Cowichan Valley School District

10/10/2026

On Tuesday, October 6, the Board of Education acknowledged four very deserving recipients of the Cowichan Valley School District’s Shsi’em Ts-hay recognition.

Mar Kalbfleisch, a teacher in the district, was recognized in the Indigenous Ways of Knowing category.

Mar exemplifies the values of equity, relationships, environment, harmony, and inclusiveness. Mar works with great intention and respect to build strong, reciprocal relationships with the Ts’uubaa asatx Nation. Through her dedication and commitment, she has helped create authentic opportunities for collaboration and learning that honour Indigenous voices, knowledge, and ways of knowing. These relationships are grounded in trust and have enriched our school community in powerful ways. A significant contribution of Mar’s work has been the creation of land-based learning opportunities for students across Grades 4–12. These experiences have supported student engagement, well-being, and a sense of belonging, while also broadening perspectives and understanding. Mar has also played a key role in developing the Mustimuhw Shpupunum Community Plantings garden and program, transforming it into a vibrant learning space where students can learn through hands-on, experiential education. Mar is deeply deserving of recognition through the Shsi’em Ts hay Employee Recognition Program in the area of Indigenous Ways of Knowing.

10/10/2026

We're hiring for a number of positions at the Cowichan Valley School District.
See the details in our Virtual Job Fair!

10/09/2026

10/09/2026

On Tuesday, October 6, the Board of Education acknowledged four very deserving recipients of the Cowichan Valley School District’s Shsi’em Ts-hay recognition.

Ashlee Wilson, a teacher in the district, was recognized in the Learning category.

Ashlee organized Peer Tutoring-Reading Buddies to help give our struggling readers in Early Primary (Grades 1-3) a boost to move them ahead with their competencies that they would not be able to otherwise get. This year alone, she organized almost half the population of our school to be involved in the peer tutoring program creating an immediate daily vibe in our school which emphasized the importance of both community connection and literacy. She arranged for some Reading Buddy supervisors to be support peer tutors when some students needed it, and to be able to fill in as a substitute in case of absences. Her program has grown in numbers from year-to-year, and it's only because of the amazing success rates that we have seen. It was an astounding accomplishment for her to single-highhandedly organize over 128 participants, going above and beyond to help our learners in our community get a step up on their skills and abilities and to connect with a new peer who cared for them in our community. Ashlee is most deserving of the recognition in the area of Learning.

10/02/2026

The Board of Education for the Cowichan Valley School District is happy to share that families will soon benefit from increased before and after school child care spaces at four elementary schools in the Cowichan Valley.

Through support from the ChildCareBC New Spaces Fund and allocations from the board’s capital budget, new child care spaces will be opening at Tansor Elementary, École Cobble Hill Elementary, Chemainus Elementary and Drinkwater Elementary. In total, 87 new before and after school spaces will be available to serve children and families throughout the Cowichan Valley.

“These new spaces mean that families of nearly 90 more children will have access to affordable child care and support. We know this piece of mind for families is invaluable and that’s why we’re proud to invest, alongside the provincial government, in creating these spaces,” said Cathy Schmidt, chair of the Board of Education for the Cowichan Valley School District.

The new spaces are expected to open in the fall of 2027 and will operate through a combination of district run and local child care providers, ensuring high-quality care for children.

10/02/2026

Thanks for spreading the word Cowichan Valley Regional District! Don't forget to learn about your trustee candidates and vote on October 17.

Did you know you'll also vote for school trustees during the 2026 General Local Elections?

Depending on where you live, you'll vote for trustees in either:
➡️ School District 79 (Cowichan Valley)
➡️ School District 68 (Nanaimo-Ladysmith)

School trustee elections take place at the same voting locations as the general local elections. Want to learn more about the candidates?

SD79 Trustee Election Information: https://ow.ly/reo650ZLxOm.
SD68 Trustee Election Information: https://ow.ly/MZsL50ZLxOn.

School trustees help support local education decisions and represent the interests of students, families, and communities. To learn more about the General Local Elections, visit: https://ow.ly/oaJ450ZLxOl

10/02/2026

📰 🚨 Two elections, one important reminder: Don’t let the local vote get lost

With the recent call for a provincial general election on October 24, British Columbians will head to the polls twice in the coming weeks: first on October 17 to elect their local governments and school boards, and again one week later to choose their next provincial government.

As campaigns unfold side by side, the BCSTA wants to remind the province that the local vote deserves equal attention and should not get lost in the conversation. School board elections matter.

🔗 Read the full media release to learn more: https://bit.ly/4rtnWNt

09/29/2026

September 30th is the National Day of Truth and Reconciliation, and the Cowichan Valley School District wants to take the time to recognize the importance of this day.

On this day we pause to think about the impact that the Residential School System has had on Indigenous communities and people across our country. We know the truth, that Indigenous children were taken from their families, that some were abused at the hands of those trusted with their education, and that many did not come home.

We do not shy away from the truth, because it is in understanding the truth of our history that we can chart a future together.

Even though the trauma of the Residential School System lives on, we see Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities standing up and addressing this past. We see Indigenous communities thriving in spite of the past and in spite of those that deny this truth.

As a district, we will continue to be an ally to these communities and stand up to racism and hate. We reject any attempt to deny residential school system or the harms of it.

In our reconciliation journey, we work to incorporate Indigenous Ways of Knowing through Board of Education decisions, Senior Leadership Team action and into schools and classrooms so students and staff can understand, at an age-appropriate level, what happened and how we can move forward together.

On this day, let us take a moment of thought to reflect on the effects of the Residential School System, remember those who were abused and lost, and promise to do our part in reconciliation throughout the days ahead.

09/28/2026

You can find all the local Cowichan Valley School District election information, including the 17 candidates at https://sd79.bc.ca/board-of-education/trustee-elections/

Vote for School Trustees on October 17!

🗞️ 🗓️ BC’s School Trustee Elections Are October 17: Why Your Vote Shapes Every Child’s Education

“Trustees matter, and they make a real difference in the education system,” said Carolyn Broady, Past President of the BCSTA and School Trustee of West Vancouver Schools. “If you have a child in the K-12 system, or care about the future of public education in your community, this election should matter to you. Voting on October 17th is one of the most direct ways British Columbians can shape the education experience the children in British Columbia receive.”

🔗 Read the full media release to learn more: https://bit.ly/4ADCher

➡️ Visit www.bcsta.org/elections to learn more about the trustee elections.