Happy New Year to all our students, families and education partners in SD8 and welcome to the second half of the school year. I wish you a wonderful beginning to 2025.

January is a time when children accelerate in their learning. They know their teachers, classmates, and the school support staff they see daily. They have had time to absorb new concepts, ideas, skills and habits introduced through the fall, and winter break has allowed them to rest  - something essential for learning. Children are primed for the coming months that will lead into spring break in March, when the learning cycle starts again.

January is also the time when our newest and youngest students register for kindergarten. Children can start kindergarten in September of the year they turn five years old. Registration is now open, and I encourage families to contact their catchment school to register early to be notified of exciting “Welcome to Kindergarten” events to help your child transition to kindergarten and build excitement for their K-12 journey to begin. A blended paper-based and digital alternative to in-person kindergarten is also available through our provincial online learning school at Elev8-Desk. 

Another program now open for registration is Late French Immersion. The program begins in grade 5 at Canyon-Lister Elementary in Creston and in grade 6 at Trafalgar Middle School in Nelson. Benefits of French immersion include increases in cognitive flexibility, the ability to converse comfortably in a second language, exposure to different cultures, and advantages in future post-secondary education and careers where a second language may be required or preferred. 

So, whether your child has returned this month to primary, intermediate, middle or secondary school, or will be starting school next year, the coming months promise to be stimulating and rich in activities and information. Let the learning continue.

Warmly,  

Trish