WestCoast Families Holiday 2023

Celebrating the modern family lifestyle on the West Coast

Vol 31, Ed 3

Free!

HOLIDAY 2023

Ultimate Holiday Gift Guide This Year Will Be Different Connecting with Food

Christmas Traditions

Inside!

Independent Schools & Education Guide

Give the gift of year-round access to the Royal BC Museum and IMAX® Victoria.

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RBCM.CA/PERFECT-GIFT

Visit us!

Holiday 2023

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IN THIS ISSUE

HOLIDAY 2023 Vol 31, Ed 3

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WHAT’S NEW? Jim Schneider Publisher publisher@westcoastfamilies.com Erika Palmer Editor erika@westcoastfamilies.com

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HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE

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RaeLeigh Buchanan Account Manager raeleigh@westcoastfamilies.com

CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS: WILL ONE FIND US?

Kristine Wickheim Account Manager kristine@westcoastfamilies.com

For distribution inquiries, please email publisher@westcoastfamilies.com

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THIS YEAR WILL BE DIFFERENT

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CONNECTING WITH FOOD

WestCoast Families, published by Island Parent Group Enterprises Ltd., is a bimonthly publication that honours and supports parents by providing information on resources and businesses for west coast families. Views expressed are not necessarily those of the publisher.

No material herein may be reproduced without the permission of the publisher.

Mailing Address 518 Caselton Place, Victoria, BC V8Z 7Y5 250 388 6905

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Independent Schools Education Guide WestCoastFamilies.com

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INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS

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EDUCATION OPTIONS

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‘It’s the most wonderful time of the year...’

W

e all know that popular song lyric, and most of us would tend to agree with the winter holiday season truly being the most wonderful time of the year. Although it’s full of fun times, happy memories and the overall delight of seeing the excitement of your children, there’s little doubt it’s also the most stressful time of the year!

As parents, we want to make the holidays memorable for our kids by planning extravagant gifts, decorations and trips to see family or to visit the local ski hills during the school break. All of these things are stressful, plus most parents are adding these activities onto working full time and doing all the usual errands. Add on top of that holiday parties and

all the events the season brings, and it can just become too hard to relax and enjoy it all.

Stop! Take a deep breath and start planning. Now is the time to prioritize what’s important for you this season. If you’re feeling financially strapped, only exchange gifts with very close friends and family instead of buying for everyone. Or plan a “Secret Santa” type exchange, where each person only buys for one other. Decide which events are important to your family and don’t feel guilty about saying no to the others. Will your family trip up north be a nightmare with your kids in the car and potential snow delays? Plan a more casual trip for another time in the year. Can your

parents or neighbours take your kids to an event they want to go to and you don’t?

And most importantly, remember your selfcare. You’ve got a lot on your plate as a parent already, and you need to take care of yourself first. Take some time each day to go for a walk, do some stretching, read a good book, flake out in front of your favourite TV show or take a bath. And don’t forget to drink your water and get enough sleep!

We wish you and your family the very best during this holiday season!

FROM OUR TO YOURS

November 17, 2023 - January 21, 2024 The magic of Canyon Lights returns to Capilano Suspension Bridge Park! From glowing Treetops to twinkling Cliffwalk, join in the holiday family tradition of lights with heights from Nov. 17 - Jan. 21. BC locals get a free Annual Pass with admission.

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capbridge.com

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Holiday 2023

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WHAT’S NEW?

Festival of Trees The Steveston Festival of Trees is back for another season!

Visit the historic Gulf of Georgia Cannery from December 1 to January 7 to see it transformed into an illuminated winter wonderland. This year there are even more fun events and activities for the whole family. As usual, local partners decorate the trees and participate in a friendly competition to take the honour of having the “top tree.” Help them out by stopping by to vote for your favourite display. gulfofgeorgiacannery.org/events/festival-of-trees

Gingerbread Lane The longest-running Gingerbread Lane is back again for the 31st year at the Hyatt Regency Vancouver from December 1 to December 29. Head down to view these incredible tastylooking creations and consider contributing your own next year! Make a donation to the Make-A-Wish Foundation to vote for your favourite Gingerbread creation, all built from local communities and businesses. gingerbreadlane.ca

Soar with Santa FlyOver Canada is quite the amazing adventure—they capture authentic images of real locations, so riders get a true experience of visiting these places. And once again North America’s leading flying ride is bringing back the popular Soar with Santa event from November 16 to January 7 at Canada Place. Soar along with Santa as he flies across Canada and the North Pole in this incredible, not-to-be-missed film experience. flyovercanada.com/now-showing

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Wintersphere This Ultimate Winter Wonderland awaits you at the Whistler Winter Celebration once again this year.

This truly is a magical time of the year at Whistler for the entire family. From December 23 through January 6 (excluding December 25) celebrate the festive winter season with Wintersphere’s signature holiday maze, activities and crafts for all ages, a variety of entertainers, a visit from Santa, a special holiday café and much, MUCH more! whistler.com/christmas

Bluey’s Big Play Bluey is one of the few shows most parents don’t mind watching along with the kids! And now the ground-breaking Emmy award-winning kids show is a live theatre show! Featuring brilliantly-created puppets and a fascinating storyline that will keep the attention of everyone, the Heelers will entertain your family in a whole new way. January 2 and 3, 2024 at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre. events.bluey.tv

Holiday 2023

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ULTIMATE HOLIDAY Gift Guide

SHOP

Goodnight Moon

This classic children’s board book has been read to kids at bedtime for several generations. If you don’t already have a copy of your own to pass along, be sure to pick one up for the baby or toddler in your life.

LEGO Chain Reactions Kit This kit was specially designed by consultation with 11-year-olds and educators. The result is an awesome kit that creates machines that spin, pivot, roll and more. And that’s before you connect them for even cooler designs. Pick this up for the STEM-loving tween or teen in your life.

Hedstrom Sensory Light Up Balls These balls are terrific for the sensory development of babies. The bells, balls and glitter inside of these safe balls attract the attention of the littlest ones and encourage them to shake and roll them to get their desired effect.

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E-Robot Dog This interactive dog walks, sits, sings, dances and does so much more simply with your command. If your child wants a dog, or simply loves a companion who will dance with them, this makes a great gift.

Barbie the Movie Doll Based on the super-successful movie, Barbie has made a movie version of their iconic doll. If the child, teen (or even adult!) in your life was a fan of the movie, or simply loves Barbie, picking up this collectable doll is a must.

Wild! Science My First Magic Science Show If your kid loves magic and science, this would be a terrific way to allow them to experiment in a safe, fun way. This kit comes with tons of magic ideas—all with the science behind them explained. Get ready for them to put on a fun show!

Holiday 2023

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Hot Wheels Track Set Generations of children have had hours of fun with Hot Wheels, and your child can too with their Track Set. This set allows your child to use their imagination and creativity skills to build a fun track to race their Hot Wheels cars on.

Crayola Inspiration Art Case This portable art case provides anyone from young children, right up to adults, all the tools necessary to express their creativity with colours and art. Every kid needs this epic art kit in their collection.

Race to the Treasure Board Game Peaceable Kingdom creates fun, co-operative board games that families of all ages love playing together. Work together and strategize to beat the Ogre as you race to the treasure in this fun board game.

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Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem Raphael Action Figure TMNT has been around a few decades now and is more fun than ever! Younger kids love their action figures based on the Mutant Mayhem movie, and Raphael seems to be a favourite!

Twister Kids—and adults—have been having fun with this classic game for years! Players love the challenge to twist themselves up and over each other as they play. Pick this up for anyone who doesn’t already have it in their board game collection.

National Geographic Geodes Have your young scientist break open these geodes to reveal a variety of awesome crystals inside. The kit comes with a detailed guide so your child can learn all about the crystals they’ve received. Kids of all ages will love the process of revealing and learning about their finds.

Holiday 2023

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PARENTING

Christmas Traditions Wil one find us?

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his year, much like last year—and the few years before that—Christmas with our family will be different. I can’t even remember a year in the past decade or so where someone wasn’t mad at someone else, so they didn’t come, another family member decided on a whim to travel somewhere, or just arrive late and mess up the flow of the day.

When I was growing up, we at least had some kind of “tradition.” Christmas Day the entire family arrived at my Gran’s house by about noon. Present opening was a blur of ripped paper, almost in a competition to see who could open all their presents fastest, and every year at least one person opened someone else’s gift by accident, leading to my uncle holding up a pink blouse in confusion one year after misreading his name on the tag. Presents were lost in the mess of torn up wrapping paper, tags went missing in our pile and in the hours following, the sheepish “who gave me this?” question had to be asked about half the presents in the stack. My Gran would wander around, cigarette in one hand, can of cola in the other, inspecting everyone’s presents to see what we got—and what she could steal or trade for. Receipts were doled out for presents that didn’t quite make the muster and needed to be returned.

I was never sure why we had to be so frantic in our present opening—dinner was

usually hours away and the afternoon was spent in boredom and having to make the same conversation over and over again, after the presents were sorted and piled in their respective piles of course.

But even this strange “traditional” type Christmas went down the drain about five years ago when my Gran was first diagnosed with dementia. Having too many people around wasn’t ideal for her so Christmas was essentially cancelled. We did get together with a few family members and had a good time, but it was strange. The following year

was even stranger as my Gran was in a care home—so we had Christmas at her house, but without her there.

Then I had Babygirl, and Gran passed away, and Christmas became totally different again. Babygirl was 11 months old on her first Christmas so she kinda “got it” and it was magical to see her rip open presents and discover this cool thing called Christmas. The family home was sold so we started the new tradition of holding Christmas at my cousin’s house. My cousin agreed with me on the “why rip open all of our presents at once?”

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mofp.org

Imagine!

Explore!

Discover!

Experiment!

Family Holiday Fun at the question, so we introduced “slow Christmas” where everyone took a turn opening a present, thus being able to thank the correct person and have some inkling after about who gave you what. You would think all of this would be pretty cool—but a few family members opted not to come, to travel instead. Christmas got strange again. And last year we once again held it at my cousin’s house, and those missing family members came! But a few others skipped it…

Now we’re upon this Christmas season… but this year my cousin has moved, so half of our family will be celebrating in his town, with the rest of us here. Likely the celebrations will be at our (small, not totally Christmasequipped) home. I’m already feeling the strangeness (and stress!) of this year, and we are still a few weeks away!

Babygirl is almost three now and I feel like I need to start some type of holiday tradition with her since we don’t have, and are unlikely to have in the future, a stable “traditional” Christmas Day. I’ve been searching for something that may be the right fit for our little family of three, even if it doesn’t involve the strange that is bound to be Christmas Day. We’ve decorated and baked—but as a creative person, I have been trying to incorporate that into our routines year-round so it doesn’t feel special enough. Although I feel a bit guilty about it, we’re not “church people” so that doesn’t feel right either. There will be some Christmas festivities in our town in the coming weeks, but they involve big crowds and usually standing in the rain/cold, so although we may do them (weather pending) it’s not likely something we can commit to yearly.

I feel like I’m looking too hard, and panicking because Christmas is almost here.

A friend has told me that NO tradition can be our tradition, but that doesn’t feel right.

It may be the way it has to be…but it doesn’t feel right.

So, my question now is: Are traditions something you actively start, or are they something that just comes generically, until you realize that it’s a tradition for your family?

Am I stressing too hard, will tradition find us?

Erika Palmer is a writer living with her husband and daughter. She believes most problems can be solved with a good cup of tea and a huge piece of chocolate.

Home Alone in Concert

WED & THUR, DEC 13 & 14 | 7PM | ORPHEUM

LIMITED AVAILABILITY Back by popular demand, Macaulay Culkin gets up to his hilarious holiday hijinks on the big screen while the VSO performes John Williams’ Academy Award® nominated score live. Sells out every season.

BROUGHT TO YOU BY Film Concerts Live © 1990 Twentieth Century Fox

THUR & FRI, DEC 21 & 22 | 7PM | ORPHEUM

The Snowman in Concert

SUN, DEC 17 | 1PM & 3PM | ORPHEUM

David Bui Conductor Magical things happen at the VSO this holiday season! Fun for young and old alike with the festive favourite film The Snowman™ and more wintry musical fun.

Ron Spigelman Conductor Buddy was accidentally transported to the North Pole as a toddler, and raised among Santa’s elves. This holiday season Buddy travels to New York—with a live symphony orchestra! Experience John Debney’s wonderful score, played live by the VSO, as the full film plays on the big screen.

ELF and all related characters and elements © & ™ New Line Productions, Inc. (s23)

VancouverSymphony.ca 604.876.3434 Holiday 2023

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MONEY

This Year Wil Be Different

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ach year seems to come with its own financial challenges and pressures. In 2023, we experienced more than one year’s fair share of these situations which made some major impacts on families financially.

As we usher in a brand new year, it’s a perfect time to reflect on your family’s financial position and objectives.

Questions like: How was 2023 for us? What decisions did we make that worked well? What situations did we encounter and how did we handle them? What do we wish we had done differently?

With interest rates, grocery prices, and the housing crunch, there are many situations that are beyond your control.

However financial success comes from how we react. Take time to have simple discussions and draft some plans to reach your financial goals.

Here are ten topics that may inspire you to make different choices this year.

education, or paying off debt, having clear objectives will keep you motivated and focused. Make sure these goals are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART).

Create a Family Budget

Start by creating a family budget. This is the foundation for your different choices this year. List all your income sources and expenses, and be sure to include your goals and irregular expenses, and spending money. As a money coach, I recommend keeping it simple, referring to it often, and most importantly use separate bank accounts to track spending and saving.

Eliminate Unnecessary Expenses

Review your expenses critically. Are there any subscriptions or services that you’re not using? Canceling unused gym memberships, streaming services, or magazine subscriptions can free up money for more important priorities. Small, consistent savings can add up over time.

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Deadline to apply January 31, 2024

Co-sponsored by the Office of the Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia and the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia, the contest encourages K-12 students to create visual artwork that explores the importance of community and democracy.

Contest winners will receive a trip to Victoria and their work will be displayed in the Parliament Buildings.

Artwork must be submitted by January 31, 2024. Scan the QR code for contest details. Remember to get creative!

We acknowledge and respect the Lekwungen-speaking peoples, known today as the Songhees and Esquimalt Nations, on whose traditional territories the Legislative Assembly stands.

Parliamentary Education Office 250-356-0823 artcontest@leg.bc.ca

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Holiday 2023

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Connecting with Food EAT

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he best way to enjoy the cold, dark months of winter is to wrap yourself up in the warmth of friends and family. Holiday celebrations, family get-togethers, and children’s concerts all provide opportunities for connecting and sharing with others.

Personally, I love sharing food. Perhaps it’s because I’m a cookbook author and recipe developer, or perhaps it’s simply because I love spending time in my kitchen (with some singalong music), but I love cooking for other people. This passion for sharing food extends to my children, who also enjoy cooking, especially if they can share it with their friends.

Here are three party-perfect dishes that are simple and delicious. In fact, they are so easy that tweens and teens may be able to make them on their own, depending on their cooking skills. So whether you need an appetizer for when the grandparents come over, or are throwing a kid-friendly New Year’s Eve party, why not get your kids involved in the food prep?

2 tbsp grated Parmesan 1 tsp salt, to taste 1. Thaw the spinach. Remove as much water as possible. This is easiest to do by picking up the block of spinach and giving it a good squeeze.

2. Place the spinach and green onions into a food processor or blender. Pulse a few times to coarsely chop the spring onions. Add the rest of the ingredients and pulse until smooth.

3. Taste the dip and add more salt, if needed.

4. Store the dip in an airtight container in the fridge. The dip will taste best if made a few hours before the event. It will last in the fridge for up to 4 days.

Tangy Red Lentil Dip (Prep time: 20 min) This red lentil dip is a tangy alternative to hummus. Red lentils are really affordable and only take 10 minutes to cook. They are perfect in this flavour-packed dip.

If you haven’t cooked with tahini before, I recommend buying roasted tahini because it tends to be creamier than raw tahini.

1 cup dried red lentils 2 cups of water 4 cloves of garlic, peeled and chopped 2 spring onions, washed and chopped 1/4 cup tahini 1/2 cup of olive oil 1 small can of tomato paste (5.5 oz /156 mL) 3 tbsp cider vinegar 1/2 tsp salt, to taste

Creamy Spinach Dip (Prep time: 8 min)

Spinach dip is so quick and simple. It’s perfect whenever you need an appetizer but don’t have time to prep anything more complicated.

Traditionally, it is served in a bread bowl, however, it’s easier to serve it in a festive glass bowl with crackers or slices of bread on the side. Add a bit of festive flare decorating it with slices of red pepper and cherry tomatoes.

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WestCoastFamilies.com

1 package of frozen spinach (10 oz) 3 green onions, washed and roughly chopped 1 tsp garlic powder 2 cups sour cream

1. Rinse the red lentils and place them in a pot along with 2 cups of water. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to a low simmer. Cover and simmer for 8 minutes, until most of the water is absorbed.

2. Remove the lentils from the heat (even if they are slightly undercooked). Add the garlic

Emillie Parrish loves having adventures with her two busy children.

You can find more of her recipes in her recently released cookbook Fermenting Made Simple. fermentingforfoodies.com

WestCoast Families would like to welcome Stacie Gaetz to our family to the pot and put the lid on. This will allow the garlic to cook and soften in the residual heat. Leave the lentils to cool for 10 minutes before putting together the rest of the dip.

3. Place the cooked lentils, garlic, and any remaining liquid in a food processor or blender along with the spring onions, tahini, olive oil, tomato paste, cider vinegar, and salt.

Pulse until the dip is smooth. Taste and adjust the salt, as needed.

4. Store in an air-tight container in the fridge. This dip will last for up to 10 days in the fridge.

Stacie is the managing editor of West Coast Families Magazine and the proud mama of a delightful daughter and silly son who fill her days with love and chaos. She thoroughly enjoys supporting, connecting with and informing parents through interesting articles. Reach her at editor@westcoastfamilies.com.

Whipped Eggnog (Prep time: 5 min)

Homemade eggnog is one of my family’s favourite holiday traditions. Unlike thick, store-bought eggnog, whipped eggnog is light, fluffy, and frothy. It’s also healthier than store-bought eggnog because it doesn’t contain any artificial flavours and you can adjust the amount of sugar to suit your taste. Best of all it only takes about 5 minutes to prepare and you probably already have all of the ingredients in your kitchen.

This recipe does contain raw eggs so it is not recommended for pregnant women, babies, or anyone who is immunocompromised.

4 egg yolks 1/3 cup + 1 tbsp powdered sugar (separated) 2 cups milk 1 cup whipping cream 1/2 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg 4 egg whites 1/4 tsp cinnamon 1. This recipe makes enough eggnog for 4 to 6 people. Leftovers cannot be stored, so make it right before serving.

2. Beat egg yolks in a large bowl until the colour starts to lighten. Add in 1/3 cup powdered sugar and stir until completely dissolved. Stir in the milk, cream and nutmeg.

3. In a separate container, whip the egg whites with 1 tbsp of powdered sugar until stiff peaks form.

4. Gently fold the egg whites into the egg yolk mixture. Serve immediately with a dusting of cinnamon.

Classes start in January

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Find the class that is right for you! visit placedesarts.ca MUSIC • DANCE • THEATRE • VISUAL & LITERARY ARTS Holiday 2023

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HEALTH

TED Talks in the Produce Aisle

L

ast week, while on my quest for green bananas in the local grocery store, I came upon two late preschool aged siblings having a very animated conversation. As I got closer, I heard one of the siblings confidently offer instructions to their sibling about how to wash genitals. It went something like this “when you wash a vulva, you use warm water and soap but only on the outside parts.

No soap goes in the inside parts.” While I was listening with admiration for both their knowledge and comfort, quite typically by this point the other sibling was busy now looking at something far more exciting. I then heard the adult with them successfully redirect the conversation in the most affirming way telling them both “it’s a better idea for us to talk about our bodies at home.” The adult then made eye contact with me and quietly apologized to me for the kids’ “TED talk.” I reassured the adult that the conversation was completely okay with me and offered my congratulations on a job well done. I shared that, as a sexual health educator, the preschoolers’ correct knowledge and comfort are exactly what they need to be healthy and safe.

This conversation is a fantastic example of what effective, comprehensive sexual health education includes for this age group.

When trusted adults offer simple, accurate information with children at an early age in a developmentally appropriate way, our children develop the ability to gather information to help take care of their bodies, respect boundaries, feel confident and gain the ability

to communicate without embarrassment or shame.

Here are five ways you can continue to encourage comfort and grow knowledge with the preschooler in your life: Use Scientific Language (on repeat!) for all parts of the body. Whether we’re talking about elbows, eyebrows, earlobes or genitals.

Jennifer Gibson, MA, is also known as “The Sex Lady”—for close to 20 years!—to the thousands of amazing youth and adults she is lucky to educate and learn with through her job as the Coordinator of Community Education at Island Sexual Health. She’s passionate about making sexuality education as positive, fun and non-cringeable as possible.

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Use the scientific words (vulva, vagina, penis, scrotum…) when referring to their bodies. If you’re struggling to use these terms because they’re not feeling familiar to you yet, borrow some body books from the library and read them together. This will help you practice and build comfort with the words for genitals while supporting your child’s learning.

Personal parts (and conversations about personal parts) are for personal spaces.

Ensure children know that their genitals (aka personal parts of their bodies) are okay to explore at home in personal spaces like their own bedrooms or bathrooms on their own with their own clean hands. Conversations about these parts are also for personal spaces.

A gentle, firm reminder and re-direct will help them know that they aren’t doing anything wrong or shameful but that there are safe, comfortable places to talk about and explore bodies.

Satisfy body curiosity with an unbreakable mirror for the bathtub. An unbreakable mirror is going to help children see their all parts of their bodies. The genitals are curious making organs and can be difficult for little people to see and understand. Seeing their bodies will also help them recognize the changes that will take place as they develop.

Many parents I work with report back how much their kids enjoy having mirrors in the bathtub.

Gentle hygiene practices for the genitals.

Help children understand that they can clean the outside of the genitals and the folds of skin surround the genitals with warm water and gentle soap in the shower or bath. It’s not necessary nor comfortable to use soap in the inside of our bodies (vaginal, urethral opening) just a cloth and warm water will do the job quite easily.

Tickling and/or wrestling are great examples of boundaries and consent. Talk about how some people really like to be tickled or like to wrestle with each other while other people don’t. Encourage kids to ask before they tickle someone or wrestle with them and model the same consent practice with them. Tickling and wrestling also provide awesome opportunities to point out the times when someone is having fun and then they suddenly reach their limit and want to stop.

This is a simple, tangible way to practice how to set, observe and accept boundaries.

So, while we may prefer that our kids have different conversations when they’re in the produce section, please know that these mini body TED Talks are natural—bodies are super exciting things to talk and learn about. Take the conversation as a sign of all the things you and your kids are doing well albeit amplified.

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Vancouver Chess School

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Test your chess level for free here: vanchess.ca/programs Holiday 2023

19

SHOP

Great Graphic Novel Gifts

I

love this time of year. I love the twinkling of lights, the excessive amounts of tinsel, the trees, and the endless holiday movies. And, I also love thinking about different gifts I could get for those around me. As an author and avid reader, a lot of the times my first or second thought is a book. And I love the idea of the Icelandic tradition of Jólabókaflóðið, or “the Christmas book flood,” which is when everyone is given a new book on Christmas Eve so you can all curl up together to drink warm beverages, eat tasty treats, and dive into another

If you don’t know the story, Silverwing follows the story of Shade, a young bat as he takes his first trip south to the hibernaculum. Along the way, a storm blows him off course and away from the rest of his colony. But, while his journey is filled with new friends, like Marina, it is also swamped with dangers from owls who want war, to blood-thirsty bats of the jungle, to rats in the sewers. Again, this is a great story, and it is an absolute delight to see it brought to life by Steininger’s illustrations. For ages 8 to 12.

world. Even if Christmas isn’t the holiday you celebrate, if the idea of spending a night reading a good book with your children appeals to you, and you are looking for a new book for them here are a few graphic novels you could try.

The first is Silverwing by Kenneth Oppel and illustrated by Christopher Steininger (HarperCollins, 2023). This is one of my all-time favourite books. I was a child when the novel version came out and I actually voted for it to win the Silver Birch Award. Once I had kids of my own, I tried to introduce them to it, but anything Mommy loved as a child must be weird so they refused to touch the book. But then, I received a copy of the graphic novel. My boys read it about 20 times in two days.

Every time I looked they were reading it. So believe me when I say it is very good.

If bats aren’t your children’s first choice, perhaps they would love to read about robots. In that case, I recommend Rover and Speck: This Planet Rocks! by Jonathan Roth (Kids Can Press, 2022). In this cute graphic novel, Rover lands on a new planet and starts to explore. At first, all Rover can find is rocks. But, before getting too discouraged, Rover tries a new tactic and searches for metal and uncovers Speck, who is a rather nervous robot. Together they continue to look around until they find the planet’s rather rocky inhabitants. This is an adorably ridiculous story about robots and rock people. And Roth has sprinkled random facts about rocks, space, and robots throughout. For ages 7 to 10.

A third book for you to consider is Queen of the Sea by Dylan Meconis (Walker Books, 2019). The illustrations in this

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graphic novel are gorgeous. Story aside, I love slowly flipping through the pages and just admiring all of Meconis’ work. But while the images are fabulous, don’t just ignore the story. As someone who loves historical fiction, this book is fantastic.

Now to be clear, it is not actually a true history, the author herself admits that she “cherry-picked a few events from the real history of the British Isles” and then created a fictional world around them.

This novel is about a young girl named Margaret, an orphan girl, who grew up in a convent off the coast of Albion. She loves it and dreams of becoming a nun one day, until a new inhabitant arrives: Eleanor, the former queen of Albion who was ousted by her sister and determined to reclaim her throne. Readers will find themselves swept along, much like Margaret, in this tale of political intrigue, secrets, and love, as Margaret strives to discover who she really is and what crime a baby could have committed to land her in prison for life. For ages 10 to 14.

The final book I want to recommend is Buzzing (A Graphic Novel) by Samuel Sattin and illustrated by Rye Hickman (Little, Brown, 2023). Unlike the other books in this list, this story might be the easiest for your children to identify with the characters in, because this book takes place in a school.

Isaac, a 12-year-old boy, struggles with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). And his intrusive thoughts, which are illustrated as big fat mean bumble bees, constantly distract him

and put him down, which makes everything, including making friends, hard.

One day, things start to change: a group of kids invite him to play Swamps & Sorcery with them. Unfortunately, creating friendships isn’t like rolling a natural 20 to protect his mind, and he finds himself needing to prove to his mother and to himself that he can quiet the bees buzzing around him.

This graphic novel is a great and gentle look at OCD and the struggles that the individual and their siblings face when it rears its nasty head. If you are worried that your child might struggle with intrusive thoughts, even if it’s not to the extent of OCD, why not pick up this book and read it through with them. For ages 8 to 12.

As the holidays approach, I know I intend to make time to curl up on the couch with my kids, some hot chocolate, and lots of blankets so we can read books together. And I hope you are able to find some peace and quiet to enjoy a book with your family too.

Christina Van Starkenburg lives with her husband, children and cat. She is the author of One Tiny Turtle: A Story You Can Colour and many articles. To read more of her work and learn about her upcoming books, visit christinavanstarkenburg.com.

Facebook: facebook.com/christinavanstarkenburg and Twitter: @Christina_VanS.

Holiday 2023

21

INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS & EDUCATION GUIDE

Education Options Independent School Directory 22

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Should You Redshirt Your Child?

Celebrating 40 years of personalized and lifelong learning at SelfDesign Learning Foundation

We offer three Programs: 1 | SelfDesign Learning Community A technology-enabled kindergarten to grade 12 school and a designated independent B.C. Provincial Online Learning School (POLS).

Your child can…

• Graduate with a B.C. Dual Certificate of Graduation (Dogwood and Cognia), Adult Graduation Diploma (Adult Dogwood) or School Completion Certificate • Work one-on-one with a passionate B.C.-certified educator • Access personalized support services if they have special needs • Use technology as a tool for learning both on and off the screen • Interact with their peers and community through camps and events

For over four decades, SelfDesign Learning Foundation has been making a difference in the lives of thousands of families.

In 2024, we celebrate.

We celebrate our philosophy, a thread woven through every part of our organization.

We celebrate our educators, learners and families who have all deeply embraced lifelong, personalized learning.

We celebrate our partners and the passionate people we work with every day.

We celebrate Indigenous ways of being, seeing, and knowing throughout our educational programs and offerings.

We celebrate inclusivity, diversity, equity and accessibility.

We celebrate the plethora of inspirational stories of our learners’ journeys over the last 40 years.

Who we are SelfDesign Learning Foundation is your global leader in online education programs that foster personalized and lifelong learning. Our model and philosophy are what set us apart and fuel our passion for education.

• Take part in guided, live hands-on learning activities through HomeLearners Network

2 | SelfDesign Home Learning If you’re interested in homeschooling your child, SelfDesign Home Learning offers you the opportunity to do so.

It’s the most flexible option if you wish to take on the responsibility for your child’s education. We provide a registration service and act as your child’s home school, in keeping with B.C. Ministry of Education and Child Care requirements.

3 | HomeLearners Network Our HomeLearners Network (HLN) program is designed to enrich learning in a hands-on and interactive way.

This live, guided learning activity platform helps children pursue their passions and explore their interests.

You, your children and your family can take part in fun activities that cater to your interests including art, design, STEAM, music and creative writing! Children not only get to expand their horizons, they get to experience hands-on fun with other children.

Learning activities are led by Guides, aka B.C. certified educators, and are based on best educational practices and core competencies.

We’re here to support your family and children in authoring their own lives and designing their own learning journey.

Register for programs and learn more at selfdesign.org

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2023-11-12 3:55 PM

Holiday 2023

23

& Independent School Directory Independent Schools Education Guide

Alexander Academy

LOCATION

GRADES

PHONE

WEBSITE

Vancouver

9-12

604-687-8832

alexanderacademy.ca

Blessed Sacrament School

Vancouver

K-7

604-876-7211

ess.vancouver.bc.ca

Canada Royal Arts High School

Vancouver

8-12

604-354-1194

ciraschool.com

Century High School

Vancouver

10-12

604-730-8138

centuryhighschool.ca

Claren Academy

Vancouver

K-7

604-428-6694

clarenacademy.org

Vancouver

9-12

778-379-6811

columbiaacademy.ca

Columbia Academy

Explore academic excellence at Columbia Academy, a distinguished K-12 private school in downtown Vancouver.

Our mission: guiding students to top-tier universities.

Columbia College

Vancouver

10-12

604-683-8360

columbiacollege.ca

Corpus Christi School

Vancouver

K-7

604-321-1117

cchristi.ca

Crofton House

Vancouver

K-12

604-263-3255

croftonhouse.ca

Eaton Arrowsmith School

Vancouver

4-10

604-264-8327

eatonarrowsmith.com

Franklin School

Vancouver

8-12

604-876-8812

franklinschool.ca

Fraser Academy

Vancouver

2-12

604-736-5575

fraseracademy.ca

Hongde Elementary

Vancouver

K-5

604-416-0386

hongdeschool.ca

Immaculate Conception School

Vancouver

K-7

604-224-5012

cisva.bc.ca

Johnathan Academy

Vancouver

8-12

604-971-6888

johnathana.ca

King David High School

Vancouver

8-12

604-263-9700

kdhs.org

LaSalle College Vancouver High School

Vancouver

10-12

604-355-1626

lasallecollegevancouver.com

Little Flower Academy

Vancouver

8-12

604-738-9016

lfabc.org

Lowell High School

Vancouver

10-12

604-336-0456

lowellhighschool.ca

Madrona School

Vancouver

K-9

604-499-7303

madronaschool.com

Notre Dame Regional Secondary

Vancouver

8-12

604-255-5454

ndrs.org

Our Lady of Perpetual Help

Vancouver

K-7

604-228-8811

olphbc.ca

Our Lady of Sorrows

Vancouver

K-7

604-253-2434

cisva.bc.ca

Pacific Spirit School

Vancouver

K-10

604-222-1900

pacificspiritschool.org

Pattison High School

Vancouver

10-12

604-608-8788

pattisonhighschool.ca

Pear Tree Elementary

Vancouver

1-7

604-355-2155

peartree.school

Qawsain Knowledge House

Vancouver

K-9

604-783-9011

qawsain.ca

Royal Canadian College

Vancouver

10-12

604-738-2221

royalcanadiancollege.com

St Andrew’s

Vancouver

K-7

604-325-6317

cisva.bc.ca

St Anthony of Padua

Vancouver

K-7

604-261-4043

sapadua.ca

St Augustine’s

Vancouver

K-7

604-731-8024

cisva.bc.ca

St Francis of Assisi

Vancouver

K-7

604-253-7311

sfaschool.ca

St Francis Xavier

Vancouver

K-7

604-254-2714

sfxschool.ca

St George’s School

Vancouver

K-12

604-221-3608

stgeorges.bc.ca

St John’s Academy

Vancouver

9-12

604-683-4572

sjavan.ca

St John’s School

Vancouver

K-12

604-732-4434

stjohns.bc.ca

St Joseph’s

Vancouver

K-7

604-872-5715

saintjosephschool.ca

St Jude’s

Vancouver

K-7

604-434-1633

stjude.ca

St Mary’s

Vancouver

K-7

604-437-1312

cisva.bc.ca

St Patrick Regional Secondary

Vancouver

8-12

604-874-6422

stpats.bc.ca

St Patrick’s Elementary

Vancouver

K-7

604-879-4411

spev.ca

Stratford Hall

Vancouver

K-12

604-436-0608

stratfordhall.ca

The Westside School

Vancouver

K-12

604-687-8021

thewestsideschools.ca

Vancouver Christian

Vancouver

K-12

604-435-3113

vancs.org

Vancouver College

Vancouver

K-12

604-833-7769

vancouvercollege.ca

Vancouver Formosa Academy

Vancouver

7-12

604-436-2332

vfa.bc.ca

Vancouver Hebrew Academy

Vancouver

K-9

604-266-1245

vhebrewacademy.com

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Vancouver Talmud Torah Elementary

LOCATION

GRADES

PHONE

WEBSITE

Vancouver

K-7

604-736-7307

talmudtorah.com

VISST

Vancouver

8-9

604-566-7836

visst.ca

West Coast Christian School

Vancouver

K-12

604-255-2990

westcoastchristianschool.ca

West Point Grey Academy

Vancouver

K-12

604-222-8750

wpga.ca

York House School

Vancouver

K-12

604-736-6551

yorkhouse.ca

Deer Lake SDA School

Burnaby

K-12

604-434-5844

deerlakeschool.ca

Fawkes Academy

Burnaby

K-12

604-299-4144

abacentre.ca

Holy Cross Elementary School

Burnaby

K-7

604-299-3530

cisva.bc.ca

John Knox Christian, Elementary Campus

Burnaby

K-6

604-522-1410

johnknoxbc.org

Our Lady of Mercy

Burnaby

K-7

604-526-7121

ourladyofmercy.ca

St Francis de Sales

Burnaby

K-7

604-435-5311

sfdsschool.ca

St Helen’s

Burnaby

K-7

604-299-2234

cisva.bc.ca

St Michaels

Burnaby

K-7

604-526-9768

cisva.bc.ca

St Thomas More Collegiate

Burnaby

8-12

604-521-1801

stmc.bc.ca

Whytecliff Agile Learning Centre

Burnaby

8-12

604-438-4451

walc.ca

Coquitlam College, Brookmere Secondary

Coquitlam

11-12

604-939-6633

coquitlamcollege.com

Greater Heights Learning Academy

Coquitlam

K-12

604-937-3641

ghla.ca

Our Lady of Fatima

Coquitlam

K-7

604-936-4228

fatimaschool.ca

Queen of All Saints Elementary

Coquitlam

K-7

604-931-9071

qasbc.ca

Royal Bridge High School

Coquitlam

12

604-474-3718

royalbridge.ca

Traditional Learning Academy

Coquitlam

K-11

604-931-7265

traditionallearning.com

Delta Christian School

Delta

K-7

604-946-2514

deltachristianschool.org

Immaculate Conception School

Delta

K-7

604-596-6116

cisva.bc.ca

Sacred Heart

Delta

K-7

604-946-2611

shsdelta.org

Southpointe Academy

Delta

K-12

604-948-8826

southpointe.ca

604-566-7836 604-566-7836 www.visst.ca

www.visst.ca

VISST is Vancouver’s first &first only& only dedicated VISST is Vancouver’s VISST is Vancouver’s first only dedicated STEM high school.

We & offer STEM high school.

We offer the full B.C. dedicated STEM high school.

We offer thecurriculum full B.C. curwith riculum with enriched enriched Science, Technology, the Technology, full B.C. curEngineering riculum withand enriched Science, Engineering and Math. Our small class sizes Engineering and Math.Science, Our smallTechnology, class sizes allow allow students to receive individual attention Math.

Our small class sizes allow students to receive individual attention and build strong connections with our and build strongtoconnections with ourattention students receive individual teachers, who support outoutstanding standing teachers, who support their and build strong connections with their our growth over 5 years. growth over 5 years. outstanding teachers, who support their

growth over 5 years.

Holiday 2023

25

LOCATION

GRADES

PHONE

WEBSITE

Al-Hidayah School

New Westminster

K-7

604-524-2752

alhidayahschool.ca

John Knox Christian, Secondary Campus

New Westminster

7-12

604-523-1580

johnknoxbc.org

PALS Autism Society (School Program)

New Westminster

1-12

604-251-7257

palsautismschool.ca

Purpose Independent Secondary School

New Westminster

8-12

604-512-6888

purposesociety.org

Urban Academy Junior

New Westminster

K-7

604-524-2211

urbanacademy.ca

Urban Academy Senior

New Westminster

8-12

604-524-2211

urbanacademy.ca

Bodwell High School

North Vancouver

8-12

604-998-1000

bodwell.edu

Brockton Preparatory School

North Vancouver

K-12

604-929-9201

brocktonschool.com

Cousteau L’Ecole Francaise Interna’le

North Vancouver

K-9

604-924-2457

cousteauschool.org

Holy Trinity School

North Vancouver

K-7

604-987-4454

holytrinityschool.ca

Kenneth Gordon

North Vancouver

1-12

604-985-5224

kgms.ca

Lions Gate Christian Academy

North Vancouver

K-12

604-984-8226

lgca.ca

Saplings Nature School

North Vancouver

K-4

778-838-0335

saplingsoutdoorprogram.ca

St Alcuin College for the Liberal Arts

North Vancouver

K-12

604-360-8656

alcuin.ca

St Edmund’s

North Vancouver

K-7

604-988-7364

stedmunds.ca

St Pius X Elementary School

North Vancouver

K-7

604-929-0345

saintpius.ca

St Thomas Aquinas

North Vancouver

8-12

604-987-4431

aquinas.org

Vancouver Waldorf School

North Vancouver

K-12

604-985-7534

vws.ca

Archbishop Carney Regional Secondary

Port Coquitlam

8-12

604-942-7465

acrss.org

British Columbia Christian Academy

Port Coquitlam

K-12

604-941-8426

bcchristianacademy.ca

Hope Lutheran Christian School

Port Coquitlam

K-8

604-942-5322

hopelcs.ca

Our Lady of the Assumption

Port Coquitlam

K-7

604-942-5522

cisva.bc.ca

Ark Elementary

Richmond

K-4

778-990-3520

noahsarkschool.ca

Az-Zahraa Islamic Academy

Richmond

K-9

604-274-7861

azia.ca

BC Muslim School

Richmond

K-7

604-270-2511

bcmaschools.ca

Canada Star Secondary School

Richmond

8-12

604-285-7766

canstarlearning.com

Choice School for Gifted Children

Richmond

K-8

604-273-2418

choiceschool.org

City Vancouver Academy

Richmond

10-12

604-278-6811

cityvanacademy.ca

Cornerstone Christian Academy

Richmond

K-7

604-303-9181

cebccanada.com

Fawkes Academy (DL)

Richmond

1-12

604-261-8782

abacentre.ca

Maple Hill School

Richmond

9-12

604-285-9665

maplehilledu.com

Maple Leaf School, KPU

Richmond

10-12

604-599-2639

mapleleafedu.com

Pythagoras Academy

Richmond

K-8

604-370-0199

pythagorasacademy.ca

Richmond Christian School

Richmond

K-12

604-272-8238

myrcs.ca

Richmond Jewish Day School

Richmond

K-7

604-275-3393

rjds.ca

Rothewood Academy

Richmond

JK

604-279-1818

rothewood.com

St Joseph the Worker

Richmond

K-7

604-277-1115

stjosephtheworker.ca

St Paul School

Richmond

K-7

604-277-4487

stpaulschool.ca

Windsor Hall

Richmond

6-8

604-285-7766

canstarlearning.com

Al-Mustafa School

Surrey

K-2

604-900-2773

amschool.ca

Bibleway Christian Academy

Surrey

K-12

604-576-8188

biblewayacademy.org

Cloverdale Catholic School

Surrey

K-7

604-773-9743

cisva.bc.ca

Diamond School

Surrey

K-12

604-576-1146

diamondschool.ca

Fraser Valley School

Surrey

K-8

604-427-2282

fves.bc.ca

G.A.D. Elementary School

Surrey

K-9

604-595-0888

gadschool.com

Glarea Elevated Learning

Surrey

K-7

604-372-3725

glareaschool.com

Gobind Sarvar School

Surrey

K-11

604-930-2122

gobindsarvar.ca

Holy Cross Regional High School

Surrey

8-12

604-581-3023

holycross.bc.ca

Honour Secondary School

Surrey

8-12

604-992-3982

pcrs.ca

iLearn Secondary School Society

Surrey

8-12

604-590-5504

ilearnhighschool.com

Iqra School

Surrey

K-7

604-583-7530

iqraschool.com

26

WestCoastFamilies.com

At Rothewood Academy our passion and belief is to help the individual child embrace their inquisitiveness and creativity through play based and natural learning environments.

LOCATION

GRADES

PHONE

WEBSITE

Khalsa School Newton

Surrey

K-7

604-591-2248

khalsaschool.ca

Khalsa School Old Yale Road

Surrey

K-7

604-951-2333

khalsaschool.ca

Khalsa Secondary School

Surrey

8-12

604-585-8200

khalsaschool.ca

Newbridge Academy

Surrey

K-7

778-291-0110

newbridge-academy.ca

Our Lady of Good Counsel

Surrey

K-7

604-581-3154

olgcschool.ca

Pacific Academy

Surrey

K-12

604-581-5353

pacificacademy.net

Regent Christian Academy

Surrey

K-12

604-599-8171

regent.bc.ca

Rothewood Academy

Surrey

JK

604-279-1818

rothewood.com

Sikh Academy

Surrey

K-7

604-599-3828

sikhacademy.ca

Southridge School

Surrey

K-12

604-535-5056

southridge.ca

St Bernadette

Surrey

K-7

604-596-1101

cisva.bc.ca

St Matthew’s Elementary

Surrey

K-7

604-589-7545

stmatthewselementary.ca

Star of the Sea

Surrey

K-7

604-531-6316

sosschool.ca

Surrey Christian School

Surrey

K-12

604-498-3233

surreychristian.com

Surrey Muslim School

Surrey

K-9

604-599-6608

bcmaschools.ca

Traditional Learning Academy Online

Surrey

K-12

604-575-8596

schoolathome.ca

White Rock Christian Academy

Surrey

K-12

604-531-9186

wrca.ca

St Michaels University School

Victoria

K-12

250-592-2411

smus.ca

Collingwood School

West Vancouver

K-12

604-925-3331

collingwood.org

Mulgrave School

West Vancouver

K-12

604-922-3223

mulgrave.com

St Anthony’s

West Vancouver

K-7

604-922-0011

saswv.ca

Rothewood Academy

White Rock

JK

604-279-1818

rothewood.com

White Rock

8-12

604-560-8210

sjp2academy.com

At Rothewood Academy our passion and belief is to help the individual child embrace their inquisitiveness and creativity through play based and natural learning environments.

At Rothewood Academy our passion and belief is to help the individual child embrace their inquisitiveness and creativity through play based and natural learning environments.

St John Paul II Academy

Piano

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Guitar

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Bass

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Voice

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Strings

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& more!

Register For Music Lessons Today.

Why Choose Long & McQuade?

Music lessons for all ages, stages, and styles.

Professional instructors make learning fun.

Convenient lesson times for busy families.

No registration fees. Affordable instrument rentals.

With 15 locations across British Columbia.

Visit our website to find the location nearest you!

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Independent Schools Education Guide

Education Options for Your Child

I

n the province of British Columbia, all kids between the ages of 6 and 16 (approximately grades 1 through 10) must attend school in some form. And all schooling must follow the curriculum set out by the BC government. Everyone knows about the traditional public-school method, and this is the route most kids take, but it’s always beneficial to learn about all your options.

Public School

This is the traditional type of schooling that most kids in the province attend. Public school is available from kindergarten right through to grade 12 and is free for any child to attend as it is government funded. Most neighbourhoods will have at least one public school for all levels of schooling.

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Private School

There are several different types of private schools available throughout the province, all with different focuses. Private schools typically receive little to no government funding, so parents must pay for their children to attend. Just a few of the many private school options are religious schools, Montessori Schools, boarding schools, and singlegender schools. A lot of parents feel these types of school fit with their values more than other types of schooling. Some private schools are elementary only, high school only, or offer all grades.

Distance Education

Distance Education is offered through most school districts for little to no cost as it is typically part of the public school system.

Students are given curriculum and potentially some in-person or online education from teachers, however, they are expected to go through the materials and learn it themselves. Support is available via online chats or email, and exams are typically completed in a central location or online via a supervisor. Distance education is offered for all levels of schooling, but it tends to be more popular with the middle or higher grades.

Homeschooling

Homeschooling is an option that has become a lot more popular in the last decade or so. Homeschooling means that you are teaching your children at home, using your own methods and materials, as long as the BC curriculum is followed. Some parents join up and teach all their children together,

while others prefer one-on-one styles with their own children. You will now find homeschool meetup groups, swim times, and other options in most neighbourhoods as this type of schooling grows in popularity.

Homeschoolers typically must register with their local public school and can gain access to curriculum and possible funding to purchase teaching materials.

Unlock Excellence at Columbia Academy Your Downtown Vancouver K-12 Private School!

Nature and Forest-Based Schools

This is another type of schooling that has become a lot more popular in the last few years. Many cities now offer at least one nature school option for their community members. The curriculum is taught all or at least mostly outdoors, using a hands-on nature based approach. Nature schools receive little to no government funding, so the parents must pay for this type of schooling, however, many are co-op based and have lower fees if the parents are involved in the teaching process. The goal of most nature and forest schools is to give students plenty of time to connect with nature, explore their creativity, and create meaningful connections with their communities. Nature-based preschools seem to be the most popular in most cities, however, you’ll find some schools that are elementary-based, or some that offer all levels of schooling.

• Strong focus on Math and English • Second languages: French and Mandarin from Kindergarten • Professional sports coaching • Enriched After School Program • Emphasis on volunteering and charity events • 90% of our past graduates entered the world’s top 50 universities

Specialty Education

Some children with physical or learning limitations may benefit from specialty education programs offered in the community. Depending on the school district, some of these schools may be offered as a public-school option, however, many of these schools will rely on the parents to pay for their child’s education. Specialty education schools are usually offered for all levels of schooling, however, depending on the learner’s needs, school may not be offered full time.

Applications are now open for Feb 2024 and Sept 2024.

Prepare your child for success. Enroll today.

Tel: 778 379 6811 Info@ColumbiaAcademy.ca

ColumbiaAcademy.ca

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Independent Schools Education Guide

Should You Redshirt Your Child?

R

edshirting is the term used when you delay your kindergarten child entry by a year. So, instead of having them enter kindergarten the year they turn five, they enter the year they turn six. In BC, kindergarten is a full-day program, and it can be too much for some young children to handle. Redshirting has become increasingly popular in North America over the past few years, and you may wonder if it’s the right move for your child.

Is Your Child Ready?

This is the main factor for figuring out if you should redshirt your child or not. We know that deciding if your child is ready for kindergarten can be tough as registration is often months before the start date, and as we have all seen, kids can significantly learn and mature in short periods of time. However, if your child is significantly lacking some important skills such as sharing, using words to express

basic needs, the ability to follow simple directions, or do simple things themselves, it may be worth considering giving them another year to practice these skills before they start kindergarten.

How Old Is Your Child?

Since children are allowed to start school the year they turn five, this can mean anyone with a birthday from January right through to December can start. As we know, all kids develop at different rates, however, a child born in the beginning of January will have had longer to develop important skills than a child who is born at the end of December. Many people who redshirt have children born later in the year.

What Does Your Daycare or Preschool Suggest?

If you’re unsure if you should redshirt your child, it may be worth having a conversation with their daycare provider or preschool teacher. They likely see a lot of children the same age and may be able to let you know if they think your child is on track for kindergarten.

What Does Your Elementary School Suggest?

If you’re still struggling with your decision, you may want to talk to the administrators at the elementary school you will be attending. They may have guidelines to consider or allow you to be evaluated by staff to see what they suggest.

Can You Afford It?

Unfortunately, today, with many families having two working parents, paying for another year of daycare or preschool may simply not be an option for you. You may have no choice but to enroll your child in kindergarten the first year they are eligible.

Is Your Child a Boy?

This question may not seem fair, but research shows that boys typically benefit from redshirting more than girls. Boys tend to show slower social development at this age and may have some trouble keeping up when they first start school.

It is important to note that boys certainly catch up with the girls within a few short years, no matter when they start.

Don’t Stress Too Much About it!

While there are advantages and disadvantages of redshirting, studies show that even if kids struggle in their first year or two of elementary school due to maturity or skill level, they often catch up and are at the same level as their peers by grades two or three. Make your decision based on what you feel is right for your child and everything should work out fine.

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40 years of lifelong learning SelfDesign Learning Foundation has been your global leader in online education programs that foster personalized and lifelong learning for 40 years. We’re here to support your family and children in designing their own learning journey.

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Our online kindergarten to grade 12 school offers you a personalized and flexible approach to learning.

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BURNABY ONLINE A PROVINCIAL ONLINE LEARNING SCHOOL

Learn where you want, when you want Ministry approved BC curriculum Kindergarten to Grade 12 program Contemporary Indigenous Studies 12 available for enrollment Full time or part time available Grade 10 to 12 Adult learning options Grade 8 to 12: over 50 course options Innovative learning management system Experienced online learning teachers Opportunities for self-paced, flexible, convenient learning Direct teacher support available

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