CMSD82 New Release – Update re Concerning Messages – May 12 & 13, 2019

We write to you today to provide an update regarding the previous incidents that occurred on May 7 and 10, 2019 at Skeena Middle School. Additionally, we wish to share new information pertaining to incidents that occurred on May 12 and 13, 2019 relating to Skeena Middle School and Mount Elizabeth Middle/Secondary School.

School officials were alerted to a new social media message of concern on Sunday, May 12 at 3:00 p.m. The message was posted on the Terrace Buy & Sell Facebook page by a former student of Kitimat’s Mount Elizabeth Middle/Secondary School. School district officials were immediately informed of this new message, who in turn contacted the RCMP and Safer Schools Together to investigate. Persons of interest are currently being questioned by the RCMP and school district staff.

This morning, May 13 at 10:30 a.m. approximately a further concerning social media message was posted on a personal Facebook page in Kitimat. As the RCMP were already on site at Mount Elizabeth Middle/Secondary School, they immediately began an investigation, which included Safer Schools Together.  The RCMP continue to have a presence today at both Skeena Middle School and Mount Elizabeth Middle/Secondary School.

The school district is working on arranging School Staff Sessions and Parent Information Evening Sessions facilitated by the RCMP and Safer Schools Together. We hope to arrange these sessions in a timely manner, however, it is dependent on the availability of these organizations representatives.

As previously reported, this matter continues to be investigated by the RCMP and the school district. Any and all leads are being investigated. The school district takes its own measures and will be conducting its own investigation into these incidents. The school district has activated its multi-disciplinary Violence Threat Risk Assessment (VTRA) process. This involves the RCMP and other community partners. School and school district officials continue to be in contact with the RCMP, the Ministry of Education and Safer Schools Together to ensure the emotional health, safety and well-being of all students and staff at Skeena Middle School and Mount Elizabeth Middle/Secondary School.

Students and school staff were provided with updated information today. Counsellors continue to be available should students need someone to speak with.

If you are a parent or guardian of a student at Skeena Middle School or Mount Elizabeth Middle/Secondary School, please feel free to contact the school administration if you have further questions or concerns.

We understand these are difficult events to navigate through and we appreciate your support and understanding as we work through the investigation.

Sincerely,

Katherine McIntosh
Superintendent of Schools

Please be informed that school district officials were alerted to a concerning message posted on the Facebook Terrace Buy & Sell at 3:00 p.m. today, May 12.  We have been aware that the messages have been posted from both the Terrace and Kitimat communities.

Kitimat and Terrace RCMP, Safer Schools Together (the school district’s provincial student safety experts), school district personnel and school administration are continuing their investigation.  The RCMP and Safer Schools Together have determined this is a low-level risk event.

RCMP presence will be in place at both Skeena Middle School and Mount Elizabeth Middle/Secondary School tomorrow, May 13.  The safety and well-being of all our students and staff is paramount and events of this nature are taken very seriously.

Coast Mountains School District in conjunction with Safer Schools Together have requested that the RCMP pursue prosecution to the fullest extent of the law regarding this event.

Please feel free to contact me or Mr. Killoran, if you have further questions or concerns.

Sincerely,

Phillip Barron
Principal

CMSD82 New Release – Skeena Middle School Incidents, May 7 & 10, 2019

Please be informed of two related incidents that occurred at Skeena Middle School on May 7 and May 10, 2019.

School officials were alerted on May 7 to a message of concern written on a mirror located in a washroom at Skeena Middle School. School administration and the school district immediately contacted the RCMP and Safer Schools Together to ensure all protocols and processes were followed. An investigation was initiated by the RCMP in consultation with Safer Schools Together (our provincial student safety experts) who determined this was a low-level risk event. RCMP presence was put in place at the Skeena Middle School on May 8, 9 and 10 as an added precaution.

In the early hours of May 10, school district officials were informed of an additional message via a social media app that required attention. This was reported to the RCMP who incorporated this information into their ongoing investigation and was included in continued risk planning made by the RCMP and Safer Schools Together. This additional information was determined to also be a low-level risk incident for students and staff. RCMP presence continues to be in place at Skeena Middle School today.

School staff were informed of these events on the respective incident days. Information letters regarding the incidents were issued to parents and guardians on May 7 and 10 respectively. Students were informed of these events this morning, May 10. Counsellors are available should students need someone to speak with.

This matter is being investigated by the RCMP and the school district. Any and all leads are being investigated. The school district takes its own measures and will be conducting its own investigation into these incidents. The school district has activated its multi-disciplinary Violence Threat Risk Assessment (VTRA) process. This involves the RCMP and other community partners. School and school district officials have and continue to be in contact with the RCMP, the Ministry of Education and Safer Schools Together to ensure the emotional health, safety and well-being of all students and staff at Skeena Middle School.

The school district takes every precaution to ensure the safety of its all students and staff. The safety and well-being of all our students and staff is paramount and events of this nature are taken very seriously.

If you are a parent or guardian of a student at Skeena Middle School, please feel free to contact the school administration if you have further questions or concerns.

Katherine McIntosh
Superintendent of Schools

A reminder that all schools within Coast Mountains School District 82 and the Board of Education Office will be closed on Good Friday, April 19 and Easter Monday, April 22.

All schools will be back in session on Tuesday, April 23 as regularly scheduled.

Wishing all our students and staff a safe and happy Easter long weekend!

The attached newsletter regarding the BC Government’s Measles Immunization Catch-Up Program for School-Aged Children went home with students on April 4, 2019.

Please click on the link below to read this newsletter:

Measles Immunization Catch-Up Campaign_Letter to Parents April 5 2019

CMSD82 Board of Education Open Letter – March 12, 2019

In light of the recent renewal signing of the BC Tripartite Education Agreement: Supporting First Nation Student Success, the Board of Education for Coast Mountains School District 82 wishes to publicly declare its commitment to ongoing collaboration with communities in the school district to close the education outcome gaps between First Nations and non-First Nations students.

The renewed BC Tripartite Education Agreement is the result of an extensive engagement process between BC’s First Nations Education Steering Committee (FNESC), Canada’s Ministry of Indigenous Services and BC’s Ministry of Education. The agreement benefits First Nations students across the province, recognizing that First Nations people have the right to make educational decisions that affect their students, within their education institutions, consistent with their unique needs, experiences, beliefs and values.

The Board of Education further recognizes the importance of breaking down barriers and ensuring all students are provided skills and opportunities to achieve success. The school district continues its focus on Indigenous cultural and traditional learnings including enhancing Indigenous languages for our learners. Currently Indigenous language learning in Coast Mountains School District includes mentorship and collaboration with Dr. Lorna Williams, University of Victoria Professor Emerita of Indigenous Education (Curriculum and Instruction) and recipient of the Indspire Award that represents the highest honour the Indigenous community bestows upon its own people.

Coast Mountains School District 82 is located in the northwest of British Columbia and includes the main communities of the Hazeltons, Kitimat, Kitwanga, Stewart, Terrace and Thornhill serving a student population of approximately 4,300 students. The school district is located on the traditional territories of three Indigenous Nations: the Gitksan, the Haisla, and the Tsimshian. The Gitksan‐Wet’suwet’en Nation of the Hazelton area is made up of seven First Nations communities consisting of Gitanmaax, Gitanyow, Gitsegukla, Gitwangak, Glen Vowell, Hagwilget and Kispiox located through the Hazelton communities and the Kispiox Valley. The Haisla Nation is centered in the Kitamaat Village and the Tsimshian Nation has two distinct First Nations communities, the Kitselas and Kitsumkalum, in the Terrace and Thornhill areas.

The Board of Education for Coast Mountains School District recognizes Section 35 of the Canadian Constitution which defines the rights of Indigenous peoples of Canada.

The Board of Education reinforces its commitment to work in partnership with Indigenous communities in support of the Calls to Action from the Truth and Reconciliation Report. It further commits to working in partnership with the First Nations to affirm Indigenous voice in decision making in accordance to the implementation of the BC Tripartite Education Agreement: Supporting First Nation Student Success.

Further, the Board of Education recognizes its responsibility to ensure ongoing public dialogue and actions to support the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

As a public institution, the Board of Education for Coast Mountains School District recognizes the responsibility of all its employees and Canadian citizens to work with Indigenous peoples to ensure we achieve reconciliation by honouring the truth of Indigenous peoples’ historical and current experiences in Canada.

The Board of Education is committed to learning from all First Nations it serves to continue enhancing the curriculum in our schools with local Indigenous history, language and culture. The importance of our partnerships is greatly valued and the ongoing collaborative work to elevate success levels for Indigenous learners in our schools.

Respectfully yours,

Shar McCrory
Chairperson, Board of Education

Open Letter distribution:

• Chief Councillors & Education Coordinators: Gitanmaax, Gitanyow, Gitsegukla, Gitwangak, Glen Vowell, Hagwilget, Haisla, Kispiox, Kitselas & Kitsumkalum First Nations
• Calvin Albright, Executive Director, Kermode Friendship Society
• Sid Peltier, Interim President, Northwest BC Metis Association
• Regional Chief Terry Teegee, British Columbia Assembly of First Nations
• National Chief Perry Bellegarde, Assembly of First Nations
• Honourable Seamus O’Regan, Federal Minister of Indigenous Services
• Honourable Rob Fleming, BC Minister of Education
• Tyrone McNeil, President, First Nations Education Steering Committee
• Nathan Cullen, MP for Skeena-Bulkley Valley
• Ellis Ross, MLA for Skeena
• Cindy Lindley, Executive Director, Indian Residential School Survivors Society
• Gordon Swan, President, BC School Trustees Association
• Tina Last, President, North West Branch, BC School Trustees Association
• Mayor Carol Leclerc, City of Terrace
• Mayor Philip Germuth, District of Kitimat
• Mayor Gail Lowry, District of New Hazelton
• Mayor Gina McKay, District of Stewart
• Mayor Dennis Sterritt, Village of Hazelton
• Board Chair Philip Germuth, Regional District Kitimat-Stikine
• Glen Hansman, President, British Columbia Teachers’ Federation
• Michael Wen & Kim Meyer, Co-Presidents, Coast Mountain Teachers’ Federation
• Monica Brady, President, Canadian Union of Public Employees, Local 2052
• Krystal Miller, Chairperson, Coast Mountains District Parent Advisory Council
• Local and Regional Media Outlets

Coast Mountains Board of Education School District 82:

• Board of Education School Trustees
• Katherine McIntosh, Superintendent of Schools
• Raymond McDonald, Secretary Treasurer
• All Employees

Report cards will be sent home with students on Tuesday, March 12th.

Parent/Teacher Interviews will take place on Thursday, March 14th from 2:45 pm until 4:45 pm

Early Dismissal days are on Wednesday, March 13th and Thursday, March 14th.  We will dismiss one our early, at approximately 2:11 pm.  All buses will run one hour earlier than normal at the end of the day.

Please click on the link below to view Skeena Middle School’s Code of Conduct for Students.

SMS 2018-2019 Code of Conduct

Please see the attached notices below that went home with students on Wednesday, January 9, 2019

CMSD82 Letter to Parents-Guardians – Student Threat Assessment Protocol Fair Notice – January 9 2019

CMSD82 Parent Information Bulletin – Student Threat Assessment Protocol Fair Notice January 2019

Skeena Middle School, along with our other schools in the Coast Mountains School District, will dismiss one hour earlier on Wednesday, November 28 and Thursday, November 29, 2018.

Skeena Middle School will dismiss at 2:11pm.  Buses will pick students up after school one hour earlier as well.

Please contact our school if you have any questions.