With the new school year come new additions to Eagle River Secondary in Sicamous.

This year the new principal is Lyle Chapman, taking over the helm from principal Mark Marino.

香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 a pretty full-circle moment for me; I香蕉视频直播檓 pretty excited to be here,香蕉视频直播� said Chapman, speaking to the News on Sept. 2.

He explained that ERS is the first school he taught at when he was starting out as a teacher about 25 years ago.

His photo can be seen hanging in the school hallway.

Enlarging the circle is the fact some of the students he taught are now parents and their kids are attending the school.

Asked if he has plans for the school, Chapman said the first thing for him will be to take time to learn about the culture and feel of the school, seeing what its strengths are.

He said he香蕉视频直播檒l be looking to see where he can continue to move it forward.

香蕉视频直播淭he previous principal was super effective,香蕉视频直播� he said, so he won香蕉视频直播檛 be looking at any sweeping changes.

He said Marino is a friend and he described him as 香蕉视频直播渁n amazing educator.香蕉视频直播�

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香蕉视频直播淚香蕉视频直播檓 not looking at sweeping changes, I will just be looking at creating those opportunities for kids香蕉视频直播ο憬妒悠抵辈��

He noted that small schools have many opportunities for students which he香蕉视频直播檇 like to foster and keep moving.

ERS encompasses Grades 7 through 12. He expects the final enrolment number will be in the mid 150s. 香蕉视频直播淣ice small classes, super personal learning and lots of hands-on opportunities.香蕉视频直播�

He gave the example of walking field trips and how small classes make such activities easier to provide.

香蕉视频直播淏ecause we have so few students, it香蕉视频直播檚 much easier to manage those opportunities because you香蕉视频直播檙e not dealing with 30 kids.香蕉视频直播�

Chapman said he香蕉视频直播檚 been out of the district for about seven years.

He took positions in a couple of different districts, he said.

He was in Osoyoos for a couple of years and in the Vernon school district for the past five years.

At one time he said his family was considering transitioning out of the district permanently. However, he香蕉视频直播檚 really happy with what香蕉视频直播檚 he香蕉视频直播檚 seeing 香蕉视频直播� how it香蕉视频直播檚 moving forward, he said.

香蕉视频直播淚香蕉视频直播檓 just excited to be here, hoping to spend a few years here, wrapping my head around the school, what I can do to continue to make it great.香蕉视频直播�

BUILDING UPGRADES

Chapman is also impressed with all the work that香蕉视频直播檚 been done on the building.

Along with big upgrades to the HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) system, the school now has a gender-neutral washroom.

Chapman explained that a plumbing issue arose with one of the washrooms and repairing it ended up requiring deconstruction. Because the push around the province is to provide options for students, it was decided it would be an opportune time to construct a gender-neutral facility.

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He said the new design means more sink space with four sinks out in the open, while the individual stalls have full walls and doors for privacy.

香蕉视频直播淵ou don香蕉视频直播檛 have to worry about wandering into the wrong bathroom.香蕉视频直播�

The washrooms are near the front entrance to the school so are easily visible and can be easily monitored if there are any problems.

Traditional gender-specific washrooms are still available in another wing of the school.

香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 nice because there may be some students who still want to go into the traditional style,香蕉视频直播� Chapman said.

He said the work began at the end of June and just wrapped up.

香蕉视频直播淲e香蕉视频直播檙e super excited about it; it香蕉视频直播檚 a big project for Eagle River,香蕉视频直播� Chapman said.

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