Education

FILE - Former first lady Michelle Obamad smiles as she speaks during a groundbreaking ceremony for the Obama Presidential Center in Chicago on Sept. 28, 2021. Obama will narrate a new digital audio edition of Maurice Sendak’s children’s book “”Where the Wild Things Are.” HarperCollins Publishers announced Tuesday that the audio download will go on sale Oct. 31, the 60th anniversary of the book’s original release. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast, File)

Michelle Obama to narrate audio edition of ‘Where the Wild Things Are’

A new digital audio edition of Maurice Sendak’s “Where the Wild Things…

FILE - Former first lady Michelle Obamad smiles as she speaks during a groundbreaking ceremony for the Obama Presidential Center in Chicago on Sept. 28, 2021. Obama will narrate a new digital audio edition of Maurice Sendak’s children’s book “”Where the Wild Things Are.” HarperCollins Publishers announced Tuesday that the audio download will go on sale Oct. 31, the 60th anniversary of the book’s original release. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast, File)
Workers at the new Quw'utsun Secondary School sign the last steel girder to be installed at the facility at an event on Oct. 13. (Submitted photo)

Construction of Cowichan’s new high school hits major milestone

The facility’s final concrete pour was also prepared on Oct. 13

Workers at the new Quw'utsun Secondary School sign the last steel girder to be installed at the facility at an event on Oct. 13. (Submitted photo)
Fire crews continue to put out the fire at Hazel Trembath Elementary School in Port Coquitlam, B.C., on Saturday, Oct. 14, 2023. Plans are underway to bring school life back to normal as quickly as possible for students and teachers after a Metro Vancouver elementary school was destroyed in a suspicious weekend fire. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ethan Cairns

Plans underway to get back to the books after suspicious fire razes B.C. school

Coquitlam RCMP investigating a suspicious fire at Hazel Trembath Elementary School in Port Coquitlam

Fire crews continue to put out the fire at Hazel Trembath Elementary School in Port Coquitlam, B.C., on Saturday, Oct. 14, 2023. Plans are underway to bring school life back to normal as quickly as possible for students and teachers after a Metro Vancouver elementary school was destroyed in a suspicious weekend fire. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ethan Cairns
The B.C. Teachers’ Federation is calling for an end to the Foundation Skills Assessment tests, citing concerns around the data collected and shared.

BCTF calls for end to FSA tests citing concerns around data

But the province says the grades 4 to 7 tests are meant to provide feedback for B.C. schools

The B.C. Teachers’ Federation is calling for an end to the Foundation Skills Assessment tests, citing concerns around the data collected and shared.
People attend competing rallies in support of, and opposing the Saskatchewan government’s proposed legislation on pronoun policy in front of the Saskatchewan Legislative Building in Regina on Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2023. The Saskatchewan government plans to invoke the notwithstanding clause to override a judge’s injunction and introduce legislation about the province’s pronoun policy in school. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Heywood Yu

Hundreds rally as Saskatchewan pronoun bill nears introduction

Saskatchewan bill on trans name use in schools, notwithstanding clause coming later this week: Moe

People attend competing rallies in support of, and opposing the Saskatchewan government’s proposed legislation on pronoun policy in front of the Saskatchewan Legislative Building in Regina on Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2023. The Saskatchewan government plans to invoke the notwithstanding clause to override a judge’s injunction and introduce legislation about the province’s pronoun policy in school. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Heywood Yu
A pedestrian makes his way along an icy sidewalk Tuesday, February 26, 2019 in Montreal. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ryan Remiorz

Okanagan school district needs kitty litter for ice, not kids

Responding to social media, SD67 says it’s not ordering litter for students who identify as cats

A pedestrian makes his way along an icy sidewalk Tuesday, February 26, 2019 in Montreal. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ryan Remiorz
Mohawk artist Lee Claremont presents to the Indigenous Art Studio class at Mount Boucherie Secondary School. (Photo courtesy of Jim Elwood)

New B.C. grad requirement introduces students to local Indigenous teachings

Some school districts developing unique courses alongside First Nations to fulfill new requirement

Mohawk artist Lee Claremont presents to the Indigenous Art Studio class at Mount Boucherie Secondary School. (Photo courtesy of Jim Elwood)
BC Greens are calling on the provincial government to introduce a universal school food program, but the provincial government says local districts know best how to serve their communities. (Black Press Media file photo)

Calls for universal school food program in B.C. get sent back

Provincial government says local district knows best in response to BC Greens’ demand

BC Greens are calling on the provincial government to introduce a universal school food program, but the provincial government says local districts know best how to serve their communities. (Black Press Media file photo)
School District No. 74 includes Desert Sands Community School in Ashcroft. (Photo credit: DSCS)

$200,000 private donation helps B.C. district fill teacher shortage

Gold Trail School District used money to offer incentives to draw teachers to the community

School District No. 74 includes Desert Sands Community School in Ashcroft. (Photo credit: DSCS)
School zones are back in effect from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily in Vernon. (Vernon RCMP Photo)

Crashes injure 51 children every year in school and playground zones: ICBC

Education minister, police chief urges British Columbians to slow down near schools

School zones are back in effect from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily in Vernon. (Vernon RCMP Photo)
Students across much of Canada are packing lunches and slinging on backpacks today as they bid farewell to summer vacation and gear up for another school year. A elementary student arrives for his first day back to school in Montreal, Monday, Aug. 28, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Christinne Muschi

Wildfires, climate issues accompany Canadians back to school

Wildfires affecting classes to the north and west, heat wave smacks the centre of the country

Students across much of Canada are packing lunches and slinging on backpacks today as they bid farewell to summer vacation and gear up for another school year. A elementary student arrives for his first day back to school in Montreal, Monday, Aug. 28, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Christinne Muschi
Education Minister Rachna Singh, here seen in June, says B.C. won’t follow Quebec’s example of a province-wide ban of cellphones in classrooms as school returns. (Photo courtesy of Langley School District).

Sweeping cellphone ban not incoming for B.C. classrooms

Education minister says ban will be up to individual schools, defends letter grade decision

Education Minister Rachna Singh, here seen in June, says B.C. won’t follow Quebec’s example of a province-wide ban of cellphones in classrooms as school returns. (Photo courtesy of Langley School District).
Sisters Frances Bob, left and Jillian Harris, right, with Cowichan Tribes chief Lydia Hwitsum at Valerie Bob’s PhD commemoration on Aug. 9. (Photo by Don Bodger)

Recipient of SFU’s first home-delivered degree dies

Valerie Bob will be remembered for her courage and perseverance

Sisters Frances Bob, left and Jillian Harris, right, with Cowichan Tribes chief Lydia Hwitsum at Valerie Bob’s PhD commemoration on Aug. 9. (Photo by Don Bodger)
Students await their bus on Douglas Highway Tuesday morning for the first day of the 2023-2024 school year. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Back to school arrives with affordabilty, AI, climate change issues

Most families, however, are focused on the usual change of routines

Students await their bus on Douglas Highway Tuesday morning for the first day of the 2023-2024 school year. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
(Black Press file photo)

WOLF: Debate over letter grades for B.C. students is intriguing

COLUMN: All districts now use proficiency scale through Grade 9

(Black Press file photo)
Middle school teacher Zahra Hassan is seen in a portrait in Mississauga, Ont., Monday, Aug. 28, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Spencer Colby

TikTok teachers balance privacy and misconceptions on social media

Social media platform offers chance to share issues and ideas important to the profession

Middle school teacher Zahra Hassan is seen in a portrait in Mississauga, Ont., Monday, Aug. 28, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Spencer Colby
Samuel Zanbilowicz was the lone Canadian selected for the Bronfman Fellowship. Pictured here, Zanbilowicz and another Bronfman fellow Julia Sprung visit the Philadelphia Magic Gardens in July. (Submitted photo)

Island youth only Canadian to take part in Jewish fellowship program

Nanaimo student travels to northeastern U.S. and Israel as part of his Bronfman Fellowship

Samuel Zanbilowicz was the lone Canadian selected for the Bronfman Fellowship. Pictured here, Zanbilowicz and another Bronfman fellow Julia Sprung visit the Philadelphia Magic Gardens in July. (Submitted photo)
Teacher Kasi Humber poses in Truro, N.S. on Friday Aug. 25, 2023. Humber says she uses ChatGPT to help her organize report cards and create French reading materials that allow her students to learn new vocabulary. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darren Calabrese

Teachers turn to AI to make workload more manageable, chart lesson plans

‘I was able to plan most of my school year in a really short amount of time this summer’

Teacher Kasi Humber poses in Truro, N.S. on Friday Aug. 25, 2023. Humber says she uses ChatGPT to help her organize report cards and create French reading materials that allow her students to learn new vocabulary. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darren Calabrese
The stationary aisles are expected to be busier this year as parents and students stock up on back-to-school essentials, though their baskets may be a little less full. A parent shops for school supplies deals at a Target store, Wednesday, July 27, 2022, in North Miami, Fla. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Marta Lavandier

Back-to-school shoppers expected back in stores but pulling back spending

Biggest chunk of school shopping dollars will go towards stationary, survey suggests

The stationary aisles are expected to be busier this year as parents and students stock up on back-to-school essentials, though their baskets may be a little less full. A parent shops for school supplies deals at a Target store, Wednesday, July 27, 2022, in North Miami, Fla. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Marta Lavandier
It’s the final bell for cellphones in Quebec classrooms as the province’s Education Department plans to ban their use in most teaching settings. A person uses a cellphone in Ottawa in this Monday, July 18, 2022 file photo. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

Quebec to ban cellphones in elementary and high school classrooms

Survey found 92 per cent of teachers were in favour of such a measure.

It’s the final bell for cellphones in Quebec classrooms as the province’s Education Department plans to ban their use in most teaching settings. A person uses a cellphone in Ottawa in this Monday, July 18, 2022 file photo. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick