So, to make sure you know exactly what you’re getting yourself into, we’ve compiled five of the most asked questions and provided you with some links to further information.
1. What do boarders eat?
A lot! You can see a sample menu that shows the variety of food served in our dining hall, the Sun Centre, which houses the dining area, a café and student commons. The Sun Centre is next door to the boarding residences, so you won’t have far to go to get breakfast in the morning.
2. Who looks after me in boarding?
At SMUS, we have houseparents who are responsible for your well-being when you’re at the school. They’re like your parents, older siblings and best friends all rolled into one person. Learn more about houseparents.
3. What will my room be like?
You can see some pictures of a room and get some future advice on what to bring with you on the boarding room webpage. Each room in boarding is shared by just two students, and has a private washroom.
4. What’s the weather like in Victoria?
Believe it or not, this is a question we get asked all the time! When people think of Canada they often imagine snow, snow and more snow but in Victoria, we have an especially warm climate (we usually don’t get much snow, if any at all). We’re also in a rain shadow – which means we get way less rain than Vancouver or Seattle. You can even check the weather at SMUS right now as we have our very own weather station.
5. How close is the school to downtown?
SMUS is about a 20-minute bus ride to downtown Victoria. It’s pretty common for boarding students – if they’re not participating in school activities and trips – to go downtown and have a meal or watch a movie. There’s a sign-out system so that we know where you are, but you’re expected to gain independence here and we don’t send chaperones to follow you around. Watch a video about Victoria.
Still have questions about being a boarding student? Ask away!
