Council and CAO Gray are set for Sooke's fourth Memorandum of Understanding meeting with the trustees of School District #62 this evening. Preparing myself by gathering this homework, diving deep into the SD62 website in learning more about its remarkable range of programs and services, and following up on my March, 2021 State of Sooke's Youth Nation blog post.
BC Education Legislation
- School Act (1996)
- Teachers Act (2024 updated)
- Independent School Act (1996)
- First Nations Education Act (2007)
- Glossary
BC Ministry of Education and Child Care
"The purpose of the British Columbia school system is to enable the more than 570,000 public school students, 89,000 independent school students, and more than 4,500 home-schooled children enrolled each school year, to develop their individual potential and to acquire the knowledge, skills and abilities needed to contribute to a healthy society and a prosperous and sustainable economy." + January, 2025 mandate letter to Hon. Lisa Beare, Minister of Education and Child Care
- home page
- BC Course Curriculum
- References for curriculum transformation in BC
- Learning Pathways (literacy and numeracy skills)
- Core Competencies K-12 curriculum
"The Core Competencies are sets of intellectual, personal, and social and emotional proficiencies that all students need in order to engage in deep, lifelong learning. Along with literacy and numeracy foundations, they are central to British Columbia’s K-12 curriculum and assessment system and directly support students in their growth as educated citizens."
1. Communicating and Collaborating
2. Thinking (Creative, Critical, Reflective)
3. Personal and Social (Awareness, Responsibility, and Positive Personal and Cultural Identity)
BC School Trustees Association
- BCSTA advocacy focus areas cited on its website: i) Recruitment and Retention of Staff; ii)
Capital and Deferred Maintenance Funding; and iii) Inclusive Education and Student Success.
- 2022-2025 Strategic Plan
- Excerpt from Election 2024 advocacy template: "Capital and Deferred Maintenance Funding: Schools are more than mere buildings; they are the environments where future generations embark on their educational journeys. Many of BC’s schools are in urgent need of repairs, updates and seismic upgrades. To ensure that our learning environments are safe and reflect the needs of 21st century learning, adequate capital and deferred maintenance funding is needed. There is a need for recognition of these challenges and adjustments to budgeting for school districts."
Memorandum of Understanding between SD62 and District of Sooke signed in early 2022
Subsequent meetings held on Feb. 15, 2022; Jan. 30, 2023; and June 29, 2023
* Collaborative advocacy with the Province on shared priorities
* Sooke's population increases and need for new schools
* Explosive population growth in Langford and Colwood requiring new schools
* Traffic and safety issues at schools on Hwy #14
* Sooke Elementary's future
* Future for school land purchased in Sunriver
* Expansion of Edward Milne Community School
* Safety and parking issues at John Muir in particular
* Impacts of planned MOTT roadwork on Hwy #14, including Idlemore and Church
* Saseenos Elementary's future
* Promise and potential of The Village Initiative and The Foundry
* Playground expansion - new facility at John Muir in 2024
* Sport court box utilization at Sunriver
* School crossing guard program
* Safe Routes to Schools and the walking school-bus initiative
* Finite funding available from Ministry of Education & Child Care given its province-wide mandate
Sooke School District #62
(website homepage)
School Stats
Enrolment (as of Sept. 2024)
Approx. 4.3% annual growth, or 400 new students annually (enough for a new elementary school)
- Elementary: 6,083
- Middle: 2,974
- Secondary: 4,241
- Special needs students: 1,387
- International students: 260
- Teachers: 670
- Principles & Vice-Principles: 71
- Educational Assistants: 449 in 2023
- Support staff: 273
Executive Team
- Superintendent: Paul Block
- Secretary Treasurer: Brian Jonker
- Deputy Superintendent: Monica Braniff
- Associate Superintendents: Dave Strange & D'Arcy Deacon
- Executive Director, Human Resources: Fred Hibbs
Board of Education 2022-2026
Cendra Beaton (Chair)
Allison Watson (Vice Chair)
Amanda Dowhy (Past Chair)
Russ Chips
Christine Lervold
Ebony Logins
Trudy Spiller
Archive of board meeting agendas and minutes
Strategic Plan 2021-2025
* Draft Strategic Plan for 2025-2029 included in the Feb. 25 agenda pp. 100-113. Quarterly reports are tabled at meetings in November (Quarter 1: July- September), February (Quarter 2: October-December), May (Quarter 3: January - March) and September (Annual Report including Quarter 4: April to June).
Operational Plan 2024-2025
- Includes Engagement, Learning and Growth priority areas.
- Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) is a leading cross-category priority
- Implementation of the K-12 Literacy Framework in middle and secondary schools
- Student participation and voice
- Collaborate with Sc’ianew, T’Sou-ke and Pacheedaht Nations and with Na’tsa’maht Indigenous Education to establish a new Indigenous Education Council (re: Bill 40, School Amendment Act, 2023)
- Develop an asset management plan
- Make progress towards CleanBC 2030 targets
- Introduce SD62 Ethical Framework to board decision-making
- BC Digital Literacy Framework
Budget Planning
See amended annual budget in the Feb. 25 agenda pp. 79-96
- Current and past budgets
- 2025 Financial Plan
2024/25 Budget
- Total Expenses: $231,779,556
- Total Revenue: $257,308,544
- Ministry of Education funding: $227,630,702
- MOE funding based on a per-student allocation of $8,915
Capital Funding 2024/25
"The Capital Fund includes capital expenditures for land, buildings, buses and other tangible capital assets. The 2024/25 budget includes $29.6 million in anticipated total capital additions. Significant capital projects include:
~ Expansion Program (EXP) – $22.3 million for the prefabricated classrooms at David Cameron Elementary and Ruth King Elementary
~ School Enhancement Program (SEP) – $0.85 million for a HVAC upgrade at Willway Elementary and $0.45 million for roofing upgrades at Crystal View Elementary
~ Carbon Neutral Capital Program (CNCP) – $0.5 million for energy upgrades at John Muir Elementary
~ Playground Equipment Program (PEP) – $0.195 million for a new playground at John Muir Elementary
~ Childcare Centre - $5.1 million for a new childcare centre at Colwood Elementary.
School Inventory
- 26 schools
- 20 in Langford and Colwood
- All mapped on the School Locator
Schools in Milnes Landing (Sooke Region) Zone
- Edward Milne Community School + staff (Principal Mike Bullock)
- Journey Middle School + staff (Principal Darren Russell)
- Sooke Elementary School + staff (Principal Krista Leakey)
- John Muir Elementary School + staff (Principal Tamara Deleenheer)
- Ecole Poirier Elementary + staff (Principal Tess Vally)
- Saseenos Elementary + staff (Principal Gordon Johnson)
- future Port Renfrew Elementary ($12m funding announced in March, 2024)
- SD #62 Healthy Schools, Healthy People program + sample newsletter
- SD #62 Mental Health resources
- Sooke Schools International Students Program
Long-Range Facilities Plan 2023
Executive summary: "SD62 is at a tipping point: The School District encompasses the municipalities: District of Sooke, City of Colwood, City of Langford, District of Metchosin, District of Highlands, Township of View Royal and the Juan de Fuca Electoral Area. In BC, in the last two census cycles, Langford has been the fastest growing mid-size municipality. As a result, for the past several years SD62 has been one of the fastest growing school districts in the Province, and the construction of new seats in the District has not been able to keep up with the enrolment growth.
With an average utilization rate across the District of 112%, the District is now at a point where either new capital construction or temporary accommodation is the only remaining tool to alleviate pressure on its schools. Currently, SD62 has one of the highest numbers of portables, when compared to enrolment, in the Province, and approximately 11% of its students are being taught in portables, many of which are past their expected useful life, instead of in permanent facilities.
If no additional capital projects are approved over the next 5 years, the overall District utilization rate is projected to grow to over 120% by 2027, and to over 130% by 2032, and SD62 will have to add over 50 additional portables to alleviate the seat shortfall. This is estimated to cost the District a present day value of approximately $20 million.
Recently, the District has been awarded pilot projects at two schools for prefabricated additions of 8 classrooms each. These two projects are scheduled to open in the fall of 2024, and will present significant cost savings to the District, as the additions will replace portables.
SD62 is in desperate need of more, immediate, enrolling space in permanent facilities, and is committed to prioritizing simplified repeat designs and prefabricated solutions to reduce the time line for the delivery of major capital projects."
Replaces the 2018 Long Range Facilities Plan
Future Priorities
Milnes Landing (Sooke)
In Development
- Sooke Elementary seismic upgrade/replacement with an additional 150-200 seats
- Seismic replacement for Port Renfrew Elementary (50 students)
Short Term (up to 5 years)
- Addition to EMCS of new modular section for 300 more students
Mid-Term (up to 10 years)
- Seismic upgrades at John Muir Elementary and Saseenos Elementary
Long-Term (10 years+)
- "New elementary school: based on projected community growth, Sooke will require a new elementary school. It can be investigated whether the existing land holding is the best location for a new school site, or if this land can be used in a sale or land swap, for a location on the west side of Sooke."
North Langford & North Colwood
- Recent: Centre Mountain Lellum Middle School (700 seats; opened in Nov. 2022)
- Recent: PEXSISEN Elementary (500 seats; opened Sept. 2022)
- Expansion of Ruth King and David Cameron elementary schools (+190 seats each)
- Short-term: New North Langford elementary (480 students) and secondary (1200 students) schools
- Mid-Term: Seismic replacements at various schools
South Langford & South Colwood
- Recent: Royal Bay Secondary expansion (+600 seats; opened in Sept. 2020)
- In Development: New South Langford elementary school (480 students)
- Short-term: New South Colwood elementary school (480 students)
- Mid-Term: Sangster Elementary replacement (300 students)
Future School Sites
"The District owns all of its school sites, the Board office site, as well as five additional vacant sites for future new schools. With development progressing on the south of the island, limited properties remain that can be acquired by the District to meet future needs. Vacant sites that the District owns for future development, are:
~ Skirt Mountain Site 1380 Flint Ave, Langford - 6 acres
~ City Gate High School Site 2382 City Gate Blvd, Langford - 12 acres
~ Latoria Road Site 678 Latoria Rd, Colwood - 11 acres
~ South Colwood Site Royal Bay - 7 acres
~ Sooke River Site 2438 Phillips Rd. - 5 acres
Seismic Upgrade Priorities
~ Sooke Elementary (Medium priority, latest upgrades in 1967 to BC's oldest, still operating elementary school - 1911)
~ Port Renfrew Elementary (Medium, built in 1970)
~ John Muir Elementary (Medium, 1970)
~ Saseenos Elementary (Medium, 1959)
~ Willway Elementary (H3, 1977)
~ Millstream Elementary (Medium, 1959)
~ Savory Elementary (Medium, 1965)
Sooke Analysis within the Facilities Plan
"Looking at the census data, we can see that the population of Sooke has grown from 8,238 in 2011 to 15,583 in 2021. Even though the population has grown, we also see that the average age is going up, as is the % of the population over 65 years of age. The population of Sooke is aging: where the median age in 2016 was around 40, in 2021 it has gone up to 42.6, and the % of people over 65 in that time increased from 15 to over 19%. The overall population growth therefore does not translate equally into more school aged children: the population between 2016 and 2021 grew by 2,314, or 25%, however the population of children between the ages of 5-19 only grew by 175, or 10%."
Colwood Analysis
"Colwood has a younger population than the regional average, however the overall population is slowly aging. In 2016, the median age in Colwood was 40.9 years, and in 2021 this had gone up to 42.3. The population of school-age kids, however grew by 10.10% in those years, compared to the overall population growth of 12.5%. Colwood 2038 projects a 35% population increase by 2028 and an additional 16% increase by 2038 where it is anticipated the majority of growth will be in the Seaside, Royal Bay, Colwood Corners and Latoria neighbourhoods. It is expected that the number of apartments will grow and by 2038 will account for 39% of the housing mix." + 2018 Jack Knox article on Royal Bay Secondary. <clip> "The West Shore continues to boom. The Sooke district’s enrolment, which was 8,272 a decade ago, hit 10,800 this year and is projected to increase by a further 1,800 over five years."
Langford Analysis
"One of the fastest growing communities in BC and the largest of the municipalities that SD62 operates in. It has seen explosive growth over the past 10 years: With its 2021 census population of 46,584, it was the fastest growing municipality in BC over 5000 residents, and the third fastest in Canada, with a 31.8% growth compared to 2016.
Of the communities that SD62 operates in, Langford has the youngest population, with an average age of 39.1 (2021 census). The pace of both residential and commercial development and the relative affordability of housing compared to surrounding communities, will continue to attract a younger population. Approximately 12% of the population is older than 65. The Central and North Langford areas are where the School District will see the most explosive growth over the next 10-20 years: with the population of Langford projected to grow by over 60,000 people over the next 30 years, and its relative affordability, the area is an attractive location for young families and newcomers."
District of Sooke Advocacy
- Meeting with Minister of Education and Child Care Rachna Singh at the Sept. 2024 UBCM Conference
i) Request information on the plan for schools in the Sooke School District's Milnes Landing (aka Sooke) region; and
ii) Advocate for efforts to secure fair funding and new school developments for Sooke, such as the new Sooke Elementary and Sunriver Elementary, in response to the area's fast-growing population and given the current focus on Langford and Colwood in SD #62’s five-year capital plan.
- UBCM meetings with former Education Ministers Whiteside and Fleming, 2018-2023
Miscellaneous
- SD #62 Safe Schools
- resources for mental and sexual health, traumatic events, online safety, substance use.
- ERASE Reporting Tool ~ "The ERASE Report It tool is an online, anonymous reporting tool where students can report anything they find worrisome or concerning directly to their school/school district’s safe school coordinators. Examples of behaviours or incidents to report include: Bullying/Cyberbullying; Harassment; Social Media; Sexting; Inappropriate Sexual Behaviour; Concerns about Adults; Concerns about a school; Racism/Discrimination; Drugs or Alcohol; Weapons or Gang Activity; Threats; Violence or Fighting; Mental Health Concern; Suicide; Vandalism or Property Damage; School Attack/Shooting; Or anything else that is worrisome or concerning."
- Student behaviour patterns: 2019 infographic produced by SD62's Healthy Schools, Healthy People program
- McCreary Centre Society - 2023 BC Adolescent Heath Survey + South Island results
- The Youth Engagement Project: A Youth Perspective on Developing a Youth-Friendly Sooke (2014, see file attached to this 2021 blog entry)
- Statistics Canada reports in the 2016 census that there are 3,085 residents under the age of 19 in Sooke ~ 775 of them aged 10-14 and 760 aged 15-19. Boys outnumber girls marginally (as is the case nationally and internationally for sound evolutionary reasons.) (update)
- Human Early Learning Partnership EDI Wave 7 Sooke School District #62 Report - "an overview of patterns and trends in early child development for Wave 7 (2016-2019) and explores change over time from Wave 2 (2004-2007)" + PDF
- Early Development Instrument (EDI) report - 2023/24
- questionnaire issued to kindergarten students since 2001 (i.e., Wave 1)
- focuses on physical health & wellbeing, social competence, emotional maturity, language & cognitive development, communications skills and general knowledge
- critical for early intervention strategies
- UBC researcher Bill Warburton’s report (2023) on the importance of upstream intervention in keeping youth out of the justice system (shared on from the Victoria Family Court and Youth Justice Committee)
– Youth Justice Services: Strengthening Abilities and Journeys of Empowerment ~ presentation by the Hon. Grace Lore, Minister of Children and Family Development (June 2024)
- Parent Advisory Council (PAC) is the official recognized voice of parents at the school level. Every parent of a child registered in a school has a right, under the School Act, to belong to the PAC. The PAC meets monthly to consider school and community issues of interest and concerns of parents and our kids. Parents who are informed and are committed to their children’s education can and do enhance the quality of learning.
- Edward Milne Community School Society + archive of annual reports, 2010 to present
- Safe Paths to Schools: Sooke Report (2016)
- Sooke Soccer Youth Programs + other local sports leagues
* SEAPARC
* Sooke Family Resource Society
* T'Sou-ke Nation Youth Centre
* Rotary Club of Sooke
* Junior Youth Spiritual Empowerment Program
* Westshore Centre for Learning and Training
* Sooke Transition House Society
Youth Engagement
- UBCM Best Practices + Youth Engagement Toolkit Guide (2012)
- FCM Municipal Youth Engagement Handbook
- UVic/Province of BC Toolkit
- Ontario Centre of Excellence for Child and Youth Mental Heath - Youth Engagement
- Pan-Canadian Joint Symposium for School Health - Youth Engagement Toolkit
- 100 To Zero: Age-Friendly Planning (Plassurban, Victoria)
- Maple Ridge Youth Development Wheel
- BC Chamber of Commerce: A Focus On Youth Entrepreneurship (2020)
- A Seat At The Table: A Review of Youth Engagement in Vancouver (McCreay Centre Society, 2009)
- National League of Cities (US): Promoting Youth Participation
- Local Government Awareness Week (third week of May annually)
- City of Calgary Mayor's Youth Council
- City of Victoria Youth Council
- City of Duncan Junior Council + Terms of Reference + Article + sample minutes
- Squamish Youth Strategy
Miscellaneous
- Screen Time and Activity Among Canadian Youth (Stats Can, 2017)
- Exercise and Screen Time During the COVID-19 Pandemic (Stats Can, 2020)
- ParticipACTION Impact Report (2024)
- Children and Youth Report Card (2024)
- Family Influence: The ParticipACTION Report Card For Children and Youth (2020)
- Better With Age: The ParticipACTION Report Card for Adults (2019)
- Canada's Youth Policy (2020) + Young Canadians resource page
- UN International Youth Day (annually on Aug. 12 since 2000)
- UN Youth 2030: Youth Strategy
- A Pathway To Hope: A Roadmap For Mental Health and Addictions Care (Province of BC)
- Mental Health Commission of Canada: Mental Health Strategy for Youth (2016)
- BC Children's Hospital Kelty Mental Health Centre: Youth and Young Adults
- CMHA BC: Youth Helping Youth (Peer Support)
The Village Initiative: Sooke/Westshore
The Village Initiative (TVI) "is an inter-disciplinary network of more than 60 organizations sharing a commitment to the vision of healthy and thriving children, youth, and families across the Sooke and West Shore communities ... TVI took root when the Sooke School District and Island Health started a conversation with community partners, recognizing that the health and wellbeing of children, youth, and families are best supported through an all-hands-on-deck approach – a Village. The urgency of our mission has only been underscored by the global pandemic and its impact on children, youth, and families."
- Project Plan for Sooke-Westshore Shared Space Network and System (March, 2022)
- Space survey results (2021)
- Sooke/Westshore Community Health Profile (2022)
The Village Initiative member organizations
(stewardship committee organizations in green)
Beacon Community Services
BGC South Vancouver Island
Canadian Mental Health Association, BC Division
Capital Region Food & Agriculture Initiatives Roundtable
Children’s Health Foundation
Citizen’s Environment Network in Colwood
City of Colwood
City of Langford
Community Social Planning Council of Greater Victoria
District of Sooke
Family Services of Greater Victoria
First Nations Health Authority
Food Share Network
Goldstream Food Bank
Greater Victoria Local Immigration Partnership
Greater Victoria Public Library
Hulitan Family and Community Services Society
Inter-Cultural Association of Greater Victoria
Island Health – Mental Health and Substance Use, Children, Youth and Families, Public Health, Priority Populations
Island Health – Public Health
Island Métis Family & Community Services Society
John Howard Society of Victoria
Juan de Fuca Performing Arts Centre Society
KidSport Greater Victoria
Langford Residents Association Society
Learning through Loss
MCFD Child & Youth Mental Health
Mennonite Central Committee
Military Family Resource Centre
Mustard Seed Food Bank
OneAbility
Pacific Centre Family Services
PISE (Pacific Institute for Sport Excellence)
RCMP
ReImagine West Shore Community Society
Rotary Club of Sooke
Royal Roads University
Salvation Army
Saunders Family Foundation
SEAPARC Leisure Complex
Sea To Tree Health & Wellness
Society of Saint Vincent de Paul Vancouver Island
Sooke Family Resource Society
Sooke Food Bank
Sooke Region Communities Health Network
Sooke School District
Sooke Shelter Society
Story Studio
Threshold Housing
Thrive Social Services
United Way of Greater Victoria
United Way Southern Vancouver Island
University of Victoria Centre for Youth & Society
Vancouver Island Regional Library
Vancouver Island Counselling Centre for Immigrants and Refugees
Victoria Immigrant and Refugee Centre Society
West Shore Arts Council
West Shore Chamber of Commerce
West Shore Parks & Recreation
Westshore Town Centre
WorkLink Employment Society
YMCA-YWCA of Vancouver Island
Youth Hope Haven Foundation
BC Education Legislation
- School Act (1996)
- Teachers Act (2024 updated)
- Independent School Act (1996)
- First Nations Education Act (2007)
- Glossary
BC Ministry of Education and Child Care
"The purpose of the British Columbia school system is to enable the more than 570,000 public school students, 89,000 independent school students, and more than 4,500 home-schooled children enrolled each school year, to develop their individual potential and to acquire the knowledge, skills and abilities needed to contribute to a healthy society and a prosperous and sustainable economy." + January, 2025 mandate letter to Hon. Lisa Beare, Minister of Education and Child Care
- home page
- BC Course Curriculum
- References for curriculum transformation in BC
- Learning Pathways (literacy and numeracy skills)
- Core Competencies K-12 curriculum
"The Core Competencies are sets of intellectual, personal, and social and emotional proficiencies that all students need in order to engage in deep, lifelong learning. Along with literacy and numeracy foundations, they are central to British Columbia’s K-12 curriculum and assessment system and directly support students in their growth as educated citizens."
1. Communicating and Collaborating
2. Thinking (Creative, Critical, Reflective)
3. Personal and Social (Awareness, Responsibility, and Positive Personal and Cultural Identity)
BC School Trustees Association
- BCSTA advocacy focus areas cited on its website: i) Recruitment and Retention of Staff; ii)
Capital and Deferred Maintenance Funding; and iii) Inclusive Education and Student Success.
- 2022-2025 Strategic Plan
- Excerpt from Election 2024 advocacy template: "Capital and Deferred Maintenance Funding: Schools are more than mere buildings; they are the environments where future generations embark on their educational journeys. Many of BC’s schools are in urgent need of repairs, updates and seismic upgrades. To ensure that our learning environments are safe and reflect the needs of 21st century learning, adequate capital and deferred maintenance funding is needed. There is a need for recognition of these challenges and adjustments to budgeting for school districts."
Memorandum of Understanding between SD62 and District of Sooke signed in early 2022
Subsequent meetings held on Feb. 15, 2022; Jan. 30, 2023; and June 29, 2023
* Collaborative advocacy with the Province on shared priorities
* Sooke's population increases and need for new schools
* Explosive population growth in Langford and Colwood requiring new schools
* Traffic and safety issues at schools on Hwy #14
* Sooke Elementary's future
* Future for school land purchased in Sunriver
* Expansion of Edward Milne Community School
* Safety and parking issues at John Muir in particular
* Impacts of planned MOTT roadwork on Hwy #14, including Idlemore and Church
* Saseenos Elementary's future
* Promise and potential of The Village Initiative and The Foundry
* Playground expansion - new facility at John Muir in 2024
* Sport court box utilization at Sunriver
* School crossing guard program
* Safe Routes to Schools and the walking school-bus initiative
* Finite funding available from Ministry of Education & Child Care given its province-wide mandate
Sooke School District #62
(website homepage)
School Stats
Enrolment (as of Sept. 2024)
Approx. 4.3% annual growth, or 400 new students annually (enough for a new elementary school)
- Elementary: 6,083
- Middle: 2,974
- Secondary: 4,241
- Special needs students: 1,387
- International students: 260
- Teachers: 670
- Principles & Vice-Principles: 71
- Educational Assistants: 449 in 2023
- Support staff: 273
Executive Team
- Superintendent: Paul Block
- Secretary Treasurer: Brian Jonker
- Deputy Superintendent: Monica Braniff
- Associate Superintendents: Dave Strange & D'Arcy Deacon
- Executive Director, Human Resources: Fred Hibbs
Board of Education 2022-2026
Cendra Beaton (Chair)
Allison Watson (Vice Chair)
Amanda Dowhy (Past Chair)
Russ Chips
Christine Lervold
Ebony Logins
Trudy Spiller
Archive of board meeting agendas and minutes
Strategic Plan 2021-2025
* Draft Strategic Plan for 2025-2029 included in the Feb. 25 agenda pp. 100-113. Quarterly reports are tabled at meetings in November (Quarter 1: July- September), February (Quarter 2: October-December), May (Quarter 3: January - March) and September (Annual Report including Quarter 4: April to June).
Operational Plan 2024-2025
- Includes Engagement, Learning and Growth priority areas.
- Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) is a leading cross-category priority
- Implementation of the K-12 Literacy Framework in middle and secondary schools
- Student participation and voice
- Collaborate with Sc’ianew, T’Sou-ke and Pacheedaht Nations and with Na’tsa’maht Indigenous Education to establish a new Indigenous Education Council (re: Bill 40, School Amendment Act, 2023)
- Develop an asset management plan
- Make progress towards CleanBC 2030 targets
- Introduce SD62 Ethical Framework to board decision-making
- BC Digital Literacy Framework
Budget Planning
See amended annual budget in the Feb. 25 agenda pp. 79-96
- Current and past budgets
- 2025 Financial Plan
2024/25 Budget
- Total Expenses: $231,779,556
- Total Revenue: $257,308,544
- Ministry of Education funding: $227,630,702
- MOE funding based on a per-student allocation of $8,915
Capital Funding 2024/25
"The Capital Fund includes capital expenditures for land, buildings, buses and other tangible capital assets. The 2024/25 budget includes $29.6 million in anticipated total capital additions. Significant capital projects include:
~ Expansion Program (EXP) – $22.3 million for the prefabricated classrooms at David Cameron Elementary and Ruth King Elementary
~ School Enhancement Program (SEP) – $0.85 million for a HVAC upgrade at Willway Elementary and $0.45 million for roofing upgrades at Crystal View Elementary
~ Carbon Neutral Capital Program (CNCP) – $0.5 million for energy upgrades at John Muir Elementary
~ Playground Equipment Program (PEP) – $0.195 million for a new playground at John Muir Elementary
~ Childcare Centre - $5.1 million for a new childcare centre at Colwood Elementary.
School Inventory
- 26 schools
- 20 in Langford and Colwood
- All mapped on the School Locator
Schools in Milnes Landing (Sooke Region) Zone
- Edward Milne Community School + staff (Principal Mike Bullock)
- Journey Middle School + staff (Principal Darren Russell)
- Sooke Elementary School + staff (Principal Krista Leakey)
- John Muir Elementary School + staff (Principal Tamara Deleenheer)
- Ecole Poirier Elementary + staff (Principal Tess Vally)
- Saseenos Elementary + staff (Principal Gordon Johnson)
- future Port Renfrew Elementary ($12m funding announced in March, 2024)
- SD #62 Healthy Schools, Healthy People program + sample newsletter
- SD #62 Mental Health resources
- Sooke Schools International Students Program
Long-Range Facilities Plan 2023
Executive summary: "SD62 is at a tipping point: The School District encompasses the municipalities: District of Sooke, City of Colwood, City of Langford, District of Metchosin, District of Highlands, Township of View Royal and the Juan de Fuca Electoral Area. In BC, in the last two census cycles, Langford has been the fastest growing mid-size municipality. As a result, for the past several years SD62 has been one of the fastest growing school districts in the Province, and the construction of new seats in the District has not been able to keep up with the enrolment growth.
With an average utilization rate across the District of 112%, the District is now at a point where either new capital construction or temporary accommodation is the only remaining tool to alleviate pressure on its schools. Currently, SD62 has one of the highest numbers of portables, when compared to enrolment, in the Province, and approximately 11% of its students are being taught in portables, many of which are past their expected useful life, instead of in permanent facilities.
If no additional capital projects are approved over the next 5 years, the overall District utilization rate is projected to grow to over 120% by 2027, and to over 130% by 2032, and SD62 will have to add over 50 additional portables to alleviate the seat shortfall. This is estimated to cost the District a present day value of approximately $20 million.
Recently, the District has been awarded pilot projects at two schools for prefabricated additions of 8 classrooms each. These two projects are scheduled to open in the fall of 2024, and will present significant cost savings to the District, as the additions will replace portables.
SD62 is in desperate need of more, immediate, enrolling space in permanent facilities, and is committed to prioritizing simplified repeat designs and prefabricated solutions to reduce the time line for the delivery of major capital projects."
Replaces the 2018 Long Range Facilities Plan
Future Priorities
Milnes Landing (Sooke)
In Development
- Sooke Elementary seismic upgrade/replacement with an additional 150-200 seats
- Seismic replacement for Port Renfrew Elementary (50 students)
Short Term (up to 5 years)
- Addition to EMCS of new modular section for 300 more students
Mid-Term (up to 10 years)
- Seismic upgrades at John Muir Elementary and Saseenos Elementary
Long-Term (10 years+)
- "New elementary school: based on projected community growth, Sooke will require a new elementary school. It can be investigated whether the existing land holding is the best location for a new school site, or if this land can be used in a sale or land swap, for a location on the west side of Sooke."
North Langford & North Colwood
- Recent: Centre Mountain Lellum Middle School (700 seats; opened in Nov. 2022)
- Recent: PEXSISEN Elementary (500 seats; opened Sept. 2022)
- Expansion of Ruth King and David Cameron elementary schools (+190 seats each)
- Short-term: New North Langford elementary (480 students) and secondary (1200 students) schools
- Mid-Term: Seismic replacements at various schools
South Langford & South Colwood
- Recent: Royal Bay Secondary expansion (+600 seats; opened in Sept. 2020)
- In Development: New South Langford elementary school (480 students)
- Short-term: New South Colwood elementary school (480 students)
- Mid-Term: Sangster Elementary replacement (300 students)
Future School Sites
"The District owns all of its school sites, the Board office site, as well as five additional vacant sites for future new schools. With development progressing on the south of the island, limited properties remain that can be acquired by the District to meet future needs. Vacant sites that the District owns for future development, are:
~ Skirt Mountain Site 1380 Flint Ave, Langford - 6 acres
~ City Gate High School Site 2382 City Gate Blvd, Langford - 12 acres
~ Latoria Road Site 678 Latoria Rd, Colwood - 11 acres
~ South Colwood Site Royal Bay - 7 acres
~ Sooke River Site 2438 Phillips Rd. - 5 acres
Seismic Upgrade Priorities
~ Sooke Elementary (Medium priority, latest upgrades in 1967 to BC's oldest, still operating elementary school - 1911)
~ Port Renfrew Elementary (Medium, built in 1970)
~ John Muir Elementary (Medium, 1970)
~ Saseenos Elementary (Medium, 1959)
~ Willway Elementary (H3, 1977)
~ Millstream Elementary (Medium, 1959)
~ Savory Elementary (Medium, 1965)
Sooke Analysis within the Facilities Plan
"Looking at the census data, we can see that the population of Sooke has grown from 8,238 in 2011 to 15,583 in 2021. Even though the population has grown, we also see that the average age is going up, as is the % of the population over 65 years of age. The population of Sooke is aging: where the median age in 2016 was around 40, in 2021 it has gone up to 42.6, and the % of people over 65 in that time increased from 15 to over 19%. The overall population growth therefore does not translate equally into more school aged children: the population between 2016 and 2021 grew by 2,314, or 25%, however the population of children between the ages of 5-19 only grew by 175, or 10%."
Colwood Analysis
"Colwood has a younger population than the regional average, however the overall population is slowly aging. In 2016, the median age in Colwood was 40.9 years, and in 2021 this had gone up to 42.3. The population of school-age kids, however grew by 10.10% in those years, compared to the overall population growth of 12.5%. Colwood 2038 projects a 35% population increase by 2028 and an additional 16% increase by 2038 where it is anticipated the majority of growth will be in the Seaside, Royal Bay, Colwood Corners and Latoria neighbourhoods. It is expected that the number of apartments will grow and by 2038 will account for 39% of the housing mix." + 2018 Jack Knox article on Royal Bay Secondary. <clip> "The West Shore continues to boom. The Sooke district’s enrolment, which was 8,272 a decade ago, hit 10,800 this year and is projected to increase by a further 1,800 over five years."
Langford Analysis
"One of the fastest growing communities in BC and the largest of the municipalities that SD62 operates in. It has seen explosive growth over the past 10 years: With its 2021 census population of 46,584, it was the fastest growing municipality in BC over 5000 residents, and the third fastest in Canada, with a 31.8% growth compared to 2016.
Of the communities that SD62 operates in, Langford has the youngest population, with an average age of 39.1 (2021 census). The pace of both residential and commercial development and the relative affordability of housing compared to surrounding communities, will continue to attract a younger population. Approximately 12% of the population is older than 65. The Central and North Langford areas are where the School District will see the most explosive growth over the next 10-20 years: with the population of Langford projected to grow by over 60,000 people over the next 30 years, and its relative affordability, the area is an attractive location for young families and newcomers."
District of Sooke Advocacy
- Meeting with Minister of Education and Child Care Rachna Singh at the Sept. 2024 UBCM Conference
i) Request information on the plan for schools in the Sooke School District's Milnes Landing (aka Sooke) region; and
ii) Advocate for efforts to secure fair funding and new school developments for Sooke, such as the new Sooke Elementary and Sunriver Elementary, in response to the area's fast-growing population and given the current focus on Langford and Colwood in SD #62’s five-year capital plan.
- UBCM meetings with former Education Ministers Whiteside and Fleming, 2018-2023
Miscellaneous
- SD #62 Safe Schools
- resources for mental and sexual health, traumatic events, online safety, substance use.
- ERASE Reporting Tool ~ "The ERASE Report It tool is an online, anonymous reporting tool where students can report anything they find worrisome or concerning directly to their school/school district’s safe school coordinators. Examples of behaviours or incidents to report include: Bullying/Cyberbullying; Harassment; Social Media; Sexting; Inappropriate Sexual Behaviour; Concerns about Adults; Concerns about a school; Racism/Discrimination; Drugs or Alcohol; Weapons or Gang Activity; Threats; Violence or Fighting; Mental Health Concern; Suicide; Vandalism or Property Damage; School Attack/Shooting; Or anything else that is worrisome or concerning."
- Student behaviour patterns: 2019 infographic produced by SD62's Healthy Schools, Healthy People program
- McCreary Centre Society - 2023 BC Adolescent Heath Survey + South Island results
- The Youth Engagement Project: A Youth Perspective on Developing a Youth-Friendly Sooke (2014, see file attached to this 2021 blog entry)
- Statistics Canada reports in the 2016 census that there are 3,085 residents under the age of 19 in Sooke ~ 775 of them aged 10-14 and 760 aged 15-19. Boys outnumber girls marginally (as is the case nationally and internationally for sound evolutionary reasons.) (update)
- Human Early Learning Partnership EDI Wave 7 Sooke School District #62 Report - "an overview of patterns and trends in early child development for Wave 7 (2016-2019) and explores change over time from Wave 2 (2004-2007)" + PDF
- Early Development Instrument (EDI) report - 2023/24
- questionnaire issued to kindergarten students since 2001 (i.e., Wave 1)
- focuses on physical health & wellbeing, social competence, emotional maturity, language & cognitive development, communications skills and general knowledge
- critical for early intervention strategies
- UBC researcher Bill Warburton’s report (2023) on the importance of upstream intervention in keeping youth out of the justice system (shared on from the Victoria Family Court and Youth Justice Committee)
– Youth Justice Services: Strengthening Abilities and Journeys of Empowerment ~ presentation by the Hon. Grace Lore, Minister of Children and Family Development (June 2024)
- Parent Advisory Council (PAC) is the official recognized voice of parents at the school level. Every parent of a child registered in a school has a right, under the School Act, to belong to the PAC. The PAC meets monthly to consider school and community issues of interest and concerns of parents and our kids. Parents who are informed and are committed to their children’s education can and do enhance the quality of learning.
- Edward Milne Community School Society + archive of annual reports, 2010 to present
- Safe Paths to Schools: Sooke Report (2016)
- Sooke Soccer Youth Programs + other local sports leagues
* SEAPARC
* Sooke Family Resource Society
* T'Sou-ke Nation Youth Centre
* Rotary Club of Sooke
* Junior Youth Spiritual Empowerment Program
* Westshore Centre for Learning and Training
* Sooke Transition House Society
Youth Engagement
- UBCM Best Practices + Youth Engagement Toolkit Guide (2012)
- FCM Municipal Youth Engagement Handbook
- UVic/Province of BC Toolkit
- Ontario Centre of Excellence for Child and Youth Mental Heath - Youth Engagement
- Pan-Canadian Joint Symposium for School Health - Youth Engagement Toolkit
- 100 To Zero: Age-Friendly Planning (Plassurban, Victoria)
- Maple Ridge Youth Development Wheel
- BC Chamber of Commerce: A Focus On Youth Entrepreneurship (2020)
- A Seat At The Table: A Review of Youth Engagement in Vancouver (McCreay Centre Society, 2009)
- National League of Cities (US): Promoting Youth Participation
- Local Government Awareness Week (third week of May annually)
- City of Calgary Mayor's Youth Council
- City of Victoria Youth Council
- City of Duncan Junior Council + Terms of Reference + Article + sample minutes
- Squamish Youth Strategy
Miscellaneous
- Screen Time and Activity Among Canadian Youth (Stats Can, 2017)
- Exercise and Screen Time During the COVID-19 Pandemic (Stats Can, 2020)
- ParticipACTION Impact Report (2024)
- Children and Youth Report Card (2024)
- Family Influence: The ParticipACTION Report Card For Children and Youth (2020)
- Better With Age: The ParticipACTION Report Card for Adults (2019)
- Canada's Youth Policy (2020) + Young Canadians resource page
- UN International Youth Day (annually on Aug. 12 since 2000)
- UN Youth 2030: Youth Strategy
- A Pathway To Hope: A Roadmap For Mental Health and Addictions Care (Province of BC)
- Mental Health Commission of Canada: Mental Health Strategy for Youth (2016)
- BC Children's Hospital Kelty Mental Health Centre: Youth and Young Adults
- CMHA BC: Youth Helping Youth (Peer Support)
The Village Initiative: Sooke/Westshore
The Village Initiative (TVI) "is an inter-disciplinary network of more than 60 organizations sharing a commitment to the vision of healthy and thriving children, youth, and families across the Sooke and West Shore communities ... TVI took root when the Sooke School District and Island Health started a conversation with community partners, recognizing that the health and wellbeing of children, youth, and families are best supported through an all-hands-on-deck approach – a Village. The urgency of our mission has only been underscored by the global pandemic and its impact on children, youth, and families."
- Project Plan for Sooke-Westshore Shared Space Network and System (March, 2022)
- Space survey results (2021)
- Sooke/Westshore Community Health Profile (2022)
The Village Initiative member organizations
(stewardship committee organizations in green)
Beacon Community Services
BGC South Vancouver Island
Canadian Mental Health Association, BC Division
Capital Region Food & Agriculture Initiatives Roundtable
Children’s Health Foundation
Citizen’s Environment Network in Colwood
City of Colwood
City of Langford
Community Social Planning Council of Greater Victoria
District of Sooke
Family Services of Greater Victoria
First Nations Health Authority
Food Share Network
Goldstream Food Bank
Greater Victoria Local Immigration Partnership
Greater Victoria Public Library
Hulitan Family and Community Services Society
Inter-Cultural Association of Greater Victoria
Island Health – Mental Health and Substance Use, Children, Youth and Families, Public Health, Priority Populations
Island Health – Public Health
Island Métis Family & Community Services Society
John Howard Society of Victoria
Juan de Fuca Performing Arts Centre Society
KidSport Greater Victoria
Langford Residents Association Society
Learning through Loss
MCFD Child & Youth Mental Health
Mennonite Central Committee
Military Family Resource Centre
Mustard Seed Food Bank
OneAbility
Pacific Centre Family Services
PISE (Pacific Institute for Sport Excellence)
RCMP
ReImagine West Shore Community Society
Rotary Club of Sooke
Royal Roads University
Salvation Army
Saunders Family Foundation
SEAPARC Leisure Complex
Sea To Tree Health & Wellness
Society of Saint Vincent de Paul Vancouver Island
Sooke Family Resource Society
Sooke Food Bank
Sooke Region Communities Health Network
Sooke School District
Sooke Shelter Society
Story Studio
Threshold Housing
Thrive Social Services
United Way of Greater Victoria
United Way Southern Vancouver Island
University of Victoria Centre for Youth & Society
Vancouver Island Regional Library
Vancouver Island Counselling Centre for Immigrants and Refugees
Victoria Immigrant and Refugee Centre Society
West Shore Arts Council
West Shore Chamber of Commerce
West Shore Parks & Recreation
Westshore Town Centre
WorkLink Employment Society
YMCA-YWCA of Vancouver Island
Youth Hope Haven Foundation
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