Reporter Roy Wood

Culinary arts coming to SOSS

A new culinary arts program will get under way in February at Southern Okanagan Secondary in partnership with Camosun College.

Students will take technical training on-line from Camosun and attend a once-a-week lab in the foods room at SOSS, led by a chef from Terrafina restaurant.

Superintendent Bev Young told the board Wednesday that so far just four students are registered for the six available seats. She said the program might end up being offered just every two years, depending on demand.

Anti-bullying policy expanding

The ministry of education will create a sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI) education advisor role to help BC school districts with establishing or enhancing anti-bullying policies as they relate to LGBTQ students.

The new role follows an announcement last month from the ministry of education that all boards must include explicit reference to “sexual orientation and gender identity or expression” in the anti-bullying policies.

Superintendent Bev Young and one teacher will attend a “SOGI policy summit” in Richmond later this month. An updated policy incorporating the mandated language will be discussed at the November policy committee meeting.

Enrollment up in Oliver and Osoyoos

Year-over-year enrollment numbers are up in the district, leading to the addition of a class at each of Oliver Elementary and Tuc-el-Nuit Elementary.

From Oct. 2, 2015 to Sept. 30, 2016 total full-time equivalent students in the District are up by almost 87 students.

The increase has occurred in the three schools in Oliver and two in Osoyoos, all of which saw their numbers rise. FTE counts fell in all of the schools in Keremeos, Cawston and Okanagan Falls.