The purpose of this letter is to address several issues I have encountered as a parent with three children attending Nusdeh Yoh Elementary School. These issues include unnecessary child protection reports, bullying, teacher malpractice, and poor administration.
On March 29, the grade 6/7 class had a C.O.P.E presentation on suicide awareness. No permission forms were sent home, and as a parent I felt unprepared for the events that followed. The Ministry of Children and Family Development (MCFD) contacted me to open a Family Service file due to a report made by the school. After investigation, it was brought to my attention that the report likely came from the guest presenters at the school when my child disclosed a historical incident that was already addressed.
This report triggered the entire family as we have a long history with MCFD. A few days later, my child came forward with high-risk suicidal ideation. Granted, the presentation may have been beneficial in bringing this to light; however, as a parent I would have appreciated being notified prior to the presentation so I felt better equipped for the days that followed. Administration should have properly screened guest presenters who are not School District 57 staff and followed protocol for sending home permission forms for participation.
This year, another child of mine has been severely struggling with bullying from students in his classroom that has gone on unaddressed. On April 19, my child landed in the hospital due to being hit in the head with a rock outside on the playground. The incident spurred a schoolwide lock down as my child lost blood all over the halls. I was contacted and immediately took my child to the hospital to seek medical attention where my son disclosed to the doctor that classmates got angry and were purposefully throwing rocks at him.
I question why paramedics were not contacted for this head injury. I was not informed of any consequences or accountability for these other classmates. My child and I are left feeling like we have no closure with this incident and are not being properly supported by the school to address this. As a parent, I question the level of supervision provided at Nusdeh Yoh Elementary and feel unsafe sending my children to school.
Teachers are not teaching with a trauma-informed lens and should have additional training and supports provided to them when working in an Indigenous Choice school. My children should not experience nitpicking, bullying, or yelling in their place of learning. The school is being poorly managed by the administration team and I do not know what it will take to increase educational success, safety, and cultural sensitivity.
Previously, I have attempted to rectify these issues directly with the teachers, the school principal, and the former superintendent of SD57. I want to feel safe sending my children to school and confident that they are getting the education they deserve. I am calling on the Lheidli T’enneh Band, the City of Prince George, School District 57, and Indigenous Agencies to help rectify the current challenges faced by my family, and likely others, at Nusdeh Yoh Elementary School.
Amanda Paladino
Prince George
