Ava Smith and Koen Shand are Grade 12 students at Liverpool Regional High School. They’re helping out with the LRHS Scholarship Auction 2024. (Rick Conrad)
The graduating class at Liverpool Regional High School may be relatively small, but they’ve had a mighty significant impact over the years on students going on to higher learning.
Since 1998, the Liverpool Regional High School Scholarship Auction has awarded more than 400 Queens County students over $500,000 in bursaries to help them pay for their post-secondary education.
The 26th annual auction kicked off on Facebook on April 18. And this year, for the first time since before the pandemic, the fundraiser wraps up with an in-person silent and live auction event on Thurs., May 30 at the high school.
Koen Shand and Ava Smith are two Grade 12 students who are part of the 40-person-strong organizing committee. About 25 of those volunteers are students themselves, which is about half of the graduating class. Parents, teachers and other community members make up the rest of the organizing committee.
“It’s pretty impactful,” Koen says of the auction. “It’s just nice to know that we are such a small town and we do have that support that you might not get from coming from a big city. It’s just nice to know that we have these organizaitons backing us up.”
“I think it’s nice to feel you have a lot of people in your corner,” Ava says, “you have a lot of people rooting for you. It’s nice to know that you have a big community, a big family here that’s wanting you do well and is going to be there when you need help.”
Koen will be going to Dalhousie University next year to study engineering, while Ava plans to attend Saint Mary’s University and then on to Mount Saint Vincent University for an education degree.
They said they were eager to help out with the auction because pursuing an education is so expensive. They’re both involved with various extra-curricular activities at the school — Koen with the Key Club and various sports teams, and Ava as Nova Scotia International Student Program ambassador and as co-president of the student council.
“This is up my alley, I love helping out with this stuff,” Ava says. “I just think it’s good to get involved and help give back to the community that’s always helped, especially here since it’s such a small community, it’s such a supportive one.”
“My school has given me lots of opportunities, lot of memories, playing sports, doing multiple things,” Koen says, “and I just think whatever I can do to give back and help our grads succeed.”
Organizers expect to get more than 200 items, in addition to monetary contributions, donated from local businesses and residents for the online and in-person auctions. They’ve already auctioned off dozens of items.
The last time an in-person auction was held, it raised about $20,000. Since it went online, it has raised between $25,000 and $40,000 each year.
Students are awarded bursaries based on need and their contribution to school life. In previous years, about a third of the class received the awards, which ranged from $500 to $2,000.
“It’s not based on your academics,” Ava says. “It’s based on what you’ve done to contribute to the school and in the community. Which I think is really good because there are lots of kids in our school who might not have honour rolls but are still an active member in our community and an active member in our school. Which I think is great that they are getting money they deserve.
“I think receiving money like this helps to kind of take the weight off a little bit. It’s still going to cover some of your classes, your books, maybe it’s going to cover your meal card, and even though it is obviously not $25,000 to cover your year, anything that contributes helps a lot. It also lessens the amount of student loan you’re going to have to take out.”
Ava and Koen are excited to participate in Thursday’s in-person event. Students will be helping to display the items up for auction, with Al Steele as the auctioneer.
When asked how much people should bid at the event, Koen has some simple advice.
“As much as they want. It’s going to a good cause, so feel free.”
A change to the student assistance funding formula means some Nova Scotia college and university students could get more help. (Communications Nova Scotia)
Some Nova Scotia college and university students will get more student assistance beginning this fall because of a change in the funding formula.
The updated formula brings the Nova Scotia Student Assistance Program in line with the federal Canada Student Financial Assistance program.
Part of the formula considers basic living expenses. The living allowance was previously increased based on inflation. It now will also be based on rental information from the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation. That means some students could qualify for more help.
“We’re listening to students and want to make it more affordable for students to stay and build a life here after they graduate,” Brian Wong, Nova Scotia’s minister of advanced education, said Wednesday in a news release.
The change will cost about $2.9 million for the 2024-25 academic year, which will essentially be picked up by the federal government. Applications for student assistance are now open.
Premier Tim Houston speaks to reporters on Thursday about an agreement with Nova Scotia teachers. (Nova Scotia government Facebook page)
Nova Scotia will likely avoid a teachers’ strike as government and union negotiators reached an “agreement in principle” late Wednesday night.
The Nova Scotia Teachers Union entered conciliation talks with government negotiators on Monday and Tuesday with a 98 per cent strike mandate. More than 10,000 teachers and educational specialists voted last Thursday to go on strike if an agreement couldn’t be reached.
Teachers are concerned about rising levels of violence in schools, teacher recruitment and retention, and compensation for substitute and permanent teachers.
Premier Tim Houston joined the talks himself on Monday night.
Houston told reporters after a cabinet meeting on Thursday that he believes the agreement addresses many of the union’s concerns.
“I think it’s an agreement that teachers can be proud of,” he said.
“I did personally attend the bargaining table late on Monday evening and tried to make it clear at that point that we heard the voices of teachers and the NSTU and that this government shares their focus on students, student outcomes and classroom conditions. I think teachers will see significant investments in these areas in the agreement. It’s an agreement that responds to the call that students can’t wait. … Our government has great respect for teachers and our focus was on reaching a deal that was fair to teachers and ensured improved classroom conditions for students and teachers.”
Ryan Lutes, president of the teachers union, said in an interview Thursday that the premier’s presence at the bargaining table seemed to move things along.
“The premier was helpful,” Lutes said.
“Up until that point, I would say our negotiating team saw very little movement on the issues that mattered to teachers and students. The premier shared his commitment to improving classroom conditions, to improving work-life balance for teachers and his desire to invest in public schools, and I think that spurred his team along into eventually getting an agreement with teachers.”
So far, it’s only a verbal agreement. Lead negotiators for both sides are still hammering out the language. As soon as the union’s bargaining team sees and signs off on the document, they can call it a tentative agreement.
Lutes said it will likely take another week or two before teachers see something they can vote on. Details won’t be released until that happens.
“I don’t believe the premier would have spurred along his own negotiating team without the strong strike mandate. I think our members were really important. The message came through with the strong strike mandate that members aren’t going to accept an agreement that doesn’t move their priorities forward. And I think the premier heard that. He was able to pretty positively contribute to that discussion on Monday night.”
The premier said his government shares teachers’ concerns about classroom and working conditions.
“We knew the importance of the negotiations for sure. That was never diminished and that was never a second thought in our mind. So we’re really happy that we’ve been able to reach the agreement in principle. When it’s all said and done, this is an agreement that teachers can be proud of and I’m optimistic about the path forward from here.”
The government and NSTU have been negotiating since last June. Their last contract expired July 31, 2023.
Ryan Lutes is the president of the Nova Scotia Teachers Union. (Nova Scotia Teachers Union YouTube channel)
Nova Scotia teachers and educational specialists have voted 98 per cent in favour of strike action, on the eve of conciliation talks with the Nova Scotia government.
The Nova Scotia Teachers Union released the results Thursday evening of the provincewide electronic vote by 10,313 NSTU members.
Ryan Lutes is the teachers union president. He called the strike vote a “resounding wakeup call to government.”
“The potential of job action is not something that teachers take lightly,” he said in a video statement posted to the NSTU website.
“Nobody wants a strike. But teachers are frustrated by rapidly declining conditions inside our schools and by government’s lack of attention to provide safe and healthy learning environments for students.”
Negotiations began last June.
Lutes said teachers would prefer not to strike, but they will take job action unless the Nova Scotia government addresses their concerns.
In a union survey by 2,534 members in March and April 2023, 55 per cent said they had been the victim of a violent act or threat at work, while 92 per cent said that they’d witnessed violence “first-hand at school.” Nova Scotia’s auditor general is investigating the issue of school violence.
A union survey of 3,519 members in February found that 84 per cent of teachers have considered leaving the profession in the past five years because of burnout, high workload, lack of resources, lack of respect from government and concerns about school violence.
“Teachers want to see an end to the escalating levels of violence they and their students are experiencing,” Lutes said.
“They want to see resources allocated to help solve the mental health crisis inside our schools. They want to see a plan to eliminate the teacher shortage that focuses on retention and ensures our substitutes aren’t amongst the lowest paid in Canada. And teachers want the government to come to the table and be prepared to negotiate a fair contract in the best interest of students and teachers but so far that just hasn’t been the case.”
The union has not revealed what kind of a salary increase they’re seeking. According to Statistics Canada, the median hourly wage for secondary school teachers in Nova Scotia in 2022 was $41.76. The national median hourly wage was $45.30.
Becky Druhan, Nova Scotia’s minister of education and early childhood development, said in a statement released Thursday evening that she is disappointed by the vote result, but not surprised.
“Teachers were put in the difficult position today of voting while bargaining is ongoing and before they know what is on the table,” Druhan said.
“Today I want to reassure parents that the outcome of this vote has no impact on school operations and does not trigger a strike. This vote is only a distraction that has caused confusion and anxiety for students and their families.”
Lutes said the union has shared the government’s opening offer with teachers. He said their offer has gotten worse since negotiations began.
“It’s time to fix our schools, and our kids deserve better. It’s my sincere wish that government will see the results and come back to the table prepared to engage in meaningful discussions.”
Druhan said the province is committed to getting a deal done while keeping teachers and students in school.
“The government’s energy remains focused on working toward a negotiated agreement on the terms and conditions of teachers’ employment during our next meetings with the NSTU.”
Negotiators for the government and the union return to the table on Monday and Tuesday with the help of a provincial conciliator.
A parents group is concerned the Nova Scotia government hasn’t fully thought through the return to schools.
Students across Nova Scotia are set to resume classes following the Christmas holidays January 10.
Co-chair of Nova Scotia Parents for Public Education Stacey Rudderham says the province has yet to address long-standing issues around air circulation, proper spacing for students, social distancing and releasing test results so parents can make informed choices whether to send their child to school.
“We want to see kids back in school. That’s definitely something that, you know, everybody agrees on is that kids, as much as possible should be in school,” said Rudderham. “However, a lot of the issues that have existed throughout COVID have not been resolved in our schools.”
For Rudderham and her group, it’s the lack of transparency and openness from officials that is most troubling.
“Last September, when government said they wouldn’t be listing school notices for any of the schools, we started our list and our group and our group grew by thousands of new members within days because we were the place to come and get information,” said Rudderham. “Parents want to know what’s going on in their schools.”
Nova Scotia is reporting 1,020 new COVID-19 cases Tuesday.
Rudderham questions why Nova Scotia is returning to in-class learning when other provinces are moving to an online model until the omicron COVID-19 variant can be brought under control.
She says education and public health officials need to consider there is more than just the school community at stake.
“It’s not just about if our kids are definitely going to get sick. It’s about who else that, you know, maybe they aren’t going to get sick but who are they going to impact if they do carry it home?” said Rudderham.
A representative from the South Shore Regional Centre for Education declined to comment on what measures are being put in place to ensure the safety of staff and students, saying the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development will share more information with staff and families about the back-to-school plan later this week.
Premier Tim Houston and chief medical officer of health doctor Robert Strang will provide a COVID update Wednesday at 3:00 PM.
Premier Stephen McNeil and Dr Robert Strang announce extended holiday. Photo: Nova Scotia Government
Christmas is coming early for Nova Scotia students.
Premier Stephen McNeil announced public schools will be closing December 18 and will remain closed until January 11, extending the festive holiday by nine days.
The premier said government is changing the holiday out of an abundance of caution.
“Christmas is coming and we are concerned that as family and friends gather, even in small groups, COVID could show up’ said McNeil. “Just look what happened in some of our western provinces after Thanksgiving weekend. They saw an uptick in cases.”
While students will enjoy an extra week off, school staff will be back January 4 to undergo five days of professional development.
The province’s chief medical officer of health Dr. Robert Strang announced nine new COVID-19 cases bringing the total active number in Nova Scotia to 65.
In the past two days, four cases have been found at The Eden Valley Poultry processing plant in Berwick. Strang announced the plant will be shut for two weeks as a result.
He says the closure is a warning that Nova Scotians can’t let their guard down and relax the precautions they’re taking against spreading the coronavirus.
“Is a stark reminder that we’re not through this yet and things can change very quickly. I know that people are anxious and ready to get back to something a little more normal but moving too quickly away from these restrictions can do the opposite.,” said Strang. “It can put us right back to where we were a month ago and prolong the need for extensive restrictions around COVID.”
Strang says help is on the way in the form of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine, which is expected to arrive in Nova Scotia December 15.
He says public health have been running mock drills to ensure they are prepared to meet the stringent handling requirements of the vaccine.
“It is a complicated operation especially with the Pfizer vaccine, given its unique storage and handling requirements. But I hope people can see by the work that’s gone on that we are absolutely ready to receive vaccine and start administering that,” said Strang.
The premier closed the update by saying the virus moves quickly through communities and tracking it will help chart the course for the province over the next few weeks.
“Movement matters. Where we go, what we do, who we’re with and how we behave. I know how important Christmas is to families, especially those who are spread out across our province. But it is our job to do our best to keep you safe. We will have more to say about this next week.”
Education Minister Zach Churchill unveils $14 million for schools. Photo: screen shot from Zoom meeting
Nova Scotia is spending more to help students and schools through COVID-19.
Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development Zach Churchill announced $14.3 million from federal Back to School funding would be going to schools to assist with healthy food programs, math and literacy programs, and providing more personal protective equipment.
The $1.5 million investment in healthy food options for students is divided into two streams. $500,000 will go towards buying food for the school lunch programs and the remaining $1 million will support what the department is calling an emergency food response fund. Minister Churchill explained that will be used to respond to the food needs of students if they need to learn from home.
“That can look like pre-paid cards for the grocery store or it can look like delivered bags of food depending on the community, and we’ll leave that up to folks on the ground, on the front lines to determine the best way to get that food, in those situations to the students and families that need it,” said Churchill.
The bulk of the money at $4.1 million will be earmarked for new online math and literacy programs.
Another $3.8 million will be used to install 950 touchless water stations, ensuring they are available in every school.
And $2.7 million will ensure ventilation systems are routinely inspected and repaired. That money is over and above the budgeted costs for maintenance.
Churchill commended students and school staff for their efforts to stop the spread of the coronavirus during the second wave. He said so far, it looks like it’s working.
“Speaking on behalf of the education system I think our teachers, principals, support staff, our cleaners, our students should be proud as well because it seems at this point, the majority of people are doing their part to make a difference and protect people from the virus,” said Churchill.
With the holidays approaching, some universities are already looking at extending the Christmas break to allow students to better cope with COVID-19 restrictions around travel.
Churchill said his department hasn’t made a decision yet on whether or not they will follow suit.
“We’re considering our options so those conversations are ongoing currently, in terms of how to approach Christmas break and if there’s any adjustments we need to make in our plan,” said Churchill.
He said any changes will be made after consulting with public health.
The minister was also asked if his department had been approached by public health officials about moving rapid testing into the schools, given the large number of Nova Scotians who are directly connected to the education system.
“We leave that decision to public health. Our job here is to work with them on implementation of their directives and if they believe that that is a necessary tool to enhance our testing protocols here in Nova Scotia, we’ll, of course work with them to implement that,” said Churchill. “We have not received that recommendation to date.”
