From the laughter heard on the playground, the friendships and sense of community being formed and strengthened in the classroom, the connections and collaboration among staff, to the families excited to see each other once again, visiting schools these first few weeks has been nothing but a joy.
I am very proud to work alongside you and serve a community that cares so deeply about young people and is committed to building a sense of belonging for all. Our shared work in public education is intended to bring out the best in each other and ultimately, continue to build a community that is caring, progressive and welcoming. By doing this work together, we are ensuring students feel a sense of connection and belonging, while gaining the skills they need for their future.
Diversity is our strength, across our country, in our schools, and in our classrooms. As a school district, we will continue the important work of ensuring we are providing teaching and learning environments where all feel safe and included, and where rich lived experiences and voices are valued and heard. I hope in this and future updates, you will see the inherent value to this work!
Visit our
Learn, Share & Grow blog and
News & Announcements to read about the good work happening throughout the school district.
This issue of the Superintendent’s Report includes a collection of stories and news published since the end of the school year. For the stories with images that are included below, please click on the caption for a link to the blog post.
Announcements
Calendar of Significant Dates and Events
Two calendar views are now available to members of the North Vancouver School District community. The
Calendar view, with dates highlighted in blue text boxes, includes School Calendar dates (e.g., statutory holidays, Winter and Spring Breaks, pro-d days, etc.); school district events (e.g., Board of Education public meetings, information sessions, etc.); and school district registration dates (e.g., Kindergarten, Academies, Elementary Band & Strings, etc.).
The
Calendar of Significant Dates and Events, with dates highlighted in green text boxes, includes dates that reflect, honour and celebrate the diversity of the North Vancouver School District community. The calendar supports schools with their planning around observing dates and events of significance, which schools may recognize in a variety of ways.
Each calendar entry includes a brief description of the date, with links to resources for more information. As new information becomes available (e.g., dates and/or links), the Calendar of Significant Dates and Events will be updated.
The school district community is invited to share feedback, suggestions and educational resources regarding the dates included in the Calendar of Significant Dates and Events. For more information and a link to the feedback form, please visit the
Calendar of Significant Dates and Events web page.
Information
Emergency lockdown procedure and practice drills – September 20 to October 19
The North Vancouver School District recognizes its collective responsibility in keeping students and staff safe while on school premises. Part of that responsibility includes ensuring school communities are familiar with procedures that keep one another safe during an emergency situation.
A lockdown is an emergency procedure designed to protect occupants from external harm or contain the movement of occupants when an intruder, or a restricted weapon, is present in the building. During a lockdown, people must stay where they are and cannot leave until escorted outside by response personnel. In a lockdown, only emergency response teams from law enforcement will enter the school.
Each school across the school district, in partnership with the North Vancouver RCMP, and with the participation of all students and staff, will conduct its own practice lockdown drill between September 20 and October 19, 2023. Families can expect to receive (or may have already received) additional information about the lockdown drill directly from the school principal.
National Day for Truth and Reconciliation – September 30
National Day for Truth and Reconciliation is September 30. During
Truth and Reconciliation Week (September 25 to 30), the school district community will honour our commitment to championing truth, healing and reconciliation and embedding Indigenous ways of knowing in our teaching and learning. We encourage the school district community to take the time to honour the lives of Indigenous children who did not come home, acknowledge and honour the lived experiences of the survivors of the Indian residential school system, and commit to taking a step forward to do better for current and future generations of children.
Note: As September 30 falls on a Saturday this year, all schools in the North Vancouver School District will be closed on Monday, October 2.
K-12 student reporting changes
Beginning this school year, the way student learning is communicated is shifting. To learn more about student reporting and the upcoming changes, please visit the Ministry of Education and Child Care’s K-12 Student Reporting Information for Parents and Caregivers web page. The page includes links to webinars, information sheets and brochures. Should you have any questions, please reach out to your child’s principal.
New elementary school for Cloverley neighbourhood
In June 2023, the Province announced funding for a new elementary school in the Cloverley neighbourhood. The new school will have a capacity for 585 students, and the project scope includes funding for a neighbourhood learning centre space, Greenhouse Gas reduction measures, and construction with mass timber. In addition, the City of North Vancouver has committed $3.5 million towards the construction of a new child care centre to be co-located on site.
Construction is expected to start fall 2024, and the school will be ready to welcome students and staff in time for the 2026/27 school year. Please look for communication in the fall when we anticipate hosting a public information meeting. Project updates will also be shared on the school district’s
Capital Plan and Projects web page.
AFK Notebook
Artists for Kids is pleased to share the
AFK Notebook with the NVSD community. The Notebook reflects programming for the 2023/24 school year, including events, resources, professional development and classroom opportunities, and gallery programming for educators, students, families and wider community.
Joining a school PAC
Parent Advisory Councils (PACs) are non-profit independent organizations supporting the efforts of schools throughout the North Vancouver School District. PACs strive to represent the diversity within their communities, and through their ideas and feedback, contribute to the benefit of all students. There are many ways to participate in a school’s PAC; learn more by visiting the
PAC & NVPAC web page.
Parents and Guardians section of the website
Parents and guardians are encouraged to bookmark the
Parents and Guardians section of the school district website. This page contains links to frequently visited pages and resources.
NVSD Events
The Art of Conversation opening reception – September 23
The Gordon Smith Gallery and Artists for Kids invite you to the opening of
The Art of Conversation on Saturday, September 23, 2 to 4 p.m. The exhibition features artwork by over 20 Canadian artists who explore the role of art as a platform for communication.
The Art of Conversation draws conventional threads between the works in the gallery and highlights arts’ potential to facilitate and provoke dialogue. The perspectives and artistic conversations of elementary and secondary school students will be featured through original writing and art. Visit
Artists for Kids for more information.
Public Board Meeting – September 26
A Board of Education Public Board Meeting takes place on Tuesday, September 26 at 6:30 p.m. Visit our
Public Meetings web page for information on how you can participate and to review the meeting agenda and board package (the latter is posted on the Thursday afternoon preceding the public meeting).
Moving to Adulthood – October 4
Join the North and West Vancouver School Districts, Community Living BC and Ministry of Children and Family Development for an evening of discussion and transition-related resources for youth and families. Note: the event is targeted to families with children ages 12 and up.
In addition to sharing information about inclusive resources, community connections and continuing supports for diverse learners, youth and families will get a chance to experience the
Snoezelen Van.
Please
RSVP (drop-ins are also welcome) to attend the session at the Education Services Centre, 2121 Lonsdale Avenue.
Standing Committee Meeting – October 10
A Board of Education Standing Committee Meeting takes place on Tuesday, October 10 at 7 p.m. The focus of the meeting will be mental health and well-being. Visit our
Public Meetings web page for information on how you can participate and to review the meeting agenda, which is posted on the Thursday afternoon preceding the public meeting.
Kindergarten Information Session – October 11
Parents/guardians of children who will enter Kindergarten in September 2024 (children born in 2019) are invited to learn more about the school district,
Kindergarten and the registration process. The information session will take place on Wednesday, October 11, starting at 7 p.m., at Argyle Secondary School (1131 Frederick Road). While you do not need to RSVP to attend, by
RSVP’ing, you will receive a reminder leading up to the session.
NVSD Registrations
Elementary Band and Strings – Late Registration ends September 29
Elementary Band and Strings is a unique instrumental music program that complements the Ministry of Education and Child Care’s Arts Education curriculum and provides school-based instrumental instruction to students in Grades 5 – 7 for Band and Grades 4 – 7 for Strings. Visit
Elementary Band and Strings for information, including program fees.
2024/25 Kindergarten – Registration begins October 12
Registration for priority placement for 2024/25 Kindergarten (children born in 2019) begins on Thursday, October 12, and continues until Friday, December 15. Information regarding the registration process will be soon available on the
Kindergarten Registration web page.
Academies – Registration ongoing
Applications continue to be accepted for many NVSD Academies. There are limited spaces remaining for Field Hockey, the Business and Gaming Entrepreneurship Lab, and others. Information about our Academy program offerings is available on our
Academies web page. For an application form, email
academies@sd44.ca.
AFK After School Art – Registration open
Taught by art specialist teachers and assisted by secondary art students, Artists for Kids’ After School Art classes provide students the opportunity to further their artistic ability and foster positive attitudes towards the visual arts. Visit
Artists for Kids for more information and to register.
North Vancouver Online Learning – Online registration open
NVOL provides engaging, accessible and interactive learning experiences for students. Students can enrol any time during the school year and have one calendar year to complete their course. Students can also choose to engage in their NVOL courses entirely remotely online or in a blended model of online and in-person interactions at our NVOL Centre.
Visit the NVOL website to see
our full suite of courses from Grades 8 through 12 in both English and French. The French Immersion online course offerings allow students the opportunity to meet the requirements of their Diplôme de fin d'études secondaires en Colombie-Britannique online through L' École Virtuelle de Vancouver nord.
Reminder:
NVOL is a Provincial Online Learning School.
Community Initiatives
Natural Areas Trails Strategy – Survey open until October 2
The District of North Vancouver is developing a Natural Areas Trails Strategy to guide the planning and management of recreation trail across natural areas it manages. You are encouraged to
learn more about the project and share your thoughts before October 2.
Climate & Environment and Community Wellbeing Strategies – Surveys open until October 6
The City of North Vancouver is seeking public input on two draft strategies: the Climate and Environment Strategy and Community Wellbeing Strategy. Share your thoughts on how to address climate change in the City and how to make the community more liveable and resilient. Information on each strategy and survey links are available using the links below:
Missed an issue?
Updates from the Superintendent, including the monthly Superintendent’s Report, are available for review.
The North Vancouver School District is situated upon the unceded traditional territory of the Skwxwú7mesh Nation and Tsleil-Waututh Nation. We would like to thank the Coast Salish people and value the opportunity to learn, share and grow on this traditional territory.
