Ama Sah / Good Day,
On behalf of Coast Mountains School District, I would like to welcome you to the 2024-2025 school year!
The start of a new school year is an exciting time for everyone involved in our education system, but in particular, for learners. Heading back to school in September allows children and youth to reconnect with friends they may not have seen over the summer, as well as begin to forge relationships with both classmates and caring adults who may be new in their lives. In many cases, these relationships, become the cornerstone for authentic and meaningful learning experiences over the course of the school year.
As a school district, Coast Mountains will continue to focus this year on the priorities identified in the Board’s Strategic Plan – Engage, Ignite, Empower. With overarching goals related to learning, organization wellness and cultural diversity, district-wide actions in 2024-2025 will serve to improve outcomes for students as measured through multiple indicators including graduation rates, provincial assessment results and classroom evidence of learning. To be sure, staff members across the entire district will strive to create learning spaces that are safe, welcoming and inclusive so that all students feel a sense of belonging and experience success. To learn more about our school district’s Strategic Plan, visit our website at https://cmsd.bc.ca/strategic-plan.
It is important to note that for the 2024-2025 school year, the Board of Education approved two revised policies to ensure Coast Mountains School District is in alignment with amendments being made to the School Act. Both Policy 1090 Bring Your Own Technology (BYOT) and Policy 1025 Student Code of Conduct were revised, both related to expectations for the student use of personal digital devices, including cell phones and smart watches, in schools.
- In short, Policy 1090 Bring Your Own Technology (BYOT) was updated to restrict the use of personal digital devices on school grounds at Grades Kindergarten through 6. Devices must be powered off and out of sight all day, unless used for educational purposes and under the supervision of their teacher. For students in Grades 7 through 12, devices must also be powered off and out of sight during instructional time, but may be used outside of class time. These represent minimum expectations to be implemented at schools, and individual schools may choose to impose additional restrictions.
- At all grade levels, the School Based Team can be involved in creating a student plan where there are documented and verified needs requiring the use of personal digital devices.
- Policy 1025 Student Code of Conduct was updated to reflect the expectations that students adhere to new expectations for their use of personal digital devices, like cell phones, contributing to a safe and focused learning environment for all.
- All policy revisions will come into effect in Coast Mountains' schools as of September 2024. Schools will be discussing the new expectations with learners, parents, caregivers, Parent Advisory Council (PAC) and District Parent Advisory Council (DPAC) beginning in the new school year.
- Parents and caregivers are encouraged to be aware of their child’s School Code of Conduct as it relates to this issue and discuss the importance of these actions on the well-being of children and youth.
Please take a moment to review the rest of this important communication which includes school start-up and bussing information for Hazelton, Kitwanga, Kitimat, Kitamaat Village, Stewart, Terrace, Thornhill and surrounding communities. Should you have any questions or require further clarification, do not hesitate to contact your child’s school by accessing the link provided below for School Principal and School contacts.
Again, welcome to the 2024-2025 school year! We all look forward to seeing you in September.
Sincerely,
Janet Meyer
Interim Superintendent of Schools
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PRE-REGISTRATION & SCHOOL OPENING DAY INFORMATION
Pre-registration for all schools will be held on Tuesday and Wednesday, August 27 and 28 from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Students not pre-registered should register on these dates.
District Schools will open on Tuesday, September 3 for all students (except Kindergarten):
- Kindergarten students are requested to begin attending on the date arranged by the school.
- Buses will make their morning runs at the usual time and their return runs after students have been in attendance for approximately two hours EXCEPT for students enrolled at Hazelton Secondary, Kitwanga Elementary, Majagaleehl Gali Aks Elementary, Mount Elizabeth Middle/Secondary School and New Hazelton Elementary Schools who will attend at 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday, September 3 (first day of school only).
- The alternate bus times for the afternoon of September 3 only for Kitwanga/Hazelton Schools and Mount Elizabeth Middle/Secondary School as well as the 2024-2025 Bus Schedules effective September 3 and 4 respectively are available at https://cmsd.bc.ca/bus-routes-and-schedules. Buses will make afternoon runs and return runs after students have been in attendance for approximately two hours.
Regular school hours and bus runs will begin on Wednesday, September 4.
School and Principal contact information and the District-Wide Bell Schedule is available by accessing the following links:
CMSD82 Schools & Contact Information
CMSD82 Principal, Vice Principal & School Contact Listing 2024-2025
CMSD82 District-Wide Bell Schedule 2024-2025
Should you require further assistance, please contact Carole Gagnon, Executive Assistant at the Coast Mountains Board of Education Office at (250) 638-4401 or via email at carole.gagnon@cmsd.bc.ca.