Mrs. Sinclair, Karen Sinclair with a full school term ahead of her as Principal of Oliver Elementary. Joined by Diane Haddow as Vice-Principal.

Karen is an old hand in the Oliver area – here first in 1998. Came from Fort St. John. Diane hails from the coast and started her work teaching in 1992 at Penticton. Her most recent post as teacher of Grade 6 Late French Immersion and Learning Assistance in Summerland. Both ladies have Master Degrees in Education.

Mrs. Sinclair says she has a great team of professionals around her and wants to bring an “aura of positivity” to the school and looks forward to her work with Grade 7 classes in Leadership.

In her office on the wall – a statement of intent “…moving forward with a calm, strong momentum…” in the footsteps of Barton Tumlinson.

New this year: More emphasis on aboriginal education including stories at the Grade 5 level of residential schools. Karen Sinclair says OES has always had a strong Aboriginal Studies program with the assistance of Education Assistant Sam Marsel. Three teachers have attended workshops on curriculum changes says Sinclair. She says a lot of aboriginal history is embed in language studies.

Touching on appropriate dress codes – Mrs. Sinclair says this has never been a serious problem at this level but intermediate students are counselled quickly if anything is evident when a student arrives at school. Sinclair says her professional staff set a high tone of appropriate fashion.

Both of these subjects part of the questioning by the reporter on current education stories.