News Stories

After months of negotiations, the Abbotsford Board of Education failed to reach an agreement with the City of Abbotsford around the artificial turf sports field located at Abbotsford Senior Secondary. At the June 14, 2022 in-camera meeting, the Board determined that the ongoing capital replacement and maintenance costs necessary to maintain the artificial turf sports field Agreement with the city would significantly impact the school district's budget.

Today is a work day for Michael. He makes sure that he leaves himself plenty of time to get ready. Once he’s showered, shaved, and brushed his teeth, he gets dressed for work, making sure that he puts on his name badge. Michael also makes sure that he’s packed his own lunch. When he’s ready to go, he gives himself enough time to get to work so that he won’t be late. Today it’s a nice day, so he’ll walk to work. If it had been raining, his sister would give him a ride, something for which he is grateful.

The conclusion of Grade 8 marks a significant milestone in a student's academic career as they look ahead to embark on a new chapter in their educational journey. This year, the Indigenous Education Department created The Paddle Project to honour a middle school student's transition into secondary school. While the project centers around the opportunity to share the teachings of the Stó:lō People, it also provides students with a meaningful and hands-on experience to reflect on their learning journey as they progress in life.

As we continue to celebrate National Indigenous History Month, we invite you to take part in a learning opportunity.

In 2018, Robert Bateman Secondary offered a unique Art Activism class, which empowered students to become leaders in their community through art. Every year students take on a different social issue and seek to make a difference and promote awareness through community art fundraising events.

Statistics released by the Office of the Correctional Investigator last December were sobering for those concerned with the over incarceration of Indigenous people.

Almost 50 per cent of all federally-sentenced women are Indigenous and the combined men and women proportion has now reached 32 per cent and appears to be climbing.

This week marks the first anniversary of the announcement of the discovery of over 215 children’s remains at Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc First Nation, where the former Kamloops Residential School was located. Since then, Indigenous investigations across the country have found evidence of more than 1,800 confirmed unmarked graves at former residential school sites, with thousands more anticipated to be discovered in the months and years ahead. 

The Grade 5 students at Sandy Hill elementary didn’t know they were capable of such big things.

That was the resounding message from the kids as they filled 500 bags with personal hygiene products for refugees last week.

Students and seniors who were matched in a flower project through an Abbotsford elementary school were finally able to meet in person on Friday (May 6) for its completion.

The project, Planting Intergenerational Promises, paired teacher Debbie Mar’s 22 Grade 3 students at Upper Sumas Elementary with seniors through Archway Community Services.

The program was done in partnership with the B.C. Agriculture in the Classroom Foundation.

The Ministry of Education, in collaboration with the First Nations Education Steering Committee (FNESC), is implementing a new graduation requirement. 

On March 4, the Provincial Government announced that it is expected in the 2023-24 school year, this new requirement will take effect. Secondary students who are to graduate from B.C.’s K-12 education system will be required to complete Indigenous-focused coursework before they graduate. Students currently in Grade 10 would be the first group to complete this new requirement. 

Dear Abbotsford School District families,

This past week has been a difficult time with the invasion of Ukraine. Children, youth and even adults may experience a range of emotions when they hear about or see images and videos from these deeply upsetting events. I wanted to reach out to share available supports, should you find them of use.