Education

New provincial requirements for paid sick days will be a consideration as the Nanaimo Ladysmith Public Schools board begins deliberating on its 2022-23 budget. (News Bulletin file)

Paid sick days could affect Nanaimo-Ladysmith school district budget by close to $700,000

Nanaimo Ladysmith Public Schools must submit 2022-23 budget by June 30

New provincial requirements for paid sick days will be a consideration as the Nanaimo Ladysmith Public Schools board begins deliberating on its 2022-23 budget. (News Bulletin file)
A B.C. teacher is banned for 10 years after inappropriately communicating with at least four students in Grades 8 to 12. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward

B.C. teacher dealt 10-year ban for inappropriate communication with 4 students

Joseph James Hizon Arnesto taught Grades 7 to 12 at an independent B.C. school

A B.C. teacher is banned for 10 years after inappropriately communicating with at least four students in Grades 8 to 12. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward
Rock band Dear Rouge performs at Surrey’s Party for the Planet festival in 2014, in celebration of Earth Day. (Black Press Media file photo)

B.C.’s new ARC program aims to give musicians the tools to build sustainable careers

Applications from B.C.-based musicians now welcomed, with 15 to be picked for program’s first round

Rock band Dear Rouge performs at Surrey’s Party for the Planet festival in 2014, in celebration of Earth Day. (Black Press Media file photo)
Physical forces conspire against Dustin Haracka and his ‘Batmobile’ as he tries to navigate a downhill slalom course during the first Vancouver Island University Engineering Soapbox Race on Thursday, April 7. (Chris Bush/News Bulletin)

Nanaimo engineering students come to grips with gravity at soapbox derby

VIU Engineering Club holds race day, hopes to make it an annual event

Physical forces conspire against Dustin Haracka and his ‘Batmobile’ as he tries to navigate a downhill slalom course during the first Vancouver Island University Engineering Soapbox Race on Thursday, April 7. (Chris Bush/News Bulletin)
When he established his lab at the University of British Columbia in the 1980s, Vancouver biochemistry professor Pieter Cullis, as shown in this handout image, says he never could have fathomed that his “curiosity-based” research would eventually play a critical role in the development of vaccines that have benefitted hundreds of millions of people across the globe. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-COURTESY OF MANUFACTURER-Paul Joseph

UBC biochemist wins Gairdner Award for role in COVID-19 vaccines

Pieter Cullis and his ‘curiosity-based’ research honoured for pioneering work

When he established his lab at the University of British Columbia in the 1980s, Vancouver biochemistry professor Pieter Cullis, as shown in this handout image, says he never could have fathomed that his “curiosity-based” research would eventually play a critical role in the development of vaccines that have benefitted hundreds of millions of people across the globe. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-COURTESY OF MANUFACTURER-Paul Joseph
Oak Bay High students Kaelyn Bonner and Katherine Lee do preflight checks at the Victoria Flying Club, ahead of their discovery flight as part of the aviation and design program offered through the Greater Victoria School District. (Tom Aerts/Twitter)

Oak Bay student among those high on aviation possibilities

Greater Victoria School District helps kids fly with aviation and design program

Oak Bay High students Kaelyn Bonner and Katherine Lee do preflight checks at the Victoria Flying Club, ahead of their discovery flight as part of the aviation and design program offered through the Greater Victoria School District. (Tom Aerts/Twitter)
Alberta’s education minister says Alberta is the only province where disciplining teachers isn’t hived off from the union’s advocacy function .(Pixabay photo)

Alberta proposes legislation to remove disciplinary powers from teachers union

Instead, independent commissioner would handle matters to avoid conflict of interest

Alberta’s education minister says Alberta is the only province where disciplining teachers isn’t hived off from the union’s advocacy function .(Pixabay photo)
Daniella Okezie poses for a portrait at a studio in Kitchener, Ont., in a Feb. 15, 2022, handout photo. Okezie is going to walk across the stage to mark the completion of her bachelor’s degree from Wilfrid Laurier University next month. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Click Photography, Christine Kufske, *MANDATORY CREDIT*

Universities in Canada plan in-person convocation ceremonies after lengthy hiatus

Daniella Okezie has been practising her strut. In a few weeks, the…

Daniella Okezie poses for a portrait at a studio in Kitchener, Ont., in a Feb. 15, 2022, handout photo. Okezie is going to walk across the stage to mark the completion of her bachelor’s degree from Wilfrid Laurier University next month. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Click Photography, Christine Kufske, *MANDATORY CREDIT*
Cloverdale Traditional Elementary School’s PAC was the winner of a contest for 20 HEPA filters. Pictured are the purifiers when they were first shipped to the school. The PAC says the pallets have since been taken apart due to space constraints but the filters remain unused and stored at the school. (Submitted photo: CTS PAC)

‘Waiting to be plugged in’: B.C. school district urged to install donated HEPA filters

Surrey elementary school was the winner of 20 air purifiers that have been sitting unused

Cloverdale Traditional Elementary School’s PAC was the winner of a contest for 20 HEPA filters. Pictured are the purifiers when they were first shipped to the school. The PAC says the pallets have since been taken apart due to space constraints but the filters remain unused and stored at the school. (Submitted photo: CTS PAC)
The University of Victoria announced the opening of the first United Nations leadership training centre on North America’s west coast on March 22. (Megan Atkins-Baker/News Staff)

First UN leadership training centre on West Coast lands at B.C. university

Purpose to strengthen global ties, address such issues as climate, innovation, health

The University of Victoria announced the opening of the first United Nations leadership training centre on North America’s west coast on March 22. (Megan Atkins-Baker/News Staff)
(File photo)

BCTF call for vaccine education program, better ventilation in schools as mask mandate lifts

New rules in K-12 schools come into effect after Spring Break

(File photo)
People walk past the University of Toronto campus during the COVID-19 pandemic in Toronto on Wednesday, June 10, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette

International students in Canada struggling with COVID, inflation

Charity organizations seeing increased demand for their services from those studying from abroad

People walk past the University of Toronto campus during the COVID-19 pandemic in Toronto on Wednesday, June 10, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette
Graduating students from Seycove Secondary in Deep Cove, North Vancouver, B.C. throw their hats during a physically distanced graduation photo Wednesday, June 3, 2020. Graduating students all over the world are celebrating their grads in different ways due to the COVID-19 pandemic. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward

Indigenous-focused coursework to be a high school graduation requirement in B.C.

New requirement would enhance knowledges of Indigenous Peoples in classrooms, province says

Graduating students from Seycove Secondary in Deep Cove, North Vancouver, B.C. throw their hats during a physically distanced graduation photo Wednesday, June 3, 2020. Graduating students all over the world are celebrating their grads in different ways due to the COVID-19 pandemic. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward
Boats are seen anchored in the waters off Sidney Spit in the Gulf Islands National Park Reserve east of Sidney, B.C., on Saturday August 5, 2017. Students and crew were safely rescued after an engine fire occurred on a passenger vessel that regularly serves as the local marine school bus for the southern Gulf Islands. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Engine fire on board B.C. school boat off Vancouver Island; students, crew safe

Vessel taking students and staff from Gulf Islands to the high school on Salt Spring Island

Boats are seen anchored in the waters off Sidney Spit in the Gulf Islands National Park Reserve east of Sidney, B.C., on Saturday August 5, 2017. Students and crew were safely rescued after an engine fire occurred on a passenger vessel that regularly serves as the local marine school bus for the southern Gulf Islands. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Alberta RCMP say a concerned motorist found a child on Highway 881 in St. Paul and brought the child to the RCMP detachment. (File photo by Black Press news services)

Alberta RCMP investigating after child found wandering on highway in sub-zero weather

St. Paul Education investigating incident involving bus-riding kindergarten student

Alberta RCMP say a concerned motorist found a child on Highway 881 in St. Paul and brought the child to the RCMP detachment. (File photo by Black Press news services)
VIU Nanaimo campus Elder-In-Residence Gary Manson shares his historical and cultural perspective outside Shq’apthut (A Gathering Place), the campus hub for Indigenous support in 2016. (John McKinley/file)

Vancouver Island University working to decolonize B.C. classrooms

Plan calls for Indigenizing VIU, rather than have it serve as a tool of colonialism

VIU Nanaimo campus Elder-In-Residence Gary Manson shares his historical and cultural perspective outside Shq’apthut (A Gathering Place), the campus hub for Indigenous support in 2016. (John McKinley/file)
File - Students attend the first day of school for the 2021-2022 year at Gounod Lavoisier Primary school, Lille, northern France, Thursday, Sept. 2 2021. Less than two weeks after the winter term started, French teachers are already exhausted by the pressures of surging COVID-19 cases and they are walking out in nationwide strike organized by their unions to protest virus-linked class disruptions and ever-changing isolation rules. (AP Photo/Michel Spingler, File)

Teachers in France go on strike over handling of pandemic

Teachers want clarifications on rules and more protection

File - Students attend the first day of school for the 2021-2022 year at Gounod Lavoisier Primary school, Lille, northern France, Thursday, Sept. 2 2021. Less than two weeks after the winter term started, French teachers are already exhausted by the pressures of surging COVID-19 cases and they are walking out in nationwide strike organized by their unions to protest virus-linked class disruptions and ever-changing isolation rules. (AP Photo/Michel Spingler, File)
School administration officials, including principals, make decisions about closing in-person classes. (pixabay photo)

Two B.C. schools move to ‘functional closure’ after holiday break, says ministry

Schools in Hazelton and Surrey have suspended in-person classes

School administration officials, including principals, make decisions about closing in-person classes. (pixabay photo)
Nanaimo Ladysmith Public Schools’ education committee is recommending formation of a committee which will examine re-naming Coal Tyee Elementary School. (Karl Yu/News Bulletin)

Nanaimo Ladysmith school district looks to re-name Coal Tyee school

Name, once thought to celebrate collaboration, recalls ‘tragic figure,’ says report

Nanaimo Ladysmith Public Schools’ education committee is recommending formation of a committee which will examine re-naming Coal Tyee Elementary School. (Karl Yu/News Bulletin)
Students were back to class in Alberta and B.C. Monday morning, Jan. 10. (Pixabay photo)

UPDATED: Reopened schools in Alberta and B.C. see slightly higher-than-usual absentee rates

BC School Trustees Association, says Interior schools have lower-than-average attendance levels

Students were back to class in Alberta and B.C. Monday morning, Jan. 10. (Pixabay photo)