Key strengths

  • Diverse educational options:
    • Families appreciate programs like Montessori and French immersion, which cater to different learning styles and needs.
  • Dedicated staff:
    • Long-term staff are recognized for their experience and dedication, providing consistency and quality instruction.
  • Efforts toward inclusivity:
    • Families appreciate specific programs that champion inclusivity, like First Nations Fridays, opportunities to incorporate Indigenous histories and cultures, and sexual and gender education workshops. Families also appreciate opportunities to be involved/consulted on program offerings.

Key challenges

  • Overcrowding:
    • Families are alarmed by overcrowding across all school levels, citing its impact on academic quality, safety, and extracurricular accessibility. Portables are viewed as unsafe and unsuitable long-term solutions.
  • Inconsistent curriculum and assessments:
    • Families report variability in grading practices and confusion over metrics like 鈥渆xtending鈥� versus numerical grades, which hinders understanding of student progress.
  • Bullying, racism, safety:
    • Parents reported that bullying is a widespread issue in schools, noting frustration with current anti-bullying and accountability measures, and its impact on students鈥� mental health.
      • Some parents report some students avoid bathrooms due to the presence of vaping, and are concerned about associated health risks.
      • Some parents report their students experiencing racism in the school setting, and uncomfortable or unsafe encounters.
  • Exclusion of M茅tis representation:
    • Families voiced concerns about the lack of meaningful consultation with the M茅tis Nation in developing Indigenous education content, perpetuating feelings of exclusion.
  • Communication gaps:
    • Some parents describe feeling dismissed in communications and consultations. They desire more two-way communication channels, for open conversations, and timely follow-up.

Key priorities

  • Build new schools:
    • Families urge the district to prioritize constructing additional schools to reduce overcrowding and accommodate growing populations, particularly at the high school level.
  • Safety and mental health support:
    • Increase access to counselors, address bullying and vaping concerns, and ensure maintained, safe facilities for all students, such as bathrooms.
  • Communication:
    • Improve transparency and create channels for meaningful, two-way engagement. Ensure families are informed about how their feedback is used to shape decisions.
      • Prioritize engagements for students to also provide input, and plan engagement sessions at accessible times.
  • Foundational skills:
    • Strengthen academic rigor in reading, writing, and math while maintaining robust offerings in STEM, arts, and advanced tracks.
  • Inclusivity and equity:
    • Address gaps in Indigenous representation, provide tailored support for students with disabilities, and ensure resources are equitably distributed.
      • Ensure food programs are accessible for all students regardless of socioeconomic background.