The 28th January Board Meeting started with acknowledgement of the Okanagan First Nations land. This was followed by a minute of silence for Barton Tumlinson.

SD 53 will receive $23.1 million in operating grants for this year; grants like this make it easier for schools to offer their students mind broadening experiences such as the Oliver and Osoyoos Secondary School Music Field trips February 26th – 28th to the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival in Moscow, Idaho.

The 2013 McCreary Report on Student Health encompasses the majority of schools in BC. It was noted that in general, students in the South Okanagan present a more positive trend than the province as a whole BUT there are areas which require serious attention. Some parents with troubled teens may never know that their son may be part of the 8% that have attempted suicide or their daughter may be in the 12% who have attempted suicide.

If the reader reviews some of the key findings posted recently on ODN it shows statistics which are likely, enough of a ‘trigger’ to cause our youth to reach this stage of desperation.
Overall students are doing better than in past studies and appear to be better off in many ways than the provincial norm but that is no reason to become complacent. It was noted that awareness must be a constant frame of mind to ensure that all students feel comfortable or safe in talking to a role model or teacher if they feel depressed.

There should be no stigma attached to confiding to someone who can help you if you feel the weight of the world on your shoulders. Fortunately SD 53 has the greatest percentage of teens (80 to 87%) who feel their mental health is good or excellent but 19% of females are likely to feel depression compared the 6% of their male friends.

As retiring Assistant Superintendent Jim Insley stated; “Youth Programs are very important for students, schools have no more than 12% of contact time to help the students”.

When questioned regarding the status of the report Chair Marieze Tarr advised that the review is more of an ongoing report card. However it was clear to the writer that the Board will be paying close attention to those areas where the percentages are anomalous compared to last year or the provincial ‘norm’.

So, parents and all of us, including peer groups, who have contact with the youth in Oliver and all other towns in the Okanagan; we have the most time available to make sure that our interaction is positive and provides help when requested with no ‘conditions’ attached except care and mutual respect. The student trend is positive but constant awareness are the ‘key’ words.

Reporter Pat Hampson