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The Superintendent's Report is available in Mic​r​osoft Sway and text copy (below).

Updates from the Superintendent, including the monthly Superintendent’s Report, are available for review in the Superintendent’s Updates section of the website.

A Message from the Superintendent

Dear North Vancouver School District Community,

School life is central to the development of children and the relationships that families make. As shared in my welcome back letter, staying informed and involved in your child’s learning is key to the school-family partnership. This month’s report highlights many events and opportunities to learn more about the NVSD’s variety of programs, initiatives, and partnerships. Whether your child is entering elementary school or exploring their post-secondary options, there is much available to support families in navigating their educational pathways.

I invite you to attend upcoming events and information sessions unique to the NVSD. These sessions are designed to help families make informed decisions about the programs that best suit their child’s interests and goals.

Additionally, I encourage all community members to share their voice through the highlighted engagement opportunities. By providing feedback on items such as the proposed 2025/26 school calendar and the budget priorities for 2025/26, community members help shape the future of the NVSD and ensure that we continue to meet the needs of all learners.

Thank you for your continued partnership and commitment to public schooling in North Vancouver. 

Respectfully,

Dr. Pius Ryan
Superintendent of Schools
superintendent@sd44.ca

In this Issue

Good News from the NVSD

Announcements 

• Engagement opportunities — Your voice matters
  

NVSD Events

• Trade Information Night – January 23
• Standing Committee Meeting – February 4
• IB Diploma Programme — Key dates in February
• North Vancouver Parents Advisory Committee: The Other People — February 11
• Digital Media Academy Information Night and Open House — February 11
• YELL Information Night — February 24
• Public Board Meeting – February 25

NVSD Registrations 

• Academies — Application period open
• Elementary Band and Strings – Registration open
• Artists for Kids After School Art – Registration open
• Artists for Kids Spring Break Day Camps — Registration open
• Late French Immersion — Application period open
  
• New registration and transfer requests
• North Vancouver Online Learning – Online registration open

- North Vancouver elementary class makes gift boxes for youth in need (North Shore News)

- Building community through generosity (NVSD blog post)

- Everything old is new again (Blueridge Community News November 2024)

- Cove Cliff Crossfit (NVSD blog post)

- North Vancouver goalkeeper to play in upcoming women’s professional soccer league (North Shore News)

Engagement Opportunities — Your voice matters

Proposed 2025/26 School Calendar

School district community members are invited to provide feedback on the proposed calendar for the 2025/26 school year. Feedback will be collected online until Tuesday, February 11, 11:59 p.m.

Budget Priorities 2025/26

Starting on February 4, school district community members will be invited to provide input on budget priorities that fall under the Operating Budget and align with the school district’s strategic priorities. There are several ways to provide feedback, including through participation in Standing Committee Meetings, online survey, email and traditional mail. More information will be shared through school district communications, please check your email.

NVSD Events

Trade Information Night – January 23

This popular information night invites students and their families to explore various trade opportunities available to students in Grades 10-12. Learn from local businesses, SkilledTradesBC, post-secondary representatives and NVSD career program educators. Register online.

Standing Committee Meeting – February 4

A Board of Education Standing Committee Meeting takes place on Tuesday, February 4 at 7 p.m. The focus of the meeting will be budget development. 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.

IB Diploma Programme — Key dates in February 

The IB Diploma Programme (DP) is a challenging two-year university preparatory curriculum that leads to a qualification widely recognized by the world's leading universities. It is offered at Carson Graham Secondary. 

Grade 10 students and their families are invited to learn more about the IB Diploma Programme, through one or all of the following:

• Tuesday, February 4, 6:30 p.m. IB Diploma Programme information session, Carson Graham library.
• Wednesday, February 5. Deadline for current Grade 10 students to RSVP by email to Liz Thornhill to attend DP for a Day, where students will experience the program firsthand. 

The deadline to apply for the September 2025 intake is Tuesday, February 18. Visit the Carson Graham IB Diploma Programme web page for application and fee information, and answers to frequently asked questions.

North Vancouver Parents Advisory Committee (NVPAC): The Other People – February 11 

Please join the NVPAC Anti Racism Advisory Committee and The Other People for an interactive evening helping to develop cultural competence in engaging with the challenging issue of hate and racism in Canada. The event takes place on February 11, beginning at 6:45p.m., located in the theatre at Sutherland Secondary. With rising concerns of inequity around cultures and the BIPOC community its important to provide information and engagement on minimizing and eradicating discrimination of all types. Building a sense of understanding comes from both the home and school environment. All adults in our community that engage with the student population need to have a sense of understanding of the affects of discrimination instill in our children. Understanding brings compassion that allows us to provide a strong and safe community for everyone.

This presentation is for current NVSD families and staff. Register through Eventbrite to secure your ticket.

Digital Media Academy Information Night and Open House — February 11

Join the Digital Media Academy (DMA) and Digital Media Academy Lite (DMA Lite) on February 11, at 6 p.m. in the Argyle Library. Meet the DMA teachers who will be presenting details about the academy. Meet some of our industry experts who regularly dedicate their time to the DMA, as well as some DMA and DMA Lite students.
DMA classrooms and studio film flexspace will be open for viewing and DMA students will be highlighting some of the projects they are working on in the Academy. 

For more information on the DMA academies, visit the DMA website.

YELL Information Night — February 24 

Students in Grades 10 and 11 and their families are welcome to join for an information night on February 24, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Education Services Centre to learn more about the Young Entrepreneurship and Leadership Launchpad (YELL). YELL is designed for students who have an interest in business or who have an entrepreneurial spirit. YELL is available at Handsworth and Sutherland Secondary.

For more information, please contact Mrs. Johnson (sjohnson@sd44.ca) or Mr. Nevison (jnevison@sd44.ca) or visit the YELL web page on the Career Pathways 44 website.

Public Board Meeting – February 25

A Board of Education Public Board Meeting takes place on Tuesday, February 25, at 6:30 p.m. Visit the Public Meetings web page for information on how you can participate and to review the meeting agenda and board package, which are posted the Thursday afternoon preceding the public meeting.

NVSD Registrations

Academies — Application period open

Our highly specialized academies are designed to enhance the overall student experience by providing learning environments that concentrate on a focal skill set. Students in Grades 8 to 12 work towards graduation while accelerating their knowledge and skill development in an area of interest that can form a foundation for successful post-graduation pursuits.

The following academies will be offered during the 2025/26 school year: AFK Studio Art, Basketball, Dance, Digital Media, Digital Media Lite, Field Hockey, Hockey Skills, Robotics, Rowing, Soccer and Volleyball.

The application period for academies began on Thursday, January 16, and the initial placement offer deadline is Thursday, March 6. Applications received after March 6 may be placed on a waitlist. Final academy offerings are subject to sufficient enrolment. 

For more information, please visit our Academies web page and plan on attending the Secondary Enhanced Programs & Academies Night on Wednesday, January 15, at Carson Graham Secondary.

Elementary Band and Strings — Registration open

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 2025/26 school year began on Monday, January 13 and continues until Friday, February 28.

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 28. Visit the Elementary Band and Strings web page for information, including program fees.

Artists for Kids 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. Registration for winter classes will open on November 28 at 12:00 pm (noon). Visit the Artists for Kids website for more information and to register.

Artists for Kids Spring Break Day Camps - Registration open

Artists for Kids is pleased to offer two weeks of Spring Break Day Camps! Campers will experiment with drawing, painting, collage, printmaking and more. Visit the Artists for Kids website for more information and to register.

Late French Immersion – Application period open

Applications to the Late French Immersion program (Grade 6 entry) will be accepted until Friday, March 7. For more information, visit the Late French Immersion web page.

New registration and transfer requests

Initial registration for students new to the school district, and initial transfer requests for existing NVSD students in Grades 1-12 began on Monday, January 6 and end on Friday, March 7. Registrations and transfer requests received after March 7 will be placed in schools based on catchments where space is available. Visit the Student Registration web page for detailed information.

North Vancouver Online Learning — Registration open

North Vancouver Online Learning (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(s). Students can also choose to engage in their NVOL course(s) entirely remotely online or in a blended model of online and in-person interactions at our NVOL Centre. 

Visit the NVOL website to see the 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.