Since announcing the One Campus initiative at the end of the summer, we’ve been taking the next steps toward exploring a shared Catholic school campus to serve students from Kindergarten through Grade 12 in the Fraser Valley.
We’re pleased to share an update on the work underway, address some of the questions we’ve heard from families, and invite you to continue the conversation with us.
A Vision for One Campus
One Campus is an opportunity to think differently about the future of Catholic education in the Fraser Valley. As our region grows, we have an opportunity to explore how we can better support students and families through a connected Kindergarten-to-Grade-12 educational journey- while strengthening Catholic education outside the big city for generations to come.
The vision brings together St. John Brebeuf Regional Secondary School (SJB) and St. James Catholic Elementary School (SJA) on a shared campus as one school, creating opportunities for a more seamless educational experience, stronger connections across grade levels, and expanded pathways for students to join the school community.
In spring 2026, the Fraser Valley East Deanery and the Catholic Independent Schools of the Vancouver Archdiocese (CISVA) Board of Directors approved the initiative in principle, allowing the work to move forward into the next phase of exploration and planning.
One Campus remains a vision being explored. There is still important work to do, and we are committed to keeping families informed as the initiative develops.
What the One Campus REC Has Been Working On
Since the launch, the One Campus Regional Education Committee (REC) has been working on Phase 1 of the initiative, namely bringing the two schools together under one governance committee to oversee their operations while beginning to plan for the future. The REC is now looking at what needs to be done to bring the schools together as one entity, including understanding government requirements and the steps needed to move into Phase 2.
This work includes surveying other K-12 schools to understand their administrative models and how those models affect day-to-day operations, and consulting with Ministry of Education representatives on the logistics and process of combining two schools into one entity, which helps build a clearer understanding of what One Campus could look like and what will need to be considered as planning continues.
The REC will continue working through the questions, opportunities and considerations involved in exploring this vision as we work towards the next phase, which is formally combining the two schools. We look forward to sharing more about this work as it progresses.
-One Campus REC
Questions & Answers
Since the initial announcement, we’ve received questions from families about what One Campus could mean for students, schools and the wider Catholic community. These questions are an important part of the conversation and help us understand what families want to know as the initiative moves forward.
Some of the questions we’ve received include:
Q- Will the student fees structures change (will elementary tuition be the same as high school tuition)? Will the family rate still apply?
Tuition rates for elementary and high school will continue to be structured separately, reflecting the unique requirements of each educational level. We currently offer a family rate to families with three or more children enrolled in the high school (SJB) and one of the three feeder elementary schools (St. James, St. Catherine's, or St. Mary's). This family rate will continue to be offered in recognition of families' commitment to Catholic education across both elementary and high school levels.
Q- What does it mean to “increase capacity”? Does that mean the elementary school is double streaming?
Increasing capacity means creating more opportunities for students to access Catholic education in our schools. This could include making better use of existing space, expanding facilities over time, and creating opportunities to welcome more students into the school community.
The intention is to move toward double streaming at the elementary level over time, beginning in the intermediate grades where waitlists currently exist at St. James. This would allow the school to respond to growing enrolment demand while continuing to plan for future growth. Decisions about enrolment, classroom configurations and further expansion will depend on projected demand, available space and the long-term planning process.
Q- Is fundraising for the two schools going to be combined?
At some capacity, yes. As One Campus develops, fundraising will be part of a more coordinated, long-term approach to planning and resource stewardship. Bringing governance, administration, enrolment planning and future capital planning together will help ensure resources are used strategically to support the needs and vision of the entire school community.
While not every fundraising initiative will necessarily be combined or shared between both schools, the goal is to align fundraising efforts with shared needs, priorities and direction. This means that, as One Campus evolves, fundraising activities will ultimately support the whole school community.
This work is part of Phase 2 of the initiative, which includes developing a shared approach to communications, fundraising, operations and long-term priorities. The goal is to help us move forward as one community, make the best use of available resources and streamline fundraising efforts to make participation easier for families.
Q- Is One Campus only for students who begin in Kindergarten and continue through Grade 12? What about students who want to transfer in after Kindergarten?
While a key benefit of One Campus is creating a connected Kindergarten-to-Grade-12 journey, the vision also aims to create more opportunities for students to join the school community at different stages of their education.
In many parts of the Fraser Valley, students begin middle school in Grade 6. One goal of the One Campus initiative is to explore opportunities for these students to join our Catholic school community, alongside students entering in Grade 8, Grade 10 and other points along the way.
As the campus grows, increased capacity and expanded programming could create more entry points for students from other Catholic schools, families new to the area, and those transitioning from public school or homeschooling.
Q- What are some examples of the expanded programming that might be offered in the future?
One Campus could create opportunities to expand or introduce programming that supports students at different stages of their Kindergarten-to-Grade-12 journey. Examples include continuous K-12 pathways in the arts, athletics, and STEM, as well as mentorship and leadership programs connecting older and younger students.
As the campus grows there may also be opportunities to bring in more specialized teachers, introduce additional elective options for students, including at the middle-school level, and expand language offerings. Other possibilities could include elementary-level club sports teams and an all-ages Catholic theatre company.
A connected campus could also create more opportunities for elementary and secondary students to learn alongside one another, participate in shared activities and benefit from the strengths and resources of both school communities.
We will continue adding answers to the Questions and Answers section of our website as more information becomes available.
Do you have a question about One Campus? We want to hear from you.
Click here to submit your questions. Your questions help guide the information we share and ensure families have opportunities to learn more about the initiative.
Join Us at our Open Houses
Representatives from the One Campus REC will be available at both SJA and SJB during their Open House events on Thursday, November 26 from 6:00-8:00pm.
We encourage families to stop by to learn more about the One Campus vision, hear about the work underway, and ask any questions they may have. It’s a great opportunity to connect with members of the REC and learn more about what this initiative could mean for our school community and Catholic education in the Fraser Valley.
Stay Connected
One Campus is a shared vision that will take time, thoughtful planning and continued conversation. Thank you for your interest, your questions and your support as we explore this exciting opportunity and what the future of Catholic education in the Fraser Valley could look like.