Welcome to the British Columbia School for the Deaf (BCSD)

Hello, and welcome to BCSD, the British Columbia School for the Deaf! My name is Catherine Bennett, and I am the K–12 Principal. I am honoured to serve as the first Deaf principal in our school’s more than 100-year history.

This is an inspiring moment for our Deaf and hard-of-hearing students. My lived experience and deep understanding of Deaf language, culture, history, and identity allow me to support our students in reaching their full potential and achieving success. My heart is truly with our students, and I am committed to ensuring that every student has the opportunity to thrive.

Our Learning Environments

At BCSD, our learning environments are designed to support the language, academic, social, and cultural development of Deaf and hard-of-hearing students. We recognize that visual access, direct communication, and a strong foundation in American Sign Language (ASL) are essential to student learning and engagement.

Elementary: Kindergarten to Grade 7

Our elementary classrooms provide Deaf-centred learning environments where students learn through play, exploration, and hands-on experiences. Sensory-rich materials, visual resources, and interactive activities encourage curiosity, creativity, and discovery.

Students have opportunities to develop ASL through daily interactions and classroom activities while building English literacy skills. Words, labels, and print are displayed throughout the classrooms to support vocabulary development, reading, and writing.

High School: Grades 8 to 12

Our high school classrooms promote active learning, independence, collaboration, and critical thinking. Rather than relying on traditional rows of desks, students work in groups, participate in discussions, and engage in meaningful learning activities.

Following teacher-led instruction, students participate in a variety of tasks and engage in project-based and inquiry-based learning. Learning connects subjects such as mathematics, science, technology, social studies, reading, writing, and ASL, helping students apply their knowledge and make connections across subject areas.

A Deaf-Centred Approach to Learning

Across all grade levels, we emphasize accessible communication, visual learning, and opportunities for students to engage fully in their education. Our classrooms foster a sense of belonging where students can build relationships, develop confidence, celebrate Deaf culture and identity, and grow as independent learners.

We strive to ensure that every student has meaningful access to learning and opportunities to reach their full potential.

Our Educational Programs

At BCSD, we offer a range of educational programs to meet the diverse learning needs of our Deaf and hard-of-hearing students. Our programs include Deaf classes, transition classes, mainstream classes, life skills classes and Deafblind classes. 

Deaf Classes

Our Deaf classes follow the regular provincial curriculum, with American Sign Language (ASL) as the primary language of instruction. Students learn core academic subjects, develop English literacy, and build knowledge and skills across the curriculum in a Deaf-centred learning environment.

Through direct language access and visually accessible instruction, students are supported in achieving academic success while developing a strong sense of Deaf identity, culture, and belonging.

Transition Classes

Our transition classes provide a Deaf-centred learning environment for students who need to develop a strong foundation in ASL before transitioning into regular classes.

This program is especially important for students who are newcomers to Canada, have immigrated from other countries, or have grown up with limited or no access to ASL and have not yet developed a strong language foundation.

Through ASL immersion, students develop receptive and expressive language skills, build communication confidence, and strengthen their readiness to participate in academic learning alongside their peers.

Mainstream Classes

All students have opportunities to participate in elective courses based on their interests and course availability. Electives may include entrepreneurship, economics, accounting, theatre, and visual arts. These courses allow students to explore their interests, develop new skills, and expand their learning experiences.

For core academic courses, such as mathematics and English, students may join mainstream classes when they meet the requirements and demonstrate the language proficiency and academic readiness needed to access instruction successfully. Appropriate supports help students participate in learning and work toward their academic goals.

Life Skills Classes

Our life skills classes focus on practical and functional skills that help students build independence, make informed decisions, develop daily living skills, and participate more fully in their communities.

Students are supported in developing skills for everyday life, personal growth, and their transition to adulthood.

Deafblind Classes

Our Deafblind program supports students who are Deafblind and have unique communication, sensory, and learning needs. Instruction is tailored to each student’s individual strengths and needs, with an emphasis on accessible communication, sensory awareness, language development, functional academics, and daily living skills. Through individualized instruction and appropriate supports, we help students build independence, develop meaningful connections, and participate as fully as possible in school and community life.

Language Access and Interpreting Support

At BCSD, we prioritize language access to ensure students can fully participate in their learning. We provide sign language interpreting support for students in Deaf, mainstream, and elective classes, as appropriate to their individual learning and communication needs.

This support helps students access instruction, participate in classroom discussions, communicate with teachers and peers, and engage meaningfully in their educational experiences.

Our Commitment to Every Student

At BCSD, we believe that language access is the foundation of learning. Through a Deaf-centred, bilingual approach that values ASL and English, we strive to create a visually accessible learning environment where every student can develop language, build confidence, embrace their Deaf identity, and prepare for future success.

We are proud to support our students as they learn, grow, discover their strengths, and build meaningful futures.

Welcome to BCSD, where our students are at the heart of everything we do!