News Stories

June 15, 2022

Students Participate in Community Garden at Spectrum Farms

Linda’s class at Wildflower Creston has been working on a community garden at Spectrum farms, who received a grant to help bring pollinators to the gardens – inclusive of butterflies. The students learned a gardening technique of laying cardboard, straw, fill, manure, and soil (lasagna style); planted the seed, sang their incredible Pollinator song, and now are waiting for the sprouting to begin. The class learned about the importance of bees and other pollinators as well has how life depends on them.

April 27, 2022

School Bus Drivers Wanted - Make A Difference in Your Community

When James Beaudoin goes to work each morning in Nelson to pick up his school bus, he knows that he is directly supporting a child’s education, social and physical well being.

“Being a bus driver is an important job, and the feeling of being needed and helping my community is very fulfilling. In some cases, we are the first smile that a child will see at the start of their day. Without our support, many kids would have a lot of roadblocks in the way to get to school.”

March 29, 2022

SD8 Vaccine Mandate Paused Until Further Notice

At a meeting on March 28, the School District No. 8 (Kootenay Lake) Board of Education directed Superintendent Trish Smillie to pause the Proof of Vaccination Regarding COVID-19 Administrative Procedure pending further changes to public health orders and further information from BC Public School Employers’ Association (BCPSEA).

March 22, 2022

SD8 Hires New Secretary-Treasurer

The School District No.8 (Kootenay Lake) Board of Education has hired Johan Glaudemans as the new secretary-treasurer and chief financial officer for SD8, effective April 12, 2022. He will take over from Interim Secretary-Treasurer Teri Stoneman, who has been in place since previous Secretary-Treasurer Michael McLellan left to work as secretary-treasurer for School District 10 Arrow Lakes in February.

March 4, 2022

SD8 to Implement Proof of Vaccination Procedure in April instead of March

At a meeting on March 3, the SD8 Board of Education directed Superintendent Trish Smillie to extend the implementation date of the district’s Proof of Vaccination Regarding COVID-19 Administrative Procedure from March 11 to April 11, 2022. This one-month extension will allow the Board time to consider evolving COVID-19 data and changes to public health directives.

The purpose of the Proof of Vaccination Procedure is to safeguard the health and safety of employees and students from COVID-19.

January 26, 2022

Terrible Truths Shared by the Williams Lake First Nation

The recent announcement by the Williams Lake First Nation of 93 unmarked burial sites discovered at the former Williams Lake, St. Joseph’s Mission Residential School adds to the terrible truths of missing children buried at other former residential school sites in B.C. and elsewhere in Canada.

January 20, 2022

Board to Require Proof of Vaccination from Employees & Contractors

January 20, 2022, Nelson, BC -

The Board of Education - School District No. 8 (Kootenay Lake) passed a resolution on January 18 that directs Superintendent Trish Smillie to create and implement a Proof of Vaccination Procedure for all staff and contractors. It will not apply to students.

The purpose of the Proof of Vaccination Procedure is to safeguard the health and safety of employees and students from COVID-19.