A new school has opened its doors in southwest Kamloops, and the message from those celebrating its arrival was clear: Sníne elementary school belongs to the children who will fill its classrooms.
Students, families, school district officials, and special guests gathered late last month to officially open the new Pineview Valley school, which welcomed its first students on Sept. 8.
The opening celebration brought together the Board of Education, district leadership, school staff and members of the community, including the school’s 328 students.
From principal Rosie Caputo to school district Supt. Mike St. John, speakers made a point of addressing the children and reminding them the school was built for them.
“While we’re here to celebrate the opening of a new school, what makes a building truly special are the people inside,” said St. John. “Kids in the audience, you are the stars of today’s show. This school has been built for you, just for you, and we know you will respect it and honour it.”
St. John said a good school nurtures care, love, and connectedness between it and the students, and he could feel that at Sníne elementary.
Jackie Jules, a Secwépemc language, history, and cultural educator, led a traditional welcoming song and encouraged the children to join in, demonstrating the accompanying moves and gestures.
Before beginning, Jules paused to take in the energy of the room.
“All children are good medicine for my spirit,” said Jules. “Any time I am around youth, my heart is full.”
Jules also teaches at the school, sharing her culture with the students.
School board chair Heather Grieve acknowledged the lengthy process involved in securing funding and completing construction, thanking previous trustees for their work, including Denise Harper, Meghan Wade, Annette Glover, Gerald Watson, John Harwood, and many others.
The school is intended to help address longstanding space pressures in southwest Kamloops, serving students from Pineview Valley, Lower Aberdeen, Cherry Creek, Lac Le Jeune, and Tobiano.
Built to accommodate more than 450 students, the project received $65.3 million in provincial funding, with a final construction cost of approximately $53 million.
Designed with sustainability and outdoor learning in mind, the school incorporates mass timber sourced from British Columbia. Features include a library and learning commons, gymnasium, Indigenous garden, and outdoor learning spaces.
The building also includes a Neighbourhood Learning Centre with childcare operated by the Boys and Girls Club of Kamloops and Williams Lake.
The school’s name, Sníne, pronounced Sneena, is the Secwépemc word for owl, a symbol of strength, wisdom and guidance. Owls are also regarded in Secwépemc culture as teachers of children and messengers.
It is the first school in the Kamloops-Thompson district to receive a Secwepemctsín name, reflecting the district’s commitment to Truth and Reconciliation.
The naming process included a 25-member committee bringing together Indigenous rights holders, Elders, language specialists, Knowledge Keepers, parents, students and other community representatives.
A public survey narrowed the options to five names, with Pineview Valley elementary receiving the most votes. Trustees ultimately voted unanimously in favour of Sníne elementary.