Schools

Alberta students board a school bus, as they return to school today for the first time since their holiday break was extended due to surging COVID-19 cases, near Cremona, Alta., Monday, Jan. 10, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

For some Canadian students, school disruptions have become routine

Students have spent nearly two years dealing with COVID restrictions

Alberta students board a school bus, as they return to school today for the first time since their holiday break was extended due to surging COVID-19 cases, near Cremona, Alta., Monday, Jan. 10, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh
A student arrives at school as teachers dressed in red participate in a solidarity march to raise awareness about cases of COVID-19 at Ecole Woodward Hill Elementary School, in Surrey, B.C., on Tuesday, February 23, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

B.C. parents told to have a ‘low threshold’ for keeping sick kids home from school

Any fever should result in child staying home from the classroom

A student arrives at school as teachers dressed in red participate in a solidarity march to raise awareness about cases of COVID-19 at Ecole Woodward Hill Elementary School, in Surrey, B.C., on Tuesday, February 23, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Students sit together at the relocated New Westminster Secondary School, in New Westminster, B.C., on Thursday, October 14, 2021. An official opening of the new school was held on Thursday near the now shuttered former school which was built on a cemetery in the 1940s. The cemetery was used as a potter’s field where the bodies of prisoners, the poor and unidentifiable residents were buried. The land was also used by Indigenous, Chinese and Sikh communities to bury those who died. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

K-12 students head back to school in B.C. amid new COVID notification system

Parents to only be notified of exposures when attendance drops below ‘typical’ rates

Students sit together at the relocated New Westminster Secondary School, in New Westminster, B.C., on Thursday, October 14, 2021. An official opening of the new school was held on Thursday near the now shuttered former school which was built on a cemetery in the 1940s. The cemetery was used as a potter’s field where the bodies of prisoners, the poor and unidentifiable residents were buried. The land was also used by Indigenous, Chinese and Sikh communities to bury those who died. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Classroom chairs (Pixabay photo)

Ex-Burnaby teacher disciplined for engaging in ‘inappropriate physical contact’ with students

Teacher had female students volunteer for project about ‘athleticism’

Classroom chairs (Pixabay photo)
Students walk through a corridor at the relocated New Westminster Secondary School, in New Westminster, B.C., on Thursday, October 14, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

B.C. schools to have a staggered re-start in January; essential workers’ kids return first

All K-12 students will be in class as of Jan. 10

Students walk through a corridor at the relocated New Westminster Secondary School, in New Westminster, B.C., on Thursday, October 14, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
An empty classroom is pictured at Eric Hamber Secondary school in Vancouver, B.C. Monday, March 23, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward

B.C. Teachers Federation wants delay of school restart as COVID-19 cases surge

Union wants N95 masks, rapid testing among other safety measures

An empty classroom is pictured at Eric Hamber Secondary school in Vancouver, B.C. Monday, March 23, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward
Nasukin Jason Louie of the Lower Kootenay Band is handed a ceremonial key to the school by vice principal Mike Nelson. (Photo by Kelsey Yates)

Creston high school renamed Kootenay River Secondary School

Formerly Prince Charles Secondary School, the new name was chosen in reconciliation

Nasukin Jason Louie of the Lower Kootenay Band is handed a ceremonial key to the school by vice principal Mike Nelson. (Photo by Kelsey Yates)
Sharlene Huska shaves the head of Samara Profili after the Webster student made short work of her $500 goal by raising more than $2,500 for three different cancer foundations. Webster principal Brian Stefani awaits his turn after making a pact with Samara to shave his head when she reached her goal. Photo: Geoff Fontes

West Kootenay student meets fundraising goal overnight, shaves head for cancer

Webster Elementary student Samara Profili raised over $2500 for fight against cancer

Sharlene Huska shaves the head of Samara Profili after the Webster student made short work of her $500 goal by raising more than $2,500 for three different cancer foundations. Webster principal Brian Stefani awaits his turn after making a pact with Samara to shave his head when she reached her goal. Photo: Geoff Fontes
In June, the name of Prince Charles was removed from the front of Creston’s high school. (Photo by Kelsey Yates)

Process of renaming Creston’s high school now underway

Teachers say dropping the name ‘Prince Charles’ is a move towards reconciliation

In June, the name of Prince Charles was removed from the front of Creston’s high school. (Photo by Kelsey Yates)
FILE – Children walk with their parents to Sherwood Park Elementary in North Vancouver for the first day back-to-school Thursday, September 10, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward

Teachers’ union calls for more speed, clarity on COVID-19 exposures

BCTF said teachers noticing ‘significant inconsistencies’ in how outbreaks, clusters, exposures are classified

FILE – Children walk with their parents to Sherwood Park Elementary in North Vancouver for the first day back-to-school Thursday, September 10, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward
UBC study finds 57 per cent of kids have witnessed race-based bullying in schools. (File photo)

Most Canadian kids experience racialized bullying at school: study

Fifty-eight percent of youth aged 12-18 say they’ve witnessed race-based bullying

UBC study finds 57 per cent of kids have witnessed race-based bullying in schools. (File photo)
B.C. Premier John Horgan speaks after the B.C. Lions CFL football team announced they would recognize the first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation in Vancouver on Thursday, September 16, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Mandatory vaccination for B.C. school staff up to boards, says B.C. premier

Horgan: Mandatory vaccines a last resort and elected trustees best know what’s needed

B.C. Premier John Horgan speaks after the B.C. Lions CFL football team announced they would recognize the first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation in Vancouver on Thursday, September 16, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
New data suggests COVID-19 has accelerated the decline in mental health among young Canadians. (Black Press Media File)

B.C. teachers eager to EASE high school anxiety

New resource aimed at high-levels of anxiety among high school students

New data suggests COVID-19 has accelerated the decline in mental health among young Canadians. (Black Press Media File)
FILE – Grade one students wear masks as they attend class at Honore Mercier elementary school Tuesday, March 9, 2021 in Montreal.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ryan Remiorz

Tracker says B.C. schools recording COVID-19 exposures at 10 times last year’s rate

Volunteer moms have logged more than 1,000 cases, ‘and it is only early October’

FILE – Grade one students wear masks as they attend class at Honore Mercier elementary school Tuesday, March 9, 2021 in Montreal.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ryan Remiorz
Six sets of twins are attending Parkview Elementary School in Sicamous for the 2021-22 school year. From left to right, their names are: Levi and Cody Clark, Kate and Reese Osmundson, Maxx and Maycie-Jean Lane, Dustin and Dillon Hilder, Emily and Nathan Presley, and Aurora and Logan Dawson. (Zachary Roman/Eagle Valley News)

Seeing double: 1 in 17 kids attending Shuswap school are twins

There are six sets of twins at Parkview Elementary in Sicamous

Six sets of twins are attending Parkview Elementary School in Sicamous for the 2021-22 school year. From left to right, their names are: Levi and Cody Clark, Kate and Reese Osmundson, Maxx and Maycie-Jean Lane, Dustin and Dillon Hilder, Emily and Nathan Presley, and Aurora and Logan Dawson. (Zachary Roman/Eagle Valley News)
Grade one students wear masks as they attend class at Honore Mercier elementary school, Tuesday, March 9, 2021 in Montreal.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ryan Remiorz

Masks mandatory for all K-12 students in B.C. schools as of today

Mandate has been extended to younger students

Grade one students wear masks as they attend class at Honore Mercier elementary school, Tuesday, March 9, 2021 in Montreal.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ryan Remiorz
Avalynn Kwok, 4, holds her dad Manny Kwok’s hand outside Lynn Valley Elementary School as her parents drop her off for her first day of kindergarten in North Vancouver, B.C., Thursday, Sept. 9, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

B.C. resumes online posting of COVID ‘potential exposure events’ in schools

Health ministry back pedals after parents expressed worry about no online notifications

Avalynn Kwok, 4, holds her dad Manny Kwok’s hand outside Lynn Valley Elementary School as her parents drop her off for her first day of kindergarten in North Vancouver, B.C., Thursday, Sept. 9, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
FILE – Grade one students wear masks as they attend class at Honore Mercier elementary school Tuesday, March 9, 2021 in Montreal.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ryan Remiorz

Vancouver school board mandates masks for K-3 students, citing uptick in COVID among kids

Provincial health order only mandates masks for children in Grade 4 and up

FILE – Grade one students wear masks as they attend class at Honore Mercier elementary school Tuesday, March 9, 2021 in Montreal.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ryan Remiorz
The Safe Schools Coalition, a group of parents, guardians and teachers, held a rally at Holland Park on Saturday (Aug. 28) to pusher for stronger COVID-19 measures going into the 2021-22 school year on Sept. 7. They’re asking for mask mandate for all grades, better ventilation, distancing and remote options. (Photo: Lauren Collins)

‘It’s really frustrating’: BCTF fears more school closures due to lack of COVID safety measures

BCTF president Teri Mooring renews calls for K–12 mask mandate and ventilation improvements

The Safe Schools Coalition, a group of parents, guardians and teachers, held a rally at Holland Park on Saturday (Aug. 28) to pusher for stronger COVID-19 measures going into the 2021-22 school year on Sept. 7. They’re asking for mask mandate for all grades, better ventilation, distancing and remote options. (Photo: Lauren Collins)
A second-grader has her mask adjusted before heading into school for the day. (Black Press Media file photo)

B.C. parents crowdsourcing COVID-19 school exposures in lieu of provincial information

Health ministry choosing to only publicly report outbreaks, clusters

A second-grader has her mask adjusted before heading into school for the day. (Black Press Media file photo)