School Info

About our school

Captain Meares Elementary Secondary School is a K–12 school in the remote coastal community of Tahsis, on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territory of the Mowachaht/Muchalaht First Nation. We serve approximately 35 students from Kindergarten through Grade 12 across three multi-grade divisions. CMESS is a place where every student is known, where learning is relational and inclusive by design, and where our community is an active partner in the education of our children.

Athletics & activities

For a small school, CMESS offers a full and active student life. Our students take part in:

Co-ed basketball
A co-ed Grades 8–12 basketball team representing CMESS.
District jamborees
Participation in District-led volleyball and basketball jamborees with other SD84 schools.
After-school clubs
Volunteer-led clubs and activities in sports, arts, and the outdoors, shaped by student interest.
Nootka Sound Outdoor Program (NSOP)

One of the great advantages of learning on the edge of Canada: CMESS students in Grades 10–12 can take part in the School District’s board-certified Nootka Sound Outdoor Program. Offered on weekends and holidays outside the regular timetable, NSOP lets students choose wilderness activities that interest them, at their own comfort level, while earning credits toward graduation, dual-credit college credits, and industry certifications.

All-season pursuits include:

Hiking
Surfing
Caving
Rock climbing
Expedition canoeing & kayaking
Wilderness camping
Skiing & snowshoeing
Avalanche & wilderness first aid training
Stewardship projects

Dual-credit options let students earn college credits toward North Island College’s Coastal Adventure Tourism program.

How did we do?

Before setting new goals, we looked back at what our previous School Plan achieved. Our focus on foundational literacy produced strong, encouraging growth — students made significant gains in reading and writing, moving markedly closer to grade-level proficiency across the school, and reading results in particular exceeded our goal. These are meaningful results for our learners, and they give us a solid foundation to build on.

Student well-being. Our plan also focused on mental-health literacy and self-regulation. Students consistently reported that adults at school care about them and that they are learning to manage emotions and solve problems peacefully. Because CMESS is a small school, recent survey results are masked in provincial reporting to protect student privacy — but the trend across the plan showed steady, encouraging growth in how connected and supported our students feel.
Our goals for 2026–2027

Each year we set goals through our School Growth Plan, developed with students, families, staff, and our community. For the year ahead, we are focusing on three goals:

Learning
By June 2027, students will grow as independent, capable learners — building self-regulation, critical thinking, and collaboration through hands-on, real-world learning experiences.
Relationships
By June 2027, students will strengthen their social, emotional, and mental well-being, and every student will feel they belong — supported by a connected, inclusive, and anti-racist school community.
Connection to the land
By June 2027, students will develop a meaningful connection to the local land and waters around Tahsis through regular, hands-on, place-based learning embedded across the school.