sooke school district

The Sooke School District Board of Education had a busy first meeting on Nov. 29 which among other things saw the creation of a staff affordability fund and a public reaffirmation of district’s commitment to using teaching materials which destigmatize gender identity and sexual orientation discussions. (Black Press Media file photo)

SD62 creates fund to help staff struggling with rising cost of living

Board of education reaffirms support for gender identity classroom materials

 

High school students participating in a Take A Hike event make their way along the beach during a multi-day camping trip. (Photo courtesy of Take A Hike)

Take A Hike program focuses on vulnerable teens within Sooke School District

Alternative education initiative to run on West Shore and Sooke

 

Sooke School District board chair Ravi Parmar said systemic racism continues to exist in the district and the wider community, and acknowledged more must be done to make SD62 more diverse and inclusive. (Photo courtesy Ravi Parmar)

Sooke School District board chair commits to end systemic racism in schools

But Ravi Parmar says mandatory anti-racism training, curriculum changes up to province

 

A complaint has been filed against a Sooke School District teacher about the reading aloud of a derogatory word contained in a novel aimed at young readers, during Black History Month in February. (Black Press Media file photo)

Complaint filed against Sooke School District teacher for reading ‘derogatory word’ aloud

Verbatim reading was from widely-used book; SD62 crafts plan to help ‘unlearn unconscious bias’

A complaint has been filed against a Sooke School District teacher about the reading aloud of a derogatory word contained in a novel aimed at young readers, during Black History Month in February. (Black Press Media file photo)
Staff working at Spencer Middle School in Langford and all other Sooke School District facilities must be able to prove they are vaccinated by March 7, or agree to take weekly rapid COVID tests, or risk being placed on extraordinary leave. (Black Press Media file photo)

Vaccinations important, Sooke Teachers Association says, but so are proper ventilation, N95 masks

Teachers put themselves at risk daily, feel unsupported by SD62, association president says

Staff working at Spencer Middle School in Langford and all other Sooke School District facilities must be able to prove they are vaccinated by March 7, or agree to take weekly rapid COVID tests, or risk being placed on extraordinary leave. (Black Press Media file photo)
Sooke School District 62 is asking the province for funding to conduct seismic upgrades at several of its Sooke and Port Renfrew schools. (Justin Samanski-Langille/News Staff)

Sooke School District seeking funds for seismic upgrades

The district has asked the province for funding

Sooke School District 62 is asking the province for funding to conduct seismic upgrades at several of its Sooke and Port Renfrew schools. (Justin Samanski-Langille/News Staff)
Sooke School District said registration numbers were strong once again for nature and French immersion kindergarten in the 2022-2023 school year, and officials are expecting the same for regular kindergarten registration when it opens on Jan. 24. (File - Black Press Media)

Sooke School District sees steady numbers for kindergarten registration

Lack of qualified teachers limiting French immersion curriculum

Sooke School District said registration numbers were strong once again for nature and French immersion kindergarten in the 2022-2023 school year, and officials are expecting the same for regular kindergarten registration when it opens on Jan. 24. (File - Black Press Media)
The Sooke School District 62 is advising families to be aware of and follow all government COVID-19 restrictions upon returning from holiday travel this season. (Justin Samanski-Langille/News Staff)

Sooke School District reminds holidaying families of requirements for unvaccinated children

Parents should work with schools, teachers if children will be missing school while in quarantine

The Sooke School District 62 is advising families to be aware of and follow all government COVID-19 restrictions upon returning from holiday travel this season. (Justin Samanski-Langille/News Staff)
Sooke School District trustee Wendy Hobbs (left) looks on as board chair Ravi Parmar announces the names of two new west Langford schools. The schools are set to open in September 2022. (Black Press Media file photo)

Major growth continues in Sooke School District

Two new schools set to open in September 2022 in Langford

Sooke School District trustee Wendy Hobbs (left) looks on as board chair Ravi Parmar announces the names of two new west Langford schools. The schools are set to open in September 2022. (Black Press Media file photo)
Sooke School District students who go on trips abroad won’t be able to return to the classroom for 14 days after their return. (Black Press Media file photo)

No virtual learning for SD62 unvaccinated students isolating after international travel

Sooke School District recommends making arrangements with teachers before travelling

Sooke School District students who go on trips abroad won’t be able to return to the classroom for 14 days after their return. (Black Press Media file photo)
Grade 1 students wear masks as they attend class at Honore Mercier elementary school Tuesday, March 9, 2021 in Montreal.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ryan Remiorz

Sooke parents want tougher mask mandates for schools

The province says only students in grades 4 to 12 and school staff need to wear masks

Grade 1 students wear masks as they attend class at Honore Mercier elementary school Tuesday, March 9, 2021 in Montreal.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ryan Remiorz
Teachers Gillian Le Rose and Rick Fabris hold a canoe that’s part of a unique reconciliation project at Westshore Colwood School. (Photo courtesy of Sooke School District)

Colwood school, Sooke School District promote healing, reconciliation education

Unique canoe project sees students paddle together

Teachers Gillian Le Rose and Rick Fabris hold a canoe that’s part of a unique reconciliation project at Westshore Colwood School. (Photo courtesy of Sooke School District)
Belmont Secondary School is among those in the Sooke School District that benefit from a strong administrative approach to mental health resources and education. (Black Press Media file photo)

West Shore resident seeks more robust offerings for youth mental health

Sooke School District offers range of mental health education Kindergarten through Grade 12

Belmont Secondary School is among those in the Sooke School District that benefit from a strong administrative approach to mental health resources and education. (Black Press Media file photo)
Karen DeCicco and Darren Russell have been named principals of the Sooke School District’s two newest schools, both under construction in Langford. DeCicco will lead Pexsisen Elementary while Russell will be at Centre Mountain Lellum Middle School, both starting in spring of 2022. (Courtesy Sooke School District)

Principals named for new Langford schools set to open in 2022

Sooke School District tabs veteran educators with strong track records on the West Shore

  • Feb 26, 2021
Karen DeCicco and Darren Russell have been named principals of the Sooke School District’s two newest schools, both under construction in Langford. DeCicco will lead Pexsisen Elementary while Russell will be at Centre Mountain Lellum Middle School, both starting in spring of 2022. (Courtesy Sooke School District)
Mindfulness in May, an art and literary exhibition for youth, is planned for Sooke in May. (Pixabay photo)

Youth art and literary show planned for May in Sooke

Submission deadline is March 31

Mindfulness in May, an art and literary exhibition for youth, is planned for Sooke in May. (Pixabay photo)
The Sooke school district has filled all spots for their French immersion and nature kinderagarten programs in 2021-2022 school year. Regular kindergarten registration is still open and available. (Black Press Media file photo)

Sooke school district gets surplus of nature, French immersion kindergarten applications

Not enough room for almost half of nature kindergarten applicants

The Sooke school district has filled all spots for their French immersion and nature kinderagarten programs in 2021-2022 school year. Regular kindergarten registration is still open and available. (Black Press Media file photo)
SD62 bus driver Kerry Zado said it’s common to see drivers lose their patience and pass by his bus while he’s picking up students during the morning commute. (Aaron Guillen/News Staff)

School bus driver laments motorists who pass while red lights are flashing

All buses in Sooke School District outfitted with stop sign cameras

SD62 bus driver Kerry Zado said it’s common to see drivers lose their patience and pass by his bus while he’s picking up students during the morning commute. (Aaron Guillen/News Staff)
Registration for French immersion and nature kindergarten programs in the Sooke School District start at 8 a.m. on Jan. 11. Regular kindergarten registration begins on Jan. 25. Sangster Elementary is one of two schools in the district offering nature kindergarten. (File - Black Press Media)

Sooke school district continues lottery system for nature, French immersion kindergarten

Registration begins on Monday (Jan. 11) at 8 a.m.

Registration for French immersion and nature kindergarten programs in the Sooke School District start at 8 a.m. on Jan. 11. Regular kindergarten registration begins on Jan. 25. Sangster Elementary is one of two schools in the district offering nature kindergarten. (File - Black Press Media)
The Sooke School District is actively looking for more bus drivers after they had to cancel a handful of bus routes in late November. (Black Press Media file photo)

Bus driver shortage cancels routes in Sooke School District

More drivers needed to accomodate expanding bus routes amid pandemic

The Sooke School District is actively looking for more bus drivers after they had to cancel a handful of bus routes in late November. (Black Press Media file photo)
The Fraser Institute’s annual report card on B.C. elementary schools ranks schools across the province based on standardized tests. (Black Press Media file photo)

Fraser Institute delivers Greater Victoria elementary schools a mixed report card

The annual report card compares test scores of schools across the province

The Fraser Institute’s annual report card on B.C. elementary schools ranks schools across the province based on standardized tests. (Black Press Media file photo)