New Greater Victoria School District catchment boundaries in effect for 2020-21 school year

The Greater Victoria School District has released details about the new catchment boundaries that will take effect in the 2020-21 school year.

In June 2019, the Greater Victoria School District Board of Education announced they approved new school boundaries to help alleviate capacity concerns in some of its schools.

According to the district, the 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.

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, according to the district:

• • 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

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 this month along with 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.

The school district also said it 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 learning studios on the property with brand new technology packages, a new fully landscaped outdoor classroom, and additional resources to provide optimal learning environments.

For more information, visit www.sd61.bc.ca/catchment-boundary-review

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