Enrolment looks to be a little better than last spring’s projections in the North Okanagan Shuswap School District but still down approximately 200 students from last school year.
“It looks like we’re up a little bit from projections with elementary up around 50 students and secondary up 17,” said Superintendant Glenn Borthistle at the first regular meeting for the North Okanagan Shuswap Board of Education Tuesday.
He noted these numbers are still very preliminary and the district will have a better idea on the ministry’s enrolment “snapshot” day on Sept. 30.
“But, it looks like we’re sitting at about 5,800 and last year we were right around 6,000 students.”
Off to Prague
Pleasant Valley Secondary is hitting the road, travelling to Prague and Amsterdam from March 17 to April 6, 2014 (17 days in Prague and two in Amsterdam).
Calvin White, who along with Debbie Almquist is organizing the trip, said students are immersed in the rich arts culture of Prague and will not only tour historic sites but will also take in opera, ballet, symphony, and jazz performances as well as go to art galleries and museums.
“The whole idea of the trip is to introduce kids from a small area like this and show them the possibilities in the world,” comments White.
PVSS is also making a 21-day trip to Thailand in July.
The trip offers students the opportunity of not only doing “touristy” things in Thailand (riding an elephant, rafting and scuba diving lessons) it also offers them a chance to be immersed in Thai culture through volunteering at an orphanage and spending a day at a Thai school.
Exchange to Sister City Inashiki, Japan
An annual overseas exchange is moving to a bi-annual event.
The annual exchange to Sister City Inashiki, Japan will take place March 22-31, 2014.
By the agreement on both sides, this will be the last annual trip. Moving forward the trip will be held every other year.
Borthistle commented that after speaking with the City of Salmon Arm (who also takes part in the exchanges), and representatives from Inashiki, it was agreed that every other year would be more financially feasible.
Sexual health meetings
Parents and students are reminded of some important upcoming sessions on sexual health, being offered by Family Life teacher Cathi Johnston, in October.
Three sessions will be held at Pleasant Valley Secondary in Armstrong on Oct. 22-23-24. Each evening will run from 6:30 to 7:45 p.m.
