糖心Swag

Dear Parents and Caregivers:

October is a time of sharing our gratitude for one another as we enter into the Thanksgiving weekend. In this update, I profile the Systems Development Priority which is about the operations side of the school district (Finance, Human Resources, IT, Facilities, Transportation) throughout the year. This priority and our core values are further explained in the 2022-2027 District Strategic Plan.

Celebrating the Work of the Transportation Department

In the 2022-2027 District Strategic Plan, the Board is committed to ensuring the system operates well through efficient, sustainable services (Systems Development Priority). Today, I want to highlight the work of the Transportation Services Department through the leadership of Director Sherry Kristjanson.

糖心Swag covers more than 27,000 kilometres and busses about 4,700 students more than 9,100 kilometres every day. We have 62 regularly scheduled bus routes and six inclusive education buses. Our transportation department is one of the largest provincially. They accomplish such extensive travel daily, safely, and with very few interruptions because of the excellent work of 97 professional bus drivers, six Certified Education Assistants (CEA) who support students who have diverse needs, 10 shop staff, three office staff, an assistant manager, and Director Kristjanson. Transportation staff are located in Kamloops, Barriere, Clearwater, Chase, and Savona.

What Inspired Sherry to Lead in Transportation

As the Transportation Director, Sherry described her role, “I am here to support every individual in our department to be the best that they can be, and I need to make sure that they have all of the tools that they need to accomplish that.”

Sherry is proud of helping bus drivers who do rural routes which can be difficult and she communicates with them regularly. She was especially proud to share that she was able to get roads sanded and signs on the road (Do Not Pass When Lights Flashing) based on her close working relationship with the Ministry of Transportation. If there are problems at a school, Sherry comes to the school or location to be directly involved in the solution.

Sherry is inspired to lead transportation services because of her desire to ensure that students are safe when they travel to and from school every day. When she has an opportunity to positively notice the good that people do, her favourite part of her job is noticing that people are doing what they are supposed to be doing and she is able to recognize them.

Bus Drivers

Over 4,000 students start their school day by stepping foot onto the school bus. They depend on bus drivers who are trained to drive safely, and importantly, who connect with students on a human level by saying hello and goodbye, and by checking in. We are thankful to have driver roles filled daily and to have a reliable roster of relief staff.

As I discussed what makes bus divers successful, Sherry explained, “Three times a year, bus drivers participate in training about student management, winning students over, and practising real life scenarios to problem solve.” The result of recruitment and support of the development of bus drivers results in drivers feeling prepared and liking their jobs:

“Our workplace is the most supportive environment I have ever worked in.” – Warren James, School Bus Driver

“I love my job for many reasons that include my love of driving and working with great people that are like-minded with the safety of our passengers as first priority and that have many interesting stories to be shared. I enjoy being part of a positive start and end to the student's school day.” – Frank Luca, School Bus Driver

“Feels like family and driving a school bus is not just a job: it's a privilege to inspire and shape the future one mile at a time.” – Darrell Hanna, School Bus Driver

“I like working for School District #73 as a bus driver, it keeps me engaged with a responsibility to show up on schedule. I find it is a very dignified position which carries a big responsibility of safe passage from home to school and back. And with that I earn the respect from the parents I see at the stops along the way as they see their kids get on my bus everyday, there has to be a lot of trust there. I respect that it’s an honour. And hopefully I can be a good influence on some of my passengers, when I hear them say ‘That’s my bus driver’ it makes my day.” – John Haggarty, School Bus Driver

“We get to spend time with students and make sure that they get to and from school safely and happy every day.” – Celina Anderson, Relief CEA

“The best part of working with the Transportation Team is knowing we all have the same goal, and we love doing it. From the mechanics to CEAs we do our best for the kids and their families. The students' smiles are always heartwarming and rewarding.鉂わ笍” – Nikki McMurray, CEA

“It's wonderful to be part of a team that wakes up every morning to peacefully and calmly perform the orchestrated task of transporting students to school happy and safe.” – Kathi Bussey, CEA

Shop Staff

Sherry shared, “We have our new shop foreman Richard Horning, and he has been with the District for 23 years as a mechanic. He assigns and assesses the work, does inventory, shipping, receiving, and is on the floor when he needs to be. He supervises mechanics and an auto body technician who handles all rust repairs, chipped windshields, seat repairs, replaces windows, and a tire tech/wash bay who makes sure buses are clean and have proper seasonal tires. Shop staff work together to ensure the smooth operations of the bus garage.”

“I am a mechanic at 糖心Swag. I have worked for the District for 20 plus years. I started here because of the benefits and work environment, as in I enjoy the people I work with past and present. I feel good knowing that I do my part in keeping students and coworkers safe. That is why I have been a long-term employee with 糖心Swag.” – Lance McCauley

Office Staff

Dispatcher Brendan Macauley monitors bus routes, assigns field trips to bus drivers, and he replaces bus drivers that need relief. He makes their jobs better because they trust and like him. They go to him, and he is often their first point of contact. If a bus breaks down, he will help by arranging for another bus.

Transportation Clerk Lynn Neufeld processes field trips and payroll so it is ready for action. She prepares invoices to be signed. She helps people with other paperwork, and she posts routes daily indicating which buses are not available for service and repairs. She does the reconciliation, supports tasks in the office and keeps everyone organized. Lynn shared, “The best thing about working in our department is the people I work with. Such a fun, respectful, and caring environment. I enjoy coming to work!”

Regional Steno/Dispatcher Tina Tobin supports the community of Clearwater with their school bussing needs. Tina monitors bus routes and assigns field trips to bus drivers, and she replaces bus drivers that need relief. She also processes field trips and payroll so it is ready for action. She supports everyone in the transportation department and keeps things rolling. Tina shared, “I enjoy being part of a team who is more like family. We all work together to ensure that students are safe while we transport them.”

Assistant Manager Stephen Clarke supports Sherry with his technical skills and addresses student behaviour with principals. He is responsible for the student safety program and became a certified driver trainer. Sherry emphasized, “It has saved us because we do not need to bring in anyone else to do our training.” Stephen has also trained other staff members to assist with student training. Stephen shared, “As the Assistant Manager, it's fulfilling to support a dedicated team that ensures our students' safety to and from school every day.”

The Transportation Department enables students to travel to and from school and district events safely and efficiently. Sherry is proud of her team, and shared, “I am honoured to be working with such a large group of dedicated professionals. We are all like-minded and want the same thing for our students.”

McQueen Lake Forestry and Environmental Camp

The District's Career Development Department is dedicated to providing career exploration opportunities for a range of possible career pathways, including offering hands-on learning opportunities through career events and camps. From October 3 to 5, 2024, 26 students from schools across the District participated in the McQueen Lake Forestry and Environmental Camp—a three day camp offering students a unique opportunity to explore natural resources careers. Read more.

TRU Open House – October 19, 2024

The Systems Development priority outlined in the 2022-2027 District Strategic Plan includes a commitment to building community partnerships and we are proud to have a strong community partnership with Thompson Rivers University (TRU). Students, parents, and guardians are invited to attend TRU's annual Open House on Saturday, October 19, 2024, from 9 am to 2:30 pm. The TRU Open House offers an opportunity to discover over 100 booths, displays, and hands-on activities showcasing TRU’s wide range of programs. .

DPAC

The 糖心Swag DPAC AGM and general meeting is taking place on October 15, 2024 at 6:30pm at the Henry Grube Education Centre (Room 6). The meeting is held in-person and on Zoom. All PAC's have received notice and the Zoom link via the latest contact information that has been shared with DPAC. It is also available on the District Parent Advisory Council webpage on sd73.bc.ca, which includes DPAC’s contact information, meeting schedule, and meeting Zoom link.

DPAC is looking for a new Treasurer and has several member-at-large positions available. Volunteering with DPAC is a great way to support the District, students, and parents. Anyone interested in finding out more should connect via sd73dpac@gmail.com

Thank you for everything you do every day to support our children. Parents are the primary educator and we appreciate everything that you do. Take time to enjoy those you love and who support you this Thanksgiving long weekend.

Rhonda Nixon, PhD
Superintendent