Squamish’s Sea to Sky school district (SD #48), serves about 5,000 students. Students come from various communities, including First Nation communities, immigrant families, and international programs. The district works closely with Indigenous communities to ensure that learning plans are as inclusive as possible. Here are the 10 schools operating in the district.
Brackendale Elementary
Brackendale is a K-6 school serving approximately 320 students, located on the unceded traditional territory of the Squamish Nation and the Village of Waiwaikum. Students are encouraged to think critically by using specific criteria to make judgments, assess options, rank them, and justify choices. The school hopes that by thinking critically, its students will be able to enhance their learning.Garibaldi Highlands Elementary
Located in Garibaldi Highlands north of Squamish, GHE is one of the five public English language elementary schools in the district. It is particularly focused on connectedness in the school, citing evidence that this, along with safety and belonging, continues to be areas in need of support and development. The school plans to approach these three goals through an Indigenous lens, focusing on the First Peoples’ Principles of learning.Mamquam Elementary
Mamquam is an Arts Infusion School, integrating the use of the arts to deepen learning across the curriculum. Its school grounds proudly feature the Mamquam Edible School Yard (MESY) Garden, a learning space managed by local non-profit Squamish Community Action Network (Squamish CAN). Through the garden, Squamish CAN and the Mamquam teachers collaborate on projects that spread awareness about our relationship with growing food and the local environment.Squamish Elementary
Squamish Elementary is committed to “the provision of a safe and caring environment in which all learners strive for excellence, personal growth, and responsible citizenship.” It serves over 400 K-6 students from the area, including Furry Creek, Britannia Beach, and the Stawamus Reserve, among others.Valleycliffe Elementary is located in an area with the same name, which sits at the base of Stawamus Chief and borders Smoke Bluffs Park. Found at the southern end of Squamish, the school aims to create a safe, kind, and caring school culture for its students. The school develops “authentic tasks” to help its students learn competency-based skills.
St’a7mes School offers unique programs for its students. Aya7ayulh Chet (Cultural Journeys) is a culture and language program for K-6 students that uses a combination of outdoor activities, field studies, trips, and Pathways to Learning strategies to help develop key competencies. The other program is Learning Expeditions, a project-based learning program for students in Grades 7-12. Students are encouraged to pursue their passions through flexible projects or Personal Inquiry projects.
Distributed Learning: Outreach & Sea to Sky Online
Sea to Sky Online offers online sessions to provide students with greater flexibility. Through a combination of technology and weekly face-to-face lessons, students can learn how to conduct a self-motivated study to prepare themselves for higher education.Don Ross Middle School
Don Ross Middle School, located in the Brackendale area, serves students in Grades 7-9. All students take a core curriculum, including Math, English, Science, Social Studies, and French, among others. Don Ross is also home to a Hockey Academy, which aims to provide additional training for hockey players of any gender and skill level.Howe Sound Secondary serves around 650 students in Grades 10-12. The school aims to create a strong sense of belonging for its students through 1) addressing mental health concerns, 2) ensuring student readiness for higher education and the workplace, and 3) implementing a blended curriculum to address the diverse population’s learning needs.
