COMMUNITY

While in high school, I was somewhat aware of the Kootenay Learning Campus (KLC) but thought it was specifically for individuals who were keen to work on their own, were going to be away, or wanted to upgrade. It wasn’t until the pandemic began that I became more curious about the KLC.

The KLC encompasses continuing education, collaborative meeting spaces, and DL/online school. It is also home to the Kootenay Discovery School (KDS) which is an online and blended learning school. “Online learning provides the flexibility and convenience of learning in a self-paced, mobile environment, and expands course options for any students across BC,” it says on their school page on sd5.bc.ca. KDS offers over 60 online courses that meet the BC Ministry of Education curriculum guidelines with fulltime learning for grades K-9 in a blended model of class time and home learning time, and fully online courses for grades 10-12. Additionally, they have courses for graduated adults looking to upgrade.

Since the pandemic, a few families we know have shifted at least one child to the KDS for a variety of reasons. Some are increasingly involved in a sport and thus the blended model works best for them. Others have had a tough time with bullying in the school system. A couple have kids with special needs who find this model suits them better. All I have heard is positive feedback, and what better way to learn more than to speak with one of the teachers at this school.

Adrienne Demers is originally from Ontario, but admits her heart is in the mountains. After graduating, she attended McMaster University, “I didn’t go into education right away and kind of thought about law.” Adrienne first visited Fernie during a reading week ski trip, “and it just grabbed my heart!” After completing her second degree, she spent a ski season here before attending Teachers College back in Ontario. “I always knew it was where I was headed,” she tells me.

Adrienne was offered a job teaching Special Education prior to graduating. It was at an inner city school, and young and confident she ‘wanted to change the world.’ “I burnt out after my first year, it was just really hard… it was the end of the line for students,” she says. Her relationship at the time also ended, and she decided to follow her heart and head out west. Adrienne first landed in Canmore, where she taught at a wilderness school. “I wanted to be on the ground, and it fit my skill set, but I burnt out of this too. There were really hard cases, and not enough funds to offer the support. It just felt like the system constantly failed kids.” Adrienne made her way back to Fernie, and eventually back to teaching. “I started working at the Academy, appreciating the more flexible environment at the time.” Soon after, she met her husband and started a family. With her kids in school, Adrienne was drawn back into the special ed realm and worked in Student Services at Isabella Dicken.

“I have been reflecting on why I was drawn to special education, and the personal life experiences I have had as a person with a disability. While it was a small part of my education, it had a big impact on me and through the advocacy and activism I have been doing in and outside of the classroom, I have realized how that life experience has played a role,” Adrienne tells me.

Adrienne knew about distributive learning and adult education, but “it’s been off to the side. Then the pandemic hit, and we were forced to go online quickly. It was a hard shift, with so much change so quickly. I remember telling my neighbour, once we get back in person you couldn’t pay me to teach online. As things progressed, I allowed myself to lean more into what was going on and watching how it impacted students who had potential in the classroom but it wasn’t showing up. They were able to thrive in this environment. It opened my eyes to the possibilities,” she says.

An opportunity presented itself to work as a blended learning teacher at KDS, “and I was drawn to it because of what I had seen. We are still learning as we go, and while it seems new to the scene because people are paying more attention to it, it’s been happening for a long time. KDS was an idea that was in the works pre-pandemic in SD5 and this just opened the doors,” Adrienne adds.

Adrienne Demers

by KRISTA TURCASSO

Submitted Photo

We talk a bit about my experience discussing our options when our kids were in grade 1 and 3 when school went back during the pandemic, and how we decided it would not work for us with two working parents.

“With younger groups it has to work for the family and the kid. As they get older, there are more opportunities to work alone at home. There isn’t one kind of family and this doesn’t work for everyone. You don’t need to be a stay at home mom or dad. The reality is that a lot of students with IEPs, exceptionalities, mental health issues… it is helping,” Adrienne tells me.

“We are in such a time of change and shift, what we’re doing isn’t radical but it’s outside of what most of us know. It’s a non-traditional setting, and parents have to un-learn what they have learned so they can be open to what works for their family. There are lots of possibilities, and families have been stepping outside of that in Fernie for a long time.”

KDS has a full team of staff including student services, youth care workers and EA support. The Primary program is K-3 and is very much parent driven, with kids coming in two half days a week. From grades 4-9 the learning is online but also has class time twice a week to work on collaborative projects, core competencies and outdoor ed. “We do a lot of environmental education and take part in all of the things Fernie has to offer, partnering with community groups,” Adrienne says. “We have noticed that there has been no bullying. I think it’s because we build community, and it’s learning individually and not about what everyone else is doing.”

KDS is currently at a point of growth, but Adrienne doesn’t think it will be exponential. “We want to maintain the support we provide to the kids that it makes sense for. Supporting the bigger educational goals, with kids who are not engaged in a traditional setting.” And when it comes to her personally? Adrienne plans to continue being a teacher and an advocate as she enjoys engaging in the educational community and Fernie itself.

“I’m a strong advocate and am doing a lot of work through the Union on behalf of teachers to change the system to support teachers and students better. That work involves a lot of anti-racism, anti-oppression and meetings with the ministry… with people who can make changes. As a member of the BC Teachers Council, I am working on the standards for teachers who are coming into the system to create more inclusive spaces. I want students to see themselves in the teachers in front of them. I often leave Fernie to do this work, but there is a part of me who just enjoys being with students… creating space where everyone is accepted for who they are at that time. I hope I can continue to co-create those learning spaces, that there continues to be room for it in Fernie, and that Fernie opens its mind to being a more open community. I think it’s happening on a surface level but think we can go deeper.”

Thank you, Adrienne. For being such an advocate for our students, our community, and for helping us open our eyes to the possibilities.

To learn more about the Kootenay Discovery School, its staff and programs, visit kootenaydiscoveryschool.com.

1. When did you first arrive in Elk Valley and what brought you here?

The first time I came was on a ski trip, and then for the 2006/7 ski season. I skied 100 days that season, we were getting so much snow that year!

2. Who did you first meet?

Athena and Allan Knibbs - I have much gratitude for them and the way our paths crossed.

3. Do you remember your first general impression of the Elk Valley?

That the pace of life resonated with me, the mountains felt like home, and the people were friendly and welcoming.

4. What keeps you here?

My family and the connection to the community. And definitely the work that I’m doing at school.

5. Do you have a favourite pastime?

I like to do anything outside, but I mountain bike and I ski and do lots of building projects with my family.

6. What time of the year do you love most and why?

The fall is the best for me, it’s just kind of like the new year for teachers. All of the opportunities, change in weather, building new connections, the anticipation of winter and the ski season to come. It slows down and speeds up at the same time.

7. Where do you see or hope to see the Elk Valley in five years.

I hope the Elk Valley becomes a more inclusive space through a deeper understanding of inclusion. I would love to see us peel back some of the ableist layers in our community.

8. How do you start your day or what is one of your daily rituals?

With a cup of decaf coffee and setting my intentions for the day. Then I’m in mom mode before heading off to school myself.

9. Tell us something people might be surprised to learn about you.

I think some people don’t know that I was born with one hand. This is just the way I have always been and it feels 100% normal to me. I am always open to answering questions about this.

10. Quote to live by: In thinking about education and where I stand, I really like the Honourable Justice Murray Sinclair’s quote in relation to reconciliation. Education got us into this mess and education will get us out of it.

Learning About Nature Online

by SYLVIA AYERS, illustrated by SARAH PULLEN

There are lots of fun, engaging websites to learn about anything nature related.

We are a form of plastic, and made of fine cellulose acetate strands. We also have hundreds “Did you know that anything anyone ever Kootenay Native of toxic chemicals.Plant Society - understood can be found on your phone?” kootenaynativeplants.ca ~ Chris Hadfield Once you smoke a cigarette you start a chemical Which wildflowers help reaction. The micro plastic cellulose in the butt pollinators most? becomes brittle and, when you throw it on the ground, How do you salvage it leaches into the surrounding environment. seeds? Get some seeds! What plants are native and where do they live? Elk River Alliance- elkriveralliance.ca Learn about a healthy river ecosystem. Learn how to monitor water quality and rebuild river ecosystems. What can we do to make sure the Elk River is protected for future generations?

The Native Bee Society of BC. - bcnativebees.org Play and download Bee Bingo to learn which bees are native to BC (hint -it’s not the honeybee!) Learn how to draw a native bee. Connect with the dynamic group of artists, scientists, educators. And how about a class project involving mason bees? East Kootenay Climate Hub - eastkootenayclimatehub.ca How can you reduce your footprint here in our Kootenay climate? Are heat pumps a good idea and how can you get the rebate? What does a ‘net zero’ home look like? What kind of home retrofits can work for you to reduce your energy consumption and bills? Also - there are tons of webinars on everything climaterelated! Atlas of the Breeding Birds of British Columbia- birdatlas.bc.ca A rabbit-hole for the bird crazies among us! Search any of the hundreds of BC birds and you will get its population trend, where it breeds, what its habits are - beautiful photography and lots of delightful details!

R&K

CONTRACTING SERVICES

For all your excavating needs!

R&K Contracting Services has the equipment to build roads, dig basements, prepare water and sewer lines, level driveways, landscape and excavate yards and lots, auger holes and prepare foundations. Commercial & Residential Snow Removal Available

Call for an estimate: 250-423-1964 rkcontractingltd@shaw.ca 9847 Stephenson Road Fernie BC www.rkcontractingltd.com

Dog Parks: What You Need to Know

by VALERIE BARRY

It’s a great benefit to have a dog park in your city like we do here in Fernie! We are lucky to have a variety of trails we can take our dogs to, but the fenced dog park is a bonus, especially for visitors who may not be familiar with or confident on our trails.

How do you know if any dog park is right for you and your dog?

• They are not appropriate places “to socialize” a dog.

• They are not for every dog. Many dogs don’t like to be in groups of dogs.

• Even if it’s fenced, dogs still need to have some basic training before partaking.

1. Meeting other dogs and learning how to interact appropriately needs to be taught with care. Dog owners should be involved in shaping their dog’s social skills rather than leaving the job to random dogs of unknown skill. Contrary to popular opinion, dogs don’t always “work it out.” We need to help them, and dog parks aren’t the best place to do this.

Dog parks tend to be small areas with little else for dogs to focus on except other dogs. Encountering multiple dogs all focused on you can be overwhelming and frightening for an unskilled dog, especially a young one.

If your dog isn’t socially skilled or mature, letting them run free in a dog park could lead to behaviour problems. Your dog could be intimidated or bullied by other dogs or your dog, unsure how to respond, could start acting defensively or bullying other dogs, too.

2. There are some dogs who are generally poor candidates for a dog park: • fearful or shy • under the age of two • females in heat

• easily over-aroused (barkers and

“humpers”) • dog “selective” • resource guarders • fence runners (or jumpers) • prone to barrier frustration like “fence fighting” • any with a bite history (unless appropriately muzzled)

These dogs are likely to be anxious, frustrated, defensive or hyper-vigilant in a dog park. They won’t enjoy the experience and, depending on how they’re managed, they can negatively impact other users’ experiences. 3. To prepare for dog park adventures, your dog should have a reasonably good recall away from other dogs and people, understand the social skill of polite greetings, and know how to defuse the energy of another dog. Dogs should be able to greet and come away from other dogs quickly without chasing, sniffing for too long (three seconds is plenty!), or physically bombarding another dog without permission.

As the human end of the equation, be aware of what your dog is doing. Frequently call them to you to check-in, leave fetch toys at home and wait for quiet moments to enter and exit.

Having access to a dog park is a privilege. We need to be responsible for our dog’s behaviour and invest in some training. With a little bit of planning, training, and cooperation all our dog areas can be a safe and fun experience! Submitted Photo