Central Okanagan Public Schools – "Inside 23":
Remembrance Day – Tri-Lingual Recognition – École Glenrosa Elementary School
In attendance:
Laurie Fraser, Principal, École Glenrosa Elementary School
Gwen Plitt, Music Teacher, École Glenrosa Elementary School
While teaching at South Rutland Elementary School, music teacher Gwen Plitt wrote a song inspired by the words of newcomer Syrian students talking about having the "freedom to go outside and play." Six years later, students across the District continue to perform "Thank You" at Remembrance Day ceremonies. This year, Ms. Plitt's students at École Glenrosa Elementary added ASL to this special vocal performance.
Introductions:
1. Jennifer Adamson – Principal, Chief Tomat Elementary School
The Board of Education congratulated Jennifer Adamson on her new position as Principal of Chief Tomat Elementary School
2. Ankita Sharma – Business Process Manager
The Board of Education welcomed Ankita Sharma to Central Okanagan Public Schools to the position of Business Process Manager.
Action Items:
1. Appointment of Board Standing Committee Trustee Representatives
The Board of Education appointed the Board Representatives to the following Board Standing Committees:
General Affairs Committee – Committee of the Whole
Chair: Trustee Fraser (Vice-Chair)
Senior Staff Member: Superintendent of Schools/CEO – Kevin Kaardal
Coordinating Committee
Board Chair and Vice-Chair
Senior Staff Members: Superintendent of Schools/CEO – Kevin Kaardal
Secretary-Treasurer/CFO – Delta Carmichael
Education and Student Services Committee
Chair: Trustee Guderyan
Members: Trustee Geistlinger and Trustee Johnson
Senior Staff Member: Deputy Superintendent of Schools – Terry-Lee Beaudry
Finance and Audit Committee
Chair: Trustee Broughton
Members: Trustee Guderyan and Trustee Johnson
Senior Staff Members: Secretary-Treasurer/CFO – Delta CarmichaelAssistant Secretary-Treasurer – Kate Cumming
Planning and Facilities Committee
Chair: Trustee Fraser
Members: Trustee Desrosiers and Trustee Broughton
Senior Staff Member: Director of Operations – Rob Drew
Policy Committee
Chair: Trustee Geistlinger
Members: Trustee Fraser and Trustee Desrosiers
Senior Staff Member: Superintendent of Schools/CEO – Kevin Kaardal
2. Appointment of Trustee Representatives to the Indigenous Education Council
The Board of Education appointed the following Trustee representatives to the Indigenous Education
Council:
Representative: Trustee Desrosiers
Representative: Trustee Fraser
Alternate: Trustee Guderyan
Senior Staff Member: Deputy Superintendent of Schools - Terry-Lee Beaudry
3. Appointment of Trustee Representatives to District Committees
The Board of Education appointed the Trustee representatives to the following District Committees:
District Early Years Partnership Committee
Representative: Trustee Tiede
Alternate: Trustee Guderyan
Senior Staff Member: Assistant Superintendent – Jamie Robinson
District Health Promoting Schools Committee
Representative: Trustee Guderyan
Alternate: Trustee Broughton
Senior Staff Member: Director of Instruction: Feeding Futures – Rhonda Ovelson
District Human Rights Committee
Representative: Trustee Johnson
Alternate: Trustee Desrosiers
Senior Staff Member: Assistant Superintendent – Raquel Steen
Public Education Awareness Committee
Representatives: Rotating: Trustee Desrosiers, Trustee Fraser, Trustee Guderyan and Trustee Tiede
Senior Staff Member: Deputy Superintendent of Schools - Terry-Lee Beaudry
District Safe Schools Community Network
Representatives: Rotating: Trustee Desrosiers, Trustee Geistlinger and Trustee Guderyan
Senior Staff Member: District Principal: Learning Support Services and Safer Communities – Sherri Roche
4. Annual Review of Committee's Mandate, Purpose and Function: Policy 146 – General Affairs Committee
The Board of Education affirmed Policy 146 – General Affairs Committee.
5. Annual Integrated Pest Management Report
The Board of Education accepted the Annual Integrated Pest Management Report as the Annual Report required in Policy 620 – Integrated Pest Management (IPM).
6. Public Education Awareness Committee – Amended Terms of Reference
The Board of Education approved the amended Public Education Awareness Committee's Terms of Reference.
Information Items:
The Board of Education reviewed the following:
1. Level 4 and 5 Field Study Summary – 2023/2024
2. General Statement – November 8, 2023
3. Board Policy and Regulations 632 – School Reconfigurations
4. Board Policy and Regulations 631 – School Closures/Consolidation
5. District Student Council Representatives – 2023/2024
Items of Special Mention
Trustees and the Superintendent of Schools/CEO spoke of the following:
- Attendance at various meetings and events throughout the District, including school communities respectful and moving Remembrance Day Ceremonies, attendance at the Remembrance Day Ceremonies held in Peachland, West Kelowna, Kelowna, Rutland and Lake Country, the Lake Country Native Association 26th Annual Winter Family Gathering Traditional Pow Wow, and various sporting events.
- On Thursday, November 16th, the Honourable Grace Lore, Minister of State for Child Care, and honoured guests, celebrated the opening of hundreds of new childcare spaces in the Central Okanagan. The ceremony was held at the BGCO Childcare Facility at Anne McClymont Elementary School.
- On Friday, November 17th schools in the District celebrated the diversity of our community during Harmony Day celebrations.
- At The BCSSA Fall Conference, held last week, two presentations were made by representatives of Central Okanagan Public Schools. The first presentation was: "Fostering Equity and Inclusion Through Shane Safir’s Equity Transformation Cycle". The team, including Jamie Robinson, Assistant Superintendent, presented the work going on in the Mission and Lake Country Family of Schools. The focus on creating pedagogies of agency and inclusion for students was particularly powerful. The second presentation, which included Terry-Lee Beaudry, Deputy Superintendent, told the story to date of our partnerships and the progress made on the Social Studies Humanities and Research Council (SSHRC) Partnership Grant with UBC-O School of Education – Co-Curricular Making: Honouring Indigenous Connections to the Land, Culture and Relational Self. This work is changing the educational experiences for staff and students and serves as one of the powerful examples of our District's journey towards Truth and Reconciliation.
Next Public Board Meeting
Wednesday, December 13, 2023
6:00 pm
Wednesday, January 10, 2024
6:00 pm
All Public Board Meetings take place in the Main Board Room at 1040 Hollywood Road South unless otherwise noted.
Board Standing Committee Meetings
Wednesday, November 29, 2023
6:00 pm Education and Student Services Committee
Wednesday, December 6, 2023
4:00 pm General Affairs Committee
6:00 pm Planning and Facilities Committee
All Public Board Standing Committee Meetings take place in the Main Board Room at 1040 Hollywood Road South unless otherwise noted.