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. 

For the stories with images that are included below, please click on the caption for a link to the blog post or article.

Announcements

Community Report 2025

We are pleased to share with you the North Vancouver School District Community Report!

The Community Report is published each spring. It is one way in which we share and celebrate with our community the progress the North Vancouver School District is making in pursuit of our vision to provide world-class instruction and a rich diversity of engaging programs to inspire success for every student and bring communities together to learn, share and grow.

The stories you'll read show how we are bringing to life our strategic plan. Bold and aspirational, the strategic plan is a blueprint that frames where we would like to go and how we plan to get there.

While reviewing the report's content, we hope you recognize how much the North Vancouver School District community has achieved together to provide for students and staff teaching and learning environments where we can all learn, share, grow and thrive.

Scheduled Website Maintenance — March 20

On Thursday, March 20 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. the North Vancouver School District and school websites will be temporarily offline for scheduled maintenance. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and appreciate your understanding while we work to improve our services.

Artists for Kids 2025 Spring Portfolio Release — April 1

The Spring Portfolio features limited edition prints by renowned Canadian artists, including Ian Wallace, Karin Bubaš, Wayne Eastcott, Gordon Smith, and Michael Snow - artists who have significantly contributed to our society through their pivotal work and advocacy of the arts. 

Acquiring a print from this portfolio funds educational programs, artist residencies, art camps, scholarships, bursaries, and future acquisitions for Artists for Kids and the Gordon Smith Gallery Permanent Collection. 

Founded in 1989 by educators and B.C. artists, Artists for Kids is supported by the North Vancouver School District. Its mission is to support children, their art education, and their future through enriching art experiences and professional development for educators. In 1990, the program launched its first limited edition print, Xhuwaji / Haida Grizzly by Bill Reid, beginning a partnership with over 100 Canadian artists to create one of Canada’s most significant limited edition collections. 

Purchase a limited edition print and bring Canadian art to your collection and support the future of children and youth. Learn more.

Spring Break Travel Reminder

With measles outbreaks being reported internationally and Spring Break on the horizon, the Office of the Provincial Health Officer, BC Centre for Disease Control and public health officials are reminding people in British Columbia to check their vaccination records before travelling to ensure they are protected.

Measles is a highly contagious, airborne virus. There is a high risk of measles cases being brought back to B.C. due to ongoing measles outbreaks globally and decreased vaccination coverage rates in Canada. 

Additionally, pertussis (whooping cough) is making a comeback locally. Please ensure that your family’s pertussis immunizations are up to date. Pertussis is a bacterial infection of the lungs that is making a return. While people of any age can get ill, young children who have not been immunized get sicker than older children and adults.

Families can check their child’s immunization records via BC Health Gateway.

Vaccine appointments can be booked through local public health units, community health centres or nursing stations. Find a centre near you.

Information 

Approved 2025/2026 School Calendar 

The Board of Education approved the 2025/2026 School Calendar at the Public Board Meeting held on Tuesday, February 24. The approved School Calendar confirms dates including the first and last day of school for students, Winter and Spring Breaks, Curriculum Implementation Day and Staff Collaboration days for the next school year. These dates remain as indicated in the Proposed School Calendar that was made available for public comment in January and February.

Professional development (pro-d) dates have not been confirmed; dates on the current calendar documents are placeholder (i.e., example) dates at this time.

For more information, please visit the District Calendar web page. 

NVSD Events

2025 NVSD Chess Championship — Registration open

K-12 students across the school district are invited to register for the 2025 NVSD Chess Championship taking place on Monday, May 5, at Sutherland Secondary. Registration is free tournament and all skill levels are welcome.
Students can compete in the Primary, Intermediate, or Secondary divisions for individual and school prizes. Students can register in an older division if they wish, but they cannot register in a younger division. The tournament will begin at 9 a.m. with the finals concluding by 3 p.m. 

Students are encouraged to bring their own lunch and snacks. One family member is welcome to spectate. 

Learn more and register online. Space is limited. If you have any questions, please email chess@sd44.ca.

Stitched: Merging Photography and Textile Practices – Opening reception April 1

Please join the Gordon Smith Gallery for the opening of the Spring Exhibition, Stitched: Merging Photography and Textile Practices. The opening reception takes place on April 1 from 7 to 9 p.m. Stitched explores the intrinsic relationship between textiles and photographer. Photography, with its many uses for personal snapshots, evidence, surveillance, advertising, storytelling, and art, is a relatively new medium. Textiles have traditionally been dismissed as craft in part because of the gendered norms embedded within these historically domestic practices, which include sewing, beading, embroidery, knitting, lacemaking, weaving, and dyeing. For more information on programming and this exhibit, visit Artists for Kids and the and the Gordon and Marion Smith Foundation.

Ready, Set, Learn – April 9 to May 15

Ready, Set, Learn is an initiative aimed at encouraging and supporting children’s early language and literacy skills. Intended for families and their children (ages 3 to 5 years), Ready, Set, Learn is designed to foster positive connections among families, schools and early learning community partners and support children as they prepare for their transition to Kindergarten. Ready, Set, Learn events will be hosted at multiple locations throughout the school district from April 9 to May 15 and are free to attend. RSVP and event details are available on the Ready, Set, Learn web page.

Public Board Meeting – April 15

A Board of Education Public Board Meeting takes place on Tuesday, April 15, 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. 

Standing Committee Meeting – May 6

A Board of Education Standing Committee Meeting takes place on Tuesday, May 6 at 7 p.m. 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 — Late Registration begins March 14

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.

Although registration closes on February 28, late registration begins Friday, March 14. 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.

Summer Learning — Registration opens May 1

North Vancouver Summer Learning provides a platform for students to explore and extend learning opportunities while fulfilling their educational requirements through a variety of opportunities in the month of July.

The Summer Learning 2025 course offerings provide students opportunities to further their learning and/or earn credits toward graduation:

Registration is open to students within and beyond the NVSD. Registration opens on Wednesday, May 1 at 9 a.m. for NVSD students. 

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.

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 

District of North Vancouver Heritage Art Contest — Submit by April 18 

Attention all students aged 7 through 19 studying and/or living in the District of North Vancouver. The Heritage Art Contest invites you to create a piece of artwork to share your understanding of local community heritage – whether built, cultural, or natural. Details of the art contest are available on the Youth Heritage Art Contest website. 

North Vancouver District Public Library: TWEEN Harry Potter Party— March 19

Join the North Vancouver District Public Library for a special event chosen by Tweens for Tweens! Get ready to step into the enchanted world of Harry Potter at the Magical Harry Potter Party! This party involves a variety of free-range activity stations and crafts that you participate in at your own pace. No need to be on time, you can join the party anytime between 3-5 p.m. Parent participation encouraged if your child would benefit from extra supervision. The program is for older kids 9+. Learn more.

Vancouver Coastal Health Open Board Forum — April 2

Vancouver Coastal Health's Board of Directors would like to invite you to take part in the next Open Board Forum telephone town hall, which will focus on health-care topics relevant to the North Shore. The session will provide updates on health-care services and programs, including the new Paul Meyers Tower at Lions Gate hospital and broader acute care, community care, public health as well as other initiatives that support the health and wellness of North Shore communities. To register for the telephone town hall and receive a call to connect to the event, please visit www.vch.ca/en/openboardforum.