FAQ - North Vancouver School District

Q: What level of skill is required to participate in a sports academy?

A: Students with a wide range of experience from beginner to elite participate in our Academies.

Our Academies assist students in developing skills, fitness, and tactics, as well as injury prevention, nutrition and leadership training.

Academies are geared for students who are interested in and enthusiastic about improving their personal skills and fitness.

Q: If I’m in a sport academy, do I have to take regular PHE?

A: Our sports academies are designed as an alternative to school PHE courses.

Students who complete a sport academy receive grade-level credit for PHE.

Individual school are responsible for student programming decisions.

Q: Does my child have to transfer to the school that hosts the academy?

A: In most cases, students attend their regular home school and travel to the academy school for scheduled classes.

It is not necessary to transfer if both schools are operating on the same timetable systems.

Sutherland students accepted to DMA must transfer to Argyle if Argyle is on a Day 1/Day 2 timetable and Sutherland is semestered.

Please contact Central Registration for transfer information.

Q: What are the chances of being accepted to an academy program?

A: Acceptance is dependent upon the number of applications received.

If there are more applications than available spots, students are selected by lottery.

Remaining applicants will be added to a wait list. Parents/guardians will be contacted if a spot becomes available.

Q: How can we apply for the competitive stream of the Basketball or Volleyball academy? Are there tryouts?

A: Due to the pandemic, there will not be tryouts/skills assessment for the Competitive stream of the Volleyball and Basketball academies.

Tentative placements are determined based on student’s school team and community team experience in the sport You will find these fields on the application form.

The Competitive stream is typically for students with several years experience in the sport. Grade 8 students usually start off in an Academy stream.

Q: I added the academy to my child’s programming sheet. Isn’t that the application?

A: No. Applications must be completed through School Cash Online by the deadline.

Supplemental application materials for academies which require additional submissions must also be received by the deadline.

Q: What happens if I miss the application deadline?

A: You may apply during the Late Application period. Late applicants will be placed on academy wait lists.

Q: Can I apply in September when I know what the school year will look like?

A: Applications will be received for academy wait lists. Offers of acceptance are dependent on the ability of student’s home schools to adjust student timetables. Timetables are often difficult to change once the school year begins. It might not be possible for the academy to be scheduled into your child’s timetable.

Q: What happens if I forget to hand in my supplemental application documentation for AFK, DMA, or DMA Lite?
What happens if I hand in my supplemental application documentation but forget to apply online?

A: Incomplete applications will not be considered. Students may complete their application during the Late Application period. Late applicants will be placed on Academy wait lists.

Q: We don't attend a North Vancouver School District school. Can we still apply?

A: Yes. Out-of-District students may apply for an academy. Please email academies@sd44.ca during the application period in order to receive the online application link.

If accepted, Out-of-District students are subject to a Programming Fee of approximately $935. This fee may be paid in full or by instalments with the final instalment due September 1, 2022. Non payment of the Programming Fee will result in withdrawal from the Academy.

* West Vancouver School District students: The North Vancouver School District and West Vancouver Schools typically reach a reciprocal agreement in which the Programming Fee is waived for West Vancouver Schools' applicants.

Q: We live in North Vancouver, but go to a private school/are homeschooled/attend a school in a different school district.
Can we apply as a North Vancouver School District student?

A: No. Please see the previous information above for Out-of-District students.

Q: My child does not currently attend a North Vancouver School District school, but will be transferring to a NVSD school in September.
Shouldn’t they be considered in-District?

A: No. Until your child is withdrawn from their current school and registered and scheduled in a North Vancouver School District school, they are considered Out-of-District.

The Out-of-District Programming Fee may be refunded if registration and scheduling occurs before September 30.

Q: Can my child take more than one academy?

A: It is possible for some students to participate in more than one academy scheduled at different times, if your child’s timetable can accommodate. Please meet with your child’s counsellor to ensure all graduation requirements would be met if accepted to more than one academy.

Q: What happens if I forget to pay the deposit by the deadline?

A: Your child’s offer of acceptance will be withdrawn. You may re-apply during the late application period. Late applicants will be placed on academy wait lists.

Q: How much does it cost?
How much is the deposit?
When do I have to pay the rest, and can I pay by instalments?

A: Fees for each academy are found on the NVSD Academies website.

Deposit:

The non-refundable deposit is required by the deadline stated in acceptance letters to confirm your child’s registration and secure placement in the academy for the 2022 - 2023 school year.

Please note that non-payment by the deadline will result in withdrawal of acceptance to the academy.

Remaining Fee:

The Remaining Fee may be paid in full or set-up in instalments any time between the offer of acceptance and August 2022.

Lower monthly payments can be achieved by setting up payments early and spreading them over more months. The first instalment will start at the beginning of the following month after payments are set up. Please note that failure to pay the balance in full or set up instalments by the deadline will result in withdrawal from the academy.

Q: When is the final payment due?

Quarter Course Final Instalment Dates:

Quarter 1 Academies – September 1, 2021
Quarter 2 Academies – November 1, 2021
Quarter 3 Academies – January 1, 2022
Quarter 4 Academies – April 1, 2022

AFK Studio Art Academy - September 1, 2022
DMA Lite – September 1, 2022
Volleyball Academy (a.m. classes all year) – April 1, 2023

Linear Course Final Instalment Dates:

AFK Studio Art Academy - September 1, 2022
DMA Lite – September 1, 2022
All other Academies - April 1, 2023

Q: What are the COVID-19 Safety Measures?

A: Academies held in classrooms will follow the North Vancouver School District’s Restart Plan and specific school protocols.

Sports Academies will follow the North Vancouver School District’s Restart Plan, specific school protocols, and service providers’ Return to Training protocols.

Q: Will academy classes be held online?

A: The schedule of in-person sessions versus online sessions will depend on conditions related to the pandemic. The District plan is designed to be fluid allowing movement between stages as directed by Public Health.

Q: If Academies are cancelled mid-year due to the pandemic, will I get a refund?

A: Some Academies will be able to move to online instruction with no change in fee.

There will be a pro-rated refund for Academies which are cancelled due to the pandemic.