Although the Discovery Centre for Balanced Education began classes last week, it felt like the beginning of school all over again at the school’s official opening today.
Dignitaries that were on hand to lend their support for the historic day were Mayor Al Raine and Senator Nancy Greene Raine, Kamloops-North Thompson MLA Terry Lake and MP Cathy McLeod. Council members Ines Popig, Darcy Alexander and Mike Forster were also in attendance.
“I challenge the (Sun Peaks Education Society) to make this the best school in B.C.” said Mayor Raine during his speech.
“Community is really defined by the people and the efforts of the people. This is one of the defining moments of Sun Peaks as a community,” he added.
MLA Lake noted that the parents’ efforts to come up with innovative ideas such as introducing the International Baccalaureate program to the school board and launching a non-traditional school setup like the Discovery Centre are to be commended.
“I hope this would be a model to other communities who have a long commute to central (educational) facilities,” Lake said of the school.
The society has approximately $60,000 in pledged funds, close to the $75,000 needed to run the school on its inaugural year. MP Cathy McLeod is lending some assistance to the education society with their charitable status application.
Parent and education society director Terra Stebner said the society hopes to raise more funds through the help of the Sun Peaks Firefighter’s Ball at the end of this year.
A special ribbon in the school’s colours (blue, brown and green) was cut by the students with some help from the attending dignitaries. The ribbon had 22 buttons representing each student. @KOOL teacher Laurel Seafoot and on-site educator Jillian Schmalz rang the commemorative school bell, and Senator Raine and Mayor Raine presented commemorative certificates to students and members of council.
Families have long expressed the need to have a school in the community and for many parents, this day marks the realization of that dream.
Visit www.balancededucation.ca to know more about the Discovery Centre.
Click here for the photo gallery.
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