The pandemic has presented many challenges for everyone in B.C’.s school system as it continues to face unprecedented times.
Education
Week begins Sunday, April 11, 2021, and the Ministry of Education wants
to acknowledge that, in spite of stresses and anxiety around the
pandemic, teachers, support staff, administrators and trustees have
shown incredible dedication and compassion. It also recognizes that
students and families are going above and beyond to support their school
communities.
For more than a year, education staff, parents,
students and partners have rallied to create a sense of normalcy for
B.C.’s more than 600,000 students in kindergarten to Grade 12. From
creating and adapting mental health programs and services during the
pandemic, to leading the way with outdoor classrooms, education
professionals and student leaders are making meaningful contributions.
In
central B.C., the Cariboo-Chilcotin School Board has shown outstanding
creativity and vision as it planned and built 20 unique, outdoor log
classrooms for students to learn and grow. The new log classrooms will
benefit not only students learning throughout the pandemic, but also in
the future. Community trades workers also benefited from this project,
as the board insisted on hiring local. Cariboo-Chilcotin teachers and
teaching assistants are leading the way in B.C.’s outdoor learning
programs. They’ve successfully adapted to new, dynamic learning
environments and are finding students are engaged and excited to be
learning outside.
In the Comox Valley School District, Tara Ryan, a
counsellor and co-ordinator, knows first-hand how COVID-19 has affected
the mental health of students. Ryan put together a fun “Spring Wellness
Challenge” that encourages students and families to keep healthy and
active by volunteering, playing games, visiting local beaches, playing
sports, cooking and participating in many more exciting activities, with
the opportunity to win fun prizes. Students in the Comox Valley have
until April 30 to participate in the contest. The draw for prizes will
take place on May 7 – Child and Youth Mental Health day. For more
information about the challenge, visit: https://www.comoxvalleyschools.ca/spring-mental-wellness-challenge-2021/
The
cleaning never stops for Sarah Marchand, a well-respected custodian at
Cedar Elementary in the Nanaimo-Ladysmith school district. Marchand is a
leader in her school district and has gone above and beyond in her
efforts to tirelessly protect staff and students from the spread of
viruses. She is known by her Cedar school community as an inspiring,
proactive problem solver who shows efficient time management and
positive thinking skills. Marchand also finds time to serve the school
district as a trainer for new hires and is an active member of the
school’s Health and Safety Committee. And even amidst all the busyness,
she greets students and staff with warmth and a smile as she works
around the school accompanied by her friend Cookie Monster.
North
Vancouver’s Seycove Secondary Social Justice 12 students, Saege Bramley
and Samantha Yuen, have learned how important mental heath and wellness
is for their school community and beyond. Bramley and Yuen have recently
restarted their school’s mental health club, distributed mental health
posters and are currently helping encourage students to participate in
activities like walking or yoga to benefit everyone’s mental health. The
students also created a social justice action plan that allowed them to
donate a large amount of personal protective equipment and supplies to a
youth crisis centre in Vancouver, helping workers stay safe and healthy
so they can continue to support Vancouver’s young people.
Learn More:
There
are many more examples of education staff, students and families who
are going above and beyond during these unprecedented times. To learn
more about the stories above and to read other inspiring stories
happening in school districts throughout B.C., visit the Ministry of
Education’s Good News in Education web page: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/education-training/k-12/covid-19-safe-schools/good-news