The following was issued from School District 27 today (Sept. 17) regarding the potential start of the school year, depending on how the teachers vote on Thursday, Sept. 18.
School start-up frequently asked questions:
1.) When will school be starting?
If both the BC Teachers’ Federation and boards of education ratify the tentative Provincial Agreement over the next two days, school will start for grades 1 through 12 this coming Monday, Sept. 22. All other answers below will be applicable only if the tentative agreement is ratified by both parties.
2.) Will Monday, Sept. 22 be a half day for students in grades 1 through 12?
Yes. As always with the first day of school, Monday, Sept. 22 will be a half day (specific school hours in below) for students in grades 1 through 12. This will allow students to meet their teachers in the morning and allow schools to organize classes on Monday afternoon.
While principals and vice principals have done everything they can to prepare for school start-up, they have not been able to meet with teachers or, in many cases, with their support staff for a few months.
Staff meetings on Monday afternoon will be very beneficial as schools will be better prepared for all classes the next day.
The following are start and end times for respective schools in School District 27:
Alexis Creek Elementary/Junior Secondary – Gr. K-7, 8:40 a.m.; Gr. 8-10, 8:35 a.m. – End time: 11:05 a.m.
Anahim Lake Elementary/Junior Secondary – Gr. K-7, 8:30 a.m.; Gr. 8-10, 8:30 a.m. – End time: 11 a.m.
Big Lake Elementary – 8:05 a.m. – End time: 10:35 a.m.
Bridge Lake Elementary – 9 a.m. – End time: 11:30 a.m.
Cataline Elementary – 8:49 a.m. – End time: 11:19 a.m.
Chilcotin Road Elementary – 8:30 a.m. – End time: 11 a.m.
Dog Creek Elementary – Gr. K-7, 8:15 a.m. – End time: 12 p.m.
Lake City Secondary – 8:37 a.m. – End time: 11:08 a.m.
Forest Grove Elementary – 8:13 a.m. – End time: 11:07 a.m.
GROW – 8:30 a.m. – End time: 10:43 a.m.
Horse Lake Elementary – 8:15 a.m. – End time: 10:45 a.m.
Horsefly Elementary/Junior Secondary – Gr. K-7, 8:45 a.m.; Gr. 8-10, 8:20 a.m. – End time: 10:50 a.m.
Lac La Hache – 7:55 a.m. – End time: 10:25 a.m.
Likely Elementary – 8:45 a.m. – End time: 11:15 a.m.
Marie Sharpe Elementary – 8:58 a.m. – End time: 11:28 a.m.
Mile 108 Elementary – 8:20 a.m. – End time: 10:50 a.m.
Mountview Elementary – 8:08 a.m. – End time: 10:40 a.m.
Naghtaneqed Elementary/Junior Secondary – Gr. K-7, 8 a.m. – Gr. 8-10, 8 a.m. – End time: 12 p.m.
Nesika Elementary – 8:45 a.m. – End time: 11:15 a.m.
150 Mile Elementary – 8:05 a.m. – End time: 10:35 a.m.
100 Mile Elementary – 9:05 a.m. – End time: 11:35 a.m.
Peter Skene Ogden Secondary – 8:50 a.m. – End time: 11:20 a.m.
Skyline Off-site Alternate – 8:45 a.m. – End time: 11:15 a.m.
Tatla Lake Elementary/Junior Secondary – Gr. K-7, 8:50 a.m.; Gr. 8-10, 8:50 a.m. – End time: 11:20 a.m.
Wildwood Elementary – 8:45 a.m. – End time: 11:15 a.m.
3.) What is the schedule for Kindergarten students next week?
As we would do at the beginning of a regular school year, many kindergarten students will be on a gradual entry next week. That is, they may not be in school full-time. If you have not been contacted by your kindergarten child’s school regarding next week’s schedule by afternoon on Friday, Sept. 19, please contact your child’s school.
All kindergarten students will be attending school full-time beginning Monday, Sept. 29.
4.) Will buses be running on their usual schedule?
Yes, buses will run in the morning and at the end of the half day on Monday, Sept. 22. Buses will run as usual in the mornings and afternoons beginning Tuesday, Sept. 23. The bus that picks up students in the Chilcotin on Sundays will run at its regularly scheduled time on Sunday, Sept. 21.
If you have questions about bus times visit http://www.sd27.bc.ca/find-your-bus-route/ or contact the bus garages in Williams Lake at 250-398-3881 or in 100 Mile House at 250-395-2230.
5.) Will lost instructional time be added to this year’s school calendar?
The Ministry of Education has made the decision not to add any additional hours to this school year’s calendar.
6.) What does this mean for fall break, Christmas break and spring break?
The Ministry of Education was clear in its communications with school districts that no additional instructional hours to school calendars are required. This means to School District 27 that all of the breaks originally scheduled for this year’s school calendar will continue as scheduled.
Fall Break (Nov. 10-14), Christmas break (Dec. 22 to Jan. 2) and spring break (March 9-20) and shortened days to meet with parents (Oct. 20-23) will continue as scheduled.
It should be noted that the additional time for fall and spring breaks is actually made up by our extended school day hours. The process for determining the total hours of instruction is determined in accordance with the School Act and is approved each year by the Board of Education and the Ministry of Education.
7.) There is a professional development day scheduled for Friday, Sept. 26. Will this still occur?
Yes. The professional development day scheduled for next Friday, Sept. 26 will be going ahead. This means that this date is a non-instructional day for students.
As no additional instructional hours need to be added to the school calendar, SD27 has made the decision to continue with our calendar as it was originally scheduled.
All other professional development days during the school year will also continue as scheduled.
Again, professional development days are accounted for in the School Act and the Teachers’ Collective Agreement.
8.) Where do I get more information if my question is not answered here?
We will continue to endeavour to keep the SD27 website (www.sd27.bc.ca) as current as possible.
If you have very school-specific questions please contact your local school.
We again thank all students, parents and community members for their patience throughout the very difficult labour negotiations over the past number of months. We are all very excited to return to school.
