PRINCIPAL’S
MESSAGE
Gung Hay Fat Choi! January 23 was the start of the Chinese New
Year. I wish all students, staff, and families a happy, healthy,
and prosperous new year!
Congratulations to Grade 12 student Tristan Downing! Tristan is one
of two BC students (3 in Canada) who won the prestigious 2012 Blyth
Cambridge Commonwealth Trust Scholarship. The value of the
scholarship is over $200,000 and covers the entire cost of his
engineering degree at Cambridge University in England. Currently, he
has a perfect 45/45 score in the International Baccalaureate
Program. Scholarship Chair, Sam Blyth, contacted me on January 6 to
let me know that Tristan had been selected and was very
complimentary of not only Tristan's achievement, but of both the
school’s and teachers' work to support student success. In the
Fall, two Semiahmoo students (Tristan and Pradeep Venkatesh) were
selected as National Finalists and flown to Toronto for an
interview. It would be an understatement to say that it is an honour
to make it that far in the selection process! To have two Semiahmoo
students makes us particularly proud. This scholarship is the most
important award in Canada and Cambridge is one of the world’s
leading academic institutions. Alumni of the university have won
more Nobel prizes than any other.
I
am pleased to report some outstanding results for our Drama students
who performed "It's All Your Fault" for Surrey's One Act Play
Festival at Kwantlen Park on January 12th. Although they
didn't place high enough to qualify for Provincials, Jesse Cross and
Victoria Kalitowski won Best Actor and Actress of the festival and
were awarded six free acting classes at Vancouver Academy of
Dramatic Arts. Congratulations! Students will be performing for
their peers and families in the Drama room on Thursday February 23rd
at 7 pm. Hope to see you there!
Cast/Crew:
Mitchell Bringeland-Writer,
Director, Lights/Sound designer, Actor "Dad"
Jesse Cross- Best Male
Actor "Brother"
Victoria Kalitowski-Best
Female Actor "Sister"
Katherine Zumpano-Actor
"Mum"
Selena Tobin-Actor
"Delivery Girl", Stage Manager, Propsmaster
Cole Davidson- Lighting
operator
Further on the theme of Fine Arts, our Senior Jazz Band took part in
the much-celebrated “Big Band Evening” on January 14 at Earl
Marriott Secondary School. Senior Bands from Semi, Elgin Park, and
Earl Marriott participated in an astounding evening of music.
Students enjoyed the camaraderie of playing together in a
non-competitive environment, listening and learning from one
another. On January 29th Surrey played host to an 80 voice choir
from China. They put on a concert at the Bell and Semi's Jazz Band
12 was requested to be Surrey's part in the event. Our own Chloe
Wright sang O Canada to begin this wonderful show. Our Jazz program
is gearing up for the Envisions Jazz Festival on Thurs. - Sat.
February 9-11 at the Sheraton Guildford Hotel. Semi has entered 186
students in five jazz bands and 6 jazz combos.
There are a
couple of key date changes to note for the Spring. The Spring Jazz
Night is now scheduled for May 11 and the wrap-up final concert for
the school year is May 3. Please mark your calendars and plan to
attend.
On Friday, January 20 at lunch the school raised over $1000 for a
very needy family who suffered a devastating loss over Christmas
vacation. Mr. Langton and the Leadership students organized a pizza
sale and Dunk Tank featuring teachers Mr. McMartin, Mr. Fullerton,
Mr. El Halabi, Mr. Davidson, Mr. Houchen, and Vice Principal Mr.
McLeod! Semico (our school store) donated sales for the day and
Marketing students sold popcorn and candy floss. It was a warm,
caring, response from the Semi family to one of our own. Thanks to
all.
Winter sports teams are practicing, playing games, and moving
forward in an intense season. We recently hosted a very successful
Junior Boys and Girls Basketball Tournament and a Grade 8 Boys and
Girls Basketball Tournament at the school. Our Grade 8 Girls won
all of their games! The Junior Boys Team won the recent Saint Thomas
Moore Collegiate Tournament. In the world of dance, our Junior Hip
Hop Team placed 6th at the Breakout Competition. Way to go!
January 30 is the start of Semester 2 and students will report to a
short homeroom at 8:30 am where they will pick up their latest
schedules. While only half way through the current school year,
administrators and counsellors have already started the process of
course selection for the 2012-2013 school year. We have presented
information to students in English 8, Social Studies 9, and Planning
10 classes in first semester. The process continues into February
and early March, as well. Parents
– please talk with your children about
the importance of good decision-making and flexibility, and speak
directly to the counsellors and career teachers with any questions
about the process of course selection and/or post-secondary
requirements.
February is the targeted month for Ministry of Education
Satisfaction Surveys for our Grades 8, 10, and 12 students and
parents. For the first time, Semiahmoo has added some personalized
questions to the questionnaires and we are really looking forward to
reviewing the data. Feedback is provided directly to the schools
and thus, a high participation rate is very important to us. Thank
you in advance for your cooperation and input!
As I write this newsletter message, we are trying to wrap up hiring
for Semester #2. Sadly, we bid farewell to Ms. Beyer who has been
teaching Mathematics in first semester. We also say goodbye to Mr.
Ratzlaff who has worked in BASES since 2001. Mr. Ratzlaff is
leaving Semiahmoo to move into a new role as Vice Principal at North
Surrey Secondary. We will miss his commitment to our school and its
programs, his professional attitude, and his amazing understanding
of students with special needs! For Semester 2, we also welcome to
the school, Ms. Letourneau, teaching English 11 and welcome back Ms.
Gill, teaching Chemistry, and Mr. Lefurgy, teaching Planning, Social
Studies, and Physical Education. Mr. Winch will also return to
active duty in early Semester #2, resuming his role as Athletic
Director and teaching Mathematics and Physical Education. Mr.
Ramsden is back in the Counselling Department and we thank Mrs.
Bucholz for her excellent work filling in during his absence.
Be sure to review the February calendar for some very significant
school events like Anti-Bullying Day, the Talent Show, Envision Jazz
Festival, Grade 12 Parent Evening on February 7th and more. Spring
Break is practically around the corner and the month simply flies
by.
English teacher Ms. Meehan has a tradition of writing a poem to her
Grade 12 classes at the conclusion of the course. Please see page 3
for this year’s piece called “Release 2012”. Thank you for sharing
it with all of us!
All the best,
Bea Hadikin
Principal
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