Victoria School Board
Victoria School Board Custodian
- Founded: 1869
- Location: Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
- Type: Public
- Number of Students: 22,000
- Tuition Fees: 14,000 CAD
- Grade: Kindergarten — Grade 12
The Greater Victoria School District (VSD) is located in the capital city of the British Columbia province — Victoria. It serves the municipalities of Esquimalt, Oak Bay, Victoria, View Royal and a portion of Saanich and Highlands and includes 27 elementary schools (Kindergarten to grade 5), 10 middle schools (grades 6 to 9), and 7 secondary schools (grades 9 to 12). The total number of VSD students excludes 22,000. More than a thousand of them are international students, coming from various corners of the globe.
Victoria is a city of the rich and vibrant culture. It is comparatively small, its population is 367,000 people. But Victoria manages to combine the atmosphere of a small comfortable city with the amenities of the cosmopolitan area. Two universities and one college are situated here. You can also find world-class museums, theaters and many places for shopping and entertainment in Victoria.
The Greater Victoria School Board environment can be described as responsive and safe. The mission of the schooling district is to nurture each student’s learning and well-being in a safe, responsive, and inclusive learning community. Students` potential and aspirations are mentioned among the top priorities of the educational process. The values of the community enumerated in their Mission Statement include engagement, equity, innovation, integrity, openness, partnership, respect, social responsibility, and justice.
The VSD is known for its long history of high-quality educational service for international students. All of the long-term and short-term study programs are approved by the Ministry of Education.
Victoria School Board Custodian
Academic High School Program is available for one semester, one year, or stay until graduation. Choosing this program, students can tailor their study courses to satisfy their future professional interests and career choices. Help with English as Second Language (ESL) is also offered to those, who need it.
The innovative Uplands Academic Transition Program is designed to help international students comfortably adapt to the Canadian lifestyle and educational system. Students get instructions in the main academic subjects. If they succeed, they are guaranteed entrance into one of the VSD secondary schools.
Short-Term High School Experience Program allows students to experience a Canadian school life during a short stay. The main focus is on interactive classes like art, drama or physical education. This program gives international students a perfect opportunity to make Canadian friends, develop soft skills and improve English. There is a possibility to add some core academic subjects too, to make the experience more valuable for future study choices.
The VSD has one more interesting study option — the Camp Victoria ELL Summer Program. This is a six-day a week program open in July and August. It helps students to improve their English language skills and learn more about Victoria. It also includes trips, outdoor activities, and much communication in a friendly and diverse atmosphere of British Columbia.
Homestay programs are available for international students. The team of the VSD can assist parents in their choice of a host family. A safe and comfortable living environment is a priority of the program. Each homestay family is trained and tested to meet the highest standards for hosting young people from around the world. The students also get a coordinator within this program, whom they can contact on any issue needed. The Annual Homestay Placement Fee is 325 CAD, the Homestay Monitoring Fee is 500 CAD full year or 300 CAD for one semester, the Homestay Monthly Fee is 975 CAD.
The Full-year Tuition Fee is 14,000, this does not include the Annual Health Insurance Fee which is 600 CAD.
Regards,
The Custodian
