New hub coordinator hired
A new, 12-hour per week coordinator has been hired to oversee the community hub at Oliver Elementary School.
Melissa MacMeekin works in the early childhood sector and hopes to enhance hub services for local families. The position is funded through a grant for the Penticton and District Community Resources Society.
Committee to support parents
The district’s Social and Emotional Learning Committee is making plans to support parents at home with strategies to help children regulate themselves.
Yes, it can be done.
Superintendent of Schools Bev Young said they are focusing on social and emotional learning since the district is seeing an increased number of students with elevated anxiety levels. Some children also lack the strategies needed to self-regulate behaviours that interfere with learning.
Pow wow coming to SOSS
The district’s sixth annual pow wow will be held at Southern Okanagan Secondary School on April 25-26.
The event will feature plenty of dancing and food. Grade 4 pupils from across the district will participate on the Friday (April 25).
Trades Exploration Day huge success
Superintendent Bev Young reported that the recent Yes-2-It Trades Exploration Day for students was very successful.
Grades 6-7 pupils received hands-on experience in the culinary trade. More than 300 students met 11 tradespeople during the program.
“The satisfaction of watching students learning new skills and trying new things could only be measured by the smiles on the students’ faces and how they gobbled up their creations.”
Young thanked coordinator Boyd Turnbull and the following tradespeople for their time: Nicola Haamers (cook), Theo Walta (baker), Randy Watson and Cody Winser (meat cutters), Yvonne Gaudet (cook), Dave Shmyr (meat cutter), Wayne Jones (baker), Bruce Mikulecky (meat cutter), Troy Bratton (cook), Holly (baker and cook), and Shannon Peltier (baker).
Students relish Gateway to the Trades
Sixteen students from Southern Okanagan Secondary School began Gateway to the Trades last month.
This joint program with Okanagan College is designed to give secondary students the opportunity to explore potential careers while earning credits.
The program, taught in the school’s wood shop, runs Monday to Friday for 12 weeks.
In other news, more than 200 students in the district have enrolled in work experience this year, with 116 registered this semester.
Students love field trips
On March 12-13, Lori Martine will lead a contingent of 50 Grade 4-7 students and 10 parent chaperones to a fine arts field trip in Seattle.
They will attend the “Lion King” play at the Paramount Theatre and other fine art venues in Seattle.
Grade 8-11 students from Southern Okanagan Secondary School are anticipating their field trip to the Gulf Islands in April. And in June, graduates from SOSS will be going to Idaho.
Young apprentices excel
The district recently signed a letter of understanding with CUPE Local 523 that facilitates secondary students working with “red seal” employees in order to gain apprenticeship hours.
