The Kootenay Lake School District No. 8 is in one of BC’s most beautiful areas and is a desired tourist destination, valued for its winter and summer outdoor activities. We are grateful that we have one of Canada’s mildest climates so that we can enjoy our pristine environments all year round. Our schools are a celebrated part of our communities, which offers outstanding academics and a variety of electives. Encouraging students’ passions are a valued part of our education programs. Our schools are smaller, which allows for a more individualized program and support. We offer ELL support and tutoring, which is included in tuition. AND we provide a monthly Truly Canadian activity! Come to the Kootenays where you will find outstanding academics and unlimited opportunities.
LVRogers Secondary
Grade 10 - 12
Located in Nelson
Total Enrollment 800
International Students 54
Electives
Sports teams, woodworking, mechanics, technology, culinary skills, band, visual arts, Science/Technology/Engineering/Math, French, Spanish,
Highlights
Safe, clean, outdoor opportunities, cafeteria, on the lake, small city, access to community activities, tennis, close to skiing, band and mountain biking, Winner of the Garfield Weston Award from the Fraser Institute in 2008- 2009 for academic excellence, award winning jazz band, International Program staff member on site
Sports/Clubs/Academy
Photography, visual arts, textiles, band, cooking, French, Spanish, drafting, woodworking, technology, and recreation leadership, Volleyball Academy/Mountain Biking Academy/Dance, Academy/Advance Placement/Rugby Academy/Adventure Tourism
Mt. Sentinel Secondary
Grades 7-12
Located in the Slocan Valley
Total Enrollment 261 (Gr. 7 – 12)
International Students 4
Electives
Sports teams, woodworking, mechanics, technology, sewing, cooking, Russian, French, Forestry Program (college transfer)
Highlights
Safe, clean, outdoor opportunities, cafeteria, rural, close to skiing, on bus route to Nelson. Sports/Clubs/Academy Performance and Media Academy, soccer, basketball, cross-country running, volleyball (provincial champions)
Performance and Media Academy
Mount Sentinel Performance and Media Academy (Academy PM) is a cross-curricular program that is designed to prepare students to enter post secondary education or a career in the film, theatre, game and digital media industry. This program includes a rotating selection of credits but always includes:
English
A social studies/upper level social studies elective
Design of Performance Media (Board Approved)
Production of Media (Board Approved)
An upper level elective such as Film, Scriptwriting, Acting, Theatre production, etc.
This program is one full semester in length and offers students an opportunity to work on major, student led projects and showcases such as film festivals, theartre productions, gallery displays. We also work hand in hand with industry partners as much as we can to give students an authentic opportunity to work in an industry which they see themselves pursuing after high school.
This program requires an application, interview, and reference process.
https://www.sd8.bc.ca/programs/academy-pm
Kootenay River Secondary
Grades 8-12
Located in Creston
Total Enrollment 491
International Students 9
Electives
Sports teams, woodworking, mechanics, technology, photography
Highlights
Safe, clean, equestrian possibilities, small town, excellence in visual arts, Indigenous Education integration
Sports, Clubs, Academy – Cross country running, soccer, basketball, volleyball, badminton, curling, track and field, Media Arts Studies, Advance Placement academics
Salmo Secondary
Grades 7-12
Located in Salmo
Total Enrollment 163 (Gr. 7 – 12)
International Students 2
Electives
Sports teams, woodworking, mechanics, technology, sewing, cooking, French, ski days
Highlights
Personalize education, Safe, clean, outdoor opportunities, cafeteria, rural, close to skiing, on bus route to Nelson, 5 min to Salmo Ski Hill with night skiing, smaller class sizes for individual attention.
Sports/Clubs/Academy Tourism course, basketball, cross-country running, volleyball
JV Humphries Secondary
Grades K-12
Located in Kaslo
Total Enrollment 215
International Students 2
Electives
Sports teams, woodworking, mechanics, technology, foods
Highlights
Safe, clean, outdoor opportunities, on the lake, small town, close to mountain biking, beach, curling
Sports/Clubs/Academy – soccer, basketball, cross-country running, volleyball
The Outdoor Adventures Fall & Spring Course with Ms. Broadfoot (BCs award winning educator) is designed to introduce students to a broad range of outdoor activities, including hiking, camping, rock climbing, canoeing and survival skills, as well as trip and safety planning for a multi-day excursion. In the spring students will receive their Lakewater Level 1 paddling certification as a part of the course, which will include a 5 day canoe and hiking trip on Slocan Lake, in Valhalla Provincial Park. Last year students in this class hiked the Juan de Fuca Marine Trail along the southwest coast of Vancouver Island.
Outdoor Adventures Winter Course
The Outdoor Adventures Winter course focuses on exposing students to the brilliant ski and snowboard culture of the Kootenays, as well as winter safety and survival skills. Students visit with Stellar Heli Ski to learn about the business side of skiing, which includes a tour of the helicopter and practice using transceivers. The course also includes an Avalanche Safety Training day and a Winter Survival Workshop with local experts. The overall favourites of the course however, are our trips to Whitewater where students take lessons and get a chance to improve and perfect their skills on the hill.
http://jvh.sd8.bc.ca/programsprojects/
Trafalgar Middle
Grades 6 - 9
Located in Nelson
Total Enrollment 580
International Students 4
Electives
Photography, visual arts, band, technology, textiles, band, culinary skills, French, metal working, woodworking, technology, Life Long Explorations and a variety of sports.
Highlights
Safe, clean, outdoor opportunities, cafeteria, on the lake, small city, access to community activities, tennis, close to skiing, band and mountain biking.
Trafalgar Middle School is a dynamic school for students between Gr. 6 – 9. They welcome international students for both long term and short-term stays. Trafalgar school fully immerses students into classroom and school life and has a large variety of electives built into their school schedule. The school has ski days built into their yearly schedule which international students are welcome to participate in. This school is in Nelson, BC, Canada and is a uniquely Canadian opportunity in a fully immersive English environment.
