Meet our Team

Each September, we look forward to welcoming our littlest learners and their families to our 6 StrongStart Programs and 28 Elementary Schools.

SD61 educators are committed to embracing every student in a safe, inclusive, and culturally responsive learning environment.  Every day, we endeavour to support and improve each learners’ personal and academic growth.

Latest Updates

Numeracy Resources for Educators

Links and connections to math learning, teaching and assessment resources near at hand for SD61 elementary educators." • Click to jump to Learning and Teaching Resources • Click to jump to... Read more

Professional learning series: Early career French Immersion teachers learning together!

K-8 French Immersion teachers in their first five years in the classroom who are curious, engaged and keen to continue growing in this profession are invited to participate in a... Read more

Core French Project – Intermediate

Are you an intermediate teacher who teaches Core French looking for some new strategies and unit plans based on research? Some BC Core French 5 teachers, with limited French skills,... Read more

L’approche identitaire: une série d’ateliers avec Dre Monica Tang

Lors de cette série de perfectionnement professionnel, vous aurez la chance d’explorer plus en profondeur 3 aspects de l’approche identitaire pour tous les niveaux : La gestion des langues, le sentiment... Read more

New Career FRIM Teacher Professional Learning Series

Supporting early career French Immersion teachers’ professional growth and well-being We would like to invite K-8 French Immersion teachers in their first five years in the classroom, teachers new to the... Read more

UVic – SD61 French Volunteer Experience Program

Are you interested in having a UVic Education student volunteer in your classroom to support your French language program? Are you keen to help prospective French Immersion teachers gain experience... Read more

Math Learning Ladders

Math Learning Ladders is a K-9 resource developed by the Mission Public School District  to  allow teachers to support the planning and programming for a student, identifying the next step... Read more

Summer French language learning opportunities for teachers

    Are you a Core French or French Immersion teacher interested in continuing to develop your French language skills? Are you interested in teaching Core French in the future?   The Greater Victoria... Read more

Land-based learning in the French classroom : spring 2023 sessions

Nous sommes très content.es de pouvoir offrir deux ateliers sur l’apprentissage sur la terre avec John Harris du département autochtone au conseil scolaire et avec Cheryl Rolston, directrice-adjointe et enseignante... Read more

Elementary French Immersion district resource order- info session

The District French team is pleased to share that there will be extra funds in the French budget to support elementary resources in French Immersion. Specifically, these funds will support... Read more

Atelier de danse pour les enseignant.es d’immersion

ATELIERS POUR LES ENSEIGNANTS: 11 mars de 9h à 12h à l'École Victor Brodeur Vous êtes invité.es à participer à un atelier de danse pour les enseignant.es à l'École Victor... Read more

Core French 6 project

Are you a Core French teacher and want to learn strategies for teaching beginner’s French in a safe and collaborative learning environment? Following the success of a Vancouver Island Grade... Read more

Une approche identitaire à l’enseignement en immersion : une enquête collective

Une approche identitaire à l’enseignement en immersion : une enquête collective Avez-vous déjà réfléchi à l’identité linguistique de vos élèves en immersion ? Est-ce que vous vous demandez parfois ce qui fait qu’un... Read more

La communication orale au coeur des compétences langagières!

La communication orale au coeur des compétences langagières: invitation à la série de développement professionnel Le conseil scolaire participe à un projet d’action recherche sur les compétences orales des élèves en... Read more

Congrès français: langues et identités en immersion!

  L’équipe enseignante en immersion est invitée au congrès français le lundi 14 novembre à l’École intermédiaire Arbutus. Ce congrès est pour les enseignant.e.s de la maternelle à la 12e année... Read more

Ateliers AIM 2022-2023

Ateliers AIM 2022-2023 Le conseil scolaire offre des ateliers AIM pour les enseignant.e.s en immersion en maternelle et première année. Les sessions seront animées par Karen Oraas. Karen est enseignante de... Read more

Our Core French students, full citizens of the world

Our Core French students, full citizens of the world. (French description is below) Core French students sometimes feel a little neglected when it comes to learning French as a second language. The... Read more

Apprendre sur La Terre! Land-based learning in the French Immersion classroom

Professional Learning Series:  Apprendre sur La Terre! Land-based learning in the French Immersion classroom   Please join us for a learning series focusing on Land-based learning in the French lmmersion classroom.    Tuesday October... Read more

Summer French language learning opportunities for SD61 teachers

Summer French language learning opportunities for teachers Are you a Core French or French Immersion teacher interested in continuing to develop your French language skills? Are you interested in teaching Core... Read more

Congrès de la BCLCA: vous êtes invité.es!

Congrès de la BCLCA: vous êtes invité.es! Le congrès de la BCLCA se tiendra le 29 avril 2022! Le thème du congrès est "Leadership, identité et inclusion en langue seconde". Nos... Read more

Literacy Series for Early Career Teachers

Literacy Series for Early Career Teachers An opportunity for teachers in their first 5 years in the classroom. A five part collaborative literacy learning series offered throughout the year. (French & English) Next session... Read more

Early Literacy Collaboration Teachers

Early Literacy Collaboration Teachers (ELCT) The Early Literacy Collaboration Teachers serve 8 schools, providing flexible and responsive literacy support to students and teachers. Early Literacy Collaboration Teachers collaborate with teachers to... Read more

POPEY Opportunities

POPEY’s seventh annual literacy conference. Morning Session: Miriam Trehearne, 9:30 - 11:30 am Afternoon Session: Lori Jamison, 12:30 - 2:30 pm Register HERE  POPEY's online After-School Specials . All times listed are Pacific Standard Time. Wednesday,... Read more

Literacy Sequences with Faye Brownlie

About Faye Brownlie What approaches to teaching and learning best enable us to reach and teach all learners? quality reading and writing instruction assessment for learning and performance-based assessment open-ended teaching... Read more

Congrès “ACPI-ici” à Saanich: vous êtes invité.es!

Congrès "ACPI-ici" à Saanich: vous êtes invité.es! Le conseil scolaire de Saanich nous invite à participer au congrès ACPI-ici le lundi 25 avril 2022. Ce mini-congrès pour les enseignant.es de la maternelle... Read more

Tapestry Conference 2022

Cowichan, Greater Victoria, Saanich, and Sooke Teachers' Association Tapestry 2022 South Vancouver Island K-12 Educators Online Conference For more information and registration please visit: tapestry.ourconference.ca ... Read more

Story Making: Early Literacy Through Play

Story Making Why story making ? In the classroom, our stories can connect us.  Sharing a story is an opportunity to express issues, hopes, and fears. Stories honor and empower student voice... Read more

Land-Based Resources for Educators

The following resources have been collected and curated by the District Team and in partnership with the Indigenous Education Department in SD61. These resources are designed to support educators as... Read more

Learning Environments that Nurture physical and Mental Well-being from an Indigenous Perspective

TA LIAIS Trena Black, is a T’Sou-ke band member and SD61 District Indigenous Elementary Teacher with 22 years of classroom teaching experience. Trena is a PhD student at the University... Read more

Boukili! Application de lecture pour les élèves en immersion

Le conseil scolaire de Victoria a approuvé le programme Boukili pour nos élèves en immersion. Boukili est une application de lecture numérique pour les élèves de l’élémentaire et de l’immersion... Read more

Creating learning environments that support physical and mental well-being

TA LIAIS Trena Black is a T’Sou-ke band member with Irish and Paa?čiid?atx ancestry. Trena is a PhD student re-searching Indigenous well-being practices. Trena is a SD61 District Elementary Indigenous... Read more

Indigenous Pedagogy in the French Classroom

Dear French language teachers and TLs,   The Indigenous Education Department and the Modern Languages Department have been working together to explore how to weave in Indigenous Education in our French Immersion... Read more

Stratégies gagnantes pour une participation active en maths 4-8ème

Série de développement profesionnel pour les enseignant.e.s de maths de la 4e à la 8e année Une série de trois ateliers pour apprendre des stratégies pédagogiques différentiées pour répondre aux besoins... Read more

Elementary Pro-D January 28

Thank you for joining us! The links to resources and slide decks are listed below: Shane Safir Shane has worked at every level of the education system for over two decades. In 2003,... Read more

Connecting the Dots: Social Emotional Learning in SD61

SD 61 VIDEO: Social Emotional Learning: Connecting the Dots  https://youtu.be/39-V5nJTyw8 This video can be used to initiate conversations, networking and sharing to unpack the “WHY” that drives our teaching of social emotional learning. VIDEO... Read more

Second Step in Elementary Schools

Please join us again this year in support of implementation of Second Step in our Elementary schools. We are excited to let you know that we now have access to... Read more

Welcoming Conversations

Welcoming New Children and Families  StrongSart Educators and Kindergarten teachers play a vital role in establishing positive connections with children and their families.  Welcoming events and conversations set the tone for a... Read more

Literacy Collaboration Series with Faye Brownlie

Elementary School teams and will be offered release time to Zoom with Faye Brownlie for 5 sessions. These sessions will focus on your team’s goals, inquiries, and how to support... Read more

TPRS website for language teachers: Request to create a teacher account

The Greater Victoria School District has a TPRS website for language teachers. This website contains resources such as instructional videos and lesson plans.  If you are interested in creating a... Read more

Nonviolent Crisis Prevention Institute(CPI) Training

Nonviolent Crisis Intervention® is a program developed by the Crisis Prevention Institute (CPI). With a core philosophy of providing for the Care, Welfare, Safety, and Security of everyone involved in... Read more

Re-Imagining Mathematics Education Webinar Series

Connecting Math, Community, and Culture This webinar series invites teachers at all levels to join discussions and sharing for re-imagining mathematics education through culture, community, and teaching for social and ecological... Read more

October ProD 2021: Pulling Together: Connection and Belonging

We are excited to facilitate a free virtual Professional Development opportunity on the Friday, October 22nd, Professional Development Day for all SD61 employees. Theme: The day focuses on the importance of... Read more

TPRS Beyond the Basics series for language teachers

We are very happy to announce an upcoming workshop series on TPRS for language teachers. This TPRS Beyond the Basics series is open to any teachers who have participated in... Read more

Exploring the Salish Sea – Grade 4 – 8

Educators: Are you interested in having your students explore the Salish Sea both from the land and on a floating classroom? Would you like local naturalists work with your students... Read more

Projet de collaboration sur l’évaluation et les référentiels d’apprentissage

En collaboration avec le Bureau des affaires francophones et francophiles de l'Université Simon Fraser, nous sommes à la recherche d'enseignant·e·s pour participer à ce tout nouveau projet! BUT Explorer l’évaluation basée sur... Read more

BCATML Conference: Celebrating Languages 2021

We are very happy to announce an upcoming virtual conference for Language teachers that will take place on Friday October 22nd, 2021. We are able to cover registration fees for... Read more

Série de développement professionnel en immersion française

La communication orale au cœur du développement des compétences langagières Nous sommes très content·e·s de vous inviter à participer à une série de développement professionnel au sujet de l’inclusion en langue... Read more

Educating Now

We are pleased to announce the launch of a district site license for Educating Now to support the use of our new math resources. Educating Now is a teaching and... Read more

Early Learning Framework

B.C. has updated the Early Learning Framework (2019) to recognize the new realities of children, families and communities. The new framework was developed in collaboration with early childhood educators, primary... Read more

Session 7: Curricular IEP Goals with Kristie Ward & Kate Campbell

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Decolonizing Libraries Webinars

Greater Victoria School District 61 would like to invite teacher librarians to join in a shared conversation about decolonizing libraries. This webinar is free and primary audience is teacher librarians Our... Read more

Learning for All Podcast

We understand that a child’s learning is not linear or universal, but collective and complex. Our ways of being, our culture, our uniqueness; all of these layers shape how we learn. ... Read more

Session 5: Competency & strength based IEPs with Christine & Parker Danroth

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Session 4: Purposeful IEP planning with Faye Brownlie

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Early Years and Elementary Quarterly Newsletter (Winter 2021)

Click for the full newsletter: Early Years and Elementary Quarterly - Winter 2021... Read more

Building Belonging with Visuals

We are always asking ourselves how we can engage all of our learners. When we offer multiple entry points each learner can find their own pathway into the learning.  In... Read more

Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC & Visuals)

A presentation brought to us by Zoë Watt, (Speech-Language Pathologist) and Cheryl Warmenhoven, (AAC & AT assistant) Supporting Communication in Early Years A wonderful overview of the vitality of visuals in our... Read more

Social Emotional Learning Booklist

Some of the facets of social and emotional well-being are included here with a booklist to support this type of learning for kids ages 0-8.... Read more

Literacy Centre Ideas (K/1 focus)

Our classrooms have diverse needs. By differentiating our instruction we can ensure that all students have access to the same curriculum by providing varied entry points of learning tasks.  Differentiated instruction... Read more

Play Today Handbook

The Play Today B.C. Handbook is a guide to support high quality, play-based learning experiences in the early years, primary grades, and even into the middle years of childhood. The Play... Read more

Outdoor Learning (October 2020)

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Compassionate, Culturally Responsive Classrooms for All

  Small endeavors such as working together as a whole group to  determine classroom expectations helps to establish cohesion and offers opportunity for varied perspectives to be presented.  Inviting student news... Read more

Playful Learning Resources

Playful Learning in the Early Years Resource Links for Childcare Providers... Read more

Session 3: Why is student agency important in an IEP? with Dr. Leyton Schnellert

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Episode 1:  Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC)

Today’s episode reinforces the vitality of access for all as  Augmentative and Alternative Communication, commonly referred to as AAC is brought to light.  Wise and wonderful Carey Nickerson, our team... Read more

Session 2: How can we connect IEPs to place? with Jo Chrona

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ONF CAMPUS

C'est quoi ONF CAMPUS? CAMPUS de l'Office national du film du Canada  est un service de formation continue pour les enseignants. Il contient un contenu cinématographique et médiatique 100% canadien qui soutient le... Read more

Session 1: Why do IEPs need to change? with Katie Jameson

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Oct 23rd ProD 2020 – SD61 Pro-D

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e9HvAp0BxWk[/embed] All sessions will be offered online, via Zoom. Click here to access SD61 Zoom Support resources.... Read more

Oct 25th 2019 Building Community: Sharing our Stories

  Agenda Morning 8:30am-10:15am - Opening & Morning Session 1 Keynote: Monique Gray Smith 10:15am-10:45am - Morning Break (snacks and coffee / tea provided) 10:45am-11:45am - Morning Session 2 - Q & A with Monique... Read more

Library Digital Resources

All student digital resources are available on our school library websites. Visit your school website and click Library & Resources to find what students have access to in terms of... Read more

October 19th 2018 ProD: Building Relationships: Moving Forward Together

Morning Session: UVIC Farquhar Auditorium 8:30am-12:00pm Keynote Speaker: Candy Palmater Lunch & Afternoon Sessions: Lambrick Park Secondary School 12:00pm-2:45pm Lunch: 12:00-1:00pm (served in the Gym, those attending sessions off-site will have access to a... Read more