The following is a condensed update on what is happening in education in Rocky Mountain School District No. 6.
Submitted by superintendent Aaron Callaghan
Martin Morigeau Elementary School is striving to provide meaningful student engagement with treasured partners including Indigenous elders and knowledge keepers, historians, and seniors.
Staff have been learning more about their community to lead initiatives outside of the classroom.
In September, Canal Flats mayor Mark Doherty supported staff with visits to local sites including town hall, the arena, community hall, and local businesses.
The afternoon was spent at the headwaters of the Columbia River where outdoor opportunities can be shared with students.
Furthering the collective journey toward truth and reconciliation, students at J. Alfred Laird Elementary School have been learning Secwepemctsin, the traditional language spoken by Secw’epemc people including the local Shuswap Band. Vocabulary development is being provided to classes by Shuswap elder Diana Cote.
During Truth and Reconciliation Week, students painted rocks orange and added words in Secwepemctsin, then scattered the beautiful stones throughout Invermere. It is the school’s hope that this simple activity will build awareness of this local language in the community.
The week also saw a flag-raising ceremony at the school district office, and a Kairos Blanket Exercise in multiple locations. The exercise provided valuable teachings about the history of colonization in Canada.
Rocky Mountain School District is continuing its implementation of the Mental Health In Schools strategy.
October began with more than 75 professionals gathering to collaborate and set programming priorities for the upcoming school year.
