Education

Greater Victoria School District trustees Diane McNally and Rob Paynter were censured by the board and suspended from their duties until October for misconduct relating to bullying and harassment complaints. (Black Press Media file photos)

Judges says B.C. school board lacked authority to suspend trustees

Diane McNally and Rob Paynter have been reinstated after suspension over alleged bullying

Greater Victoria School District trustees Diane McNally and Rob Paynter were censured by the board and suspended from their duties until October for misconduct relating to bullying and harassment complaints. (Black Press Media file photos)
Greater Victoria School District trustees Diane McNally and Rob Paynter were censured by the board and suspended from their duties until October for misconduct relating to bullying and harassment complaints. (Black Press Media file photos)

Judges says Greater Victoria School Board lacked authority to suspend trustees

Diane McNally and Rob Paynter have been reinstated after suspension over alleged bullying

Greater Victoria School District trustees Diane McNally and Rob Paynter were censured by the board and suspended from their duties until October for misconduct relating to bullying and harassment complaints. (Black Press Media file photos)
Queen Elizabeth Secondary school students reported multiple incidents of experiencing racism, sexism and bullying. (Surrey Schools photo)

Racial slurs, sexual harassment, bullying towards BIPOC students was reality at B.C. high school

Report on student and staff experiences captured in November, released to public recently

Queen Elizabeth Secondary school students reported multiple incidents of experiencing racism, sexism and bullying. (Surrey Schools photo)
Protesters and counter-protestors shared their polarizing views on the contentious SOGI 123 curriculum at the B.C. Legislature in 2018. (Keri Coles/News Staff)

OUR VIEW: Compassion core of SOGI

Wild claims about the education program are likley during school board elections

  • Sep 25, 2022
Protesters and counter-protestors shared their polarizing views on the contentious SOGI 123 curriculum at the B.C. Legislature in 2018. (Keri Coles/News Staff)
Education Minister Jennifer Whiteside and partners in provincial K-12 education issued a statement on Sept. 16, 2022 in support of Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity (SOGI) policy. (Black Press Media file photo)

B.C. Education Minister and partners in K-12 education issue statement in support of SOGI

Statement on inclusive policy comes 1 day before election campaign to elect school board trustees

Education Minister Jennifer Whiteside and partners in provincial K-12 education issued a statement on Sept. 16, 2022 in support of Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity (SOGI) policy. (Black Press Media file photo)
Screenshot of Chilliwack school trustee Barry Neufeld addressing a congregation in the Langley Riverside Calvary Chapel for “a prayer meeting of the education sector” on Sept 8, 2022. (Barry Neufeld Youtube)

Chilliwack’s Barry Neufeld trying to raise $60K for Supreme Court of Canada battle

Censured school trustee said Oct. 11 hearing is ‘to protect his right to have access to children.’

Screenshot of Chilliwack school trustee Barry Neufeld addressing a congregation in the Langley Riverside Calvary Chapel for “a prayer meeting of the education sector” on Sept 8, 2022. (Barry Neufeld Youtube)
Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry speaks during a COVID-19 update at the legislature in Victoria, B.C., on Thursday, March 10, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito

Don’t blame schools for high COVID rates among B.C. youth: provincial health officer

Bonnie Henry study’s findings similar to those in other jurisdictions

Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry speaks during a COVID-19 update at the legislature in Victoria, B.C., on Thursday, March 10, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito
A national school food program is needed, B.C. advocates are urging. (Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion file)

Urgent need for a national school food program in classrooms: B.C. group

The Coalition for Healthy School Food wants the federal government to create a national program.

A national school food program is needed, B.C. advocates are urging. (Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion file)
A child poses for a photo with a Backpack Buddies bag of food. (Submitted by Backpackbuddies.ca)

B.C. food-aid programs seeing spike in hungry students amid high inflation, grocery costs

The school year began on Sept. 6, after a summer of inflation rates reaching as high as 8 per cent .

A child poses for a photo with a Backpack Buddies bag of food. (Submitted by Backpackbuddies.ca)
University student Chloe Goodison, shown in this handout image, founded a group that provides overdose prevention education to high school students in Coquitlam, B.C., but is expanding the program this fall with hopes that the province will make awareness about overdose from illicit street drugs a mandatory part of the curriculum instead of leaving that decision to individual school districts. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO

Make overdose education mandatory in B.C. schools amid drug emergency, advocates say

More than 10,000 deaths since B.C. declared toxic drug supply a public health emergency in 2016

University student Chloe Goodison, shown in this handout image, founded a group that provides overdose prevention education to high school students in Coquitlam, B.C., but is expanding the program this fall with hopes that the province will make awareness about overdose from illicit street drugs a mandatory part of the curriculum instead of leaving that decision to individual school districts. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO
A Langley school zone sign. (Langley Advance Times files)

WEB POLL: Year-round school or summer break?

Which do you think is better for kids?

  • Sep 2, 2022
A Langley school zone sign. (Langley Advance Times files)
Constable Heather McLaren, Const. Lee Millar, and Cpl. Craig Van Herk are among the Langley RCMP officers who will be watching out for dangerous driving this September, particularly in and near school zones. (Matthew Claxton/Langley Advance Times)
Constable Heather McLaren, Const. Lee Millar, and Cpl. Craig Van Herk are among the Langley RCMP officers who will be watching out for dangerous driving this September, particularly in and near school zones. (Matthew Claxton/Langley Advance Times)
French immersion students make up roughly 9.7 per cent of the B.C. student body. (Canadian Parents for French BC & YK photo)

B.C. schools coming off a record year for French immersion students

Provincial average in 2021/22 nearly reached 10 per cent of all students in public school

French immersion students make up roughly 9.7 per cent of the B.C. student body. (Canadian Parents for French BC & YK photo)
Education Minister Jennifer Whiteside at a previous school site announcement in Langley, earlier this year. (Langley Advance Times files)

Langley schools get $2.1 million provincial boost

One-time funding aimed at helping with rapidly rising costs

  • Aug 29, 2022
Education Minister Jennifer Whiteside at a previous school site announcement in Langley, earlier this year. (Langley Advance Times files)
A Langley school zone sign. (Matthew Claxton/Langley Advance Times)

OUR VIEW: Schools need more space, fast

Province may need emergency measures if enrolment keeps climing in Langley

  • Aug 29, 2022
A Langley school zone sign. (Matthew Claxton/Langley Advance Times)
Sean Fraser speaks at an event in Ottawa on Tuesday, June 7, 2022. The immigration minister says the government is looking at ways to prioritize visa applications for international students set to start school this coming semester as many are left wondering whether they’ll make it to Canada in time for school.THE CANADIAN PRESS/ Patrick Doyle

Visa delays leaving international students in limbo for fall semester

34 per cent of pending applications were taking longer to process than government standards

Sean Fraser speaks at an event in Ottawa on Tuesday, June 7, 2022. The immigration minister says the government is looking at ways to prioritize visa applications for international students set to start school this coming semester as many are left wondering whether they’ll make it to Canada in time for school.THE CANADIAN PRESS/ Patrick Doyle
Avalynn Kwok, 4, walks with her dad, Manny Kwok, outside Lynn Valley Elementary School as her parents drop her off for her first day of kindergarten in North Vancouver on September 9, 2021. For years, Staples Canada has advertised back-to-school supplies to the tune of the “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year,” with parents eager to see their children return to class after a busy summer. But back-to-school supplies can quickly add up, and parents already feeling the crunch from a rising cost of living may need to strategize how they approach this shopping season. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Looking to save some money this back-to-school season? Here are some tips

Parents facing increased costs as they get the kids ready to return to class

Avalynn Kwok, 4, walks with her dad, Manny Kwok, outside Lynn Valley Elementary School as her parents drop her off for her first day of kindergarten in North Vancouver on September 9, 2021. For years, Staples Canada has advertised back-to-school supplies to the tune of the “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year,” with parents eager to see their children return to class after a busy summer. But back-to-school supplies can quickly add up, and parents already feeling the crunch from a rising cost of living may need to strategize how they approach this shopping season. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Members of the Aldergrove Secondary hairdressing program volunteer to help fill the Starfish backpacks. (Starfish backpack program/Special to the Langley Advance Times)

Aldergrove Rotary’s Starfish backpack program ready for start of school

Fundraisers are back on, helping as the need rises

Members of the Aldergrove Secondary hairdressing program volunteer to help fill the Starfish backpacks. (Starfish backpack program/Special to the Langley Advance Times)
Do you have a question you’d like to see put to the Langley school trustees? Email your idea to editor@langleyadvancetimes.com.
Do you have a question you’d like to see put to the Langley school trustees? Email your idea to editor@langleyadvancetimes.com.
Candy Ashdown is running for Langley School Board of Education again. (Special to the Langley Advance Times)

Ashdown makes run to regain Langley City school board seat

From 2011 to 2014, she was a second-generation trustee

Candy Ashdown is running for Langley School Board of Education again. (Special to the Langley Advance Times)
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