Oliver Elementary School principal Barton Tumlinson couldn’t wait to start engaging students again on Monday.
“I’ve been anticipating this for a long time. It (the strike) has been hard on the kids and their families.”
Tumlinson and vice-principal Karen Sinclair welcomed pupils back at the front entrance, exchanging exuberant high-fives after a three-week delay in the school year.
Students ran up to each other and traded hugs, beaming from ear to ear.
Ten-year-old Enola Mills was so happy to be with her friend Bianca Polk, 11.
“I’m very excited to learn and be with all of my friends again. It’s nice to get back to a routine,” Mills said.
She admitted that she was getting really bored at home.
Mills noted she was looking forward to physical education, her favourite class.
Polk agreed, adding that she was looking forward to seeing all of her favourite teachers at Oliver Elementary.
Polk said the strike continued for so long that she was getting bored and wanted to come back to school.
Needless to say, parents were very happy to see their kids back in class.
“I’m happy, and it’s about time,” said Shelley Mantua, who has two children in school.
“The kids were getting bored, with nothing to do, and they kept asking when school was starting.”
Mantua said it was hard to get her children to do math work over the summer.
When asked about the strike, Mantua isn’t convinced that it accomplished very much. She noted that teachers will get more money and class sizes are supposed to change. But it may take a couple of years to see the impact, she pointed out.
At least there will be labour peace for another five years, Mantua said.
Tumlinson said his goal as principal is not to focus on the strike, but make this the best year ever.”
The principal acknowledged that everyone will have to play a bit of “catch up,” but he’s confident that won’t take long.
“I think the students are going to do just fine.”
Tumlinson said Oliver Elementary will be introducing a number of student clubs this year as a result of restructuring the school’s leadership program.
There will be a greeter’s club (greeting people at the front door), a communication club, library club, and a recycling club.
The reason for establishing these clubs is to prompt students to become more engaged and feel like they belong, the principal said.
“The most important thing is if they know someone cares about them, they feel safe and do better as students.”
Tumlinson said pupils can make the school what they want it to be, and they can actually see the school changing because of them.
The principal pointed out this is already happening through the student leadership program. For example, these students run all of the assemblies and the technology that is required. In fact, it’s the students who ask Tumlinson if he has anything to say. (It certainly wasn’t like that in the old days.)
The principal noted that students are smarter today than yesteryear and are more well-rounded individuals. He recalled learning a specific math discipline in Grade 8 that students are now learning in Grade 5.
Shendah Benoit, the new principal at Tuc-el-Nuit Elementary School, is encouraging parents to focus on something that’s more important than reading, writing and arithmetic.
And that’s a good bedtime/sleep routine.
“I think a lot of children are not getting proper sleep,” she stated, noting that kids who get plenty of shut-eye are prepped for success.
Benoit pointed out that a good meal routine is also crucial for a child’s success. Really, if you can’t successfully invite them to the breakfast table, how do you successfully invite them to learn?” she asks.
During the summer, children had a lot less structure, so parents have to work hard to establish routines again, she noted.
Benoit acknowledged that a lot of parents did buy resource material to encourage their kids to read during the strike.
What’s new at Tuc-el-Nuit?
The principal said the school is focusing on social/emotional development by embracing and expanding the “Mind Up” program.
This program not only addresses anxiety in children, it focuses on developing resiliency and optimism.
Benoit said the program is being supported by Big Brothers and Big Sisters through the hiring of a social worker to work with teachers in the classroom.
Meanwhile, over at Southern Okanagan Secondary School, principal Marcus Toneatto shared the excitement. But he agreed the strike was not a good situation for students.
However, he is still walking on clouds with the thought of starting a new year (albeit delayed) in a new school.
“The students and staff are thrilled . . . our teachers really care about our kids.”
When asked how students will recover what they’ve missed, Toneatto had this to say: “In all cases I guarantee that learning outcomes will be met . . . teachers will make sure the curriculum gets covered.”
The principal said he’s hoping that all extra-curricular sporting teams will continue, such as Grade 8 volleyball, depending on the teachers who coach them.
Toneatto is also anticipating the start-up of various clubs, including the leadership class.
Lyonel Doherty
Oliver Chronicle
