Osoyoos Elementary welcomes more students and new staff

By Vanessa Broadbent

Osoyoos Times

Osoyoos Elementary School is back in session with more students.

The school started the new year with 368 students, up from 350 in 2018.

With the majority of the new students entering kindergarten – 55 in total – the school has added another kindergarten class, principal Dave Foster said. Last year the school had a total of 16 kindergarten to Grade 7 classes, and this year has 17.

“We had to convert one of our learner support rooms into a classroom. The only room that doesn’t have a classroom is our strong start room,” Foster said.

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Osoyoos Elementary School also welcomed three new teachers this year. Maranda Tuner is teaching Grade 4, Alesha Grimard is teaching Grade 5, and Lynsey Richards is teaching Grades 2/3.

School administration and staff are already busy planning events throughout the year, including the return of the popular Kindness Campaign where students participate in 21 days of
kindness.

“We’re bringing back our kindness campaign, but it may look a little different this year,” Foster said. “We’re going to rebrand and look at a cultural celebration in place.”