News

SD5 Carbon Offsets Reserve Fund media release click here

SD5 Carbon Offsets letter to Minister dated Nov. 28/11 click here

Minister's response letter to SD5 dated Dec. 2/11 click here

SD5's response letter dated Feb. 14/12 click here

Draft Motion by the Board of Education, May, 2013 click here

IDES Kindergarten students donate to Salvation Army

IDES Kindergarten students help load 21 boxes of food donated by the students to the Salvation Army for their Christmas food drive.  The school also presented a $600 donation from proceeds from their Christmas concerts which were directed by Fine Arts teacher Erin Jones.

Fernie Secondary School Soccer Team at Provincials

The Fernie Secondary School Senior Boys Soccer Team was welcomed back from the “AA” Provincial Championships held in Burnaby, BC last week. The Soccer Team faced some fierce competition but they represented the Fernie community with pride and dignity. Despite the relentless rain, the athletes played their hardest and obtained a 16th placing at the Provincial Championship tournament held Nov.23rd-26th, 2009.

Frank J. Mitchell Elementary School Top Elementary School for Student Achievement in BC

Frank J. Mitchell was selected at the “Garfield Weston Awards for Excellence in Education” Award’s Ceremony at the Pan Pacific Hotel in Vancouver on November 18, 2009 as the top elementary school for its consistent improvement of student achievement over the past 5 years in the Province of B.C.  Frank J. Mitchell was selected out of 952 elementary schools in B.C., both public and private.  In a very exciting ceremony, Frank J. Mitchell was awarded $3,000, a plaque and a certificate in recognition of their outstanding achievement. “We, as a District, should all be very proud of this accomplishment,” stated Bill Gook, Superintendent of Schools. “ Congratulations to Trudy, Gail and all the staff, students, parents and community members of Frank J. Mitchell Elementary School!” Superintendent Gook and Director of Instruction/Human Resources, Cynthia Stuart were both delighted that they were able to attend this gala event with Principal, Trudy Colonello and Vice-Principal, Gail Pidgeon.

Amy Woodland Supports the "Hands Up" Initiative

Amy Woodland Elementary School had the greatest participation of all schools in the district in the "Hands Up" colouring contest sponsored by the Tamarack Centre and received $200 to go towards purchasing new sports equipment. The "Hands Up" initiative plans to raise funds to support the Canadian Paralympic team in the 2010 Paralympics and to create awareness the needs of our Paralympic athletes and their courage to compete. In a school assembly, the students had a rousing applause for themselves with over 200 students raising their hands in the air for a final salute to “Hands Up Canada.”

Educating students about the Paralympics began early this spring. A unique relationship was forged with the School District Principal of Special Education and Aboriginal Education, Brenda Maudie. Tamarack Centre supplied the schools with 1650 hands for colouring and decoration with posters of the “Seven Things Canadians should know about the Paralympic Games” for display and educational purposes.

Mt. Baker receives its new “sports bus”.

Superintendent Bill Gook, Athletic Director Greg Colburn, Vice Principal, Dave Martin and School District Trustee, Dan Hall stand outside the new “sports bus”.

StrongStart Centre officially opens at FJ Mitchell Elementary School in Sparwood

MLA for the East Kootenay, Bill Bennett, Superintendent of SD 5, Bill Gook and  BJ Syria, StrongStart Centre facilitator help with the celebration.

School District 5 top academic student for 2008/09

Lucas Guillen, Mt. Baker Secondary, class of 2009, is congratulated by Board Chair Frank Lento at the November Board Meeting

Drop Everything and Read (DEAR)

District schools participated in the "Drop Everything and Read" (DEAR) event on Monday, October 26 tocelebrate and recognize National School Library Day.  This event was to recognize the work of our teacher-librarians and encourage students to read and value literacy. Click on this link for more pictures from the day.

Amy Woodland Kindergarten Visits Bus Shop

Ms. Johns kindergarten class from Amy Woodland Elementary School was taken on a guided tour of the Cranbrook bus shop to see where the busses are repaired and kept so clean. Students were also shown a short bus  safety video. Thank you to Ray White, one of the District's bus drivers and Bill Graham, Transportation Foreman as well as Gerry Whitlock, Mechanic for coordinating this very worthwhile activity.

NEW PLAYGROUND FOR PARKLAND SCHOOL

Parkland Middle School's new playground site is now complete.

FSS LEADERSHIP STUDENTS VISIT WITH HIS HOLINESS THE DALAI LAMA

This message from His Holiness the Dalai Lama has been reiterated many times by Fernie Secondary Leadership students when asked to talk about their experience in Calgary two weeks ago.

Seven FSS Leadership students spent 2 days at the University of Calgary – Engage Youth NOW conference to attend 2 lectures from His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama as well as key note addresses and seminars from an international host of other inspiring social justice figures.             

Messages from such influential leaders as former president of South Africa and  Nobel Peace prize winner F.W. de Klerk, who broke Apartheid with his decision to free Nelson Mandela, were clear.  To ensure a better future “we must progressively be able to react to change… [and equally} imagine the change.”

University student-led seminars focused on such topics as “Global Citizenship is not a spectator sport”, “Leading as a Changemaker”, “Affordable Housing” and “New Media: Stories to Inspire Action”.  Perhaps the most unexpected impact came from Grand Forks, BC youth, Sol Guy who relayed his personal journey from small town high school student and musician to co-founder and host of 4REAL – an online community that he created to inform, inspire and engage youth about our world issues.

“The energy of impact has remained incredibly high since this trip – It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity that each participant is still savouring,” says Leadership teacher Janet Kuijt.  “It will be exciting follow the student-led initiatives that result from this experience!” 

Conveniently, de Klerk’s closing quote continues to serve as inspiration to world peace and mindful action, “You cannot step into the same river twice.”

Terry Fox Run at Jaffray Elementary Junior Secondary

The Terry Fox Run at Jaffray took on some extra meaning this year for the students of Jaffray Elem. Jr. Sec. School.  On the morning of the run, Grade 4 student Madison Fahselt made a very important announcement on the school PA.  She explained that she was running for Terry Fox but also running for her brother Austin who continues to battle cancer. 

The route of the Terry Fox run passed by the site of a recent tragedy in the community where a JESS student, Dawson Kormilo, was struck by a car and lost his life.  Inconsultation with Kormilo family it was decided it would appropriate to continue with the run and keep the route the same.  This made for an emotional Terry Fox run but a very successful oneas well.  Students, staff, and the community completed the run with the support of the Jaffray Fire Dept., the RCMP and SD5 District staff, who stopped traffic and used the opportunity to not only increase awareness of cancer research but to educate drivers on the importance of slowing down and sharing the road, with our children and the community.

According to Mrs. Thomson, who coordinated this year’s run, the school raised nearly $700 for the Terry Fox Foundation in their goal to find a cure for cancer.