The Greater Victoria School District is busy preparing staff, schools and future school sites that will be affected by the new school catchment boundaries. In June 2019, the Board of Education approved new school boundaries to help alleviate capacity concerns in some of its schools. After extensive consultation, new school catchment boundaries were approved along with a new student enrolment priority that will help prioritize non-catchment siblings affected by the changes.

The new catchment boundary changes include the introduction of three new elementary catchment boundaries (South Park, Cloverdale, Bank Street), the reopening of Richmond School, and new student spaces at the District’s Bank Street property. Other changes include school boundary adjustments to align with the schools’ available space and revisions to the school catchment pathways.

To review the new school catchment boundaries in effect for the 2020-21 school year: www.sd61.bc.ca/catchment-boundary-review

Highlights of Catchment Boundary Changes

• Three new elementary boundaries (Cloverdale, South Park, Bank Street)
• The Quadra catchment will be reduced through the creation of the Cloverdale catchment.
• The George Jay catchment will be reduced through the creation of the South Park and Bank Street catchments.
• The facility on Bank Street/Sundance property will become a K-5 school. Starting with the introduction of Kindergarten classes in the 2020-21 school year.
• The Bank Street catchment will alleviate spacing pressures for Oaklands Elementary.
• The Willows catchment boundary will expand to include the Lansdowne slope.
• Richmond Elementary will be utilized as a satellite campus for Lansdowne Middle to accommodate grade six students.
• Introduction of a new student enrolment priority placing greater priority on non-catchment siblings that will be affected any of the new changes.

Student enrolment priorities for upcoming registration in 2020:

• • 1. re-enrolling students
    2. a catchment area sibling
    3. a catchment area child
       • (new) 3.5 – A non-catchment sibling impacted by a change to a catchment boundary
    4. a non-catchment sibling
    5. a non-catchment child
    6. a non-school district child

For additional background information and an outline detailing all of the boundary changes that will be in effect, please see the catchment boundary brochure attached. This information is also available on the website: bit.ly/BoundaryBrochure

Important Additional Updates

As the Greater Victoria School District works with students, staff and community to prepare for the upcoming changes, there are some important updates to share regarding student space.

The school district will be extending its lease with the Conseil Scolaire Francophone (CSF) at the Sundance/Bank Street property for another year. This means CSF will share common spaces with GVSD students such as the gym, playground, etc., before relocating to a new location in 2021.

The Greater Victoria School District expects two classes of Kindergarten students for the 2020-21 school year as it gradually starts to introduce classes to this school site. These students will have access to two custom-designed learning studios on the property with brand new technology packages, a new fully landscaped outdoor classroom, and additional resources to provide optimal learning environments.

Registration Information

With the annual registration and transfer request process set to begin in January, the District will be sending letters to families who will be impacted by the boundary review changes, in December, along with the next steps on how to register or transfer a student. If a student or students wish to transfer to their new catchment school they will receive priority in alignment with the student enrolment priorities.  Non-catchment students who do not wish to transfer to their new catchment school will be able to remain at their current school. However, when it comes to the next school level transition (e.g., elementary to middle, middle to secondary) they will be registered at their new catchment school.

To review school catchment pathways: bit.ly/BoundaryBrochure

Former Elementary Schools of Choice (South Park and Cloverdale) will become neighbourhood catchment schools in the 2020/21 school year.  Parents and guardians whose children live within these schools’ catchments will be able to register at those schools in January 2020 for the upcoming school year.

Registration for those living in the NEW Bank St./Sundance catchment will take place during English Kindergarten Registration between January 20 – 24, 2020. To register a student at the new school site for the 2020-21 school year, parents/guardians will need to register at the Tolmie Board Office (556 Boleksine Road). 

For parents wishing to learn more about Bank St./Sundance, the District will be hosting a parent information session on Wednesday, January 22, 2020, from 9:30-10:30 a.m. at the Tolmie Board Office.

Important Upcoming Dates in 2020

Please note there will also be Parent Information Sessions for those registering for the first time in the Greater Victoria School District.

Parent Information Nights:

• • Early French Immersion Parent Information Session – Wednesday, December 4, 2019 at Reynolds Secondary in the Theatre from 6:30 – 7:30 p.m.
  • Welcome to Kindergarten Parent Information Session – Wednesday, January 8, 2020 at Oaklands Elementary in the Gymnasium from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
  • Late French Immersion Parent Information Session – Tuesday, January 21, 2020 at Tolmie Board Office (556 Boleskine Road) from 6:30 – 7:30 p.m.
  • Sundance/Bank Street Parent Information Session for Incoming Kindergarten Families – Wednesday, January 22, 2020 at Tolmie Board Office (556 Boleskine Road) from 9:30 – 10:30 a.m.