At the June 18, 2024 Public Board Meeting, Board Chair Val Windsor, Vice Chair Joe Muego and Trustees Erica Beard, Nimmi Daula, Ammen Dhillon, Masako Gooch and Nick Kanakos delivered the following message:
I can’t quite believe this is the final Public Board Meeting of the 2023/2024 school year. It feels as though we were just welcoming students back to school, and now, here we are, almost at summer break. While I may feel that the year has passed in the blink of an eye, I suspect our dedicated staff and hard-working students might see things differently!
As is tradition at this time of year, I would like to take a moment to pause and reflect on the year’s events.
Compassion is one of the values of the school district’s Vision for 2030 and it’s a value that Delta students and staff exemplify. We’ve seen it in action time and again this year through numerous initiatives supporting our local community.
Our schools have embraced the spirit of giving through regular food drives. Notably, Delview Secondary’s Thanks 4 Giving Food Drive, now in its 31st year, set a record with 26,449 items collected last October. We believe this event is the largest one-night canned food drive in the province! The items, which are collected from homes and businesses across North Delta, are donated to Delta Assist and the Surrey Food Bank.
Similarly, Delta Secondary’s 20 Days of Giving initiative and North Delta Secondary’s food drive have both made significant contributions to local families, especially during the festive season.
The generosity of students extended beyond food drives. Pinewood Elementary students and staff brought in gifts and gift cards for the Delta Assist Angel Giving Tree program, and Neilson Grove students made holiday cards for neighbours as well as VIPs in the community including veterans, firefighters, police and hospital staff. Both initiatives helped provide hope and happiness for local families during the festive season.
At least two students used their Capstone Projects to make a positive impact in our community. Delta Secondary student Teaghan, knowing the need for blood is high, was inspired to organize a blood drive at the school in memory of her late grandfather. North Delta Secondary student Kimran organized a fundraiser to raise awareness of organ donation and help individuals who are waiting for organ transplants.
Creativity, another of the district’s values, shone through in many students’ community focused projects. Sands Secondary student Anika created a cereal box domino train and then donated the cereal to support families in need.
While at Pebble Hill Elementary, seven grade 6 students were inspired to form a Kindness Krew after reading Noah’s Universe, a book written by retired Delta school teacher, Alison Monk. They made and sold bracelets to raise money for cards and chocolates to spread cheer to local seniors. The Krew, which continued with various kindness initiatives throughout the year, now includes 15 students from Grades 5 to 7 and I’m pleased to report that they plan to continue their kind deeds next year.
When it comes to compassion, our furry friends were not left out! Port Guichon Elementary students in the Create-It Club made items and sold them at Halloween and Christmas fairs to raise money to support animals at the Delta Community Animal Shelter. For their efforts they received a visit from Animal Shelter leader Ryan who brought with him the fabulously named dog Bacon to meet the students.
The district’s value of responsibility has been demonstrated repeatedly by students across the district tackling real-world problems.
Recently, three Seaquam students participated in a challenge to investigate an alternative form of transport. They formed a Car Club and entered an Electric Vehicle Challenge where they had to design, build and then race a go-kart. They placed second out of 20 high school teams from across British Columbia.
Students at Seaquam Secondary also continued their winning streak when it comes to environmental awards. This year, two students won scholarships through BC Wildlife’s Young Conservationist Award with their projects to raise awareness on environmental issues. Sixteen students from Seaquam won six of nine awards at the recent National Young Reporters for the Environment Competition. Some of them will be competing at the International Competition next so let’s hope their winning streak continues!
Students in the Delview Leos Club organized a clean-up of Delview Park on Earth Day in April. It was attended by students from Delta, Richmond, Vancouver and Surrey. In total, they collected twenty bags of garbage.
Hawthorne Elementary won the Top First Time School Award for student participation in Bike to School Week. More than 330 students rode their bikes to school that week – that’s roughly three quarters of the school!
And the good news doesn’t stop there!
In sports, the Seaquam Seahawks Girls Basketball Team made history by winning the BC School Sports 4A Girls Basketball Championships. Additionally, the volleyball and basketball teams at South Delta Secondary, North Delta Secondary and Delta Secondary also deserve an honourable mention for their successful seasons.
Students from Sands and Delview claimed top honours in WorkSafe BC’s video contest. The contest had a record number of submissions. Out of 160 submissions, the schools won two out of the four prizes available!
Sands students also exceled in the Skills Canada BC Regionals taking home bronze medals in both the photography and video production competitions.
Richardson Elementary students were able to enjoy a new, accessible playground this year. Recently, we heard that Heath Elementary will be getting a new playground this coming school year thanks to the province’s Playground Enhancement Program!
The district’s International Student Program continues to be a source of pride. For the fifth year in a row, it was nominated as a finalist in the StudyTravel ST Secondary School Awards. And now for a quick advertising break – if you’re interested in bringing an international student into your home, please get in touch. Enrolment numbers are on the rise, and we need more homestay families to house the international students wanting to study in Delta!
It’s not just international students that like to visit our district. This year, we welcomed two large contingents of international educators from England, Wales, Sweden and New Zealand. They visited staff and students at Gray, Sands, Seaquam, Jarvis and McCloskey to hear and see how Delta leads the way in many areas such as diversity and inclusion, and student voice and choice.
This year, students continued to learn about and access different career pathways through some amazing collaborations and initiatives. The second week-long Junior Firefighting Camp, which took place just before Spring Break, was a roaring success. The district is partnering with the Delta Police Department to offer a Police Camp during the summer break.
On the United Nation’s International Day of the Girl last October, Seaquam hosted the Girl Powered Workshop creating an environment for all students to learn about STEM – Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics – and engage in activities to help their confidence and abilities flourish.
And thanks to Tech Ed teacher Mr. Franzke, Burnsview students will soon have access to state-of-the-art welding equipment. He was successful in applying for a grant from the CWB Welding Foundation to get a new TIG welder. Next year, students will be learning on the same type of machine that second year apprentice welders have access to.
As the board chair, I often have the privilege of witnessing the remarkable talents of Delta students firsthand. Their bright futures are evident in the diverse array of projects highlighted at events like the Delview Celebration of Learning in January. Students presented a variety of impressive independent directed study projects, from children’s books, video games and song writing to 3D printing and clothing design.
Our district’s vision of fostering an innovative and inclusive community was beautifully embodied at the Wingspan showcase recently. There, students from Seaquam Secondary and a Vancouver elementary school performed music, songs, dance and spoken word to highlight their learnings from collaborating with Jugpreet Bajwa, an Indo-Canadian classical, folk and rock singer in Canada’s first accessible and inclusive Disability and Deaf Artist Residency Program. It was a truly wonderful event.
This year, many of our schools have deepened their commitment to connectedness and belonging, as they are key to students’ ability to learn, experience success and increase their resiliency moving forward. This has been especially noticeable at secondary schools through the Delta Youth Advisory Council’s efforts. DYAC’s work is a testament to the power of student voice and choice. And as I’m sure you’ll agree, the students’ presentations earlier were a clear reflection of their passion, eloquence and wisdom.
Fortunately, one area that has been less of a concern this year is food security thanks to the BC Government’s Feeding Futures funding. This support has been instrumental in providing students with more substantial food offerings at school than ever before, allowing them to focus fully on their learning. This funding couldn’t have come at a better time given the current economic climate.
An important area that has seen significant progress in the last year relates to emergency preparedness. In addition to the regular school-led fire, lockdown and hold and secure drills, the district rolled out a new student reunification process and led drills at Holly, Sunshine Hill and Annieville Elementary Schools. The drills went well and provided valuable feedback that will be incorporated into the process moving forward. These types of drills are so important to ensure students know what they need to do in the event of an emergency.
As we observe National Indigenous History Month and approach National Indigenous Peoples Day this Friday, our commitment to bringing Indigenous culture and history to all learners remains unwavering. Tomorrow, students from North Delta Secondary are hosting a National Indigenous Peoples Day Celebration for students and their families.
I extend my heartfelt gratitude to staff for their unwavering dedication throughout another hectic school year. Your efforts, whether front and centre in our schools, or behind the scenes in our district departments, have been crucial to making this another successful school year.
To our 2024 graduates, congratulations! We are extremely proud of your achievements and excited for the journey ahead. May you carry the confidence and pride of this moment into a future filled with happiness and fulfilment.
In conclusion, I would like to thank students, parents, caregivers, staff, rightsholders and community partners for their invaluable support. Your contributions have been the cornerstone of another remarkable school year. I would also like to acknowledge that my presentation this evening has offered just a glimpse into the many amazing successes and achievements that have marked this school year.
Wishing everyone a well-deserved, restful and enjoyable summer.