Class of '22 Valedictorian Sophia Wong gives her heartwarming speech at the Grad Ceremony |
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Message from the President |
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Last week we celebrated the transition of our 2022 grads. As I said in my graduation remarks, every ending is also a beginning, and so it is for me!
Despite the personal and professional rewards I experienced over the past 3 years as President, it is time for me to move on. My husband Ken is also retiring from his career as a BC Coastal Pilot. We are looking forward to time with family and friends, travel and volunteer work. We are blessed with 3 wonderful adult children and their partners, and have our first grandson Riley who just turned 2 years old. I anticipate that life will continue to be busy, fun and fulfilling! I am very grateful to everyone who welcomed me and supported me.
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Thanks to the board of STMC for giving me the privilege to serve as President and for their wisdom and guidance during my time here. The Board of Directors are a talented and engaged group of volunteers who commit their time and expertise to STMC.
Thanks to the administrative team, teachers and support staff for your passion and compassion. You work so hard every day to provide our students with amazing opportunities to be safe and to develop their capacity to Learn Lead and Serve.
Thanks to the parents and families for allowing us to partner with you on the development of your children across all aspects of the Knights Cross.
Thanks to our donors, volunteers and alumni for sustaining such a strong sense of community and advancing the vision and Charism of Blessed Edmund Rice.
Lastly, a huge expression of gratitude for our students from whom I learned so much. I remain in awe of your resilience, humour and achievements. Because of you I have hope and confidence for a better world built on STMCs values of faith, community, excellence and justice.
Wishing you a safe summer and continued success in all your endeavours.
Live Jesus in our Hearts... Forever!
Dianne Doyle
President, STMC
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Enjoy your Summer and see you in September! |
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NEWSLETTER UPDATE
STMC will be updating the way some communication is distributed. Over the summer, we'll be permanently proceeding with a different newsletter platform based on the Blackbaud/Raiser's Edge platform. All contacts have already been imported so there shouldn't be anything for newsletter recipients to do.
Stay tuned for further updates!
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STMC JAZZ KNIGHT
On June 4th, the STMC Jazz Knights 'A' and 'B' Bands and our two Vocal Jazz groups performed brilliantly to an appreciative audience at Jazz Knight in the STMC Gymnasium. A few highlights include "Route '66" and "Brazil" performed by Jazz 'B', "Fly Me to the Moon" and "Guantanamera" by Jazz 'A', and "Chili Con Carne" and "I'm a Lucky So and So" by our Vocal Jazz groups.
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ELEMENTARY SCHOOL PERFORMANCES
On June 6th, our Gr. 9/10 JUNIOR CONCERT BAND performed at Our Lady of Mercy Elementary School to introduce Band and the instruments to the young students there. Highlights include "Pirates of the Caribbean", "Meet the Beatles", and individual instrument introductions by one student from each instrument section.
Our GRADE 8 BAND and JAZZ KNIGHTS 'B' BAND did the same at St. Francis de Sales and St. Michaels a couple weeks before. At all three schools, the young students and staff were excited to hear them, cheering loudly and sometimes clapping along with their music!
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JAZZ KNIGHTS 'A' COURTYARD PERFORMANCE
At lunch hour on June 24 (the last full day of school), the JAZZ KNIGHTS 'A' BAND did one final performance on the STMC Courtyard Stage, including a great vocal feature with Courtney Castres singing "Cry Me a River" with the band. Unfortunately, a photo of this event isn't available, but here's one of "Jazz 'A' at their Whistler Music Festival clinic last month.
In case you missed it, some YouTube video clips of last month's Band and Choir trip to the Whistler Music Festival can be seen here:
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IT'S BEEN A BLAST!
I have thoroughly enjoyed my time at St. Thomas More Collegiate this year. The school, with it's amazing traditions, spirit, staff and students, has been a real pleasure for me to work at. It wasn't always easy taking over from the amazing, beloved, long-time band director, current Vice-Principal Mr. Ethan Shoemaker, especially while COVID was still very much with us, but I am happy that I was able to contribute what I could.
A very sincere thank-you to everyone who helped me feel welcome and supported here. I will now be looking forward to my next adventure, be it back to enjoying full time retirement, or some other interesting adventure that may present itself.
With Appreciation,
Mr. Ray Faoro
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COMPUTER SCIENCE & ROBOTICS |
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Erik Johnson, an embedded systems engineer at Google, joined the Computer Science and Robotics classes in mid June for a virtual interview. Topics ranged from education to career opportunities, and (of course) as many juicy details about cutting-edge tech as he was legally allowed to disclose.
We've brought a clip to you featuring Erik's personal views on high school priorities and the most important courses that someone should take (SPOILER ALERT - it's not Computer Science!)
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TRACK & FIELD
Congratulations to the STMC Track and Field team for an outstanding performance at this weekends BC Track and Field Championships, one of the biggest sporting events in Canada. 47 athletes from STMC competed. The Junior Team won the Overall AAA Championships as well as the Men's AAA Championships.
A few highlights:
- The Junior Boys won and set a provincial record in the 4x100 meters and won gold in the 4x400 meters
- The 4x100 B team made of grade 9's came in 7th in the finals
- Caidyn Maver won gold and set a record in High Jump
- Matthew Custodio won the 100 meters and Michael was in 4th. Both were exhausted for the 200 meters finals but still came in 3rd and 5th
- Niko Kanagawa came in a very close 4th for the 400 meter finals cutting three seconds off his seed time running a 51
- Aidan Hewlett Whiting came 5th in Discus
- Grade 8 4x400m boys came in 4th in the finals
- Makaio Maver was a finalist in all three of his events
- Shira Metzak grade 8 a finalist in the 200 meters.
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St Thomas More Collegiate is hosting 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 August 22nd to the 26th, 2022 from 9am until noon. See link for brochure and registration details.
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Safer Schools Together
In June, Safer School Together offered live virtual training on “The Modern-Day Predator” to provide education to Parents/Caregivers, School Administrators and Community Partners as a means for the prevention of sexual exploitation.
The session provided tools to address issues like consent, creating healthy boundaries and grooming both online and in person. The event included special guest speaker, Carol Todd.
The live online event will occur again September 28, 2022. More information and tickets can be found on the Safer Schools Together Website. All are welcome.
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"THE HEART OF TEACHING"
Check out "Angelina's Initiative", episode 88 of Dave Ruzycki's podcast "The Heart of Teaching". Angela, a graduating student, shares how she created a webinar for young adults suffering through the pandemic and received a grant of 25,000.00 from the federal Government for her work.
Episode 89 is titled "Mark and Bicycle Motocross". STMC parent Mark Kaustinen was the the first Pro BMX Racer in the nation at one time. His journey was a good one with a ton of life lessons!
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In the 2022 Provincial Ball Hockey Championships, four STMC students anchored a gold medal game in the U16 boys championship. Aaron Sutherland (grade 10), Devanand Rana (grade 10), Chase Segenfreddo (grade 11) and Hanna Kaustinen (grade 11), together with their teammates, upset Tri City Ball Hockey in a 5-3 victory.
During that championship game, history was made when Hanna Kaustinen became the first player to win two provincial gold metals, on two different teams, playing two different positions. Hours prior to winning the U16 boys championship, Hanna had won a gold medal in the U19 girls championship, playing defence. She scored a hat-trick to carry her team to a 4-2 victory. In her championship with the U16 boys, Hanna was playing goalie.
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MESSAGE FROM A RETIRING TEACHER |
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Till We Meet Again - Dave Ruzycki
I have never ever liked saying good bye... even as a child I always found it difficult. As the years have worn on, it seems even more challenging, so as a coping strategy I prefer to say "Till We Meet Again".
I would like to thank all my students, players, parents, friends, and colleagues that supported me in my 20 years at STMC. Any success that I may have had in the classroom, on the track, and football fields were a result of those that stood beside me and with me.
Some of the best moments of my teaching career were a direct result of my time at this school and the community we all support. For that I will always be eternally grateful. I have had people ask me if it was difficult leaving my classroom after two decades, and the truth is once all my pictures and posters were down the room just became an empty space. The strength of our profession has been and always will be about relationships and our ability to earn and foster the respect of the students and the memories and special moments that go along with that. In short, I will miss my kids, the parents, and my friends on staff.
If I have one final request of the staff it is this: please continue to look out for those students in your rooms that may have challenges. They may not come to you... so go to them. Allow them to feel safe and appreciated in your care. We all have the ability to be difference makers.
To students, parents, staff, and friends, if you are ever driving through Coquitlam and you stop at a track or football field and you hear a whistle and my voice booming over everyone else please stop and say hello. It will always be good to see you! Please take care, be well and peace!
So, till we meet again... and as my good friend Hank Bouwman says, "Thank you, thank you very much!" Dave Ruzycki has left the building!
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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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