School District 79 Cowichan Valley

The Cowichan Valley School District, is located in the Cowichan Valley on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada. It consists of numerous elementary (Kindergarten-Grade 6 or 7), middle (Grade 6–9), Secondary (Grade 8–12) schools, and alternative schools for programs like adult education.

Cowichan Valley School District
Location
Duncan Chemainus, Duncan, Lake Cowichan, Mill Bay in Southern Vancouver Island Canada
District information
Superintendent	Robyn Gray (As of April 1, 2019)
Schools	20
Budget	CA$81,835,263
Students and staff
Students	7730
Other information
Website	www.sd79.bc.ca

The current Superintendent of the Cowichan Valley School District is Robyn Gray.

History

The current school district can trace its heritage to the Colony of Vancouver Island. Two school districts were established in the area prior to the colony joining mainland British Columbia.

South Cowichan School District was established on June 16, 1869. North Cowichan School District was established a year later on June 16, 1870.

The current School District 79 was formed in 1996 when School District 65 (Cowichan) was combined with School District 66 (Lake Cowichan).

A French Immersion program was established in October 1997, for the 1998–1999 school year. It has grown strong roots and continues to get bigger each year

On July 1, 2012, after refusing to send a balanced budget to the Ministry of Education in British Columbia by June 30, the elected Board of Trustees was dismissed. Current Official Trustee Michael McKay was instated and balanced the budget.

Reconfiguration of the Cowichan Valley school district has been set to commence in the 2013–2014 school year. This marks the change from a middle school model (kindergarten-grade 6, grades 7–9, grades 10–12) to an elementary school system from kindergarten-grade 7 and a secondary school system from grades 8–12. Much deliberation and community input was utilized to implement this new school system.

Schools

Elementary/Middle Schools

School	Location	Grades
Ecole Mount Prevost Elementary	Duncan	K-7
Alex Aitken School	Duncan	K-7
Alexander Elementary School	Duncan	K-7
Bench Elementary School	Cowichan Bay	K-7
Chemainus Elementary School	Chemainus	K-7
Ecole Cobble Hill Elementary	Cobble Hill	K-7
Crofton Elementary School	Crofton	K-7
Discovery Elementary School	Shawnigan Lake	K-7
Drinkwater Elementary School	Duncan	K-7
Khowhemun Elementary School	Duncan	K-7
George Bonner Elementary School	Mill Bay	K-7
Maple Bay Elementary School	Maple Bay	K-7
Palsson Elementary School	Lake Cowichan	K-5
Mill Bay Elementary Nature School	Mill Bay	K-3
Tansor Elementary School	Duncan	K-7
Thetis Island Elementary School	Chemainus	K-6

Secondary Schools

School	Location	Grades
Chemainus Secondary School	Chemainus	8-12
Cowichan Secondary School	Duncan	10-12
Cowichan Valley Open Learning Co-op (alternative)	Duncan	6-12
Frances Kelsey Secondary School	Mill Bay	8-12
Lake Cowichan Secondary School	Lake Cowichan	4-12

See also

• List of school districts in British Columbia

External links

• Official Website of School District 79