Bell Schedule for Friday, Dec.21

7:00-7:50am - Pancake Breakfast in Hub

Period 1 - 8:00 - 8:50am
Period 2 - 8:55 – 9:45am
Period 3 - 9:50 – 10:40am
LUNCH  - 10:40 – 11:20pm
Period 4 - 11:20am – 12:10pm
Extravaganza – 12:25pm – 2:11pm

All students will be dismissed at 2:11pm

A Successful Holiday Fundraiser

This holiday season the Global Issues Club and the ESL Department raised $270 to sponsor a family from the Atira AWO Resource Society in nearby Newton for the holiday season.  The society provides aid to women and their children in many different ways, two of which are providing housing and educational resources.  The fund raising efforts began with the ESL classes doing their annual Christmas Raffle ticket sale, with up to $100 in gift card prizes this year.  The Global Issues Club sold baked goods and hosted a movie night by donation, which turned out to be a very popular after school event.  All the money raised was used to buy groceries and gifts to help make the holidays a little brighter for a family over Christmas.  The Global Issues Club and the ESL classes would like to thank Sullivan Heights students and staff for helping out with this annual cause.

Principal's Message - December 2012

To the proud parents and guardians of our Sullivan Stars:

I hope this December news update finds you and your family in good spirits and looking forward to our winter break.  Here at Sullivan Heights, we are happy to report that student success and achievement is in abundance.  We have had a busy fall with students actively engaged in learning and being involved in our many clubs and athletic programs.

At this point you should have received a report card update on your child’s progress. Report cards were sent home on November 14th.  Please contact the school if you haven’t seen your child's report card.  If you have questions or concerns regarding your child’s progress at school, please be sure to be in touch with the school to speak with your child’s teachers and or counselor at anytime.
October and November have been very busy months with many curricular and extra-curricular activities. Some of our events included:

• Our Student Council sponsored School Spirit Week and Halloween costume day.  Both events were well organized and generated tons of school spirit.  It was great to see many students and staff dressed up for these events.
• Our Grade 9 “Take Our Kids to Work” day was a great success. Thank you to all those parents and guardians who helped coordinate an “at Work Day” for our students.
• On November 8th we honored Remembrance Day with a very thoughtful and moving ceremony.  Thank you to those staff and students who helped make this a memorable assembly.
• The Sullivan Heights “Unleash the Stars” talent show was a great success.  I’m always so impressed by the talent of our students.
• Our Drama department just finished a production of “Harvey”.  The cast and crew were amazing and the show was a hit.
• We also recently completed our Fall Season for Athletics. A huge thank you goes out to all our coaches, both teachers and community members who stepped up to volunteer their time to support our students.  Your leadership and support is very much appreciated.

I’m happy to report that our PAC has re-elected Ms. Lyne Moussa as PAC Chair and they have been having regular scheduled monthly meetings. Our next meeting is on January 28th at 7p.m. in our library.  If you haven’t been to a PAC meeting yet, now is the time!  Participating in PAC is a great way to get an up close and personal look at what goes on at Sullivan Heights.  Visit the PAC link on our website for more information about our Parent Advisory Committee. If PAC isn’t for you, then perhaps try your hand at volunteering with our Dry Grad Committee.  I know they are always looking for more parents to get involved.  Whether it’s PAC or Dry Grad, all parents are encouraged and invited to get involved at Sullivan Heights. The next Dry Grad Committee meeting is on January 8th at 7 p.m. in our library.  Please contact the school at anytime to get more information about how to get involved.

I would like to formally welcome a few new Stars to our building.  Mr. Ben Richardson, Ms. Isabelle Konrat and Mr. Tarnjit Sandher are new to our Sullivan Heights community of educators. Mr. Richardson is a great addition to our Information Technology and Planning programs and Ms. Konrat and Mr. Sandher are welcome additions to our Education Assistant team.

As we wind down to the last day of school before the holidays, I want to tell you about a new event planned for December 21. To celebrate the last day before the holidays, some of our teachers and students are organizing a “Winter Extravaganza” event to showcase the many talents we have at Sullivan.  The classes for this day will be shortened and the day will end with an hour and half school wide event in the theatre.  We are all really excited about this event and welcome the time to celebrate together with our whole school.

As the Principal of Sullivan Heights, I want to thank you for all that you do to ensure your children get to school on time and for the encouragement and support you give your children to ensure they are engaged in their learning. As a community of learners, we know that learning doesn’t end when the bell goes at the end of the day.  For our students to be successful, they need your continued encouragement and positive reinforcement. 

And finally, from all of us at Sullivan Heights, we wish you a very Merry Christmas and a safe and restful holiday season for your entire family.  Take this holiday time to reconnect with family and hold your children close.  Let’s all take some time to reflect on the value of family and to make sure that we all recognize that every day is precious. 

See you on January 7th.

Mr. R. Hayes
Principal

Sullivan Heights Graduation Fundraising Letter

Dear Sir/Madam:

 

We are writing to you on behalf of our Sullivan Heights Graduation Fundraising Committee.  This committee, made up of teachers, parents and grade 12 students, is dedicated to soliciting community support to help our grads have a memorable and safe graduation. We are asking for your donation(s) to support our Scholarship Committee, Grad & Commencement Committee and parent sponsored Dry Grad Committee.  These dedicated committees all work to make sure our grads safely leave us ready to take the next step in their journey.

As you can imagine, paying for graduation events combined with the rising costs of post-secondary education is a huge financial responsibility.  As a member of our Sullivan Heights community, we invite you to make a donation to support our grads.  Any amount of contribution will be greatly appreciated.  In return for your generosity, your business will be highlighted as a contributor to Sullivan Heights in our local community newspaper and school website and you will receive a certificate of appreciation for your place of business.

 

You can make a donation to Sullivan Heights in any of these areas:

1.     Scholarship Committee

·     All donations are graciously appreciated

·     Scholarship donations greater than $20 are tax deductible and must be payable to the Surrey School District

·     Donations in excess of $200 will receive special recognition if so desired

2.     Grad Dinner Dance Committee

·     Donations go towards lowering cost of the event  

3.     Dry Grad Committee

·     Donations help support a safe and memorable celebration for our grads

·     Merchandise donations are also accepted for Dry Grad prizes

4.     General donation to the Sullivan Heights Graduation fund

·     I would like the committee to decide the best allocation of my donation

 

Please make all cheques payable to Sullivan Heights Secondary School.  In the case of a scholarship donations that are tax deductible, please make payable to the Surrey School District.

On behalf of Sullivan Heights and all our grads, we thank you for making a commitment to support our school and for helping to ensure we have a memorable and safe graduation for the graduating class of 2013. If you would like further information on how you can support this effort, please contact the main office at Sullivan Heights Secondary School at 604-543-8749.

Thank you for your consideration.

 

Sincerely,

 

Mr. R. Hayes 
Principal
                                                                                                

Ms. L. Moussa
PAC Chair                                                                                  

Period 5 Cancelled - Monday, Nov. 26!

​We will have a scheduled cancellation of Period 5 on Monday, November 26th. This is to accomodate our monthly staff meeting. Period 5 students are receiving an additional number of minutes per scheduled class to accomodate for these cancellations.

Operation Christmas Child

Global Issues is running the annual Operation Christmas Child from November 8 - November 21! Pack a shoebox with toys, school supplies, and other small gifts, and help make a child's Christmas better! Pick up your shoeboxes from room B201 as soon as possible, and make sure to hand them in before November 21!

7 Career Conversation Tips for Parents of Post-Secondary Students by Chapter Executive Jennifer Caron, M.Ed., CCC

Ever imagined your child becoming a Space Tour Guide?

Some students begin their first year with definite career ideas and a plan while others are uncertain about their future. Frequently, students will change their plan – either they discover they are no longer interested in their original goal or they are not able to meet the requirements for entrance into a specific field. Career decision-making can be very difficult. Here are some ways you can enhance the career conversations you have with your child and help guide them in the career decision-making process:

1. Show Support.  Education today is very expensive and parents who pay the bills may want to see a return on their investments.  However, finding career success in today's global economy requires much more than a decision that is solely motivated by parental pressure.  When speaking with your child encourage them to pursue work that aligns with their skills, interests, values and personality.  Larry Smith, an instructor of economics at the University of Waterloo explains that:

“Once, you needed to show no particular interest in your work, only a willingness to work hard for your pay. Now, you must show genuine interest in your work. Tomorrow, you will have to demonstrate passion.”

Consequently, it is more important today to support your child in their career interests and decisions.  Remember, the happy history student may have an easier time finding work than the disgruntled business student.

2. Be Informed. Arm yourself with career relevant information - with more than 2 million job titles in Canada, it is likely that your son or daughter has overlooked an appropriate career.  Only 20% of occupations in this country are regulated (e.g. Doctor, Lawyer, and Engineer), which means the majority of jobs today do not have specific requirements for entry. While opportunities may require certain educational backgrounds or additional, specialized training; more often than not, a student’s specific academic discipline is the least important thing that employers are looking for. Today, “employability” means having marketable skills that businesses want, being able to communicate those skills and carrying them from job to job as the demands of the labour market change.

3. Start Early. It’s never too early for your child to be thinking about their future. Many students are dealing with adjustment and transition concerns and other academic demands; the thought of career planning may seem fairly remote. There are many steps your child can take early on to prepare themselves for their future career. Encourage them to seek out extracurricular & volunteer activities in year one, to learn about experiential and service learning opportunities, and to start thinking about summer jobs that will help them develop important skills and learn more about the world of work.  Often the best summer job experiences are posted in the fall of first year.  Students who are thinking early about their career by integrating valuable summer work and other activities will be ahead of the game.

4. Encourage Balance. All work and no fun make for an unhappy student. Marks are important and doing the best you can in a course is an excellent goal, but equally important is being involved in campus and community activities. Employers inform us that marks are not always what will help a student find work; in fact, verbal communication skills, analytical skills, a strong work ethic and teamwork skills are cited as the most important candidate qualities by employers across Canada.

5. Consider Internships, Co-ops Other Experiential Opportunities. Many schools offer opportunities for internships, co-ops or other related experiential activities. Having these experiences as a goal will provide direction and incentive to your child. It is an excellent way to learn about the job market, acquire hands-on experiences, and test out new skills and interests.  It will allow them to better assess whether they have made the right career choice and could enhance their career success. Often students are hired by the company that gave them their internship experience upon graduation.

6. Understand the Value of Outside the Classroom Activities. Encourage your children to get involved in activities outside of the academic bubble. Students can learn the art of networking and socializing through interactions with friends and the people they will meet when they get involved in the community.  Although students spend plenty of hours in class, it is what they do outside of class that often really sticks. These outside-of-class activities lead to improved communication skills, self-discipline, and increased comfort in dealing with others. These skills are important to one’s identity and will aid in career planning. New graduates are more likely to find work after graduation if they are able to effectively develop a network and are comfortable connecting with others. Developing an interpersonal comfort level will provide an excellent foundation for career success.

7. Realize Career Choice can be a Life Choice. A career choice is an important one and will impact on a student’s future life style. Many questions need to be asked about that choice but often are not. More time is spent on shopping for a new car than on a career. We may go to several dealerships, do countless hours of online research at home, talk to friends and family members and draft a new budget.  We ask ourselves is this car a reflection of me?  Is it the right colour? Style?  Will it fit all of my needs?   A similar process can be applied to choosing a career. A career choice is of course more complicated as students consider the future and life after school. Integrating life and career in a holistic way is complex and may require the assistance. Start the conversation with your child early on and help them access the supports they may need.

Jennifer Caron is a career counsellor at Western University.  She supports students in their career development and with job search issues; and assists them with career decision-making, career planning, goal setting and overcoming barriers to employment.  

S-Trip Warning

We believe that a private company called S-Trip may be directly contacting some of our Grade 12 students to arrange possible grad events. It is CRITICAL for all parents to know that this private company organizes events that are not school-sanctioned. If you choose to give your child permission to go to an S-Trip event, please be aware that it is not a school-sanctioned event and the school cannot take responsibility for the outcome.

For Their Tomorrow We Gave Our Today

​This November 8, Sullivan Heights will be honouring those men and women who gave their lives during war to protect the lives and freedoms of their children. As part of our recognition of their bravery, Sullivan Heights students from Drama, Band, Social Studies, and English will be making presentations designed to allow for a respectful, reflective event. We would like to encourage families to discuss the events that occur on this day as part of their private recognition.

Craft Fair at Sullivan Elementary - Nov.4

Sullivan Elementary, a member of our family of schools, is holding their Christmas Craft Fair at Sullivan Hall on Sunday, November 4 from 10:00am - 4:00pm.  There will be lots of raffle prizes and a concession with great food!  See you there!

Take Our Kids to Work Day - Nov. 7, 2012

The 18th annual Take Our Kids to Work day is a nation-wide event which takes place on Wednesday November 7, 2012.  This day involves over 200,000 grade nine students and 75,000 businesses.  The purpose of this event is to help students understand the importance of staying in school.  In addition, it is the hope that students will gain further knowledge of and an appreciation for their parent's role in making a living to support a family. Read More

Principal's Message - October 2012

To the Proud Parents of our Sullivan Heights STARS,

We have now successfully started our first semester at Sullivan Heights with our new bell schedule.  Our students have settled into their classes and we’re all looking forward to a great year. Our student population has now grown to 1300 students, approximately 90 more students than last year.  As a result of the increase, we have added another period to our schedule and hired some new staff. There have been a few adjustments, but so far everyone seems to have adjusted. All our students are in class and we are all ready for a great year of learning. Thank you to students, staff, and parents for your patience in adjusting to our new schedule. 

I hope all our new families have settled into the routines of high school and are managing the transition from elementary school. Our grade 8 parent evening held on Sept. 12th was very well attended. Thank you to the many new families who introduced themselves to me and have made a concerted effort to connect with our school. Our grade 8’s have settled into the routines of high school and sure look great in their new “Property of Sullivan Heights” t-shirts.

On the other end, our grade 12’s are sure off to a great start to their final year. We had our grade12 parent evening on Oct. 25th and our Grad Boat Cruise on Oct. 4th. Both events were a success, particularly the boat cruise with many grads in attendance all dressed up in their semi formal attire.  A huge thank you goes out to Mr. Hepting and Ms. Van Neikerk for organizing and coordinating grad this year. As a STAR parent of a grade 12 student, now is the time to ensure all the details have been attended to for your child’s graduation. Weekly discussions about grades and accomplishments will pay off come the end of the year.

If your child is looking to get involved in extra curricular activity, Sullivan Heights has plenty to offer. This fall we are fielding teams for boys and girls in soccer, volleyball, field hockey, hockey and cross-country. If athletics isn’t for you, we offer all sorts of club involvement through our Global Issues, Outdoor, Debate, Duke of Edinburgh, Community Volunteer, Golf, GSA and Robotics clubs.  All these programs have a teacher sponsor and many students who actively engage.  A huge thank you goes out to the many teachers and community members who volunteer their time in support of our students.
 
We had our first PAC meeting on September 24th.  Thank you to Ms. Lyne Moussa for continuing on as PAC chair.   One of my goals from last year is to continually seek to find ways to get more parents involved.  On this note, please know that we always have an open invitation to any and all parents who want to come join our PAC.   Come and join us and bring a friend!  Our next PAC meeting is on October 29th at 7 p.m. in our library.
  
As you may have already heard, we no longer send home bi-monthly newsletters. Our newsletters are now in the form of information updates on our website located at sullivanheights.com. You can access the website through your personal computer or you can enable our website to send updates directly to your email address and/or your personal handheld electronic device. To receive updates via email or through your personal handheld device, you must enter your email address on our website’s main home page. I strongly encourage you to do this.  This will allow a steady stream of relevant school informational updates to come directly to you.  A much better process than having a bi monthly newsletter sent home.

As your Principal, and on behalf of all of us at Sullivan Heights, I want to thank all our Sullivan Heights parents for choosing to play such an active role in your child’s education.  Your commitment to getting your children to school on time combined with supporting their learning at home helps us all ensure our Sullivan Heights community of children are successful.
Proud to be a Sullivan STAR!

Rex Hayes
Principal

Early Dismissal - Oct. 18, 2012

​Students are dismissed early on October 18th because of Parent Teacher Interviews. Students who normally are dismissed in Period 4 will be dismissed at 12:35pm and students who normally are dismissed in Period 5 will be dismissed at 1:30pm

Parent Teacher Interviews - Oct. 18, 2012

​Parent Teacher Interviews will take place on October 18, 2012 in both the large and small gyms.  Session 1:  2-4pm and Session 2:  5-7pm.  Parents can choose to attend either Session 1 or Session 2.  Parents do not need to book appointments with teachers for this day.  Interviews are 5 min in length and are on a  first come first served basis.  See you there!

 

Join the Duke of Edinburgh Award Club!

 

The Duke of Edinburgh Award club @ Sullivan Heights http://sullivanheightsdukeaward.webnode.com//

The Award is a programme that encourages youth to be active, to participate in new activities and pursue current interests in four different areas. All you have to do is choose one activity that’s of interest to you in each of the four areas of the programme, set a personal goal and then work to achieve it. Visit the Duke’s official site: www.dukeofed.org/bc

1.       Community Service

2.       Personal Skill Development

3.       Physical Recreation

4.       Adventurous Journey

Many High Schools, Colleges and Universities offer The Award.

You can work on the 4 areas at the same time, so it won’t take away from your social life or distract you from studying!

Why Should I Bother?

It’s all about trying something new, challenging yourself, learning new skills and making new friends. You’ll discover how choosing, planning and achieving personal goals can change your life. Also:

·       It looks great on a resume;

·       It’s impressive on a scholarship application;

·       Many universities now look at broad-based admission.

Who Can Take the Challenge?

The Award can be done by absolutely anyone and everyone aged 14 to 25.

At Sullivan, the Duke of Edinburgh Award will run as a lunch-time school club, every Monday 10:45 to 11:20 in room C103: bring your lunch! The Adventurous Journey portion of the Award will be offered through the Outdoors club. To register, attend a meeting or send an email to bourassa_b@surreyschools.ca

Sign Up Online for Grad Photos

Grad photos will take place on our school parking lot after school from November 5-10. Although grad photos will be done at the school, they are arranged with our photography company, Artona. Please follow the link to sign up at the Artona web site http://www.artonagroup.com/

Sullivan Heights Pancake Breakfast - Friday, Sept. 28 at 7:15 am

​Student Council presents the first Pancake Breakfast of the year, this Friday, Sept. 28th. We encourage all students and staff to come out at 7:15 am to welcome our Gr. 8 Sullivan Stars to the school. Wear your Sullivan colours – blue and silver.

Grad Boat Cruise - Oct. 4, 2012

Grads!  Don't miss out on your first grad event of the year!  Students are to meet at the school at 4:15pm. A bus will pick you up and take you to the cruise ship terminal.  The cruise is from 6-9pm.  Students will arrive back at the school around 10:15pm. It is a semi-formal event and snacks will be provided at 6:30. Tickets are $65 and will be on sale starting Tuesday, Sept. 25th at lunch in the HUB.

Sullivan Students Represent the Animals of India

As one of many truly inspired art projects at Sullivan, Joanne W. (former graduate) and Paramdeep B.(Grade 10) collaborate to paint Paramdeep’s face with images representing the animals of India.

The face painting series was a 48 hour collaboration on the part of the model and artist. Over four days, Param's face was transformed into a lion, dolphin, peacock and elephant; animals of cultural significance to India. The design motifs were inspired from South Asian temple figures and traditional textile patterns. The dolphin peacock and elephant photographs will be displayed at the Surrey Art Gallery in May 2013 as part of the South Asian youth focused exhibition, "The Princess Myth".

Param writes:
The whole idea started when I proposed the idea that I want to have peacock inspired art painted on my face for my media 10 photo shoot project. Meanwhile, Mr.Pelech’s other students were working on a south Asian series. So we came up with the idea that I would be painted as four different animals: a tiger, a fish, a peacock, and an elephant, for the south Asian series. I was already in the series, but we thought this would be a nice addition to it.  These four animals define India and play a role in south Asian culture, so it was a perfect fit.

The tiger is the national animal of India, Its respected in India for its strength and grace, culturally the tiger represents strength in south Asian  cultures like Sikhism. The peacock is the national bird of India. They symbolize grace, pride and beauty, They are a sign of joy for all who see them and they are often used in Indian mythology. The dolphin in ancient eastern Indian mythology symbolizes transformation and creation. This is observed in the ancient flood myth in which Vishnu (a Hindu god) transformed himself into a dolphin to save the world from a great flood. Lastly, the elephant  in India came to symbolize the god of warriors, at one point in time they were trained and used as weapons for war. The elephant is the totem of the greatest warriors, denoting royalty, inner strength and nobility.

Our artist was Michele Miguel, an art student from Emily Carr. She did an amazing job of incorporating  sandstone designs, details and patterns commonly used in India. She used colours and amazing technique. It was a long, hard,  time-consuming process , we all arrived at 8am and left around 9:30pm. The process took about 10-12 hours. My job was to portray the animals’ importance in south Asian culture and what the animals are like ,  i also had to make  sure that every angle of the art was visible and looked good. Michelle’s job was to paint every single detail, which was definitely hard, and stressful.

Artist: Michele Miguel
Photos: Joanne W. (former graduate)
Model: Param B. (grade 10)

Updated Address and Phone Number Information

Please advise the school office ASAP if you have moved, have a new house, cell or work number.​

Welcome from PAC - August 2012

Dear Incoming Parents,

2012 will be a pivotal year for your grade 8-er: a milestone, a turning point and a coming of age. We, the Sullivan PAC have been there and we have so much to share with you to help you and your child transition into high school. Our school offers so much to the 1200+ students who attend and we're always learning about how we could help support, motivate and inspire our kids; how we could assist in their learning, and assist our teachers, how we could combine our efforts to ensure these years are safe, educational, and fun for the children. It goes by way too fast and being an integral part of that journey is probably one of the most rewarding experiences you'll ever have as a parent. We are looking forward to meeting you and assure you that you'll find value in attending one, some or all of our meetings. We'll have principal's reports that provide us with a snapshot of what's happening at our school and in our school district. We'll invite our teachers to enlighten us on their programs and share the successes and challenges so we can better support our kids. We'll have fun meeting each other and we'll feel better knowing what a great group of parents we are as our kids befriend each other. We'll assess the teacher's wish-list for funding and determine as a group how the limited budget should be spent. We'll share ideas on how we, the parents, wish to run these meetings so that they are meaningful to us. The first meeting is scheduled for SEPT 24th at 7pm in the school library. I promise we will always start and end on time- every time!

Bring your ideas- we could use them! We send out reminders for meetings via email and try to keep parents informed as much as possible- please let us know if you'd like to be added to our email list by sending us a note at lynem@shaw.ca. You can trust that any information sent will be relevant to your child's education.

Lyne Moussa
PAC President

New Bell Schedule for Sullivan Heights 2012-2013

As our community continues to grow, Sullivan Heights is working hard to make our facility available to as many community members as possible. Part of this effort includes modifying our school bell schedule to allow for this growth in student population. Below is the new bell schedule for the 2012-2013 school year. We look forward to continuing to provide as many opportunities as possible for students in our school.

Click Here for New Bell Schedule

This year, school photos will be taken on the first day of school Tuesday, September 4th in the small gym.  Please note the schedule for each grade as listed above.

•All students should have their photo taken for school Go Cards.
•There is no charge for photos for Go Cards only.
•Those students who wish to purchase a photo package must have their photo package filled out, and   present a cheque or cash directly to the Artona photographer at the time the photo is taken. 
•Cheques are made payable to Artona.

**Photo Retake Day will be October 2nd, 2012

First Day of School - September 4, 2012

All students are to find their assigned homerooms from the lists posted on the glass doors in the Hub.

Grade 8 Assembly   9:00 – 9:30
Grade 8 Homeroom (Discovery Time) 9:40 – 10:20
Grade 8 Photos    10:20 – 11:00

Grade 9 Homeroom (Discovery Time) 9:30 – 10:00
Grade 9 Photos   10:00 – 10:30

Grade 10 Homeroom (Discovery Time) 10:30 – 11:00
Grade 10 Photos  11:00 – 11:30

Grade 11 Homeroom (Discovery Time) 12:00 – 12:30
Grade 11 Photos  12:30 – 1:00

Grade 12 Homeroom (Discovery Time) 1:00 – 1:30
Grade 12 Photos  1:30 – 2:00

What is Discovery Time?

As part of a new initiative for this school year, all of our students will be attending a 20 minute period called Discovery Time. It will occur every Wednesday from 9:19 – 9:39 am.  The timetable for each student will list the teacher/room that they will be working with for Discovery Time.

During Discovery Time, it is our goal that teachers and students will have the chance to engage in meaningful activities that support both school and personal goals.  Discovery time will be a chance for students and teachers to connect outside of the regular classroom environment.   This could include discussions of topics from school assemblies, current events, school culture, as well as personal passions and interests.

Over the course of five years, students will interact with the same teacher during discovery time, enabling the culture of engagement with our students and contribute to lifelong learning.

Principal's Message - August 2012

Welcome back!  We hope you had a restful summer and are ready to return to school.  On behalf of the staff of Sullivan Heights Secondary I welcome you to the 2012-2013 school year!  Sullivan Heights is an outstanding school where we are proud of our reputation, traditions, and record of success in academics, athletics, fine arts and citizenship.   As your Principal, I look forward to working with our Sullivan community to help our students reach their goals and further their learning.

In your school start-up package, you should have a magnetic calendar, a locker information sheet and a student schedule. Please review this material and specifically look over the student schedule carefully.   This year we made a significant change to our school bell schedule to include a 5th period in the day. Grade 8, 9 & 10 students attend from periods 1 to 4 and grade 11 & 12 students attend from periods 1 to 5. If you have any concerns regarding your child’s schedule, the counsellors will be available to answer your questions from August 27th to 31st.  If you need to see a counselor, please call the school to schedule an appointment.  Note that the school will be closed on August 30th for a Professional Development Day.  For the first day of school on September 4th, remember to wear your best outfit and polish your smile because we start off with a homeroom and student photos. 

For this school year, I am pleased to welcome the following new STAR staff to Sullivan Heights: Mr. Yoo and Ms. Casalis teaching BASES, Ms. Mulji and Ms. Chawla teaching Science, Ms. White teaching Home Economics, Ms. MacKenzie teaching French,  Mr. Moffett teaching Planning, English and Law, Ms. Frame teaching Math and Mr. Sutter teaching  IT, Planning and PE. I would also like to welcome back Ms. Brockway who is returning from maternity leave and Ms. Tran who is returning from a personal leave.

I send out a very special welcome to the grad class of 2017… our new Grade 8 students!  Welcome to Sullivan Heights! We are very excited about having you at Sullivan Heights.  We are hosting our grade 8 Parent and Student BBQ on Sept 12th and our Annual grade 8 Day on Sept 26th.  Please mark your calendar and make plans to attend these special events.

I would also like to extend a very warm welcome to this year’s grad class of 2013… As the graduating class, you have a special and important role to play in the life of our school. As senior students, we look forward to your leadership and the sense of purpose you provide to the rest of the student body.  Make this year bet best year ever, both for yourselves as individuals, and also for our school.  Our kick off for grade 12 students is the grade 12 Grad Parent BBQ on Sept. 25th.

I would like to extend a warm welcome to all our new and current Sullivan Heights parents.  I must say that it is really is an honour serving as your child’s Principal.  I look forward to meeting all of you and really encourage each of you to take time to get to know your child’s school.  You are all invited to get involved in the school by participating in and supporting our outstanding Parent Advisory Committee.  Our first PAC meeting is on Sept. 24th at 7 pm in our school library.  PAC meetings are held regularly on the last Monday of each month. All parents are welcome. 

At Sullivan Heights we recognize that we are one of the pinnacles of our community, a place where your children come every day to have rich, meaningful learning experiences. At Sullivan Heights, we are all looking forward to the energy, enthusiasm, talent, and interests, our students bring to school every day.  I encourage you to talk with your child about taking full advantage of our programs, clubs, teams, and activities.  Our programs and courses are designed to provide your child with every opportunity to reach their full potential and success.  As parents, I encourage you to get actively involved in the life of our school.  The five years of high school are the formative years that help pave the path for your child’s success. These years serve as the stepping-stones to your child becoming an adult.  It is our aim to help foster and develop good habits that will help your child to succeed.  Our goal is to strike a balance between schoolwork and social living, to instill a deeper appreciation for the value of lifelong learning. 

We believe that Sullivan Heights is a place where everyone can experience success. At Sullivan Heights we ask all our students to make a commitment to themselves and their learning so they can achieve their best and take charge of their learning.  At Sullivan, you are a STAR in all that you do. 
We are all looking forward to an enjoyable and successful year – See you on Sept 4th!

Sincerely,

Mr. R. Hayes
Principal

Final Report Card June 27

Just a reminder that report cards will be distributed to students on Wednesday, June 27th at 10am.  Students are to report to their Period 1 teacher.

Our Latest Work of Art: "WestCoast Watching"

Sullivan Heights is now the proud owner of a new piece of art!  The Aboriginal Scratchboard entitled "WestCoast Watching" was created by two students in our school, led by our Aboriginal Support Worker.

Below are their stories:

From Dallas Yellowfly, Aboriginal Youth Care Worker:

When I came to Sullivan Heights as the new Aboriginal Youth Care Worker I was eager to see something inspiring on the wall: something artistic, something eye catching, and of course something that showed Aboriginal culture in a positive light.

I met two students in Mr. Pelech’s art class that were willing to use their artistic ability and talent and help me with this idea. Instantly the project grew beyond my expectation.
I am proud to say that we will all be able to see the final result on the school walls soon!

From Alysha Collie, Grade 10:

When I look at this piece, I feel a great sense of accomplishment. Sometimes I look at it and think “Wow, I was capable to actually fabricate a part of this?” Without Dallas Yellowfly, this piece would not have been a reality. At first, he asked me my idea of doing a scratchboard art project with him. This idea would truly force me out of the boundaries I have with my art creations.

After partnering with fellow student, Willow Lietz, we needed to figure out was what this piece was actually going to contain. It was a mutual decision that we should do something nature related. Being a huge fan of animals, particularly the strong emotions I get from looking at a raccoon’s face, it could not be a better opportunity for me to use this animal in a project for the first time. Immediately at the idea of nature, I knew exactly what I wanted, and Willow had liked the idea of the symbolism behind the bear in Aboriginal culture.

We got to work and collected several images for inspiration. Finally we were able to find one that suited all of our expectations.

From Willow Lietz, Grade 10:

A great deal of effort went into the making of “WestCoast Watching”. The raccoon symbolizes the mischievous trickster within each of us and the curious nature we all carry. It represents a different part of each of our personalities that many of us don’t choose to make a focal point of. A raccoon applies a grave amount of importance to the cleanliness of its surroundings so naturally it does not accept something at face value. Instead, it takes one’s appearance and cleanses it in order to see it in its pure immaculate state. Much different from the raccoon’s personality, the bear chooses to focus on slightly different aspects of life.

The bear is viewed as a motherly figure and that which watches over and protects the well being of others. We chose to include the bear’s figure within the moon in a position where she was able to watch over the raccoon in order to portray her protective nature. The bear, in fact, was the symbol I was given according to the date of my birth. Both the sly and intelligent raccoon and the strong and motherly bear represent a common sense of balance each of us have within.

Congratulations Thomas Nelles!

Congratulations to Thomas Nelles a grade 12 student here at Sullivan Heights for beating out professional artists in his bid for a digitally designed mural project, located on a wall in Newton. 
The theme of the Newton mural is a representation of social, cultural, ethnic, linguistic and religious diversity in Surrey. 
Way to go Thomas!

Installation of new marked crosswalk on 144th.

In the near future, Sullivan Heights will receive the installation of a marked pedestrian crosswalk on 144th street opposite the main pedestrian access at the school.  This will help to provide an attractive, practical and safe alternate crossing point for students.

This crosswalk will also provide access to the southbound bus stops on 144th Street that
are well used by students travelling to and from the school.

2012-2013 AP Students!

Mr. Pacheco and Ms. Garr enjoyed seeing many of our 2012-13 AP students at the meeting on June 7th. We look forward to a challenging and highly rewarding year ahead which will include a field trip to see Taming of the Shrew on September 12th at Bard on the Beach, and several planned excursions to SFU Surrey and Burnaby. A reminder to students to please return their signed letters to indicate their intention to take the AP exams next May. Also, if AP English Literature and Composition students or parents have any questions about the summer reading assignment, please do not hesitate to email or tweet Ms. Garr.
(email: garr_s@sd36.bc.ca twitter @garrs website: http://garrs.webnode.com)

Have a wonderful summer and we will see you all in September!

Awards Ceremonies Cancelled

Please note that the Awards Ceremonies are cancelled for this year. This includes Awards Ceremonies that would have been held during the day on June 12th and 13th and on the evening of June 25th. 

Students will still receive awards but they will be dsitributed with their report cards on June 27th.

School Exams are fast approaching!

Our school exams are coming up! We will be running a shortened schedule on June 19th and 20th. Students will begin at 8:25 and be dismissed at 2:05. Teachers will be available for help until at least 2:45 on these days.

All students in all grades are in session up to and including June 20th. 

Forum for Young Canadians

Forum for Young Canadians  are currently taking applications for next school year.
The Forum is about one week that may very well change the rest of your life.
It’s about giving smart, engaged and opinionated 15 – 19 year olds a chance to recreate parliament for a week. In Ottawa. On the Hill. With other equally ambitious youth.
It’s about getting inside—deep inside—Canadian politics and public affairs and seeing what running the country looks like up close. It’s about learning how to collaborate and share ideas, then turn them into real community action.

Beyond the history books, beyond the news channel and beyond classroom debates, there’s a lot to discuss. Your voice can make an impact now.
If you have ideas. If you think and read and talk about what’s going on in the world. If you have something to say—say it at Forum. Be a Voice. 

Clink the link below to find out further information about how to apply.

http://www.forum.ca/forum2/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=128&Itemid=172&lang=en

Mr. J's Social Studies Student of the Month

Every month Mr. J selects a “Student of the Month” for each class.  The students must exhibit excellence in learning.  But more than just that…these students are just plain nice people to be around that make classes fun, interesting, and enjoyable.  The students were all treated to a pizza/pop lunch on Tuesday June 12.  Individual pictures were taken….which are now proudly displayed in Mr. J’s Hall of Fame…for all to see. 

Congratulations to the following fantastic students!

Social Studies 8

February - Harinder K.
March - Devon R.
April - Ray S.
May - Gurneet S.
June - Jaspreet N.
Student of the Year - Harinder K.

Social Studies 11

February - Jasmeen B.
March - Matthew A.
April - Teresa L.
May - Steven N.
June - Priya G.
Student of the Year - Matthew A.

Social Justice 12

February - Harleen R.
March - Elaine E.
April - Alvin N.
May - Pawan S.
June - Zaafar J.
Student of the Year - Alvin N.

Course Selection Changes

Counsellors are in the process of scheduling students into the courses they requested for the 2012-2013 school year. If your teen would like to make changes to their selections we advise them to come and see their counsellor before they leave for summer vacation.

We are anticipating more students than ever next year at Sullivan Heights; to give yourself the best chance of getting the schedule you would like, please see your counsellor before the end of June.

Grad Commencement Start Time and Parking

6:00pm – Students are to report to the school

6-6:30pm – Time for photos with Cap and Gown   
7:00pm sharp – Commencement ceremony begins

Parking for Grad Commencement:
            - school parking lot
            - parking lot above top field and portables
            - parking lot behind school (146 street)

Grad Commencement Rehearsal: June 6

Time:  1:30 pm – Students are to report to the Theatre for the rehearsal.
After the rehearsal students can pick up their commencement gowns, which must be returned immediately after the commencement ceremonies. 


Sorry….But there is no opportunity for photos once the ceremony is completed.  All students must pick up their gowns after the 1:30pm assembly and should take their pictures before arriving at commencement.

Grade 12 Transcripts for Post Secondary Applications

 If you are graduating this school year and are applying to a post secondary institution (PSI) for September admission, please use the online PSI Selections Form to indicate where you want the Ministry of Education to send your transcript information. For more information, click on the Post Secondary Institution Selections link after logging in.

https://www.bced.gov.bc.ca/exams/tsw/tsw/student/

BASES Aquarium Field Trip

One of this year's HIGHLIGHTS was planning and awaiting our class trip to the aquarium.  Students began 2 Science workbooks and most have completed both.  One was an informational workbook on Endangered Species.  The other was a booklet on Exploring the Seashore.  There became a collective energy in the classroom, as the anticipated field trip was on the Horizon! 
Students found several news stories that were discussed during Current Affairs.  One story was about a porpoise which had been abandoned and found around Horseshoe Bay.  Fortunately, he was rescued, but was in very bad shape.  The Vancouver Aquarium nursed him back to health, named him Jack and it was decided that he would live at the aquarium.  Jack has made his home with another porpoise named Daisy. 

Students became excited about a news story regarding the new penguin exhibit!  Everybody was looking forward to seeing these birds in person. 

After an almost year of Recycling and a Generous donation from Sullivan PAC, we booked our trip to the Aquarium for May 24!

Our Vancouver Aquarium Field Trip was a HUGE SUCCESS!  Students and BASES teachers would like to extend a HUGE THANK YOU to our PAC for providing such an Excellent Learning Opportunity with our Vancouver Aquarium Field Trip! 

Please visit our class BLOG at buzzinbases.blogspot.com to view our photos!

Ms. Fuller - B.A.S.E.S. Teacher

Support your school as it hosts BC Summer Games participants this summer!

The BC Summer Games is being held in the City of Surrey July 19 to 22 and excitement is building for this youth athletics showcase.

Surrey Board of Education chair Laurae McNally says “The BC Summer Games is an investment in our youth, our city and our province,” says McNally.  “It is a great venue for young people to participate in and experience the rewards of sport and competition, and with the event here in Surrey, it offers an opportunity to see some of the best emerging athletes in B.C. right here in our own backyard.”

Numerous Surrey School students are volunteering and several current or retired school district employees are also involved. In addition, participants will be lodged at the 14 schools in the Surrey School District: Sullivan Heights Secondary being one of them.

We are in need volunteers for our school specifically.  The title we need volunteers for is called Accommodation-Volunteers.  These volunteers will act as Hosts and will check athletes and/or officials in and out of accommodation (our school), monitor accommodation rules and regulations, and provide assistance as needed for those residing in the school. It is important to us that we have volunteers associated with our school – as they have a vested interest in our site and community.  We want to welcome athletes and officials from around the entire province to Sullivan Heights Secondary.  As a Host we want to make Surrey’s version of the B.C. Summer Games and their experience in Surrey the best it can be. 

Our School will have a special task in that we are hosting athletes/coaches travelling the furthest distance.  They will be with us for one night on the 18th of July.  They will then move on to their assigned accommodation site for the remainder of the games.  We will then be accepting officials that will remain with us from the 19th – 22nd.  Please contact me, Mr. Hayes directly for more information at hayes_r@sd36.bc.ca or call 604-543-8749.  I will ensure that your questions are answered and if interested you are scheduled for our school at Sullivan Heights  Secondary.  New this year for the B.C. Games; if you have a child currently in Grade 12 and both of you would like to volunteer together this can be accommodated.  Registration can be completed at http://www.2012bcsummergames.ca/.  Please let me know if you have already registered and I will then make sure you are at Sullivan Heights.

According to BC Summer Games statistics, there will be as many as 2,818 athletes—with an average age of 14 years old—573 coaches and 399 officials attending this year’s event.

Thank you for the consideration,

Rex Hayes
Principal 

Updated from Comparative Civilations 12

This semester the Comparative Civilizations 12 class has been enriched by experiencing a drum workshop taught by Fana Soro, master drummer from Ivory Coast.  Fana emphasizes the use of the drum in West African culture and teaches the students rhythms that would be used at community events such as weddings and other celebrations.  He also incorporates some West African singing and dancing.  He was impressed by the participation level of the students.  Fana has recently moved to Ottawa but, because he has been coming to Sullivan Heights for several years, we were fortunate that he made a point of fitting in a visit to our school on one of his trips back to BC.

Report Card Pickup in June

Wednesday, June 28th at 10am

Students go to their Period 1 Teacher to pick up their report cards. Once students have picked up their report cards, they are free to leave.

Updates from the English Department

This has been an exciting semester for the English department. In mid February the English Department attacked the entire school with poetry.  From scribing snippets of poetry across windows, reciting riddles during announcements, crashing classrooms with love poems and preparing a poetry slam, including workshops at the end of the week, English teachers were buzzing with poetic energy.  The poetry slam itself was spectacular, with three slam poets, whose words were “off the hook.”  Later that day, two of the poets conducted Spoken Word workshops for all interested students.  These students were treated to writing and performance techniques that only Spoken Word professionals could provide.  All in all, it was a memorable week.

April 23rd was William Shakespeare's birthday, and on that theme, several Sullivan Heights English classes were fortunate to participate in amazing Bard on the Beach Shakespearean workshops. Activities ranged from hurling Shakespearean insults, to acting out scenes from plays such as Romeo and Juliet and Hamlet, to discussing the historical context of the Bard's plays. The workshops allowed students (and teachers!) to view Shakespeare's plays in a new light, as theatrical dramas with intricate and expressive language, rather than simply a dry and boring text to be read in class. A big thank you to the PAC for funding these inspiring workshops!

Some neat activities have been occurring in classrooms as well.  In Ms. Farrant’s class, Grade 10 students made pins during their study of The Hunger Games.  Ms. Garr’s class made bookmarks with “Macbeth” and “Romeo and Juliet” and created graffiti walls with “Romeo and Juliet”.  Ms. Freeman’s class used twitter to do character tweets during their study of “Taming of the Shrew” and Ms. Nielsen’s grade 11 class performed scenes from “Macbeth” just to name a few.

Ms. Nielsen - English Department Head

Enriched Workshops for Comparative Civilization Students

This semester the Comparative Civilizations 12 class has been enriched by experiencing two drum workshops, both featuring the use of the West African Djembe drum.  The first session, on March 1, was taught by Fana Soro, master drummer from Ivory Coast.  Fana emphasizes the use of the drum in West African culture and teaches the students rhythms that would be used at community events such as weddings and other celebrations.  He also incorporates some West African singing and dancing.  He was impressed by the participation level of the students.  Fana has recently moved to Ottawa but, because he has been coming to Sullivan Heights for several years, we were fortunate that he made a point of fitting in a visit to our school on one of his trips back to BC.

The second drum workshop will be May 24 and taught by a local drummer, Mr. Billy Knudson, who leads the Rhythm Well drum group.  Billy’s philosophy is that everyone has rhythm, that everyone has the potential to be a drummer if their rhythm is “released”.  For Billy, drumming is an important stress release that leads to wellness.

Both drummers have extensive experience conducting both student and adult workshops.  Both styles emphasize the amazing amount of non-verbal communication made possible through drumming.  Both sessions were generously funded by the Sullivan Heights PAC. 

Ms. Harris - Comparative Civililations Teacher

A Successful Year for our Theatre Deptarment

The Theatre Department had a very successful year staging a full Production of “An Evening At Fawlty Towers” last fall and no less than 8 - one act plays this spring.   But perhaps the most memorable moment was the evening we all got together to go to the Queen Elizabeth Theatre to see the Broadway show, ‘Cats’.   Our Theatre Arts community is certainly growing and we look forward to new adventures next year! 

Mr. Trottier - Drama Teacher

Career Centre Year End Highlights

The Career Centre here at Sullivan Heights has had a very successful year.  Here are some of the highlights:


- Three Sullivan Students accepted/enrolled in the District Plumbing Program
- One Sullivan Student accepted/enrolled in the District Auto Mechanics Program
- One Sullivan Student accepted/enrolled in the District HairDressing Program
- One Sullivan Student accepted/enrolled in the District Chef Training Program


- 90 Co-op Work Study student placements
- 20 out of 25 Work Experience Student Placements
- Over 200 successful Grad Transitions Interviews


- Over 80% of Sullivan Grade 9 students took part in Take our Kids to Work Day
- 500 grade 8/9 students took part in business/employability skills works shops (Junior Achievement)
- Grade 10-12 Funny Money Financial Literacy Presentation (Brought to you by our Sullivan PAC)
- Youth Philanthropy Initiative ---$5000 in funding won by Planning 10 students Leah Kobetitch, Pryia
   Johal and Simran Gill for their chosen charity "Harmony House"
- "Drop it and Drive" road safety presentation
- ICBC Road Sense Safety Presentation

Global Issues - What a Year!

Over the past year, the Global Issues Club organized a number of events in relation to humanitarian and environmental causes. Keeping with tradition, annual campaigns were held, but at the same time, new ones were also introduced. Here are some of the events we held.

1. Supporting Victims of the famine in East Africa
2. World Aids Day
3. Operation Christmas Child
4. Gingerbread House Fundraiser in support of Local Women's Shelters
5. Critter Care Fundraiser
6. Earth Week

Throughout the year, the Global Issues Club and Sullivan Heights worked cooperatively to help make a positive difference in the world. The club wishes to thank all school members for showing their support and contributing towards the successes of all the campaigns that were held!

Dry Grad Update (Change in Venue)

Dry Grad 2012
11:30 pm – 5:00 am

Location now changed!

Will be held at the YMCA
(Parents are to pick up grads at the YMCA at 5:00am Sat. June 9th)

Dry Grad update now available. Check the Dry Grad Facebook page here.

Athletic Banquet - June 5, 2012

This year's year end Athletic Banquet will be presented in a new format.  On Tuesday, June 5th at lunch time in the school hub we will be celebrating the year in school athletics with a media presentation showcasing the numerous highlights and memorable moments our students have experienced in these extra-curricular activities.  We will also be acknowledging several students who have made valuable contributions to our school's athletics program through coaching and other forms of volunteer work.  

A complimentary Subway lunch will be provided to athletes as part of their athletic fees paid at the start of their season.  Students must register for a food ticket at lunch time in the hub from May 14th - May 18th.

Congratulations AP (Advanced Placement) Students!

Ms. Garr and Mr. Pacheco would like to congratulate all of our Advanced Placement students who wrote the AP Psychology and/or AP English Literature exams in May. These exams were the culmination of a challenging, yet highly rewarding year for both students and teachers! We are confident that regardless of final exam scores, the "lessons" that our students learned this year range far beyond the content of the courses, and we wish them well in their post secondary pursuits. A reminder that exam results will not be released until mid-summer and that students and parents can log on to the AP College Board website for further information.

Principal's May Newsletter

To the Proud Parents of our Sullivan Heights STARS,

It’s May and the sun is finally shining.  The days are getting longer and the heat feels good on our face!  Summer is just around the corner.

If you haven’t already done so, now is definitely the time to check in on your children and ask them how they’re doing at school.  If you have a child that responds with the usual grunt or comment that “all is fine”, I encourage you to dig deeper and ask more open-ended questions to suss out what is really going on.  Research tells us that parents who actively engage and get involved in their child’s education, are more apt to have children that succeed in school.

Our most recent update at Sullivan Heights is that we have finally made the decision to move to a flexible schedule for next year. Our new schedule involves implementing a five period day to accommodate our increased population. The intricacies of what the bell schedule will look like are still being decided. What you can expect to see is a day that starts at or very near to 8:00 am, has five periods, a lunch and a nutrition break, and finishes at approximately 3:45.  The day will be structured so that our grade 8, 9 and 10 students attend school from periods 1 – 4 and our seniors attend from periods 1 – 5.  Overall, our staff is quite enthusiastic about the change and we are all looking forward to helping our students and school community make the adjustment.

Our Grad 2012 update is that our Commencement, Grad Dinner Dance and Dry Grad Event will not be affected by the current BCTF withdrawal of volunteer activities.  Through the support of our district Safe School Liaisons, the school administration and our volunteer parents, grad activities will still take place.  We are looking forward to Commencement on June 6th and the Grad Dinner Dance and Dry Grad on June 8th. If your child is in grade 12, please ask them to check the Grad Bulletin board in the school to ensure they have completed all the necessary checks to be able to attend these activities.

We are continuing to work on our mechanisms to communicate with our parents. The best way to keep abreast of what is happening at Sullivan Heights is to follow this link by adding your email in the Follow by Email box. As well, if you haven’t already done so, now is the time to check out our very own Sullivan Heights Twitter hashtag at #1000awesomethingsaboutsulli or follow our account @sullivanHeights.  Note that you must have a Twitter account to view the hashtag. This hashtag started in the first semester and has allowed many students and staff to post instant messages about how great it is to be a STAR at Sullivan Heights.

Here are a few Sullivan Heights highlights from the past few months include:

Advance Placement English and Psychology  (update by Ms Garr)
• Our AP students began the year with an excursion to Bard on the Beach, viewing a lively performance of the comedy “As You Like It”. Their first foray into live Shakespearean theatre was an eye opening and enlightening experience. It allowed our students to bond as a group, and was a great kick off to the year. Psychology students were also able to sit in on a 1st year lecture at SFU and participated in the Connecting Minds Conference. Technology also figured largely into the AP program with students benefitting from our new ipads and iclickers to supplement and enhance classroom instruction.

• Another highlight of the AP English Literature experience this year was our Victorian Christmas party to complement our study of Victorian Era literature. Students made period appropriate ornaments, while snacking on various delicacies and listening to the gentle music of The Nutcracker Suite.  Our students were also treated to a heart-felt rendition of Clement Moore's  “T'was the Night Before Christmas” read to them by by our principal Mr Hayes.

• April 23rd was William Shakespeare's birthday, and on that theme, several Sullivan Heights English classes were fortunate to participate in amazing Bard on the Beach Shakespearean workshops. Activities ranged from hurling Shakespearean insults, to acting out scenes from plays such as Romeo and Juliet and Hamlet, to discussing the historical context of the Bard's plays. The workshops allowed students (and teachers!) to view Shakespeare's plays in a new light, as theatrical dramas with intricate and expressive language, rather than simply a dry and boring text to be read in class. A big thank you to the PAC for funding these inspiring workshops!

Athletics
• Our very own Sullivan Junior Girls Basketball Team won the Surrey Tier 2 Championship

Bhangra Dance Team
• Our beloved Bhangra Dance Team won first place overall and most entertaining team at the BC High School Bhangra Championships.

Physical Education (update by Mr. Brown)
• We are all very thankful to PAC for helping fund and support our new Weight Room re-design and installation of our new treadmill.

Art (update by Mr. Pelech)
• Our Grade 12 student Thomas Nelles won the City of Surrey, "Creative Achievement Award," as part of the Annual Youth Recognition Awards ceremony, held last weekend.  The award is given out to the "top" student engaged in school & community fine arts.

As you see Sullivan Heights is a vibrant and exciting place to be. As a final note, I want to thank the many parents who volunteer their time in support of our school.  Your committed support and dedication is what makes our Sullivan Community a family.

Just like stars have gravitational pull, our STARS have gravitational pull from the positive relationships that form at Sullivan Heights!

Rex Hayes
Principal