Bridge Lake School epitome of community, says association
100 Mile House Free Press
Jul 14 2009
By: Joan Silver

The Ministry of Education wants education and community services brought together in rural BC school districts and that's exactly what Bridge Lake school parents say they already have.

Tanya Lucente of the newly-formed Bridge Lake Community Centre Association quoted from a provincial news release, which said "Neighbourhoods of Learning" could include early learning or child care programs, space for non-profit organizations, health clinics, sports programs, family resources or seniors' centres, industry training or branch libraries.

She said Bridge Lake Community school already encompasses those services and she listed those programs:

• a play school program, after school care, pro-D daycare
• non-profit groups….
• space for health clinics is provided for flu shots…
• sports programs run year round
• seniors meet once or twice a month at the school
• the Meals on Wheels program that serves 100 Mile and District is prepared at the school with volunteer cooks
• training courses .. are held at the school
• the branch library is housed in the school

"We fulfill 100 per cent of the suggestions from the Ministry of Education on what the 21st century school should look like," Lucente said in a press release….

Lucente said, instead of cutting services at the school, the district should be tooting their own horn about the success of the community school at Bridge Lake.