SD62

Adryanna Ralphs, left, and valedictorian Alyssa Taylor graduate from Edward Milne Community School in Sooke this year, in a weird, different, kiboshed and subdued kind of way. (Zoe Ducklow - Sooke News Mirror)

Sooke grads preparing for subdued — but still dressed up — graduation

There will be no prom, but there will be dresses and suits

Adryanna Ralphs, left, and valedictorian Alyssa Taylor graduate from Edward Milne Community School in Sooke this year, in a weird, different, kiboshed and subdued kind of way. (Zoe Ducklow - Sooke News Mirror)
Royal Bay Secondary School’s rainbow crosswalk was vandalized shortly after being painted but by Monday, coincidentally the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia, the crosswalk had been cleaned up and students had surrounded it with chalk messages of support and celebration. (Zoe Ducklow/News Staff)

B.C. high school’s pride crosswalk restored following ‘hateful’ graffiti attack

Hate terms, racial slur, phallic images spray-painted at Greater Victoria high school

Royal Bay Secondary School’s rainbow crosswalk was vandalized shortly after being painted but by Monday, coincidentally the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia, the crosswalk had been cleaned up and students had surrounded it with chalk messages of support and celebration. (Zoe Ducklow/News Staff)
Royal Bay Secondary School’s rainbow crosswalk was vandalized shortly after being painted but by Monday, coincidentally the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia, the crosswalk had been cleaned up and students had surrounded it with chalk messages of support and celebration. (Zoe Ducklow/News Staff)

Royal Bay pride crosswalk restored following graffiti attack

Hate terms, racial slur, phallic images spray-painted at Colwood high school

Royal Bay Secondary School’s rainbow crosswalk was vandalized shortly after being painted but by Monday, coincidentally the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia, the crosswalk had been cleaned up and students had surrounded it with chalk messages of support and celebration. (Zoe Ducklow/News Staff)
Al Kowalko shows off the province’s first electric school bus, running kids to three elementary and two secondary schools on the West Shore. (Zoe Ducklow/News Staff)

West Shore proud owners of B.C.’s first electric school bus

No emissions, no fuel costs and less maintenance will offset the $750K upfront expense

Al Kowalko shows off the province’s first electric school bus, running kids to three elementary and two secondary schools on the West Shore. (Zoe Ducklow/News Staff)
Spencer Middle School doesn’t actually have a detailed dress code, but an email suggesting a connection between warm weather and code violations started an online storm. (Zoe Ducklow|News Staff)

‘Distractive’ clothing reminder leaves West Shore parents layering complaints

Dress code reminder sparks outrage among parents for being sexist

Spencer Middle School doesn’t actually have a detailed dress code, but an email suggesting a connection between warm weather and code violations started an online storm. (Zoe Ducklow|News Staff)
Arabella Showers and Hunter Sayle, both in Grade 3, have helped with the West Shore garden this year. Hunter loves Swiss chard, which he’s munching on here. Arabella’s favourite is beets. (Zoe Ducklow/News Staff)

Student harvested, sorted, packed seeds set for sale at Langford store

Gardens went to seed over COVID, now seeds are packaged for sale

Arabella Showers and Hunter Sayle, both in Grade 3, have helped with the West Shore garden this year. Hunter loves Swiss chard, which he’s munching on here. Arabella’s favourite is beets. (Zoe Ducklow/News Staff)
Esquimalt High School is one of six Greater Victoria schools that reported a COVID-19 exposure over the weekend. (Black Press Media file photo)

Six new Greater Victoria school exposures reported over weekend

Steady rise in school exposures since return from spring break

Esquimalt High School is one of six Greater Victoria schools that reported a COVID-19 exposure over the weekend. (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)
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)
Retired SD62 custodian Jim Black brought his ‘pack’ of BARK ambassadors to a drive-thru for David Cameron Elementary School students during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic. Black championed the BARK program, which encouraged students to keep their school and homes clean. (Courtesy of David Cameron Elementary)

Colwood custodian’s dachshund-inspired cleaning program a delight for students

Retired elementary school custodian’s BARK program a hit with the kids

Retired SD62 custodian Jim Black brought his ‘pack’ of BARK ambassadors to a drive-thru for David Cameron Elementary School students during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic. Black championed the BARK program, which encouraged students to keep their school and homes clean. (Courtesy of David Cameron Elementary)
Belmont Secondary School is among those in the Sooke School District that benefit from a strong administrative approach to mental health resources and education. (Black Press Media file photo)

West Shore resident seeks more robust offerings for youth mental health

Sooke School District offers range of mental health education Kindergarten through Grade 12

Belmont Secondary School is among those in the Sooke School District that benefit from a strong administrative approach to mental health resources and education. (Black Press Media file photo)
Belmont Secondary School writing students tried to put themselves in someone else’s shoes for a recent assignment. (Photo courtesy of Sooke School District)

West Shore students put best foot forward for creative writing class

Belmont assignment explores empathy through a stranger’s shoes

Belmont Secondary School writing students tried to put themselves in someone else’s shoes for a recent assignment. (Photo courtesy of Sooke School District)
An online workshop will teach parents how to raise an anti-racist child. The event takes place on Feb. 25 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. (Black Press Media file photo)

New workshop designed to help Greater Victoria kids, parents become anti-racist

Session takes place on Feb. 25 from 7 to 8:30 p.m.

An online workshop will teach parents how to raise an anti-racist child. The event takes place on Feb. 25 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. (Black Press Media file photo)
Schools are open across Greater Victoria Thursday morning after snow and cold weather hit the region. (Black Press Media file photo)

Schools across Greater Victoria are open after snowfall

School districts asking students to dress warmly as arctic air hits region

Schools are open across Greater Victoria Thursday morning after snow and cold weather hit the region. (Black Press Media file photo)
The Sooke school district has filled all spots for their French immersion and nature kinderagarten programs in 2021-2022 school year. Regular kindergarten registration is still open and available. (Black Press Media file photo)

Sooke school district gets surplus of nature, French immersion kindergarten applications

Not enough room for almost half of nature kindergarten applicants

The Sooke school district has filled all spots for their French immersion and nature kinderagarten programs in 2021-2022 school year. Regular kindergarten registration is still open and available. (Black Press Media file photo)
The Sooke School District raised more than $18,000 for the Goldstream and Sooke food banks from the funds of 10,000 Tonight in December 2020. The funds go two- to 2.5-times further due to the buying power of the food banks. (Black Press Media file photo)

SD62 high school students raise more than $18,000 for food banks

Edward Milne in Sooke rakes in $11,000 alone

The Sooke School District raised more than $18,000 for the Goldstream and Sooke food banks from the funds of 10,000 Tonight in December 2020. The funds go two- to 2.5-times further due to the buying power of the food banks. (Black Press Media file photo)
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)

School bus driver laments motorists who pass while red lights are 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)
The Sooke School District is reporting cancellations and delays on a number of bus routes due to the windstorm. (Black Press Media file photo)

Greater Victoria schools face power outages, cancelled bus routes

Multiple schools without power across the region

The Sooke School District is reporting cancellations and delays on a number of bus routes due to the windstorm. (Black Press Media file photo)
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)