DM Bulletin – February 14, 2025 – Deputy Minister's Bulletin

Friday February 14, 2025

**Kaye Krishna**
Deputy Minister of Education and Child Care

Hello, everyone.

In this week’s Deputy Minister’s Bulletin we have a reminder that February is Black History Month, as well as resources and a survey related to school foods. This week’s bulletin also includes registration links and resources for a presentation on substance use prevention, a new data tool to promote student mental health, and a reminder to register for the BCTEA virtual annual meeting if you haven’t already. Finally, we have a reminder on where to find student certification information and another on copyright obligations in the classroom.

Wishing you all a warm, relaxing long Family Day weekend.

Kaye

For Action

Feeding Futures School Food Survey Reminder
For Action

Published Friday February 14 2025

Feeding Futures School Food Survey Reminder

This is a reminder that schools are asked to complete the School Food Survey to provide an update on the creation and expansion of school food programs through Feeding Futures funding. The survey collects information about the delivery of school food programs, including:
- Program type
- Approximate number of students accessing programs
- Approaches to identifying students who could benefit from school food programs
- Nutritional quality of meals provided
- Local food in school food programs
- Barriers to improving school food programs
The survey will take approximately 20 minutes to complete and will be open until February 21. Please contact ECC.schoolfood@gov.bc.ca if you have any questions about the survey.
Principals & Vice Principals|School Food Coordinators
British Columbia Tripartite Education Agreement (BCTEA) Virtual Annual Meeting on Transportation – Registration Reminder

For Action

Published Friday February 14 2025

British Columbia Tripartite Education Agreement (BCTEA) Virtual Annual Meeting on Transportation – Registration Reminder

The Ministry of Education and Child Care, the First Nations Education Steering Committee (FNESC), and Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) encourage you to register for this year’s BCTEA virtual Annual Meeting on Transportation on Tuesday, March 4, 2025, from 10:00 am -12:00 pm PST. Details are available in this event backgrounder.

Indigenous Education Leads|Secretary-Treasurers|Transportation Leads

For Information

Black History Month

For Information

Published Friday February 14 2025

Black History Month

February is Black History Month, a time to honour and celebrate the achievements and contributions of Black people in Canada and their communities. This year’s theme is Black Legacy and Leadership to celebrate the diversity of Black Canadians, the importance of Black leadership and the legacy being built for future generations.

District SOGI Leads|Indigenous Education Leads|Principals & Vice Principals
BC School Food Toolkit Launch & Webinars

For Information

Published Friday February 14 2025

BC School Food Toolkit Launch & Webinars

The BC School Food Toolkit, intended to support schools in creating and maintaining healthy school food environments, has been launched and is now available online.

To support its launch, the Ministry of Health is offering introductory webinars for School Food Coordinators to learn more about the BC School Food Toolkit and how it can be used to support district and school staff responsible for meal planning and food purchasing of school food programs.

School Food Coordinators may use the following links to attend either of the live webinars below:

Tuesday, February 18, 3:00 pm – 4:30 pm PST — Join the meeting now

Wednesday, February 19, 9:00 am – 10:30 am PST — Join the meeting now

School Food Coordinators
Quick Reference Guide: Transcript Verification Reports

For Information

Published Friday February 14 2025

Quick Reference Guide: Transcript Verification Reports

Student Transcript Verification Reports (TVRs) are posted on the School Secure Web for students with school-reported course activity in Grades 10, 11 and 12. TVRs are the official source for monitoring and confirming a student’s graduation or completion status. A new Quick Reference Guide: Transcript Verification Reports is available to assist schools in reviewing these reports. Find this resource and more on the TRAX Information website.
Invitation to District Anti-Racism Leads

For Information

Published Friday February 14 2025

Invitation to District Anti-Racism Leads

In collaboration with the Metro Anti-Racism Network, the ministry is hosting an online anti-racism networking session on March 6 from 9:30-11:30 am PST for district anti-racism leads to discuss insights, challenges and impacts of on-going anti-racism change in schools. Two anti-racism leads from each district are invited to attend. Please distribute accordingly.  

Please RSVP by completing this form by February 19.  

District SOGI Leads|Inclusive Education Leads|Indigenous Education Leads|Mental Health Leads
Substance Use Prevention, Part 2: Mental Health & Decision-Making Information Sessions

For Information

Published Friday February 14 2025

Substance Use Prevention, Part 2: Mental Health & Decision-Making Information Sessions

In partnership with adolescent clinical psychologist  Dr. Hayley Watson from Open Parachute, the ministry will host three, free virtual sessions for parents, guardians and caregivers that will focus on practical skills you can teach your child and youth (ages 0-19) to prevent substance use and mental health challenges. These sessions will build on a previous presentation, which focused on practical conversation tools for speaking about substance use prevention with your children/youth.

Participants must register in advance for one of sessions on February 20, 25 or 26. Please share this information within your school community to reach parents, guardians and caregivers of all ages. Email the Mental Health and Substance Use team at educ.mentalhealth@gov.bc.ca if you have any questions. 

Mental Health Leads
Copyright Obligations in the Education Sector

For Information

Published Friday February 14 2025

Copyright Obligations in the Education Sector

A reminder that copying must fall within the scope of the fair dealing exception under s.29 of the Copyright Act. For more information, please refer to the Council of Ministers of Education’s (CMEC’s) Fair Dealing Guidelines.

Directors of Instruction|French Language Leads|Online Learning Leads|Principals & Vice Principals
Discipline Outcomes

For Information

Published Friday February 14 2025

Discipline Outcomes

Discipline outcomes are posted to enhance the transparency of the processes and decisions made with respect to complaints and reports about educators. Recently, an outcome was posted regarding Benjamin Joseph Freeman, whose certificate was suspended for three days.

Directors of Human Resources|Principals & Vice Principals|Secretary-Treasurers

All school district reporting requirements are available in the online reporting calendar. The following reporting requirements are due to the ministry in the next few weeks:

February 28

Testing Lead Content in Drinking Water

March 3

April Graduation Assessment Registrations – Opening Date

March 7

February Intake of Youth TRAIN in Trades Program Course Claims

March 27

April Graduation Assessment Registrations – Closing Date

March 28

School District Amended Annual Budget

March 31

School Calendars

Friday February 14, 2025

For Action

Feeding Futures School Food Survey Reminder

Feeding Futures School Food Survey Reminder

British Columbia Tripartite Education Agreement (BCTEA) Virtual Annual Meeting on Transportation – Registration Reminder

British Columbia Tripartite Education Agreement (BCTEA) Virtual Annual Meeting on Transportation – Registration Reminder

For Information

Black History Month

Black History Month

BC School Food Toolkit Launch & Webinars

BC School Food Toolkit Launch & Webinars

Quick Reference Guide: Transcript Verification Reports

Quick Reference Guide: Transcript Verification Reports

Invitation to District Anti-Racism Leads

Invitation to District Anti-Racism Leads

Substance Use Prevention, Part 2: Mental Health & Decision-Making Information Sessions

Substance Use Prevention, Part 2: Mental Health & Decision-Making Information Sessions

Copyright Obligations in the Education Sector

Copyright Obligations in the Education Sector

Discipline Outcomes

Discipline Outcomes

District Reporting Requirements

News Releases

Additional Resources

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