Royal Bay Secondary School (RBSS) is a secondary school located in Colwood, a western suburb of

Victoria, British Columbia Victoria is the capital city of the Canadian province of British Columbia, on the southern tip of Vancouver Island off Canada's Pacific coast. The city has a population of 91,867, and the Greater Victoria area has a population of 397,237. Th ...

Canada Canada is a country in North America. Its ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, covering over , making it the world's second-largest country by tot ...

. It is one of three secondary schools in

School District 62 Sooke Sooke School District 62 is a school district in British Columbia, Canada. It includes the suburbs of Victoria known as the Western Communities (or WestShore) as well as the mostly rural areas around the sea-side villages of Sooke and Port Renfr ...

right now and serves the suburban West Shore area of Colwood, Langford and

Metchosin The District of Metchosin is a municipality and community in Greater Victoria on the southern tip of Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada. It is a coastal community adjacent to the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Metchosin is part of the Wester ...

History and facilities

RBSS was established in 2015 as one of two new facilities to replace the former

Belmont Secondary School Belmont Secondary School is located in Langford, a western suburb of Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. It is one of three secondary schools in School District 62 Sooke right now. It serves the suburban West Shore area of Colwood, Highlands, ...

on Jacklin Road in Langford. In September 2013 construction commenced on the new $40.8-million RBSS. Shortly after construction started for the new RBSS building, local media noted that the school is located in the former gravel pit where the remains of a

wooly mammoth Wool is the textile fibre obtained from sheep and other mammals, especially goats, rabbits, and camelids. The term may also refer to inorganic materials, such as mineral wool and glass wool, that have properties similar to animal wool. As an ...

were discovered in the 1960s. Part of the remains are now in the collection of the Royal British Columbia Museum. In March 2018, a major building expansion was announced. Construction commenced January 2019 on the new $34-million 600 seat addition made up of 19 additional class rooms including 4 science labs and 2 state-of-the-art computer animation rooms, a third gymnasia featuring indoor artificial-turf, 2 additional athletic change rooms and office, two new parking lots, and a bus lane out front of the School property. Construction was completed October 2020 making RBSS the biggest Secondary School on Vancouver Island. Following the competition of the expansion, it was announced that the School District 62 French Immersion Program, currently at

, would be transitioned and permanently moved to Royal Bay Secondary School. The transition started in September of 2021, and is set to complete in September of 2024. The facilities are intended to support a wide range of programs, including expanded students' skills and trades training. The athletic facilities include three gymnasia, an Olympic size rubberized track, one artificial-turf play field, one grass play field, as well as a roof-top basketball court. The school incorporates the Teechamitsa Theatre, a 350-seat performing arts theatre which supports the drama and orchestra program. Career and Technical Education spaces included shop work areas for construction, auto/marine, and mechanical/marine courses. The school incorporates a Neighbourhood Learning Centre to support both the school and community needs.

Academies and special programs

RBSS offers academies and special programs in several areas:This Week in the Ravens Nest newsletter, August 2015
Retrieved 2015-09-23 * Soccer Academy * Dance Academy * Lacrosse Academy * Girls' Lacrosse Academy * French Immersion (starting September 2021) * Culinary Arts * Equine Studies * Dual Credit – in partnership with

Camosun College Camosun College is a public college located in Saanich, British Columbia, Canada. The college has two campuses, Lansdowne and Interurban, with a total enrollment of around 14,000 students (including Professional Studies and Industry Training) ...

, it is a dedicated trades program focusing on construction, plumbing, electrical, sheet metal, and pipe fitting where students can earn both high school and college credits.

References

{{Reflist

External links

Royal Bay Secondary School

Sooke School District #62

Neighbourhood Learning Centres webpage

Royal Bay Learning Through Music
High schools in British Columbia Educational institutions in Canada with year of establishment missing