Frequently Asked Questions

What is online learning, aka distance education?

The Grove (CVDL) is one of fifty-four public distance education schools in the province of British Columbia. These schools are under the direction of the B.C. Ministry of Education. The Grove (CVDL) is licensed and accredited by the provincial government. The Grove (CVDL) offers programs and courses that have been developed by Open School, Western Canadian Learning Network, and locally by SD79 BC certified teachers and are augmented by direct teacher input in support of the K-12 B.C. curriculum.

What is the School Calendar for this year?

All of our programs follow the same school calendar as the rest of School District 79. The calendars can be found at this link: SD79 School Calendar

Can I graduate with a Dogwood through the Grove (CVDL)?

The Grove (CVDL) is a regular SD79 BC public school which employs licensed BC teachers and is entitled to issue BC Secondary school graduation diplomas (Dogwoods) to graduating students. The Grove (CVDL) graduates can participate in a full cap and gown graduation ceremony in June of each year.

Can I take courses over the summer? 

Unfortunately, the Grove does not have staff that work over the summer. Students who were taking courses with us during the school year may continue to work on those courses over the summer. Teachers are not available in July and August, but they can be contacted when we are back in session in September. 

What does it cost to enroll in Online Learning? 

There are no tuition costs for British Columbia citizens who reside in British Columbia or are temporarily traveling out of the province for up to (2) two years who have not previously graduated. If you are an SD79 graduate, you may qualify to take upgrading courses at The Grove (CVDL) at no cost, please contact the Principal for more information. Some of The Grove (CVDL) programs may require refundable deposits for books, computers or calculators.

How do I register? 

Please visit this page for more information: How to sign up with The Grove (CVDL)

Can I transfer back to regular school from The Grove (CVDL)?

Yes, you may transfer back to any SD79 school. All Grove students have a transition plan as a part of their annual Student Learning Plan. At year-end, if a family wishes to move to a new program in SD79, the transition usually starts before the end of the school year. This will be different for each family and may require some consultation with various team members.

During the year, students may transfer in or out of The Grove (CVDL) at natural transition times. This could also look differently for different families. This may require some team meetings if families wish to attend a school outside of their catchment area. For grades K to 9, the matching of the curriculum will be determined by The Grove (CVDL) teachers for incoming students. The match for students leaving The Grove (CVDL) and entering regular schools will be the receiving school’s responsibility.

What if I attend another school, can I take courses at The Grove?

For Students in K to 9:
K to 9 students must have permission from both school Principals. The Grove must be their main School of Record (SOR).

For Students in Grades 10 to 12
Students in Grades 10 to 12 have a choice. They may take courses only with us at The Grove, or they may choose to take courses at both at their neighbourhood school and The Grove (CVDL) at no cost (called cross-enrollment).

*A student can not be enrolled in the same course at the same time at two different schools.

What grade 10 to 12 courses do you offer?

We offer a wide-range of courses toward a full Dogwood Graduation Diploma. Please visit this page for more information: List of all course offerings at The Grove (CVDL) 10 to 12 program

What can I start? 

New enrollments for our K to 9 programs begin in June. We love to have our enrollments for the school year completed by mid September so we can begin to create a sense of community. After September 30th we accept new enrollments if there are spaces available in the program. If no spaces are available at that time, a family will be put on a wait-list.

For students in grades 10 to 12, new courses may be started at any time. In saying that, we love it if students can complete their courses by mid June (as we all need a summer vacation!). Secondary courses typically average around 90 to 110 hours, but students can work at their own pace.

How do I find out Graduation Requirements? 

Grade and graduation requirements are outlined on the Ministry of Education Website, you can find them at this link: New Graduation Program Requirements. You can make an appointment at ANY time to work with The Grove’s (CVDL) academic advisor to review your progress towards graduation.

2022/23 Graduation Handbook

Can I do Online Learning by myself?

In grades K to 9 all students must have a home facilitator working with them. A majority of the program will be delivered at home with the home facilitator, guided and supported in collaboration with a BC certified teacher. In grades 10 to 12, parents or guardians (aka home facilitator) are expected to assist students by monitoring time and work completed (basic executive functioning). Parental help may not be possible in some courses and may not be required. A tutor may be hired by the family if and when needed (at their cost). The teachers and advisors at The Grove (CVDL) are here to provide assistance either face to face, by phone, virtually, email or through texting 🙂