SD62

Royal Bay Secondary School valedictorian Aasmita Sharma has set her sights on pursuing a career in medicine. (Photo contributed by Aasmita Sharma)

A career in medicine beckons for 2021 grad of Royal Bay in Colwood

Aasmita Sharma was inspired by the role modelling of her grandfather in India

 

Megan McCool, Indigenous valedictorian for Royal Bay Secondary, plans to work toward a career in theatre. (Photo courtesy of Indigenous Sport, Physical Activity and Recreational Council)

Colwood school’s Indigenous valedictorian targets career as a playwright

Megan McCool plans to take a year off before tackling further studies in theatre

 

Belmont Secondary School valedictorian Jack Strom is working toward pursuing a hockey scholarship. (Photo contributed by Jack Strom)

From centre ice to centre stage in Langford

Belmont valedictorian a marks man

 

SD62 has cancelled its buses for the second day in a row Tuesday, as heat warnings continue. (Black Press Media file photo)

SD62 cancels buses on last day of school due to ongoing heat

Heat warning and lack of air conditioning push decision

SD62 has cancelled its buses for the second day in a row Tuesday, as heat warnings continue. (Black Press Media file photo)
Jeannie Chipps is the Indigenous Valedictorian or the graduating class of 2021 at Belmont Secondary School. (Photo contributed by Jeannie Chipps)

Belmont valedictorian embraces inclusive culture

Indigenous valedictorians part of Sooke School District since 2014

Jeannie Chipps is the Indigenous Valedictorian or the graduating class of 2021 at Belmont Secondary School. (Photo contributed by Jeannie Chipps)
No bus service in the Sooke School District on Monday due to heat warning. (Black Press Media file photo)

The wheels on the bus will not go ‘round Monday as SD62 warns about high heat

The buses do not have air-conditioning, and will not transport students June 28

No bus service in the Sooke School District on Monday due to heat warning. (Black Press Media file photo)
Royal Bay Secondary learning commons teacher Tanya Phillips (left), Grade 12 student Izzy Kroll and principal Mike Huck show off their hoodies with the school’s new crest. Behind them is supportive art sent by elementary students in the district after the school’s rainbow crosswalk was vandalized in May. (Zoe Ducklow/News Staff)

Royal Bay students embody Colwood school’s new motto: Together We Are More

School crest and motto project led by students, was two years in the making

Royal Bay Secondary learning commons teacher Tanya Phillips (left), Grade 12 student Izzy Kroll and principal Mike Huck show off their hoodies with the school’s new crest. Behind them is supportive art sent by elementary students in the district after the school’s rainbow crosswalk was vandalized in May. (Zoe Ducklow/News Staff)
Al Kowalko drives Sooke School District’s first electric bus that began operation in May. The board decided on June 15 that all future buses will be electric, asking the province for more funding to support the program. (Zoe Ducklow/News Staff)

Sooke school board agrees to make all future buses electric

Board to ask province to increase funding to cover the extra up front cost

Al Kowalko drives Sooke School District’s first electric bus that began operation in May. The board decided on June 15 that all future buses will be electric, asking the province for more funding to support the program. (Zoe Ducklow/News Staff)
EMCS Concert Band performing last year at Band Fest at the University of Victoria. (Neal Beattie photo)

Sooke youth bands hit high notes at MusicFest

Gold standard music coming out of Sooke schools, according to national judges

EMCS Concert Band performing last year at Band Fest at the University of Victoria. (Neal Beattie photo)
Lake Forgie, left, and Tyson Robinson play Mrs. and Mr. Jabinksy the parents of the groom in Scenes from a Wedding, in which Kinsey D’Archangelo is the bride, Lizzie Wellington. (Zoe Ducklow - Sooke News Mirror)

Lights, camera, COVID compliance

How Sooke high school students staged a musical during a pandemic

Lake Forgie, left, and Tyson Robinson play Mrs. and Mr. Jabinksy the parents of the groom in Scenes from a Wedding, in which Kinsey D’Archangelo is the bride, Lizzie Wellington. (Zoe Ducklow - Sooke News Mirror)
Langford’s Spencer Middle School will receive a $1 million HVAC upgrade as part of the Sooke School District’s $2.5 million in capital funding from the province. (Black Press Media file photo)

West Shore schools to receive infrastructure upgrades

Provincial funding will cover cost of school bus as well as roofing, HVAC improvements

Langford’s Spencer Middle School will receive a $1 million HVAC upgrade as part of the Sooke School District’s $2.5 million in capital funding from the province. (Black Press Media file photo)
Colwood’s Royal Bay Secondary School. SD62 has entered into an agreement with Colwood, Langford and Sooke to improve community planning for shared-use facilities. (Black Press Media file photo)

SD62, Langford, Colwood and Sooke work towards expanded development

Agreement will increase collaboration between the school district and municipalities on public works

Colwood’s Royal Bay Secondary School. SD62 has entered into an agreement with Colwood, Langford and Sooke to improve community planning for shared-use facilities. (Black Press Media file photo)
Leadership students Anya Ralph, Sejal Hagam, Sophie Venables, Michaela Sarvis, and Braeden Pollard welcome students to the last semester of the school year. (RIck Stiebel/News Staff)

Belmont students usher in last semester in style in Langford

Video shares celebrate student accomplishments from unusual year

Leadership students Anya Ralph, Sejal Hagam, Sophie Venables, Michaela Sarvis, and Braeden Pollard welcome students to the last semester of the school year. (RIck Stiebel/News Staff)
Marlene Clifton says all Canadians need to learn the whole awful truth of residential schools. (Zoe Ducklow/News Staff)

Sooke School District responds to heartbreak of residential schools with learning opportunities

The Gazette offers some Indigenous learning resources for readers to start with

Marlene Clifton says all Canadians need to learn the whole awful truth of residential schools. (Zoe Ducklow/News Staff)
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 has Island parents dressing down school officials

School district 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)
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)

Retired school custodian brought BARK to Vancouver Island classrooms

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

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)