SD83 Staff News & Updates

Heather Morris, SD83's new Manager of Executive Services, grew up on a mixed farming operation in east-central Saskatchewan where she developed her love for animals and being in the outdoors. She has two adult children who are both married and have blessed her with four grandchildren: three granddaughters and one grandson. She is looking forward to the Winter break and spending time with family!

Heather has 25 years of experience working in the education system. She held the positions of Administrative Assistant, Executive Assistant, Payroll Assistant, Assistant to the Director, and Executive Services Supervisor in Good Spirit School Division in Saskatchewan. Most recently, she served as Director of Communications and Board Administration within the Kamloops-Thompson School District.

Heather has gained a deep understanding of strategic planning and the alignment between the Provincial Government, Board of Education, and school district. She has been closely involved with Board governance and was responsible for communications to staff, Rightsholders, and external stakeholders. With this expertise, Heather can effectively navigate governing body regulations, Board policy, effective methods of internal and external communication, and systems thinking. Heather has experience with the provincial student information system, data collections, visualization, and analysis.

She is looking forward to the opportunity to visit schools, and build connections with both staff and the community of Salmon Arm. Heather and her goldendoodle, Fergie, are also looking forward to exploring the beautiful unceded territory of the Secwépemc People.

Kindergarten and District Programs Registration

September 2024 kindergarten registration will begin on Wednesday, January 17, 2024.

Parents are required to enrol their children in regular Kindergarten by registering at their neighbourhood school.

If they are interested in French Immersion Kindergarten, they are required to register at Bastion Elementary. An information session for parents will be held on January 9th from 5:30-6:30 p.m. at Bastion Elementary. If they have questions, they are to contact Megan Weir at mweir@sd83.bc.ca.

To register for the South Canoe Outdoor Learning Program, they are required to register at South Canoe. If they have questions, they are asked to call the school at (250)832-3122.

Will Pearson has worked at the district for 18 years as a painter. He has been the lead-hand for the painting department and been working diligently to improve the learning environment at all the schools by quickly making graffiti disappear, refreshing the inside of schools with bright and clean colours, painting the exterior of school and other district buildings to make them look great as well as withstand the damaging affects of weather.

"Will's rock'n'roll tunes at the end of the day match his eternal faith that the Canucks will win the cup this year. As much as we are happy for Will to reach his goal of retirement we are going to miss him," comments Director of Operations Travis Elwood.

New sign up for Professional Learning in New Year

We're excited to announce an upgrade to our Professional Learning Sign Up process for all SD83 staff! Over the Winter Break, we'll be retiring the old inservice sign-up website and launching a brand-new platform for your convenience.

1. New Platform: Say goodbye to the old inservice sign-up website! Our new Professional Learning Sign Up page is user-friendly and integrates with Office365 to enhance your experience.
2. Access via SD83 Hub: You can continue to access the sign-up page seamlessly through the SD83 Hub. Simply navigate to the hub and look for the Professional Learning icon in the SD83 Staff Links.
3. Login Credentials: Good news! Your existing SD83 email and password will be your credentials for the new registration login. No need to create new accounts - we've made it easy for you.

Safety Tip - Walk Like a Penguin when slippery!

It is the time of year when black ice appears! Please report any icy conditions, spread ice melt, shovel sidewalks, and walk like a penguin!

Spreading your feet out slightly— like a penguin— while walking on ice increases your stability. When we walk, our legs' ability to support our weight is split mid-stride. To walk on ice, keep your centre of gravity over your front leg. Take short steps or shuffle for stability.

If you have time check out this cute video by Alberta Health Services: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LHaWGibGwyk

Coming to a School Near You

The Operations Department would like to share this poster with all staff to help you recognize them when they come to work at your school or facility!