June 26, 2025
School Year in Review: How We Sailed to Success in 2025
Great things happen every year at New Westminster Schools! This past 2024-2025 school year was, in many ways, our most eventful and productive one yet. Not only did the board and district come up with a new, five-year strategic plan with help from our learning community, families, and partners, we’re also one step closer to more classrooms at Queen Elizabeth Elementary.
Above all else though, we had some truly magnificent wins to celebrate at our schools. Here are some of the highlights.
NWSS grads flex their academic strength
Nothing says “great job!” better than recognition. This year’s New Westminster Secondary School graduating class includes three scholarship winners amongst its cohort.
- Noah Kay will be attending Simon Fraser University on a $100,000 science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) Schulich Leadership Scholarship.
- Euodia Opigo received an $80,000 Beyond Tomorrow Scholars Award to attend the University of British Columbia.
- Rawan Altarazi will pursue her undergraduate studies at the University of British Columbia Okanagan on a $44,000 SHINE (Soaring Higher IN Education) scholarship from Beedie Luminaries.
Showing our Pride
Former New Westminster Secondary School student Kayden Russell-Black is the designer behind the vibrant new Pride logo now posted at the entrance of every school in the district. The design reflects inclusion, progress, and pride, which values we celebrate in our learning communities.
Each school also now displays a Progress Pride flag year-round in indoor common areas. These actions are part of the Pride Committee’s ongoing work, which continues to implement and develop initiatives that uplift 2SLGBTQIA+ students, staff, families, and community members.
École Glenbrook Middle School helps ease grade fives into community
Going to a new school is never easy. That’s why École Glenbrook Middle School (EGMS) held two wonderful grade five transition events this year to prepare and welcome young learners to its community for 2025-2026.
An open house on May 7 followed and grade 5 tours on June 5 introduced students to middle school life and routine at EGMS. The school partnered with the City of New Westminster Parks and Recreation department to make the events fun and engaging.
Queen Elizabeth Elementary’s music program hits high notes
Music is very important to Queen Elizabeth Elementary’s (QEE) community. The school’s strong music program, led by Lindsay Mellor, teaches students every week, and many grade threes and fours join QEE’s choir.
This year, QEE welcomed artists from Rhythm Resource to teach students about drumming and music from cultures around the word. The school’s young musicians demonstrated their learning and enthusiasm for drumming by performing for their families.
Students shine in arts and athletics at École Herbert Spencer Elementary
École Herbert Spencer Elementary’s Tamara Nemeth led fine arts at the school this year and put together some great programming to show case student talents.
- “Bugz Performance” (K-3) musical held at Herbert Spencer on multiple evenings for families and the learning community.
- Performing Arts Club (Gr. 4-5) planned and produced the “High Cs Adventure” musical held this spring.
- A spring choir concert to round off a successful year.
Track and field made a triumphant return to New West thanks to Herbert Spencer staff member Kim Thomas. Her leadership brought together grade fives in district-wide track meet this year.
Herbert Spencer also launched several new recess and lunch activity clubs and programs for students, which garnered much interest and excitement. Special thanks the École Herbert Spencer Parent Advisory Council for purchasing six sets of full goalie pads and other supplies.
Connaught Heights students give back to the community
Every winter, Connaught Heights Elementary participates in the beloved Community Food Drive Collection that brings everybody together. During the first week of December, young learners deliver flyers to homes in the area, requesting non-perishable food donations.
After a week, students return to collect donations left at front doors. All collected items are assembled into hampers and distributed to Connaught families in need of extra support during the holiday season.
Queensborough Middle School’s librarian of the year
Queensborough Middle School’s very own Lisa Seddon was named the “Librarian of the Year” last October by the BC Teacher Librarians’ Association.
Her work includes an effort to decolonize the QMS non-fiction library catalogue by switching from the Dewey Decimal Classification to a modified version of the Brian Deer Classification. Re-cataloguing the collection finished last June.
