South Park Opens Second Kindergarten room with Fall slots

[OlderDad]

I am a South Park parent and heard some good news at our recent PAC (Parent Advisory Council) meeting. The school has just been allocated a second (all day) kindergarten room for this fall based on our higher enrollment numbers. As a result there are still a few slots open for 2011-12 "Kindies". If you are interested I would encourage you to call the school ASAP (250-382-5234) or pop in and pick up the forms. When my wife and I first toured the school we were really impressed and we are so glad we then enrolled our kids at South Park.

They may also have some openings at other grades, my older kid got into 3rd grade that way a couple of years back when her sister got into kindergarten. So it's also worth checking if you are interested in switching an older child to South Park or are arriving from out of town. South Park is a "school of choice" so anyone in the Victoria school district (SD 61) can send their kids there. It has a really gentle feel and highly motivated and involved teachers. There is an open door policy for parents to be in the classroom at any time.

There are some amazing extra activities such as choir for all the students. I am shocked whenever I hear one of the choirs practicing. I can't believe that is my kids and their classmates singing so well and having such fun while they do it. The choir/music teacher Carolyn is quite magical and the kids simply adore her. There is also lots of art, there is an annual art show where every student has something framed on the walls, and a clay room with a kiln.

The academics have been strengthened in recent years and the school have more field trips than I have ever seen elsewhere. The budget each teacher receives from the PAC for extra classroom resources and activities is much higher than the standard amount in other Victoria schools, allowing for more trips plus creative activities in the classroom.

There is a great group of active parents, which makes having your kids there a lot of fun. There are many family events throughout the year and we have made some wonderful new friends among the other parents.

Enrolling our kids in this school was the best decision we have made for them educationally and they are both very happy there. One of our kids was quite shy at her last (450 student) school and is now feeling much happier and she has several good friends at school now.

The fact that there are only 7 or 8 classrooms makes a huge difference to the feeling of the building as the kids get to know all the teachers and there is a lot of peer mentoring etc going on. It is so sweet to see the third graders helping their kindergarten buddies during "buddy time" every week, and it does the older kids a power of good to feel they can teach the little ones things and be looked up to.

[SPmom]

I agree that South Park is a great school. My kids are enjoying school more than ever and cultivating a lifelong love of learning. They enjoy learning in groups and supporting each other for independent projects.

My 1st grader recently did a science experiment with lab coat and all, as each classmate has, each with their own assigned day to do so. All the students would ask questions and theorize as the experiment's outcome and reasons for it. Today they had "student led conferences" where I was shown each area of learning and progress in detail by my daughter. I didn't realize how much math and French she was learning and the writer's workshop booklet she does regularly was super. But best of all was her enthusiasm, similar to her older sibling's, who also thrives on being a "big buddy" for the younger grades, as all the students do.

The social cohort is very supportive and strong without being overly competitive. I understand that the social ties are often continued by choosing Central Middle School French Immersion, where most students are from South Park. Or some go to Monterrey in Oak Bay. Since it is a school of choice, one can choose the middle school.

It is nice that there are many good options for elementary schools in Victoria. I am personally delighted with South Park.

[zuzu's petals]

A second kindie class - that's great news! I have two kids at South Park (grades 1 and 4) and we absolutely love it. I could list a hundred things I and my kids love about our school.

My kids love the daily Phys Ed, the natural playground, the singing and storytelling and field trips, the clayroom.

I love that they go every day to a small community school where they know the name of every child and teacher (and most parents) at the school, where class sizes are usually under 20 students (!), where peer-mentoring is a twice-weekly activity, where there is an open-door policy for parents, where both their creativity and academic learning are encouraged.

Please join our school community if you would like to be at a small, creative and inclusive school.