Students in the Nicola Similkameen School District have slowly been returning to class after flooding in both Merritt and Princeton last month.
Superintendent Stephen McNiven says both Nicola-Canford Elementary and the Community Learning Centre opened last Thursday, Dec. 2, while Merritt Bench Elementary reopened last Friday, Dec. 3.
He told NL News students returned to Collettville Elementary today, Dec. 9.
“One of our schools that was damaged was Diamond Vale Elementary School and we are planning for that school the students to be housed in three other elementary schools – Nicola-Canford, Merritt Bench, and Collettville – starting next Monday, Dec. 13.”
Other schools that were damaged include Merritt Central Elementary and Merritt Secondary School, along with the SD58 board office, located directly across the street from Merritt Secondary.
“We are working with the Crossroads Church and and the Evangelical Free Church in order to find space there for Merritt Central students,” McNiven added. “Crossroads used to have a private school, it was Maranatha, so we could put eight classrooms there and then two classrooms potentially at the other location.”
“That is good news for Merritt Central and we are targeting that for January 6.”
In the interim, students of both Diamond Vale and Merritt Central will be offered some face-to-face recreation and social activity time. The Upper Nicola Band will also be providing classroom space to support the remote learning being done by the elementary students.
Meanwhile, grade 11 and 12 students at Merritt Secondary will be at the Nicola Valley Institute of Technology campus in Merritt, while those in grades 8 to 10 are expected to be back to in-class learning in early January.
“We do have some parts of the Coquihalla Middle school available to us and we are working on that as quickly as we can, ” McNiven said.
Princeton schools not damaged by flooding
As for SD58 schools in Princeton, McNiven says Vermilion Forks Elementary is the only one that is currently open.
“And they have created a schedule that allows all three of the other schools to come through that school on a part-time basis to get some face to face learning but we are doing our best to do some of the essential service supporters as well in both communities,” he said.
“That has been fantastic for our students in the community.”
McNiven says the other schools in Princeton – John Allison Elementary, Princeton Secondary, and the Bridge – were not damaged by flooding though they remain closed for now.
“There is that relief but we’ve had over 250 homes I believe damaged in Princeton and I know that community really felt it as well so I can’t underestimate the need and the support that is there and the community has really pulled together to do that work in Princeton over the last almost month now,” he said.
“What we are waiting for is the ability for the community to move off of that do not consume water order into a boil water order and then we’ll be able to open up all of our facilities in Princeton.”
The School District has also hired a mental health clinician to help people who need help during these stressful times. You’ll can get details by contacting Jane Kempston, the SD58 district principal of student support services.
