Salt Spring Centre School

Annual Advent/Celebration of Light will be held on Thursday, Dec. 4 at 6:00 at the Salt Spring Centre of Yoga. Please join us!
Advent is our beloved Celebration of Light and welcoming of the coming of winter. Children of all ages are invited to walk along the path of stars through the spiral of cedar-boughs and light a candle to mark the darkening of days.
Usha will lead everyone in songs to suit the seasons.

Congratulations to Violet Fox and Sisaye Patterson, recipients of $1500 Salt Spring Centre School Alumni Scholarships!

40th Annual Advent/Celebration of Light will be held on Tuesday, Nov.26 at 6:00 at the Salt Spring Centre of Yoga. Please join us!
Advent is our beloved Celebration of Light and welcoming of the coming of winter. Children of all ages are invited to walk along the path of stars through the spiral of cedar-boughs and light a candle to mark the darkening of days.
Usha will lead everyone in songs to suit the seasons.

Today, we are sharing solemn news. After 40 years of operation, the Centre School will be closing its doors. We will not be opening this September.

Our ongoing operation will not be possible as a result of low enrolment and under-staffing. There are some specific operational criteria minimums for an Independent School that we simply will not meet.

While news of this closure, in the current circumstances, is perhaps not shocking to all, it is nonetheless heart breaking. This closure ends years of life-changing education shared by a changing body of families united in their value of positive and impactful learning experience for their children. To say that we are sad to see this end is a huge understatement.

We feel such a profound and moving appreciation for the loyalty to this school shown by each of those families who enrolled. We are grateful to our school founder, Usha and to the many staff and Board members who contributed to making the school such a special place. The students, of course, were the heart of this school and our reason for being.

When lovely things end, a sense of sadness about that is inevitable and all of us who committed to and loved this school are feeling melancholy about it today. But the school was never a single being; it was a collective experience that has formed thousands of children who move forward now as adults, more sensitive, possibly, to the values of gentleness and curiosity. Raising their own children, they might remember rainy Wednesday walks and banter and the discovery of young ferns & frogs with a fondness that might be passed on in turn. As might be the love this school filled us with. 💚

🦉 Registration is open for Kindergarten - Grade 7! Come join us!

Hi! I’ve taught the Owls class (grades 4-6) at Salt Spring Centre School for three years now, part of a decade’s worth of working with youth on this island—as a teacher on call, program facilitator with The Circle, soccer referee and community theatre performer.

Before coming to Salt Spring, my professional background was in writing and journalism, which fits my endless fascination with the stories we tell. The late-primary age of the Owls class is such a formative time in this respect, as children begin solidifying the stories they believe about their community, their world and, most importantly, themselves.

In light of that, my top priority is building a classroom environment where everyone feels seen, heard and supported. That has to be the foundation on which everything else is built, and it’s something I reinforce throughout the year with an emphasis on social-emotional learning and mindfulness practices.

My goal is to meet each student where they are, academically and socially. I help students build their capabilities and confidence by providing situations in which they can authentically succeed and gain that crucial self-belief.

So, what do we learn about in the Owls class? Well, last year we wrote award-winning poems and short stories, and created (then performed) a full-length improvised play. We built Rube Goldberg machines and learned about the UN’s 17 Goals for Sustainable Development and tested our skills in critical thinking and digital literacy.

We also wandered in the woods and practiced conflict resolution and became the leaders of an independent school plunked amidst 70 acres of natural beauty.

And, oh yeah, we had plenty of fun. After all, it’s much easier to learn with a smile on your face.

If this sounds like a good fit for your child for the 2024/25 school year, please feel free to contact me directly ([email protected]), peruse the website or contact our administrator Shauna ([email protected]).

Hello, ni hao, dobre den, and hola!
I am Anna Mila, and I am thrilled to be joining the vibrant learning community at SSCS. With 20 years of international teaching experience, including six enriching years at IB World Continuum schools in China and Hungary, I am delighted to return "home" to Salt Spring Island.
Salt Spring holds a special place in my heart; my husband, Ian McEwen, and I met and were married here 23 years ago. It is a dream come true to return to the island and be surrounded by my beloved second family and old friends. As an educator, my pedagogy is deeply rooted in inquiry, wellness, and relationships. I believe that learning elevates young peoples’ experiences, and when it is engaging, challenging, and meaningful, it inspires them to keep learning and become positive contributors to the surrounding world. Beyond the classroom, I have a passion for traveling to new places, especially by train, immersing myself in the diverse ways people live, think, and create. I cherish the power of music, culture, art, and the resilience of the human spirit. When I am not working, I enjoy walking or running through scenic landscapes, engaging in great conversations, and savoring a delicious cup of tea. My curiosity about psychology drives me to explore the "why" and the "how" of human behavior. As a dedicated yoga practitioner and teacher, as well as a breathwork facilitator, I find joy and fulfillment in fostering wellness. I look forward to getting to know the wonderful people of Salt Spring Island and rediscovering what it means to be a local.

Honouring our wonderful students on this last day of school!

The Salt Spring Centre School alumni scholarship is awarded to a graduating student taking forward our school values of social emotional development, artistic creativity, and academic innovation. We are delighted to award this scholarship to Sam Barrett, for his excellence in storytelling and creative writing.

May Day memories! We look forward to celebrating this afternoon! 🌸