Sunshine Coast Alternative School

About

Sunshine Coast Alternative School (SCAS) is located at 805 Gibsons Way, Gibsons, BC V0N 1V8. SCAS says its purpose is to provide learner-centred programs that help children and youth develop the knowledge, skills, and competencies needed to build a healthy community, while welcoming individual differences in an atmosphere of mutual respect and cooperation. The school is made up of several self-contained district programs located at different sites along the Sunshine Coast, offering alternative pathways and supports for students whose needs are not being met in a regular school setting.

At a Glance

School type: Public School (Sunshine Coast)

Education language: English

Religious affiliation: None / Secular

Grades: 5-12

Phone: 604 886-8647

Email: scasinfo@sd46.bc.ca

Principal: Chris Lekakis

Programs and Services

**Alternative education programs (self-contained, multi-site)** SCAS includes several self-contained programs at different sites along the coast, offering small and individualized learning environments. High school programs (Horizons, Flex, Mangrove, and Oasis) emphasize self-paced learning using computer-based and paper-based programs and may offer flexible scheduling to meet educational, emotional, and/or behavioural needs. **Online learning (SPIDER programs)** SCAS lists ProjectSPIDER (Grades 7–9) and Secondary SPIDER Online Learning (Grades 10–12) as available options. **Fine arts / creative opportunities** Several programs include creative opportunities such as community fine arts programs and art programming (e.g., weekly art classes led by an art specialist in NDVR; art program opportunities in Horizons; community fine arts opportunities in Oasis). **Outdoor education / experiential learning** NDVR blends Ministry learning objectives with life skills, emotion management, physical exercise, and outdoor education, including regularly scheduled outdoor education adventures. Flex also includes outdoor education and community field trips as key components. **Life skills / cooking and nutrition** NDVR includes weekly cooking and nutrition classes as part of its learning experiences. **Student support / special education and wellbeing** SCAS is supported by roles such as Inclusion Support Teachers, Counsellors, Career Preparation Teachers, Indigenous Education Support Teachers, Fine Arts Teachers, Teacher Librarians, and a District Inclusion Support Team. Flex prioritizes students’ social and emotional stability and includes personal and addiction counselling and consultation to families through a school counselor. Mangrove includes therapeutic intervention and can provide home-based programming for some students; staffing may include a special education teacher, child care worker, educational assistant, and access to counselling.

School Culture and Expectations

SCAS describes a learner-centred approach focused on helping students build the skills and competencies needed for a healthy community. The school emphasizes welcoming individual differences and fostering an atmosphere of mutual respect and cooperation. Several programs highlight support for students’ social-emotional needs, including emotion management, therapeutic intervention, and growth mindset development.

Transportation, Parking, and Getting Here

School District 46 requires families to complete a school bus registration form each year for any student who wishes to use bus transportation. Eligibility and priority are based on whether a student attends within their catchment area and lives outside the district walk limits (3.2 km for secondary). The district notes that the Sunshine Coast Alternative School bussing schedule can be discussed/obtained by connecting with the SCAS Principal.

Enrollment

SCAS is described as a set of district programs that provide placements through School Based Team referrals, while also considering school and self/family requests. The district states that students are typically referred by their home school when educational needs and/or emotional or behavioural difficulties prevent the home school from providing an appropriate program, and that students may self-request when they need an alternative path. For cross-boundary attendance within SD46, families are directed to submit cross-boundary applications to the school the child is currently attending (or the neighbourhood school if new), and the district notes that busing is not provided for cross-boundary transfer students.