With the opening of two new schools in west Langford slated for September 2022, the Sooke School District is inviting the public to an information session on March 12 at Belmont Secondary School to have their say in the “fastest-growing school district in the province.”
Ravi Parmar, Chair of the Board of Education, says in addition to being an information session, the event will be a celebration of the hard work that has gone into seeing these two schools come into fruition. Parents will have an opportunity to see floor plans, architectural renderings and a flyover highlighting the new facilities. The Board will also announce the names of the schools, which Parmar says come out of the “largest engagement process” SD62 has ever undertaken.
Both schools — a middle school with space for 700 students and an elementary that will house 500 — are being constructed on a plot of 16 acres that Parmar says will be the “epicentre of west Langford,” with beautiful views of Langford Lake surrounded by housing developments. Parmar says he’s excited for the community to see how there will be two distinct schools created in one community, adding that it will be even more exciting for young families to have an elementary, middle and secondary school all within walking distance.
Following the unveiling of renderings and the names, a discussion will be held on the catchment boundaries for the schools. Parmar says that while most catchment boundary reviews are conflicted, this is a unique opportunity due to the fact that SD62 has created an “open and transparent process involving parents” by asking for the input prior to the schools being built. A decision on the catchment boundaries will be made in by October or November of this year to allow families time to plan.
In addition to these two new schools, Parmar says he’s hopeful there will be five more schools built in the coming years — with plans for four more elementary schools in Langford, Colwood and Sooke and one secondary school in Langford. While Parmar is unsure of those school’s timelines, he says there is potentially a third school could be opened at the same time as the first two.
The doors will open at 6 p.m., with a presentation starting at 6:30 p.m. and the catchment boundary review following. Feedback on school catchments can also be given online until March 10 at my.thoughtexchange.com/#479902312/hub.