Blog Posts

Welcome to the fall. You’ll notice that like the leaves on the trees in late-September and early October, this issue of the Superintendent’s Report looks a bit different than it did a few months ago. The stories in this report are now organized under our five strategic learning priorities from our Strategic Plan 2024-2029. These priorities are lifelong learners, connected learners, a caring and inclusive learning culture, culture and identity development and career development.

A warm welcome to September and to the 2023-2024 school year. I am pleased to welcome every one of our more than 4700 students and each family whose child or children have embarked on what may be a first or a next chapter of their educational journey within School District No. 8 (Kootenay Lake).

This is an incredibly exciting month for students who may be entering a classroom for the very first time, or entering a new grade, a new program or a new school. “New” is a key word for so much that happens throughout September across our district.  

Another school year is coming to completion - June is one of the most exciting months of the year for everyone in SD8.

In June, we see students showcase their efforts and accomplishments throughout the school year - in capstone projects, in school theatre productions, in school-wide projects to protect the oceans or mark the Seven Sacred Teachings or in outdoor sports during and after school, including in the annual wuqanqankimik run/walk/wheel for Reconciliation.

May 5 is the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two Spirit Peoples (MMIWG2S). It is also known as Red Dress Day. May 1 to 7 is the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) Mental Health Week. May is also Mental Health Awareness Month across North America. This report includes articles related to each of these events.

From April 14-16, seven teams comprised of 40 educator leaders from across the Columbia Basin and beyond gathered to develop plans to support their schools and communities. Teachers Brooke Jones, Hannah Boomer and Carly Christy (and I quote Columbia Basin Environmental Education Network's Executive Director Duncan Whittick) "brought a wonderful level of energy, engagement and enthusiasm to help support outdoor and environmental learning in SD8."

April is a great time to reconnect with one another after spring break, and to reengage with our individual and collective purpose: to support and realize the success of each of our learners as we begin the final three months of the 2022-2023 school year. 

In that spirit of engagement, I am excited to share results from our strategic plan engagement process in this month's superintendent's report. 

Highlights of the process include: 

A sense of community, an ability to embrace kindness towards oneself and toward others and feeling the joy of physical movement – these are three themes that you will see in this March report. These are also important elements for each child to excel in school and in life. 

Read the Superintendent's Report each month on the website for: 

• Learning - updates from schools on activities, events and successes 
• Examples of organizational excellence from SD8 leaders and departments
• Stories about relationships and engagement with SD8 communities

View the Superintendent's Report for January 2023

Read the Superintendent's Report each month on the website for: 

• Learning - updates from schools on activities, events and successes 
• Examples of organizational excellence from SD8 leaders and departments
• Stories about relationships and engagement with SD8 communities

View the Superintendent's Report for December 2022

Read the Superintendent's Report each month on the website for: