Good News from the NVSD
Visit
our Learn, Share & Grow blog and News & Announcements to read
about the good work happening throughout the school district.
Do you have good news to share? Submit a blog to Communications!
For the stories with images that are included below, please click on the caption for a link to the blog post or article.
Announcements
Budget Priorities 2025/26 — Provide feedback by March 4
School
district community members are 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 the Standing
Committee Meeting on March 4, online survey, email and traditional mail. For more information, please visit the Budget Priorities: Public Input web page.
Support Artists for Kids through The Archival Collection — Open until February 27
Artists for Kids is honoured to partner with Heffel Fine Art Auction House to present Artists for Kids: The Archival Collection,
which is the result of a decades long collaboration between the two
organizations. Available for acquisition through Heffel’s online auction
platform until February 27, 2025, The Archival Collection is a
selection of limited editions by some of Canada’s most prominent
artists, including Kenojuak Ashevak, B.C. Binning, E. J. Hughes, Bill
Reid, Jack Shadbolt and Gordon Smith. Proceeds from the sale of prints
fund educational programs, artist residencies, art camps, scholarships,
bursaries, and future acquisitions for Artists for Kids and the Gordon
Smith Gallery Permanent Collection.
Artists for Kids was
established in 1989 by renowned BC artist-patrons Gordon Smith, Jack
Shadbolt and Bill Reid, and supported by the North Vancouver School
District. It was founded with the singular intent to support children,
their art education, and their future. Through art specialists, Artists
for Kids provides enriching art-making experiences for thousands of
students each year at the North Vancouver School District and across
Canada, as well as professional development opportunities for educators.
In 1990, the program published the first Artists for Kids' Limited
Edition Portfolio print, Xhuwaji / Haida Grizzly. This print by Bill
Reid, based on a ceremonial drum, marked the beginning of an
extraordinary partnership with now more than 100 Canadian artists, that
has produced one of the most significant limited-edition collections in
the country.
Information
Recording available: Personal Digital Devices Community Check-In: Past, Present, and Future
On
February 12, 2025, the North Vancouver School District hosted a virtual
check-in to reflect on the use of Personal Digital Devices (PDD) in
schools, examine the current landscape, and discuss future plans. The
event featured a panel of NVSD community members, including a student,
teacher, principal, and district staff, who shared insights, lessons
learned, and next steps regarding PDD use in schools.
For those who were unable to make the event, please see the digital recording here.
NVSD Events
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.
Playhouse – Exhibition closes February 27
The
Gordon Smith Gallery and Artists for Kids invites you to experience
Playhouse. The exhibition features artworks from over 20 Canadian
artists and presents the Gordon Smith Gallery as a place to hear
stories, meet characters, and transform the spaces we inhabit in order
to unveil unseen narratives. The exhibition sets the stage for us to
consider ways in which the physical, social, cultural, and imagined
qualities of a place are intertwined. Visit Artists for Kids for more information.
Standing Committee Meeting – March 4
A
Board of Education Standing Committee Meeting takes place on Tuesday,
March 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.
NVSD Registrations
Elementary Band and Strings – Registration closes February 27
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. Late Registration runs from March
14 to September 29. Visit the Elementary Band and Strings web page for information, including program fees.
Academies — Application period closes March 6
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.
Late French Immersion – Application period closes March 7
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.
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. 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 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.
Paradise Valley Summer School of Visual Art — Registration open
Young
artists ages 8 - 15 will explore their surroundings with
artist Sara-Jeanne Bourget in the beautiful setting of Paradise Valley.
From July 7 to 11 (5 days and 4 nights). Campers will receive in-depth
instruction in collage, drawing, painting and printmaking, and explore
concepts of form and colour. Working in small studio groups, teachers
emphasize individual skill development and artistic style. This
week-long studio program is well balanced with outdoor recreation and
studio time. Visit the Artists for Kids website for more information and to register.
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 closes 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 – Online 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.
Community Events and Opportunities
Substance Use Prevention, Part 2: Mental Health & Decisions Making Information Sessions
The Ministry of Education and Child Care, in partnership with adolescent clinical psychologist Dr. Hayley Watson from Open Parachute,
will host three, free virtual sessions for parents, guardians and
caregivers that will focus on practical skills you can teach your child
and youth (ages 0-19) to prevent substance use and mental health needs.
These sessions will build on a previous presentation, which focused on
practical conversation tools for speaking about substance use prevention
with your children/youth. The previous session is not a pre-requisite for this session.
Key takeaways for participants during this session:
- Learn the factors that lead to substance use and mental health needs from a trauma-informed lens
- Focus on prevention rather than intervention/response
- Applies to parents, guardians and caregivers of all age groups (youth aged 0-5, 6-10, and 11-18)
- Learn
ways that these skills can be applied to yourself and the rest of your
family to support the mental health of parents, guardians and caregivers
Participants must register in advance. Session dates are:
District of North Vancouver 2025 Youth Awards — March 7
Nominations
are open for the District of North Vancouver the 2025 Youth Awards. The
Civic Youth Awards recognizes young people (ages 10 to 24) who have
emerged as an advocate or leader for overcoming societal barriers in
their community; demonstrated superb skills in music, academics, art, or
sports. Or maybe they volunteered or are part of a group that gave back
to the community. Learn more on the District of North Vancouver website.
City of North Vancouver 2025 Youth Awards & Scholarships — March 9
Applications
and nominations are open for the City of North Vancouver Youth Awards
and Scholarships. The Civic Youth Awards Program recognizes youth
between the ages of 10-24 years for noteworthy achievements and
contributions to the community. The Youth Centennial Scholarship Program
provides annual scholarships to youth who have demonstrated outstanding
community service and who are pursuing post-secondary education. Learn
more on the City of North Vancouver’s website.
Gala at Camp Smith — March 12
Returning
Brilliance co-chairs Ian Wallace and Patti Glass invite you to this
special gala at the Gordon Smith Gallery on March 12, 2025, presented by
TD Bank Group.
Inspired by the spirit of summer camp, this soirée celebrates the 30th anniversary of the Artists For Kids Paradise Valley Summer School for the Visual Arts and raises funds for The Gordon and Marion Smith Foundation,
the primary private supporter of the program. Your presence will help
continue to inspire the next generation of young artists.
Guests will
enjoy an evening hosted by Fred Lee and Gloria Macarenko, with fine
dining by Chef David Hawksworth, live entertainment, and a silent and
live art auction. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit smithgala.ca.
Missed an issue?
Updates from the Superintendent, including the monthly Superintendent’s Report are available for review.
