Glenlyon Norfolk School
Pemberton Woods
Campus Renewal Charter.
Glenlyon Norfolk School (GNS) is a historic independent school in Victoria, British Columbia, with a tradition of educational excellence and student achievement. As we prepare for the future and the next generation of learners, we humbly acknowledge and respect the Straits Salish Peoples on whose traditional territory we gather. Specifically, we recognize the Lekwungen peoples known today as the Songhees Nation and the Esquimalt Nation whose historical relationships with the land existed long before the school and neighbourhood were established, and continue to this day.
At GNS, we are committed to meeting the evolving needs of our school while growing a strong connection with the broader community. Our team is focused on modernizing the infrastructure and resources at the Pemberton Woods Campus, both to address long-term seismic updates and facilities upgrades, as well as to ensure that our students have access to the latest resources and technologies needed in preparation to thrive as leaders in a constantly evolving world.
Recognizing the importance of being a positive and active member of the Gonzales neighbourhood, we are committed to engaging and collaborating with students, faculty, staff, parents, neighbours and the broader community. Through open communication and community feedback, we will work together to ensure that GNS is a positive driver for the greater community around us. Our goal is to create a healthy, vibrant, well-loved, and enduring campus that drives connection and enriches life in Victoria.
This Project Charter is a "living document" that will be regularly reviewed to ensure that we exceed the expectations of the community throughout this process.
Guiding Principles.
The four guiding principles will be refined in dialogue with leaders within the school and our stakeholders in the broader community. This will provide an inclusive way for us to shape and inform our planning work and decision-making, enabling us to measure our progress collectively over the coming years.
Inclusion
Guiding Principle 1
We value an inclusive and respectful environment that also offers spaces conducive to connection.
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We commit to fostering a sense of inclusion and kinship within our school community and the neighbourhood, acknowledging the school can offer important places to gather, interact, create and share ideas.
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We value sustaining an environment that is vibrant and respectful so that each member of the school and every visitor has confidence that they are welcome and valued.
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We value the school’s unique history, and celebrate its community, contributions and connections to the broader city context and traditional territories of the Songhees Nation and Esquimalt Nation.
Health & Wellness
Guiding Principle 3
We value healthy, welcoming, and accessible spaces that positively promote engagement for the school community, the neighbourhood, and the City.
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We value socio-emotional, physical and mental wellness for our students, teachers and our neighbourhood, and we will design teaching, learning and gathering spaces that are welcoming, inclusive and accessible.
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We will provide a safe and nurturing environment that supports positive human experiences through the built form and open spaces.
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We respect a values-enriched environment built on connections made within our extended community of students, faculty, staff, parents, alumni and community stakeholders.
Innovation & Learning
Guiding Principle 2
As educational experiences become increasingly dynamic and collaborative, school learning environments will enhance and support opportunities for learners to nurture their curiosity, creativity, and potential to embody excellence through the achievement of their goals.
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We value learning and co-curricular experiences that will be amplified through the creation of vital facilities as part of the renewal of the Pemberton Woods campus.
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We value preparing students to succeed in an ever-changing world through promoting critical thinking, creativity, resiliency and problem-solving.
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We will strive to create an atmosphere of discovery and creativity by fostering a culture of exploration and collaboration.
Sustainability
Guiding Principle 4
We value sustainable design in order to reduce negative impacts on the environment, on the health and comfort of those using the building(s) and on the surrounding community.
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We value a sustainable school design that offers inspiring, inclusive and adaptable spaces beneficial to connection.
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We will use sustainable design to create high-performance environments that ensure optimal health and productivity for all.
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We will develop a campus for the future that is ecologically responsible and economically sustainable inside and out.
How Will we Achieve This?
What we have before us is a new team and a renewed commitment to engage with you - students, faculty, staff, parents, neighbours and the broader community. All of your voices and ongoing input are essential to ensuring that the future of the Gonzales neighbourhood and the City of Victoria is positively impacted by the renewal of the Pemberton Woods Campus.
To achieve this, we will be holding a series of community briefings, workshops, and feedback sessions in the coming months. These sessions will provide you with the opportunity to share ideas and concerns while engaging in meaningful discussions about how the GNS community can contribute to the betterment of the neighbourhood and the city.
We recognize that everyone has unique preferences for engagement and participation. To ensure inclusivity, we will continue to offer diverse opportunities to get involved, including both online channels and in-person events.