Back To Class With Some Changes

Sunday, August 31, 2008 11:45 AM

Prince George, B.C. - There are some new things to expect this year when the kids head back to class:

Healthy Schools - the province wide ban on junk food on both public and independent school property takes effect and mandatory daily physical activity will help to promote a healthier school environment for students. Students in kindergarten to Grade 9 will now have to complete 30 minutes of physical activity a day, while students in grades 10 through 12 are now required to be physically active for 150 minutes a week.

Going Green - new and upgraded schools will adhere to LEED Gold energy and environmental standards, such as energy-efficient heating and lighting systems. The new rules have been adopted in the deisgn of the new Duchess Park High School. By developing new curricula and providing resources such as Eco Kits for schools and an interdisciplinary Environmental Learning Guide for teachers, educators can teach students about climate change and environmental sustainability.

Curriculum - the new English 12 First Peoples course will be offered as an English 12 credit for graduation. The course curriculum was developed in partnership with the First Nations Education Steering Committee. This new course will also be accepted for most post-secondary entrance requirements.

Education Guarantee - Stage 3 of the Education Guarantee is being introduced this fall. This stage will allow students to take free adult basic education classes through school districts. The first stage, introduced last September, offered tuition-free courses for all students through the Province's virtual school, LearnNowBC. Stage 2 was implemented in January 2008 and includes free basic education for adults who want to take courses through post-secondary institutions.

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Posted on Sunday, August 31, 2008 11:45 AM in News by 250 News

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Comments

Posted by: Harbinger on August 31 2008 3:21 PM

What? Nuthin' about fat kids being chauffeured three blocks to school in a polluting carbon tax paying SUV? Tsk. Tsk. Tsk.

Posted by: lostfaith on August 31 2008 3:24 PM

Or those that get home and sit in front of a PC for hours on end.
Back in a sec my pizza and beer are ready.

Posted by: Chester on August 31 2008 4:46 PM

I heard that the first day back to school is a Pro D day. (Professional Development)

Will someone please help me understand what the heck is going on with our school system? I thought there wasn't enough teaching time. In my opinion, the teachers had two months to prepare for their next school year. So, I say get to work. Am I alone? Chester

Posted by: Yoshi on August 31 2008 7:07 PM

Once again, Chester, you are missing a few facts. The first is that you imply the teachers should not be having a Pro-D day to start the year. The schedule is set by the school district, NOT the teachers. Also, where did you get the information that there was not enough teaching time? Finally, most teachers do come in early to get ready for the year, or they prepare for the year before theyleave in the spring. But tell me, are you expected to work on your holidays? If not, why should teachers?

Posted by: lunarguy on August 31 2008 7:18 PM

Actually there was a whole committee to come up with recommendations on the school calendar, formed over two years ago. The school district, in consultation with teachers, their unions, and the District Parent Advisory Council came up with the schedule. There is a lot more going on in the background, for why the first day is a NID (Non-instructional day ).

There is not enough teaching time, for everything that every fractional group wants taught in school, but for the basics we are regulated by the province for how many hours that school can be in service. So complain to your MLA if you think there is not enough time for the students.

Posted by: RUEZ on August 31 2008 7:31 PM

Junk food at schools isn't the problem. We had junk food at our highschool back in the 80's. We had pop in the machine and pizza in the cafeteria. We also had mandatory P.E. classes at least every second day. The problem has been stated above, the kids get home from school and plunk themselves down in front of the TV or computer. Parents need to be more active in their kids health. Now of course we have the government meddling in our lives again. Thank you Liberal government.

Posted by: goldrush on September 1 2008 8:47 AM

Teachers get the entire summer off. They can have 2 months of pro-d days. Thats crazy.

Posted by: lostfaith on September 1 2008 10:23 AM

Posted by: goldrush on September 1 2008 8:47 AM
Teachers get the entire summer off. They can have 2 months of pro-d days. Thats crazy.
-------------------------------------------

It's their chosen profession goldrush and that includes the summer off.
Do you work during your vacation?
Seriously.

Posted by: justathought on September 1 2008 12:19 PM

What a joke "HEALTHY SCHOOL". Sadly the money that was earned by the vending machines to help raise funds for actviites/trips for the students is no longer available and thats includes funds for sports activities (which could have helped with the second part of a Healthy School). Nope, because some parents got tired of explaining to their kids why they have to have a rice cake instead of a pizza we now have this in place. "BUT WAIT", someone will still be benifitting by suppplying the "junk food"...yep, I see the next door 7-11's profits going up...lucky them - too bad they won't donate it back to the programs/trips that the kids will be losing out on.

Posted by: astro on September 1 2008 12:43 PM

The teachers asked that the school year be extended so that the non instructional days (NID's) could be included. That is why they are included in the school year. When they occur depends on the school district as it is responsible for the setup of the school calendar. The province (Ministry of Education) determines how much time is required per course or grade for students to be in the classroom.
In the past few years, the school days were lengthened by a few minutes to provide a 2 week spring break. This saved the school districts money since they didn't have to pay for the support workers for 2 weeks. I don't believe that is happening this year.

Posted by: lostfaith on September 1 2008 3:20 PM

Posted by: justathought on September 1 2008 12:19 PM
What a joke "HEALTHY SCHOOL". Sadly the money that was earned by the vending machines to help raise funds for actviites/trips for the students is no longer available and thats includes funds for sports activities (which could have helped with the second part of a Healthy School). Nope, because some parents got tired of explaining to their kids why they have to have a rice cake instead of a pizza we now have this in place. "BUT WAIT", someone will still be benifitting by suppplying the "junk food"...yep, I see the next door 7-11's profits going up...lucky them - too bad they won't donate it back to the programs/trips that the kids will be losing out on.
-------------------------------------------

Ok then, do you have a problem with nice new trucks, vans and other new SD equipment with beautiful decals on the doors. How about all the nice new office furniture in their nice new location on Ferry ave and all the other goodies our taxdollars pay for instead of putting that money into our childrens education.
You know like they used to do back when.

Posted by: Harbinger on September 1 2008 3:57 PM

At least we have the solace in knowing that the little chubbos will have to walk to the 7-11. And back, too!

Posted by: Chester on September 1 2008 4:21 PM

Yoshi said: "Once again Chester you are missing a few facts." Are you implying that I have missed a few facts previously?
Chester

Posted by: astro on September 1 2008 4:40 PM

One possibility to make the schools is for the secondary schools to go on an all year timetable and leave the semester system behind. Then all secondary students will have PE all year long, not just half the year.
Of course another great way to save lots of money would be to forgo the rebuilding of DPSS as there are few students in its catchment area. The French Immersion Program could have gone to PGSS or DP Todd, and if need be they could be expanded. Some of the other millions could have gone to expand the facilities at the other secondary schools and build into them a cafeteria that served healthy food for Healthy Schools. In the long run this would have saved us millions of dollars but some connected few had their way. The land where DPSS is going could have been used for the new Performing Arts Center.

Posted by: Grizzly Momma on September 1 2008 5:59 PM

Can someone explain to me why the teachers need an extra day, over and above what they already get, to have a social day to talk to one another about how to teach kids. I thought that was what NID's were for but at the end of last year we got a survey to see how best to give the teachers this time. Such as one Wednesday a month the kids will be sent home at 10am so the teachers can have a communication time. I just don't get it......

Posted by: astro on September 1 2008 8:05 PM

To Grizzly Momma,

Call your kids principal or the school board office for an assistant superintendent or the superintendent and ask him or her why.

Posted by: Chester on September 1 2008 10:41 PM

Pro D Days, NID Days, Sick Days, Murphy Days, Continuing Education Days. Call them what you will. When it's time to get back to work, it's time to get back to work. The holiday is over. A teachers first day back is going to look the same the day after the first day, so let's get on with teaching our kids. It seems we continue to find more and more ways to be less productive and yet want more money and benefits for it. That's my opinion anyway.

Posted by: heidi1555 on September 2 2008 1:36 PM

Whoooot woot kids go back to school tomorrow!!!!!!!! Soon it will be summer holidays again and the little bickerings will be long forgotten and the kids will be one year closer to graduating! I'm very excited to hear the 1/2 hr. exercise starts in kindergarten.

:)

I think more chances to have fundraisers/bottle drives should help with paying for sports. When I was 16 I got a job at Shoppers Food Mart to pay my own way through b-ball.(my choice) The options are there.