SD62

Ravi Parmar, chair of the Sooke School District Board of Education, says the two new schools set to open in Langford in 2022 are part of long-term plans to address growth on the West Shore. (Black Press Media file photo)

New Langford schools on schedule

Two new schools will add 1,200 spaces in 2022

Ravi Parmar, chair of the Sooke School District Board of Education, says the two new schools set to open in Langford in 2022 are part of long-term plans to address growth on the West Shore. (Black Press Media file photo)
NEW CUTLINE Plans for graduations that abide by provincial health guidelines are underway, says Scott Stinson, superintendent for the Sooke School District. (Pixabay) SD62 superintendent Scott Stinson says grade 12 students who are in a position to graduate at present will be able to do so, despite the COVID-19 pandemic. (Pixabay)

Grad celebration expectations stay flexible in Sooke School District

SD62 prepared to craft videos during pandemic protocols

NEW CUTLINE Plans for graduations that abide by provincial health guidelines are underway, says Scott Stinson, superintendent for the Sooke School District. (Pixabay) SD62 superintendent Scott Stinson says grade 12 students who are in a position to graduate at present will be able to do so, despite the COVID-19 pandemic. (Pixabay)
SD62 bus driver Kerry Zado said it’s common to see drivers lose their patience and pass by his bus while he’s picking up students during the morning commute. (Aaron Guillen/News Staff)

Concerned Island school bus driver says people still pass while red lights flashing

All buses in Sooke School District outfitted with stop sign cameras

SD62 bus driver Kerry Zado said it’s common to see drivers lose their patience and pass by his bus while he’s picking up students during the morning commute. (Aaron Guillen/News Staff)
Registration for French immersion and nature kindergarten programs in the Sooke School District start at 8 a.m. on Jan. 11. Regular kindergarten registration begins on Jan. 25. (File - iStock)

Lottery system continues for nature, French immersion kindergarten

Registration began today in Sooke school district

Registration for French immersion and nature kindergarten programs in the Sooke School District start at 8 a.m. on Jan. 11. Regular kindergarten registration begins on Jan. 25. (File - iStock)
Grade 4 student Ella Baxter-Mohrmann (left), vice-principal Georgie Walker and Lyla Wiltse show the artwork that their Sangster Elementary class created to spread positivity in Colwood. (Aaron Guillen/News Staff)

Colwood elementary students pin artwork to school fence to spread positivity

Artwork free to take for passersby at Sangster Elementary

Grade 4 student Ella Baxter-Mohrmann (left), vice-principal Georgie Walker and Lyla Wiltse show the artwork that their Sangster Elementary class created to spread positivity in Colwood. (Aaron Guillen/News Staff)
Belmont Secondary School. (Black Press Media file photo)

UPDATE: Comment taken out of context led to rumours of shooting threat at Belmont

Sooke School District has identified source, given all-clear for students to be in class

Belmont Secondary School. (Black Press Media file photo)
The Sooke School District is actively looking for more bus drivers after they had to cancel a handful of bus routes in late November. (Black Press Media file photo)

Bus driver shortage cancels routes in Sooke School District

More drivers needed to accomodate expanding bus routes amid pandemic

The Sooke School District is actively looking for more bus drivers after they had to cancel a handful of bus routes in late November. (Black Press Media file photo)
Grade 3 student Nate Twaddle, who uses a walker for a rare neurological condition, has been zooming along a new accessible walkway since it was installed in early October at Willway Elementary in Langford. (Aaron Guillen/News Staff)

Langford mother thankful for accessible walkway that helps son connect with peers

Rare neurological condition means Grade 3 student uses wheelchair, walker to play

Grade 3 student Nate Twaddle, who uses a walker for a rare neurological condition, has been zooming along a new accessible walkway since it was installed in early October at Willway Elementary in Langford. (Aaron Guillen/News Staff)
The Fraser Institute’s annual report card on B.C. elementary schools ranks schools across the province based on standardized tests. (Black Press Media file photo)

Opinion: Fraser Institute delivers elementary schools the usual mixed report card

What we learn doesn’t change, but maybe how we react to it should

The Fraser Institute’s annual report card on B.C. elementary schools ranks schools across the province based on standardized tests. (Black Press Media file photo)
SD62 says parents of kids who have problems with bus stops and pick up times should reach out to their transportation department to find a solution. This comes after a Grade 10 student attending EMCS in Sooke found out he had to walk 45 minutes to get to the nearest bus pickup. (Black Press Media file photo)

Bus route shift leaves East Sooke student walking 45 mins to pickup spot

Sooke School District willing to work with family to find solution

SD62 says parents of kids who have problems with bus stops and pick up times should reach out to their transportation department to find a solution. This comes after a Grade 10 student attending EMCS in Sooke found out he had to walk 45 minutes to get to the nearest bus pickup. (Black Press Media file photo)
A new short film festival called MORVENFEST is encouraging B.C. secondary students to step into the world of film during their Christmas break. (Jane Skrypnek/News Staff)

New film festival gives Victoria students exciting opportunity

MORVENFEST is open to all B.C. secondary students over Christmas break

A new short film festival called MORVENFEST is encouraging B.C. secondary students to step into the world of film during their Christmas break. (Jane Skrypnek/News Staff)
NEW CUTLINE SD 62 is considering assessing fees for school bus services. Students unload the bus heading toward the high school, Jr. high, and intermediate school, classes.

Sooke School District considers bus fees for students

Public feedback taken now, for consideration in January

NEW CUTLINE SD 62 is considering assessing fees for school bus services. Students unload the bus heading toward the high school, Jr. high, and intermediate school, classes.
Sooke School District superintendent, Scott Stinson (from left to right), Beecher Bay First Nation chief, Russ Chipps, Songhees First Nation elder, Butch Dick, and SD62 trustee, Ravi Parmar, broke ground on two new Langford schools Nov. 5. (Jane Skrypnek/News Staff)

Sooke School District breaks ground on two new Langford schools

The middle and elementary schools are expected to open in September 2022

Sooke School District superintendent, Scott Stinson (from left to right), Beecher Bay First Nation chief, Russ Chipps, Songhees First Nation elder, Butch Dick, and SD62 trustee, Ravi Parmar, broke ground on two new Langford schools Nov. 5. (Jane Skrypnek/News Staff)
The Sooke School District has awarded a $55.2 million contract to build two new schools to Farmer Construction Ltd. The 500-seat elementary school and 700-seat middle school are set to be completed by September 2022. (Black Press Media file photo)

Work set to start this month on two new Langford schools

Farmer Construction Ltd. will utilize SD62 students to work on the $55.2 million project

The Sooke School District has awarded a $55.2 million contract to build two new schools to Farmer Construction Ltd. The 500-seat elementary school and 700-seat middle school are set to be completed by September 2022. (Black Press Media file photo)
The Sooke School District will be hiring more bus drivers after it was overwhelmed by 450 last-minute bus route registrations before resuming service on Monday. (Black Press Media file photo)

School bus delays after SD62 overwhelmed by last-minute registrations

450 students signed up Friday alone, district to hire more drivers

The Sooke School District will be hiring more bus drivers after it was overwhelmed by 450 last-minute bus route registrations before resuming service on Monday. (Black Press Media file photo)
The Sooke School District is preparing to welcome back students as 82 per cent of families say they will return to in-class instruction on Sept. 10. (Black Press Media file photo)

Sooke School District to welcome back over 80 per cent of students in-person

82 per cent of families say they will return to in-class instruction on Sept. 10

The Sooke School District is preparing to welcome back students as 82 per cent of families say they will return to in-class instruction on Sept. 10. (Black Press Media file photo)
Sooke School District will face a $2 million drop in funding due to lack of international students planning to attend this fall. In a usual year, the school district sees around 300 international students, this fall there are about 60 planning to come. (Twitter/Scott Stinson)

Sooke School District loses $2 million due to lack of international students

Loss of funding not expected to affect classrooms, thanks to reserve funds

Sooke School District will face a $2 million drop in funding due to lack of international students planning to attend this fall. In a usual year, the school district sees around 300 international students, this fall there are about 60 planning to come. (Twitter/Scott Stinson)
Mal Roach (left), Nick Lysne, Trudy Court, Greg Faux, Mike Wagnar, Doug Stewart, Weyla Chipps-Roy and Derek Paul as well as Glenda Hemstreet (not pictured) pivoted their roles as custodial staff, educational assistants and a library clerk to support students, parents and staff over the last few weeks while schools have been closed. (Shalu Mehta/News Staff)

‘The face of Belmont’: Custodial staff at Langford school pivot to support parents, students

Staff serve as point of contact for parents, students with school

Mal Roach (left), Nick Lysne, Trudy Court, Greg Faux, Mike Wagnar, Doug Stewart, Weyla Chipps-Roy and Derek Paul as well as Glenda Hemstreet (not pictured) pivoted their roles as custodial staff, educational assistants and a library clerk to support students, parents and staff over the last few weeks while schools have been closed. (Shalu Mehta/News Staff)
Grade 12 students will be allowed to have a grad ceremony, but in small groups. They won’t be allowed to bring family members, according to Superintendent Scott Stinson. (Courtesy of Lawrence Herzog, Office of Mitzi Dean MLA)

VIDEO: Sooke School District 2020 graduates get stage ceremony after all

Students to cross the stage in small groups, not allowed to bring family

Grade 12 students will be allowed to have a grad ceremony, but in small groups. They won’t be allowed to bring family members, according to Superintendent Scott Stinson. (Courtesy of Lawrence Herzog, Office of Mitzi Dean MLA)
Brianna Gruber, a grade 12 student at Belmont Secondary, started a petition to have an in-person graduation ceremony rather than a virtual one. She said she has come up with ideas to ensure the ceremony would follow provincial orders in light of COVID-19. (Shalu Mehta/News Staff)

West Shore student petitions for more than a video graduation ceremony

Online petition receives nearly 3,000 signatures in less than one week

Brianna Gruber, a grade 12 student at Belmont Secondary, started a petition to have an in-person graduation ceremony rather than a virtual one. She said she has come up with ideas to ensure the ceremony would follow provincial orders in light of COVID-19. (Shalu Mehta/News Staff)