May 15 – O’Canada/ Grad Song Auditions at lunch in Choir Room
May 19 – Victoria Day – No School in Session
May 22 – Evening of Jazz
May 24 – Dry Grad
May 28 – Grad Rehearsals at UVIC
May 28 – Belmont Night Live
***** Grad is fast approaching, reminder if you have not yet handed in your comments for the Grad Commencement ceremonies, please come to the office and pick up a form to have written what you would like said when you cross the stage. ******
**** DRY GRAD TICKETS ARE EXTENDED UNTIL MAY 9th******
Volunteers needed
We need a large number of volunteers to make Dry Grad a success and there is a job for any adult who is able to join us!
Please click on the following web link (or copy it into your web browser if clicking doesn’t work) to go to the signup sheet:
Prom is a lovely last evening together for our Grads; the event is held at the Crystal Gardens, and there will be dinner, dancing, and a photo booth available. A group photo at the legislature front stairs will take place at 5pm, and all Grads are welcome to join; regardless of if they are attending Prom or not.
The Belmont Prom is a school event and all students are expected to abide by the Code of Conduct in order to ensure that our Prom is a safe and fun event.
Transportation to and from Prom is the responsibility of the student and their parent/guardian.
The doors open at 5:30pm and close at 6:30pm. The event ends at 10:00pm. Students who leave the Prom at any time will not be re-admitted.
Upon entering the event, students and their guests must show proof of purchase (screenshot of school cash online purchase).
Students and their guests may be searched. If they are found to have banned substances or are under the influence of drugs or alcohol, both the host student and guest will be denied entry.
No refunds will be provided for students who are asked to leave, who leave early, or who choose not to attend.
One guest per student may be invited. Parents and school of guest will be contacted prior to approval of the guest application. Guests must be current secondary students or recent Graduates (Grad 2023 or more recent) and must complete a guest form, which is available in the office.
We are looking forward to celebrating the Graduating class of 2025 and all of their accomplishments!
From the Athletic Department
If you are interested in trying football, we have the perfect opportunity for you! We will be having our “Introduction to Football Camp” for those interested in trying the sport and potentially joining the Belmont Bulldogs Football Team. The camp will take place on the Belmont Back Field on May 12th – May 15th from 3:30pm – 5:00pm. No gear required, bring cleats if you have them! Please contact Mr. Harrington if you have any questions!
Congratulations to the Sr. Boys Rugby 7s team who won the Bronze Medal at the Vancouver Invitational 7s tournament this past weekend. The boys went 3-0 on day one, beating Langley 26-12, Tamanawis 44-0, and Sutherland 19-12. On day two they beat Claremont 26-22 in the ¼ final, but lost to the eventual tournament winners Brentwood 14-29 in the semi-final match, and then went on to beat Vanier 22-14 in the Bronze medal game. Well done Dawgs.
Looking forward to carrying this momentum for both Jrs. and Srs. into the Island Championships hosted at Belmont on May 12 and 13.
Coach Beattie and Peacock
Multicultural Week – April 28 – May 2
Multicultural week is a weeklong celebration of many of the diverse cultures that make our school community such a wonderful place! During lunch on Tues – Fri, student groups offered a sample of their cultures – food, activities, music, and more. Stay tuned for photos in the next version of the Bulletin
Mon, April 28 – Everyone in the school was invited to share their culture through clothing and classroom activities
Tues, April 29 – Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, Japan, Korea, China
Wed, April 30 – Norway, Finland, Ukraine, Spain, Germany, England
Thurs, May 1 – Eritrea, Isreal, Sudan, Afghanistan, Nigeria, Kenya, Pakistan, India
Fri, May 2 – Mexico, Ecuador, Peru, Brazil, Jamaica, Cuba
A big thank you to the students, staff, and especially the families/guardians for supporting this wonderful week! It’s an annual highlight for the whole school community.
Yearbooks
Don’t forget to purchase your Yearbooks today, deadline is May 17th.
Events around our Community
Scholarship Information and Recognition:
The deadline for Belmont, District, and PAC awards has passed (April 16th). Students who were successful in these awards will be notified during graduation ceremonies in June. You are encouraged to view the Belmont Scholarship Weebly for upcoming local deadlines: https://belmontscholarships.weebly.com/may.html
If there are any other scholarships grads, parents and guardians would like to add to grad write ups that Belmont grads have been successful in, please complete the following form.
Please note, we do not include general entrance scholarships in these but are happy to recignize other local, provincial or national awards we may not have been informed of!
April 16 – ICBC Road Safety Presentation – Grade 12’s
April 18 – Good Friday – No school in session
April 21 – Easter Monday – No school in session
April 22 – Earth Day
April 25 – Report Cards Published
April 26 – Football Bottle Drive
April 28-May 2 – Cultural Week.
Football Bottle Drive April 26th
Girls Rugby
Congrats to the girl’s rugby team for their 3rd place finish at the Stelly’s tournament last Monday.
Math Challengers
Huge Congratulations to Youna T., a Grade 9 student from our school that has been selected by the Math Challengers to compete in the Provincial Competition in Burnaby on May 3rd. We wish him the best of luck in this upcoming event.
**** Cap and Gown orders have now been completed and sent to the company for processing. Any students that would still like to attend Grad Commencement Ceremonies, must fill out a form in the office with payment as per the above Grad at a Glance. Please note that only the 11 am ceremony is still available. *****
Volunteers needed
This year’s Dry Grad is Saturday May 24, 6-11pm. We need a large number of volunteers to make this event a success and there is a job for any adult who is able to join us! We need help setting up and decorating prior to the event, volunteers at each activity station, help with organizing and serving the food, monitoring student activity as well as clean up and tear down of the event. Please click on the following web link (or copy it into your web browser if clicking doesn’t work) to go to the signup sheet:
To sign up, just follow the instructions on the page. It only takes a few seconds to do. Thank you for volunteering!
Attention 2025 Graduates
Come join us for an unforgettable evening of food, fun and entertainment at this year’s Dry Grad. Tickets are on sale now through school cash online or in the office. Tickets are $20 which covers all your food, refreshments, entertainment, a grad 2025 t-shirt and prizes for all! There’s something for everyone!
Watch in awe as magician Jason Verners performs his incredible act!
Test your skills on the arcade machines and get your portrait done by one of our talented caricaturists!
Try your aim at paintball and capture memories in the photobooth.
Grab a bite from our BBQ and cool off with a treat from the Ice Cream Truck!
Take a ride on our Mechanical Bull! Or try the mega obstacle course!
And don’t forget, there are prizes for everyone! The grand prize is a $500 cash prize at the end of the night! Come spend one last night with your gr 12 class and walk away with amazing prizes!
*** Please note: THERE WILL BE NO TICKETS SOLD AT THE DOOR. All tickets must be purchased by May 2, 2025. ***
Reminder – Other Schools
As spring comes and the weather improves, a reminder to students that they are not to go to other schools during the school day. Their focus needs to remain on being on time and present for their Belmont classes and learning as the final stretch approaches.
Belmont’s Multicultural Week is April 28 to May 2!
This is a vibrant, student-lead event showcasing the traditions and tastes of 26 countries from around the globe.
Flourish Food Program Volunteers
Thank you to the Belmont students who volunteered their time to welcome community members into Pexsisen Elementary school Open House on April 10th. The event was a great success, and our Belmont students did a great job helping Flourish School Food Program and welcoming community parents
Belmont Student Art Show
The Belmont Art Department is hosting a student art show! We will be displaying drawing, painting, mixed media, sculpture, ceramics, photography and digital work by our amazing art students. Please join us at anytime between 6:30pm-8:00pm in the Belmont Learning Commons.
Sooke Principals’ and Vice-Principals’ Association (SPVPA) Bursary (Open to Children of SPVPA)
This bursary is available to any high school graduate whose parent or grandparent is a current member of the SPVPA. Completed applications must be received, via email, to tphillips@sd62.bc.ca by 4:00 PM Thursday, May 2nd, 2024.
Deadline: All SPVPA Scholarship Applications must be received, via email, to tphillips@sd62.bc.ca by 4:00 PM Thursday, May 1, 2025.
To apply – Obtain Application from Parent/Guardian
Sooke Principals’ and Vice-Principals’ Association (SPVPA) LEGACY Scholarship (for all graduating students) This $500 scholarship is open to all students of School District #62. One scholarship will be awarded to one student graduating from each of our district secondary schools. In addition, one $500 scholarship will be awarded to recognize the most eligible applicant of Aboriginal descent within the district. Completed applications All SPVPA Scholarship Applications must be received, via email, to tphillips@sd62.bc.ca by 4:00 PM Thursday, May 2nd, 2024.
Deadline: All SPVPA Scholarship Applications must be received, via email, to tphillips@sd62.bc.ca by 4:00 PM Thursday, May 1, 2025.
To apply – Check Grad Google Classroom for Application
C.U.P.E. Local 459 BURSARY At least two bursaries (of a minimum of $500.00 each) are offered annually to graduates who are dependents of C.U.P.E. 459 employees) and are planning to attend a post-secondary institution or a career training/apprenticeship program. Please submit electronically by email to CUPE459@sd62.bc.ca by May 15th.Deadline: May 15th, 2025 To apply – Check Grad 2025 Google Classroom
*****Some students have not yet filled out any forms or payments for the Grad Commencement Ceremonies on June 15th, 2025, at UVIC, please note that the 3 pm ceremony is now full. You can now book in the office only for the 11 am ceremonies*****
Athletics
Another Football Fundraiser is here
Just in time for Mother’s Day! We are selling Hilltop Greenhouses Flowers Baskets until April 6th! See our flyer for all available flowers for purchase, pick up will be May 9th and 10th at Belmont.
Belmont Football’s Bottle Drive is Back!
Please start saving your empties for our bottle drive on Saturday, April 26th at Belmont from 9am – 3pm to help support the Belmont Football team!
Happy Pi Day
Our Math Dept held a superb celebration. It was a great day had by all.
Track and Field has started at Belmont. If it not too late to join, so please connect with Ms. Evans in Room B210 if you are interested. Practices will be Monday and Friday’s after school. Wednesday Uvic Events are weekly from 4 – 6pm. The google classroom has most of the information as well.
-The first of 6 league races will start this week on Wednesday, April 2, 2025 fro m4pm – 6pm at UVic Centennial Stadium. See Ms. Evans if you have any questions.
Thank you from the Sustainabilty Classes
To those who came out during the break to finish the school garden beds, and Flourish Food Society for the several thousand dollars of funding and staff time to purchase and organize building! The beds are so sturdy and ready to grow this season’s crops, and the next 10 🙂
Belmont’s Sustainability classes will be holding their annual Plant Sale on Wednesday, April 16th.
We will be selling native perennials (Camas!) and early season salad greens such as lettuce and kale. There will also be a limited stock of assorted perennials such as sage, thyme and bee balm.
Sale will be during last block and 30 min after school, at the main doors. Cash preferred.
Upcoming Scholarship Deadlines
District, Belmont and PAC awards are all due on April 16th, 2025. Students should be asking for reference letters and transcripts as soon as possible to apply. Cover letter and scholarship resume support are available for students in the Career Centre anytime! Email choskins@sd62learns.org if you need one! See awards below!
SD 62 (Sooke School District) Awards:
The following SIX awards are open only to students who attend Belmont, Royal Bay, EMCS or Westshore high schools. Applications are due by April 16th at 3:30PM
All applications are submitted through the District Scholarship GoogleClassroom: Class Code = Join the District Scholarship Google Classroom using the class code: ahs45gu
IMPORTANT INFORMATION: You are advised to submit applications BEFORE this date, and you definitely must request transcripts and references well before-hand. We suggest you request transcripts at least 2 days in advance and give teachers 10 days to two weeks to prepare reference letters or forms. DO THIS BEFORE SPRING BREAK!!!
Students can complete the application forms digitally, directly in Google Classroom or they can print them out, complete them by hand, then scan and upload them into Google Classroom. Reference Letters should be submitted electronically. Please print templates as needed from the Google Classroomthen scan and submit electronically. If students receive reference letters in sealed envelopes, please forward them to Christine Hoskins to put in the district courier. It’s important that the student’s name, school and scholarship name/category be noted on the envelope.
District Authority Awards (BC Ministry of Education Provincial Scholarship) ***Last year 47 Belmont students won one of these. The District Awards recognize graduating B.C. students for excellence in their chosen area of interest. Winners will receive a $1,250 scholarship voucher to use towards their post-secondary tuition. Students have up to fi ve years to use this voucher. The district will be able to award 113 of these scholarships to district students. There are seven categories to choose from:
● Fine Arts
● Applied Skills,
Design, and Technology,
● Physical Activity
● International Languages
● Community Service
● Indigenous Language & Culture
● Technical and Trades Training.
(Note: You may apply in more than one category. A separate application must be submitted for each category to which you are applying.) Deadline: April 16th, at 3:30PM, 2025
● LATE APPLICATIONS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED: Start your application before spring break. ● To apply – Join the District Scholarship Google Classroom using the class code: ahs45gu
Monk Office Supply Scholarship
This award recognizes a student who displays good citizenship and social responsibility at school and in the community and who plans to enter the fi eld of environmental studies. The value of the award varies from year to year. Deadline: April 16th, at 3:30PM, 2025
To apply -Join the District Scholarship Google Classroom using the class code: ahs45gu
Ron Warder Memorial Scholarship The spirit of this $750 award is not necessarily to recognize outstanding academic excellence, but rather to champion a student who embodies the qualities that Ron Warder embodied: leadership, community action, creativity, respect, perseverance, relationship-building, and a passion for supporting the school community and community at large. Requirements: “C+” average or better; participated in student government, clubs, school teams, and/or community activities; and displayed dedication and leadership in their service of school and/or community; and can demonstrate a positive impact on school and/or community through service.
Deadline: April 16th, at 3:30PM, 2025
To apply -Join the District Scholarship Google Classroom using the class code: ahs45gu
Victor Chen Memorial Engineering:
Student planning on going into programs such as engineering, especially at BCIT or Camosun, with good grades, service within the school and community, and financial need Will be a district wide scholarship as of 2020.
Deadline: April 16th, at 3:30PM, 2025
To apply – Join the District Scholarship Google Classroom using the class code: ahs45gu
Mosaic Forest Management Scholarship:
Awarded to an SD62 graduating student who is entering an education program in the fi eld of forestry. Consideration may be given to students pursuing post-secondary programs in fisheries or resource management.
Deadline: April 16th, at 3:30PM, 2025
To apply -Join the District Scholarship Google Classroom using the class code: ahs45gu
Sooke District Elementary and Middle School PAC Bursaries Note: ALL APPLICATIONS ARE DUE April 16, at 5:00PM 2025- THEY MUST BE TURNED INTO THE GRAD GOOGLE CLASSROOM, WITH ALL NECESSARY ATTACHMENTS BY THIS DATE AND TIME – ONLY ONLINE SUBMISSIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED AND NO LATE SUBMISSIONS WILL BE TAKEN. CONTACT MRS. HOSKINS FOR DETAILS – choskins@sd62.bc.ca
Colwood Elementary Bursary
Deadline: April 16, At 5:00PM 2025 To access the application form head to the Grad 2025 Google Classroom
Crystal View Elementary Bursary Deadline:
April 16, At 5:00PM 2025 To access the application form head to the Grad 2025 Google Classroom
David Cameron Elementary Bursary
Deadline: April 16, at 5:00PM 2025 To access the application form head to the Grad 2025 Google Classroom
Dunsmuir Middle School Bursary
Deadline: April 16, at 5:00PM 2025 To access the application form head to the Grad 2025 Google Classroom
Ecole John Stubbs Bursary
Deadline: April 16, at 5:00PM 2025 To access the application form head to the Grad 2025 Google Classroom
Hans Helgeson Elementary School Bursary
Deadline: April 16, at 5:00PM 2025 To access the application form head to the Grad 2025 Google Classroom
Happy Valley Elementary School Bursary Deadline: April 16, at 5:00PM 2025 To access the application form head to the Grad 2025 Google Classroom
Lakewood Elementary Bursaries
Deadline: April 16, at 5:00PM 2025 To access the application form head to the Grad 2025 Google Classroom
To access the *Robin Reston Sports form head to the Grad 2025 Google Classroom
**All SD 62 students are eligible to apply for the Lakewood PAC Robin Reston Sports Bursary. Preference will be shown to former Lakewood students.
Millstream Elementary Bursaries: Two awards
Deadline: April 16, at 5:00 PM 2025 To access the application form head to the Grad 2025 Google Classroom
Ruth King Elementary Bursary
Deadline: April 16, at 5:00PM 2025 To access the application form head to the Grad 2025 Google Classroom
Sangster Elementary Bursary
Deadline: April 16, at 5:00PM 2025 To access the application form head to the Grad 2025 Google Classroom
Savory Elementary Bursary
Deadline: April 16, at 5:00PM 2025 To access the application form head to the Grad 2025 Google Classroom
Spencer Middle School Bursary
Deadline: April 16, at 5:00PM 2025 To access the application form head to the Grad 2025 Google Classroom
Willway Elementary Bursary
Deadline: April 16, at 5:00PM 2025 To access the application form head to the Grad 2025 Google Classroom
Wishart Elementary Bursary
Deadline: April 16, at 5:00PM 2025 To access the application form head to the Grad 2025 Google Classroom
Belmont School Scholarships:
The following scholarships (in purple) are funded by donations to Belmont and are only available to Belmont students. Completed applications should be SUBMITTED TO GRAD GOOGLE CLASSROOM, BY:
Deadline: April 16, 2025, at MIDNIGHT
Howard East AVID Memorial Bursaries
These awards are open to graduating Belmont students in the AVID program – talk to Mr. Bendall OR Mrs. Hoskins for more details. Deadline: April 16, 2025, at MIDNIGHT To apply – Go to the Grad 2025 Google Classroom
Westshore Rotary Club Bursaries:
Three bursaries of $1000 are awarded to students attending a trades or academic post-secondary program next year. Service to others beyond yourself and financial need are the key criteria. The application requires a 300-word essay outlining the applicant’s service contributions. Winners will attend a luncheon the last Friday of June. Deadline: April 16, 2025, at MIDNIGHT To apply – Go to the Grad 2025 Google Classroom
Gesslein Mini Excavating LTD Trades Bursary
Open to Belmont and Royal Bay students. One bursary of $500 is awarded to a student pursuing the trades, financial need, and proof of acceptance to a trade school, or apprenticeship, or employment in a trade. Deadline: April 16, 2025, at MIDNIGHT To apply – Go to the Grad 2025 Google Classroom
Jaime Yates Memorial Scholarship
This $1000 award goes to a student who is pursuing a career in music of any kind. Deadline: April 16, 2025, at MIDNIGHT To apply – Go to the Grad 2025 Google Classroom.
One application for all of the following Belmont Scholarship Society Scholarships:
● Iris Reiss Memorial:Strong academics, financial need, preference for students who attended Colwood or Dunsmuir (split between Belmont and Royal Bay as of 2020)
● Juan de Fuca Veterinary Clinic: student pursuing a career in biology, sciences or animal sciences in particular
● Langford Women’s Institute: female students pursuing studies in agriculture, home economics, dietetics, nutrition, culinary arts, fashion, textiles, social work, health care, childcare, women’s studies or trades – financial need considered before academic excellence
● Lifetouch Canada: student must be in good academic standing and demonstrate good citizenship
● Eberle Family Arts Scholarship: For Students who have excelled in Belmont Music/Fine Arts Classes (preference for Band) and are pursuing music in post-secondary. If no student is pursuing music in post-secondary, it will be offered to a student who has excelled in music classes.
● Rein Eberle Memorial Scholarship: students who are on the football team ● Spotswood Memorial: female student who excels in academics and sports, especially basketball, and has excellent character
● Westshore Lions Club Lion H. Ralph Day Bursaries: three awards for strong academic students with significant financial need
● West Shore Developers Association: three awards for students who will be pursuing careers in the construction trades ● Westhills Land Corporation: For students pursuing engineering in post-secondary Deadline: April 16, 2025, at MIDNIGHT To apply – Go to the Grad 2025 Google Classroom
Gaetz Designs Arts Scholarship Open to students in grade 12 who have excelled in fi ne arts with a preference for photography. Students need to be pursuing post-secondary to apply. Deadline: April 16, 2025, at MIDNIGHT To apply – Go to the Grad 2025 Google Classroom
Gaetz Designs Women in Business Award Open to female identifying students who are headed to post-secondary school business programs. Deadline: April 16, 2025, at MIDNIGHT To apply – Go to the Grad 2025 Google Classroom
C.U.P.E. Local 459 BURSARY At least two bursaries (of a minimum of $500.00 each) are offered annually to graduates who are dependents of C.U.P.E. 459 employees) and are planning to attend a post-secondary institution or a career training/apprenticeship program.
Please submit electronically by email to CUPE459@sd62.bc.ca by May 15th. Deadline: May 15th, 2025To apply – Check Grad 2025 Google Classroom or see Career Centre
March 5- 9th Musical Theatre production of “Newsies”
March 9 – Daylight Savings
March 11 – PAC Meeting 7:00 pm Learning Commons
March 14 – Pi Day
March 17-28 Spring Break (no school in session)
March 31 – School Reopens
April -7 -8 Grad Assemblies Block B
April 10 – 3 Hour Early Dismissal
April 11 – Pro D Day (students not in session)
Grad Reminders:
******Grad Fees and Payments should be made on School Cash Online or in the front office. payments need to be made no later than March 12th, 2025. For more Grad information please see the link below
The track and field season will start next week. Practice is Monday and Wednesday from 3:30 – 4:15 on the back field. Do you like to run, jump or throw? Come on out and give it a shot!
Summer Learning
Careers Information
2nd Annual Seedy Saturday at Belmont!
This year the SD62 CUPE team, Belmont Sustainability Class, and Belmont Garden Club will host a Planting Table! Bring your kids to decorate a pot, then plant it with some early spring veggies to enjoy. A free community activity courtesy of generous support from CUPE 459.
Here are some upcoming exciting events for this month:
GRADE K-12 ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS
POWER GIRLS STEMSaturdays April 12 – June 7 | 10:30am – 12:30pm | Grade 4-8 Apply to join our free girls* program to learn about the exciting worlds of applied sciences. The weekly sessions are followed by a 2-week summer camp. The intention of this program is to make STEM more accessible, therefore priority will be given to equity-deserving youth. Our Girls and Young Women Programs welcome gender-diverse youth, including but not limited to cis girls, trans girls, non-binary youth, & gender non-conforming youth. SIGN UP HERE
SUMMER ACADEMY 2025Summer 2025 | Registration opens Friday, February 28 | Grade 1-8Science AL!VE’s Summer Academy is almost here! Calling all aspiring scientists, tinkerers, and creatives to join us to experience a variety of new and exciting summer camps. Explore the world of STEAM with our fun and new activities while also revisiting fan favourites. Simply bring your curiosity to discover the possibilities and thrills that are available in the various branches of science and technology. SIGN UP HERE
PRO-D DAY CAMPSFebruary 28, 2025 | 9:00am – 3:00pm | Kindergarten to Grade 6 Do you have a child in the Burnaby or Coquitlam School District? Do they have a Pro-D on Friday, February 28? Come join Science AL!VE as we pilot our second ever Pro-D Day Camps. With offerings for students in Kindergarten to Grade 6, there are exciting, hands-on STEM activities designed to engage young minds in science, technology, engineering, and math! SIGN UP HERE
SPRING BREAK CAMPSMarch 17, March 21, March 24-28 (half day) | Kindergarten to Grade 6 Calling all young scientists, inventors, and creators! Join us for Science AL!VE’s inaugural Spring Break Camps and dive into an exciting world of STEM exploration. With a mix of 1-day camp options and a week-long half-day camp, there’s something for every curious mind. Whether your child enjoys hands-on experiments, building, or discovering new scientific concepts, our engaging activities will inspire and excite. Our 1-day camps are now open for registration, while half-day camp registration begins February 28, 2025. Don’t miss out on this fun-filled Spring Break adventure! SIGN UP HERE
WEEKEND EVENTSOngoing | Grade 2-6 Science AL!VE’s weekend events occur semi-regularly, offering exciting, hands-on STEM experiences for students in grades 2-6 at SFU Surrey and SFU Burnaby. Each session explores a unique STEM topic, sparking curiosity through interactive experiments, engineering challenges, and engaging problem-solving activities. Led by passionate high school and undergraduate student instructors, these events provide young learners with the opportunity to explore new scientific concepts, develop critical thinking skills, and connect with like-minded peers in a fun and supportive environment. Stay tuned for upcoming dates and themes—don’t miss the chance to bring science to life on the weekends! SIGN UP HERE
UI/UX DESIGN (USER INTERFACE & USER EXPERIENCE DESIGN)Mar 1, 2025 | 10:00am – 12:00pm | Grade 8-12 The UI/UX Design workshop is open to Grade 8-12 students who are interested in creating designs for mobile and web interfaces. Students will learn about the importance of user interface and user experience design and use the browser-based design tool, Figma, to prototype a mobile app. Don’t forget to review theworkshop overview and requirements before registering! SIGN UP HERE
ALL GIRLS: INTRO TO HTML/CSSMar 8, 2025 | 10:00am – 12:00pm | Grade 8-12 To celebrate International Women’s Day, this session of the Intro to HTML & CSS workshop is for Grade 8-12 girls who are interested in learning the basics of HTML and CSS and how to use them for making web pages. This workshop is beginner-friendly and will use CodePen. Don’t forget to review the workshop overview and requirements before registering! Our all-girls programs welcome gender-diverse youth, including but not limited to cis girls, trans girls, non-binary youth, gender non-conforming youth and genderqueer youth. SIGN UP HERE
ALL GIRLS: INTRO TO JAVASCRIPTMar 8, 2025 | 1:00pm – 3:00pm | Grade 8-12 To celebrate International Women’s Day, this session of the Intro to JavaScript workshop is open to Grade 8-12 students who are interested in learning the basics of the JavaScript programming language and how it is used to add interactivity to a website. This workshop requires some experience in HTML/CSS and will use CodePen. Don’t forget to review the workshop overview and requirements before registering! Our all-girls programs welcome gender-diverse youth, including but not limited to cis girls, trans girls, non-binary youth, gender non-conforming youth and genderqueer youth. SIGN UP HERE
INTRO TO HTML/CSSMar 15, 2025 | 10:00am – 12:00pm | Grade 8-12 The Intro to HTML & CSS workshop is open to Grade 8-12 students who are interested in learning the basics of HTML and CSS and how to use them for making web pages. This workshop is beginner-friendly and will use CodePen. Don’t forget to review the workshop overview and requirements before registering! SIGN UP HERE
INTRO TO JAVASCRIPTMar 22, 2025 | 10:00am – 12:00pm | Grade 8-12 The Intro to JavaScript workshop is open to Grade 8-12 students who are interested in learning the basics of the JavaScript programming language and how it is used to add interactivity to a website. This workshop requires some experience in HTML/CSS and will use CodePen. Don’t forget to review the workshop overview and requirements before registering! SIGN UP HERE
MY JOURNEY AS A COMPUTING SCIENCE UNDERGRADMar 15, 2025 | 1:00pm – 2:00pm | Online | Grade 8-12Guest Speaker: Jin Song is a fourth year computing science (CS) student at SFU! She has been interested in STEM ever since she was a kid—her mom told her that she used to go around with a “Dr. Song” name tag and perform all sorts of science experiments with the limited supplies found in their house. For as long as she remembered, Jin wanted to be an inventor or chemist, but had not, in fact, become a chemist. She is hoping to finish her CS degree soon and is currently working on many side projects. Presentation Description: This presentation will cover my perspective as a CS undergrad student at SFU. I will talk about why I went into CS, what I’ve been learning in my courses, and some projects I have done. I will talk about how CS is a really broad field with applications in pretty much every industry in modern times since we are living in a “digital era.” I will also showcase my most recent project (web publishing site) and go over my workflow as a full stack solo(ish) developer. SIGN UP HERE
USING SOUND WAVES TO INSPECT CRACKS IN TRAIN SYSTEMSApril 26, 2025 | 1:00pm – 2:00pm | Online | Grade 8-12Guest Speaker: Zhen (Lisa) Li is a PhD student in the Vehicle-Track Interaction Research Group at SFU, supervised by Dr. Kevin Oldknow. She completed her undergraduate degree in Mechatronic Systems Engineering at SFU before diving into research on railway transportation systems. Her work focuses on using sound waves to inspect surface-level damage, such as shallow cracks, in train wheels and tracks. Besides that, Lisa is also interested in clean energy and machine learning. Presentation Description: In this presentation, I will first share my academic journey, from my undergraduate studies in Mechatronic Systems Engineering (MSE) to my PhD research. For this part, I will explain how my initial interest in transportation led me to pursue engineering, what I learned from MSE, and my current focus on railway transportation. Next, I will talk about two essential concepts of my research—surface damage on railway components caused by wheels rolling on the rails and how sound waves can be used to detect these tiny cracks. Then, I will also describe my current work and outcomes. SIGN UP HERE
SCIENCE AL!VE SUMMER ACADEMYSummer 2025 | Grade 1-8Science AL!VE’s Summer Academy is almost here! Calling all aspiring scientists, tinkerers, and creatives to join us to experience a variety of new and exciting summer camps. Explore the world of STEAM with our fun and new activities while also revisiting fan favourites. Simply bring your curiosity to discover the possibilities and thrills that are available in the various branches of science and technology. Click the button below to be notified when registration opens in February. GET NOTIFIED
District, PAC, and Belmont Scholarships are out!!
Students are encourage to reach out early if they would like support applying. All of the awards listed below are due April 16th, 2025 at various times. Please review criteria and applications carefully before submitting. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Check out the Belmont Scholarship Website for other March and April deadlines: https://belmontscholarships.weebly.com/april.html
District Awards(BC Ministry of Education Provincial Scholarship)***Last year 52 Belmont students won one of these.
The District Awards recognize graduating B.C. students for excellence in their chosen area of interest. Winners will receive a $1,250 scholarship voucher to use towards their post-secondary tuition. Students have up to five years to use this voucher. The district will be able to award 113 of these scholarships to district students. There are seven categories to choose from: Fine Arts Applied Skills, Design, and Technology, Physical Activity International Languages Community Service Indigenous Language & Culture Technical and Trades Training (Note: You may apply in more than one category. A separate application must be submitted for each category to which you are applying.)
Please note, there are special reference forms available for this award ONLY. They are accessed through the District Google Classroom OR paper copies can be found in the Career Centre! Deadline: April 16th, at 3:30PM, 2025
LATE APPLICATIONS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED: Start your application before spring break.
To apply –Join the District Scholarship Google Classroom using the class code: ahs45gu or this direct link
Monk Office Supply Scholarship This award recognizes a student who displays good citizenship and social responsibility at school and in the community and who plans to enter the field of environmental studies. The value of the award varies from year to year. Deadline: April 16th, at 3:30PM, 2025 To apply -Join the District Scholarship Google Classroom using the class code: ahs45gu or this direct link
Ron Warder Memorial Scholarship The spirit of this $750 award is not necessarily to recognize outstanding academic excellence, but rather to champion a student who embodies the qualities that Ron Warder embodied: leadership, community action, creativity, respect, perseverance, relationship-building, and a passion for supporting the school community and community at large. Requirements: “C+” average or better; participated in student government, clubs, school teams, and/or community activities; and displayed dedication and leadership in their service of school and/or community; and can demonstrate a positive impact on school and/or community through service. Deadline: April 16th, at 3:30PM, 2025 To apply -Join the District Scholarship Google Classroom using the class code: ahs45gu or this direct link Victor Chen Memorial Engineering: Student planning on going into programs such as engineering, especially at BCIT or Camosun, with good grades, service within the school and community, and financial need Will be a district wide scholarship as of 2020. Deadline: April 16th, at 3:30PM, 2025 To apply – Join the District Scholarship Google Classroom using the class code: ahs45gu or this direct link
Mosaic Forest Management Scholarship Awarded to an SD62 graduating student who is entering an education program in the field of forestry. Consideration may be given to students pursuing post-secondary programs in fisheries or resource management. Deadline: April 16th, at 3:30PM, 2025
To apply –Join the District Scholarship Google Classroom using the class code: ahs45gu or this direct link
Sooke District Elementary and Middle School PAC Bursaries Note: ALL APPLICATIONS ARE DUE April 16, At 5:00PM 2025
THEY MUST BE TURNED INTO THE GRAD GOOGLE CLASSROOM, WITH ALL NECESSARY ATTACHMENTS BY THIS DATE AND TIME – ONLY ONLINE SUBMISSIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED AND NO LATE SUBMISSIONS WILL BE TAKEN.
These Include:
Colwood Elementary Bursary
Crystal View Elementary Bursary
David Cameron Elementary Bursary
Dunsmuir Middle School Bursary
Ecole John Stubbs Bursary
Hans Helgeson Elementary School Bursary
Happy Valley Elementary School Bursary
Lakewood Elementary Bursaries
Millstream Elementary Bursaries: Two awards
Ruth King Elementary Bursary
Sangster Elementary Bursary
Savory Elementary Bursary
Spencer Middle School Bursary
Willway Elementary Bursary
Wishart Elementary Bursary
Belmont Scholarship Society Scholarships:
The following scholarships are funded by donations to Belmont and are only available to Belmont students. Completed applications should be SUBMITTED TO GRAD GOOGLE CLASSROOM, BY:
Deadline: April 16, 2025, at MIDNIGHT
Howard East AVID Memorial Bursaries
These awards are open to graduating Belmont students in the AVID program – talk to Mr. Bendall OR Mrs. Hoskins for more details.
Westshore Rotary Club Bursaries:
Three bursaries of $1000 are awarded to students attending a trades or academic post-secondary program next year. Service to others beyond yourself and financial need are the key criteria. The application requires a 300 word essay outlining the applicant’s service contributions. Winners will attend a luncheon the last Friday of June.
Gesslein Mini Excavating LTD Trades Bursary
Open to Belmont and Royal Bay students. One bursary of $500 is awarded to a student pursuing the trades, financial need, and proof of acceptance to a trade school, or apprenticeship, or employment in a trade.
Jaime Yates Memorial Scholarship This $1000 award goes to a student who is pursuing a career in music of any kind.
Gaetz Designs Arts Scholarship
Open to students in grade 12 who have excelled in fine arts with a preference for photography. Students need to be pursuing post-secondary to apply.
Gaetz Designs Women in Business Award Open to female identifying students who are headed to post-secondary school business programs.
One application for all of the following Belmont Scholarship Society Scholarships:
Iris Reiss Memorial: strong academics, financial need, preference for students who attended Colwood or Dunsmuir (split between Belmont and Royal Bay as of 2020)
Juan de Fuca Veterinary Clinic: student pursuing a career in biology, sciences or animal sciences in particular
Langford Women’s Institute: female students pursuing studies in agriculture, home economics, dietetics, nutrition, culinary arts, fashion, textiles, social work, health care, child care, women’s studies or trades – financial need considered before academic excellence
Lifetouch Canada: student must be in good academic standing and demonstrate good citizenship
Eberle Family Arts Scholarship: For Students who have excelled in Belmont Music/Fine Arts Classes (preference for Band) and are pursuing music in post-secondary. If no student is pursuing music in post-secondary, it will be offered to a student who has excelled in music classes.
Rein Eberle Memorial Scholarship: students who are on the football team
Spotswood Memorial: female student who excels in academics and sports, especially basketball, and has excellent character
Westshore Lions Club Lion H. Ralph Day Bursaries: three awards for strong academic students with significant financial need
West Shore Developers Association: three awards for students who will be pursuing careers in the construction trades
Westhills Land Corporation: For students pursuing engineering in post-secondary
February 24th – Grade 10-12 Course Selections close
February 26th – Pink Shirt Day
March 5-9th – Musical Theatre Production of “Newsies” opens
Belmont’s New Logo
Belmont was proud to honour its new logo with a ceremony this month! The event began in the Learning Commons and then moved to the second floor where hundreds of students could witness and celebrate the collective community work that has created this visual representation of our school. As part of this, we recognized the guidance of Elder Henry Chipps, the final design creation by Weyla Qwiy’aanitsa Chipps, the leadership of Teacher Danny Martin, and the foundational design work created by student Vienna Wigg.
Sr. Boys Rugby
Sr. boys rugby pre-season training starts February 20, and runs on Tuesdays and Thursdays, 3:30 – 5:30, and Fridays 2:30 – 4:00.
Everyone welcome to give it a try, no experience necessary.
Bring your cleats and a mouthguard.
********* Reminder that Grad Fees and Payments open on School Cash Online or in the front office starting February 13th and are due no later than March 12th, 2025 ************
Please see website for Grad at a Glance 2024 -25 for further information on Grad Events.
You can also click on the link below to order tickets.
Congratulations to Accounting 11 student James Stanton on finishing in 2nd place in all of Canada in Junior Achievement’s national student stock market competition! James, along with students in our Entrepreneurship, Marketing and Accounting classes, competed with over 3000 students from across the country to see who could build the most valuable portfolio! James took the silver medal by turning $100,000 into $403,000 during the five week competition. Each day, James along with his friends Jamie Miller and Liam Ray, spent their lunch time researching companies which could be the next to “break out” and even with rules in place to ensure students are more focused on longer term investing rather than day trading, James was still able to quadruple his investments.
Glenn Dodge, the director of programs for Junior Achievement BC, recently visited Belmont to present awards to James, and to our very own business teacher Tom Grainger who took first place nationally in their teacher investing competition. Congratulations James and Tom!
Tom was also invited to give the keynote address again this year at Junior Achievement BC’s “Celebrate JA!” event in downtown Victoria, where JA executives, donors and volunteers celebrate JA’s successes province wide. In 2024, their organization supported over 80,000 students in BC classrooms with business programming such as personal finance and investment strategies!
Kidovate is Back for April 2025! Kidovate is a fun, free entrepreneurship initiative of UVIC’s Gustavson School of Business for high school and middle school students. Kidovate aims to develop entrepreneurial spirit and acumen by encouraging participants to sell goods or services on Kidovate Market Day. This year’s market will be held on Saturday, April 5th at The Bay Centre. Last year more than 200 young entrepreneurs participated in Kidovate. There is no cost to participate in Kidovate and there are many resources available to help youth be successful. Check out http://kidovate.ca
The Rick Hansen Foundation School Program Difference Maker of the Year Awards celebrate and recognize youth and classes/youth groups between the ages of 5 and 18, who are leaders in making a positive impact for accessibility and inclusion for people with disabilities either in their schools or the broader community. Nominations are open until Sunday April 6th at 11:59 PM Pacific Time. Five award recipients will be announced during National AccessAbility Week (May 25 to May 31, 2025). Individual award recipients will each receive $500 to recognize their work, while classrooms and youth groups will receive $1,000 to share. To learn more, visit https://www.rickhansen.com/differencemakers or submit a nomination today.
Westshore Basketball is hosting Learn to Play basketball clinics for children (K-2 and 2-4). See attachment.
Important Belmont, District and PAC Scholarship Information:
The following was sent home to all grade 12 students and parents!
As we approach busy scholarship season here are some updates and reminders:
1. Belmont Scholarship Society Scholarships (open to only Belmont grads) will be posted in the Grad 2025 Google Classroom at the end of February. The deadline for these will be April 16th.
2. PAC bursaries offered from Elementary and Middle Schools (Open to RBSS and BSS) will be posted in the Grad 2025 Google Classroom. The deadline for these applications will be April 16th.
3. District Authority and other District based scholarships should be available at the end of February through a District based Google Classroom. Once I have the code and processes from the district, I will be visiting grade 12 classes to ensure students have this information. These are generally due 2 weeks after spring break.
Students can prepare the following for when these applications come out:
1. Scholarship resume (template available in the Grad 2025 Google Classroom)
2. Scholarship reference letters (having at least 2 as a starting point can really help students out in this process. Please note the District Authority Awards come with a special reference letter just for this to speed up the process for those specific awards.
3. Scholarship Cover Letter or Personal Statement (template available in the Grad 2025 Google Classroom)
4. For District Authority Awards students should be preparing a portfolio of excellence in their category. For example, if students plan to apply in the Physical Activity category, they should be gathering photos, videos, coursework, awards etc. all into one place for submission.
Lastly, from March 3rd -7th and March 10th -14th, Mrs. Hoskins will be offering scholarship application support for students in the Library Learning Commons during lunchtime for grads to access.
If anyone has questions about these processes, or what these applications look like, please email choskins@sd62.bc.ca anytime. The best things students can do now is prepare for when these are posted.
More information to come!
Upcoming Scholarship Deadlines:
BC School Trustees Association Scholarships for Student Citizenship
BC School Superintendents Association Education Scholarship Students wishing to be considered for a scholarship must be currently enrolled in their final year of studies at a public secondary school in British Columbia and expected to graduate in June 2025. One winner will be chosen from each of the seven BCSSA provincial chapters (Fraser Valley, Kootenay-Boundary, Metro, Vancouver Island, Northern, Thompson-Okanagan and Indigenous). Each winner will be awarded a $1,500 scholarship. The deadline for applications is March 3, 2025 at 5:00PM. In selecting the recipients for this year’s awards, the scholarship committees will consider demonstrated distinctive leadership that has made significant impacts to the social, ethical and collaborative fabric and practice of school(s) and community. Letters of reference will be required affirming the applicant’s accomplishments and efforts to improve the quality of life and foster diversity, equity and inclusion. The applicant must submit a short description (450 words maximum) of how their leadership has made a difference in the life or lives of others in their school and/or community. Leadership examples may include, but are not limited to, the following domains: arts, trades, physicality, scholastics, social justice, equity, well-being, diversity, advocacy, and cultural responsiveness. Only completed applications will be accepted for the scholarship selection process:
One-page description of how you have made a difference in the life or lives of others (450 words maximum).
Two letters of reference.
Demonstrated distinctive leadership by providing two examples, including a brief description, this can include an inspirational artifact, a short video, newsletter, photo, story, or other media.
Copy of the official school transcript of your grades to date.
Proof of application/entry to a post-secondary institution (apprenticeship, college, university).
Recipients will be awarded a cheque once proof of post-secondary application/registration and a Social Insurance Number has been provided to the BCSSA. Deadline: March 3rd, 2025 at 5:00PM
Women’s Cyber Security Scholarships Up to $5000 will be awarded to a student pursuing, or plan to pursue, a degree with a focus on cybersecurity, information assurance or similar field. See the attached application for further criteria.
Seven scholarships of $1000 each are available to students of the Sooke School District who are planning to attend full-time post-secondary school. In addition to an application form, students must also submit a resume and their transcript. Please note that 5 of the 7 awards are reserved for students whose parents are members of the Sooke Teachers’ Association. See the application for more details. Shortlisted students will be interviewed in May to assist with making the final selection of winners. Deadline: March 7th, 2025
RE/MAX 2023 Quest for Excellence The Quest for Excellence Program recognizes the pursuits in leadership and community contributions of Western Canadian students. High school students graduating in 2021 from British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Yukon and Northwest Territories are encouraged to write an essay to convey the contributions they have made to enrich the lives of others and their communities through leadership, motivation, volunteering and participation in charitable events or fundraising. Deadline: March 9, 2025 . 11:59PM To Apply – https://blog.remax.ca/quest-for-excellence/
