Enrollment in Burnaby school district is above projections, according to preliminary numbers released in a staff report this week.

Overall, enrollment is 49 full-time equivalents (FTE) above what the district projected—and 30 FTE more than in September 2008.

Total enrollment is 23,157 FTE, which is expected to grow by another 320 FTE during the school year as the K-12 Distributed Learning Program enrolments are reported.

Enrollment in the district’s secondary schools is up by 64 FTE over last year but elementary enrollment is down by 34 FTE over 2008-2009.

A portable classroom as been placed at Montecito elementary to address growth.

There are 51 more students enrolled in French immersion over last year, a total of 1,860, of which 1,483 are at the elementary level.

GG academic medal winners announced

Burnaby winners of the Governor General’s Academic Medal were announced this week in a Burnaby School District superintendent’s report.

The medal is awarded to the student graduating with the highest average from a high school or approved college or university program. Created in 1873, the award’s past recipients have included Pierre Trudeau and Tommy Douglas.

For the 2008-2009 year, recipients from Burnaby high schools were: Michael Jew from Alpha, Ying Guo from Burnaby Central, Lillian Han from Burnaby Mountain, Kevin Lee from Burnaby North, Harleen Khangura from Burnaby South, Trudy Wong from Byrne Creek, Timothy Teoh from Cariboo Hill and Wen Jia Li from Moscrop.

Parent information expo Oct. 24

Parents have a chance to learn how to help their kids in school at the Burnaby Parent Information Expo on Saturday, Oct. 24, 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Cascade Heights Elementary, 4343 Smith Ave.

Burnaby District Parent Advisory Committee and Burnaby school district are presenting the event which will include workshops on study skills and tools, Internet safety, and anti-bullying.

Cost is $15 for Burnaby parents and guardians, $25 for out-of-district participants and includes handouts, coffee, snacks and lunch.

Register by Oct. 21 at registration@burnabydpac.com.

More info: www.burnabydpac.com.