THE CHRONICLE

Monday September 28, 2026

It’s a great day to be a Spartan!

¬ GENERAL ANNOUNCEMENTS

Spartan Day & “Toonies For Terry”: Oct. 2

Our first Spartan Day of the year is THIS FRIDAY October 2.  We typically have 3 Spartan Days a year to celebrate the Spartan Nation and give back to our community in some way. On Spartan Days we wear RED!!  We hope to have fun outdoor activities and music. 

This year, we will be raising funds for the Terry Fox Foundation, in support of cancer research, through our “Toonies for Terry” collection campaign, online donations, and proceeds from pizza and cookies sales. We will also have a Terry Fox run/walk around the neighbourhood. 

For online donations to the Terry Fox Foundation, please use this Claremont DONATIONS LINK.  Let’s help Terry finish what he started.

Revised class schedule for Spartan Day.

Block 1   9:00-10:05 

Block 2  10:10-11:15  *Toonies for Terry*.  Please donate a Toonie in your block 2 class or at the office.

Terry Fox   11:15-11:55 *short presentation on the field, then Terry Fox Run/Walk around neighbourhood*

Lunch    11:55-12:35 *pizza sale fundraising at the cafeteria*

Block 3  12:35-1:50 

Block 4  1:55-3:12 

NEW – Rotary Exchange 2027/28 Info Session: Sept 30

Each year the Rotary Youth Exchange selects a few students from Victoria to study abroad for 1 year of high school.  Rotary covers most program costs, and families are responsible for flights, insurance, and personal spending money. Two programs are offered:
• Long-Term Exchange (full school year abroad)
• Short-Term Exchange (summer exchange program)
Join this informative virtual info session for the 2027–28 school year (intended for students currently in Grades 9-11):
WEDNESDAY, September 30 @ 6:30 pm (Zoom)
For info about how to register, see Mrs. Watson in the Career Centre (Room 217), or email her: cwatson@saanichschools.ca

Student Bus Passes

There are still many bus passes in the office waiting to be picked up. 

¬ ATHLETICS

NEW – Cross Country

Congratulations to all the Claremont runners who competed at Lambrick Park last week in the first cross-country race of the season.  Your Spartans put forth a dramatic performance, showing grit and determination in posting many top performances. Way to go team!

NEW – Curling

Are you interested in Curling? Come to a meeting TODAY at lunchtime in room 310 to find out more about this fun sport. We play every WEDNESDAY afternoon, and the first curling session starts NEXT WEDNESDAY Oct 7th.  No experience is necessary.  There may be an opportunity to attend the Grand Slam of Curling event for free!

NEW – Sr. Boys Volleyball

Congratulations to the Sr. Boys Volleyball team who won the bronze medal at the UBC 40-team invitational tournament. Congratulations to Jan VAN DIKJEN who was named to the tournament all-star team. 

¬ CLUBS

Dungeons & Dragons

The Dungeons and Dragons Club will meet TODAY and TUESDAY at lunch this week in Mr. Scheurkogel's room 320. If you've played before and want to check it out, or if you're interested in learning how to play, swing by and roll some dice.

Peer Tutoring

Peer tutoring continues this week after school TODAY and TUESDAY in room 130.  Scan the QR code on the posters around school to see who is tutoring and when.

NEW - Craft Club

The Claremont Craft Club is meeting on TUESDAYS at lunch in Room 310. Come out and learn new crafts, work on projects, hang out, and be creative!  Ask Mr. Fast or Ms. Ewan for more information.

Knitting, Crochet & Cricut Club

The Knitting, Crochet & Cricut Club will meet every THURSDAY at lunch in room 323. Do you want to learn to knit or crochet clothes and accessories? Do you want to turn your designs into stickers or iron-ons? All levels are welcome! For more information, see Ms. Tong, Ms. Tait, or Mr. Fast.

NEW – Physical Media Club

The Physical Media Club will have its first meeting THIS FRIDAY in Mr. Scheurkogel's room 320. That means old music, old games, old movies, and all things optical, cartridge based, or printed on tiny weird ribbons. Come listen, play, and share notes about old dusty boxes every FRIDAY in Room 320.

¬ FINE ARTS

No news today.

¬ INDIGENOUS NEWS

NEW – Orange Shirt Day and the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation: Sept.30

Good morning, Spartans.  This Wednesday is Orange Shirt Day and the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. At Claremont, we will honour this day TOMORROW (TUESDAY) as a school community.  Please wear orange TOMORROW.

Sept. 30 is a day to remember, reflect, and raise awareness — a day to honour residential school survivors, remember those who never returned home, and recognize the ongoing impacts of the residential school system on Indigenous people, families and communities – a day to appreciate what we have today and think about how we can continue to move forward together.

While wearing orange is an important symbol of recognition and solidarity, our intention and participation matter just as much as the shirt we wear. September 30th gives us all an opportunity to learn, listen, reflect, and think about how each of us contributes to reconciliation through our everyday relationships and practice.

HÍSW̱KE, Thank you all.

¬ INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

No news today.

¬ GRAD 2027

No news today.

¬ FUNDRAISING

Popcorn and Candy Bag Sales

Popcorn bags and candy bags will be for sale every WEDNESDAY in the Student Lounge.  $2.50 for popcorn, and $1.50 for candy bags.  Cash sales only. All sales will support our Learning Services programs.

¬ CAREER CENTRE

Canadian Universities Event (CUE)  - Sept 29

The Canadian Universities Event is TOMORROW (TUESDAY) @ 1pm - 2:30pm in the Small Gym.  Many Canadian post-secondary schools will be attending, from Acadia to York, to our local favourites like Royal Roads, SFU, UVic, and VIU.  Find out about specific university programs, application requirements, and student life.
This event is meant primarily for students in Grades 11 & 12.
Your class may attend, or individual students may attend with teacher permission.

NEW – Marine Careers Expo: Oct. 3

Are you interested in finding out more about Marine Careers?  Come attend an information Expo on SATURDAY Oct. 3, @ 11:00am - 4:00pm at HMCS Malahat (20 Huron St.). This event is organized in collaboration with the Royal Canadian Navy, the Canadian Marine Careers Foundation, and the Canadian Coast Guard.
-tour HMCS Malahat

-explore ORCA training platforms

-step aboard a visiting Canadian Coast Guard vessel. 
-meet industry partners, marine employers, and post-secondary educational institutions (such as the Western Maritime Institute) showcasing careers and training on the water and ashore.
FREE admission.

NEW – SheStart: Entrepreneurship Training Program: starts Oct.14

UVic's Gustavson School of Business has just launched an entrepreneurship training program with Junior Achievement called SheStart, for female students in Grades 9-12.  
Run Date: October 14/26 to April 14/27
Meeting times: Wednesdays, 5:30pm – 7:30pm
Location: Gustavson School of Business, University of Victoria
Cost: FREE
10 seats remain...  Sign up soon!
For more information and to register, see Mrs. Watson in the Career Centre (Room 217), or email her: cwatson@saanichschools.ca

Island Women in Science and Technology (iWIST): STEM Careers Panel – Oct.14

This is a free event that seeks to encourage girls and young women to pursue post-secondary education and careers in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) fields.  Five inspiring local role models will participate in a 60 minute panel discussion, followed by a Q&A and informal networking with students.
WEDNESDAY, October 14, @ 6:30pm - 9:30pm at Reynolds Secondary School
For more information and to register, see Mrs. Watson in the Career Centre (Room 217), or email her: cwatson@saanichschools.ca

Women in Orthopaedics (WORTH) - VIRTUAL Workshop – Oct 17
UBC Department of Orthopaedics and BC Children’s Hospital are hosting a virtual workshop that will provide insights on careers in healthcare and engineering, specifically in orthopaedics. The workshop is geared toward female students in grades 10-12.
SATURDAY October 17 @ 9:00am-12:30pm
Deadline for registration: Wednesday, October 14.
For more information and to register, see Mrs. Watson in the Career Centre (Room 217), or email her: cwatson@saanichschools.ca

¬ CLAREMONT PAC

Claremont PAC CPAC Website: 

Welcome to our CPAC community!  Please visit our website for monthly meeting dates, other school or COPAC events. Visit the site to sign up for ad hoc communications. CPAC LINK     www.claremontsecondarypac.com

CPAC Monthly Meetings:

Thank you to parents who attended our 1st CPAC meeting. Our next meeting in October will be a review of the funding requests for alignment and approvals. Parents can attend in the Learning Commons or online (7pm-8pm). 

October 20th  MS Teams LINK

November 17th MS Teams LINK

January 19th MS Teams LINK

CPAC Fundraiser: Country Grocer Receipts

Here is an easy way to support your PAC year-round. Save your Country Grocer receipts and bring them to the school front office.  We appreciate your participation in this fundraiser, which will benefit our school community with up to $2000 in grocery gift cards.

¬ ONGOING REMINDERS

If a Student is Absent or Late

Parents are asked to please email the Attendance Line AND your student’s teacher if your student will be absent or late for class. The Link for the Claremont Attendance Line is always quick to find on the Quick Links on the Claremont website’s home page: claremont_attendance@saanichschools.ca

Student Pickup and Drop Off

For the safe flow of parent vehicle traffic in the mornings and after school, this is a reminder that the bus loop, the staff parking lot, and Strangcrest  Place are NOT a drop-off or pick-up location for students, before or after school.

Morning drop offs: please use the student parking lot or drop off along the ample areas along Claremont Road or Wesley Road. If you are using the student parking lot, please pull further down the lot, as to not block up the parent cars behind you. Please do NOT drive into the staff parking lot.

After school pick ups: please use the student parking lot or pickup along the ample areas along Claremont Road or Wesley Road. Please do NOT park on Strangcrest Place across the road from Claremont. This small cul-de-sac cannot support cars parking and interfering with their driveways.

**A short fresh air walk is a wonderful way for students to start and end their school day.

Student Drivers

Reminder to all students who are parking their vehicles in the student parking lot: you are required to be registered with the school. Permission forms and parking passes ($2 each) are available with Mrs. Waller in the Accounting office; students will be required to show their drivers licence, their insurance papers, and their ICBC Driver’s Abstract.

Instagram Account

Claremont has an Instagram account: @claremontsd63 .    This is great way to keep in the loop on school-wide information.

COMMUNITY NEWS

Peninsula Youth Clinic at Shoreline Medical

At this Youth Clinic, services are 100% free, confidential, and explicitly inclusive of all genders and sexualities! This clinic operates on THURSDAYS, 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm, for Mental and Sexual Health education (there is no physician scheduled). Appointments with a physician are offered on FRIDAYS from 10:00 am – 12:00pm.  Both telehealth and in-person appointments are offered for our physicians and counselors. 

Youth Clinic: 2A – 2379 Bevan Avenue, Sidney, BC

To book an appointment:

Call 250-656-4143, then press 7, then press 1.

A copy of the announcements is posted on the wall outside of the main office door.