North Vancouver School District
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Events and Registrations - December 2022

December 02, 2022

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Winter Break
Schools will be closed for Winter Break (December 19, 2022 to January 2, 2023) and will re-open on Tuesday, January 3. The Education Services Centre (2121 Lonsdale Avenue) will remain open but will be closed on Monday, December 26 (Boxing Day); Tuesday, December 27 (in lieu of Christmas Day); and Monday, January 2 (in lieu of New Year’s Day).

Events

Public Board Meeting – December 6
A Board of Education Public Board Meeting takes place on Tuesday, December 6 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).

Digital Media Youth Expo – December 10
Hosted by the school district’s Digital Media Academy (DMA) at Argyle Secondary on Saturday, December 10 from 12 noon to 3 p.m., this annual free event is open to students, families and staff and is an opportunity to learn about the educational and employment opportunities available in digital media.

Representatives from a variety of Lower Mainland post-secondary schools, local and global organizations, industry experts, and studios involved in all aspects of digital media (e.g., visual effects, animation, film, sound design, photography, web design, game design, virtual reality etc.) will be in attendance. More information is available on the Digital Media Youth Expo website.

AFK Winter Holiday print sale – On now until December 15
Artists for Kids (AFK) is a unique, not-for-profit, self-sustaining art education program operated by the NVSD. AFK relies on donor support to offer a range of artist- and educator-led school and community programs, as well as scholarships for post-secondary arts education and bursaries for community programming, including direct support for its summer camp program.

This winter sale, which runs from December 1 to 15, offers a 10% discount on all AFK limited edition prints (not to used with other promotions). If you are looking to start or grow your collection of limited-edition prints by some of Canada’s most renowned artists, know that proceeds from your purchase will go toward supporting kids, educators and artists!

Standing Committee Meeting - January 10
A Board of Education Standing Committee Meeting takes place on Tuesday, January 10 at 7 p.m. Visit our Public Meetings web page for information on how you can participate and to review the meeting agenda (the latter is posted on the Thursday afternoon preceding the public meeting).

PATHS – Exhibition open

This year’s fall exhibition, PATHS, examines how paths connect us and the collective stories they hold. PATHS brings together works from Artists for Kids’ permanent collection, including recent acquisitions from Charlene Vickers, Russna Kaur and Angela George. For information about this exhibition hosted at the Gordon Smith Gallery, visit the exhibition web page.

Registrations

2023/2024 Kindergarten – Priority placement registration ends December 9

Priority placement registration for 2023/2024 Kindergarten (children born in 2018) ends on Friday, December 9 at 4 p.m. Detailed instructions on the registration process, including forms and documentation required, are available on the Kindergarten registration web page.

​Registrations received after December 9 (4 p.m.) will be placed according to space and facilities availability and the date the registration was received. 

AFK After School Art – Registration open

Taught by art specialist teachers and assisted by secondary art students, AFK’s 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. 

AFK Spring Break Camps – Registration open

Students will enjoy a week full of studio art activities including drawing, painting and printmaking taught by an art specialist teacher. Each week will be unique with expert art teachers guiding students to experiment with many art materials and techniques. All materials are provided. Visit the AFK Day Camps web page for more information and to register. 

North Vancouver Online Learning - Registration open

NVOL provides engaging and interactive learning experiences for students and adult learners. Students can choose from a full suite of courses from Grades 8 through 12 in both English and French.

Students can choose to engage in their NVOL courses entirely remotely online or in a blended model of online and in-person learning at the NVOL Centre. The flexibility NVOL offers allows students to take additional courses or adjust their schedules to meet the demands of their busy lives.

Elementary Band and Strings - Registration begins January 16

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. Registration for the 2023/2024 school year runs from January 16 – February 28.

While there is a Late Registration enrolment 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 more information, including program fees.

New registration and transfer requests (Grades 1-12) begins January 23

Priority placement for new registrations and transfers for Grades 1-12 begins on Monday, January 23 and ends on Friday, March 3 at 4 p.m. Visit the 2023/2024 Registrations and Transfer Requests web page for detailed information.

Late French Immersion Information Session – January 23

An information session for Grade 5 students and their families interested in registering in the Late French Immersion program (Grade 6 entry) will be held at École Secondaire Argyle Secondary School on Monday, January 23 from 6:30 - 7:30 p.m. Registration also begins on Monday, January 23 through to Friday, March 3. For more information about the program, visit our Late French Immersion web page.

Secondary Enhanced Programs & Academies Night – January 26

Save the date! Families with students in Grades 7 to 11 are invited to learn more about the various enhanced programs and academies offered at secondary schools throughout the school district. The event will take place the evening of Thursday, January 26 at Sutherland Secondary School (1860 Sutherland Avenue). Details to follow, including start time.

Academies – Applications accepted starting January 27

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 2023/2024 school year:

AFK Studio Art | Basketball | Business of Gaming and Entrepreneurship | Dance | Digital Media | Digital Media Lite | Field Hockey | Hockey Skills | Robotics | Rowing | Soccer | Volleyball

To note:

  • Final academy offerings are subject to sufficient enrolment.

  • The application period for academies begins on Friday, January 27 and ends on Monday, February 27.

For more information about our Academies program offerings, please visit our Academies web page and plan on attending the Secondary Enhanced Programs & Academies Night on January 26.

IB Diploma Programme - Upcoming key dates in February

The International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (DP) is an internationally recognized, rigorous university preparatory two-year program for students in Grades 11 and 12 that leads to a qualification that is widely recognized by the world's leading universities. It is offered at Carson Graham Secondary.

Key Dates:

  • Thursday, February 2: Information session (in-person) for interested students currently in Grade 10, and their parents/guardians.

  • Friday, February 3: Deadline to sign up for “DP for a Day.” Prospective students will explore the program firsthand by meeting with IB coordinators, teachers and current DP students. Register via email to Cora Pross.

  • Friday, February 17: Application deadline. Visit the Application Process for information. Visit the Carson Graham IB Diploma Programme web page for more information about the program.

NVSD Chess Championship - February 17

The NVSD Chess Championship returns on Friday, February 17, and will be hosted at the Education Services Centre (2121 Lonsdale Avenue).

The tournament is open to all NVSD students, and all skill levels are welcome. There are two divisions for players to enter (elementary and secondary). While there is no fee to register, pre-registration is required as there is a maximum number of participants in each division.

For more information and to register your child, please visit the event's Information and Registration web page.

Additional Information and Opportunities

Spirit of the Season Festival - December 3
On Saturday, December 3, from 3 to 7 p.m., experience the magic of the holidays at the Spirit of the Season Festival at The Shipyards. This family-friendly event features the official lighting of the holiday tree, live music and entertainment, skating, hot chocolate, and dazzling holiday lights. Visit the City of North Vancouver’s Spirit of the Season Festival web page for full event details.

The NVDPL wants to hear from you!
The North Vancouver District Public Library would like to ensure its libraries are welcoming and accessible to all. Whether you’re a library regular or haven’t visited in a while, you’re invited to share your thoughts by taking the Library Experience survey. Share your feedback by Wednesday, December 7 to be entered into the draw for a Kobo eReader or a Samsung Galaxy Tablet. The survey is available in English, Mandarin, Persian, and Korean.

Grade 4 & 5 SnowPass program 
The Canadian Ski Council, along with many ski resorts across Canada, are eager to welcome students in Grades 4 and 5 back to the slopes for the 2022-2023 season and offer families an affordable way to do so. For $29.99 plus applicable taxes, students currently enrolled in Grades 4 or 5 can ski or snowboard twice at participating ski areas. Applications will be accepted until the end of March 2023. For more information and to apply, visit the SnowPass website.

Reminder: Supporting students and families in the community
Through the Student and Family Affordability Fund (SFAF), the school district is supporting students and their families who are feeling financially challenged due to the rising costs of living.

To request financial support at any time throughout the 2022-2023 school year, please complete the form(s) available on the Student and Family Affordability Fund web page and submit the form(s) in confidence to either your child’s teacher, principal, school counsellor or front office staff. A listing of eligible expenses, and answers to common questions can be found on our Frequently Asked Questions web page.