Greater Victoria School District

Rogers Elementary in Saanich as seen on Friday, Feb. 10. (Austin Westphal/News Staff)

‘We are devastated’: SD61 boots Saanich child-care centre after 32 years

School district hasn’t given child-care operator a reason

 

Victoria High is British Columbia’s oldest high school. (Photo by Cole Descoteau)

Victoria High School seismic project extended four months

Students are now scheduled to go back to Victoria High School in January 2024

 

Greater Victoria School District student’s light switch art. (Courtesy of SD61)

Greater Victoria students create art to promote energy conservation

SD61 students design stickers to encourage others to turn out lights when no one is in classroom

 

Campus View Elementary in Saanich has a new soft, non-slip playground surface made from 281 recycled B.C. scrap tires. (Courtesy Tire Stewardship BC)

Old tires give one Saanich elementary school’s playground a sustainable makeover

Campus View Elementary installs new playground surface made from recycled tires

Campus View Elementary in Saanich has a new soft, non-slip playground surface made from 281 recycled B.C. scrap tires. (Courtesy Tire Stewardship BC)
One of four electric buses to join the Greater Victoria School District fleet. (Courtesy SD61)

Four new, all-electric buses join the Greater Victoria School District fleet

Buses to help reduce fleet’s greenhouse gas emissions by 40 per cent by 2030

One of four electric buses to join the Greater Victoria School District fleet. (Courtesy SD61)
The commissioner called the teacher’s behaviour a violation of ‘his privileged position of power and trust.’ (Black Press Media file photo)

Greater Victoria teacher gets lifetime ban after sexual relationship with student

Brent Garraway admitted to being physically intimate, having sexual relationship with student

The commissioner called the teacher’s behaviour a violation of ‘his privileged position of power and trust.’ (Black Press Media file photo)
A former SD61 woodshop teacher has been disciplined after a 2020 incident where a student’s hair got ripped out of their head after it got stuck in a wood planer. Other student injuries on the former teacher’s watch also led to discipline. (Black Press Media file photo)

Former Greater Victoria woodshop teacher disciplined for injuries in his class

Christian Michel failed to provide a safe classroom despite repeated reminders, injuries

A former SD61 woodshop teacher has been disciplined after a 2020 incident where a student’s hair got ripped out of their head after it got stuck in a wood planer. Other student injuries on the former teacher’s watch also led to discipline. (Black Press Media file photo)
Willows Grade 5 students in the Greater Victoria School District strings program rally in spring 2021 against cuts to program funding for the next school year. The board of education accepted a donation to save the program for next year. (Ian Sharpe photo)

Donation saves orchestral strings program in Greater Victoria schools

Funds allow for specific program available across all 28 elementary schools

Willows Grade 5 students in the Greater Victoria School District strings program rally in spring 2021 against cuts to program funding for the next school year. The board of education accepted a donation to save the program for next year. (Ian Sharpe photo)
Students explore the outdoors and learn how to lead in the Greater Victoria School District’s Tourism and Leadership Exploration program. (Photo by Sean Thompson)

Greater Victoria teens explore outdoors, hone leadership skills with tourism program

Businesses partner in SD61 program that trains students as tour guides

Students explore the outdoors and learn how to lead in the Greater Victoria School District’s Tourism and Leadership Exploration program. (Photo by Sean Thompson)
Over 100 students lined the sidewalks of Boleskine Road in April, protesting cuts to Greater Victoria School District music programs. An online fundraising campaign aims to raise enough funds to revive SD61’s elementary strings program, which was cut from the district’s 2022-23 budget. (Black Press Media file photo)

Parents group fundraising to save Greater Victoria elementary strings program

Online campaign goal $85K, foundation offers to chip in if community support found

Over 100 students lined the sidewalks of Boleskine Road in April, protesting cuts to Greater Victoria School District music programs. An online fundraising campaign aims to raise enough funds to revive SD61’s elementary strings program, which was cut from the district’s 2022-23 budget. (Black Press Media file photo)
Oak Bay High students Kaelyn Bonner and Katherine Lee do preflight checks at the Victoria Flying Club, ahead of their discovery flight as part of the aviation and design program offered through the Greater Victoria School District. (Tom Aerts/Twitter)

Oak Bay student among those high on aviation possibilities

Greater Victoria School District helps kids fly with aviation and design program

Oak Bay High students Kaelyn Bonner and Katherine Lee do preflight checks at the Victoria Flying Club, ahead of their discovery flight as part of the aviation and design program offered through the Greater Victoria School District. (Tom Aerts/Twitter)
The proposed Greater Victoria School District budget for 2022-23 calls for signficant cuts, and as such has drawn criticism from local teachers association and parent advisory council reps. (Black Press Media file photo)

Here we go again: cuts to counselling, music possible for Greater Victoria schools

Teachers, parents group concerned with how SD61 may address $7.2-million deficit

The proposed Greater Victoria School District budget for 2022-23 calls for signficant cuts, and as such has drawn criticism from local teachers association and parent advisory council reps. (Black Press Media file photo)
Western red cedar trees at Frank Hobbs Elementary are being stripped of their bark. Saanich police are aiming to determine whether this is traditional Indigenous practice or vandalism. (Photo courtesy Saanich Police Department)

Cedar bark stripping at Saanich school could be Indigenous practice

Saanich police investigating; looking to rule out vandalism, keep students safe

Western red cedar trees at Frank Hobbs Elementary are being stripped of their bark. Saanich police are aiming to determine whether this is traditional Indigenous practice or vandalism. (Photo courtesy Saanich Police Department)
The Greater Victoria School District board of trustees invotes the public to attend their March 10 budget meeting, happening from 6 to 8 p.m. at the district’s Uplands campus on Henderson Road. (Courtesy of Greater Victoria School District)

Greater Victoria School District invites input on budget options at March 10 meeting

Board must tackle $7-million deficit, inflation pressures for 2022-23 school year

The Greater Victoria School District board of trustees invotes the public to attend their March 10 budget meeting, happening from 6 to 8 p.m. at the district’s Uplands campus on Henderson Road. (Courtesy of Greater Victoria School District)
The updated plan for Victoria Hospice Society work on Bowker Creek should the School District 61 Lansdowne land sale be approved. (Victoria Hospice Society). (Courtesy of Victoria Hospice Society)

Greater Victoria School District defers land sale discussion two weeks

Victoria Hospice presentation, potential third reading of bylaw set for March 14 meeting

The updated plan for Victoria Hospice Society work on Bowker Creek should the School District 61 Lansdowne land sale be approved. (Victoria Hospice Society). (Courtesy of Victoria Hospice Society)
The cast of the Wizard of Oz is set to perform in early March at Claremont Secondary School in Saanich. (Photo courtesy of Chelsea Giordano)

Claremont musical theatre students bring Wizard of Oz to Saanich theatre

Performances occur from March 2 to 5 and March 9 to 12, two matinees available

The cast of the Wizard of Oz is set to perform in early March at Claremont Secondary School in Saanich. (Photo courtesy of Chelsea Giordano)
Cedar Hill Middle School in Saanich has been approved for a seismically sound replacement. (Black Press Media file photo)

Open house March 3 to collect public input for Cedar Hill middle school in Saanich

Event runs 6 to 8 p.m., topics include site plans, traffic circulation, bike access and more

Cedar Hill Middle School in Saanich has been approved for a seismically sound replacement. (Black Press Media file photo)
Greater Victoria School District trustees Diane McNally and Rob Paynter have been censured by the board and suspended from their duties until October for misconduct relating to bullying and harassment complaints. (Black Press Media file photo)

Greater Victoria trustees’ suspensions result of disparaging Twitter comments, board chair says

Some details of decision revealed in public letter, following community concern

Greater Victoria School District trustees Diane McNally and Rob Paynter have been censured by the board and suspended from their duties until October for misconduct relating to bullying and harassment complaints. (Black Press Media file photo)
Kevin Harter, CEO of the Victoria Hospice Society, says the 1.9 acres they hope to purchase from the Greater Victoria School District is ideal for their purposes. In advance of a decision by SD61, the society has begun developing a conservation plan for the adjacent section of Bowker Creek. (Black Press Media file photo)

Greater Victoria school district invites final public input ahead of potential $2.5M land sale

Public can speak at Feb. 23 virtual meeting, decision on selling to Hospice expected Feb. 28

Kevin Harter, CEO of the Victoria Hospice Society, says the 1.9 acres they hope to purchase from the Greater Victoria School District is ideal for their purposes. In advance of a decision by SD61, the society has begun developing a conservation plan for the adjacent section of Bowker Creek. (Black Press Media file photo)
Kevin Harter CEO Victoria Hospice Society, says the 1.9 acre property they hope to purchase from the Greater Victoria School District is ideal for the group to build. The society has begun developing a plan to incorporate the adjacent Bowker Creek into its development proposal. (Christine van Reeuwyk/News Staff)

Victoria Hospice targets creek remediation plan ahead of potential land purchase

Greater Victoria School District proposing sale of 1.9 acres to hospice society for new building

Kevin Harter CEO Victoria Hospice Society, says the 1.9 acre property they hope to purchase from the Greater Victoria School District is ideal for the group to build. The society has begun developing a plan to incorporate the adjacent Bowker Creek into its development proposal. (Christine van Reeuwyk/News Staff)
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