Students walk between classes at Osoyoos Secondary School. Students lost the first three weeks of their studies, but the lost days are being spread over two terms by adjusting the school calendar and adding dates at the beginning of February for provincial exams. Dates for parent-teacher interviews and term changeover dates are also being moved back. (Richard McGuire photo)
Students and teachers at Osoyoos Secondary School (OSS) were glad to return this week, but they’ll have to make up for time lost to the recent teachers’ strike.
“I think everyone is just happy to be back,” Vice-Principal Shannon Miller said on Monday. “It’s really positive. It was a great day.”
Students returned to school for a half day on Monday to pick up their schedules and meet the teachers and returned to full-time studies on Tuesday.
Students were also in class for a full day on Wednesday, even though the last Wednesday of every month is normally a school day featuring early dismissal for teachers’ inquiry time, Miller said.
The early dismissal will be rescheduled.
The main adjustment to school calendar will be to equalize the two semesters so that only about seven days are lost from each semester instead of 15 from just the first semester.
“It’s still a loss of days and instructional time, but I think it’s far easier to make up seven days than 15 obviously,” Miller said.
This was made possible when the Ministry of Education announced it would provide a second set of provincial exam dates at the beginning of February to accommodate this option.
Miller said the school is also adjusting parent-teacher interview dates and term changeover dates to accommodate the shortened calendar.
“Otherwise, it’s business as normal,” said Miller. “We will put out a new calendar to parents as soon as it’s finalized.”
Staff changes at OSS have been minor, Miller said.
Andrew Hill, who was on a temporary contract, has been hired to a permanent contract, she said. Hill teaches health and career education, math, social studies and psychology.
Teacher Margie Nazaroff has taken a semester off to travel with her family and will be replaced for the first semester.
The teachers’ strike, which began in June, ended when members of the B.C. Teachers’ Federation voted last Thursday by 86 per cent to accept a new contract negotiated with the provincial government.
RICHARD McGUIRE
Osoyoos Times
