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Wildfires forced B.C. Chilcotin schools to adapt back-to-class


Wildfires forced B.C. Chilcotin schools to adapt back-to-class

Students in B.C.'s Chilcotin are settling back into class following a back-to-school season disrupted by wildfires and evacuation orders.

"It has been a really positive few weeks since students returned and there is a great energy in our school now that the smoke has cleared," said Kimberley Ikebuchi, principal of Tatla Lake Elementary/Junior School located about 2.5 hours west of Williams Lake.

The school was forced to close during the first few weeks of instruction this year as the Smokey Lake wildfire, discovered on Aug. 29, prompted an evacuation order issued on Sept. 7. By the following day, 242 evacuees had registered with Emergency Support Services in Williams Lake, where additional evacuees had been sent to two days prior due to the Beef Trail Creek wildfire. Evacuation orders were also active at this time due to the Dusty Lake wildfire.

"Our community and school have shown incredible resilience throughout this experience as they have in the past," Ikebuchi said. Despite these challenging circumstances, the principal said families, staff and students came together and made the learning happen. Students had access to online coursework and programs while the school was closed, and on Sept. 12, they went on a field trip to the Tatlayoko Lake Bird Observatory (TLBO).

"Being veteran visitors to the TLBO, the students were exceptionally patient and optimistic and for that they were rewarded," wrote TLBO's Sachi Snively on the project's blog.

The observatory tracks migrating bird populations passing through the area, and students from Tatla School often visit and learn about bird banding, species identification, migration, local scientific research, bird conservation and climate change.

"The students typically watch the interactions with the birds and the field biologists and learn," Ikebuchi said. "They often help carry the birds to the banding station after they are taken out of the nets and they help release the birds after they are banded."

About half of the school's student population attended this year, along with their families, and got to participate in the project's eighth banding of the season. It was of a red-breasted nuthatch, which had been born this year, a special visitor to the area. Some families also got to witness the banding of a Swainson's Thrush before the field trip concluded. By the end of the day, the observatory counted 777 birds banded 41 days into the season.

Evacuation alerts issued due to the Smokey Lake wildfire were lifted on Sept.14, and the evacuation order was downgraded to an alert that same day. Three weeks later, and with Highway 20 now reopened, students are back in the groove.

"Students have told us they are excited to be back, especially to get started in band and begin preparing for the spring performance of Snow White," Ikebuchi said. This will be the third year the school provides a curriculum-based music program, before which students learned to sing and play the recorder with a volunteer. The school also puts on a play every year, with Rapunzel and Cinderella being the two previous plays.

Students will be travelling to Bella Coola for the Mudbowl Soccer Tournament at Sir Alexander Mackenzie School, and Grade 4 to 7 students will also be heading to Gavin Lake Forestry Camp in a few weeks.

"These kinds of trips are a great way for students to stay active, make connections, and represent their school with pride," Ikebuchi said.

About an hour northwest of Tatla Lake, Anahim Lake Elementary Junior-Secondary School and Ulkatcho First Nation's Nagwintl'oo School were also forced to close as the Beef Trail Creek fire prompted evacuation orders in early September. The fire was discovered on Aug. 28, followed by the Dusty Lake fire discovered on Sept. 1 which also led to evacuation orders.

School District 27 Superintendent Cheryl Lenardon visited the Cariboo Friendship Centre in Williams Lake, which hosted drop-ins for evacuees from Ulkatcho.

"Bonnie joined organizer Alysha Knapp and her team to welcome families, share lunch, do crafts and activities and make connections," Lenardon said. "It is inspiring to see how the community has pulled together to support families in really difficult circumstances."

The evacuation orders were lifted on Sept. 16, and while Anahim Lake school began welcoming students back immediately, many were unable to attend those first few days as families travelled back home.

Nagwintl'oo school delayed its in-person start to the following Monday, and students had a particularly special return to school, where a new playground awaited them.

In all cases, online learning and drop-ins were available during the evacuation orders for students who had access to a computer and the internet.

"Overall, it's been a strong start. Students are engaged, staff are feeling optimistic, and we are all looking forward to the learning opportunities ahead," Ikebuchi said.

"We extend sincere gratitude to the Cariboo Regional District EOC. Stephanie and the team there provided excellent communication and kept us up to date and in contact with the people we needed to coordinate with. We couldn't have asked for better support," Lenardon said.

All three of these fires continue to be active on the BC Wildfire Service map but are listed as under control, meaning suppression efforts have ensured they should not spread beyond their current perimeters.

As of Oct. 3, the Dusty Lake wildfire was last listed at 22,883.42 hectares, Smokey Lake wildfire at 7,789.94 hectares and Beef Trail Creek wildfire at 13,992.7 hectares.

With files from Jordy Cunningham and Ruth Lloyd.

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