Education

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

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

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

A.J. Elliott Elementary School in Sointula. (SD85.bc.ca photo)
The City of Victoria invites residents and business owners to its lunchtime series of online workshops, touching on a range of topics. (Black Press Media file photo)

City of Victoria launching fall series of lunchtime workshops

Online sessions focus on graffiti removal, leadership building and living waste-free

The City of Victoria invites residents and business owners to its lunchtime series of online workshops, touching on a range of topics. (Black Press Media file photo)
A.J. Elliott Elementary School in Sointula. (SD85.bc.ca photo)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Désirée Bouchat, a survivor of the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center, looks at photos of those who perished, in a display at the 9/11 Tribute Museum, Friday, Aug. 6, 2021, in New York. While Sept. 11 was a day of carnage, it also was a story of survival: Nearly 3,000 people were killed, but an estimated 33,000 or more people evacuated the World Trade Center and Pentagon. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan)
A single mom in Sooke is frustrated with the Sooke School District’s new catchment-only bus strategy. (Black Press Media file photo)

School bus priority change leaves working single mom in Sooke without options

‘My oldest kid literally passes Sooke Elementary on her way to EMCS:’ Tania Phillips

  • Sep 8, 2021
A single mom in Sooke is frustrated with the Sooke School District’s new catchment-only bus strategy. (Black Press Media file photo)
Camosun student Marshel Glidden shakes the hand of Matt Obee, vice-president of operations at Cascadia Seaweed, after he and three other students claimed a top prize in engineering the Kelp Seed Launcher V2.0. (Cascadia Seaweed/Submitted)

Sidney company partners with Camosun College to deliver winning engineering design

Four students win award in designing new sea kelp launcher

Camosun student Marshel Glidden shakes the hand of Matt Obee, vice-president of operations at Cascadia Seaweed, after he and three other students claimed a top prize in engineering the Kelp Seed Launcher V2.0. (Cascadia Seaweed/Submitted)
Classrooms will soon be busy as children across B.C. go back to school, again with pandemic procedures in place. (Black Press Media files)

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

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

Classrooms will soon be busy as children across B.C. go back to school, again with pandemic procedures in place. (Black Press Media files)
Saanich teacher Omar Azim, who works at Royal Oak Middle School, was awarded the Loran Scholars Foundation Teachers Building Leaders Award earlier this year. (Christine van Reeuwyk/News Staff)

Saanich teacher recognized for guidance, growth by student who became Loran scholar

‘Mr. Azim is a teacher who has built not one leader, but many’

Saanich teacher Omar Azim, who works at Royal Oak Middle School, was awarded the Loran Scholars Foundation Teachers Building Leaders Award earlier this year. (Christine van Reeuwyk/News Staff)
Gull chicks rejoice together on their rooftop home in downtown Victoria on Aug. 13. About 150 gulls, young and old, were admitted to Wild ARC last year, according to senior wildlife rehabilitator Wallis Moore Reid. (Evert Lindquist/News Staff)

Bird-hood: A Victoria gull’s early days in photos

Despite unpopularity among humans, gull chicks show a more innocent and intelligent side

  • Aug 21, 2021
Gull chicks rejoice together on their rooftop home in downtown Victoria on Aug. 13. About 150 gulls, young and old, were admitted to Wild ARC last year, according to senior wildlife rehabilitator Wallis Moore Reid. (Evert Lindquist/News Staff)
The Ministry of Education said it will continue to prioritize the safety of students and staff in school districts around B.C. this fall. (Black Press Media file photo)

Ministry of Education, SD61 schools prepare for fall return

Province plans to support school districts through funding, improved air quality

The Ministry of Education said it will continue to prioritize the safety of students and staff in school districts around B.C. this fall. (Black Press Media file photo)
Annie Ohana, a teacher at L.A. Matheson Secondary, teaches a Grade 8 class on Friday, March 12, 2021. Ohana is one of many teachers calling for another mask mandate in schools before the 2021-22 school year starts. (Photo: Lauren Collins)

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

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

Annie Ohana, a teacher at L.A. Matheson Secondary, teaches a Grade 8 class on Friday, March 12, 2021. Ohana is one of many teachers calling for another mask mandate in schools before the 2021-22 school year starts. (Photo: Lauren Collins)
A classroom is shown at Hunter’s Glen Junior Public School in Scarborough, Ont., on Monday, September 14, 2020. An advocacy group is calling for Canada to fully integrate child-care and early childhood education into its school systems THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette

Group calls for integration of early childhood education and school systems

People for Education says there are clear benefits to early childhood education

A classroom is shown at Hunter’s Glen Junior Public School in Scarborough, Ont., on Monday, September 14, 2020. An advocacy group is calling for Canada to fully integrate child-care and early childhood education into its school systems THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette
Students attending Camosun College will have the opportunity to study blockchain technology, commonly used for cryptocurrencies, as of September. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Andrew Vaughan)

Blockchain technology training offered at Camosun College

Three new courses available this fall, information sessions July 28, Aug. 25 provide details

Students attending Camosun College will have the opportunity to study blockchain technology, commonly used for cryptocurrencies, as of September. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Andrew Vaughan)
Little Free Libraries across the region will have Truth and Reconciliation Commission materials delivered by the Greater Victoria Placemaking Network. (Photo courtesy of Teale Phelps Bondaroff)

Greater Victoria group delivering reconciliation materials to Little Free Libraries

Educating the public about Indigenous issues important to moving forward, says organizer

Little Free Libraries across the region will have Truth and Reconciliation Commission materials delivered by the Greater Victoria Placemaking Network. (Photo courtesy of Teale Phelps Bondaroff)
Children walk with their parents to Sherwood Park Elementary in North Vancouver for the first day back to school on Sept. 10, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward

Study reassures parents, teachers that COVID-19 infrequently shared at school

Federally funded study in Vancouver finds risk in the classroom and in the community identical

Children walk with their parents to Sherwood Park Elementary in North Vancouver for the first day back to school on Sept. 10, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward
riotrew

Making the most of grad events

Class of 2021 will carry resilience with them throughout their years based on COVID experience

  • Jun 21, 2021
riotrew
The Kamloops Residential School is photographed using a drone in Kamloops, B.C., Monday, June, 14, 2021. Responding to complaints from an Indigenous girl and her mother, the Nova Scotia government has deleted a section from a high school correspondence course that asks students to list the positive attributes of the residential school system. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward

Nova Scotia drops course that asked pupils to list benefits of residential schools

Education Minister calls family Thursday to apologize for the hurtful content

The Kamloops Residential School is photographed using a drone in Kamloops, B.C., Monday, June, 14, 2021. Responding to complaints from an Indigenous girl and her mother, the Nova Scotia government has deleted a section from a high school correspondence course that asks students to list the positive attributes of the residential school system. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward
FILE – A science class at L.A. Matheson Secondary in Surrey, B.C. on March 12, 2021. (Lauren Collins/Surrey Now Leader)

Teachers’ union wants more COVID transmission data as B.C. prepares for back-to-school

BCTF says that details will be important as province works on plan for September

FILE – A science class at L.A. Matheson Secondary in Surrey, B.C. on March 12, 2021. (Lauren Collins/Surrey Now Leader)
FILE – Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry listens as B.C. Education Minister Jennifer Whiteside describes new mask wearing policy for public schools, Feb. 4, 2021. (B.C. government)

COVID-19: No cohorts as B.C. schools expected to return to ‘near normal’ this fall

Guidance on masking to come at a later date

FILE – Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry listens as B.C. Education Minister Jennifer Whiteside describes new mask wearing policy for public schools, Feb. 4, 2021. (B.C. government)