Class of 2013 - Spaghetti Dinner

It was a pleasure to work with many students from the Class of 2013 and their parents, as we hosted our annual Grad Spaghetti Dinner. It was a success, in large part, due to the musical performances from the grade 12 students. It was great to see the support for these students from their fellow classmates, as it is not easy to sing in front of a large crowd. Thank you for an entertaining evening--start practicing for the Dessert Theatre, which is scheduled for Wednesday, April 3.

Once again, thank you to all of you who helped us this evening. It is really appreciated!

Hope Secondary Rocks!

On the evening of Friday, October 26, our Leadership class held its first dance of the year! The students under the guidance of their teacher, Mrs. Poulin, did a wonderful job of the decorations and setting a tone for their Las Vegas theme. The energy was high and the students enjoyed their evening--they rocked the house! Many thanks to the Leadership students for hosting another successful event. Listen for this week's events planned by the Leadership class as part of our school spirit week--the 'Horror' Games!!

It is great to see such positive energy and enthusiasm in our school. We also see it in our athletic program. Thank you to our soccer coaches, Mr. Webber and Andrew Tarrant. Our basketball season is about to begin and we hear our students talking about upcoming practices.

Our SH(OUT) students and their teacher, Mrs. Wilkins, are working to gather canned goods for our local food bank. Any donation you may be able to give is appreciated. Many thanks to our students as they work to help make a difference and contribute in a positive way to our awesome community.

Our band program is doing well. Mr. Tarr and his students are getting ready to play at the Fraser Hope Lodge on Nov. 2 and at the Hope Remembrance Day ceremony on Nov. 11. Many thanks to our band students, who are always perform well at our community events.

Miss Dubois is putting together our intramural program. Be sure to get your volleyball team signed up for the lunch activities.

Mr. Polishak and his drama students are working on their one act plays. Their performances are scheduled for November 15, 16, & 17. We hope to see you there!

There is something for everyone at Hope Secondary--be proud and get involved!

A Day Without Technology

Technology Has Its Place

I had the opportunity of accompanying a group of 66 students from 

Agassiz Elementary Secondary School & Hope Secondary on the Campbell 

Lake hike just outside of Harrison on Thursday, October 4. We had wonderful weather & scenery to enjoy as well as an opportunity to meet new friends and enjoy each other's company. It was a treat to see students sitting beside one another engaged in conversation rather than sitting beside someone, completely ignoring them and texting to someone else. 

Technology has its place in our world and while I am grateful for it (like having the satellite phone in case of an emergency), I was very thankful on Oct. 4 for not having to worry about emails & phone messages (until we got home). Enjoying a day with nature and encouraging our students to get out and be involved in leisure activities that don't involve being tied to their phones, computers or video games is also important to their well being. We live in such a beautiful part of the world--let's get out and enjoy it and each other!

Thanks to the students from HSS & AESS and Mr. Fisher from Hope Secondary, Mrs. Fitzsimmons & Ms. Swinford from AESS for a most enjoyable day!

Welcome Back

I would like to extend a warm welcome to all of the staff and students of Hope Secondary. Our new school year is off to a great start and we are very excited about the opportunities this year has to offer. A special welcome to Mr. Smith, foods/pe teacher and Mr. Lunde, who is teaching academic support and a senior pe class. We also welcome back Mrs. Joey Polishak, counsellor, and Mrs. Bev Rudance, who is returning to her SEA position.

We started the year with Grade 8 Bootcamp, which was a successful two day orientation for our grade 8 students. A special thanks to our VPs, Ms. Nazarchuk and Mr. Fisher for their organization, as well as the grade 8 teachers for their participation.

Our Leadership class, hosted its annual Welcome Back BBQ, and it was a huge success. Thanks to Mrs. Poulin and her students for a job well done! The Leadership class is working hard to plan a variety of activities for our student population--yes, this also includes school dances!! The Leadership class also invites student and staff participation in our annual Terry Fox Run, which will be held on Thursday, September 27. We also have a competition between the junior and senior students--who can raise the most money?! Which teachers will get a pie in the face? Stay tuned for the results.

The SH(OUT) students and their sponsor Mrs. Wilkins hosted a successful bake sale on Friday in celebration of World Peace Day--proceeds from the sale are to be donated to Meals on Wheels. Thanks very much for your efforts and to all who purchased the yummy treats!

Hope Secondary students have participated in a few hikes as a part of their PE program in conjunction with the Fraser Cascade Mountain School--thanks to Mr. Fisher for his organization. Please see Mr. Fisher or your pe teachers for information regarding future hikes. In addition, thanks to Mr. Webber for coaching our senior boys soccer team and Andrew Tarrant for coaching the junior boys soccer team.

As I look forward to the year ahead, I continue to be proud of our great group of students and the talented & dedicated staff of Hope Secondary. Good things are going to happen! So, please get involved and make your high school experience as positive as possible.

Rick Hansen Relay

Congratulations to Hannah Evans, who is Hope Secondary's "Difference Maker" as part of the Rick Hansen Relay. Although Hannah has faced many challenges in the last few years, she has faced the adversity with grace and dignity. She is a kind, caring, and compassionate young woman, who represented Hope Secondary very well today. She is a true inspiration to the Hope Secondary community. Thank you, Hannah, for making Hope Secondary a better place!

Report Cards

Report cards have been issued to all Hope Secondary students today. As I was reading through them, I was appreciative of the many good marks received by students and positive comments made by teachers regarding their work ethic and level of academic achievement. Yes, there is room for improvement for some students and receiving words of encouragement from teachers and/or parents is important as we work together to help our students, your sons and daughters, reach their potential.

Good luck to all in term 4 and please prepare thoroughly for your final exams!!

Be The Change!

Although this post is at least one week late, I'd like to take this time to acknowledge the planning of a most successful Challenge Day & Anti-Bullying Day for Hope Secondary students. On Tuesday, February 28, a group of approximately 90 students met with a group of adults from Hope Secondary and the community of Hope to participate in a powerful workshop of tolerance, acceptance, and healing. The vision of the Challenge Day organization is that every child lives in a world where they feel safe, loved and celebrated.  Many thanks to Mrs. Wilkins, Maureen Kehler, and Wendy Coleman for their organization.

Wear Pink Day was organized by the Leadership class and sh(OUT) group. Thanks to Mrs. Poulin and Mrs. Wilkins for their work with their respective groups to help bring awareness to our student population about the seriousness of bullying and the importance of practicing tolerance and celebrating our differences.

Regardless of where we come from, the actions we have undertaken in the past, or the mistakes we have made, we can all learn from one another--be open to new ideas and willing to take risks in order to support someone who may not be as confident as you are or who may be perceived as 'different'. Together we can make a difference and bring about positive change--the last week has definitely produced steps in the right direction--let's keep the train moving forward and BE THE CHANGE!!

Collaboration

Tonight I was fortunate to witness the collaborative effort of the Fine Arts department from Hope Secondary School. Thanks to Wes Bergmann, owner of the Blue Moose, for permitting our students to showcase their talents--we were entertained by the Hope Secondary Jazz Band, followed by the Improv Team, and were inspired by talented young artists whose work is currently on display for your viewing pleasure. We have very talented students in our midst as well as very talented and dedicated teachers. Thank you to Mr. Bob Tarr (band instructor), Mr. Jon Polishak (drama instructor), and Mr. Chris Janzen (art instructor) for their collaboration so that our students were able to come together and create a fun evening of entertainment for family and friends. Collaboration is a very powerful tool and speaks volumes about the strength of working together so that we may focus on the positives in our school community and the community of Hope. Congratulations on a job well done!

Thank you, once again, for a most enjoyable evening! 

I am very grateful for the respectful behaviour shown to guests in our school by our students. On Monday afternoon, we hosted a group from ReachOut Psychosis, who presented an engaging and interactive performance about mental illness. It illustrated the importance of seeking to understand rather than be fearful of something we may have little experience with in our daily lives. Showing care, concern, and empathy for others is often seen in our school and we are very proud of that. Thanks to our students for making others feel welcome!

New Communication

Welcome to Hope Secondary--home of the Mustangs!! Please check the blog on a regular basis to keep up-to-date on the activities at Hope Secondary.