Kelset (which is pronounced kwelset) Elementary School starts at kindergarten and finishes at grade 5. Kelset is an English speaking school but do have french lessons for each school year more then once a week as French is quite a dominant language in Canada besides English. This school is an excellent place for anyone to go to for their placement due to the whole school community being extremely helpful and friendly. As well as that the school has a strong emphasis on the importance of nature and recycling and the importance of being 'green' unlike many other schools in Canada and the UK. Another aspect of the school which is interesting is the link it has with the First Nations (Native Indians), that is why Kelset has such a strange pronunciation.
Fortunately there are loads of buses in Victoria and the surrounding areas, therefore if you don't have a car or can't afford to hire one then you won'e be stuck. It goes with out saying that there are taxis but from down town Victoria up to North Saanich (where Kelset is, a good 20 minute drive) you are looking at quite a hefty taxi fare.
There are many things to do in down town Victoria (which is around a 20 minute drive from Kelset in North Saanich) day and night. There is a good sized shopping mall in the centre of the down town area as well as streets full of little boutiques and souvenir shops. As well as shops there are numerous bars and restaurants, many of which are reasonably priced.
Things to do, things not to do
One thing that is a MUST when you stay on Victoria Island is to catch the ferry over to Vancouver mainland for the weekend (as there are too many things to see in just one day). It won't be a very cheap excursion but it will be worth it. The ferry costs per person 14.25 candian dollars (one way), however if you are taking a car with you it's an extra $47.25. An average hotel room will cost around $160 a night. Once in Vancouver a few places which are a must see are, Stanley Park (free), Capilino Suspension Bridge ($27 for students) and Grouse Mountain ($40).
In Victoria itself it's rich with things for people to do and to see. The parliament buildings is a must see along with The Empress Hotel, both of which are downtown by the inner harbour, which looks absolutly beautiful on a sunny day. There is also a museum and an imax theatre close by which are extremely interesting and reasonably priced. Due to the strong link with the First Nations the island is full of totem poles and first nations art shops which are great in order to experience a very different culture.
As for things not to do, try not to converse with the 'street people'. They are basically homeless people but will harass you for money if they get the chance and if you are alone it definitely wouldn't be wise to stop and talk to them.
- www.travelsupermarket.com (flights)
- www.canada.gc.ca (check visas etc)
- www.fco.gov.uk (check visas and if there are any problems in the country at the time)
- www.axa.co.uk (insurance)
- kelset.sd63.bc.ca (school website)
The banks can charge you quite a lot to draw out money so it would be wise to take quite a lot of cash/travellors cheques with you and then only draw out money when you really need to and when you do draw out what you think you'll need for the remainder of the trip because bank charges can add up.
Double check that you defintely don't need a visa or a working permit, although at the moment you don't need either because a) you're a British Citizen (in most cases anyway) and b) you are not getting paid at your placement. However things can change therefore it's wise to just double check.
Make sure you have the correct insurance and that it'll cover everything because you never know.
Research Victoria just so that you know exactly what things you would like to do and therefore you can plan around your placement hours and make the most of your trip.
PRICES (a guildline to how much your trip may cost)
Flight = £704 (flying with KLM and WestJet)
Insurance = £62
Rent = £320
Spends =£500+
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