In May, 2025,the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League and the South-Central Interior Distance Education School announced a partnership to provide KIJHL student athletes with distance education services and resources.
WHAT IS SCIDES?
The South-Central Interior Distance Education School (SCIDES) is a publicly funded Provincial Online Learning School (POLS) in School District 58- Nicola Similkameen. SCIDES offers a wide range of academic and elective courses that enable our learners to pursue a large variety of graduating paths. SCIDES operates like any BC public school, with BC certified and trained educators attached to courses as well as administrative officers responsible for school operations.
WHAT IS THEIR JUNIOR HOCKEY PROGRAM?
As part of their comprehensive Competitive Athlete Program, SCIDES Junior Hockey Program offers educational programming designed to meet the unique needs of junior hockey players. Their tailored programming is ideal for junior hockey players as it works with the demands of training, competition, and travel to ensure learners are not sacrificing education for hockey or vice versa. Their Junior Hockey Program delivers comprehensive education that covers all BC graduation requirements and currently includes many students playing across a variety of junior leagues, including, but not limited to, the WHL, KIJHL, and PJHL. SCIDES alumni include NHL draft picks and NCAA scholarship recipients.
Key Aspects of our Program:
- Our online platform allows students to access content anytime from anywhere. This means players can bring work on the road and avoid those missed assignments that can come with in person learning.
- There are no set school hours. Students can create a schedule tailored to their needs, optimizing education, training, and competition. As your ice and gym times fluctuate, you can shift your school hours to work with the changes!
- If you get traded, education is not interrupted! This means avoiding the headache and confusion of transferring schools and changing schedules.
- 9 athlete specific elective courses, including 3 that are hockey focused, that provide course credit for training and competition as well as deeper learning regarding the principles of high performance and the hockey world.
- Each School of Record SCIDES student receives an individualized grad plan based on future goals (NCAA, Canadian U, Minimum Grad Requirements, etc.)
- A dedicated program coordinator, Corey Hermiston, who is a former hockey player and coach with a deep understanding of junior hockey life and hockey specific grad paths, including meeting NCAA requirements. Click to read a bio on Corey Hermiston.
- School of Record students and families receive regular check-ins, program specific messages, and progress updates to facilitate, promote, and maintain engagement.
- Players who have graduated high school can take courses to upgrade their transcripts for either employment or university, fully funded!
What Can This Look Like?
- Sample weekly individual student-athlete schedule
- 2024-25 Student Athlete Welcome Message
- Week 2 of the school year general program message to all athletes
- High Performance Athlete 11 Sport Psychology Assignment
Things to Prepare for in Online Learning:
- Self-paced and distance learning means students are not in front of a teacher all the time like in brick-and-mortar schools.
- Personalized schedule requires intentionally carving out time for regular school. Creating daily/weekly schedules is important.
- Self-starting and discipline are critical to success. These skills can, and should be, developed, as they are hard skills relevant to life.
- Communication is huge and students need to be willing to reach out.
MORE INFORMATION FOR KIJHL STUDENT ATHLETES:
For more information or to register, contact:
Corey Hermiston, Athlete Advisor, SCIDES at chermiston@365.sd58.bc.ca.
Tom McEvay, Director of Education Services, KIJHL at education@kijhl.ca.
