Mr. Zavarise, as he reminisces about this year's highly successful soccer team
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Message from the Principal
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Though we are very conscious that we still have one week of classes to go before school-based final exams start, we actually have “miles to go”, as American poet Robert Frost said. There are still a myriad of quizzes, test, assignments, and projects that still need to be completed before the last full-day of classes on June 11, 2019. Students on the cusp of one letter grade to the next have everything to work for over the course on the next month or so.
Many of our faculty have already begun to share Final Exam Review packages with their students. If they have not done so already they will be shortly. We will be encouraging students to begin carving out time in their schedules now in order to begin their review process for any examinable course they might have. The full June Exam Schedule for our Grade 8-12’s was emailed to students and families on May 23, 2019 and is available
here
.
Should you have any questions regarding your daughter/son’s standing in any particular class, we ask that parents speak directly to their classroom teacher(s). Our faculty are always the best source for information and they will be happy to answer your questions.
Lastly, I would like to wish each of our students the absolute very best as they move into the homestretch. The effort that they have put into their studies to this point in time is commendable. Hard work produces great results and I am confident that each one of them will finish this current school year on a high note.
Blessings,
Mr. Steve Garland
STMC Principal
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Message from the President
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Answering God’s Call
As I write my last Knightly News message as STMC’s president, I am taken back 4 years ago to the start of my journey here at STMC.
As a woman of faith, I know that God has a plan for each of us and I am no exception. I had no idea God’s plan would ever involve me going back to school!
As a cradle Catholic, I had a pretty good handle on my spiritual path. Content to be under the radar in parish life – you know, in and out for mass each week, trying not to meet the priest’s gaze for fear he will ask you to do something – a typical Catholic journey.
Getting drawn into God’s call started slowly – an invitation to attend a faith formation workshop, join the Catholic Women’s League, help with Project Advance, lead the finance council – typical activities in a parish.
Next, as part of an international Habitat for Humanity project, I was billeted to a tiny hamlet in rural Tanzania that was home to a thriving Catholic secondary school with an inspirational priest who had a vision for what was possible for the children of Tanzania who could receive a good Catholic education. After my 2 week stint was over, I was hooked. I returned a couple years later to live there for 6 months teaching conversational English – my foray into education. From that experience, I founded a volunteer vacation program which organizes lay people to work in various communities around the world – including in Tanzania.
The director of advancement at Corpus Christi College traveled to Kenya and Tanzania on one of my mission trips. The College was starting an international service learning program and needed some help. I am not quite sure how 18 months later I ended up being chair of the board.
I am not sure how my name came to the attention of the STMC president search committee. I confess, I didn’t know a lot – anything really – about STMC when the search committee contacted me. I knew from the first conversation about the role that the Holy Spirit was launching me not just along my spiritual path but to a whole new professional path. It was time for my service to the wider Catholic Church to be my professional life.
As my time as president comes to an end, I thank you for your prayers which have sustained me, for your compassion and forgiveness as I faltered and for working together in a spirit of collaboration to live out St. Thomas More Collegiate’s mission as a Catholic school with St. Thomas More and Blessed Edmund Rice as our role models.
I congratulate my successor Ms. Dianne Doyle on her appointment as STMC’s next president. I am confident Ms. Doyle will be welcomed into our STMC community. STMC is in very, very capable hands.
Sometimes it is only when you look back that you realize God had a plan. It is only in answering God’s call that God’s plan for you is given life. I encourage each of you, no matter where you are in your life’s journey, to be open to the call of the Holy Spirit as God’s plan for you is revealed.
Live, Jesus, in our hearts … forever.
Mrs. Neysa Finnie
STMC President
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June
5:
New Parent Knight (*REVISED DATE)
6
: Night of Knights
8:
Band & Choir Jazz Knight
10:
Band & Choir Music Knight
11:
Last day of classes, Grad '19 farewell
14: Graduation dinner/dance
(correction - NOT on June 27)
12-20:
Tutorials & exams for Gr. 8 - 12
21:
Grad '19 Breakfast
24
: Grad rehearsal
26
: Graduation ceremony @ Massey Theatre
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NEW PRESIDENT ANNOUNCEMENT
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With Mrs. Neysa Finnie’s term as President of STMC coming to an end this summer, an extensive search for a successor has taken place over the past year. STMC is pleased to announce the appointment of Ms. Dianne Doyle as the new President of STMC beginning August 1, 2019.
Ms. Doyle is a recognized leader within the Catholic community having spent over 11 years as President and CEO of Providence Health Care, one of Canada’s largest Catholic Health Care organizations. She is a values-based leader who worked collaboratively to advance the mission and vision of Providence Health Care and helped create a culture of excellence and advocate for social justice. With her extensive experience and expertise, STMC is excited to have Ms. Doyle as the new President, heading into the school’s 60th anniversary in 2020.
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SCIENCES
Power House at Steve Falls
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All of the grade 9 students went on a field trip to the Power House at Stave Falls in Mission, BC. The students further expanded on the topics discussed in class on hydroelectricity.
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MUSIC
A record year for STMC Band Department!
This year the STMC Band Department had a banner year. Every group performed excellently and earned top rankings for their performances at festivals.
Results:
Jazz Band A - Gold
Jazz Band B - Silver
Senior Concert Band - Gold
Grade 9 Concert Band - Gold
Grade 8 Concert Band - Silver Plus
Congratulations music Knights on all your efforts!
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LIBRARY
Summer Reading:
This year the staff at STMC has decided to do a summer reading program. The prime objective is to read for pleasure.
The student will be asked to read one book this summer that is sponsored by a teacher. The students will select from among the list of titles that the teachers have chosen. The teacher-sponsored discussions will take place in early September.
Students will sign by seniority June 10-12 within their English class.
You can check out the list
here
.
Happy READING!
*As a reminder to your children, please ask if they've returned the books they've borrowed from the library.
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Student Council
We are excited to announce our new Student Council for the 2019-2020 school year. This election was a tight race with competitive and creative campaigning from all candidates. These students will be responsible for enhancing the student life in our school community by planning pep rallies, dances, and other events throughout the school year. Congratulations to:
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Grad 2020
Maya Becher
Cristina Capitanio
Kaishaun Carter
Luca Casellato
Vic Domingo
Bella Gaspar
Madison McRae
Julianna Pathyil
Clara Scaglione
Grad 2021
Adarsh Bajaj
Brooklyn Coletta
Leire Coloma
Sean Hernandez
Logan Stimson
Carson Wong
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Grad 2022
Jenna Bevacqua
Colby Coletta
Marco Giovinazzo
Eric Zhang
Sophia Wong
Grade 2023
Aoife Carolan
Ava Giovinazzo
Anna Kotenko
Tea Mocnik
Kevin Nicklin
Callum Rogers
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STUDENT
AND
RESIDENT HIGHLIGHT OF THE MONTH
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Angelina Chen, grade 9, submitted a wonderful presentation about Bro. Bassett on why he is an exemplary model of the Modern Day Disciple.
You can read her amazing speech
here.
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We'd love to hear about all the wonderful and exciting things
in which our Knights are engaged
! If you have something you would like to share on our social media feeds or in the monthly newsletter send an email to
communications@stmc.bc.ca
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Summer Basketball Camp - July 22-26, 2019
Still space left in our Annual Summer Basketball Camp designed to introduce players to the fundamentals of basketball in a fun and competitive atmosphere. It is open to boys and girls going into grades 3-8. Dates are July 22 to the 26, 2019 from 9am until noon. See link for brochure and registration details.
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Congratulations to the Senior Girls, who won the 2019 AA Girls Provincial Championships! They remained undefeated throughout the season and won the final match of provincials against Cahri High. This has been the most successful girls soccer team in the history of STMC!
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Ultimate season is now over. The senior ultimate team made it to the provincials as the 2nd seed, and ended up placing 4th, a commendable effort. Although it wasn't the goal in mind, it was a respectable result especially considering it was the provincials!
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AJ Buckley School Visit
Thanks to Mr. Bouwman, 1995 STMC Grad and Hollywood Actor AJ Buckley visited our school on Wednesday, June 29. For those of you who don't know AJ, he stars on the TV show SEAL Team on CBS. He has also had appearances on shows like CSI: NY, Entourage, Narcos, and Hawaii Five-O to name a few. From 9:30 am to noon, he made stops in Ms. Stepkowski's Block C Drama class and Hank's Block D Religion class to talk to students.
He was humble and inspirational, talking about his love for his family, passion for acting, and gave students some perspective in terms of career and life in general. Afterwards, AJ met with many of his old teachers and even some of his fellow alumni who are now teachers at the school!
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Jazz Knight
Come enjoy a night of Jazz and food! Featuring performances from the STMC Jazz Singers, Jazz Band A, and Jazz Band B.
STMC Jazz Knight
Saturday June 8 at 7pm
StanJean Centre
$10 -Adults / $5 - Senior and Alumni / Children under 3 free
Seating is first come first serve
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Hockey Camp for High School Students
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Maxx Force Hockey
Maxx Force Hockey provides private, semi-private and small group hockey development both on ice as well as on synthetic ice. Mark Soares, STMC Class of 2003, now retired from professional hockey, is the owner and lead instructor for Maxx Force hockey. He is a 2000-2006 Coquitlam Express Jr. A hockey club alumni as well. Mark still holds the all-time points and games played leader for the Coquitlam Express.
Maxx Force Hockey is providing a year-long hockey skills development academy program for high school students from Gr. 8 - 12, September 16, 2019- June 5, 2020. Mark would welcome STMC students to join the program.
For more info on this program, visit their September camp
here.
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