Grade 6 and 7 shared their Discovery Projects with each other. Discovery is a component of the Applied Design Skills and Technology curriculum in the Junior School Middle School where students gain applied, hands-on experience. The projects require students to research, apply creativity, problem solve, and reflect, within the context of the learning. Students can participate in one of eight modules Future Builders (pictured), Jewelry, All the World’s a Stage, Let’s Code, Comic Book Creation, Scrapbooks, Keep it Calm, or Video Production.
Junior Kindergarten–Grade 7
A safe and joyful environment that fosters a love of learning
Our Junior School girls are enthusiastic and confident students who ask big questions, express their opinions and are excited to explore their ideas. Our youngest learners participate in projects and activities that fill our classrooms and halls with discussion, music and laughter. Amid all of this energy, self-reliant, inquisitive and reflective young thinkers begin to emerge, ready to take on the next challenge.
Each day at our Junior School is filled with wonder and discovery. The fundamentals of education, such as literacy and numeracy, are balanced with the importance of play. Field trips, building a website or racing through the School’s woods spark imaginations. Indoors and out become one inspiring classroom where girls are encouraged to apply their learning to real life.
Designed to complement the way girls learn best, the Junior School offers an intentional approach based on collaboration, curiosity and choice. Our educational program provides girls with a level of independence that increases over time from Junior Kindergarten to Grade 7.
Teachers who are committed to their students and an educational program that is integrated throughout the School provide consistency in teaching the girls life lessons as they progress through the grades, helping to prepare them for their next steps.
“The Junior School is a place where your daughter will be cared for and surrounded by wonderful role models who will ask the most of her and challenge her to be her best.”
Wendy Macken | Director, Junior School
Program Features
Intake years
- While applications are accepted for all grades, our primary Junior School intake years are Junior Kindergarten, Senior Kindergarten and Grade 6 Learn more
The CHS difference
- Our signature program, Ivy Compass, fosters personal growth, leadership and engaged citizenship through real-life experiences inside and outside of the classroom
Parent involvement
- Regular parent/teacher communication, volunteer opportunities, coffee mornings, parent evenings and events
Small class sizes
- Small classes led by caring teachers and specialists in art, design, drama, music, physical education and French
Enriching learning
- BC-curriculum-based arts and music programs are enhanced with co-curricular activities, including Primary and Intermediate Choirs and an annual Middle School musical
- Public speaking opportunities, including Debate Club
- Many after-school activities, including:
- Co-curricular activities and clubs, ranging from Cooking Club to Reporters
- Program Plus activities (fee-based), ranging from Goh Ballet Academy to video production
Learning support
- Learning resource support available to all students
Technology
- iPad tablets provided in Grade 1–7 to support the learning experience and to ensure a healthy relationship with technology
- Technology is intentionally introduced with digital literacy and the impact of screen time on young children in mind
Outdoor education
- Starting in Grade 3, girls go on annual outdoor education trips to challenge themselves, connect with nature, and learn about sustainability and environmental stewardship
Healthy habits
- Daily physical education and unstructured outdoor playtime
- Daily healthy, hot lunch provided to all students through our Community Dining Program
School hours
- 8:35 am–3:05 pm (Kindergarten)
- 8:20 am–3:20 pm (Grade 1–7), with supervision from 7:50 am to 3:50 pm
- Extended Day Program (7:30 am–8:00 am and 3:30 pm– 5:30pm) supports working parents who need an early drop-off or late pickup for their daughter
On Tuesday, October 15, Grade 3 students joined the Talking Trees Tour, an interpretive forest walk in Pacific Spirit Park. This field trip was an opportunity to meet and engage with Coast Salish elders and learn about the traditional uses of plant species in our local forests.
This week the Junior School hosted Jennifer and Matthew Holm as Writers-in-Residence. They are an American sibling duo who collaborate on children's book series, most notably the 20-book graphic-novel series Babymouse, which has more than 3 million copies in print around the globe. Their other collaborations include Squish, and My First Comics graphic novel series.