The following are some highlights of the recent Board of Education, SD53, meeting held on June 24, 2025.

Numeracy focus
The district has been focusing on enhancing student achievement in  numeracy with grade 3 and 5 teachers developing new numeracy screeners to identify areas where  students need support. These screeners were piloted by grade 2 and 6 teachers this year and will be  used in grades 3 and 5 next year. Additionally, elementary teachers are collaborating to share  resources and strategies to support students struggling with numeracy.

Healthy Schools  program
This spring, students engaged in various land-based well-being activities through the Healthy Schools  program and community partnerships. Over 200 students participated in the Learn to Fish Program,  and another 100 students engaged in mindfulness activities. The Osoyoos Sailing Club also introduced  Grade 7 students to sailing. Federal funding supported gardening initiatives and food systems learning  in high schools. Some of the funds will be used to purchase larger items like a commercial oven.

Family engagement events
The district hosted numerous family engagement events to support early literacy and numeracy  development. Events like Pop-Up Play, Come Count With Me, and Come Rhyme With Me saw high  participation rates. The district welcomed 109 new kindergarten students at the Welcome to  Kindergarten events.

Career education
The district is expanding career education opportunities through partnerships with Simon Fraser University (SFU), Okanagan College (OC), and Thompson Rivers University (TRU).  Recently, SFU approached the consortium of career education districts in the Okanagan to participate  in their remote learning dual credit program.

The Board noted that the district has since received a Memorandum of  Understanding (MOU) for review. Pending final approval, it’s anticipated the partnership will begin with a digital  graphic design course from SFU’s School of Interactive Arts in the 2025/26 school year. The goal is to  expand the partnership to offer the full micro-credential program by the 2026/27 school year.

“The breadth of dual credit and work experience opportunities available to students in the Okanagan  Similkameen district continues to shine. School District No. 53 remains a provincial leader in per-capita  student participation in career education, thanks in part to the ongoing support from the district and  the board,” it said.

Indigenous grad
The Indigenous Graduation Ceremony was held at the Ashnola Powwow grounds in Keremeos on May  21. The ceremony was well attended, and graduates received hand crafted gifts and were blanketed  by their Indigenous Advocate and family members. The number of Indigenous graduates this year  totalled 40 students from across the district.

“The Board would like to congratulate all of our students who graduated this year and wish them all  the best in their future endeavours and wishes students, staff and families a great summer!”

Submitted by Rob Zandee, Chairperson School District No. 53 (Okanagan Similkameen).