FESL (Framework for Enhancing Student Learning)

Lake Cowichan School (LCS) is located on the traditional, unceded lands of the Ts’uubaa-asax people and we are grateful to work, learn, and play on this beautiful land. Cowichan Lake also known as Kaatza, meaning “The Lake” is a small community on the west coast of Vancouver Island. The community of Lake Cowichan is home to the Ts’uubaa-asatx Nation (with roots to the Dididaht group of tribes).

Our school is situated in a small multi-generational lakeside community.  This idyllic community is in the town of Lake Cowichan, surrounded by the beautiful heritage of the Cowichan River flowing through the center of town. We have many students that come to us from other communities that comprise the Cowichan Lake community.  These communities include Youbou, Honeymoon Bay, Mesachie Lake, and Caycuse.

In a smaller school community, students have more opportunities to receive personalized attention from their teachers and other school staff. This allows more opportunities to create stronger relationships and more individualized support for academic and personal needs. We are a diverse and inclusive school with a community feel that welcomes all.

Having a small population of students in the grade 10-12 grad program, we are still able to offer a vast array of electives and academic courses. We have students graduate from Lake Cowichan School each year, prepared for further learning in Trades, Sciences, Arts, Athletics, Languages, Computer Studies, and much more.

Active involvement with the community: We are actively involved with the local community. Staff provide students with opportunities to develop civic responsibility and leadership skills, as well as create partnerships that benefit both the school and the community. Throughout the year, students engage in community partnerships with local businesses and community organizations. We work closely with our community partners to create positive relationships and a safe culture.

Supportive resources/dedicated and knowledgeable staff: Our school provides resources such as counseling services, peer tutoring, and academic support which can help students overcome challenges and achieve success. Our staff is comprised of Educators, Educational Assistants, and Support Workers who are passionate about teaching and develop strong connections to inspire students to learn and achieve their goals

Overall, a small community feel in a school can offer many benefits that can contribute to a positive and supportive learning environment for students. Local community teams support our students by coming into our school to promote literacy through reading, as well as hockey skill development and mentorship.

Community members provide students opportunities to work at local businesses, Cowichan Community Services supports students and families in the school, scholarships and grants are provided year after year from small town businesses, and small community organizations and community members readily contribute funds towards school fundraisers. As such, there is a greater sense of accountability among students, faculty, and staff. This helps to promote positive behavior, academic achievement, and a culture of respect and responsibility.

Our school is a mecca for students to dive deeper into a variety of learning in exploratory electives such as: cooking/baking, gardening, guitar, rock climbing, theatre, volleyball skill PE classes, art, pottery, woodwork, hockey, curling, skating, bowling as well as outdoor learning in the nearby trails and parks. We truly do live in paradise; surrounded by both water and wilderness. The staff at Lake Cowichan School embrace their passions which positively impact so many of our children. As learners themselves, our staff model and create inclusive learning environments that encompass the whole child. It is evident through inquiry-based learning that students are gaining a deeper understanding of the core and curricular competencies which peaks their learning interests thus creating lifelong learners.

What are the important demographics of our school and community?

Lake Cowichan School is home to approximately 375 students in grades 4-12. We have a unique school campus which will consist of 8 elementary divisions from grades 4-7 upstairs for the 2023-2024 school year. Downstairs is home to our grade 8-12 secondary students. Our school site also houses a satellite campus for students enrolled at Cowichan Valley Open Learning as well as a home to our local Strong Start program.

Students primarily arrive to school by bus, some students are dropped off by vehicle and others walk as many families live near the school area. Our population is diverse with 13% of our learners comprising a Ministry of Education designation, and 22% of our learners self-identify as Indigenous. Many of our Indigenous students are of Metis heritage.

What do we celebrate?

We celebrate student learning and embrace a culture of care. Our learners are provided with a variety of opportunities to celebrate their learning ranging from the Young Entrepreneur program, STEM challenges to the salmon enhancement program. Students also participate in the following activities and teams: track and field, cross country (events often coordinated with the Palsson K-3 Elementary School), chess club, volleyball, hockey, basketball, badminton, soccer, rugby and climbing. Lake Cowichan School students run both a leadership class as well as a SOGI tea club for students. In December, the school provides a winter luncheon which is not possible without the monetary support and volunteers from the community. The school also supports many of the local community ambassador programs such as Cowichan Lake Ambassador Program, Stream and Forest keepers, Trail Blazers and other water basin initiatives. At the end of every year, our grade 12 graduating students are celebrated for all their achievements in a school grad ceremony, district scholarship ceremony, community scholarship night, capstone projects, health fair presentations and the Indigenous grad ceremony. Each year our social justice class provides students an opportunity to engage in local projects that help support members in the community and contribute towards creating a safe and positive learning environment within the school. A project that is still very alive in our school is the yearbook. Students work diligently throughout the year capturing all the events and faces of the students in our school. We celebrate the success of the school year with the memories created for the annual yearbook. In September and June, we celebrate all Indigenous Peoples, and we participate in activities to deepen our understanding of the local and national Indigenous cultures in our country.

We have a weekly Laker Card draw on Fridays to win donuts. This has been an ongoing tradition for years. Students actively seek opportunities to demonstrate leadership, responsibility, kindness, being safe, showing pride in their school, determination, cooperation with others and overall making our school a better place to be. This positive reinforcement helps to build empathy within a community of young learners.