# Suwa'lkh School — Parents' Guide > Suwa'lkh School (1432 Brunette Ave, V3K 1G5) — SD43's Indigenous-grounded alternate transition program for grades 8–10. **Source:** https://soldbycraig.ca/suwalkh-school-guide/ **Author:** Craig Johnston, REALTOR® (BC Licence V99960) · The MACNABS · Royal LePage Elite West **Site:** https://soldbycraig.ca --- District Alternate Program · Indigenous-Grounded · Grades 8–10 ## Suwa'lkh School — parents' guide + homes in the catchment. Updated July 2026 · Craig Johnston, REALTOR® V99960 A Coquitlam REALTOR®'s read on Suwa'lkh — SD43's Indigenous-grounded alternate transition school for grades 8–10. How the program works, why it's referral-based district-wide, and where it fits in the SD43 alternate-education landscape. [Book a Strategy Call](/book-a-strategy-call-with-craig-johnston/) [Call Craig — 604-202-6092](tel:+16042026092) Quick answer **Suwa'lkh School** — Suwa'lkh School is a district alternate program school in Coquitlam, serving grades 8–10 transition in the Maillardville · Brunette Avenue area. SD43's Indigenous-grounded alternate transition program (grades 8–10). Address: 1432 Brunette Avenue, V3K 1G5. Phone 604-523-6011. Verified school facts · SD43 ## About Suwa'lkh School. School type District Alternate Program Grades 8–10 transition District SD43 (Coquitlam School District) Address 1432 Brunette Avenue, Coquitlam, BC V3K 1G5 Phone [604-523-6011](tel:+16045236011) Website [SD43 school page →](https://www.sd43.bc.ca/school/Suwalkh/) Administration (2025–26) Judith Payne (Principal) VP: Confirm current VP roster with the school office. Enrolment Small intentional cohort — confirm current enrolment with the school office. School hours Confirm the current year's bell schedule directly with the school at 604-523-6011. In-catchment registration [SD43 district registration →](https://www.sd43.bc.ca/Schools/Registration/Pages/default.aspx) Cross-catchment / school of choice SD43 cross-catchment policy → Catchment locator [SD43 school locator →](https://www.sd43.bc.ca/Schools/Locator/Pages/default.aspx) School details verified against the SD43 school page (June 2026). Bell schedules, administrators, and program details can change year to year — confirm the current year directly with the school office before relying on any specific number. What this school is best known for ## SD43's Indigenous-grounded alternate transition program for grades 8–10 — small groups, integrated interest-responsive curriculum, intensive social and academic support. Open to all students; Indigenous teachings are core to the program. Partners with Fresh Roots for a school-garden / farm-to-school program. Suwa'lkh — meaning 'New Beginnings' in Hul'q'umi'num' — is SD43's alternate transition school for students who need a different setting than a standard middle or secondary school. It serves grades 8–10 with small groups, integrated curriculum that responds to student interests, and intensive social and academic support. Indigenous teachings are woven through the entire program. The school partners with Fresh Roots for a school-garden / farm-to-school program, giving students hands-on land-based learning alongside their academics. Programs & academic profile ## What Suwa'lkh School actually offers. ### Indigenous-grounded alternate curriculum Integrated, interest-responsive curriculum with Indigenous teachings core to the program. Open to all students. ### Small-group transition support Small cohorts with intensive social and academic supports — designed for students who need a different setting. ### Fresh Roots farm-to-school program School-garden / farm-to-school partnership with Fresh Roots, supporting land-based learning. ### Grade 8–10 transition focus Bridges to a neighbourhood secondary or another alternate site to complete graduation. ### Counselling and wellness support Embedded counselling alongside academics. Catchment, feeders & cross-catchment ## Where Suwa'lkh School students come from — and where they go next. ### Catchment area Suwa'lkh has NO public school catchment — it is a district referral program. Students from anywhere in SD43 can be referred. Indigenous students and families are particularly served by the program's grounding. ### Feeds in from Referral-based, district-wide. Students come from any SD43 middle or secondary school. ### Promotes to Most students transition back to a neighbourhood secondary school or another alternate site to complete graduation. ### Cross-catchment SD43 allows cross-catchment enrolment when space permits, allocated by lottery with in-district and sibling priority. SD43 cross-catchment policy → Catchment lines run down individual streets and can put one side of a road in one catchment and the opposite side in the next. Always verify a specific address with the [SD43 school locator](https://www.sd43.bc.ca/Schools/Locator/Pages/default.aspx) before relying on any boundary statement. Extracurriculars · sports · clubs ## Top extracurriculars at Suwa'lkh School. - Fresh Roots school garden program - Land-based and Indigenous cultural learning - Small-group student community - Wellness and counselling programming Programs change year to year. Confirm the current season's club and sport list on the school's Programs / Clubs page. Inside the catchment · housing read ## Buying inside the Suwa'lkh School catchment — what I tell clients. Inside the Suwa'lkh School catchment in Maillardville · Brunette Avenue, you're looking at established residential streets. Verify the exact catchment for your address through the SD43 locator before committing — boundary lines can run down individual streets. 1. Verify the exact catchment for any specific address through the SD43 locator. Catchment lines run down individual streets in Maillardville · Brunette Avenue. 2. SD43 does not bus. Plan for driving or walking distance to the school. 3. Cross-catchment placement is available when space permits through the SD43 school-of-choice process — apply if the in-catchment route isn't right. 4. The Suwa'lkh School feeder relationship into the middle school determines the K → 12 path. Plan ahead if K → 12 continuity matters to your family. Frequently asked questions ## Suwa'lkh School — FAQ. ### Is Suwa'lkh School a good school? Suwa'lkh School is an SD43 grade 9–12 secondary school. SD43's Indigenous-grounded alternate transition program for grades 8–10 — small groups, integrated interest-responsive curriculum, intensive social and academic support. Open to all students; Indigenous teachings are core to the program. Partners with Fresh Roots for a school-garden / farm-to-school program. ### What is Suwa'lkh School best known for? SD43's Indigenous-grounded alternate transition program for grades 8–10 — small groups, integrated interest-responsive curriculum, intensive social and academic support. Open to all students; Indigenous teachings are core to the program. Partners with Fresh Roots for a school-garden / farm-to-school program. ### What is the catchment for Suwa'lkh School? Suwa'lkh has NO public school catchment — it is a district referral program. Students from anywhere in SD43 can be referred. Indigenous students and families are particularly served by the program's grounding. Verify a specific address through the SD43 school locator. ### Who is the principal at Suwa'lkh School? Judith Payne. ### What middle schools feed Suwa'lkh School? Referral-based, district-wide. Students come from any SD43 middle or secondary school. ### Can my child attend Suwa'lkh School from out-of-catchment? Yes — through the SD43 cross-catchment / school-of-choice process when space permits. Placement is by lottery with in-district and sibling priority. ### Does SD43 bus to this school? No. SD43 has discontinued regular bus transportation district-wide. ### What grade range does Suwa'lkh School serve? Grades 9, 10, 11, and 12. ### What is Suwa'lkh School's address and phone? 1432 Brunette Avenue, Coquitlam, BC V3K 1G5. Phone 604-523-6011. Continue your Coquitlam school research ## Related Tri-Cities school + catchment pages. [Main hub ### Coquitlam Schools (main hub) The full SD43 schools guide for the Tri-Cities.](/coquitlam-schools/) [Hub ### Best Schools in Coquitlam Ranked guide to the top Coquitlam SD43 schools.](/best-schools-in-coquitlam/) [Programs ### French Immersion Schools Every SD43 French Immersion entry point.](/french-immersion-schools-coquitlam/) [Private ### Private Schools (Tri-Cities) Independent schools serving Coquitlam, Port Moody, Port Coquitlam.](/private-schools-coquitlam-area/) Sources & methodology School facts verified against the [SD43 Suwa'lkh School school page](https://www.sd43.bc.ca/school/Suwalkh/), the [SD43 2025–26 School Listings (administrators) PDF](https://www.sd43.bc.ca/Schools/DistrictMap/Documents/2025-2026%20School%20Listings%20with%20Admin%20Email%20Contacts.pdf), and the [SD43 school locator](https://www.sd43.bc.ca/Schools/Locator/Pages/default.aspx). Catchment, registration, and cross-catchment information from SD43's cross-catchment policy page. Real estate commentary is the professional opinion of Craig Johnston, REALTOR® license V99960, working under The MACNABS at Royal LePage Elite West and serving the SD43 Tri-Cities market. Page reviewed and dated June 2026. License V99960 · BCFSA-regulated. Confirm school program details with the school office before relying on them for an enrolment decision. ## Buying into the Suwa'lkh School catchment? Talk to Craig. A long-time Tri-Cities resident and licensed REALTOR®, Craig knows the catchment streets, the boundary risks, and the homes that come up inside the Suwa'lkh School catchment before they hit the public market. [Book a Strategy Call](/book-a-strategy-call-with-craig-johnston/) [Call 604-202-6092](tel:+16042026092) [Email Craig](mailto:Craig@SoldByCraig.ca) Tri-Cities monthly ## Get the honest Tri-Cities market read, monthly. June 2026 Coquitlam detached HPI is $1,649,000, -4.8% YoY. What that means for your buy or sell decision — without the salesy fluff. One email per month. Unsubscribe anytime. No spam, no listings flood, no marketing automation games. Genuine monthly update from a 47+ year Tri-Cities resident. Best REALTOR® by area ## A specialist for your specific Tri-Cities city or neighbourhood. [Coquitlam](/best-realtor-in-coquitlam/) [Burke Mountain](/best-realtor-in-burke-mountain/) [Westwood Plateau](/best-realtor-in-westwood-plateau/) [Heritage Mountain](/best-realtor-in-heritage-mountain/) [Port Moody](/best-realtor-in-port-moody/) [Port Coquitlam](/best-realtor-in-port-coquitlam/) [Anmore](/best-realtor-in-anmore/) [Belcarra](/best-realtor-in-belcarra/) [Or compare all Tri-Cities specialists →](/best-local-realtor-tri-cities/)