crew students finished the challenging course.

Many students who have participated in the Junior Fire Crew program over the years also have personal experiences with wildfires that have occurred around Kamloops, which inspired them to join the program. Ani Fournie, a Grade 11 student from @KOOL School, shared, “Last summer, the Shetland Creek wildfire went through our valley. It was a good reminder that houses were saved because of structural firefighters.”

As for advice they’d offer future students who want to join Junior Fire Crew, they all agreed with Ani’s statement, “Do it, but be prepared for lots of hard work.” John shared “Absolutely do it, make sure you train before because they definitely work you hard in the workouts.” Carter added, “Do it, it's a good experience. It’s a grind but definitely worth it.”

Career Development is one of the District's key priorities in the 2022-2027 District Strategic Plan. Offering engaging career exploration opportunities for students is just one way the District helps prepare students to attain their career and occupational objective and have plans for who they aim to become through their career pathway.

Coding is a Key Digital Literacy Skill

Tue, 21 Jan 2020 19:30:00 GMT

District technology coordinator Elizabeth De Vries says a successful webinar series at Dallas Elementary school this month will benefit students and teachers across the district.

“I was curious to see if this webinar format would be a good fit for our students and teachers,” she said. “The federal government wants all kids to learn to code, so they are providing resources through agencies like Kids Code Jeunesse. We wanted to know if this would be a good fit in recruiting help for our teachers, and teaching these skills to our students.

“After seeing these webinars, I will recommend this learning as a great opportunity for teachers to bring new learning into their classrooms and have their students connect with new experts and develop their skills. It's also awesome for teachers to have some professional development in their own classroom setting!”
In the Kids Code Jeunesse webinars, the grade 6 and 7 class spent a morning learning about artificial intelligence and machine learning, and the grade 4 and 5 class spent an afternoon learning about electronics, algorithms, and programming electronics with a Micro:bit.
As part of their session on artificial intelligence, the grade 6 and 7 students learned how to teach a computer sign language, and then have it recognize their movements in order to respond with sound and image.
“They are learning a lot about critical thinking and how you can use technology to solve problems,” said Andrea Mangell, Grade 6 and 7 teacher at Dallas Elementary. “They are also learning creative thinking and using technology as a form of communication.”

Teachers across the district are pursuing opportunities like this for students to understand machine learning, and to develop their own digital skills like coding. There are a number of agencies across Canada currently developing coding and computer science workshops for classrooms.

Coding can be described as the process of planning and creating a set of instructions (an algorithm) in order to tell a computer, app, robot or device what you want it to do. Learning to code develops problem solving and thinking skills as well as familiarity with digital tools that can support students in other work with technology.

Kids Code Jeunesse is spearheading an initiative it calls #2030, to teach artificial intelligence, ethics and global issues to children across Canada.
Anyone with questions about booking this learning for their classroom or interested in other opportunities to have their students build digital skills is encouraged to email Elizabeth, edevries@sd73.bc.ca

How First Steps Helps Young Moms Graduate

Tue, 10 Mar 2020 22:00:00 GMT

The First Steps program is for women, 15 – 24, who are mothers, or expecting to be mothers by the age of 20 and looking for help to graduate from high school. In addition to academic courses, the program also offers parenting supports, community referrals, health and wellness, and life skills.

One student explained the importance of the program to the Board of Education at its regular meeting March 9. As First Steps program teacher Cheyenne Kennedy held 8-month old Harmony, Kyla Levesque-Korol, told the capacity crowd gathered in the board room how she quit school at 15 years and then spent the next five years as an alcoholic, before getting sober and enrolling in First Steps so she could have a better life for herself and her daughter, Harmony.

Just a few months from graduation, Kayla’s experience in the First Steps program has enabled her to clearly see their future and to make plans to become a support worker.

“We appreciate the opportunity to highlight the successes of this program,” said Cheyenne Kennedy, a First Steps program teacher. “On average there are 6-7 women enrolled, and this year we have a full program with 15.”

The district partners with Interior Community Services to deliver the program, and Kennedy said other partnerships are vital to its success. For example, daycare for the program is possible through a partnership with the Boys’ & Girls’ Club of Kamloops.

“Another example is a new partnership with the Kiwanis Club, who will be donating funds from its Trivia Night event this year. Our students are helping the club with its Gift of Grad program. They will be helping the club curate clothing and do fittings for girls this year.”

The First Steps academic curriculum is closely tied to the SD73 Learning Plan and the district’s six priorities. This includes bringing expert help to the students, ranging from the math specialist at NorKam Secondary to the district’s Aboriginal Youth Family consultant and the Twin Rivers Education Centre Aboriginal Education Worker.