Education
Kelowna School Calendars
Facts checked · How we check facts
In this guide:
The Central Okanagan School District (SD23) runs Kelowna's school year from the Tuesday after Labour Day to late June, with two-week breaks at Christmas and in March. The bell schedule is predictable, but the professional development days scattered through the year tend to catch new families out. Below are the key dates, the daily schedules and how to plan around the days off.
Key Dates (Typical School Year)
A typical SD23 school year runs from the Tuesday after Labour Day to the last Thursday or Friday in June, with Winter Break, a two-week Spring Break, a few statutory holidays and a handful of professional development days in between.
First Day of School
The Tuesday after Labour Day, in early September. Kindergarten kids usually get orientation and gradual entry that first week, and some schools stagger the start so only certain grades come in on day one.
Thanksgiving
The second Monday of October, a single day off. Families tend to keep it local, with harvest festivals, outdoor time or a quick trip somewhere nearby.
Remembrance Day
November 11, or the following Monday if it falls on a weekend. It's a statutory holiday observed by all schools, and assemblies happen the school day before.
Winter Break
Roughly two weeks, from the third week of December through the first week of January; exact dates shift a little each year. It's the longest break outside summer, and a lot of families travel or spend it skiing at Big White.
Spring Break
Two full weeks in mid-to-late March, with schools closed for both. Good Friday and Easter Monday are separate days off in early April. Some families travel; others stay for late-season skiing and spring activities.
Last Day of School
The last Thursday or Friday in June, and report cards usually come home that day. Many schools fill the final week with events, BBQs and celebrations.
Professional Development Days
These are the days students stay home while staff do professional development, administrative and in-service work. SD23 usually schedules about seven non-instructional days a year, a few of them before classes start. The district publishes the dates at the beginning of the year, and since these are the days that catch new families out, get them into your calendar early.
Calendar Tip: SD23 posts the official district calendar on sd23.bc.ca each spring for the following school year. Download it as soon as it's up and put every non-instructional day, early dismissal and holiday into your family's digital calendar. PD days and early dismissals are the ones new families miss most.
Daily Schedules
Daily schedules in SD23 vary by school: many elementary schools run roughly 8:30 AM – 2:30 PM, middle schools rotate subject classes, and secondary schools run on a semester system.
Elementary Schools (K–5)
Bell times differ by school, but many run roughly 8:30 AM – 2:30 PM (Bankhead Elementary, for example), with recess and a lunch break; each school posts exact times on its website. Many schools have before-school care from 7:00 AM and after-school care until 5:30 PM through the YMCA, Boys & Girls Club and private providers. Some schools do hot lunch on specific days, so ask yours.
Middle Schools (6–9)
Grade spans vary by school (some middle schools are Grades 6–9, others 7–9), and so do bell times, so check your school's website. Kids rotate through subject-specific classes, often on a schedule that changes by day (a Day 1/Day 2 rotation, for example), with a morning break and lunch. Most middle schools run clubs, homework clubs, sports practices and other after-school activities until 4:00–5:00 PM.
Secondary Schools (9–12)
Bell times vary here too (Kelowna Secondary, for example, runs about 9:15 AM – 3:30 PM). Students are on a semester system, September–January for Semester 1 and February–June for Semester 2, with 4 courses per semester, though some courses run on a linear (year-long) basis. Lunch is approximately 45 minutes. After-school sports, clubs and activities depend on the school and run throughout the year.
Planning Tips for Families
Planning around the school calendar mostly means lining up childcare for the breaks and for the non-instructional days during the school year. Day camps through the City of Kelowna, YMCA and private providers run during most breaks, but they fill up, so register 4–6 weeks in advance. BC families are asked to avoid booking vacations during instructional time when possible, and extended absences require notifying the school.
That leaves Winter Break (2 weeks), Spring Break (2 weeks) and summer, which runs from late June through early September, about 10 weeks. Each school also lists its own events, early dismissals, sports days and concert dates on its website, so check it regularly and sign up for email or app notifications.
Where can you find the SD23 school calendar?
SD23 publishes the official district calendar on sd23.bc.ca each spring for the following school year, and individual schools keep their own event calendars on their websites; the district's events calendar covers board and district dates. Many schools also send calendar updates and reminders through communication apps like FreshSchools or SchoolMessenger. For the most current information, bookmark your school's website, get on the PAC email list and download whatever app your school uses.