Skip to main content
Stave Falls Elementary
Forest & Nature Program
Learn 75Curriculum ConnectionsMPSDMail
About Us
​​​Land Acknowledgment
Mission Public School District is located on the Traditional, Ancestral, Unsurrendered, and Shared territories of Stó:lō people, of Leq'á:mel, Semá:th, Máthxwi, Sq'éwlets and Qwó:ltl'el First Nations, stewards of this land since time immemorial. Halq'eméylem is the language of this land and of Stó:lō ancestors. The place from w​here Halq’eméylem (Uprive​r dialect) originates is Leq’á:mel. The language comes from the land, and it has been this way since time immemorial. We, as members of the Stave Falls school community, embrace our commitments to strengthening partnerships and relationships with all First Nations, Métis, and Inuit communities.

​Who Are We?
​Stave Falls Elementary is located in the beautiful Stave Falls area of Mission, BC. We are a public catchment school within the Mission School District currently enrolling students from Kindergarten to Grade 6. We are not a choice school, however, our Forest & Nature program offers a special focus on the standard BC curriculum by spending time outdoors and outdoor education.

Due to population growth in the area, Stave Falls Elementary was built in 1994 replacing Bell Road school. After 14 years, the school was closed in 2008. In 2018, strong community effort and support began to reopen the school and after much discussion and gauged interest, the school board voted in favour and the school reopened in September 2019!​ After a year of restoration, Stave Falls Elementary was restored back to its original condition. It may look like a typical school on the outside, but the inside has a "cabin feel" with high wood beam ceilings, wood pillars throughout and lots of windows that bring in natural light!

​​Forest & Nature Program
Our Forest & Nature program offers a special focus on the standard BC curriculum by spending time outdoors. By taking learning outside, we hope to bring learning to life, nurture creativity and imagination, improve attendance, stay healthy and reduce behaviour concerns. Outdoor time and outdoor lessons vary by teacher. Students must be prepared with appropriate clothing, footwear and extra clothes everyday as the weather can change several times during the day in the area. 

We are not a "fully outdoor school". Our students experience both the standard indoor classroom and outdoor learning areas. Students have their main classroom and access to several outdoor areas and forested areas on the school's property. Our property has 3 main forest learning areas, an uncovered outdoor "rock classroom" and a covered outdoor learning space. There is an additional forest area adjacent to the school that teachers utilize as well.


​​At Stave Falls Elementary...
We strive to meet the needs of all our students by ensuring that we are responsive, accepting, respectful and supportive of a diverse set of educational needs. other 
​​We work to remove barriers through the establishment of supports and the introduction of tools to help students experience equity in their education. 
​We recognize the necessity of creating a learning environment that promotes growth physically, intellectually, emotionally, and socially.
​We value nature, outdoor learning, and kinesthetic (physical) experiences. 
​We believe that learning is best retained when curriculum is taught through inquiry and exploration, provoking our student's curiosity and discovery of the world they live in. 
​We value a strong sense of belonging for all students, as well as equity and accessibility in our school so that all students have an equal chance for success depending on their needs. 
​We hope to be a school that makes all learners feel valued and important. Although students may struggle academically, their strengths in other areas are as valued, important and recognized. 
We value Indigenous ways of knowing and strive to include these into our daily experiences.

We Are ​​The Stave Falls Owls
Owls come in many varieties, but the most common type of owl found near Stave Falls are barn and screech owls. The owl is considered to be a messenger of spirits of the ancestors of the humans who have lived here for thousands of years. They have excellent eyesight that can see through dimensions of realities, as told by the local Kwantlen, Katzie, and Matsqui First Nations people.  
Citmex.png

Our school logo was originally designed by Brandon Gabriel of Kwantlen First Nation. The owl, citməxʷ, is important to the local First Nation people and their culture. 

​​Code of Conduct
​The Code of Conduct has been created to maintain a safe, caring, and harmonious environment. It applies to all members of the school community, those who travel to and from the school and includes any school-related activities at any location, on social media, or any circumstance and activity that will have an impact on the school environment. The purposes of the code of conduct are:

1) ​To encourage the development of socially responsible behaviour resulting in a positive reputation for students and the school community.
2) ​To foster a safe, respectful, and welcoming learning environment for all students, staff, and families.
3) To clearly communicate behavioural expectations to the school community.
The code of conduct is designed to help students make personal and socially responsible decisions while demonstrating expected behaviours and practice the following:

- Be positive
- Be kind​
- Be helpful
- Be respectful to yourself
- Be respectful to others
- Be respectful to property
- Play safe
- Report unsafe behaviour
- Respect nature
- Strive for your personal best
- Think before you act
- Take pride in your accomplishments​
​In congruence with the BC Human Rights Code, Canadian Human Rights Act, and Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedom, Stave Falls Elementary is committed to providing a safe, caring and socially responsible school environment in which all learners can achieve academic excellence, personal growth, and responsible citizenship. 

Safe, caring and socially responsible schools are free from acts of harassment, threats, intimidation, violence, abuse (verbal, physical or sexual), discrimination, theft, and vandalism. Safe schools do not tolerate the presence of weapons, banned substances, or intruders. Discrimination will not be tolerated based on (but not limited to): appearance, capacity, disability, colour, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression.

​​Bell Schedule
8:10am - ​Welcome Bell
8:15am - ​Classes Begin
10:00am - ​Recess Starts
​10:15am - Recess Ends
11:45am - ​Lunch (Eating Time)
12:00pm - ​Lunch (Outisde Time)
​12:27pm - Warning Bell
​12:30pm - Classes Begin​
2:08pm - ​Dismissal