Guests watch a slide show of moments from the past at Osoyoos Secondary School during a celebration of the school’s 37 years held Thursday evening. (Keith Lacey photo)
Rattlers forever.
The two most used words during last Thursday’s emotional sendoff to “37 years of teaching and learning” at Osoyoos Secondary School (OSS) were “Rattlers” and “family” as current students and current and former teachers spoke about their love of their school, classmates, teachers and community at large.
During a two-hour ceremony that could be best described as a wake for someone who hasn’t died yet – considering OSS may yet be saved following Wednesday’s announcement of a $2.7 million Rural Education Enhancement Fund by the Ministry of Education – there were a lot of laughs and some tears as 250 people filed into the gymnasium to hear speaker after speaker vow their affection for the school and being proud Rattlers.
Retired teacher Rob Bonnett, who was hired to teach at OSS when it opened in 1979 and taught there for 31 years, perhaps captured the mood of the night best.
If OSS is to close, it’s time for students to get on with their life and enjoy their education at Southern Okanagan Secondary School in Oliver, said Bonnett.
However, if trustees are satisfied the new funding announcement by the province for ongoing and sustainable funding for rural school districts is satisfactory, then hopefully OSS can remain open for years to come and current and future students will enjoy a wonderful school with great teachers and support staff, said Bonnett.
“If things change, seize the opportunity and make something great out of it … and look at it as another opportunity and be ready to ride the horse, but maybe the horse ain’t dead yet,” he said.
Bonnett said the biggest reason there has been so much emotion about the possible school closure is because OSS has become such an integral part of the Town of Osoyoos.
“The school and community … have been tied together very closely” for 37 years and the realization that relationship might be ending is heartbreaking for the entire community, he said.
“We’ve played a huge role in the community and I think the school and all of the students should be very proud of that.”
Grade 12 student Kianna Carvalho said there has been a member of her family attending OSS since 1996 when her oldest sister Kelsey reached Grade 8 and all of her siblings have nothing but fond memories of their time spent there.
“I couldn’t wait to become a Rattler myself,” she said. “I’m truly honoured … as I have made many memories that will last me a lifetime.”
Being part of the drama class and proud member of the senior girls soccer team for several years will provide her fondest memories, she said.
Her love of drama class at OSS has led to her applying and being accepted into the Victoria Academy of Performing Arts this coming fall, she said.
As a part of the Rattlers soccer squad for five years, the girls she has met have become her best friends in life.
“We are, in one word, family,” she said.
She’s proud the current team once again qualified for the provincial championships in Prince George.
“We didn’t play as well as we would have liked and we’re sad we lost, but we were even more sad that it was the last time we would play together,” she said. “Being part of this team has made the last five years of my life the best that I could ask for. We will always be forever Rattlers.”
Longtime teacher Natasha Schroeter said she has often taught her English students about “cycles in life” and literature.
If OSS is to close, she urged the students to carry a positive attitude to SOSS or wherever they might study next year and enjoy the experience.
“In September, we will be taking on a new challenge … and change is difficult, but that’s what makes us stronger,” she said.
For a small, rural school, OSS has produced an amazing array of graduates over the past 37 years, she said.
The school has produced successful NHL players, doctors, dentists, musicians, teachers and other accomplished professionals and proved you can enjoy an outstanding quality of education in a small town like Osoyoos, she said.
Grade 12 student Pawan Rai said almost all of her best memories from her young life came from being a student at OSS.
She recalled being so proud of being part of a small group of students involved in “The Goat Project” where students raised money to help poor families in Africa.
The goal was to raise $100 to buy two goats, but the project ended up raising more than $700 and helping 14 families in Africa.
“My friends and I wanted to make a difference,” she said. “Being part of this school shaped me into the person I am today. Going to OSS was a life changing experience for me.
“Coming here taught us the importance of selflessness and acceptance that we will all carry with us for the rest of our lives.”
Grade 11 student Jasdeep Sandhu said the camaraderie amongst students, teachers and support staff is what makes OSS special.
“OSS has always been my home away from home,” she said. “We will always be Rattlers at heart and that’s all that really matters.”
Kathy Hiebert, the veteran school administrative secretary and Parents Advisory Council (PAS) chair for over 10 years, said has loved working at the school and her children loved attending.
“I can honestly say that our school feels like one big extended family,” said Hebert, who was a supply teacher at OSS before taking the job as administrative secretary. “You wouldn’t believe how many students come back here to visit.”
All three of her children are proud OSS grads and all went on to enjoy great success in their post-secondary studies, which shows the quality of education provided by the teaching staff is uniformly excellent, she said.
The commitment and dedication of the teachers and senior administration is remarkable, she said.
“OSS has been and continued to be a wonderful school,” she said.
Grade 11 student Natalia Ibanez said playing senior girls soccer for the past four years has been an amazing experience.
“I’ve enjoyed playing for this team for the past four years and I have loved every single minute of it,” she said. “We have always had each others back off and on the field and I don’t think I would be who I am without my teammates.”
Ibanez agreed OSS is a special place where everyone has always gotten along.
“OSS isn’t just a school to me, it’s one big family and we care about each other no matter what,” she said.
Dave Foster, the principal at Osoyoos Elementary School and former vice-principal and teacher at OSS, said he would never forget his many years at the school.
“I associate OSS with collegiality, fun and laughter,” he said. “You could really feel how much the students enjoyed being here at the school.
“We had many fun times here and I loved my time here so thank you very much.”
Marjie Nazaroff, who taught at OSS for 23 years before transferring to SOSS last year, said leaving the school was one of the most difficult choices she’s made in her life.
“The 23 years I spent here was such a big part of my life,” she said near tears. “It made leaving here a very difficult decision. I’m just really pleased to have been a part of it.”
Grade 11 student Calvin Launier got one of the biggest rounds of applause of the night when he said he’s never seen bullying ever at OSS because the Grade 11 and 12 students go out of their way to make the Grade 8 and 9 students feel at home and part of the school community.
“I want to give a big thank you to everyone here who has been part of this school and everyone who contributed in their own small way,” he said.
Principal Mike Safek said while the future of OSS remains up in the air, all those who have ever attended the school know what a special place it is.
“We will all have memories that will last us a lifetime,” he said.
He has spent over a decade as principal and vice-principal at OSS and they have been the best years of his life as a school administrator, he said.
“It has been an incredibly rewarding experience,” said Safek.
He has made many great friends with teachers and support staff, but it’s the students he will never forget, he said.
“We have been fortunate to have teachers who have done the extra mile for our students,” he said. “But what makes OSS truly special is our students.
“I’ve never been in a school where the students get along as well as they do here.”
KEITH LACEY
Osoyoos Times
Mike Safel, principal of Osoyoos Secondary School, was the first and last speaker at a celebration of 37 years of the school Thursday night. (Keith Lacey photo)
Marieze Tarr, chair of the board of School District 53, spoke Thursday evening at a celebration of 37 years of Osoyoos Secondary School. She said trustees are seeking more information about a provincial government funding program announced Wednesday that could save the school from closure. (Keith Lacey photo)
