SD62

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. Sangster Elementary is one of two schools in the district offering nature kindergarten. (File - Black Press Media)

Sooke school district continues lottery system for nature, French immersion kindergarten

Registration begins on Monday (Jan. 11) at 8 a.m.

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. Sangster Elementary is one of two schools in the district offering nature kindergarten. (File - Black Press Media)
Colwood’s Sangster Elementary music teacher Chris Poynter has compiled the voices of around 240 students to recreate the final song that would take place at the end of their Christmas program. (YouTube)

VIDEO: Colwood teacher shares Christmas song with more than 200 student voices

‘Although we’re separated this year, we’re still together,’ says music teacher

Colwood’s Sangster Elementary music teacher Chris Poynter has compiled the voices of around 240 students to recreate the final song that would take place at the end of their Christmas program. (YouTube)
The Grade 5 John Muir Elementary class in Sooke has prepared gift bags for the Sooke homeless shelter, which the residents will open on Christmas Day. (Annette Jacobsen photo)

Grade 5 class in Sooke create gift bags for homeless

Bags stuffed with hand warmers, personal hygiene kits and a handwritten note

The Grade 5 John Muir Elementary class in Sooke has prepared gift bags for the Sooke homeless shelter, which the residents will open on Christmas Day. (Annette Jacobsen photo)
Officials broke ground on two new Langford schools Nov. 5. (Jane Skrypnek/News Staff)

SD62 tweaks catchment boundaries

Addition of two schools in 2022 brings changes to Sooke School District

Officials broke ground on two new Langford schools Nov. 5. (Jane Skrypnek/News Staff)
Sangster Elementary Grade 4 students Ryker de Ruiter (right), Temperance Walker, Lyla Wiltse and Ella Baxter-Mohrmann show the artwork that their 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

Sangster Elementary Grade 4 students Ryker de Ruiter (right), Temperance Walker, Lyla Wiltse and Ella Baxter-Mohrmann show the artwork that their 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)
Classes are cancelled at Royal Bay Secondary School and other schools Nov. 30 due to power outages. (Black Press Media file photo)

Classes cancelled across the West Shore, Sooke due to power outages

Students can be picked up but facilities remain open

Classes are cancelled at Royal Bay Secondary School and other schools Nov. 30 due to power outages. (Black Press Media file photo)
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)

Fraser Institute delivers Greater Victoria elementary schools a mixed report card

The annual report card compares test scores of schools across the province

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)
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)
10,000 Tonight, one of the West Shore’s largest food drives, will look drastically different at Edward Milne Community School this year. Grade 12 student Genelle Hill (left) and vice principal Todd Powell said they will only be collecting monetary donations. They will also be launching an online auction from Nov. 30 to Dec 11 to raise funds. (Aaron Guillen/News Staff)

Sooke’s high school to launch online auction for 10,000 Tonight

Online auction goes live from Nov. 30 to Dec. 11

10,000 Tonight, one of the West Shore’s largest food drives, will look drastically different at Edward Milne Community School this year. Grade 12 student Genelle Hill (left) and vice principal Todd Powell said they will only be collecting monetary donations. They will also be launching an online auction from Nov. 30 to Dec 11 to raise funds. (Aaron Guillen/News Staff)
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 mishap leaves EMCS 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)
Riley Scheffer has earned a scholarship to play with the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds. (Photo contributed)

Belmont Bulldog lineman wraps up scholarship

Langford’s Riley Scheffer will study kinesiology at the University of B.C.

Riley Scheffer has earned a scholarship to play with the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds. (Photo contributed)
School buses in the Sooke School District are cleaned twice a day as part of SD62’s COVID-19 protocols. (Black Press Media file photo)

COVID protocols working well in SD62

Daily health checks essential to success

School buses in the Sooke School District are cleaned twice a day as part of SD62’s COVID-19 protocols. (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 consideres 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)
Royal Bay Secondary School was evacuated Tuesday morning due to a gas smell in the building. Emergency services has been notified. (Black Press Media file photo)

UPDATE: Classes resume at Colwood’s Royal Bay Secondary following brief evacuation

Colwood Fire determine pipes leaking sewage smell Tuesday morning

Royal Bay Secondary School was evacuated Tuesday morning due to a gas smell in the building. Emergency services has been notified. (Black Press Media file photo)
A brief power outage delayed classes at Ecole John Stubbs Monday morning. (Google Maps)

UPDATED: Classes at Ecole John Stubbs carry on following power outage

Power restored at 12 p.m.

A brief power outage delayed classes at Ecole John Stubbs Monday morning. (Google Maps)
Sooke School District No. 62 superintendent Scott Stinson explains that most block classes at Belmont Secondary will be halved. (Aaron Guillen/News Staff)

Sooke School District opens conversation on catchment boundary changes

Feedback solicited at virtual town hall Oct. 28

Sooke School District No. 62 superintendent Scott Stinson explains that most block classes at Belmont Secondary will be halved. (Aaron Guillen/News Staff)