Back To School

Back to School AUGUST 2021

GREATER VICTORIA SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 61 NATURAL FERTILITY AWARENESS WEEK 2021 WELCOME - SCHOOL DISTRICT 63 SCHOOL OF PERFORMING ART CHOOSE ONLY THE BEST TO TEACH YOU THE RIGHT FIT FOR BACK-TO-SCHOOL SHOES

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WELCOME BACK! Whether you’re stocking a locker, bedazzling a binder, or decking out a dorm room, your local Canadian Tire has all the stationary, backpacks, sports equipment, and first-home necessities you need to get your school year started off right.

· In class, in person? Get ready! · Get prepped for practice!

Make sure you can get to campus safely!

Everything you need for Elementary School, High School or University Hillside – 1610 Hillside Ave. 250-361-3152 Royal Oak – 801 Royal Oak Drive 250-727-6561

View Royal – 1519 Admirals Rd. 250-381-3111 Gordon Head Auto Service – 3993 Cedar Hill Rd. 250-721-1125

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THURSDAY, AUGUST 19, 2021 | 3

GREATER VICTORIA SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 61

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e are excited to welcome new and returning students, staff, and families for the 2021/22 school year. District and school staff are pleased to be preparing for a “close to normal” return to school, which will have all students resuming full-time studies in the classroom for September.

The District is positioned to quickly respond to a variety of scenarios that may arise in the upcoming school year due to the on-going pandemic. As we continue to monitor the daily case numbers, we are planning to expect the unexpected.

Back to School!

Be assured that we are working closely with the Ministries of Education and Health, who will be providing further direction as we approach September.

Students’ and staff safety remains our top priority, along with our commitment to provide each student with the opportunity to fulfill their potential, and pursue their aspirations.

Regardless of the obstacles the pandemic may present, it is our responsibility to provide the best possible educational opportunities for all learners, and to continue our work on the Board’s strategic plan.

We take pride in creating safe, inclusive, and engaging learning environments for all students in our “one learning community”.

Since the start of the pandemic, all staff have been working diligently to deliver high-quality educational programming. Our team has worked tirelessly to keep students safe while finding innovative solutions that would not disrupt student learning.

We want to thank our staff who are dedicated to their role in supporting the success of all students. Over the past year and a half, we have witnessed the importance of collaboration.

Working together, we have been able to adapt and implement systems to help us maintain safe schools.

We all have an important role in keeping our schools safe. As we begin another school year, please keep in mind that vaccinations, daily health checks, and staying home when sick, are important ways to keep schools low-risk settings for COVID-19.

With a busy and exciting year before us, we look forward to the arrival of students and staff and working with you and the entire community in the upcoming school year.

Deb Whitten Interim Superintendent of Schools , Greater Victoria School District #61 The Greater Victoria School District No. 61 is committed to delivering quality education to more than 20,000 students in 47 schools. It serves six communities: Victoria, Esquimalt, Oak Bay, Saanich, View Royal, Highlands, and Four Houses: Esquimalt and Songhees Nations, the Métis and the urban Indigenous community.

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Welcome Back to School!

First Day of School is Tuesday, September 7, 2021 The Greater Victoria School District welcomes all new and returning students for the 2021/2022 school year.

Pacific Horticulture College

First Day of School Schedule: ELEMENTARY: Students attend from 9:00 a.m.—11:30 a.m.

MIDDLE: Students attend from 9:30 a.m.—11:30 a.m.

Please note the exceptions: Colquitz Grade 6 students 9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.

Colquitz Grade 7 & 8 students 10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

Cedar Hill Grade 6 students 9:30 a.m. – 10:15 a.m.

Cedar Hill Grade 7 & 8 students 10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

Schools will reopen on August 30 to September 3, 2021 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. daily to assist with online registrations.

Full-time and part-time apprenticeship training collegeadmin@hcp.ca 505 Quayle Road www.hcp.ca

www.sd61.bc.ca

Gordon Head Grade 6 students 9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.

Gordon Head Grade 7 & 8 students 10:45 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

Shoreline Grade 6 students 9:30 a.m. – 10:15 a.m.

Shoreline Grade 7 & 8 students 10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

SECONDARY: Students will attend as follows: Esquimalt: Grade 9’s meet in the Gym from 9:30 a.m.—10:45 a.m.

Grades 10, 11, 12 meet in the Gym from 11:00 a.m.—12:00 p.m.

Lambrick Park: Grade 9’s report to Gym from 9:00 a.m.—10:30 a.m.

Grades 10, 11, 12 report to the gym from 10:30 a.m.—11:30 a.m.

All students will then proceed to their A Block class Mt Douglas: Grade 9’s meet in Gym from 9:30 a.m.—11:30 a.m.

Grades 10, 11, 12 meet in Homeroom/Gym from 12:00 p.m.—1:00 p.m.

Oak Bay: Grade 9’s meet in Advisory from 10:30 a.m.—12:00 p.m.

Grade 10, 11, 12 meet in Teachers Advisory from 9:30 a.m.—10:30 a.m.

Reynolds: Grade 9’s meet in the Gym from 9:30 a.m.—11:00 a.m.

Grades 10, 11, 12 meet in the Gym from 12:30 p.m.—1:30 p.m.

Spectrum: Grade 9’s meet in the Gym from 9:00 a.m.—10:00 a.m.

Grades 10, 11, 12 meet in the Gym from 10:15 a.m. —11:00 a.m.

Vic High: Grade 9’s meet at 12:30 p.m. on the front lawn at temporary location (923 Topaz Ave) followed by a presentation, tour and introduction to homeroom.

Dismissal at 3:00 p.m.

Grades 10, 11, 12 report to homeroom at 10:00 a.m. New homeroom lists will be posted in main foyer. Dismissal at 11:15 a.m.

Victor: All students will attend from 9:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

Sept. 8th is full day schedule.

@sd61schools

One Learning Community

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BILLINGS CENTRE OF FERTILITY EDUCATION

The Billings Ovulation Method®

Natural Fertility Awareness Week 2021

The knowledge of her body that every young woman ought to have!

Island instructor: infobillings@shaw.ca Vancouver: woombbc@gmail.com Schools: www.teenstar.org

www.billings.life MLA Rob Fleming VICTORIA–SWAN LAKE

Proud to be your MLA

l  h c s w e An w e n a , r a e y ! g n i n n i g e b

Tracking Fertility: Tracking Health

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FREE Webinar (Registration: www.billings.life)

rs. John and Evelyn Billings of Australia, who developed the Billings Ovulation Method® of natural fertility regulation in 1953, were amazed to find that older African women of the Luo and Kamba tribes talked to their daughters about the special sign of health and fertility, that some had already noticed, upon entering puberty, in a special fertility ritual. This tradition, taken to a new level, is being carried on mostly by mothers, users of the Method themselves, who see how beneficial this knowledge is for girls to understand the significance of what they notice in their reproductive cycles: empowerment to resist peer pressure, increases self esteem,

provides deeper insight into the wonders and dignity of growing up to be a woman, safeguards their health etc..By knowing what is normal in a fertile or infertile cycle any departure from normal requires medical diagnosis and treatment. Cancer and disorders of the endocrine system etc.,have been detected early.

The Billings Ovulation Method® is safe and effective (W.H.O. 98.5%). It has also proved its efficiency in providing for the achievement of pregnancy and for avoiding pregnancies by numerous field trials in different countries of the world. In China, for example, the abortion rate has plummeted in those areas where it is taught by accredited teachers. It is understood by

illiterate poor people, and is able to be used in all different circumstances of a woman’s reproductive life, irrespective of whether her cycles are regular or not: during breast feeding, time of the menopause, or when ovulation is delayed through emotional and hard physical stress. Being a natural method it is acceptable to people of different cultures and religions. Blind women use the Method.

FREE E-BOOKS: “Effective Education in Sexuality and Relationships for schools - developing knowledge and skills for Healthy Relationships.”

(For parents and teachers) “The Facts.” (for students). billings.life

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1020 Hillside Ave // 250-356-5013 rob.fleming.mla@leg.bc.ca robflemingmla.ca

Back to School Tues, August 17, 2021

A Victoria Times Colonist publication

Publisher: Dave Obee Director of Advertising: Peter Baillie #201-655 Tyee Road, Victoria, BC To advertise in the next issue of Back to School, contact: Susan Hickman 250 380 5377 shickman@timescolonist.com

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THURSDAY, AUGUST 19, 2021 | 5

SAANICH SCHOOL DISTRICT 63

JANIS JEAN PHOTOGRAPHY

Welcome Back!

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s we settle into the beginning of a new school year, I would like to again thank our staff, students, and our parent community for their support of Saanich Schools.

During the past 18 months we have seen monumental effort by students, staff, and parents during the pandemic, but we’ve also experienced exceptional teamwork and success as we pulled together as a community.

The upcoming school year will also likely have some challenges and unexpected turns, but I am confident that we will continue in our journey of providing some of the best educational opportunities in the province.

We are looking forward to seeing everyone again.

Dave Eberwein, Superintendent of School District 63

HOW TO REGISTER Visit the Saanich School District website for complete registration information including school locations and contact information: www.saanichschools.ca Our website indicates the documents you are required to bring with you to complete the registration process.

Here in Saanich we take pride in our ability to offer outstanding learning in a community of care and compassion – where our schools are like families. Our innovative programs, extensive extracurricular activities and our collective focus on the well-being of the whole child means that our students are given extraordinary opportunities to thrive and find their own unique success.

Registration is closed on Labour Day Monday.

In Saanich Schools, our students actively engage with the new curriculum while being assisted with modern technology and caring professionals who make learning fun, relevant and future focused. Come be a part of a vibrant learning community where we open doors to exciting futures.

NEW STUDENT REGISTRATION

Registration for elementary students (Kindergarten to Gr 5): Saanich School District office at 2125 Keating Cross Rd, 8:00-4:00pm, Monday-Friday.

Registration for middle and secondary: Middle (Gr 6-8): North Saanich, Bayside, Royal Oak Secondary (Gr 9-12): Claremont, Parkland, Stelly’s, SIDES, ILC

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THEATRE SKAM

GET CREATIVE THIS FALL WITH THE VCM!

School of Performing Art

The VCM is an inclusive, supportive, and welcoming learning environment.

Students of any age, any instrument, and any level can explore their creative talents in a wide range of classes in Classical, Contemporary, Music Technology, Early Childhood Music, and more!

DOWNTOWN VICTORIA 900 Johnson Street | 250.386.5311 WESTHILLS, LANGFORD 210 - 1314 Lakepoint Way | 778.265.5355

Awarded “Best Place to Develop Your Child’s Potential” in the 2020 Best of the Westshore Awards

VCM.BC.CA

PLEASE RECYCLE THIS NEWSPAPER.

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ith Fall around the corner, you're thinking about where to send your kids for their after school activities. Today, we at SKAM School of Performing Arts want to share the many benefits of performing arts classes, which include giving your child exciting opportunities to develop new skills!

First off, the arts build courage and confidence in self-expression.

Being assertive and confident to bring our ideas to the table are gifts that often don't come naturally. At SKAM School of Performing Arts, we want to grow these traits in our students, through supportive environments and offering students many unique opportunities to put their work out into the world. Our SKAMpede Young Company, for instance, gets a once-in-a-lifetime chance to learn from professionals at SKAM’s very own annual, live performance SKAMpede Festival. This summer, SYC performed Nicholas Guerreiro’s play End of Term to hundreds of delighted audience members over three days. The fall SYC group performed their play in tandem

with Fringe Festival, giving them a chance to break into the local theatre scene.

Two: the performing arts build practical and technical skills that can be applied to a number of life paths. Film, improv, set design, script writing, and more all have practical life applications. Both soft skills, such as communication, flexibility in attitude, ability to work on a team and concentration are developed, in combination with hard skills like writing, video editing, and production design.

Three: the performing arts improves supportiveness towards others and self. Theatre is a group effort. At Theatre SKAM, we do our best to create a supportive, fun and accessible environment for any child. Our newly created position, Artistic and Community Liaison, is in charge of ensuring our school and productions meet these standards.

We hope you're now more curious about the performing arts. Theatre SKAM has been playing to theatre audiences in Victoria since 1995 - we encourage you to check us out on our website: skam.ca

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THURSDAY, AUGUST 19, 2021 | 7

WALLACE DRIVING SCHOOL

Choose Only the Best to Teach You driving schools carry the GLC qualification. Wallace Driving School is one of the 50 offering this course.

Parents are more than willing to buy the best sports equipment, clothing options, and other related accessories for their teens.

They insist on the best dental and medical care for their kids. They would never personally attempt a root canal or a complicated medical procedure on their teen.

Yet many would attempt to teach a skill which is more life-threatening than the two above mentioned activities. Motor vehicle crashes are not only the

D

riving lessons are a lifetime investment. What other death-defying service can you buy that will last a lifetime?

Parents, grandparents, and others make good co-pilots, but

for a complete driver education experience, a Graduated Licensing (GLC) approved course from driving school is the best option. Only about 50 of the almost 700 provincially approved

WITH IN-PERSON CLASSES THIS FALL! LEARN ABOUT: Acting (Theatre and Film) Improvisation Stage Craft And more!

schooladmin@skam.ca

250.532.7766 SKAM.CA/SCHOOL

leading cause of untimely death for teens, but also exceed all other forms of accidental death combined.

Wallace Driving School offers full courses and individual driving lesson instruction.

Students get to choose their instructor, the time of day and day of the week for their one-onone lessons. Pick-up and drop-off are at the student’s convenience, whether at home, school, work or other customer chosen locations.

Lessons can be booked online, by phone, or in person. Patience is our virtue, choose only the best to teach you.

Steve Wallace wallacedrivingschool.com

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NEW BALANCE

The Right Fit for Back-to-School Shoes

BACK TO

SCHOOL

When you buy new shoes for your kids, they should feel good from the moment they put them on.

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New Balance Victoria 1205 Government Street (Corner of View Street)

VICTORIA

Tel 250 382 9327 Toll-Free 1 877 882 9327 newbalancevictoria.com

s parents, we want nothing but health and happiness for our children. We worry about getting their teeth and eyes checked, but rarely do we pay attention to their developing feet. Children’s feet are not fully formed until they’re in their late teens. Shoes that don’t fit properly can prevent natural growth, cause discomfort, adversely affect your child’s walking development, and lead to health problems.

When you buy new shoes for your kids, they should feel good from the moment they put them on. For athletic shoe company New Balance, being a kid doesn’t mean you have to compromise fit, comfort, and support because you are not ready for adult sized footwear. Multiple width fittings, sizes, removable insoles, and supportive heel counters are basic New Balance standards that help ensure proper fit and support for your kids.

Whether your child’s feet are average, wide or narrow, New Balance offers the fit selection to ensure your kids have shoes to get them comfortably through a

busy day. When it comes to shoes for school, there are two features to consider. First, kid’s indoor footwear for pre-school and grade school usually needs to be non-marking. The second feature most often requested by schools is Velcro closures.

Be sure to clarify what specific requests your child’s school may have regarding indoor footwear before you make your purchase.

FITTING TIPS FOR CHILDREN’S SHOES • Young children’s feet can grow as much as two full sizes in one year. Make sure you have a thumb’s width of empty space at the end of the shoe beyond their longest toe to allow for growth. Your child should be able to comfortably wiggle their toes inside their shoes.

• With shoes laced up, check the space between the two rows of eyelets. They should be one to two finger widths apart, and fairly parallel to each other.

A distance greater than two finger widths may indicate a shoe that is too narrow.

A distance less than one finger width may indicate the shoe is too wide.

• Always get your kids to untie and open up the laces when putting on or taking off their shoes to prevent damage to the supportive heel counter. Get your kids in the habit of using their hands and not their feet to take off their shoes.

• Avoid hand-me-down shoes.

Once a shoe has formed to a child’s foot, it might not fit another child’s foot properly and could adversely affect walking development.

• Have your child’s feet measured every time they get new shoes to get the correct size. Too big and it can cause blisters, too small and it can impede growth. If your child is experiencing a diagnosed foot problem, it is beneficial to get a more precise fit to their current size, not allowing a lot of extra room for growth. A shoe that is a bit big does not always provide the support needed to aid properly in recovery. newbalance.com