SD62

Dunsmuir middle school Grade 8 students Taylor Funk and Avery Snook are being praised after turning in a diamond ring they found last month, in the hope it could be reunited with its rightful owner. (Photo courtesy of Dunsmuir middle school)

Colwood students praised after turning in lost diamond ring

Dunsmuir middle school Grade 8 students found the ring on their way to school last month

Dunsmuir middle school Grade 8 students Taylor Funk and Avery Snook are being praised after turning in a diamond ring they found last month, in the hope it could be reunited with its rightful owner. (Photo courtesy of Dunsmuir middle school)
Sooke School District board chair Ravi Parmar said systemic racism continues to exist in the district and the wider community, and acknowledged more must be done to make SD62 more diverse and inclusive. (Photo courtesy Ravi Parmar)

Sooke School District board chair commits to end systemic racism in schools

But Ravi Parmar says mandatory anti-racism training, curriculum changes up to province

Sooke School District board chair Ravi Parmar said systemic racism continues to exist in the district and the wider community, and acknowledged more must be done to make SD62 more diverse and inclusive. (Photo courtesy Ravi Parmar)
The cast rehearsing the finale of We Will Rock You being performed by students at Edward Milne Community School on April 21 to 23. (Bailey Moreton/News Staff)

PHOTOS: Sooke students step on stage for first time since 2019

The last play EMCS musical theatre students performed was in 2019

The cast rehearsing the finale of We Will Rock You being performed by students at Edward Milne Community School on April 21 to 23. (Bailey Moreton/News Staff)
Grade 7 students at Ecole John Stubbs Memorial School in Colwood hold posters and flowers made for a fundraiser for Ukrainian relief efforts. (Courtesy of John Stubbs Memorial School)

Colwood students raise a sweet $4,400 for Ukraine in four days

Campaign has special meaning for those with family still in the embattled country

Grade 7 students at Ecole John Stubbs Memorial School in Colwood hold posters and flowers made for a fundraiser for Ukrainian relief efforts. (Courtesy of John Stubbs Memorial School)
Dominique Jacobs is worried about her daughter, Jade, being bullied in school because she’s Black. (Bailey Moreton/News Staff)

West Shore moms press for anti-racism bias training in schools

Comments on story of complaint against Sooke School District teacher shock parents

Dominique Jacobs is worried about her daughter, Jade, being bullied in school because she’s Black. (Bailey Moreton/News Staff)
Xyrena Medrano and her dad, material management technician Josh Ofiaza. (Kiernan Green/News Staff) Xyrena Medrano and her dad, material management technician Jose Ofiaza. (Kiernan Green/News Staff)

Crystal View student lands Langford’s highest-ever finish in B.C. Legion contest

Xyrena Medrano, 8, was inspired by her father’s role in the Canadian military

Xyrena Medrano and her dad, material management technician Josh Ofiaza. (Kiernan Green/News Staff) Xyrena Medrano and her dad, material management technician Jose Ofiaza. (Kiernan Green/News Staff)
A complaint has been filed against a Sooke School District teacher about the reading aloud of a derogatory word contained in a novel aimed at young readers, during Black History Month in February. (Black Press Media file photo)

Complaint filed against Sooke School District teacher for reading ‘derogatory word’ aloud

Verbatim reading was from widely-used book; SD62 crafts plan to help ‘unlearn unconscious bias’

A complaint has been filed against a Sooke School District teacher about the reading aloud of a derogatory word contained in a novel aimed at young readers, during Black History Month in February. (Black Press Media file photo)
Beatrice Carnell (red shoes) wrestling in a competition. Carnell only started wrestling in November of last year. (Courtesy of Steve Rennalls)

Greater Victoria wrestling program rebuilding after quiet years

Starting in November two students won 1st place at the Island Championships in February

Beatrice Carnell (red shoes) wrestling in a competition. Carnell only started wrestling in November of last year. (Courtesy of Steve Rennalls)
Students will learn bouldering techinques three times a week at the BoulderHouse in Langford. (Courtesy of SD62)

SD62 holding class on a climbing wall

Lessons will be hosted three times a week at the BoulderHouse in Langford

Students will learn bouldering techinques three times a week at the BoulderHouse in Langford. (Courtesy of SD62)
The Sooke School District 62 said provincial guidelines don’t require them to upgrade the ventilation systems to MERV 13, despite claims made by the Sooke Teacher’s Association last week. (Justin Samanski-Langille/News Staff)

Sooke School District addresses teachers’ substandard ventilation claim

Given choice, SD62 opted to improve air change in schools rather than install finer filters

The Sooke School District 62 said provincial guidelines don’t require them to upgrade the ventilation systems to MERV 13, despite claims made by the Sooke Teacher’s Association last week. (Justin Samanski-Langille/News Staff)
Sooke School District board chair Ravi Parmar announced a vaccine mandate for new SD62 hires in December, and followed that up Monday (Jan. 31) with an announcement that a full-staff mandate would be put in place as of March 7. (Black Press Media file photo)

Sooke School District declares vaccine mandate for all staff

SD62 started preparing for mandate in December, staff have until March 7 to comply

Sooke School District board chair Ravi Parmar announced a vaccine mandate for new SD62 hires in December, and followed that up Monday (Jan. 31) with an announcement that a full-staff mandate would be put in place as of March 7. (Black Press Media file photo)
Sooke School District 62 is asking the province for funding to conduct seismic upgrades at several of its Sooke and Port Renfrew schools. (Justin Samanski-Langille/News Staff)

Sooke School District seeking funds for seismic upgrades

The district has asked the province for funding

Sooke School District 62 is asking the province for funding to conduct seismic upgrades at several of its Sooke and Port Renfrew schools. (Justin Samanski-Langille/News Staff)
Tristan (left) and Max with mom Allison, who set up a home school when she felt her boys weren’t getting the support they needed in the public school system. (Photo submitted)

Langford mom starts own school amid lack of support for neurodivergent sons

Initially supported by multiple families, mother of two sons on autism spectrum foots bill herself

Tristan (left) and Max with mom Allison, who set up a home school when she felt her boys weren’t getting the support they needed in the public school system. (Photo submitted)
Sooke School District said registration numbers were strong once again for nature and French immersion kindergarten in the 2022-2023 school year, and officials are expecting the same for regular kindergarten registration when it opens on Jan. 24. (File - Black Press Media)

Sooke School District sees steady numbers for kindergarten registration

Lack of qualified teachers limiting French immersion curriculum

Sooke School District said registration numbers were strong once again for nature and French immersion kindergarten in the 2022-2023 school year, and officials are expecting the same for regular kindergarten registration when it opens on Jan. 24. (File - Black Press Media)
Students across Greater Victoria head back to the classroom on Monday, Jan. 10. (Black Press Media file photo)

Greater Victoria school districts welcome back students, prep for potential closures

Schools to pivot to remote/online learning if health or functional closures occur

Students across Greater Victoria head back to the classroom on Monday, Jan. 10. (Black Press Media file photo)
School buses are being cancelled with little or no warning, meaning some kids have to miss days at schools, according to parents. (Black Press Media file photo)

SD62 dealing with bus driver shortage, students unable to get bus

Sooke Mayor Maja Tait said the shortage is leading to more traffic on the roads

School buses are being cancelled with little or no warning, meaning some kids have to miss days at schools, according to parents. (Black Press Media file photo)
Despite high inflation, pay for school board trustees in Greater Victoria will likely not see the high increases that have been seen elsewhere in the province. (Pixabay photo)

Greater Victoria trustee pay set for modest increases despite inflation

Pay jumped by nearly a quarter in Abbotsford, but smaller increases here

Despite high inflation, pay for school board trustees in Greater Victoria will likely not see the high increases that have been seen elsewhere in the province. (Pixabay photo)
The new mural at Saseenos Elementary was created by Indigenous artist Jordanna George, a former student at the school. (Google maps)

Sooke school selects salmon work by Indigenous alum as new logo

Artist Jordanna George is a member of the T’Sou-ke Nation and former Saseenos student

The new mural at Saseenos Elementary was created by Indigenous artist Jordanna George, a former student at the school. (Google maps)
Sooke School District board chair Ravi Parmar on Tuesday (Dec. 21) announces the board’s decision not to institute a vaccine mandate for staff, but that all new hires must be vaccinated. (Bailey Moreton/News Staff)

No vaccine mandate for Sooke School District staff, but new hires must be vaccinated

SD62 board asks superintendent to prepare for possible declaration of a mandate later

Sooke School District board chair Ravi Parmar on Tuesday (Dec. 21) announces the board’s decision not to institute a vaccine mandate for staff, but that all new hires must be vaccinated. (Bailey Moreton/News Staff)
Ravi Parmar, chair of the Sooke school district, says two new schools set to open in Langford in 2022 are part of long-term plans to address growth on the West Shore. (File - Black Press Media)

Ravi Parmar acclaimed as Sooke school board chair

Parmar said building more schools will be a big challenge in next few years

Ravi Parmar, chair of the Sooke school district, says two new schools set to open in Langford in 2022 are part of long-term plans to address growth on the West Shore. (File - Black Press Media)