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We are developing district-wide understanding and capacity so that all our students are members of classrooms that are inclusive learning communities. We are becoming more able to grow the strengths and meet the needs of students in their classrooms with their peers. We will provide appropriate supports and interventions whether a student has a diagnosis connected to a special education category or not. We are creating learning environments that enable students to develop a sense of belonging and ensure they see themselves in the curriculum. We know the improvements we make for vulnerable students or students with different interests and talents will benefit all students. 

Some examples of the work of our plan are: 

  • Fostering a growth mindset: all students can be successful
  • Shifting from pull-out to push-in supports so learning happens with peers in the context of classroom learning
  • Shifting from finding the right place for students to creating classroom communities for all students
  • Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity (SOGI) school leads team 
  • Ease Everyday Anxiety Strategies for Educators (EASE) program K-12 and Mental Health Literacy (Gr 7-12) for the benefit of staff and students
  • Training for staff and community in creating trauma-informed resilient classrooms: Circle of Courage

Explore the ways we are LEARNING BETTER TOGETHER in as an inclusive community in Cariboo-Chilcotin School District:

National Accessibility Week

Columneetza Junior Secondary

Columneetza is proud to celebrate National Accessibility Week by welcoming all students and staff into an inclusive and supportive learning environment. We encourage everyone to explore and participate in our incredible learning activities designed to engage, inspire, and support diverse needs.
National Accessibility Week

Columneetza Teachers vs. Students Volleyball Game

Columneetza Junior Secondary

Recently a group of keen volleyball students organized and executed an intermural volleyball tournament over the course of two weeks. The culminating event was a playdown between the top team and a rag-tag staff team. The staff team showed up with some incredible and surprisingly talented folks.
Columneetza Teachers vs. Students Volleyball Game 1

Red Dress Day at Columneetza

Columneetza Junior Secondary

On May 5 - Columneetza community acknowledged the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and 2SLGBTQI+ people, also known as Red Dress Day.
Red Dress Day 2

Keeping Kids Safe Online from Sexual Exploitation

Columneetza Junior Secondary

Thank you to presenters Allison, Lara, and Tatyana from Children of the Street for delivering workshops on child and youth exploitation. These workshops were delivered in schools and also streamed for SD27's rural and remote students.
Keeping Kids Safe Online from Sexual Exploitation

Building Trust, Making Memories

Columneetza Junior Secondary

Building trust and psychological safety amongst her students is important to middle years educator Bal Uppal. Creating opportunities for community-building and fun lead to better results in (and outside of) the classroom, no matter the subject area!
Building trust making memories1 holly zurak

Happy Vaisakhi

Columneetza Junior Secondary

Today is a special day as we celebrate Vaisakhi together with a delicious lunch prepared by our amazing staff. Vaisakhi is an important festival in Sikh culture that celebrates spring, new beginnings, and the values of community, sharing, and helping others.
Vaisakhi alina cameron

Resetting Expectations: Engaging Students

Columneetza Junior Secondary

Following Spring Break, Vice-Principals Cameron and Cullum led grade group assemblies to reset positive expectations, Code of Conduct, and review safety procedures.
Resetting expectations Engaging students holly zurak

Columneetza Welcomes Back Students In A Good Way

Columneetza Junior Secondary

On the first Monday back after Spring Break, Columneetza staff met students and staff at the front of the school with an invitational smudge, to help welcome them back in a good way. Thank you Kaylee, Shannon, Katrina, and Rick for starting us off with smudge and song.
Columneetza welcomes back students in a good way2 holly zurak

Celebrating Women's Day

Columneetza Junior Secondary

At Columneetza, we celebrate each and every one of our amazing women. Today we take the time to recognize their strength, leadership, and the many contributions they make to our school community.
Celebrating Womens Day1 alina cameron

School Dance - Positive Culture

Columneetza Junior Secondary

Columneetza Teacher John Sheppard and his leadership class don’t just love to dance, they LOVE to dance! They planned, prepared for, and pulled off an upbeat, safe, and FUN school dance for Valentine’s Day.
School dance Positive culture2 holly zurak

January Culture & Conduct Assemblies

Columneetza Junior Secondary

On Tuesday January 6th, we held three consecutive grade group assemblies focused on re-establishing schoolwide expectations for positive culture, collective and individual responsibilities, and expected conduct as indicated by the Columneetza Code of Conduct.
January Culture Conduct Assemblies holly zurak

Columneetza Remembers

Columneetza Junior Secondary

On November 10th, Columneetza held thoughtful ceremony for Remembrance Day and National Aboriginal Veteran’s Day. Honoured guests from Williams Lake First Nation welcomed the school community with reflective words and soulful drumming and song.
Columneetza Remembers holly zurak 2

Book Club Fosters Belonging

Columneetza Junior Secondary

Teacher-librarian Alanna Vachon and Grade 7 Teacher Lacy Custance are building a Book Club at Columneetza. Each month the group chooses a new book and then meets to share takeaway and discussion points over food and friendship.
Book Club fosters Belonging holly zurak

ERASE Sessions for Students, Staff and Caregivers

Columneetza Junior Secondary

On October 21st, 2025, a Safer Schools Together presenter visited Williams Lake to deliver face-to-face presentations to students, staff, parents and caregivers about staying safe online.
IMG 0612 holly zurak

Columneetza Celebrates Diwali

Columneetza Junior Secondary

Teacher leaders planned and executed a beautiful invitation to learning this week on the festival of light - Diwali! What a beautiful way for our students to experience and embrace existing or new-to-them cultural differences. There was food, music, art, henna, and lots of smiles!
IMG 0595 holly zurak

Latin America Heritage Day!

Columneetza Junior Secondary

We celebrated Latin America Heritage Day. We had an amazing support from our Latin American staff and their family members! Gracias Columneetza!
Latin America alina cameron

Columneetza Cares, The Gift of Giving

Columneetza Junior Secondary

Our incredible team came together to cook and deliver a Thanksgiving dinner for families, and we also made turkey sandwiches for all our students! Wishing everyone a Happy Thanksgiving!
Thanksgiving alina cameron

BGC Visits the Columneetza Hallway

Columneetza Junior Secondary

Youth outreach reps from Boys and Girls Club of Williams Lake have been visiting Columneetza’s hallways in the first few weeks of school. Within our school we have many supports for our students and we are glad to share supports from the community as well. Thanks for spending time with us!
IMG 9615 holly zurak

Off to a Great Start!

Columneetza Junior Secondary

Grade 7 students are settling in well at their new home campus of Columneetza Junior Secondary. A few have even turned into great hosts at the door, welcoming classmates!
Off to a great Start

Welcome to the Hub!

Columneetza Junior Secondary

Our social emotional learning team staff members have been working hard to create a space in the school where students can spend time if they need to self-regulate, talk to someone, find a safe space, or catch their breath.
IMG 9135 holly zurak

Support Hits the Hallways

Columneetza Junior Secondary

Vice-Principal Alina Cameron and learning support teacher Corinna Yaworski hit the hallways with Ms. Cameron’s mobile office. Visibility and supportive check-ins are important to our inclusive and caring school culture. We are happy to see our students settling in!
IMG 9292 holly zurak

Columneetza Cares

Columneetza Junior Secondary

At Columneetza, we welcomed all 700 students back to school with care and curiosity. At our school-wide assembly we went over the expected behaviours, communications, language and activities for students that make everyone feel safe, happy and respected.
IMG 3229 holly zurak

Terry Fox Cancer Fundraiser Kick-Off & Code of Conduct Trivia Assembly

Columneetza Junior Secondary

Today, we learned more about Terry Fox and his amazing accomplishments as an athlete and a Canadian. We kicked off our assembly with a fundraising competition, some relay racing and donations for cancer research. On Sept.
Terry Fox