Sep 28

UPDATE: Phase 1 Job Action

As parents are aware by now, teachers are in phase 1 of a legal strike with actions approved by the Labour Relations Board. Teaching has been deemed an Essential Service by the Minister of Labour, because of this teachers are permitted to withdraw some of the services normally associated with their jobs as an initial stage of job action.
Relationships between the Union and the Board remain cordial and productive. The affect parents may see now are as follows:

  • No Formal Parent-Teacher Interviews
  • No Meet the Teacher evening activities
  • No Report Cards
  • Playground supervision done by Principals, Vice Principals and District staff

Teachers will continue to communicate to parents on a one to one basis, may volunteer to coach extra curricular activities and will maintain marks and assessment data despite not writing report cards. – Jim Cambridge

Sep 23

More Donations for Savory Students!

The spirit of generosity within the community is amazing. As you may be aware from previous blogs, all Savory students have had their school supplies replaced. As of today, we have also had the Santa’s Anonymous donate $2200 to the PAC (Parent Advisory Council) to help compensate for lost fund-raising supplies and opportunities, as well as $1500 for any lost student items. Further the Gary Oak Chapter of IODE brought in 12 pair of running shoes to help replace student shoes lost in the fire. Thank you very much for your generosity!

Sep 22

Savory School UPDATE: Sept. 22, 2011

Facilities staff and restoration crews have set a target date for students to return to Savory Elementary School from their temporary placements at Crystal View Elementary and Happy Valley Elementary Schools. Barring any unforeseen circumstances, we hope to have students back to their own school on Monday October 3rd, 2011. I have to acknowledge the work and diligence of both district CUPE staff and Down’s Construction in working hard to return students to their school as soon as possible.

On return to the school, students will have full access to their classrooms and gym. Temporary office arrangements will be made in an existing empty classroom. Work will continue to restore the administration area of the school over the next few months.

I have spoken to the external air quality experts and have been assured that we will not have students and staff in the school until we are assured that it is 100% ready to accept children. – Jim Cambridge

Sep 14

Community Pulls together for Savory Students!

Students from fire damaged Savory Elementary will be receiving school supplies from generous community businesses and organizations. We want to thank Staples – Langford and Monk Office Supplies for their generous donations of school supplies and to the students, staff and parents of George Jay Elementary for their donation of backpacks and schools supplies. Truly…a tangible demonstration of community spirit and generosity!

Sep 13

UPDATED Info for Savory Parents for Thursday Morning September 15th

Students from Savory Elementary will be attending Crystal View and Happy Valley Elementary schools starting Thursday, September 15. Buses will pick up and drop off students from the grounds at Savory school.

Kindergarten to Grade 2 – Crystal View Elementary

Kindergarten: Ms. Bonsdorf & Ms. Anderson’s Rooms 1116 &1118
Grade 1: Ms. Beaveridge Room 2202
Grade 2: Ms. Nickel & Ms. Ruperto Room 2027

Grade 3 to Grade 6 – Happy Valley Elementary

Grade 5/6: Mr. Reeve Portable 1
Grade 4/5: Mr. Showers Portable 2
Grade 3/4: Mr. Kniert Portable 3

Bus pick up and drop off will occur at Savory Elementary every day. Students should be at school for the regular start time. Please check out the Pick up and drop off times below: Note that because of secondary school timetables, buses will arrive earlier on Fridays. There will be supervisors on the grounds morning and afternoon. Adding bus routes require us to have students start and finish at slightly different times, however, every effort has been made to keeps students routinue as close to normal as possible.

The traffic situation is extremely challenging at Crystal View, so if parents are encouraged to have their children take the bus. If parents are planning to escort children, there is the option of parking at Mill Hill park and walking along the path to our school. This alleviates the issue of limited parking and residential parking restrictions.

Temporary Bus Routes for Savory Elementary

Morning – 1st Bus

Pick Up 8:45 Savory

Drop Off 8:55 Crystal View

Pick Up 9:00 Savory

Drop Off 9:15 Happy Valley

AM – 2nd Bus (If Necessary)

Pick Up 8:45 Savory

Drop Off 9:00 Happy Valley

Please note that all students need to be at Savory for a 8:45 pick up. If a second shuttle is required, the 1st bus will depart Savory at 9:00

Afternoon – 1st Bus

Pick Up 2:00 Crystal View

Drop Off 2:10 Savory

Afternoon – 2nd Bus

Pick Up 2:00 Happy Valley

Drop Off 2:15 Savory

Pick Up 2:30 Happy Valley

Drop Off 2:45 Savory

Please note that all students need to board the bus at 2:00, if a second loop is required it will return at 2:30


Friday PM – 1st Bus

Pick Up 1:45 Crystal View

Drop Off 1:50 Savory

Afternoon – 2nd Bus

Pick Up 1:35 Happy Valley

Drop Off 1:50 Savory

Afternoon – 3rd Bus – only if required

Pick Up 1:45 Happy Valley

Drop Off 2:00 Savory

Sep 12

Savory School Fire Update 1

As of 7:00 AM this morning, Police have the school closed until investigators can assess the cause of the fire. School District staff will start the cleaning process as soon as possible after being allowed into the building. Teachers will be meeting this morning to discuss alternatives and plan for their students return. Hopefully we will have a further update later today. -Jim Cambridge

Aug 29

Potential Teacher Job Action this September

Many parents have asked me about potential job action by teachers this September. Sooke District is fortunate to have an extremely dedicated and conscientious teaching force. The effect of actions planned by teachers is aimed at management not students, fortunately we have a very good relationship with the local teachers’ union and I can share the following with parents.

Teachers have yet to give strike notice, however, should they give notice prior to week’s end, the following actions have been approved by the Labour Relations Board as legal strike actions.

Phase 1 Job Action

Teachers will not….

 Participate in meetings or interviews with parents/guardians and/or district teaching staff outside of instructional time, or during instructional time unless coverage is provided

 Participate in meet the teacher activities outside of instructional time, or during instructional time unless coverage is provided 　

 Prepare or distribute report cards

 Provide any student assessment data to Administrative Officers or the school office, except Grade 12 marks required for graduation, post-secondary applications and scholarship purposes

 Complete and submit student referral forms outside of instructional time

 Attend staff meetings

 Attend staff committee meetings

 Attend any meeting called by School District management

 Participate in any standing or ad hoc District committees

 Attend school based meetings called by an Administrative Officer, unless the meetings are related to an emergency

 Provide Administrative Officers with any routine printed, written or electronic communications

 Accept any printed, written or electronic communication from an Administrative Officer, unless it relates to an emergency

 Participate in the preparation or the organization of assemblies outside of instructional time, or during instruction time unless coverage is provided

 Participate in any accreditation activity

 Participate in any School District or Ministry in-service

 Participate in any professional development that is not teacher directed

 Participate in any school photo organization.

 Provide coverage for a teacher who is absent, except for a Teacher on Call hired specifically for that purpose (consistent with principles in B421/2011 and B444/2011)

 Administer or supervise FSA or any District or Ministry test (consistent with principle in B418/2011)

 Collect money from students or participate in fund raising

 Order supplies, textbooks, etc., unless needed immediately to effectively maintain ongoing instruction

 Assist the Administrative Officer in administrative tasks like building timetables or computer organization

 Do inventory

 Organize textbooks.

 Answer school office phones

 Supervise detentions before, during or after instructional time

 Prepare overviews or previews for the Administrative Officers, except when associated with a teacher evaluation process

 Distribute School District or administrative letters, newsletters, memos or announcements to students, unless it is health and safety related

 Pack up classrooms to facilitate painting, renovations or maintenance

 Perform department head/position of responsibility duties except during allocated time in the time table.

Aug 29

Full Day Kindergarten for all students!

This September we will be seeing all of our students attend full day programs. After a very successful partial implementation last year, we now have the capacity to house all students in our full day programs. Facilities staff has worked tirelessly to open 27 new classrooms to accommodate these students.

Jun 29

Summer Break for Super’s Blog

I will be taking a break from regular blogging this summer. I hope everyone has a safe and restful two months. I will update any emerging information as it comes and be back regularly in the last week of August.

The reception at the District office will be closed July 18th and reopen August 22nd. Facilities, Human Resources, accounts can be reached in the regular manner through this period.

New construction will continue through the summer. I will leave you with the following images of new learning spaces coming to the district. – Jim Cambridge

Happy Valley Elementary Addition

Lakewood Elementary Addition

Jun 29

District Recognized as a Safe Workplace!

At last nights’ Board meeting district staff presented the results of the District’s first WorkSafeBC sanctioned Certificate of Recognition (COR) Health & Safety Audit. The District achieved an overall rating of 89.23% and will be the first school district in the province to achieve COR certification. Formal certification is pending official receipt of documents by WSBC from the BC Municipalities Safety Association, our certifying partner.

WorkSafeBC representative, Edward Lee, was in attendance to acknowledge the significance of this achievement. I would really like to thank Trent Pryor and Alison Makkinga, who have been responsible for the District H&S program and assisting the external auditor, and to acknowledge all employees of the district for their safety conscious attitude and for their time and cooperation during this process. Special thanks go to the Facilities staff for their unending work to keep the District safe and healthy for all employees and students.

What is a Certificate of Recognition?

The Health and Safety Certificate of Recognition (COR) is awarded by WorkSafeBC to employers who implement and maintain an occupational health and safety management system that exceeds regulatory requirements.

The reward for this new, higher level of accountability is first and foremost a safer, healthier workforce — but there are important financial benefits, as well. WorkSafeBC provides incentive payments to COR companies in good standing. Sooke School District will see a 10% rebate on WSBC remittance costs for the next 3 years.

For more information please see: http://www.worksafebc.com/insurance/partners_program/faq/default.asp