This newsletter is shared monthly and includes a variety of initiatives and opportunities open to families of the NVSD.
News
North Vancouver students sweeten the holidays with baking supply drive
Students and staff at Montroyal Elementary are collecting items to donate to the Greater Vancouver Food Bank later this month, hoping to help North Shore families in need bake holiday treats. Ready the full story by Abby Luciano, North Shore News.
Seycove senior girls take home 2nd field hockey B.C. title in three years
It was an all-North Shore battle in the final of the BC School Sports senior girls AA provincial field hockey championships held November 5-7 at Shawnigan Lake School, with the Seycove Seyhawks scoring a 2-1 win over Rockridge Secondary to take home gold. Read the full story by Hilary Angus, North Shore News.
Arygle sends junior and senior football teams to provincial championship finals
Argyle Secondary sent two football teams to provincial finals this past weekend, capping off an undefeated season for both the junior and senior squads. Read the full story by Hilary Angus, North Shore News.
Events
Digital Media Youth Expo – December 6
The Digital Media Youth Expo, hosted by the NVSD’s Digital Media Academy (DMA), takes place on Saturday, December 6, 2025, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Argyle Secondary School. This free event connects students, families, and educators with post-secondary schools, industry professionals, and organizations in fields like animation, film, sound design, photography, game design, and more. DMA students will also showcase their work and share insights about the program. Visit the official Expo website for details.
Public Board Meeting – December 16
A Board of Education Public Board Meeting takes place on Tuesday, December 16 at 6:30 p.m. Visit the Public Meetings webpage for information on how you can participate and to review the meeting agenda and board package, which is posted the Thursday afternoon preceding the public meeting.
Registrations
New registration and transfer requests begin January 2
Initial registration for students new to the school district, and initial transfer requests for existing NVSD students in Grades 1-12 begin on Friday, January 2 and end on Friday, March 13. Registrations and transfer requests received after March 13 will be placed in schools based on catchments where space is available. Visit the Student Registration web page for detailed information.
Elementary Band and Strings – Registration opens January 12
Elementary Band and Strings is open to students in Grades 5 – 7 for Band and Grades 4 – 7 for Strings. Our unique instrumental music program complements the Arts Education curriculum and provides school-based instrumental instruction in a supportive and fun learning environment. Registration for the 2026/27 school year begins on Monday, January 12 and continues until Friday, February 27.
While there is a Late Registration period, this is subject to program availability and class size at your child’s school site and is dependent on sufficient registrations received by February 27. Visit the Elementary Band and Strings web page for information, including program fees.
Artists for Kids: After School Art classes – 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. Registration for winter classes is now open. Visit the Artists for Kids website for more information and to register.
Artists for Kids: Spring Break camps – Registration open
Artists for Kids is pleased to offer both full-day and half-day Spring Break Day Camps. Taught by art specialist teachers, day campers will have the opportunity to experiment with drawing, painting, collage, printmaking and more. Visit the Artists for Kids website for more information and to register.
2026/27 Kindergarten — Online registration closes December 12
Online registration for 2026/27 Kindergarten (for children born in 2021) is open until Friday, December 12, 2025 at Midnight. Visit the Kindergarten Registration webpage for detailed information regarding the registration process for the upcoming school year.
North Vancouver Online Learning – Online registration open
North Vancouver Online Learning (NVOL) provides engaging, accessible and interactive learning experiences for students in Grades 8 through 12 in both English and French. Students can enrol any time during the school year and have one calendar year to complete their course. Students may 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 learn more.
Additional Information and Opportunities
NVSD Calendar Photography Contest — January 12
NVSD students in Grades 8-12 are invited to submit up to 10 original photos for the chance to have their work featured in the 2026/27 School Year Calendar. There are $500 in prizes to be won, including gift cards to your favourite local spots! Photos must reflect the theme What makes your school great? The contest closes January 12 at 4 p.m.
Gordon Smith Gallery: Explore and Create Saturdays — December 6, 13
Families with children ages 5-12 are invited to visit the Gordon Smith Gallery on Saturdays from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. for free, family-friendly drop-in art activities inspired by works in the Gordon Smith Gallery’s current exhibition, From The Ground. To view the fall schedule, visit the Smith Foundation website.
Coming up at the North Vancouver District Public Library
Winter Kids Book Bags — All branches
Cozy up this winter with a personalized book bag! Your librarians are excited to share the hidden treasures of our chapter book and novel collections with kid readers in Grades 3-6. Each bag will contain: 3 personally chosen books, 1 snack, and 1 simple activity. Registration required.
Tween Karaoke Party – December 11, Capilano Library
Grab the mic and sing your heart out at our Tween (Grades 5-7) Karaoke Party! Whether you're a pop star in the making or just love to sing with friends, this is your time to shine. Don't be shy; this will be a safe and supportive environment to sing and have fun together. We will have some group sing-alongs and music games to help break the ice. Registration required.
Craft a Wintery Book-Page Tree — December 12, Parkgate Library
Join us for an all-ages evening of cozy crafting! Inspired by the wintery forested mountains around us, we will make two kinds of trees using upcycled book pages and enjoy some warm beverages together. We encourage you to bring a reusable mug with a lid to enjoy a warm beverage. This program is open to all, but children must attend with a parent or caregiver. Registration required.
Hot Cocoa with a Youth Worker — December 12, Lynn Valley Library
Need some mental health support or just someone to talk to? Want to learn about helpful resources just for teens? Drop in to chat with Youth Outreach workers from North Shore Neighbourhood House. While you're there, have a hot drink and a snack. For anyone in Grades 6 to 12. Find us on the first floor of the Lynn Valley Library. No registration required. Learn more.
Vancouver Education & Career Fair — November 25
The Education & Career Fair (ECF) is B.C.’s Largest Career Development Fair. This includes secondary students planning for higher education and exploring career options; young adults looking to transfer their work experience & skills to a different industry; and new immigrants seeking employment and further training to settle in Canada. To learn more and register, visit ECF’s website.
Canadian Centre for Child Protection: Parenting in the Online Word webinars
The Canadian Centre for Child Protection (C3P) is offering virtual webinars for parents and caregivers on Parenting in the Online World. During these sessions, C3P will provide insights into concerning trends seen through operations of Cybertip.ca, Canada’s tipline to report the online sexual exploitation of children and provide considerations and resources for talking with children and youth about online safety.
Upcoming webinars will take place on January 20, February 19 and April 15. Register on the Protect Kids Online website.
Artists for Kids: 2025 Fall Portfolio available for acquisition
Artists for Kids has released the 2025 Fall Portfolio, a collection of limited edition prints by Lauren Brevner & James Harry, Jack Shadbolt, and Ann Kipling.
Lauren Brevner & James Harry’s Sínulhḵay, Jack Shadbolt’s Toward a White Garden, and Ann Kipling’s Dog in the Sky, have been brought together to explore the landscape’s complex psyche, the potency of animal symbolism, and the legacies of colonial encounter that still pulse through the Pacific Northwest today. Together, these editions invite you to contemplate the land’s living memory—its beauty, its wounds, its stories—and how through art we can confront, honor, and re-imagine our relationship to the world around us.
Proceeds from each print support Artists for Kids and the Gordon Smith Gallery Permanent Collection, funding educational programs, artist residencies, art camps, scholarships, bursaries, and future acquisitions. Add a piece of Canadian art to your collection and help nurture the next generation of young artists. By purchasing one or more prints from the AFK Limited Edition program, you qualify for the Collector’s Program and will receive a discounted price for subsequent purchases.
Please connect with the Artists for Kids office by phone 604-903-3798, or email afkinfo@sd44.ca, if you have any questions or to acquire an edition. Sign up for the Gordon Smith Gallery newsletter to receive exclusive updates.
