Superintendent’s Update

Dear Parents and Caregivers:

Making memories at school celebrations in our final weeks of the school year is a wonderful part of June. These relationships and connections are central to the 2022-2027 District Strategic Plan and are foundational to who we are as a district community.

National Indigenous Peoples Day – June 21, 2025

Tomorrow is National Indigenous Peoples Day—a day to recognize and celebrate the cultures and contributions of the First Nations, Inuit, and Métis. Throughout June (National Indigenous History Month), schools have participated in activities, lessons, and events about Indigenous culture and traditions, including the fifth annual District Powwow.

Over the past month, students at Raft River Elementary participated in an incredible learning journey about different Indigenous cultures to explore various aspects of Indigenous history and life – read more. On Thursday, June 19, students and staff at Brocklehurst Secondary engaged in a full day of hands-on, on-the-land, experiential learning with their first Indigenous Exploration Day – read more. Thank you to all the staff, educators, and community members who helped organize these valuable learning experiences for students and families in our District

Summit Elementary School (K-7) – June 13, 2025

Principal Boyle started the day by sharing Saafir’s “Positive Principal Referral” for being safe, caring, and respecting, “owning it”, and championing others. Ms. Boyle had just finished calling home to share with Saafir’s parents that he was selected for this weekly award. When I asked Saafir how he felt about receiving this award, he said “very happy”. Different students are selected weekly for these positive calls home, and Ms. Boyle said, “It is such a great way to start a Friday.”

Principal Boyle, Vice Principal Wourms, and I visited the library which has been designed to include spaces for students to play games and interact with one another in addition to learning independently at the computer, reading a book, or working on projects. Ms. Wourms said, “It is the hub of our school, and we absolutely love how often students come during classes and breaks to enjoy this space.” Ms. Maskell and Mr. Lam both work hard to maintain this space and engage students to do different activities in it.

We went to Ms. Petchnick’s Grade 1 classroom where the students were about to share a story when they offered to sing a couple of their favourite action songs. They sang about bees and then “Little Wheel-a-Turnin in My Heart”. They were fully engaged in all of the actions and passionate about singing. They then shared about their field trip to the Llama Sanctuary, which helped them to learn about feeding llama carrots with their mouths.

We visited Mr. Bowden’s Grade 6 class who were bike riding outside. They were riding and ensuring that they knew and were meeting safety guidelines practiced earlier. Ms. Buja’s Grade 2 class was busy adding and subtracting in booklets and by playing games together.

Ms. Royce’s K-1 class was drawing pictures of something they learned or wanted to do in the summer. One student (Jordan) shared a picture he was drawing of his “cuddly cat”. Just as we left Mr. Bowden’s classroom, we met Mr. Lam, a Teacher Librarian and Leadership Development Program candidate. He was about to do some planning for events and assessing student work and took time to say “Hello”.

We visited Ms. Spencer’s and Ms. Labby's Grade 4 and 4-5 class who were taking dance lessons from an outside facilitator, Josh from “Jess Dance”, who was there for two amazing days of Hip Hop graciously sponsored in part by the PAC. The students were enjoying the lesson which had them create their own dance move that everyone else copied while music played. 

We ended our classroom visits in Ms. Angstadt’s Grade 1-2 class where they were studying “facts and opinions” about butterflies. It was a wonderful visit at Summit Elementary!

Kamloops Pride Parade – June 14, 2025

The Kamloops-Thompson School District came together to celebrate diversity and inclusion for all students during Kamloops Pride Week (June 9-15, 2025). We walked in solidarity in the Pride Parade on Sunday. I am so grateful for everyone who supported it, alongside our partners, KTTA, CUPE, and the many staff who brought their children to be an ally on the side or to join us on the walk. Happy Pride Month!

KTTA Retirement Banquet – June 18, 2025

Thank you to Ms. Laurel Macpherson who offered greetings on behalf of the Kamloops Thompson Teachers’ Association to the retirees at the KTTA Retirement Banquet this week. We celebrated teachers who were retiring, and they shared their wisdom and passion for their career. Each one of them expressed their gratitude for how much they had learned from their colleagues over the years and especially how much they appreciated and learned from their students and families. It was a wonderful opportunity to share with the group just how they contributed immeasurably in our district by changing lives, making them better every day, and in creating hopeful futures for them. I was so glad to be there and to enjoy conversations, stories, and speeches. Congratulations, retirees! You always have a special place in our hearts and in our district.

2025 Owl Awards Celebration – June 16, 2025

The Owl Award for Excellence in Public Education was developed to recognize and honour individuals, groups, and organizations who have enriched and advanced public education through their significant, system-wide, and outstanding accumulative contributions in Kamloops-Thompson School District over five years or more. On Monday, June 16, 2025, the Kamloops-Thompson Board of Education celebrated this year’s Owl Award recipients – Dr. Ann Cheeptham and Lori Jane Froese. Dr. Ann Cheeptham has made a lasting impact on science education over the past 23 years and Lori Jane Froese has dedicated over 25 years to music education in our district. Read more.

Graduations – May–June 2025

You can explore the 2025 commencement schedule and meet this year's Valedictorians here. What’s true about every one of the graduation ceremonies is that they exist because of the staff, parents, and importantly, the students who invested in the program and performances. Thank you for all that you have done to learn and grow as a person—may you end the year well and make a great start to the next phase of your lives. Congratulations, Graduates of 2025!

Board Notes – June 16, 2025

To learn more about the Regular Public Board meeting on June 16, 2025, please read Board Notes here.

Take time to enjoy family and friends this weekend.

Rhonda Nixon, PhD
Superintendent