Jamie Elder, owner of Unity Osoyoos, is making a giant “OPEN” sign to welcome students back to Osoyoos Secondary School. The letters look like they will rival the “HOLLYWOOD” sign that sits above Los Angeles. (Richard McGuire photo)
When students return to Osoyoos Secondary School (OSS) next Tuesday, there will be a welcome party to cheer for them.
Unity Osoyoos and the Osoyoos Independent School (OIS) Society are asking people from the entire area to come and celebrate the success of efforts to keep OSS open.
The rally takes place at the corner of the parking lot in front of OSS on Tuesday, Sept. 6 from 8 a.m. to 8:25 a.m., said Brenda Dorosz, chair of OIS.
OIS was originally formed with the goal of establishing an independent school when it looked like OSS would close. With OSS saved, the society has abandoned that goal, but continues to advocate for education in Osoyoos.
“We just want to welcome the kids back,” said Dorosz, who led efforts to keep OSS open, both through OIS and the Save Our Schools committee.
“They went through a really hard year last year,” she said. “That six months was really hard on the kids and we want to celebrate that the school is open.”
Jamie Elder, of Unity Osoyoos, is making up signs and the OIS society will bring donuts for the students, Dorosz said.
She was trying to arrange for some trucks to come and blow horns in celebration, but that hasn’t been confirmed because many companies are busy at this time of year, Dorosz said Monday.
“It won’t be very long. Just 15 minutes welcoming the kids back to school.”
Dorosz said Osoyoos residents are invited to come and “clap and holler and make some noise in celebration that the school is open.”
Students experienced a roller coaster, as did parents and members of the community during the efforts earlier this year to keep the school open, said Dorosz.
School District 53 trustees first made public their intention of beginning the process to close an Osoyoos school in mid-January. Ultimately, on June 30, the day OSS was scheduled to close, they reversed that decision when the province confirmed ongoing funding to keep the school open.
“We would love lots of people up there to greet the kids,” said Dorosz.
RICHARD McGUIRE
Osoyoos Times
