By Sebastian Kanally, Times Chronicle

The following are news briefs from the Jan. 24 Board of Education meeting for School District 53 (Okanagan-Similkameen). 

How we are doing highlights 

Student Learning Survey results reveal that in almost all areas surveyed, there is now little difference between non-indigenous students and indigenous students.

The 2021-2022 report “How Are We Doing?” on Aboriginal performance data from the Ministry of Education is overall positive and reveals numerous improvements. Success rates for Indigenous students are continuing to trend in a positive direction. 

In reference to the Five-Year Completion Rate, students recorded a 71 per cent completion rate compared to 67 per cent in the previous year. This is the highest rate seen in the school district. Indigenous students also made gains in Foundation Skills Assessment (FSA) results which has continued to close the equity gap to non-indigenous students. 

The reading and numeracy levels of grade four indigenous students are within one per cent and three per cent respectively, compared to non-indigenous students. 

In 2020-21 the percentage of indigenous graduates awarded Adult Graduation Diplomas, also called Adult Dogwood Certificates was 11 per cent, in 2021-22 this dropped to seven per cent. This is significant and remarkably positive considering the provincial average falls between 20 and 30 per cent. 

Early years at the Temple

The Oliver Strengthening Early Years to Kindergarten Team (SEY2KT) visited the Bhavsagar Sikh Temple on Jan. 13. The trip enacted conversations with families about the StrongStart program, pre-school, registration for kindergarten and local area activities. The team connected over 60 families and 35 children and plans are in motion to have another event at the Temple.

Trades Programs

The Okanagan District School Board has 20 students from the three highschools in the area starting programs this second semester in a variety of trades programs. They are attending Okanagan College in Penticton or Kelowna, with some going as far as Prince George for welding at the College of New Caledonia. 

Professional Cook Program

Changes are coming this year to the Professional Cook program offered with Camosun College. Courtenay Welter has left the program to take a full time position at Oliver Elementary School. She is being replaced by Lorraine Cook who will be at Chef Nikolaas at Camosun providing lab instruction. The program has six eager young chefs, and many local restaurants are willing to hire them as apprentices. The program used to be offered every other year but will now be offered every year due to interest and demand.  

RCMP Youth Academy

This program has not been offered for a couple years due to COVID-19, but is up and running again. At the moment there are three students planning on attending the program in Vernon in May 2023. The program is a week-long camp that allows the students to familiarize themselves with the RCMP’s operations. The students stay in the Army Camp in Vernon and engage in a training experience with the RCMP. 

Future Programs

New programs are on the horizon for 2023-24 including an Early Childhood Education program in partnership with Okanagan College kicking off in Sept. 2023. In addition, work is being done on the details of a health care sampler course akin to the Gateway to Trades or Tech courses. These will count as four-credit, and will allow the students to gain knowledge about various positions in the health care sector; the program is being constructed in partnership with Interior Health and Okanagan College. A Dental assistant program is also on the Horizon for Feb. 2024.