We're a small school with a big spirit
Our families get to know one another, which leads to fun opportunities for our children to deepen their relationships with their friends outside of school.
One of our key differentiators at PSS is support for attachment parenting and our invitation to parents who want to participate in the classroom when their child needs their support. Many parents are grateful just to be welcome in the classroom with their child for those first 15 minutes at the beginning of each school day as their child eases comfortably into the morning transition from home to school.
All parents sign up for one volunteer job during the year, and we are deeply grateful for their help in the care-taking of our school, from washing the dishes or caring for the gardens to taking charge of Sports Day or filming special events and performances.
“Amy, mother of Alvy (grade 2)When I drop my daughter off in the morning, I feel the same comfort as I do when I leave her with her grandparents. I know she is deeply loved here.
Our community is shaped by many long-standing traditions, such as:
“Tara, mother of Wilfred (grade 3) and Paris (grade 1)PSS is a safe and happy place. A hidden gem of a school. A modest, joyful and heart-centred community where children and their families are honoured and welcomed with open minds.
Every donation makes a tangible difference
The generosity of families, friends, and grandparents enables us to provide an inspiring and empowering school experience at an affordable price.
Like all independent schools, tuition fees and government grants alone do not cover the cost of a PSS education. Your charitable donation not only bridges this gap, it also plays a vital role in making PSS’ programs so extraordinary. We invite each family in our community to make a donation every year, at a level that’s meaningful and within their means. All gifts are valued, and needed.
Donations directly support initiatives that have been identified during the school’s annual strategic planning process, including:
• Playground improvement
• Hiring special performing arts resource teachers
• Professional development opportunities for staff
• Tuition support for currently enrolled families who have demonstrated financial need
You can donate online using your credit card by clicking on the “donate” button below, or if you’d prefer to make a gift by cheque or e-transfer, please email donations@pacificspiritschool.org for information.
We are a registered charitable society (# 13184 9564 RR0001) and all donations over $25 are tax deductible. Your receipt will be mailed to you. Thank you so much for your support!
“Parent who benefited from our Tuition Assistance FundOne of the most heartbreaking decisions I was forced to make this year was to withdraw my children from our beloved community at PSS. However, when friends at PSS learned we would not be returning, I was overwhelmed by their efforts to ensure my children could stay in the school. The headlines may be full of bad news, but I can tell you that the world is still full of good people – because my little family has been supported, held and protected in so much love by so many good people during this challenging season in our lives.
Our governance
Pacific Spirit School is operated by New Learning Society, a volunteer-based not-for-profit organization founded in 1987 when it opened Lifesong School (later renamed Pacific Spirit School in 2007).
Our mission is to maintain a community that provides educational programs for children and adults that promote the growth of the whole person. New Learning Society's board of directors is a diverse group including educators, organizational strategists, engaged parents, and experienced investment professionals. These smart and committed volunteers provide overall support to leadership, strategic direction, and financial and legal stewardship for our school.
Heidi Anderson brings the education context to the Board and is responsible for the educational program for Pacific Spirit School. As co-principal of PSS, she embodies the philosophy of the NLS and PSS and provides mentorship and support to the rest of the educational staff at PSS. Heidi is a founding member of the Pacific Spirit School Leadership Team and was also a leading educator in Life Song School, having begun the Kindergarten/Grade One program when her son, Liam, entered Kindergarten in 1994.
Derek Mah, as a father of 3 boys and 1 girl, is deeply committed to being the purveyor of good memories for his children. His role as a real estate investor and asset manager was preceded by past roles in equity research, corporate finance and strategic planning. Derek initially honed his strategic and analytical skill set through earning an HBA from the University of Western Ontario, followed by an MBA at the University of Chicago and a CFA (Chartered Financial Analyst) designation. Having grown up in Vancouver, Derek left the city for new experiences at age 19 and returned after 14 years to start a family. During his time away from Vancouver, he lived and experienced culturally rich cities such as Toronto, Chicago, New York and London and also had the good fortune to have worked with and learned from numerous amazing people, to have been a part of a successful start-up and to have experienced working on Wall Street. However, the most notable experience during that time was the opportunity to take 10 months off to travel the world (37 countries within 6 continents), with his wife Erin. These diverse sets of life experiences have not only played a large role in shaping who he is today, but also allow Derek to bring a truly unique perspective to the New Learning Society.
Catherine Dinim is a passionate educator and mother of two children. As a former educator at Pacific Spirit School, and now the K-12 Educational Program Lead at a BC distributed learning program, she brings a unique and varied educational perspective to the board. She is continually interested in both how we humans learn and develop throughout the continuum of our lives, and how education can be shaped to meet these needs and support whole-brain growth in a way that is nurturing, challenging, supportive, adaptive and creative. Transitioning from an educator role at Pacific Spirit to board member is an exciting opportunity to stay connected and to continue to share in the growth of the school community.
Sabera Dewji joined the Pacific Spirit School Leadership Team as co-principal in 2020. Sabera brings to the Board expertise in education, educational psychology and experience with cultivating a healthy social and emotional context for learning.
“Barb, mother of Millie (grade 5)My daughter's uniqueness is celebrated and accepted by the educators at Pacific Spirit. This makes all the difference into her attitude towards school.