The school board is crediting teachers and educational assistants for making a positive impact on “vulnerable” students in the district.
At last week’s board meeting, assistant superintendent of schools Jim Insley stressed the importance of reaching vulnerable pupils early.
“The earlier you can help children the more successful they will be,” he told trustees while presenting a summary of Early Development Instrument (EDI) data from 2011-2013.
The EDI is a Canadian made research tool used to measure developmental change in children. The resulting data provides the information needed to develop effective responses to help the children and their families thrive.
School District 53 has participated in EDI data collection. The latest results were collected from seven schools in three neighbourhoods (318 kindergarten children participated).
Overall, Okanagan-Similkameen district had a vulnerability rate of 32 per cent, compared to the provincial rate of 32.5 per cent.
Vulnerable students are those with deficits in communication skills, physical health, social competence, emotional maturity, and language/cognitive development.
Insley gave a few examples, such as a child who has difficulty playing with other children. But he credited the district’s StrongStart programs for helping kids learn to interact with each other.
District wide, vulnerability was highest in emotional maturity (18 per cent), while child vulnerability was lowest in language and cognitive development (eight per cent).
Insley noted the Keremeos/Cawston east boundary neighbourhood had the lowest level of vulnerability at 14 per cent. Oliver and Okanagan Falls had the highest level of vulnerability at 42 per cent, which the board has concerns about, Insley said.
But he did note the district’s vulnerability rate has decreased significantly – from 36 per cent (in the previous data collection period) to 32 per cent.
Insley pointed out the district was ninth in the province for vulnerability when it established the first StrongStart program. Significant improvements have been made since then, he noted.
Although children who are socioeconomically disadvantaged are more likely to be at risk, vulnerabilities are found across the entire socioeconomic spectrum.
“The greatest number of developmentally vulnerable children is found in the more populous middle class,” the EDI report states.
Insley said what causes vulnerability in children is a very complex question. He noted that in affluent neighbourhoods in Vancouver, vulnerability is high when both parents work. Other factors impacting vulnerability include parenting skills and practices, poverty, lack of resources for families, and dysfunction within the family.
Insley said the district is increasing access to services by decreasing the barriers that families face. This is critical, according to the report.
An example of decreasing barriers is the establishment of the community “hub” at Oliver Elementary School, where parents can access several support services under one roof.
The report also states the importance of early literacy and numeracy development in decreasing vulnerability in language and cognitive skills.
Superintendent of Schools Bev Young acknowledged that vulnerability rates are decreasing in the district, but expressed concerns about seeing more anxiety levels in children that are impacting learning. That’s why district staff are focusing on social emotional learning in schools, such as Okanagan Falls Elementary.
Insley said pre-school partnerships, daycare, and hubs all contribute to reducing vulnerability rates in the district.
Lynn Cook and Patricia Tribe, EDI community trainers in the South Okanagan-Similkameen, are seeing improvement in every community. They cite the following: family events hosted in each community, families trained in infant first aid, harvest food boxes and community gardens, and community hubs.
Both report seeing a renewed emphasis and coming together of service providers, parents and school districts to support families.
“There is a sense of mission and pride knowing that helping children thrive helps all of us.”
Lyonel Doherty
Oliver Chronicle
