Bella Bella Community School

Bella Bella Community School offers a full N-12 program whereby students can earn a Dogwood diploma qualifying them to gain entrance to any post-secondary institution. Our mission statement addresses our commitment to providing a curriculum that acknowledges and operates in all aspects of our Heiltsuk culture and traditions. The Post-Secondary Committee will review and develop policies and procedures for the Post-Secondary Programs; review, prioritize and approve/reject applications for funding within budget constraints and Board policy; review appeals and make recommendations to the Board. During the BBCSS Annual General Meeting (AGM) that is held in October all Board business will be tabled until the AGM is complete.

It is the responsibility of the student to read and understand the requirements of being a funded Post-Secondary student. Within the Student Handbook students can fully understand the importance deadlines for funding, the documentation requirements for a complete application, the appeals process and the student categories. All of this information is necessary for a successful smooth educational journey with the team at the School Board.

This is giving your permission to BBCSS to communicate to your Post-Secondary institution. NOTE: Students will still need to request an official transcript at the end of term. Please have your Direct Deposit form in at least two weeks before the funding deposit date. If your direct deposit information isn't submitted your allowances will be made by cheque and mailed to the address listed within the application form.

​This handbook was created to help answer some of your questions and to prepare you for the next step in your journey. The contents of this handbook reflect on the concerns and struggles of Indigenous students who are currently enrolled in, or have graduated from a post-secondary institution. The handbook covers a wide variety of topics including finding suitable childcare in an urban setting, accessing affordable housing, meeting new people in an unfamiliar city.​

This handbook is meant to serve as a living, dynamic document for you to build upon. It’s important to note that while your initial goals may change over time, this process is a strong starting point from which you’ll be able to embark in many different directions. All the information is current as of May 2010 and through your own exploration, you may find new related links or resources that will be beneficial throughout your journey.

Consider where you’re at today. If you’re thinking of pursuing a degree or diploma at a public post-secondary institution but you aren’t sure what program you’d like to take, you will likely do well to start at Stepping Stone 1. If you already know what program you’d like to take and/or you have already figured out which institution you’d like to attend, you might want to skip the first stepping stone and start partway into Stepping Stone 2 with “Connecting with the Aboriginal Post-Secondary Coordinators”.

If you have already completed your application but are just looking for more information on the transition, you might want to jump right over to Stepping Stone 3 – Preparing for the Transition from an IAHLA Institute to a Public Post-Secondary Institution (PPSI). If at any point in your journey, you feel unsure or lost, consider going back to Stepping Stone 1 and “Identifying Your Strengths”. It’s always nice to be reminded of the gifts you have, especially in hard times – and it can help you feel more confident in yourself and the decisions you are making.