Island Parent Magazine Winter 2023
Vancouver Island’s Parenting Resource for 35 Years: Independent Schools & Education Guide • Choosing the Right School • Why Choose a Private School? • Raising Active Kids • Tweens & Teens
Vancouver Island’s Parenting Resource for 35 Years: Independent Schools & Education Guide • Choosing the Right School • Why Choose a Private School? • Raising Active Kids • Tweens & Teens
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WINTER <strong>2023</strong><br />
Vancouver <strong>Island</strong>’s <strong>Parent</strong>ing Resource for 35 Years<br />
FREE COPY<br />
Reason to<br />
Celebrate<br />
RAISING<br />
ACTIVE<br />
KIDS<br />
Inside:<br />
Check Out the<br />
Independent Schools<br />
& Education Guide
PRESCHOOL–GRADE 12<br />
Be curious. Be kind. Be brave. Be you.<br />
admissions@qms.bc.ca<br />
www.qms.bc.ca<br />
Classes Begin September 6 th<br />
STAGES<br />
Performing Arts School<br />
since 1980<br />
Come Dance With Us<br />
• Offering classes for Teens & Pre-Teens in Jazz,<br />
Ballet, Lyrical, Tap. Musical Theatre, Acrobatics &<br />
Hip Hop, in a non-competitive atmosphere.<br />
• Not sure which class to take?<br />
- Try a Drop-In: No hassle, No Obligation.<br />
Daytime Pre-School Classes<br />
for the little angels...<br />
STAGES Performing Arts School<br />
#301 1551 Cedar Hill X Rd<br />
Call 250-384-3267 Email us at: stagesdance@shaw.ca<br />
Or visit our website: www.stagesdance.com<br />
2 <strong>Island</strong> <strong>Parent</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> <strong>Island</strong><strong>Parent</strong>.ca
<strong>Island</strong><strong>Parent</strong>.ca<br />
<strong>Winter</strong> <strong>2023</strong> 3
WINTER <strong>2023</strong><br />
Vancouver <strong>Island</strong>’s <strong>Parent</strong>ing Resource for 35 Years<br />
FREE COPY<br />
TABLEOFCONTENTS<br />
10<br />
Why Choose a<br />
Private School<br />
OUR KIDS MEDIA<br />
14<br />
Private School<br />
Directory<br />
18<br />
Reason to<br />
Celebrate<br />
JULIE MAIS<br />
28<br />
Make the Most<br />
of a Trip to<br />
the Museum<br />
CHRISTINA VAN STARKENBURG<br />
In Every<br />
Issue<br />
5<br />
Fast Forward<br />
SUE FAST<br />
6<br />
Need to Know<br />
9<br />
I ❤ <strong>Island</strong><br />
16<br />
Moms’ POV<br />
SARAH SEITZ<br />
18<br />
Family Resource Directory<br />
22<br />
Nature Notes<br />
CHRISSIE FINNIE<br />
12<br />
Is Montessori School<br />
Right for Your Child?<br />
PARENTCANADA.COM<br />
20<br />
50 Adventures<br />
in Pacific Rim<br />
National Park<br />
24<br />
Raising Active Kids<br />
ACTIVE FOR LIFE<br />
33<br />
Special Feature<br />
&<br />
TWEENS TEENS<br />
5 Ways to Get<br />
Involved with<br />
VOLUNTEERING<br />
Vol V, Ed I<br />
Job Search<br />
How to Help Your Teen<br />
Develop Networking Skills<br />
30 34<br />
Things with Your to Do<br />
Teen<br />
30 Things<br />
to Do with<br />
Your Teen<br />
37<br />
5 Ways to Get Involved<br />
with Volunteering<br />
RAYNE INKSTER<br />
38<br />
Job Search<br />
WORKBC<br />
26<br />
What’s for Dinner<br />
EMILLIE PARRISH<br />
30<br />
Play<br />
31<br />
Preschool & Child Care<br />
Directory<br />
32<br />
Businesses You<br />
Need to Know<br />
32<br />
Cut It Out!<br />
DR. ALLISON REES<br />
On the<br />
Cover<br />
Photo by<br />
Michael Morrell<br />
Reason to<br />
Celebrate<br />
Inside:<br />
RAISING<br />
ACTIVE<br />
KIDS<br />
Check Out the<br />
Independent Schools<br />
& Education Guide<br />
Jim Schneider Publisher publisher@islandparent.ca<br />
Sue Fast Editor editor@islandparent.ca<br />
Kristine Wickheim Account Manager kristine@islandparent.ca<br />
RaeLeigh Buchanan Account Manager raeleigh@islandparent.ca<br />
<strong>Island</strong> <strong>Parent</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong>, published by <strong>Island</strong> <strong>Parent</strong> Group Enterprises Ltd., is a<br />
bimonthly publication that honours and supports parents by providing information on<br />
resources and businesses for Vancouver <strong>Island</strong> families. Views expressed are not<br />
necessarily those of the publisher. No material herein may be reproduced without<br />
the permission of the publisher. <strong>Island</strong> <strong>Parent</strong> is distributed free in selected areas.<br />
Annual mail subscriptions (7 issues) are available for $21 (GST included).<br />
Canadian Publication Mail Product Sales Agreement 40051398. ISSN 0838-5505.<br />
<strong>Island</strong> <strong>Parent</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong><br />
250-388-6905 islandparent.ca<br />
518 Caselton Place, Victoria, BC V8Z 7Y5<br />
A proud member of<br />
BC<br />
4 <strong>Island</strong> <strong>Parent</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> <strong>Island</strong><strong>Parent</strong>.ca
FASTFORWARD<br />
7½ Spring Things to Do<br />
Tired of being cooped up? There’s<br />
no time like springtime to get<br />
outside and shake off the winter<br />
blahs. Not only are the days getting longer,<br />
with the extra light chasing away the<br />
shadows, but there’s lots more to do now<br />
that we can get outdoors and explore. So<br />
where to start?<br />
1. Reacquaint Yourself with the<br />
Aquarium. If you’re in Ucluelet, attend<br />
the Aquarium’s free opening day on<br />
March 1, 10am–5pm. Uclueletaquarium.<br />
org.<br />
2. Plant Flowers. What better time to<br />
plant flowers than on National Plant a<br />
Flower Day, March 12? For tips, register<br />
for Horticulture Centre of the Pacific’s<br />
program, Seed Starting for Kids on<br />
March 4 from 10–11:30am. hcp.ca.<br />
3. Be a Tourist. Okay so the official<br />
event isn’t running this year—why not<br />
make up one of your own? In Victoria,<br />
visit Miniature World or the Royal BC<br />
Museum, among many other tourist<br />
attractions. In Nanaimo, follow the<br />
Nanaimo Bar Trail or visit the Bastion.<br />
In Courtenay, take a Fossil Tour at the<br />
Courtenay Museum and Paleontology<br />
Centre.<br />
4. Stay Up Late & Play in the Dark...<br />
before the clock springs ahead on March<br />
12 and the days get longer. Play flashlight<br />
tag, glow-in-the-dark Frisbee or stargaze.<br />
The next morning, sleep in!<br />
5. Hop On the Harbour Ferry. Take<br />
a 45-minute Harbour Tour, a 75-minute<br />
historic Gorge Tour or a hip and a hop<br />
on a water taxi. Stops include the Empress<br />
Dock, Chinatown and Fisherman’s<br />
Wharf. victoriaharbourferry.com.<br />
6. Host a Community Garage Sale.<br />
Out with the old! Gather everyone together,<br />
hang up signs and make a day of<br />
clearing the clutter. Afterwards, spend<br />
your earnings and host a neighbourhood<br />
pizza party.<br />
7. Visit Fort Rodd Hill. If it’s rainy, step<br />
inside the Fisgard Lighthouse and play an<br />
old-fashioned game of checkers or one of<br />
the new video games.<br />
7½. Play Capture the Flag. With lots<br />
of room to roam at Fort Rodd Hill, a<br />
game of Capture the Flag is an all-out<br />
exhilarating experience. Bring enough<br />
friends for two teams and play on!<br />
– Sue Fast<br />
<strong>Island</strong><strong>Parent</strong>.ca<br />
<strong>Winter</strong> <strong>2023</strong> 5
NEEDTOKNOW<br />
Hit the Slopes<br />
If you have a child in Grade 4 or 5, the Council offers a Snow Pass to save on skiing or snowboarding<br />
across Canada. The Snow Pass is a national program for kids in grades 4 and 5 (nine and 10 years of age)<br />
to ski or snowboard at 150+ hills across Canada for only $29.99 plus tax. The goal is to get kids and their<br />
families excited about winter and engaged at an early age so they can look forward to fun activities<br />
in the winters to come.<br />
snowpass.ca<br />
Keep the<br />
Drive Alive<br />
Each year thousands of deserving kids benefit from the generosity of a committed group of caring people<br />
and organizations, like you, who donate items to the live and silent auctions at the Golf for Kids Charity<br />
Golf Classic. Items range from art, memorabilia, electronics, trips, industry products and much more. This year’s<br />
event will be held on Saturday September 9 at Bear Mountain Resort. For more information about donating an<br />
auction item email silentauction@golfforkids.net.<br />
6 <strong>Island</strong> <strong>Parent</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> <strong>Island</strong><strong>Parent</strong>.ca
INSPIRING A NEW GENERATION<br />
ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE | INNOVATIVE THINKING | GLOBAL CITIZENSHIP<br />
Nanaimo, BC | 250.390.2201 | AspengroveSchool.com<br />
Pink<br />
Shirt<br />
Day<br />
Celebrate our diversity while<br />
raising funds to support inclusive<br />
anti-bullying programs for kids in<br />
our communities. London Drugs<br />
will once again be selling Pink<br />
Shirt merchandise in their stores<br />
during February. Get your Pink<br />
Shirt today and stand up to<br />
bullying on February 22.<br />
pinkshirtday.ca<br />
I am proud<br />
to continue<br />
my support<br />
of parents,<br />
families and<br />
youth in<br />
Oak Bay-<br />
Gordon Head.<br />
MLA Murray Rankin<br />
Oak Bay – Gordon Head<br />
Murray.Rankin.MLA@leg.bc.ca 250-472-8528<br />
<strong>Island</strong><strong>Parent</strong>.ca<br />
<strong>Winter</strong> <strong>2023</strong> 7
Maritime<br />
Museum<br />
Bursary<br />
Program<br />
The Maritime Museum of BC is working<br />
with the Victoria Foundation to<br />
provide a limited number of free<br />
programs for schools and organizations<br />
that work with underserved or<br />
marginalized communities. At-risk<br />
populations often lack safe access to<br />
arts, culture, and learning opportunities.<br />
The Museum’s goal is to create<br />
a sense of belonging and well-being<br />
within a community through facilitating<br />
engaging experiences. Schools<br />
and organizations are invited to<br />
complete the bursary form at<br />
mmbc.bc.ca.<br />
A Refreshed<br />
Place to Play<br />
Tire Stewardship BC (“TSBC”),<br />
a not-for-profit group dedicated<br />
to the collection and recycling<br />
of scrap tires in British Columbia,<br />
announced the upgraded Wellness<br />
Park in Sidney, located at 10091<br />
Resthaven Dr., has a new rubberized<br />
surface made from 744 recycled<br />
B.C. scrap tires. The Town of Sidney<br />
received a grant from TSBC last<br />
spring, valued at $17,171, to go<br />
toward the new safe and durable<br />
rubberized park surfacing.<br />
8 <strong>Island</strong> <strong>Parent</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> <strong>Island</strong><strong>Parent</strong>.ca
I ❤ ISLAND<br />
Check out these unique <strong>Island</strong> products!<br />
Pack Up & Towel Off<br />
Tofino Towel works directly with various fair-trade<br />
artisan makers from around the globe to create<br />
high quality multipurpose products that allow you<br />
to do more so you can own less. Every product<br />
they develop is crafted with the intention to be as<br />
equally suitable for outdoor and indoor use. From<br />
towels, surf ponchos and bags, Tofino Towel has<br />
got you—and your kids—covered!<br />
tofinotowelco.com<br />
Repurposed Pallets<br />
“I Used To Be A Pallet” upcycles pallets into<br />
repurposed products in categories including art,<br />
bathroom, commercial, furniture, interior decor,<br />
kitchen, novelties, outdoor, seasonal decor, storage,<br />
workshop and miscellaneous. The Victoria<br />
company use the majority of wood from a pallet<br />
to repurpose and saves end cuts to heat homes,<br />
disperses saw dust in gardens and donates nails<br />
to the Habitat for Humanity metal recycling bin.<br />
iusedtobeapallet.com<br />
Going Dotty!<br />
New and up-cycled clothes for kids and cool<br />
adults, handmade and screen-printed in Victoria.<br />
These sustainable, eco-friendly clothes are made<br />
with love. You’ll find everything from hoodies and<br />
tees for littles to bigs along with tea towels and<br />
bamboo circle scarves. Prints include whales,<br />
bunnies, wolves and unicorns, among many<br />
others.<br />
dottiehandmade.com<br />
6 Great Themes • 3 Fun Weeks • 1 Giant Screen<br />
MARCH 3–26, <strong>2023</strong><br />
Buy tickets at imaxvictoria.com<br />
<strong>Island</strong><strong>Parent</strong>.ca<br />
<strong>Winter</strong> <strong>2023</strong> 9
Independent Schools<br />
&<br />
Education Guide<br />
Why<br />
Choose<br />
a Private<br />
School<br />
With options ranging from boarding schools to alternative<br />
schools, there is almost certainly a school to suit each<br />
and every child. Read on for some of the reasons why parents<br />
are choosing independent schools.<br />
Enriched Academic Opportunities<br />
One of the benefits of private schools is that they provide<br />
challenging educational experiences through extracurricular<br />
activities, advanced placement courses, the International Baccalaureate<br />
program (and the IB diploma program) and gifted<br />
programs, just to name a few.<br />
Smaller Classes<br />
Studies on class size show that the smaller the class size, the<br />
better the average student performs on academic achievement<br />
tests. And the gains from smaller class sizes are stronger the<br />
longer a child is exposed to them. Private schools vary greatly<br />
in size, but depending on the teaching style, many focus on the<br />
importance of small class sizes to individually help students’<br />
weak areas and advance their strengths.<br />
<strong>Parent</strong>al Involvement<br />
Private schools encourage open communication between parents<br />
and administration, and they involve parents in the community.<br />
From parent-teacher meetings, social events and the<br />
participation of parent committees in fundraising initiatives,<br />
families become an integral part of the child’s education.<br />
Dedicated Teachers<br />
In a study completed by the Fraser Institute in 2007, 91 percent<br />
of parents surveyed said the dedication of the teachers was<br />
their main reason for choosing private school. Instructors are<br />
both qualified and passionate about their subjects, often holding<br />
advanced degrees in their field. Also, small class sizes make<br />
teachers and staff more readily available for extra help or to<br />
further challenge individual students.<br />
A Safe Environment<br />
Private schools have reputations for maintaining high standards<br />
for discipline and respect. Lower staff-to-student ratios<br />
allow for more observation and control of school grounds. In<br />
the Fraser Institute study, around 72 percent of parents surveyed<br />
with children in the private school system strongly agreed<br />
that their school was safe, which greatly improves the quality<br />
of the child’s educational experience and achievement.<br />
Community Environment<br />
According to a Fraser Institute survey, 62 percent of parents<br />
with children in the private school system believe their school’s<br />
environment is motivating, supportive and nurturing. Former<br />
students repeatedly report that the friendships they formed in<br />
private school have lasted post-graduation. A strong sense of<br />
pride is often instilled in private school alumni, creating networking<br />
opportunities upon entering the workforce.<br />
10 <strong>Island</strong> <strong>Parent</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> <strong>Island</strong><strong>Parent</strong>.ca
Ample Resources<br />
Private schools offer resources to support student learning in<br />
the classroom, sports field, art studio and beyond. Resources<br />
and extracurriculars provide students with the opportunity to<br />
fully explore their interests and talents.<br />
Extracurricular Activities<br />
While academics remain the priority for most private<br />
schools, many also place a strong focus on a well-rounded<br />
education and encourage participation in extracurricular activities<br />
such as sports, music, arts or clubs. This involvement helps<br />
stimulate students in their studies, as noted in a study at Stanford<br />
University. Extracurricular activities can provide a muchneeded<br />
break from the stresses of academics, while developing<br />
skills and engaging in valuable social situations.<br />
Shared Educational Philosophy<br />
There are many approaches to education; finding a school or<br />
preschool that matches one’s own perspective can create a positive,<br />
productive academic experience for your child. Whether<br />
you prefer the student-directed learning method of Montessori<br />
or the arts-based curriculum of Waldorf or Reggio Emiliainspired<br />
school, choosing the right private school will not only<br />
allow students to thrive in a supportive environment and build<br />
independence, but also gain unique skills that fit their learning<br />
style.<br />
Development for Today’s and Tomorrow’s World<br />
Private schools go beyond offering the mandatory subjects<br />
required by provincial curriculum; they can offer students a<br />
wide range of specializations including arts programs, athletics,<br />
math, science. Private schools are responsible for producing<br />
many leaders in politics, business and society, with a history<br />
of adapting quickly to changes in technology and culture. And<br />
today, they are also sought by parents of kids with special<br />
needs such as behaviour, learning, developmental or physical<br />
disabilities.<br />
Our Kids Media is Canada’s Trusted Source for families who are looking<br />
for the best learning and living experiences for their children, themselves<br />
and their parents.<br />
Youth Mountain Biking Club<br />
With 20+ years of local trail knowledge<br />
and ride leadership experience, we’re<br />
able to recommend appropriate routes<br />
for your child. Our agenda is about fun,<br />
not competition. It’s a friendly mountain<br />
bike club, not a race (necessarily…)!<br />
teamfish.ca 250 885 5305<br />
teamfishbike@hotmail.com<br />
<strong>Island</strong><strong>Parent</strong>.ca<br />
<strong>Winter</strong> <strong>2023</strong> 11
Independent Schools<br />
&<br />
Education Guide<br />
Is Montessori School<br />
Right for Your Child?<br />
Have you ever considered sending your child to a Montessori<br />
school, but you’re just not sure what they have to offer?<br />
Here’s what you need to know.<br />
The “Montessori” method, founded in 1907, is an educational<br />
approach developed by Italian physician and educator<br />
Maria Montessori. Based on her extensive research with<br />
neurodiverse children, Montessori’s method is designed to teach<br />
children with an emphasis on independence, freedom within<br />
limits and a respect for a child’s natural psychological, physical<br />
and social development.<br />
Montessori caught the eye of Alexander Graham Bell, who<br />
opened Canada’s first Montessori school in Baddeck, N.S., in<br />
1912, long before it became popular in the 1960s.<br />
How does it work?<br />
At a Montessori school the teacher observes children, then<br />
uses certain resources in the classroom to present lessons to<br />
kids who are ready to learn. Lessons are given in sequence; children<br />
don’t move on to the next lesson until they have mastered<br />
12 <strong>Island</strong> <strong>Parent</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> <strong>Island</strong><strong>Parent</strong>.ca
the previous one. Once individual students<br />
are given a lesson, they can move<br />
freely around the classroom, working<br />
with classroom materials or on follow-up<br />
projects.<br />
What can you expect from a<br />
Montessori school?<br />
Preschool and kindergarten: Classrooms<br />
in a Montessori school for children<br />
from 3 to 6 years old are often<br />
called Children’s Houses, after her first<br />
Montessori school, the Casa dei Bambini<br />
in Rome in 1906. This level is also called<br />
“Primary.” The teacher usually presents<br />
activities; then the children depending on<br />
their interests may choose which skills<br />
they want to focus on. In early childhood,<br />
Montessori students learn through<br />
sensory-motor activities, working with<br />
materials to develop learning through all<br />
five senses: seeing, hearing, tasting, smelling,<br />
touching and movement.<br />
Elementary: Classrooms for this age<br />
are usually referred to as “Elementary”<br />
and can range in size from very small up<br />
to 30 or more children, typically staffed<br />
by a trained teacher and one or more assistants.<br />
In the elementary years, a child<br />
continues to organize thinking through<br />
work with the Montessori method; essentially<br />
beginning the application of<br />
knowledge to real-world experiences.<br />
Classroom materials and lessons include<br />
work in language, mathematics, history,<br />
the sciences, the arts and much<br />
more. Montessori students learn to think<br />
critically, work collaboratively and act<br />
boldly—a skill ideal for life in the 21st<br />
century.<br />
No matter which grade level your<br />
child belongs to, it is collectively known<br />
that all kinds of learning styles will be<br />
cultivated at Montessori school including:<br />
musical, bodily-kinaesthetic, spatial,<br />
interpersonal, intrapersonal, intuitive<br />
and the traditional linguistic and logicalmathematical<br />
(reading, writing and<br />
math).<br />
EVERY THIRD SUNDAY OF THE MONTH OCTOBER-JUNE<br />
HANDS-ON ACTIVITIES FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY<br />
aggv.ca |<br />
Learn a new sport or refine<br />
your skills: come join our<br />
rock climbing teams!<br />
Registration<br />
for recreational<br />
and competitive<br />
teams open now.<br />
All levels<br />
welcome!<br />
Ages 6–18.<br />
<strong>Parent</strong>sCanada.com provides expert<br />
parenting advice on everything from pregnancy,<br />
breastfeeding and baby sleep to kids nutrition<br />
and behaviour. Find a Montessori school for your<br />
child with <strong>Parent</strong>sCanada’s Private School Guide<br />
at parentscanada.com.<br />
Details and registration at climbtheboulders.com<br />
The Boulders Climbing Gym<br />
1627 Stelly’s Cross Road | Saanichton, BC | 250.544.0310<br />
<strong>Island</strong><strong>Parent</strong>.ca<br />
<strong>Winter</strong> <strong>2023</strong> 13
Independent Schools<br />
&<br />
Education Guide<br />
Private School Directory<br />
LOCATION GRADES PHONE WEBSITE<br />
Artemis Place Secondary Victoria 10–12 250-598-5183 artemisplace.org<br />
ArtsCalibre Academy Victoria K–12 250-382-3533 artscalibre.ca<br />
Imagine a School...where music, dance, theatre and visual arts are infused into all aspects of an<br />
outstanding curriculum. We did...and we created it!<br />
Brookes Westshore Victoria 4–2 250-929-0506 westshore.brookes.org<br />
Christ Church Cathedral School Victoria K–8 250-383-5125 cathedralschool.ca<br />
Discovery School Victoria 4–12 250-595-7765 discoveryschool.ca<br />
Glenlyon Norfolk School Victoria K–12 250-370-6821 mygns.ca<br />
An inclusive family-driven community whose members care about each other and the world around them.<br />
Dedicated teachers and staff deliver the International Baccalaureate Program in a co-educational environment.<br />
Lakeview Christian School Victoria K–9 250-658-5082 lcsvictoria.ca<br />
Lighthouse Christian Academy Victoria K–12 250-474-5311 lcawestshore.com<br />
Maria Montessori Academy Victoria K–12 250-479-4746 mariamontessoriacademy.net<br />
Oak and Orca Bioregional School Victoria K–12 250-383-6619 oakandorca.ca<br />
Pacific Christian School Victoria K–12 250-479-4532 pacificchristian.ca<br />
Pacific School of Innovation and Inquiry Victoria 9–12 778-433-3409 learningstorm.org<br />
Pacific School of Innovation and Inquiry is an independent school that employs a unique inquiry-based method<br />
as a means of offering a personalized, interdisciplinary learning experience for those in grades 9 through 12.<br />
Regent Christian Online Academy Victoria K–12 250-592-1759 rcoa.ca<br />
Selkirk Montessori School Victoria K–8 250-384-3414 selkirkmontessori.ca<br />
42 years of inspiring engaged citizens and lifelong learners. Book a tour to see what makes our contemporary<br />
Montessori leads to stand out learners. Call 250-384-3414 or email penny@selkirkmontessori.ca.<br />
St Andrew’s Regional High Victoria 8–12 250-479-1414 cisdv.bc.ca<br />
St Christopher’s Montessori Victoria K 250-595-3213 stcmontessori.ca<br />
St Joseph’s Catholic Victoria K–7 250-479-1232 cisdv.bc.ca<br />
St Margaret’s Victoria K–12 250-479-7171 stmarg.ca<br />
St Michaels University School Victoria K–12 250-592-2411 smus.ca<br />
SMUS is an international day and boarding school known for its excellence in academics, arts, athletics and outdoor<br />
education, with a focus on character development and preparing students for life.<br />
St Patrick’s School Victoria K–7 250-592-6713 cisdv.bc.ca<br />
VI School of Innovation and Inquiry Victoria 6–8 250-883-1667 visii.ca<br />
Victoria School for Ideal Education Victoria K–8 250-383-6654 vsie.ca<br />
West-Mont School Victoria K–12 250-474-2626 westmontschool.ca<br />
Shawnigan Lake Shawnigan Lake 8–12 250-743-5516 shawnigan.ca<br />
St John’s Preparatory Academy Shawnigan Lake 4–12 250-220-4888 stjohnsacademy.ca<br />
Salt Spring Centre School Salt Spring <strong>Island</strong> K–7 250-537-9130 saltspringcentreschool.ca<br />
Arrowsmith Independent School Qualicum Beach K–7 250-752-2722 arrowsmithlearning.ca<br />
Haahuupayak School Port Alberni K–7 250-724-5542 haahuupayak.com<br />
14 <strong>Island</strong> <strong>Parent</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> <strong>Island</strong><strong>Parent</strong>.ca
LOCATION GRADES PHONE WEBSITE<br />
John Paul II Catholic School Port Alberni K–7 250-723-0637 cisdv.bc.ca<br />
Discover Montessori School Nanaimo K–9 250-591-4450 public.dm-school.ca<br />
Nanaimo Christian School Nanaimo K–12 250-754-4512 ncsnanaimo.com<br />
The International High School @ VIU Nanaimo 11–12 250-740-6317 viu.ca<br />
Brentwood College Mill Bay 8–12 250-743-5521 brentwood.bc.ca<br />
Aspengrove School Lantzville K–12 250-390-2201 aspengroveschool.com<br />
Aspengrove School, an independent school for students aged Junior Kindergarten through Grade 12, is driven by a passion that<br />
allows children to play to their own individual strengths both socially and academically. Our students are inspired to be creative,<br />
curious and courageous, and are encouraged to become thoughtful global citizens.<br />
Stz’uminus Senior Secondary Ladysmith 8–12 250-245-6650 stzuminus.com<br />
Beachcombers Academy Fanny Bay K–7 778-427-4007 beachcombersschool.ca<br />
Duncan Christian School Duncan K–12 250-746-3654 duncanchristian.com<br />
Noorunissa Montessori Academy Duncan K–6 250-737-1119 intmontessori.ca<br />
Queen Margaret’s Duncan K–12 250-746-4185 qms.bc.ca<br />
QMS is an inclusive community where every student finds personal success. Nestled on 30 acres in the Cowichan<br />
Valley, QMS offers an exceptional education that builds confidence, character and compassion.<br />
Queen of Angels School Duncan K–9 250-746-5919 cisdv.bc.ca<br />
Sunrise Waldorf School Duncan K–8 250-743-7253 sunrisewaldorfschool.org<br />
Phil & Jennie Gaglardi Academy Comox K–12 250-339-1200 gaglardiacademy.ca<br />
Evergreen Independent School Cobble Hill K–7 250-743-2433 evergreenbc.net<br />
Nurture Your Natural Curiosity<br />
Guided Nature Outings & Events<br />
Learn about the fascinating natural and cultural history of the<br />
region from CRD Parks Naturalists and Cultural Programmers.<br />
> Educational and interactive guided walks and drop-in events<br />
> Free or low cost for a variety of ages and abilities<br />
Check out the full calendar at www.crd.bc.ca/parks<br />
Capital Regional District | Regional Parks<br />
@crd_bc |<br />
CapitalRegionalDistrict<br />
crdparks@crd.bc.ca | 250.478.3344<br />
<strong>Island</strong><strong>Parent</strong>.ca<br />
<strong>Winter</strong> <strong>2023</strong> 15
MOM’SPOV<br />
Perks of the Job<br />
See airplanes,<br />
seaplanes, helicopters<br />
and more at the<br />
BC Aviation Museum<br />
Learn about BC’s aviation<br />
history from early bush planes<br />
to bombers and beyond!<br />
Last summer I was asked by a friend<br />
if my daughter would like a dogwalking<br />
job. At only 11 years old,<br />
the job opportunities are slim, so I felt<br />
excited about this opportunity for her<br />
to learn about responsibility and money<br />
management. I hoped that as a bonus my<br />
daughter would experience the feeling of<br />
empowerment.<br />
When I realized how invested I was in<br />
the idea of her taking the job, it occurred<br />
I started thinking about my sales pitch<br />
and tried to think about what it was that<br />
my daughter really wants but doesn’t<br />
have. You would think that the list would<br />
be long based on the complaints we hear<br />
on a regular basis around our house:<br />
“there’s nothing to do” and “it’s so boring.”<br />
But the list was short. There was only<br />
one item on it. It was something that she<br />
had been asking for since she learned that<br />
Summer Hours, May 1 to Sept 30:<br />
10am to 4pm, Thurs through Tues<br />
<strong>Winter</strong> Hours, Oct 1 to Apr 30:<br />
11am to 3pm, Thurs through Tues<br />
For special days and events<br />
go to bcam.net.<br />
1910 Norseman Road, Sidney<br />
250-655-3300 | bcam.net<br />
to me that she may not see the same value<br />
in it. From her perspective, why would<br />
she even need a job? This is when I had<br />
to face the truth: because I have given my<br />
daughter everything, she has no reason<br />
to hustle.<br />
Scooters, rollerblades, bikes, trampoline<br />
… you name it, my kids have it all.<br />
Therein lies the problem: My kids want<br />
for nothing, which I suspected would<br />
also include a summer job.<br />
even nine-year-olds can have them: a cell<br />
phone.<br />
Trading a phone for a job seemed like<br />
a terrible idea on many levels. So I realized<br />
that I was going to have to pitch the<br />
job without any pre-arranged incentives.<br />
To my delight and surprise, when I<br />
asked her if she wanted the job, she enthusiastically<br />
agreed. I was blown away<br />
and curious to know what her motivation<br />
might be and when I asked her this,<br />
16 <strong>Island</strong> <strong>Parent</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> <strong>Island</strong><strong>Parent</strong>.ca
her response was “it will be fun” and “I<br />
can buy stuff.” Easier than I thought but<br />
questionable as to the longevity of the<br />
rewards.<br />
On her first day at work, she was<br />
picked up and taken straight to Starbucks.<br />
Venti frap-a-something in hand,<br />
she was driven around while picking up<br />
dogs. In that first two-hour shift, she<br />
made $20 cash and was treated to a $7<br />
drink.<br />
I returned home from my own job to<br />
find her thrilled and excited and eager to<br />
“work” again the next day. I was grateful<br />
that our friend had made our girl’s<br />
first day on the job fun, but it certainly<br />
didn’t mirror my own experiences of new<br />
employment.<br />
The next day, another Venti Starbucks<br />
and twenty bucks. And the same the day<br />
after that, and the day after that.<br />
I finally called our friend and expressed<br />
how generous it was of her to be treating<br />
our daughter to a drink every shift, but<br />
that she didn’t need to do it each time. At<br />
this rate, it was almost costing her money<br />
to have an employee. She agreed to at<br />
least tone it down to a Tall.<br />
I knew things had gone sideways when<br />
I started returning home from work to<br />
find that $20 bill and empty Starbucks<br />
cup abandoned on the counter. If the<br />
money was valuable, why was it lying<br />
around? And where was the responsibility<br />
and work ethic I was hoping<br />
my daughter would adopt? It certainly<br />
wasn’t in the unrinsed and unrecycled<br />
cup on my counter.<br />
I started to worry about what my<br />
daughter was learning about the workforce.<br />
So far, from her viewpoint, here<br />
were the big takeaways:<br />
1. Your boss can pick you up so that<br />
you never have to worry about getting<br />
yourself to work on time.<br />
2. Your boss treats you to an expensive<br />
beverage of your choosing every shift.<br />
3. You can get paid to do something<br />
that you aren’t willing to do in your own<br />
life (i.e. walk your own dog)<br />
I was relieved at the end of the summer<br />
when school resumed and the “job” fizzled<br />
out naturally. My daughter did save<br />
about half of the money she “earned”<br />
but not for anything specific. I can’t really<br />
say what she gained from the experience<br />
of her first job other than some fun<br />
time spent with some adorable dogs and<br />
a very skewed view of the workforce.<br />
My own 30 years in the workforce<br />
have never been as relaxed and as rewarding<br />
as what my daughter was lucky<br />
enough to experience, but maybe it’s better<br />
to know what is possible. There certainly<br />
is more of an emphasis on work/<br />
life balance these days.<br />
I had hoped that her first job would<br />
prepare her for the real world. Instead,<br />
I suspect she will get a rude awakening<br />
when she arrives at her first job and<br />
hands the boss her Starbucks order.<br />
Sarah Seitz is a working<br />
mother, wife and writer. She<br />
spends her free time cutting<br />
off crusts and uses good<br />
coffee and humour to get<br />
through the day.<br />
Family Day at the Legislature<br />
Please join us for free family friendly activities<br />
at the B.C. Parliament Buildings<br />
Monday, February 20, <strong>2023</strong><br />
9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.<br />
www.leg.bc.ca | tours@leg.bc.ca<br />
<strong>Island</strong><strong>Parent</strong>.ca<br />
<strong>Winter</strong> <strong>2023</strong> 17
FAMILY<br />
RESOURCE<br />
DIRECTORY<br />
The Family Resource<br />
Directory is designed<br />
to highlight the caring<br />
community that we are<br />
a part of. This directory<br />
showcases organizations<br />
and businesses that provide<br />
services and support for<br />
families and children.<br />
Navigate is an award-winning<br />
school, recognized nationally and<br />
internationally for our innovative<br />
approach to blended learning.<br />
We’ve implemented the new BC<br />
curriculum and built unique, flexible<br />
learning options for every student.<br />
This allows us to meet a diverse<br />
range of student needs, abilities<br />
and learning styles.<br />
Discover more at<br />
NavigateNIDES.com<br />
Thriving Roots<br />
Wilderness School<br />
Thriving Roots provides hands-on, wilderness<br />
education and counselling services for youth<br />
and adults. Our year-long programs and summer<br />
camps are immersive in nature, fostering<br />
connection to land and community through<br />
earth-based skills, play, music and more.<br />
thrivingroots.org info@thrivingroots.org<br />
PARENTING<br />
Reason to Celebrate<br />
My daughter’s preschool has a sacred<br />
ritual: every day a different kid gets<br />
to be Helper of the Day.<br />
My daughter talks about the Helper<br />
of the Day a lot—who it is, how they<br />
get to ring the bell for circle time, how<br />
they have a special badge to denote their<br />
preschool-royalty status.<br />
One day I pick her up and ask, “Who<br />
was the Helper of the Day today?”<br />
“I was,” she responds.<br />
I stop. Gasp. Crouch down with my<br />
arms open for a hug.<br />
“You were?!”<br />
But instead of giving me a hug, my<br />
four-year-old channels her inner fourteenyear-old<br />
and leaves me kneeling with my Watching my daughter spell her name<br />
Kids’ accomplishments are magical.<br />
arms open, and rolls her eyes.<br />
for the first time. Seeing that sly smile of<br />
It wasn’t the first time.<br />
pride as she stands on her own on the ice<br />
I know. But it’s still exciting.<br />
rink. Being disoriented when she washes<br />
She didn’t want my enthusiasm. Maybe her hands without needing a stool. It’s a<br />
she thought my reaction was overkill. world of firsts, or at least seconds, a time<br />
Maybe she thought my excitement wasn’t of measurable growth, of marveling at<br />
genuine. Or maybe she thought I was underestimating<br />
her by reacting too wildly is vastly different from the last. A time<br />
how each week, then month, then year<br />
to something she had already mastered. of growth charts marked in the kitchen,<br />
Whatever the reason for the eye roll, it of certificates from each two-month long<br />
got me thinking about how much I wish skating program, of preschool graduations.<br />
someone would give me positive reinforcements<br />
for my accomplishments. You In childhood, haircuts are sparkly,<br />
got the kid dressed and out the door? summer camps come with completion<br />
Applause! You made it to work on time? ribbons and each grandparent visit has<br />
Cheers! You made a dinner that wasn’t a ice-cream. Adulthood, on the other hand,<br />
la Kraft? Standing ovation! You decluttered<br />
some old clothes on Varage Sale? Of oh crap, I didn’t realize I had another<br />
is filled with who is going where today?<br />
Woop! You remembered to wake up at meeting now, of playing spot the new<br />
six am for ballet/jazz registration? I am wrinkle, of s@#$ my girls’ night out that<br />
so proud of you!<br />
was planned months in advance just got<br />
My daughter’s gotten pretty good at cancelled, yet again, but I’m actually<br />
her “thank yous,” but I can’t say I ever kinda relieved cause I could really use<br />
feel truly validated for making it through some Netflix and home-made nachos<br />
the daily grind. Part of it is likely that right now.<br />
the day-to-day work of being a parent I vividly remember the first time we left<br />
doesn’t produce accomplishments other the house after my daughter was born.<br />
than keeping your kids alive for another She was five days old and we walked<br />
day. There isn’t the nice bow of closure down to the Italian Bakery where a lovely<br />
that comes with pressing publish on a older woman coo-ed at her in just the<br />
blog post, sighing relief after an important<br />
meeting or even just logging off from that made me feel truly accomplished for<br />
right way and congratulated me in a way<br />
email at the end of the day. <strong>Parent</strong>ing is having brought a beautiful human into<br />
rewarded by hugs, “I like it when we’re the world.<br />
together mommy,” and kissing a passedout<br />
child once they are finally asleep and infant daughter by myself, I couldn’t<br />
I remember the first time I drove my<br />
looking deceivingly angelic. <strong>Parent</strong>s aren’t believe I could do it—it felt like how I<br />
usually on the receiving end of high fives. imagine paragliding to me—that I was<br />
18 <strong>Island</strong> <strong>Parent</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong><br />
<strong>Island</strong><strong>Parent</strong>.ca
flying high above the ordinary little<br />
people down below going about their<br />
average days. Some of these firsts keep<br />
coming but they are morphing all the<br />
while, the first daycare drop-off becomes<br />
preschool drop-off becomes kindergarten.<br />
The bedtime routine we finally got<br />
down stops working, and the white noise<br />
machine becomes a music box becomes<br />
reading Fancy Nancy twice in a row and<br />
making sure “tete” the teddy is at the<br />
foot of the bed.<br />
I look to parents of older kids as experts,<br />
as seniors when I’m a freshman.<br />
<strong>Parent</strong>ing is a weird mix of knowing<br />
some things really well but being at the<br />
precipice of the unknown. Being on a<br />
hike without a map, never knowing what<br />
will emerge around the corner. It’s exciting<br />
that things always change, but it’s<br />
also panic inducing. Suddenly my sevenstep<br />
bedtime routine just lost its power.<br />
Suddenly, she’s stopped saying “tete”<br />
and started saying “teddy.” Suddenly, her<br />
drawings of people include legs. After a<br />
toddlerhood of downing pepper slices,<br />
she’s asking me to pick them out of her<br />
lasagna. It’s a constant learning curve accompanied<br />
by the perpetual grief of losing<br />
a version of someone you love a little<br />
bit more with each passing day.<br />
When my daughter was a newborn,<br />
my midwife showed up as I hid in the<br />
bathroom and cried in my sleep deprived,<br />
sore-nippled state. When I came out, she<br />
simply looked at me and said, “this is<br />
hard as f***.”<br />
She was right.<br />
It is all hard and no one gives you a<br />
gold star for it. So tonight, after bedtime<br />
and before the next wake-up, pour<br />
yourself some wine as the dishes wait<br />
and cheers to making it through all of it.<br />
Each exhausting, heartwarming, frustrating,<br />
fleeting moment of it. Because you<br />
deserve a kneeled-down, arms wide open,<br />
Helper of the Day hug.<br />
You made it. You are making it. And<br />
that calls for one heck of a celebration.<br />
Julie Mais is a policy<br />
and communications professional<br />
in Victoria. She looks<br />
for beauty in the everyday<br />
through writing, photography<br />
and the outdoors. She<br />
lives in a messy, cheesefilled<br />
home with her husband and preschooler.<br />
Preschool to Grade 12<br />
Imagine a School…where music, dance, theatre and visual arts<br />
are infused into all aspects of an outstanding curriculum.<br />
v Preschool located at the beautiful Cedar Hill Recreation Centre<br />
v Comprehensive K-12 program consistently exceeds BC Curriculum<br />
v Excellent facilities, convenient locations throughout Victoria<br />
v Highly qualified, dedicated staff and low student/teacher ratios<br />
Visit our website, come to one of our Open Houses, or call us!<br />
www.ArtsCalibre.ca info@ArtsCalibre.ca 250.382.3533<br />
<strong>2023</strong><br />
Water to <strong>2023</strong><br />
Water to <strong>2023</strong><br />
Earth<br />
MARCH 22<br />
Month Earth<br />
- APRIL 22<br />
Water MARCH 22<br />
Month to Earth<br />
- APRIL 22<br />
Month<br />
MARCH 22<br />
Activities - APRIL and events<br />
22<br />
Activities to celebrate and events both<br />
Activities World and to celebrate Water events<br />
both Day<br />
to celebrate World and Earth<br />
both<br />
Water Day!<br />
World Water Day<br />
and and Earth Earth Day! Day!<br />
getinvolved.rdn.ca/team-watersmart<br />
getinvolved.rdn.ca/team-watersmart<br />
<strong>Island</strong><strong>Parent</strong>.ca<br />
<strong>Winter</strong> <strong>2023</strong> 19
EXPLORE<br />
50 Adventures in<br />
Pacific Rim National Park<br />
Visiting the West Coast Trail, Broken Group<br />
<strong>Island</strong>s or Long Beach? Here—from Pacific<br />
Rim National Park Reserve—is a bucket list of<br />
adventures to discover along the way. How<br />
many can you do?<br />
1. Watch a storm from the sunroom at the<br />
Kwisitis Visitor Centre.<br />
2. Listen to the sound of stones being rolled<br />
by waves at South Beach.<br />
3. Watch the sunrise at Grice Bay.<br />
4. Ride a cable car on the West Coast Trail.<br />
5. Listen for the cry of an osprey.<br />
6. Contemplate the landscape from the red<br />
chairs at Radar Hill.<br />
7. Count a flock of shorebirds.<br />
8. Measure a banana slug.<br />
9. Camp at one of the seven campsites in the<br />
Broken Group <strong>Island</strong>s.<br />
10. Go on a guided rainforest walk.<br />
11. Surf a wave at Wickaninnish Beach.<br />
12. Discover how Valencia Bluffs got their<br />
name.<br />
13. Visit the three sections of Pacific Rim National<br />
Park Reserve.<br />
14. Learn the Nuu-chah-nulth word for “black<br />
bear” at the Kwisitis Visitor Centre.<br />
15. Ride a bike down Long Beach.<br />
16. Run the Willowbrea Trail.<br />
17. Wade across Sandhill Creek at low tide.<br />
18. Count the great blue herons in the eelgrass<br />
at low tide at Grice Bay.<br />
19. Make an etching from an interpretive<br />
panel on the Nuu-chah-nulth Trail.<br />
20. Sit on the red chairs amongst the majestic<br />
trees on the Rainforest Trail.<br />
21. Volunteer for an invasive dune grass pull.<br />
22. Hitch a ride on a giant slug at the Kwisitis<br />
Visitor Centre.<br />
20 <strong>Island</strong> <strong>Parent</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> <strong>Island</strong><strong>Parent</strong>.ca
23. Locate Keeha Beach on a map.<br />
24. Paddle board around a bed of bull kelp.<br />
25. Attend an evening presentation at Green<br />
Point Theatre.<br />
26. Be CoastSmart and know before you go<br />
near the water at CoastSmart.ca<br />
27. Go on the “Track the Wild” guided hike.<br />
28. Visit the Tseshaht “first man” house post<br />
on Benson <strong>Island</strong> and learn about Tseshaht<br />
cultural history at Ts’ishaa.<br />
29. Identify the difference between a crow<br />
and a raven.<br />
30. Count the number of stairs down to Halfmoon<br />
Bay.<br />
31. Explore a tidal pool on a guided shoreline<br />
walk.<br />
32. Climb a ladder on the West Coast Trail.<br />
33. Use the Dune Explora App.<br />
34. Spot a flock of Whimbrel (giant bills) on<br />
the Grice Bay mudflats.<br />
35. Find the brass geological survey marker at<br />
the top of Radar Hill.<br />
36. Jump rope with a bull kelp.<br />
37. Look through Kwisitis Visitor Centre binoculars.<br />
38. Count the number of trees that are 500<br />
years or older on Schooner Cove Trail.<br />
39. Write your name in the sand at Long Beach.<br />
40. Take off your shoes and wade in Lost Shoe<br />
Creek.<br />
41. Touch a sea star at the Kwisitis Visitor<br />
Centre.<br />
42. Play hockey on the beach.<br />
43. Take a break on the red chairs at Valencia<br />
Bluffs on the West Coast Trail.<br />
44. Toast a marshmallow at your campsite at<br />
Green Point Campground.<br />
45. Find pelagic goose neck barnacles on drift<br />
logs on the beach.<br />
46. Look for signs of a garter snake in the<br />
sand dunes.<br />
47. Take a photo in the longhouse at Kwisitis<br />
Visitor Centre.<br />
48. Spot swimming swans in winter at Sandhill<br />
Creek or Grice Bay.<br />
49. Identify a shorepine tree.<br />
50. Find the derelict donkey engine on the<br />
West Coast Trail.<br />
For 100 more ideas, visit parks.canada.ca/<br />
pn-np/bc/pacificrim/activ/activ150.<br />
<strong>Island</strong><strong>Parent</strong>.ca<br />
<strong>Winter</strong> <strong>2023</strong> 21
NATURENOTES<br />
Making Nature Accessible to All<br />
We all know the benefits of<br />
getting outdoors and experiencing<br />
nature. Many studies<br />
show that time in nature reduces stress<br />
and anxiety, promotes calm, promotes<br />
healthy movement, can improve concentration,<br />
lowers the risk of heart disease<br />
and high blood pressure, etc, etc. The list<br />
goes on and on. Of course, we all should<br />
be getting outdoors and experiencing nature<br />
on a regular basis.<br />
Being in nature can be especially important<br />
for children who are experiencing<br />
challenges. Playing outdoors allows<br />
children freedom, exploration, friendship<br />
and fun. All children can and should experience<br />
time spent enjoying nature.<br />
Unfortunately enjoying nature isn’t as<br />
easy for some as it is for others. For people<br />
living with health, mobility, transportation,<br />
socio-economic and/or a variety<br />
of other challenges, getting into nature<br />
isn’t as easy as walking out the door or<br />
getting into the family car and heading<br />
to the park. Challenges can deter families<br />
and people from using what should be<br />
easily accessible. That is why many local<br />
parks and recreation departments are<br />
working to make their parks more accessible<br />
to everyone.<br />
Making a park more accessible can<br />
mean many things: it can mean looking<br />
at local transportation connections;<br />
building more accessible play structures<br />
and trails; offering introductory tours of<br />
parks; offering hikes with transportation<br />
included or partnering with other organizations<br />
to use their expertise. Making<br />
a park more accessible can also be as<br />
simple as communicating better to let the<br />
public know what is available or to show<br />
that there are ways to access a park or<br />
trail that may not be the typical way.<br />
Most newer play structures are now<br />
built with differing abilities in mind.<br />
Some are accessible to every ability, and<br />
many have components that allow children<br />
to play freely regardless of mobil-<br />
ity challenges. The same can be said for<br />
trails. There are trails and hikes all over<br />
Vancouver <strong>Island</strong> that are accessible: offering<br />
a flat grade, smooth path and tapping<br />
rails for visually impaired, among<br />
other amenities. The Lighthouse Country<br />
Regional Trail in the Regional District of<br />
Nanaimo is one of these, offering a 5km<br />
out and back fully accessible trail that<br />
meanders through the forest over bridges<br />
and around trees. This trail is popular<br />
with all ages and abilities and offers<br />
families a natural trail that can be easily<br />
walked or rolled by anyone.<br />
Taking a tour or park orientation session<br />
can help to reduce any stress and<br />
answer any questions you have about the<br />
park or trail. Many parks and recreation<br />
departments offer these types of activities,<br />
sometimes with staff and other times<br />
in partnership with others. Look into<br />
your local activity guide or call your local<br />
parks and recreation department to see<br />
what they have to offer.<br />
OUTDOOR-FOCUSED PRESCHOOL PROGRAMS IN SAANICH<br />
Full-year preschool registration for Sept. <strong>2023</strong>-2024 starts Saturday, Feb 4 at 6am. In-person only.<br />
Kiddie Capers<br />
Forest Classroom<br />
We are proud to offer this<br />
program in our outdoor forest<br />
classroom, with circle time,<br />
crafts, educational field trips, seasonal<br />
events and much more! Children learn<br />
through hands-on exploration, shelter<br />
building, forest play, science, painting,<br />
music, story time and more! Our goal is to<br />
prepare your child for kindergarten through<br />
structured activities in our outdoor nature<br />
environment. Minimum two days a week,<br />
may register up to four days a week.<br />
3-5yrs M-Th<br />
3-5yrs M-Th<br />
9–11am<br />
11:15am-1:15pm<br />
OPEN HOUSE SATURDAY, JANUARY 28<br />
9am–10am, Saanich Commonwealth Place<br />
Exploring Our<br />
World Licensed<br />
Preschool<br />
Come explore with us!<br />
Themes that are inspired by<br />
your child’s interests, with a focus on<br />
outdoor play, stories, science, arts and<br />
crafts, music and dance. We offer a<br />
developmentally appropriate, play-based<br />
program with an emphasis on the whole<br />
child’s development. This fosters growth<br />
in each child’s emotional, social and<br />
physical well-being.<br />
3-5yrs M, W, F<br />
3-5yrs Tu, Th<br />
9am–12pm<br />
9am-12pm<br />
OPEN HOUSE SATURDAY, JANUARY 28<br />
10:30–11:30am, Gordon Head Recreation Centre<br />
E.C.O. Educating<br />
Children Outside<br />
Connecting through<br />
nature-based full-year early<br />
childhood education will help<br />
foster a sense of wonder, curiosity<br />
and imagination as children experience and<br />
engage with the natural world around them.<br />
Emergent and play-based curriculum,<br />
ECO is a community partnership with<br />
Swan Lake Nature Sanctuary.<br />
4yrs M, W, F 9am–12pm<br />
3yrs Tu, Th 9am–12pm<br />
Spaces still<br />
available for<br />
Spring <strong>2023</strong><br />
OPEN HOUSE SUNDAY, JANUARY 29<br />
10:15–11:45am, Swan Lake (at Nature Sanctuary)<br />
Visit saanich.ca/preschool for more information<br />
PARKS, RECREATION<br />
& COMMUNITY SERVICES<br />
22 <strong>Island</strong> <strong>Parent</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> <strong>Island</strong><strong>Parent</strong>.ca
If transportation issues are what is<br />
holding you back from enjoying nature,<br />
there are solutions. Local parks and recreation<br />
centres are often on bus routes<br />
and can be accessed by the public. Busses<br />
often run close to or directly to parks and<br />
trails to make them more accessible and<br />
can be a fun mode of transport for young<br />
children with their caregivers. Look at<br />
your local transit area and see where busses<br />
run to see what you can access. For<br />
some of the harder to reach parks and<br />
trails, see if your recreation and parks<br />
department is offering transportation<br />
during their programs, or join a local<br />
group or school (many can be found via<br />
a quick google or social media search).<br />
Local groups sometimes offer rideshares<br />
or programs that include transportation.<br />
In addition to your local parks and<br />
recreation departments, there are many<br />
other resources within your communities<br />
that you can go to for help in accessing<br />
more natural areas. Child development<br />
centres and other local medical supply<br />
can have equipment that is available for<br />
rent and may have other resources.<br />
And always remember that even a<br />
little bit of nature works wonders: look<br />
out those windows, sit in the grass, feel<br />
the chill of the snow or splash in those<br />
puddles.<br />
Chrissie Finnie is a<br />
Recreation Coordinator,<br />
doing outdoor and parks<br />
programming in the Regional<br />
District of Nanaimo. In her<br />
spare time she loves getting<br />
out on the trails and into the<br />
mountains, skiing, running,<br />
hiking and exploring.<br />
rdn.bc.ca/parks and @RDNanaimo.<br />
Brighter<br />
Futures<br />
start at<br />
CATHEDRAL<br />
SCHOOL<br />
junior kindergarten<br />
kindergarten to grade 5<br />
middle school grade 6-8<br />
before & after school care<br />
renowned chorister program<br />
new strings program<br />
Christmas, spring & summer day camps<br />
Contact us for a personal consultation<br />
cathedralschool.ca 250.383.5125<br />
affordable<br />
tuition & financial<br />
assistance available<br />
extracurricular<br />
programs<br />
building<br />
community<br />
leaders<br />
an intimate<br />
and supportive<br />
learning<br />
environment<br />
an inclusive<br />
welcoming<br />
community<br />
<strong>Island</strong><strong>Parent</strong>.ca<br />
<strong>Winter</strong> <strong>2023</strong> 23
PLAY<br />
Raising<br />
Active Kids<br />
In today’s world, it can be challenging<br />
to raise kids who like and want to<br />
move. But don’t despair, there’s a recipe<br />
to help you raise kids who will like (if<br />
not love) to move. And as we know,<br />
when kids love doing something, they<br />
keep doing it.<br />
A Super Healthy “Smoothie”<br />
for Kids<br />
The recipe to get kids moving is to<br />
serve them a daily dose of three ingredients:<br />
skills, confidence, and the love<br />
of movement. When you “blend” these<br />
three ingredients, they become a “supersmoothie”<br />
that kids can’t resist. We call<br />
this powerful recipe “physical literacy.”<br />
Like all healthy food, the power of<br />
this blend comes from the goodness of<br />
its ingredients. Good ingredients make<br />
you healthy from the inside-out. Kale,<br />
for example, the superfood of the moment,<br />
is a “nutrition superstar” because<br />
it’s full of vitamins A, B6, K and C, and<br />
full of cancer-fighting ingredients.<br />
And that’s what the three ingredients<br />
of physical literacy do to kids’ bodies<br />
and brains: it gets them healthy from the<br />
inside-out. But there’s more. Each one of<br />
the three ingredients amplifies the goodness<br />
of the other ingredients.<br />
How Physical Literacy Works<br />
Inside Your Child’s Body and<br />
Brain<br />
Imagine you’re sitting on the living<br />
room floor with your two-year-old. Your<br />
child is watching you play with a foam<br />
ball. You smile and laugh as you throw<br />
the soft ball against the wall and catch it<br />
after it bounces back to you. Your child<br />
can’t take her eyes away from you.<br />
And then you turn to your child and<br />
give them the spongy ball. Your child<br />
smiles, looks up at you and then throws<br />
the ball too. The ball flies sideways. You<br />
laugh, and so does your child.<br />
With kind words and a smile, you<br />
praise your child’s effort (“Well done!”).<br />
24 <strong>Island</strong> <strong>Parent</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> <strong>Island</strong><strong>Parent</strong>.ca
From preschool<br />
to grade 8, Selkirk<br />
Montessori School is<br />
a diverse and caring<br />
community offering<br />
a contemporary<br />
Montessori approach<br />
from exceptional<br />
educators to inspire<br />
empowered, engaged<br />
students.<br />
Call 250-384-3414 or email<br />
penny@selkirkmontessori.ca<br />
to set up a tour of our<br />
beautiful facility.<br />
You watch as your toddler fetches the ball and throws it and<br />
laughs again.<br />
As your child throws the ball, magic is taking place in<br />
their young brain. As they watch the ball fly, your toddler’s<br />
brain engages, adapts and makes new connections. As all of<br />
this brain activity is taking place, your child is developing<br />
the skill of throwing.<br />
Magic also takes place when you react with kind and constructive<br />
words. Every time you recognize how hard your<br />
child is trying, or how much they are learning, your child’s<br />
confidence in their ability to throw a ball grows.<br />
The best part of this simple game is the addictive joy that<br />
fills both your child and you. Joy leads your child to throw<br />
the ball, over and over. As they throw, they get better at it.<br />
Their confidence grows and they experience more pleasure,<br />
which leads them to throw the ball some more. In that moment,<br />
your child falls in love with throwing a ball.<br />
Active for Life is a Canadian not-for-profit social initiative founded<br />
by B2ten. We are a national initiative created to help parents give their<br />
children the right start in life through the development of physical literacy.<br />
activeforlife.com.<br />
<strong>Island</strong><strong>Parent</strong>.ca<br />
<strong>Winter</strong> <strong>2023</strong> 25
WHAT’SFORDINNER<br />
Wholesome<br />
Dinners in<br />
a Hurry!<br />
We’ve all had it happen to us. Those nights where we<br />
forgot to plan for dinner, ran out of time or didn’t<br />
have a chance to pick up groceries. While takeout is<br />
an option, it isn’t really that quick, easy or healthy. You have<br />
to figure out how long will it take to get your order. The choice<br />
between going to pick it up or wait for it to be delivered.<br />
Instant dinners and fast food are high in salt, sugar, carbs<br />
and trans fats. Low in everything we need for a wholesome<br />
diet, namely vegetables and whole grains.<br />
Here are three meals that truly take only 30 minutes to<br />
make. They are made with pantry staples so you can turn to<br />
them no matter what else is going on in your busy day. Best of<br />
all, they are SIMPLE. So you can take a deep breath at the end<br />
of a busy day and enjoy a healthy meal.<br />
Super Nachos<br />
Homemade nachos are a great way to sneak in extra vegetables and<br />
protein. The refried bean “sauce” is what makes these nachos super! It<br />
also is a great way of hiding all those extra vegetables.<br />
5 spring onions 1 green pepper<br />
1 red pepper 3 Roma tomatoes<br />
1 bag of corn chips 1 can of refried beans<br />
1 cup of water 2 to 3 cups of grated cheese<br />
Salsa, guacamole and sour cream<br />
Preheat the oven to 400˚F.<br />
Finely slice the spring onions. Dice the peppers. Slice the Roma tomatoes<br />
in half. Remove the seeds, then dice the tomato flesh.<br />
Spread the corn chips out on a rimmed baking sheet. Cover with the<br />
vegetables. Pop the baking sheet in the oven for 7 minutes, to lightly<br />
cook the vegetables, while you prepare the refried bean sauce.<br />
Scrape the refried beans out into a bowl. Add 1 cup of boiling water<br />
and stir to mix thoroughly. It should be a thick, white sauce-like consistency.<br />
You may need to add more water, depending on the consistency<br />
of the refried beans.<br />
Pull the corn chips out of the oven. Spread the refried bean sauce<br />
over the whole sheet. It doesn’t need to be in an even thin layer. The<br />
sauce softens the corn chips, so it’s actually nice to have some chips<br />
without the refried beans so they are crunchy.<br />
Cover the whole baking tray in cheese. Pop the baking sheet under a<br />
broiler, and cook until the cheese is melted, about 5 minutes.<br />
Serve immediately with salsa, guacamole and sour cream.<br />
Veggie-Packed Frittata<br />
Though eggs are thought of as breakfast, there’s no reason not to make<br />
them for dinner! Packed with protein and quick to make, they are the<br />
perfect go-to dinner. Try fried egg sandwiches or scrambled eggs on<br />
toast with a salad.<br />
This particular dish is a cross between a traditional frittata and a<br />
quiche. It skips the added milk so that it cooks up quicker. It’s a simplified<br />
version that makes it a perfect stress-free dinner.<br />
1 small onion 1 red pepper<br />
1 small zucchini 1 Tbsp butter<br />
8 eggs 3 ⁄4 tsp salt<br />
1⁄4 tsp ground black pepper 1⁄2 cup grated cheddar cheese<br />
Preheat the oven to 375˚F.<br />
Finely dice the onion and pepper. Grate or finely slice the zucchini.<br />
I find grated zucchini tends to disappear in dishes, making it more kidfriendly.<br />
Heat the butter in a large, oven-safe frying pan. Add the vegetables<br />
and sauté for 5 minutes, until softened. Remove from the heat.<br />
Beat the eggs, salt and pepper together in a small bowl.<br />
Pour the eggs over top of the cooked vegetables, in the hot frying<br />
pan. Stir once to make sure everything is evenly mixed. Top with the<br />
grated cheese.<br />
Place the frying pan in the oven and bake for 20 to 30 minutes, until<br />
the cheese is melted and the eggs are set. Serve immediately with<br />
slices of toast.<br />
Emillie Parrish loves having adventures with her<br />
two busy children. You can find more of her recipes<br />
in her recently released cookbook Fermenting Made<br />
Simple. fermentingforfoodies.com<br />
26 <strong>Island</strong> <strong>Parent</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> <strong>Island</strong><strong>Parent</strong>.ca
Carrot Almond Soup<br />
When you’re juggling work and children,<br />
cooking dinner becomes a chore that takes<br />
away from spending time with your kids. This<br />
soup is the perfect solution for that. Why? Because<br />
there’s very little chopping. Seriously!<br />
Everything is pureed at the end, so there’s<br />
no need to slice or dice. Just quarter those<br />
onions and you’re done!<br />
2 onions<br />
6 carrots<br />
2 cloves of garlic<br />
5 cups of water<br />
1 Tbsp bullion powder (or one cube)<br />
1 bunch each parsley and cilantro<br />
1 cup ground almonds (almond meal)<br />
1⁄2 tsp salt, to taste<br />
Peel and quarter the onions. Roughly chop<br />
the carrots. Peel the garlic.<br />
Place the vegetables in a soup pot with the<br />
water and bullion cube.<br />
Wash the parsley and cilantro. Tear off<br />
about 1 ⁄4 cup of leaves for a garnish. Then put<br />
the whole bunch, stems and all, into the soup<br />
pot.<br />
Bring to a boil, reduce the heat and simmer<br />
until the carrots are soft, about 20 minutes.<br />
Puree the soup (including the parsley and<br />
cilantro stems). I find this easiest with a stick<br />
blender, but you can do it by moving it to a<br />
regular blender in batches. Stir in the ground<br />
almonds and salt. Taste, and add more salt if<br />
needed.<br />
Serve with a slice of buttered bread and a<br />
garnish of fresh parsley and cilantro.<br />
<strong>Island</strong><strong>Parent</strong>.ca<br />
<strong>Winter</strong> <strong>2023</strong> 27
PLAY<br />
Make the Most of a<br />
Trip to the Museum<br />
The sun isn’t up yet when my threeyear-old<br />
runs into my room. He<br />
hands me Little Bear and Marshall to<br />
give me the false hope that this morning<br />
he might actually fall asleep then climbs<br />
up into the bed and takes over my pillow<br />
before bouncing up and down.<br />
“What we doing today Mommy?”<br />
I look up at him and admit defeat. “I<br />
was thinking we could go to the museum.”<br />
“Yay!” He hops back off the bed and<br />
b-lines for the door. “Ready!” he calls as<br />
he bounds down the stairs.<br />
When I first had a child, I was pretty<br />
nervous about taking him to art galleries<br />
or museums or anything that involved<br />
walking around the halls and staring at<br />
exhibits. But I loved museum and gallery<br />
visits and didn’t want to give that up.<br />
Now that I’m three kids and countless<br />
museum and art gallery trips in, I thought<br />
I’d share what I’ve learned to make the<br />
experience enjoyable for everyone.<br />
Be prepared. My son is usually pretty<br />
happy to run out the door in his pajamas,<br />
but I like to take some time to get ready<br />
so we can set ourselves up for a good day.<br />
For starters, I pack a lot of snacks. My<br />
kids are hungry after running or crawling<br />
through the exhibits. Food isn’t allowed<br />
in most exhibits, so we find somewhere<br />
outside the exhibit area where they can<br />
eat their snacks. We like to eat food<br />
twice: once right when we arrive, and<br />
then again after we’ve had a chance to<br />
explore.<br />
We also take some time to go over the<br />
ground rules. Like no yelling, being careful<br />
with the exhibits they’re allowed to<br />
touch, and sticking together as a group.<br />
Finally, I take a few moments to plan<br />
our route when we get there. Like I said,<br />
when we get to the museum, we usually<br />
have a snack, then we tour the museum<br />
before sitting down for our second snack,<br />
and then we finish off any of the other<br />
exhibits we’ve missed.<br />
Go when it’s quieter. It’s not always<br />
possible, but if you can, try to go when<br />
it’s a bit quieter. It’s easier to keep track<br />
of roaming children when there are less<br />
people milling about. You also won’t<br />
have to worry about feeling like your<br />
children are being disruptive and ruining<br />
someone else’s enjoyment of the museum,<br />
Junior Paleontology<br />
We believe that hands-on, curiosity<br />
led experience is the best way to<br />
cultivate a lifelong love of science!<br />
Our Junior Paleontology programs<br />
give your child the opportunity to<br />
explore natural sciences in a whole<br />
new way, with learning, exploration<br />
and play mixed together.<br />
Upcoming programs include multi-day<br />
camps for 8–10 and 11–14 year olds<br />
running March 21, 22 and 23 from 5–7pm.<br />
For our younger scientists in training,<br />
Prehistoric Preschool welcomes 3–5<br />
year olds and their parent or guardian<br />
for 45 minutes adventuring in a<br />
prehistoric wonderland. Prehistoric<br />
Preschool runs the third Sunday o<br />
each month from 9–9:45am.<br />
Details and registration available on our website:<br />
dinolabinc.ca<br />
28 <strong>Island</strong> <strong>Parent</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> <strong>Island</strong><strong>Parent</strong>.ca
and anything that prevents extra mom<br />
guilt is a plus.<br />
Tour at a toddler’s pace. You will be<br />
exploring the museum at a toddler’s pace,<br />
so plan to be there a while (hence all the<br />
snacks you’re bringing). But that doesn’t<br />
mean they’ll toddle slowly from one<br />
place to the next letting you read every<br />
sign you pass. Sometimes they will stop<br />
when there are things to play with, but<br />
other times they’ll simply rush from one<br />
thing to the next.<br />
Side note, if you actually do want to<br />
read something or look closely at one<br />
exhibit that your kids have decided isn’t<br />
worth their time, remind your children<br />
that they agreed to stay close to you. Just<br />
remember to stay close to them if they<br />
want to spend more time than you would<br />
like to at a different exhibit.<br />
Don’t overstay your welcome. Sometimes,<br />
it’s just not a good day to be at<br />
a museum. The last time we went my<br />
youngest did not nap on my back like<br />
I hoped he would, and he desperately<br />
needed a nap. We were also with a small<br />
group of other toddlers and preschoolers<br />
and we knew we were quickly approaching<br />
their naptime too, which meant no<br />
amount of snacks would stop the crying<br />
once it started. So we hurried through the<br />
last exhibit to get them out and on the<br />
way home before the tears began to fall.<br />
It might not always be the perfect<br />
experience you’re hoping for, but it probably<br />
won’t be the horror story you’re<br />
imagining either. Just remember, with a<br />
bit of preparation, you really can enjoy<br />
a trip to the museum with your young<br />
children. So the next time they wake you<br />
up far too early to ask what you’re doing<br />
that day, why not say “I was thinking we<br />
could go to the museum?”<br />
Christina Van<br />
Starkenburg lives in<br />
Victoria with her husband,<br />
children and cat. She is the<br />
author of One Tiny Turtle:<br />
A Story You Can Colour<br />
and many articles. To read more of her work<br />
and learn about her upcoming books visit<br />
christinavanstarkenburg.com. Facebook:<br />
facebook.com/christinavanstarkenburg<br />
and Twitter: @Christina_VanS.<br />
Congratulations<br />
to the<br />
Jeffery Family<br />
(Erin, Steve, Halle 8<br />
& Gavin 5) on being<br />
the winners of a<br />
Nintendo Switch<br />
in <strong>Island</strong> <strong>Parent</strong><br />
Family Favourites.<br />
St. Christopher’s Montessori School<br />
Offering an enriched<br />
and nurturing<br />
Montessori program<br />
Competitively priced<br />
independent school education<br />
Half day for 3 & 4 year olds<br />
Full day kindergarten<br />
SPACES AVAILABLE<br />
stcmontessori.ca 250-595-3213<br />
<strong>Island</strong><strong>Parent</strong>.ca<br />
<strong>Winter</strong> <strong>2023</strong> 29
PLAY<br />
GREATER VICTORIA<br />
Spring Prelude at Butchart Gardens<br />
From February 6 to mid-March, The Blue Poppy Restaurant will<br />
be transformed into an amazing indoor spring display with paths<br />
lined by flowering shrubs, trees and thousands of bulbs. Outside,<br />
enjoy the solitude winter brings and take in the subtle beauty of<br />
the shrubs, trees and flowers, from delicate snowdrops to lush<br />
hellebore.<br />
Free Family Day Events in Courtenay<br />
COMOX VALLEY<br />
This Family Day (February 20) bring the entire family to totally<br />
free activities happening at two locations! The LINC Youth Centre<br />
offers ping pong, pool tables, outdoor skateboarding, karaoke,<br />
and more between 11am and 2pm. While the Lewis Centre offers<br />
more free family games and activities between 10am to 4pm.<br />
courtenay.ca/EN/meta/events/events-list/<br />
recreation/70037.html<br />
COWICHAN VALLEY<br />
Pacific Rim Whale Festival<br />
The Pacific Rim Whale Festival from March 17–25 is an annual<br />
event celebrating the return of Pacific Grey Whales to the west<br />
coast of Vancouver <strong>Island</strong> on their Northern migration route.<br />
The week-long festival hosts a number of fun events throughout<br />
Tofino, Ucluelet and the Pacific Rim National Park Reserve. For a<br />
calendar of events, visit pacificrimwhalefestival.com.<br />
Live Nation Presents: RAFFI<br />
Bring the whole family to this all ages show at the Cowichan<br />
Performing Arts Theatre on February 18 to hear the best of Raffi.<br />
Sing along to old songs and learn some new songs. All ticket<br />
proceeds go to Raffi’s own children’s foundation—The Centre<br />
for Child Honouring.<br />
cowichanpac.ca/event/raffi-<strong>2023</strong>-02-18<br />
TOFINO/UCLUELET<br />
Need help with the Affordable Child Care Benefit?<br />
Looking for child care? Taking care of children?<br />
Need child care training?<br />
Call your local CCRR for free referrals and resources.<br />
Victoria & Gulf <strong>Island</strong>s: 250-382-7000<br />
Sooke: 250-642-5152 ext 239 West Shore: 250-940-4882<br />
Cowichan Valley: 250-746-4135 local 231<br />
PacificCare (Ladysmith North): 250-756-2022 or 1-888-480-2273<br />
gov.bc.ca/ChildCareResourceReferralCentres<br />
Your community’s best source of<br />
child care information and resources.<br />
Funding for the CCRR is provided by the province of B.C.<br />
30 <strong>Island</strong> <strong>Parent</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> <strong>Island</strong><strong>Parent</strong>.ca
PRESCHOOL&CHILDCAREDIRECTORY<br />
v Comprehensive programs for<br />
Preschool through Grade 11<br />
v Delivering academic excellence through<br />
music, dance, drama and visual arts<br />
v Outstanding educators,<br />
locations and facilities<br />
www.ArtsCalibre.ca 250.382.3533<br />
OPENING<br />
September<br />
2022<br />
ENROLL<br />
TODAY!<br />
Come Learn & Grow with Us!<br />
FULL TIME 3–5 DAYCARE<br />
PART TIME PRESCOOL<br />
BEFORE & AFTER SCHOOL CARE<br />
Cloverdale Childcare Society<br />
Vic West Site<br />
at Vic West Elementary School<br />
cloverdalechildcare.com<br />
250.995.1766 cloverdale@shawbiz.ca<br />
Christ Church Cathedral Childcare<br />
& Jr. Kindergarten..................250-383-5132<br />
ECE and specialist teachers provide an<br />
outstanding all day licensed program for<br />
2.5–5 year olds at our Fairfield and<br />
Gordon Head locations.<br />
cathedralschool.ca<br />
Pre-School<br />
Junior Kindergarten<br />
PacificChristian.ca<br />
250-479-4532<br />
Educational Excellence to the Glory of God<br />
Licensed child care facility with spots available for children<br />
aged 3-5 years. Contact us to book a tour today!<br />
Victoria Social Innovation Centre: 1004 North Park St<br />
littlephoenixchildcare.ca<br />
director@littlephoenixchildcare.ca 778-269-2273<br />
Ready Set Grow Preschool.....250-472-1530<br />
Join our learning through play preschool located<br />
in Hillcrest Elem. Our caring ECEs offer<br />
an enriched Program for 3-4 hour, 2-5 days a<br />
week and help with kindergarten transition.<br />
heoscmanager@gmail.com<br />
SEEDLINGS<br />
Forest Education<br />
Where nature becomes the Teacher!<br />
Seedlings Forest Education is a Nature based program<br />
that includes After School Care, Nature Preschool, <strong>Parent</strong><br />
Workshops, Saturday Seedlings, Summer Camps and more!<br />
250-880-0660 seedlingsforesteducation.com<br />
St. Christopher’s Montessori School<br />
Offering an enriched and<br />
nurturing Montessori program<br />
Competitively priced independent<br />
school education<br />
Half day for 3 & 4 year olds<br />
Full day kindergarten<br />
stcmontessori.ca 250-595-3213<br />
Nestled on 4 acres of lush west coast forest, our Award<br />
winning, Nature based program will not disappoint!<br />
While firmly embracing the Reggio-Emila (Italy) Philosophy our<br />
dedicated team of educators use the environment as the third<br />
teacher as we encourage your child throughout their day.<br />
Our purpose built facilities have been handmade using the<br />
trees from our forest. Come take a virtual tour on our website!<br />
lexieslittlebears.ca Waitlist: 250-590-3603<br />
BC Award of Excellence in Childcare & Prime Minister’s Award of Excellence in Early Childhood Education.<br />
<strong>Island</strong><strong>Parent</strong>.ca<br />
<strong>Winter</strong> <strong>2023</strong> 31
BUSINESSES<br />
YOUNEEDTOKNOW<br />
CUTITOUT!<br />
These local businesses are family-focused and<br />
committed to our community and helping you.<br />
P iano Lessons<br />
for your child or teen<br />
in your home<br />
www.musicalia.ca<br />
250-888-2432<br />
Serving Oak Bay and communities close by<br />
FREE services are open to ALL single<br />
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• Market Day – Weekly Food Support<br />
• Free Clothing Room<br />
• 1-1 Counselling & Coaching<br />
• Support Groups & Courses<br />
250-385-1114 | 1-Up.ca<br />
Tired of packing lunches? Try a<br />
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How-It-Works<br />
Setting<br />
Boundaries<br />
Interpersonal boundaries may be defined as invisible lines,<br />
or “bubbles,” which separate people or groups of people.<br />
A healthy family is one in which each member can be<br />
loved and be himself or herself at the same time. Establishing<br />
boundaries begins with establishing family values. The Golden<br />
Rule is the basic value of all cultures: Treat others the way<br />
you would like them to treat you. Boundaries are essential for<br />
healthy families. Within the safety of boundaries established<br />
by the parents, a child can develop his own sense of self. Because<br />
that self has been protected by boundaries, the child can<br />
feel he is loved for himself, and can love others while respecting<br />
their right to be who they are and make their own choices.<br />
As children are naturally egocentric, they have to be taught<br />
where others’ boundaries are. A two-year-old may not know<br />
he is actually causing pain to the person he hits; he only knows<br />
that he gets a reaction. Children often don’t understand the<br />
impact their behaviour has on a friend at school when they<br />
tease them. Similarly, a teenager may have no idea of how<br />
stressful it is when she adds to an adult’s work load; she has to<br />
be taught.<br />
Limits are statements of people’s boundaries. It is not “selfish”<br />
of a parent to set limits for a child around respecting<br />
the parent’s own needs: for example, the need for sleep, or<br />
the need to not have to clean up all the time, or the need for<br />
some time to herself. These limits teach the child about others’<br />
boundaries and about the Golden Rule.<br />
As children older, you can establish family values which<br />
flow out of the Golden Rule, such as respect for persons,<br />
respect for others’ property, respect for body privacy, kindness<br />
to animals. Sometimes limits need to be enforced with<br />
consequences. However, empathy training (helping kids think<br />
through what it must be like for the person who has been<br />
harmed) is much more effective than scolding or punishing a<br />
child when he or she harms someone. It also helps to let the<br />
child make amends if she feels truly sorry.<br />
Children learn most from our example, and they learn<br />
about boundaries when their boundaries are respected by us,<br />
and when we insist that other people respect their and our<br />
boundaries.<br />
Dr. Allison Rees is a parent educator, counsellor<br />
and coach at LIFE Seminars (Living in Families<br />
Effectively), lifeseminars.com.<br />
32 <strong>Island</strong> <strong>Parent</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong><br />
<strong>Island</strong><strong>Parent</strong>.ca
&<br />
TWEENS TEENS<br />
Vol V, Ed I<br />
Job Search<br />
How to Help Your Teen<br />
Develop Networking Skills<br />
5 Ways to Get<br />
Involved with<br />
VOLUNTEERING<br />
30<br />
Things to Do<br />
with Your Teen
30 Things<br />
to Do with<br />
Your Teen<br />
…that won’t bore them to tears or scare you to death<br />
Peruse Music Stores for Old Records<br />
and Reminisce. Okay, you might not<br />
want to reminisce too much, but chances<br />
are both you and your teen(s) will have<br />
a blast searching through the long-forgotten-but-then-revived<br />
LPs. Seeing the<br />
price of these collectibles now will make<br />
you—and your kids—wish you’d hung<br />
on to your old N’Sync and Spice Girls<br />
records. Or not.<br />
Embark on a Stand-Up Paddle Tour<br />
of the Inner Harbour. Learn the basics<br />
of stand-up paddle-boarding in the Inner<br />
Harbour during a 3-hour introductory<br />
course at Ocean River Adventures<br />
(oceanriveradventures.com) that will<br />
teach you the Hawaiian cultural history<br />
of stand-up paddle-boarding, the differences<br />
between board and equipment<br />
styles, and how to manoeuvre your paddle-board<br />
using different strokes.<br />
Join a Running Clinic Together and<br />
Enter a Race. Your local community<br />
centre, along with various Frontrunners<br />
(frontrunners.ca) and Running Room<br />
(runningroom.com) stores offer Learn to<br />
Run programs that will have you running<br />
a 5km or 10km in no time. Well, in 10 to<br />
12 weeks. At the weekly sessions, you’ll<br />
learn all you need to know about running<br />
in all kinds of weather, biomechanics,<br />
nutrition, goal setting, injury prevention,<br />
motivation, pacing and more. Classes<br />
usually start with a 20 to 30-minute<br />
group seminar followed by a group run.<br />
Practice Your Swing at a Driving<br />
Range. Not enough time for a full game?<br />
No problem. Improve your long ball<br />
drive, iron play, or wedge shots—oh,<br />
okay…just swing really hard—and<br />
keep your game up to par at one of<br />
the <strong>Island</strong> driving ranges. As Arnold<br />
Palmer says: “The more I practice, the<br />
luckier I get.” For a list of ranges, visit<br />
golfvancouverisland.ca.<br />
Try Climbing. Take the $25 “Taste<br />
Test” at Crag X and sample climbing in<br />
an indoor gym. There is no safety system<br />
instruction during the Taste Test, just<br />
climbing. Staff manage all your safety<br />
systems for the one-hour visit. After<br />
starting on some easier routes, you’ll get<br />
a chance to push your limits on the more<br />
advanced terrain. No experience is required.<br />
cragx.ca.<br />
Hang 10 in Tofino. As beautiful in<br />
summer as winter—with water temperatures<br />
that vary only between 1-2˚—Tofino<br />
is the perfect place to learn to surf.<br />
For a list of lessons, visit tourismtofino.<br />
com.<br />
Go Ziplining. If ziplining by daylight<br />
isn’t scary enough, try the full-moon zip<br />
at Adrenaline in Sooke (adrenalinezip.<br />
com). Or in Nanaimo at WildPlay (wildplay.com),<br />
try two flights of 91 and 182<br />
metres, spanning the entire length of the<br />
park.<br />
Build Something Together. A go-kart,<br />
a skimboard, a skateboard ramp, a chicken<br />
coop. Find plans for almost anything<br />
on YouTube.<br />
Get Matching Tattoos. Haha. Okay<br />
not likely, but worth the laugh, watching<br />
your teen squirm at the thought. So, too,<br />
34 <strong>Island</strong> <strong>Parent</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> <strong>Island</strong><strong>Parent</strong>.ca
would be choosing a mutually-agreeable<br />
design. For ideas, google “Matching Tattoos.”<br />
Go, Go, Go Go-karting. See if you can<br />
keep up with your teen before tripping<br />
the remote shut-off switch. In Comox<br />
Valley, saratogaracing.ca.<br />
Write a Blueprint for the Perfect<br />
Day and then turn it into a reality. Or Go<br />
50/50 and have your teen plan one half<br />
of the day while you plan the other half.<br />
Then surprise each other with your plans.<br />
Explore a New Area Together—even<br />
if it’s just a new neighbourhood. If you’re<br />
mobile, drive to another community<br />
on the <strong>Island</strong> and poke around. For an<br />
added activity, research your destination<br />
beforehand to determine some must-sees.<br />
Recreate Family Photos. For inspiration,<br />
visit then-and-now-photos.tumblr.<br />
com. Or, if you have absentee family<br />
members, make a family collage or photo<br />
album instead. Too often, in this day of<br />
digital photographs, shots stay stuck on<br />
cellphones or in cameras and never make<br />
it into a photo album. Kids, whatever<br />
their ages, love looking at old family<br />
photos. Make them accessible and enlist<br />
their help in the process.<br />
Go Out for Dinner Together to a place<br />
that serves a type of food that neither of<br />
you have tried before. Try Tibetan, maybe,<br />
or Caribbean, Moroccan or Creole.<br />
Create Your Own Sandwich at Red<br />
Barn Market. Better yet, hike to the top<br />
of Mt. Work first to work up an appetite<br />
then head to the West Saanich Road Red<br />
Barn (other locations include Vanalman,<br />
Mattick’s Farm, Latoria Walk and Oak<br />
Bay). Teen-appetite tested and approved.<br />
Visit the Royal BC Museum and then<br />
See an IMAX Movie. From documentaries<br />
to blockbusters, IMAX fits all ages.<br />
Pretend to be Tourists. Sure the official<br />
version of Tourist in Your Own<br />
Home Town won’t be back until 2024,<br />
but don’t fret. Re-create a version of your<br />
own.<br />
Rent Scooters. Two or one seaters,<br />
scooters at Cycle BC Rentals in Victoria<br />
are 49cc and require the driver have a<br />
regular licence to ride. $16-$19/hour.<br />
victoria.cyclebc.ca.<br />
See a Psychic or Do a Tea Leaf Reading.<br />
Tea leaf readings at Silk Road Tea<br />
SPEND<br />
WITH<br />
Register for SKAM<br />
School of Performing<br />
Arts' Spring Break Camp<br />
and enjoy a week of...<br />
Acting<br />
Arts & Crafts<br />
Design<br />
Improv<br />
Theatre Games<br />
... and more!<br />
GO TO SKAM.CA FOR MORE<br />
DETAILS & TO REGISTER<br />
Pacific School<br />
of Innovation<br />
and Inquiry<br />
The path is made by walking…<br />
Have a child who loves learning and who is looking for a<br />
different kind of learning environment? We offer personalized,<br />
inquiry-based learning for people in grades 9 through 12,<br />
with competency development as the focus.<br />
Information sessions for September <strong>2023</strong> enrollment information are<br />
being held on Saturday, January 21 and Saturday, February 4.<br />
Check us out online at learningstorm.org.<br />
You can also email us anytime at visitors@learningstorm.org<br />
if you want to connect.<br />
SPRING BREAK<br />
<strong>Island</strong><strong>Parent</strong>.ca<br />
<strong>Winter</strong> <strong>2023</strong> 35
in Victoria on Saturdays from noon-<br />
5pm silkroadteastore.com<br />
Climb a Mountain. Mt. Work, Mt.<br />
Arrowsmith or Mt. Tolmie, match your<br />
teen’s interest level and endurance level<br />
with a suitable hill. Snacks and energy<br />
drinks work wonders and might get you<br />
and your teen a kilometre or two further.<br />
Get Certified. CPR, Standard First<br />
Aid, Bartending, Food Safe or your White<br />
Sail certificate are only a few examples of<br />
certificates you could earn together.<br />
viu.ca, camosun.ca/ce, royalroads.ca.<br />
Face a Fear. From scuba diving, bungy<br />
jumping—okay, maybe not—and rock<br />
climbing to learning to knit or reading<br />
a collaborative haiku aloud at a poetry<br />
reading, doing something scary together<br />
will give you both the “Yes, we did it!”<br />
feeling and bring you closer together.<br />
Shop for and Cook Dinner Together.<br />
Teach your teen a secret family recipe<br />
or signature dish.<br />
Ride the Galloping Goose to<br />
Sooke Pot Holes and Take a Dip. For<br />
trail maps and information, visit<br />
gallopinggoosetrail.com.<br />
Volunteer. For a list of opportunities,<br />
visit volunteervictoria.bc.ca, volunteernanaimo.ca<br />
or google “volunteer opportunities<br />
on Vancouver <strong>Island</strong>” for specific<br />
events.<br />
Pull an All-Nighter. The fun kind, not<br />
the kind you’d pull if you were cramming<br />
for exams.<br />
Go Float at the Float House in Victoria.<br />
One way for a digital detox is in a<br />
sensory deprivation and floatation tank<br />
where $150 will get you three introductory<br />
sessions. floathousevictoria.com.<br />
Hang Out. Literally. At Free Spirit<br />
Spheres, unique tree house accommodations<br />
for adults (16 years old and up),<br />
set among the tall trees of the west coast<br />
rainforest. freespiritspheres.com.<br />
While you’re in the vicinity…<br />
Go Underground…Caving at Horne<br />
Lake. Caves for both self-exploring and<br />
guided tour opportunities. hornelake.com.<br />
Draft a 30 Things to Do List of Your<br />
Own—a family bucket list.<br />
10 More Things to Do:<br />
Go technology-free for 24 hours.<br />
Play video games. If you can’t beat ’em,<br />
join ’em. Go to an arcade. Or try laser<br />
tag. Or to kick it up a notch, paintball.<br />
Go to a thrift store and shop.<br />
Take a scenic boat ride on the Frances<br />
Barkley to points along Alberni Inlet and<br />
Barkley Sound.<br />
Learn something new: to cook at London<br />
Chef or sculpt at Opus Art Supplies.<br />
Visit Strathcona Provincial Park and<br />
hike the Forbidden Plateau in the summer<br />
or ski Mount Washington in the winter.<br />
Kayak the Broken Group of <strong>Island</strong>s in<br />
the Pacific Rim National Park Reserve.<br />
Reservations are now required but campsites<br />
are guaranteed.<br />
Hike to Mystic Beach and cool off under<br />
the waterfalls.<br />
Wash the car—and let your teen take<br />
you for a spin.<br />
Go tubing on Cowichan River.<br />
cowichanriver.com.<br />
GIVE THEM A SUMMER<br />
THAT LASTS FOREVER!<br />
VIDEO:<br />
WWW.<br />
QWANOES.CA/<br />
SUMMER/<br />
MEDIA<br />
Come and experience a Qwanoes<br />
summer for yourself!<br />
Adventure, friendship and discovery awaits!<br />
Register today.<br />
LIFE LIKE NO OTHER!<br />
QWANOES.CA<br />
1-888-997-9266<br />
LIFE@QWANOES.CA<br />
Vancouver <strong>Island</strong>, BC, Canada<br />
36 <strong>Island</strong> <strong>Parent</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> <strong>Island</strong><strong>Parent</strong>.ca
5 Ways to Get Involved<br />
in Volunteering<br />
Are you a teenager ready to start volunteering? Or a parent<br />
looking for opportunities for their child? If so then<br />
volunteer centres can help! Volunteering can be a great way to<br />
develop skills, gain confidence, and make lifelong connections.<br />
Whether you need volunteer hours, sector experience, or are<br />
wanting to help your community, you’ll be able to find your<br />
perfect position by following these simple steps.<br />
1. Start with your Local Volunteer Centre<br />
Volunteer Centres are the number one asset for you when<br />
looking for volunteer positions. Centres are focused on promoting<br />
volunteering in the community and offer lots of resources<br />
and up-to-date local volunteer opportunities. Each Volunteer<br />
Centre is unique to its community. They host volunteer fairs,<br />
volunteer training and listings of volunteer roles that you can<br />
look through to find something you are interested in.<br />
To find your local Volunteer Centre check Volunteer BC’s<br />
Volunteer Centre Network (volunteerbc.bc.ca/volunteer-centrenetwork).<br />
2. Volunteer BC’s Volunteer Now<br />
Volunteer Now (volunteerbc.bc.ca/volunteer-now) is your<br />
one-stop shop for volunteering. With the help of this platform,<br />
you can search and apply for multiple positions all in one place.<br />
Volunteer Now is maintained by Volunteer BC and is completely<br />
free for volunteers. Simply make an account and you<br />
will be able to browse local positions to find the best one for<br />
your needs.<br />
3. Other Volunteer Matching Platforms<br />
If you do not have a local Volunteer Centre you can check<br />
out other online volunteer posting boards: Volunteer Connector<br />
(volunteerconnector.org), Charity Village (charityvillage.com),<br />
or Craigslist (geo.craigslist.org/iso/ca). Schools, colleges and<br />
universities often have volunteer posting boards that post positions<br />
perfect for ’tweens, teens and everyone else.<br />
The Pan-Canadian Volunteer Matching Platform (volunteer.<br />
ca) works in collaboration with Volunteer Centres nationwide<br />
in order to provide over 75,000 volunteer opportunities. We<br />
encourage you to reach out to organizations you like directly<br />
to see if they have any open positions that might not have been<br />
posted.<br />
4. Check out Volunteer BC’s Online Training<br />
and Resources<br />
Volunteer BC also offers access to a training and workshop<br />
calendar. The website is updated daily with new opportunities<br />
which are also posted on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn,<br />
making it easy for you to check for new positions from members.<br />
Volunteer BC’s training calendar shows month-by-month<br />
opportunities updated as soon as new sessions become available<br />
and links to Volunteer Now so you can easily apply. This<br />
training will allow you to learn more about volunteering and<br />
the non-profit sector and help prepare to for future volunteer<br />
opportunities.<br />
Want even more detailed info on volunteering? Download<br />
the detailed I Want to Volunteer handbook. This interactive pdf<br />
is a step-by-step guide on how to go about finding that perfect<br />
volunteer position.<br />
5. Volunteer BC Memberships<br />
A Volunteer BC Individual Membership is another great way<br />
to help you get involved with volunteering. As a member, you<br />
will receive the member’s only newsletter with monthly updates<br />
on volunteer centres, as well as new and upcoming positions.<br />
A membership is a great way to show support to Volunteer BC<br />
and receive amazing benefits that will help you on your journey<br />
to being your best volunteering self.<br />
By starting to volunteer, you will be able to make a difference<br />
in your community, learn new skills, and feel good by doing<br />
something good. By following these simple steps you’ll be able<br />
to find the best volunteer position for anything you need. Good<br />
luck to you and your future volunteer endeavours! Together we<br />
can make a difference.<br />
For more information, contact your local Volunteer Centre<br />
or visit volunteerbc.bc.ca.<br />
Rayne Inkster is an administrator at Volunteer BC.<br />
<strong>Island</strong><strong>Parent</strong>.ca<br />
<strong>Winter</strong> <strong>2023</strong> 37
Job Search Help your teen develop networking skills<br />
Statistics show that 80 percent of job vacancies<br />
are not advertised. In some regions, that percentage<br />
is higher. Networking is a vital way to identify<br />
work opportunities and connect with potential<br />
employers in the “hidden” job market.<br />
Your teen’s current social circle, both online<br />
and offline, is a good place to start to expand<br />
their network of acquaintances, but there are also<br />
other excellent networking opportunities listed<br />
below. Whatever networking strategies your teen<br />
employs, expanding their network will expand their<br />
prospects.<br />
Networking for Career Development<br />
Volunteer. This is a fine method for broadening<br />
their network and allowing prospective employers<br />
to discover their abilities. Youth can gain experience,<br />
make connections, demonstrate their skills<br />
and get noticed. Volunteering provides an opportunity<br />
for word to spread about your child’s talents<br />
and availability. And sometimes paid employment<br />
grows directly out of volunteer activities.<br />
Join a job club. For those who are eligible, job<br />
clubs have many advantages: youth quickly find<br />
out they are not alone, discover which job-search<br />
methods that are working for people, and gain<br />
a built-in network of people who know people.<br />
Someone in the job club may have a friend or relative<br />
looking for a landscaper, which may be your<br />
teen’s job target. You never know when an opportunity<br />
could present itself.<br />
Encourage your teen to find groups in their<br />
area(s) of interest. Suggest they join a new<br />
group to build their network. If they like computers<br />
and are passionate about programming, find a<br />
programming user group. Such groups allow you<br />
to build lasting, mutually helpful professional relationships.<br />
As they become connected, they’ll likely<br />
discover career opportunities.<br />
If they don’t know how to find a group, they can<br />
use a search engine like Google or Meetup to find<br />
groups in their field and community. For example,<br />
search “Programming user group Nanaimo.”<br />
Tell community groups they are a part of. Organizations<br />
they are already part of may have many<br />
members, some of whom already know your teen<br />
well. Talk to them about your career or job-search<br />
goals. If people don’t know that they’re looking for<br />
work, then they can’t share any opportunities with<br />
prospective employees.<br />
Social media networking. These days, social<br />
media is an excellent method for connecting with<br />
employers and job opportunities. Find out more<br />
about using social media in their job search below.<br />
Attend job fairs. Job fairs are another great<br />
opportunity to connect with people: employers who<br />
are seeking workers, employment service providers<br />
and other job seekers. Even if a company isn’t<br />
looking for someone with your teen’s background,<br />
they may know of someone else who is. They may<br />
be happy to pass on their resume or keep it for<br />
their own future needs. Encourage teens to be proactive<br />
and do some homework on the companies<br />
they plan to approach at the job fair (participating<br />
companies are usually listed in advance event<br />
notices). Their obvious interest and preparation will<br />
increase their chances of winning an interview.<br />
When networking, always remind your teen to<br />
thank the people who have given them advice or<br />
contacts by emailing or mailing them a thank-you<br />
note. Networking is all about building relationships.<br />
Showing that they appreciate the time of a person<br />
who helps them is their investment in a relationship<br />
that may ultimately benefit both parties.<br />
WorkBC offers direct access to the world of work<br />
in B.C. For more tips and job search strategies, visit<br />
workbc.ca.<br />
YOUR MISSION AWAITS!<br />
THE AMAZING BRENTWOOD<br />
AvengersStationCanada.com<br />
© <strong>2023</strong> MARVEL<br />
38 <strong>Island</strong> <strong>Parent</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> <strong>Island</strong><strong>Parent</strong>.ca
GORGE SOCCER<br />
Spring, Summer & Fall Programs<br />
UNITED SOCCER<br />
YOUTH SPRING LEAGUE<br />
...because soccer should be fun<br />
• April 10 – June 17<br />
• Ages 4–17<br />
• Recreational—No Scores/<br />
Standings<br />
• Limited Coaching<br />
• Warmer Weather, Music, Fun<br />
FREE 2, 3 & 4 YEAR OLD<br />
SPRING SOCCER<br />
• April 17 – June 23<br />
• Ages 2, 3 & 4<br />
• <strong>Parent</strong> & Tots Program<br />
• Physical Literacy & Soccer Skills<br />
• Sponsored Shirts<br />
• Neighbourhood Based<br />
(Multiple Locations)<br />
• Victoria’s oldest youth/<br />
adult soccer club<br />
• Programs available for all<br />
genders and ages: youth<br />
(3–17) and adult (18–80)<br />
• All skill levels<br />
• Not limited by where<br />
you live<br />
• Fantastic facilities (turf<br />
fields, clubhouse, office)<br />
GORGE 7’S<br />
ADULT SPRING LEAGUE<br />
...where soccer and social hour meet<br />
• April 10 – June 17<br />
• Centrally Located<br />
• Multiple Mens’ & Womens’ +<br />
Co-Ed Division<br />
• 10 Weekly Games<br />
• Corporate Teams Welcome<br />
• Bar/Clubhouse, Friday Social/<br />
BBQ, Windup BBQ/Beer Garden<br />
SUMMER & FALL<br />
PROGRAMS<br />
• Spring Break Camps<br />
• Summer Camps<br />
• Fall Youth Soccer<br />
• Fall Adult Soccer<br />
• Over 60 & Walking Soccer<br />
• Futsal (Indoor Soccer)<br />
• Youth Academies<br />
• Individual Soccer &<br />
Athletics Training<br />
GORGE<br />
SOCCER<br />
For more details...<br />
visit: gorgesoccer.ca<br />
email: info@gorgesoccer.ca<br />
<strong>Island</strong><strong>Parent</strong>.ca<br />
<strong>Winter</strong> <strong>2023</strong> 39
<strong>Island</strong> Catholic Schools<br />
Catholic Education on Vancouver <strong>Island</strong> is a system rich in tradition and history<br />
dating back to the mid-nineteenth century. <strong>Island</strong> Catholic Schools is a dynamic<br />
community of schools having a strong reputation for academic excellence,<br />
instilling Catholic values and building community. We are committed to<br />
educating the “whole” child in a Christ-centered community of learning.<br />
St. Joseph’s<br />
(Pre-K to Grade 7)<br />
757 W Burnside Rd, Victoria<br />
250-479-1232<br />
https://stjosephschool.ca<br />
Email: sjv@cisdv.bc.ca<br />
Tours by appointment.<br />
St. Patrick’s School<br />
(K to Grade 7)<br />
2368 Trent St, Victoria<br />
250-592-6713<br />
https://stpatrickselem.ca/<br />
Email: sp@cisdv.bc.ca<br />
Open House February 9<br />
from 10am to 2pm and 5 to 7pm.<br />
St. Andrew’s<br />
Regional High School<br />
(Grade 8–12)<br />
880 McKenzie Ave, Victoria<br />
250-479-1414<br />
https://standrewshigh.ca/<br />
Email: sarhs@cisdv.bc.ca<br />
Open House February 2<br />
beginning at 6pm.<br />
Queen of Angels<br />
(Pre-K to Grade 9)<br />
2085 Maple Bay Rd, Duncan<br />
250-746-5919<br />
https://queenofangels.ca/<br />
Email: qa@cisdv.bc.ca<br />
Please contact the school for<br />
more information and/or a tour.<br />
St. John Paul II<br />
(Pre-K to Grade 7)<br />
4006 8th Ave, Port Alberni<br />
250-723-0637<br />
https://stjp2school.ca/<br />
Email: jp2@cisdv.bc.ca<br />
Please contact the school<br />
for a private tour.<br />
Call today for registration information<br />
K to 12, Pre-school, Day Care, Out of School Care for September <strong>2023</strong><br />
250-727-6893 or visit cisdv.bc.ca