With fall around the corner and Labour Day behind us, it signals a new school year for approximately 50,000 students attending VSB.

For elementary students in Coal Harbour, it’s a new school year and a brand new school building!

cəw̓as Ch’elxwá7elch Skwuláw̓txw Seaside Elementary welcomes 275 kindergarten to Grade 7 students today.

The gifted names cəw̓as from xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh Nation) means “facing out onto the water, facing away from the shore,”, and ch’elxwá7elch skwuláw̓txw from Sḵwxwú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation) connects the school to the traditional name for the area around present-day Lost Lagoon and Coal Harbour.

“Students and staff are excited to begin the school year in our new building on the waterfront,” says Principal Riley McMitchell. “It will be a beautiful learning environment for our growing community.”

As part of their first day, classes toured the school, explored their new learning spaces and got their first look at the school library.

For Killarney Secondary School it’s the first day of high school for approximately 287 Grade 8 students.

Students reconnected with friends and learned about their new class schedules. Each grade attended a one-hour assembly in the auditorium, where students met their principal and received tips to help them start the year successfully.

Grade 9 student Thailyn greeted friends and shared what she is looking forward to this year. “I’m looking forward to my band class because I’ll be playing a new instrument,” she says.

Another Grade 9 student, Lia, is excited about exploring a creative subject. “I’m looking forward to my media arts class!” she says.

From exploring a new school to discovering new classes and reconnecting with friends, students across the District began the year with excitement, curiosity and plenty to look forward to. What a great start to the school year!