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Rockies rake in a win on home ice
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At Pynelogs on September 17th, B.C.-born guitar great Don Alder gave a demonstration of his legendary playing technique that has won him several global guitar contests over the years. PHOTO BY NICOLE TRIGG
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New K to 9 curriculum slowly getting introduced STEVE HUBRECHT steve@invermerevalleyecho.com Students have gone back to school across the province, including here in the Upper Columbia Valley, and they may begin to see some elements of the new provincial curriculum this fall. A draft version of the new curriculum for kindergarten through Grade 9 was available for feedback earlier this year, and while it won’t officially be fully implemented until September 2016, students may see touches of it starting this September. “They (the students) may notice things as teachers try out some of the different approaches of the new curriculum,” said Rocky Mountain School District 6 superintendent Paul Carriere, adding that parents or anybody else interested can go online and look at the new curriculum. “The curriculum documents are on the
web and structured in a way that shows curriculum approaches aboriginal conthe different thinking of the new curric- tent in a different way.” ulum,” he said. “(The new curriculum) Work is already being done on changprovides teachers with more flexibility to es to the Grade 10 to 12 curriculum, pursue related areas. The old curriculum but that will not be implemented until was often described as being a mile wide, September 2017. but only an inch thick, so this new curricA recent press release from the proulum encompasses fewer topics, but in vincial Ministry of Education highlightmore depth and gives ed some of the other (Students) may teachers more flexithings students and bility to personalize.” parents can expect to notice things as The other big thing teachers try out some of see this fall. in the new curriculum “Students and paris the incorporation of the different approaches. ents are excited PAUL CARRIERE Aboriginal history and SCHOOL DISTRICT SUPERINTENDENT about the first day of topics throughout the school. As a parent whole range of subjects, said Mr. Carriere. — and the new minister of education “In the old curriculum, Aboriginal — I’m excited, too. With a family of my content was dealt with mostly in social own, I know how important it is to know studies. Now it is woven throughout your child is getting the right skills to the curriculum and students will find be successful in school now, and later it in languages classes, art classes, for in life,” said Education Minister Mike instance, and in many other classes as Bernier in the release. “This year, with well as in social studies class. The new stability in the classroom, it’s a great
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opportunity for the B.C. government to focus 100 per cent on students. We are working in partnership with teachers, school boards, administrators and other educators from every corner of the province to move forward with plans that help all students thrive.” Among the items mentioned in the press release is the B.C. Training and Education Savings Grant, which is a one-time $1,200 grant being made available this fall to help parents plan and save for their child’s education after high school; the new provincial scholarship program (previously reported on by The Echo); a new emergency management planning guide that helps schools prepare for the unexpected; the continuing Erase Bullying campaign; and $3.5 million in new funding announced in May for the B.C. School Fruit and Vegetable Nutritional program to provide snacks of B.C. fruits and vegetables right in the classroom.