| Argyle wins sixth-straight provincial gymnastics competition | 
Argyle Grade 12 student Taylor Dyck wins silver at the BC Secondary Schools Gymnastics Championships in Delta on March 13 and 14. | Cath Dimmock By Nick Laba, North Shore News.
When it comes to gymnastics, it seems like no high school in the province can springboard past Argyle Secondary. After winning the BC Secondary Schools Gymnastics Championships in Delta on March 13 and 14, Argyle racked up its sixth-straight combined team title at the provincial level. That includes four wins before, and two wins after, the provincial sporting body dropped gymnastics from its roster in 2023. Over the past two years, B.C. high schools continuing to train athletes in the sport have organized their own annual gymnastics tournament. This year, 44 schools with more than 300 athletes competed at the event. Other North Shore schools were dominant at this year’s championships as well, with Windsor Secondary taking second place and Sutherland Secondary third in the combined team rankings. From this year’s tournament, Argyle head coach Cath Dimmock highlighted Grade 12 student Brandon Thompson, who was awarded the Louise Chelsey Memorial bursary to carry on with the sport into his post-secondary career. “In Grade 8, he’d not ever done gymnastics,” Dimmock said. “He’s been on my team for five years and has jumped up five levels and is now competing competitively for Flicka gymnastics club and coaching.” While Argyle has the largest gymnastics team in the province, Dimmock said her program’s success is more than a numbers game. “I know that people say that we win because we have the largest team,” she said. “But in fact that’s not true, or we would monopolize every level.” Instead, all the age categories remain competitive, especially among the North Van schools. When they leave the North Shore, the athletes feel like they’re competing against club teams rather than school programs, Dimmock said. Most other high schools won’t take on gymnastics programs, she added. “So these kids train in clubs, and then when they go to provincials, they just categorize them under their school,” Dimmock said. After dropping sport, province encourages schools to continue gymnastics programs Before BC School Sports cut gymnastics in 2023, the provincial sporting body said that gymnastics had moved away from being a school-based sport to a community-based competition. At that time, around two thirds of registered high school gymnasts were in the Lower Mainland, and not a single school in the Okanagan had a program for the sport, BCSS said. But the sporting body said that districts and zones should continue to operate programs and competitive opportunities outside of a provincial gymnastics program. Yet Dimmock said the annual tournament operates much the same as it did before the province dropped gymnastics. “The only thing that’s changed is we aren’t given any money to run the meet so the kids fees have gone up triple,” she said. Dimmock, who also runs North Vancouver’s Flicka Gymnastics Club, said the reason why many schools gymnastics programs suffer is because they don’t have volunteers in place. “I came on 20 years ago because my daughter was going to just head out and try out for the team, and I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, you need me.’ And that’s how I took over,” she said. “But if somebody like me doesn’t come in, then they don’t have a team. “Schools won’t support it, so you've got to have volunteers that are willing to run the program. I mean, don’t get me wrong, my husband wishes I got paid 20 years, five months a year,” Dimmock said. “But hey, well I don’t. I’m a volunteer and I love it. I’m not goint to stop.” Here are individual overall results from top North Shore athletes at this year’s provincials. Level 3 boys: Heitor Menichelli, Windsor, silver; Charlie Ben Halevi, Argyle, bronze. Level 4 boys: Martin Kamyab, Carson Graham, gold. Level 5 boys: Brandon Thompson, Argyle, bronze. Level 3 girls: Sienna O’Bee, Windsor, bronze. Level 5 girls: Taylor Dyck, Argyle, silver.
| Maddy SP | Yesterday at 2:29 PM | | | Andy Prest: North Shore Sport Awards winners display dazzling talent | 
Windsor Wolves quarterback Emmet Ward makes a move in AA action against Parksville’s Ballenas Whalers Oct. 18. Windsor Secondary won senior boys provincial titles in football, soccer and basketball in the 2024-25 school year. | Paul McGrath / North Shore News By Andy Prest, North Shore News. The North Shore Sport Awards were held earlier this month at West Vancouver Community Centre, providing an excellent opportunity to celebrate some achievements old and new in the sporting world. And there was much to celebrate. Notable names on the list at the sport awards included the youth female and male athletes of the year, who happen to be possibly the best teenage hockey players in the world. There’s no doubt that Chloe Primerano, who is looking like a young Bobby Orr out there on the world stage, is the best young female hockey player on Earth. And the only person possibly preventing North Shore Sport Award-winner Macklin Celebrini from that same title on the men’s side could be last year’s North Shore youth male athlete of the year, Connor Bedard. Closer to home, some North Shore teams that scored big over the past year were recognized at the awards, and it was a joy to see all those young athletes up on stage. The Windsor Secondary senior boys were recognized for winning both the provincial football and soccer titles, a feat they accomplished last fall in the span of about a week. To make it even more remarkable, the same cohort won the provincial basketball title this year too, just a few days before the sport awards were held. I’ve been following the North Shore sports scene for many years, and I can’t recall a hat trick of high-level high school titles from one class of boys or girls quite like this one. The Wolves of Windsor are dangerous these days. It was likewise delightful to see the Mount Seymour Little League juniors up on stage, recognized for their inspiring run all the way to the Junior League World Series last summer. It’s a great story. Junior is an age group in which many Little League programs are petering out, with their players moving on to play on different circuits. But a group of Seymour kids decided to stick together and take a shot at doing something great. How’d that go? Nearly pitch perfect – a national title, and wins at the World Series over Mexico and Australia. Another highlight of the night was seeing the Argyle Pipers senior boys soccer team earn an award after they claimed the AAA provincial title for the first time since 1988. The biggest cheer of the night, however, came for one of Argyle’s assistant coaches. The Argyle lads went wild when Gerry Macey, looking spry well into his 70s, had his name called to collect the community sport volunteer award. His decades of coaching shone through as he commandeered one of the microphones to give the crowd a quick pep talk. Radiating positive energy, you could easily tell why the players he coaches love him. Another person who deserves major recognition was someone in the crowd at North Shore Sport Awards, not an actual winner. At least, not on that night. Leslie Buchanan, a longtime member of the sport awards selection committee, was recognized just a week prior with one of the highest sporting honours in the province, the Sport BC Daryl Thompson Lifetime Achievement Award. Buchanan was honoured for her decades of work in the sport of triathlon, helping to build it almost from scratch to the thriving worldwide powerhouse it is today. In a neat writeup from Sport BC, Buchanan described getting pressed into duty at a water station for a triathlon some 40+ years ago while she was just standing on a street corner hoping to cheer on a high school friend. A week later she was called into duty again, helping participants in another race stay on the right course. A week later she was timing another race. “Over that summer I must have done every job associated with putting on a triathlon,” she said. Forty years later she’s still running the show, now as an Olympic technical delegate and executive board member with World Triathlon. Another North Shore triathlon trailblazer was also honoured by Sport BC, with Peter Denny of North Vancouver earning the President’s Award for his dedication to the North Shore Triathlon and B.C.’s sports community. Other winners at the North Shore Sport Awards included wakeboarder Hunter Smith and rugby player Savannah Bauder as the senior male and female athletes of the year, Andrea Damiani as the master athlete, Dorina Stan as coach of the year, August Portal for the Jim Martin Youth Leadership Award, and Tara Llanes and Nathan Clement as the para female and male athletes of the year. It was great to see generations of North Shore strength all on display on the same stage.
| Maddy SP | Yesterday at 2:25 PM | | | North Vancouver student takes down competition to claim provincial wrestling title | 
Mark Kieling of Argyle Secondary claims the provincial title at the BC School Sports Provincial Championships hosted by the PNE Forum in Vancouver, Feb. 20 to 22. | @foundations_mma / Instagram By Nick Laba, North Shore News.
A North Vancouver student has become provincial champion after a dominant performance on the mat. Mark Kieling of Argyle Secondary took the trophy in the 66-kilogram weight class at the BC School Sports Provincial Championships hosted by the PNE Forum in Vancouver, Feb. 20 to 22. After winning gold in the male 63 kg category during last year’s BC Summer Games, Kieling has moved up a weight class, finding continued success.
Other North Shore athletes had success at the tournament as well, including Argyle teammate Khaliya McWilliams, who claimed second place in the female 47 kg class. From Collingwood School in West Vancouver, Ceola Kelly came in second in the female 43 kg, and Benny Peng took third in the male 57 kg category. Elizabeth Nielson of Carson Graham Secondary won third in the female 57 kg.
| Maddy SP | Yesterday at 2:18 PM | | | Superintendent's Report to Families (March 2025) | 
The Superintendent's Report is available in Microsoft Sway and text copy (below).
Updates from the Superintendent, including the monthly Superintendent’s Report, are available for review in the Superintendent’s Updates section of the website. A Message from the SuperintendentDear North Vancouver School District Community, “The instinct of community is everywhere in life,” write Margaret Wheatley and Myron Kellner-Rogers. Their insight rings true throughout the North Vancouver School District (NVSD) every day. This week, the NVSD community has been actively celebrating the very essence of what brings us together: education. Education Week is an annual, week-long celebration of public education in North Vancouver—an opportunity to recognize the many individuals who dedicate their time, energy, and expertise to making this learning community exceptional. On Monday, at the 25-Year Service Employee Recognition event, we honoured employees—including teachers, teacher-librarians, educational assistants, custodians, management staff, and administrators—who have devoted their skills, talents, and experience to the district for a quarter of a century.
Yesterday, you received a copy of the 2025 Community Report, distributed through the North Shore News. This annual publication tells the stories of events, initiatives and programming across NVSD and offers a snapshot of all that makes NVSD a vibrant learning community. This evening (Thursday, March 13, 2025), at the annual Trustee Reception, the North Vancouver Board of Education will welcome community partners and share its collective gratitude for the individuals and organizations who work tirelessly alongside us to enrich the public schooling experience. As we approach Spring Break, I encourage you to take a moment to reflect on all that we have accomplished together—not only in supporting NVSD students but in bolstering staff and the wider North Vancouver community. I look forward to reconnecting with you after the break. Respectfully, Dr. Pius Ryan
Superintendent of Schools
superintendent@sd44.ca In this IssueGood News from the NVSDAnnouncements- Community Report 2025
- Scheduled Website Maintenance — March 20
- Artists for Kids 2025 Spring Portfolio Release — April 11
- Spring Break Travel Reminder
Information - Approved 2025/26 School Calendar
NVSD Events - 2025 Chess Championship
- Stitched: Merging Photography and Textile Practices — Opening reception April 1
- Ready, Set, Learn — April 9 to May 15
- Public Board Meeting – April 15
- Standing Committee Meeting – May 6
NVSD Registrations - Elementary Band and Strings – Late Registration opens March 14
- Summer Learning — Registration opens May 1
- Artists for Kids After School Art – Registration open
- North Vancouver Online Learning – Online registration open
Community Events and Opportunities- District of North Vancouver Heritage Art Contest — Submit by April 18
- North Vancouver District Public Library: TWEEN Harry Potter Party — March 19
- Vancouver Coastal Health Open Board Forum — April 2
Good News from the NVSDVisit
our Learn, Share & Grow blog and News & Announcements to read
about the good work happening throughout the school district. For the stories with images that are included below, please click on the caption for a link to the blog post or article. AnnouncementsCommunity Report 2025We are pleased to share with you the North Vancouver School District Community Report! The Community Report is published each spring. It is one way in which we share and celebrate with our community the progress the North Vancouver School District is making in pursuit of our vision to provide world-class instruction and a rich diversity of engaging programs to inspire success for every student and bring communities together to learn, share and grow. The stories you'll read show how we are bringing to life our strategic plan. Bold and aspirational, the strategic plan is a blueprint that frames where we would like to go and how we plan to get there. While reviewing the report's content, we hope you recognize how much the North Vancouver School District community has achieved together to provide for students and staff teaching and learning environments where we can all learn, share, grow and thrive. Scheduled Website Maintenance — March 20On Thursday, March 20 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. the North Vancouver School District and school websites will be temporarily offline for scheduled maintenance. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and appreciate your understanding while we work to improve our services. Artists for Kids 2025 Spring Portfolio Release — April 1The Spring Portfolio features limited edition prints by renowned Canadian artists, including Ian Wallace, Karin Bubaš, Wayne Eastcott, Gordon Smith, and Michael Snow - artists who have significantly contributed to our society through their pivotal work and advocacy of the arts. Acquiring a print from this portfolio funds educational programs, artist residencies, art camps, scholarships, bursaries, and future acquisitions for Artists for Kids and the Gordon Smith Gallery Permanent Collection. Founded in 1989 by educators and B.C. artists, Artists for Kids is supported by the North Vancouver School District. Its mission is to support children, their art education, and their future through enriching art experiences and professional development for educators. In 1990, the program launched its first limited edition print, Xhuwaji / Haida Grizzly by Bill Reid, beginning a partnership with over 100 Canadian artists to create one of Canada’s most significant limited edition collections. Purchase a limited edition print and bring Canadian art to your collection and support the future of children and youth. Learn more. Spring Break Travel ReminderWith measles outbreaks being reported internationally and Spring Break on the horizon, the Office of the Provincial Health Officer, BC Centre for Disease Control and public health officials are reminding people in British Columbia to check their vaccination records before travelling to ensure they are protected. Measles is a highly contagious, airborne virus. There is a high risk of measles cases being brought back to B.C. due to ongoing measles outbreaks globally and decreased vaccination coverage rates in Canada. Additionally, pertussis (whooping cough) is making a comeback locally. Please ensure that your family’s pertussis immunizations are up to date. Pertussis is a bacterial infection of the lungs that is making a return. While people of any age can get ill, young children who have not been immunized get sicker than older children and adults. Families can check their child’s immunization records via BC Health Gateway. Vaccine appointments can be booked through local public health units, community health centres or nursing stations. Find a centre near you. Information Approved 2025/2026 School Calendar The Board of Education approved the 2025/2026 School Calendar at the Public Board Meeting held on Tuesday, February 24. The approved School Calendar confirms dates including the first and last day of school for students, Winter and Spring Breaks, Curriculum Implementation Day and Staff Collaboration days for the next school year. These dates remain as indicated in the Proposed School Calendar that was made available for public comment in January and February. Professional development (pro-d) dates have not been confirmed; dates on the current calendar documents are placeholder (i.e., example) dates at this time. - Three (3) district-wide pro-d dates are selected by the North Vancouver Teachers’ Association (NVTA). These dates will be confirmed in May, with a final school district-wide calendar published at that time. - Two (2) school-based dates are selected by school staff committees at each school. These dates will be shared by schools with their local school communities before the end of May.
For more information, please visit the District Calendar web page. NVSD Events2025 NVSD Chess Championship — Registration openK-12 students across the school district are invited to register for the 2025 NVSD Chess Championship taking place on Monday, May 5, at Sutherland Secondary. Registration is free tournament and all skill levels are welcome.
Students can compete in the Primary, Intermediate, or Secondary divisions for individual and school prizes. Students can register in an older division if they wish, but they cannot register in a younger division. The tournament will begin at 9 a.m. with the finals concluding by 3 p.m. Students are encouraged to bring their own lunch and snacks. One family member is welcome to spectate. Learn more and register online. Space is limited. If you have any questions, please email chess@sd44.ca. Stitched: Merging Photography and Textile Practices – Opening reception April 1Please join the Gordon Smith Gallery for the opening of the Spring Exhibition, Stitched: Merging Photography and Textile Practices. The opening reception takes place on April 1 from 7 to 9 p.m. Stitched explores the intrinsic relationship between textiles and photographer. Photography, with its many uses for personal snapshots, evidence, surveillance, advertising, storytelling, and art, is a relatively new medium. Textiles have traditionally been dismissed as craft in part because of the gendered norms embedded within these historically domestic practices, which include sewing, beading, embroidery, knitting, lacemaking, weaving, and dyeing. For more information on programming and this exhibit, visit Artists for Kids and the and the Gordon and Marion Smith Foundation. Ready, Set, Learn – April 9 to May 15Ready, Set, Learn is an initiative aimed at encouraging and supporting children’s early language and literacy skills. Intended for families and their children (ages 3 to 5 years), Ready, Set, Learn is designed to foster positive connections among families, schools and early learning community partners and support children as they prepare for their transition to Kindergarten. Ready, Set, Learn events will be hosted at multiple locations throughout the school district from April 9 to May 15 and are free to attend. RSVP and event details are available on the Ready, Set, Learn web page. Public Board Meeting – April 15A Board of Education Public Board Meeting takes place on Tuesday, April 15, at 6:30 p.m. Visit the Public Meetings web page for information on how you can participate and to review the meeting agenda and board package, which are posted the Thursday afternoon preceding the public meeting. Standing Committee Meeting – May 6A Board of Education Standing Committee Meeting takes place on Tuesday, May 6 at 7 p.m. Visit our Public Meetings web page for information on how you can participate and to review the meeting agenda, which is posted on the Thursday afternoon preceding the public meeting. NVSD Registrations Elementary Band and Strings — Late Registration begins March 14Elementary Band and Strings is open to students in Grades 5 – 7 for Band and Grades 4 – 7 for Strings. Our unique instrumental music program complements the Arts Education curriculum and provides school-based instrumental instruction in a supportive and fun learning environment. Although registration closes on February 28, late registration begins Friday, March 14. This is subject to program availability and class size at your child’s school site and is dependent on sufficient registrations received by February 28. Visit the Elementary Band and Strings web page for information, including program fees. Summer Learning — Registration opens May 1
North Vancouver Summer Learning provides a platform for students to explore and extend learning opportunities while fulfilling their educational requirements through a variety of opportunities in the month of July. The Summer Learning 2025 course offerings provide students opportunities to further their learning and/or earn credits toward graduation: • Full Credit Academic Courses (including a variety of options to meet the Indigenous-focused graduation requirement) • 7/8 Transition • English Language Learning (ELL) • Eslha7an Secondary Review & Completion • Numeracy 8/9 Foundations • Literacy 8/9 Foundations
Registration is open to students within and beyond the NVSD. Registration opens on Wednesday, May 1 at 9 a.m. for NVSD students. Artists for Kids After School Art – Registration openTaught by art specialist teachers and assisted by secondary art students, Artists for Kids After School Art classes provide students the opportunity to further their artistic ability and foster positive attitudes towards the visual arts. Visit the Artists for Kids website for more information and to register. North Vancouver Online Learning – Online registration openNorth Vancouver Online Learning (NVOL) provides engaging, accessible and interactive learning experiences for students. Students can enrol any time during the school year and have one calendar year to complete their course(s). Students can also choose to engage in their NVOL course(s) entirely remotely online or in a blended model of online and in-person interactions at our NVOL Centre. Visit the NVOL website to see the full suite of courses from Grades 8 through 12 in both English and French. The French Immersion online course offerings allow students the opportunity to meet the requirements of their Diplôme de fin d'études secondaires en Colombie-Britannique online through L' École Virtuelle de Vancouver nord. Community Events and Opportunities District of North Vancouver Heritage Art Contest — Submit by April 18 Attention all students aged 7 through 19 studying and/or living in the District of North Vancouver. The Heritage Art Contest invites you to create a piece of artwork to share your understanding of local community heritage – whether built, cultural, or natural. Details of the art contest are available on the Youth Heritage Art Contest website. North Vancouver District Public Library: TWEEN Harry Potter Party— March 19Join the North Vancouver District Public Library for a special event chosen by Tweens for Tweens! Get ready to step into the enchanted world of Harry Potter at the Magical Harry Potter Party! This party involves a variety of free-range activity stations and crafts that you participate in at your own pace. No need to be on time, you can join the party anytime between 3-5 p.m. Parent participation encouraged if your child would benefit from extra supervision. The program is for older kids 9+. Learn more. Vancouver Coastal Health Open Board Forum — April 2Vancouver Coastal Health's Board of Directors would like to invite you to take part in the next Open Board Forum telephone town hall, which will focus on health-care topics relevant to the North Shore. The session will provide updates on health-care services and programs, including the new Paul Meyers Tower at Lions Gate hospital and broader acute care, community care, public health as well as other initiatives that support the health and wellness of North Shore communities. To register for the telephone town hall and receive a call to connect to the event, please visit www.vch.ca/en/openboardforum. Missed an issue?
Updates from the Superintendent, including the monthly Superintendent’s Report are available for review.
The
North Vancouver School District is situated upon the unceded
traditional territory of the Skwxwú7mesh Nation and Tsleil-Waututh
Nation. We would like to thank the Coast Salish people and value the
opportunity to learn, share and grow on this traditional territory. | Maddy SP | March 17 | | | Photos: Windsor Wolves win first-ever provincial basketball banner |  Tournament MVP Perrin Taylor makes a pass during the provincial championships. | Garrett James / Langley Events Centre By Nick Laba, North Shore News.
At some point in the not-so-distant past, North Vancouver's Windsor Secondary wasn’t taken seriously for its senior boys basketball program. That's according to head coach Marco Fong, who helped permanently change that perception on March 8 when his Wolves hunted down their first-ever AAA provincial banner with a strong 66-58 victory over No. 1 seeded St. Thomas More at Langley Events Centre. Last season, a much younger Wolves squad – with just one Grade 12 player – won the North Shore and came third in the Vancouver Sea to Sky Zone championships. Those results sparked belief and hunger among the athletes and coaching staff at the beginning of this season, said head coach Marco Fong, that this year’s team could finally bring the banner home. Racking up win after win this January, the team really began to feel like AAA was wide open and they had a shot at doing something special, Fong said. The Wolves took the North Shore title with ease, and powered through the zone championships – defeating No. 4 seed Magee and No. 1 seed St. Patrick Regional Secondary. That put Windsor in good position at provincials, as the No. 2 seed. At the Langley Events Centre, the Wolves beat Richmond 62-53 in the quarterfinals and Mark Isfeld 74-56 in the semis. Then, with a balanced attack and disciplined defence in the final, Windsor gained a lead late in the first quarter that St. Thomas More couldn’t get back. The Wolves led for 33 minutes and 18 seconds of the 40-minute match. Putting up 18 points, Oscar Rouillard led the Wolves with seven rebounds, three assists and three blocked shots – a performance that earned him Championship Player of the Game honours, as well as First Team All-Star. Teammate Perrin Taylor was named tournament MVP, with 13 points and 11 rebounds in the final. Emmet Ward – who doubles as Windsor’s star quarterback – scored 10 points and 13 rebounds in the championship game. Team captain Lukas Chung was named Second Team All-Star. Coach Fong said the team prided itself on its defence, “which was even better in the post season – averaging 51 points [against] per game.” At the heart of the defensive effort was Ward, Fong said. “Being a star on the football field, he’s an athletic kid who does all the dirty work for us,” he said. During the regular season, Ward saw that if he could develop his jump shot, it could be a key ingredient to the team’s success. “At lunch and after school, he would spend extra time working on his mid-range jump shot because team needed him to do that,” Fong said. “That rubs off on the other guys.” Wolves bring home impressive three provincial banners in senior boys sports This season, Windsor’s senior boys have brought home an incredible three provincial banners – in soccer, football and now basketball. To bring home the first AAA basketball banner, “It means a lot for me as head coach,” Fong said. While there’s been previous success with Windsor’s girls basketball teams, the senior boys teams have been looked down on in the past, Fong said. “We made it our mission to change that reputation,” he said. “It motivated us going into games, and made wins sweeter to prove them wrong.... The seniors put in a lot of work to be successful, and have set an example for the rest of the school.” In other senior high school basketball news, the Argyle Pipers 4A girls team took bronze, with a 76-63 victory against Riverside on March 1. Isabella Milijkovic was named First Team All-Star, and Sophie Nicholson a Second Team All-Star.  Oscar Rouillard was named Championship Player of the Game. | Langley Events Centre
Windsor head coach Marco Fong speaks to his team. | Garrett James / Langley Events Centre
 Windsor star football quarterback Emmet Ward is also the school's best defensive basketball player. | Garrett James / Langley Events Centre
| Maddy SP | March 14 | |
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