Dorothea Walker Elementary

About

Dorothea Walker Elementary is located at 4346 Gordon Dr, Kelowna, BC V1W 1S5. The school website welcomes families in both English and French ("Welcome! Bienvenue!") and highlights school planning, newsletters/news, and school community resources.

At a Glance

School type: Public School (Central Okanagan)

Education language: The school website presents a bilingual welcome ("Welcome! Bienvenue!"), but the sources do not clearly state the language(s) used for core instruction at the school or whether Dorothea Walker offers an immersion/bilingual program. District information notes that French Immersion is available in Central Okanagan Public Schools, but the provided sources do not confirm it is offered at this school.

Religious affiliation: None / Secular

Grades: 3-6

Phone: 250 870-5138

Email: marie-josee.dedard@sd23.bc.ca

Principal: Marie-Josee Bedard

Education Languages

The school website presents a bilingual welcome ("Welcome! Bienvenue!"), but the sources do not clearly state the language(s) used for core instruction at the school or whether Dorothea Walker offers an immersion/bilingual program. District information notes that French Immersion is available in Central Okanagan Public Schools, but the provided sources do not confirm it is offered at this school.

Programs and Services

Transportation (school bus) District Transportation Services provides school bus transportation, with online applications required for riders and seat assignment based on eligibility and capacity. Students must be registered to ride, will be issued a bus pass, and must scan it when boarding/exiting. Safety expectations include arriving at the bus stop 10 minutes early, remaining seated, keeping aisles clear, and following driver signals when crossing. Student fees support (transportation) If assigned a seat, transportation fees are applied through School Cash Online, with payment in full or monthly payments set up within 30 days. The district describes a subsidy/waiver process for families experiencing financial hardship (including Exceptional Circumstances via the school principal or income-threshold applications).

School Culture and Expectations

The school highlights the theme “Together We R.O.A.R.” on its homepage. The district’s bus rider rules set clear expectations for safe, respectful behavior while riding (for example: staying seated, keeping noise down, and prohibiting prohibited substances), and emphasizes that safety is everyone’s responsibility.

Transportation, Parking, and Getting Here

District transportation requires families to submit an online application for bus service; only registered riders may ride and no guest riders are permitted. Students are expected at the stop 10 minutes early, should wait in the designated “Safe Zone,” and may only cross in front of the bus when red alternating lights are flashing and the driver signals it is safe. Route/stop information is typically distributed to families late August, and transportation fees are managed via School Cash Online.

Enrollment

Central Okanagan Public Schools provides a district enrollment process: families find their catchment school, watch the enrolment application tutorial, and complete an online enrolment application. Required documentation is provided to the school after applying (proof of age/citizenship and BC residency/address documents). The district also notes additional steps for some families (for example, some newcomers may need an enrollment code through the Welcome Centre; international students are processed through International Education).