New School - Sníne Elementary School (K-7) Opens in the Fall 2026

Snine Elementary

We are preparing for the opening of Sníne Elementary School, K-7 in the Fall of 2026. Join us on the journey of planning, designing, and building this new school.

Frequently Asked Questions and Answers

Posted On Tuesday October 24, 2023

Frequently Asked Questions and Answers are available here.

Construction has officially started on the new Sníne Elementary School in Pineview Valley.

On Monday, June 3, 2024, the Kamloops-Thompson Board of Education marked the start of construction on Sníne Elementary School with an official Groundbreaking Ceremony.

Sníne Elementary, the Kamloops-Thompson’s newest school, will be located in Pineview Valley. This school has been a priority for the District since 2014-2015, due to notable enrollment growth and space pressures in nearby schools.

Following a recent public consultation process, the school was named Sníne Elementary. Sníne, the Secwépemc word for owl, symbolizes strength, wisdom, and guidance. The naming committee and consultation process included voices from Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc Chief and Council, the District Aboriginal Education Council, employee executive groups, the District Parent Advisory Council, parents, community partners, and students.

Sníne Elementary - Owls Elementary (Sneena)

The name was brought forward to the Tk̓emlúps te Secwépemc fluent Elders working group (Wumecwílc – Bringing the language forward-back) Thought was given to the area, the plants, and the animals of that area. The Great Horned Owl – Sníne, lives there, and the Secwépemc have many legends of Owl not only being a messenger but also being a teacher of children. Legends of “Owls Children”. The Owl is known for their strength, wisdom, and guidance.

Read more about the Sníne Elementary Groundbreaking here.

Read the Ministry of Education and Childcare's Sníne Elementary News Release .

Open external page https://www.youtube.com/embed/OHgyAjc16Ro?si=D_zztY4zK8107kwG&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;wmode=transparent

Video Presentation of the Draft Plans

Posted On Tuesday October 17, 2023

The Board of Education has advocated for a new elementary school in the Pineview Valley for the past three years due to notable space pressures in the southwest sector, notably McGowan Park Elementary School that continues to be at 157% capacity utilization.

Since the announcement of funding support on February 22, 2023, we have established the Pineview Valley Community Engagement Committee, a group of representatives from various community partners, parents, employee groups, associations, senior staff, trustees, and the Ministry of Education and Child Care. Read more.

Advocacy & Community Engagement for a New Elementary School in Pineview Valley - Opens in the Fall of 2026

Aug. 30, 2021- Board Meeting

Ministry of Education and Child Care approves the Pineview Valley Concept Plan, which enabled the District to proceed with a Project Definition Report, provided the following conditions were met:

A Neighbourhood Learning Centre (NLC) option with a strong consideration for childcare.
Enhanced greenhouse gas reduction strategies (50% reduction of greenhouse gas emissions).
Multiple procurements to deliver the project to be investigated and presented.
Integration of significant mass timber elements to be considered.

June 27, 2022 - Ministry Response located in Board Communications	Ministry response to expedite the Crown Grant application for the Pineview Elementary School.
June 14, 2022 - Board Communication	Board Chair Grieve writes a letter to the Minister of Forestry requesting support to expedite Pineview Valley Elementary School Crown Grant.
Dec. 28, 2022 - Board Communication	Board Chair Grieve writes a letter to the Minister of Education and Child Care asking for joint news release for Pineview Valley Elementary School.
Dec. 18, 2022 - Board Communication	Board Chair Grieve writes a letter to the Minister of Education and Child Care to request a joint news release on a funding announcement for Pineview Valley.

Dec. 22, 2023	In preparation for the new elementary school in Pineview Valley, we have had a Pineview Valley Engagement Committee meet and contribute input considered in the design of the outside and inside of the school. Now, we are in the preliminary earthworks for the new Pineview Valley Elementary school is complete. This project included: tree removal clearing of vegetation removal of materials not suitable for the next phase of construction relocation of material on site erosion and sediment control structures on the site The next step of the Pineview Valley Elementary project is to put the remaining work out to tender, which is anticipated to happen around the middle of February 2024.
Nov. 29, 2023 -	Pineview Valley Elementary Community Engagement Webinar.
Oct. 20, 2023 - Draft Planes	Most current draft planes.
Aug. 29, 2023 - News Release	��Swag Board of Education’s Pineview Valley Engagement Committee Feedback on Draft Plans for New School in Pineview Valley.
Jun. 27, 2023 - Ministry Response located in Board Communications	The Ministry of Forestry responds that a regular process can take up to four years and to follow all steps.
Apr. 27, 2023 - The first meeting of the Pineview Valley Community Engagement Committee.	We met to review the architectural draft plans for the school. Many ideas were shared about how to consider the space from an Indigenous perspective (i.e., the importance of the beautiful ecological environment surrounding the school with lakes and trails and creating an outdoor space in which there could be room to gather, to cook, to participate in land-based teachings and ceremonies) and to consider the indoor learning commons and multi-purpose space as having a wall that can be temporary so as to create a space inside for family gatherings and consider making it easily accessible to the outside space. The notion of a "pit house" Secwepemc winter home as the shape or rendering of this space was shared. Other ideas such as creating multi-use rooms that can be used for Art, Science, Music, and Drama, as some examples were reviewed (i.e., having sound panels, sinks, cupboards for supplies). If you have ideas to share with this committee, please feel free to submit them to: Facility Input
Apr. 17, 2023 - Board Report	Pineview Valley Community Engagement Committee is established. This committee will include: 2 trustee representatives Superintendent of Schools Assistant Superintendent, Elementary and Early Learning Secretary Treasurer Director McDonald Director Pinette Station One Architect representative Ministry of Education and Child Care representative Indigenous rights holders – Aboriginal Education Council Director Diane Jules, AEC representatives, District Principal, Mike Bowden School administration (McGowan) 2 representatives from CUPE and KTTA (McGowan) School parents – 2 representatives (McGowan) Employee Group Executives - CUPE, KTTA, KTPVPA 2 community partners (rotational position - through expressed interest and rsvp) The purpose of the committee is to offer perspectives, to ask questions, and to provide suggestions on draft plans for the school regarding facilities, programming, resources, and grounds development.
Apr. 17, 2023 - Board Report	Public announcement – Station One Architects was successful. They have a proven, positive history with ��Swag.
Mar. 13, 2023 - Board Report	Announcement of the Architect for Pineview Valley - awarded to Station One Architects
Mar. 8, 2023 - New Release	Kamloops-Thompson Board of Education celebrates the funding announcement for a new elementary school in Pineview Valley.
Feb. 6, 2023 -	Pineview Valley continues to be a top priority.
Jan. 31, 2023 - Board writes a column to advocate for a funding announcement	Vice Chair Kershaw writes a column in Kamloops This Week advocating for the urgent need for a new school in Pineview Valley.
Jan. 24, 2023 - Board meets with the Minister	��Swag Board of Education meets with the Minister of Education and Child Care to request a funding announcement for Pineview Valley.

June 3, 2024 - News Release	Sníne Elementary Groundbreaking Ceremony marks the beginning of construction. Read more here. Watch the Sníne Elementary Groundbreaking Ceremony .
April 22, 2024 -	At the Regular Public Board Meeting, after the tender for the Sníne Elementary School project closed on April 5, 2024, School District No. 73 (Kamloops-Thompson) approved the lowest compliant bid, which was received from Yellowridge Construction Ltd.
April 22, 2024 -	Following a public consultation process, the Board of Education approved the name of the new elementary school in Pineview Valley to be Sníne Elementary.
January 10 and March 1, 2024	A public consultation process was established by the Community Engagement Naming Committee that was open between January 10 and March 1, 2024, whereby the public, staff, and students could put forth a recommended school name based on the criteria outlined in the .

Watch for updates here and through social media.

Questions can be sent to: Facility Input

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