Principal's Message

This Week at Lord Tweedsmuir

Thursday November 21^st, 2024

Good Thursday morning Panthers!

As always, school-life at Lord Tweedsmuir Secondary has brought us a week of interesting learning, new challenges, celebration and friendship.  Students and staff are deeply engaged in their curriculum while extracurricular activities and athletics are in full swing and our Leadership students are planning for the many upcoming traditional December special events.  It is an exciting time to be a Panther and our students and staff are very fortunate to belong to our special learning community.

 On Monday, we began “First Peoples in Residence Week”.   Activities started with a special workshop for our Indigenous students and then with an Opening Ceremony to welcome our guest Indigenous Cultural Facilitator and to share our goals and aspirations for the week with our Humanities 8 students.  Throughout the week, Cultural Facilitator Paul from the Katzie Nation has been able to visit some of our Humanities classes to educate, raise awareness about Truth and Reconciliation and celebrate Indigenous culture.  It has been an important week of learning.  Thank you to our Humanities Department and Indigenous Graduation Department for your leadership in supporting this initiative.

 This has also been Core Competency Week at LTSS.   Students in all grades were required to reflect on their Communication, Thinking and Personal and Social Responsibility skills and then set some goals for the year.  Each student was required to complete a summary report of their Core Competency Reflections and their goals.  Parents/guardians, please ask your child to show you their summary.  It may be found within their Surrey Schools email account.  It is important to remember that Core Competencies are now a part of our curriculum and this reflection and goal-setting exercise is a Graduation requirement for all students.  

 November is International Games Month.  Drop by our library, learn a new game and join in on the fun.  

 Monday was a busy day as we also held our Staff Committee meeting at lunchtime and our Department Head Meeting after school.  I appreciate the feedback, constructive dialogue and suggestions for supporting our school community that these meetings provide.  As often mentioned, we operate within a highly complex system and we provide life-changing education and social emotional support for our students.  These are important conversations!  Our work in support of all of our students is most effective when we work together in partnership across our school and across our community.  I am grateful for the chance to meet together as a team and carefully review how our school community will continue to move forward to meet the needs of our students.  Thank you to all staff for your contribution to our caring community of excellence!

This week, our school’s “Hearts for Humanity” Club is hosting a “Toy Drive” for donations to the Cloverdale Community Kitchen.  The event is a wonderful example of the personal and social responsibility of our students and staff and directly supports the culture of our school and community.  Great thanks to all Panthers for your contribution to this worthy cause.

Our Cafeteria program provides an amazing educational opportunity for our students.  Our student-chefs develop life-long culinary skills and provide lunch and catering service for our school.  Last week, our culinary art students served a delicious meal of Roast marinated Pork Tenderloin with a blueberry glaze, garlic mashed potatoes and mixed vegetables.  It was a great hit with our students.  Way to go Panthers!

This evening at 6:00pm, on Zoom, our Parent Advisory Council will be meeting to discuss this year’s Gaming budget.  Parents/guardians are invited to join us for this important discussion.  I would like to thank this year’s PAC Executive for your leadership and service to our school community.  Thank you for making a difference for our students.

This weekend, our Grade 8 and Varsity Football teams will be playing in their championship final and semi-final rounds at BC Place Stadium.  After decisive victories last week, our teams are very excited to continue their playoff run!   Good luck Panthers, we will be cheering you on!

All Panthers are reminded that we will be running our Flex Day Bell Schedule on Monday.  Dismissal times are 1:27 and 2:40pm.  

Have a wonderful Friday, enjoy your weekend, and we will see you back at school on Monday.

Ken

Traffic and Student Parking

All Panthers are reminded that traffic around the school and parking on school property will be very busy with our increased enrollment and Extended Day schedule.  All student drivers are reminded that it is very important to drive with care and attention while on or near school property.  Safety is our first priority.  Please drive safely and responsibly, be aware of pedestrians, and follow all traffic regulations.

If possible, all families are asked to consider alternative transportation options.  Please walk or bike to school if possible.  It would also be helpful if students are dropped off a couple of blocks away from the school and vehicles do not enter our school’s parking lot.  

Please note that this year, students are only permitted to park in the Student Lot on the right side of our parking lot near our Portable classrooms.  Students are not permitted to park in the Staff Lot.

All students wishing to park on school property must apply for a Parking pass.  Application forms may be picked up at the office.  Students must park in their designated stall. 

Parking passes must be displayed on your car’s windshield at all times while on school property.  Parking privileges will be revoked for any students not following our parking regulations or for unsafe driving.

Thank you for your help and cooperation in responding to our increased traffic challenges and protecting the safety of our community members.