We received a record number of shout outs for this month, an indication that there’s a lot of amazingness and kindness happening in schools throughout the district! Kudos to you all! Take a look at all the shout outs for the month:

Mandy Dhami shouts out Suman Mander at Hyland elementary
I would like to give a shout out to Suman Mander for always being so helpful and kind. She goes out of her way to support the students and staff. She is always so friendly, helpful and positive. She will cheer you up when you are having a bad day. She is an amazing person and is always there for you!

Jeena Sandhu shouts out District Helping teacher Andrea Langelaar for being an amazing helping teacher for the entire district!

Sierra Rai shouts out Maya Kvam at Grandview Heights Secondary
I would like to give a “Shout Out” to Maya Kvam at Grandview Heights Secondary. Her kindness and dedication to her students is something that should be recognized! She is also a great support system for her colleges!

Sasha Campbell-Mongeon shouts out Jennifer Haviland
Shout out and hugs to an awesome job share partner! Jennifer Haviland, you’re always ready to do whatever it takes to make sure students feel safe, heard, seen, and valued. Two hour phone conversations at 9pm where you are ready to challenge and be challenged on teaching practice, philosophy, and personal beliefs, are one small part of all the wonderful things you do. Looking forward to continuing this powerful collaboration.

Mike Jenkins shouts out an wonderful group of people at William Watson elementary
I’d like to give a shout out to all staff at William Watson elementary who have been beyond kind and wonderful in helping my wife and I through her cancer journey. My wife, a CYCW at the school, was diagnosed in April with Stage 4 pancreatic cancer, and staff at WW have come together in the most amazing way possible. Although all staff have been incredible, I’d like to send a specific shout out to Martin, Stephanie, and Mandeep who have been instrumental in organizing meals, donations, and gifts for my wife, my two young boys, and me.

Kaija Farstad shouts out Nicole Hurtubise and also Shaunna MacDonald
Nicole is an amazing TL in only her second year who engages her students and colleagues with her energy, knowledge, and dedication, and who also manages to volunteer on multiple committees (Pro-D, SSBOY, Guiding) while now taking on President of the Surrey chapter of the BCTLA. 11/10 would definitely recommend!

At 3 positions to make up a 1.0, Shaunna has teachers clamouring for collab blocks, runs student club digital and tech activities outside the library, and very knowledgeably uses every spare second to help the library run smoothly and with high student engagement. With two young kids and a husband on 12-hour policing shifts, she still keeps up with professional reading and even volunteers on the SSBOY! 11/10 inspirational colleague!

Valerie MacLean shouts out Andrea Sekhon
Shout out to Andrea Sekhon at Ocean Cliff. For years she has been the STA rep, an often thankless (no offense) job. She is a joy to work with and an incredible source of strength for our community.

Elizabeth Bishop shouts out Brianne Sexsmith
I would like to give a shout out to Brianne Sexsmith! She is an amazing and supportive Staff Rep and a fantastic colleague. Brianne leads by example, and helps to organize and run a wide variety of activities in our school. She helps so many things run smoothly at school, and is always available to chat or vent after a tough day. Thanks for everything Brianne!

Monica-Rae Grant has a whole bunch of Walnut Grove elementary shout outs!
I want to give a shout out to Lynn Calimbas at Walnut Road. She does a fantastic job with teaching her students how to build projects for ADST. She also keeps our Makerspace organized and stocked with building supplies. Thanks, Lynn!

I want to give Grant Wittal at Walnut Road a shout out for his work with his grade 7s on creating the Walnut Road Pumpkin Patch and for hosting classes to walk through his portable which was transformed into a haunted house. The students looked forward to an enjoyed both opportunities to celebrate Hallowe’en.

I want to give Jacqueline Reyes at Walnut Road a shout out for taking on the lead Aboriginal contact role. She does a marvelous job of keeping us informed of opportunities for learning and engaging us in conversations.

I want to give Janine Somerton at Walnut Road a shout out for her organizational skills. She keeps all of our art supplies and novels organized, accounted for, catalogued and available for everyone to use. Thank-you for sharing your skills.

I want to give Julia Brister at Walnut Road a shout out for her work in keeping the PE equipment room organized and safe. She also keeps minutes at our staff committee meetings. I appreciate this so much!

I want to give a shout out to Sarah Baxter for taking on many hats at Walnut Road. She is on the PAC, the professional development chair, the SEL committee and many more projects, including taking on a student teacher. She is a kind and generous staff member.

Sharon Dhudwal shouts out May Hayward
I want to give a shout out to my Morgan colleague and pal, Mary Hayward. I have worked with Mary at a variety of different school sites and I have always been so inspired by her energy and enthusiasm. She hasn’t hit any kind of “mid-career slump!” Instead, she’s so involved with our school & the students on both a professional & teaching level. She’s an amazing K teacher, badminton coach, mentor, Pro-D chair and so much more! Mary, you deserve a shoutout for being you!

Anu Gill shouts out Taryn Grubb
I would like to give a shout out to my colleague, Taryn Grubb, who took on the role of STA Rep at our school this year. We appreciate you taking on this position. Thank you for your dedication!

Michele Dickinson shouts out Hina Rohira
I would like to make a shout out to my colleague and fellow integration support teacher, Hina Rohira. Hina is a relatively new teacher to our district. I am very fortunate to share a room space with her and find her very supportive, kind, and open to dialogue. I am returning from a fairly lengthy medical leave and I have begun a new position with the district. Hina is also new to the position. I am lucky to have Hina as a colleague that accepts we are learning together. Like any day in teaching, we are faced with hiccups that we cannot predict, and new things that we are learning. Hina is open to working through conflicts and always welcomes discussions as we face times when we are overwhelmed and at times we may step on one another’s toes.

I always know her heart is in the place of providing students with the best we can offer. We share this value. I am so fortunate to share my work space and my learning space with Hina.

Hina is my shout out!

Alexa Ferris shouts out Thoralea Kennedy
I’d like to give a shout out to Thoralea Kennedy at Maddaugh. Thor joined us this year and she is an inspiration! She teaches 6/7, has a student teacher, coached soccer and now coaches volleyball (with two 7:30 am practices each week)! She is a total rock star!

Sonita Sandhu shouts out Amanda Ballard
I would like to recognize Amanda Ballard at North Surrey for her hard work and dedication in adapting lessons and activities for struggling learners. I have been in her class as a support teacher and have seen the wonderful lessons and variety of activities she has made for Humanities. She definitely deserves recognition!

Gurpreet Jhaj shouts out Nicole Scallion
I would like to offer a shout out to Nicole Scallion at Coast Meridian Elementary. Despite the stress and unpredictable nature of the floods, Nicole lives in Abbotsford and has been impacted. Yet she continues to arrive to her work in Surrey, teach a lovely group of grades 1 and 2s, and do it with a smile.

Amy Johnston shouts out Anoop Sangha
I would like to give a shout-out to Anoop Sangha, the teacher-library at Bear Creek.  She is a caring member of the staff who checks in on colleagues to see how they’re doing.  She’s a super-supportive colleague and it’s been a great experience working alongside her.  

Jane Silversides shouts out Jess Kyle
I want to give a shout out to my teacher colleague, Jess Kyle.  She is a Math Helping Teacher with a great passion for Math and Art.  I love to teach Art, but feel weak in Math.  I appreciate how she goes the extra mile and is showing me how Math and Art are connected.  She has sent me numerous book links that integrate her two passions.  She has gone above and beyond to help me with my Math program, including speaking with me on the phone, having one-one Team meetings, and coming to my classroom to share her love of Math with my students.  I feel that her generous sharing has ignited a passion in me for helping my students think better in math and all sorts of other ways.

I appreciate Jessica Kyle’s knowledge, generous sharing and passionate lessons about how Math can extend into life.  I am grateful for the extra work she has done to help me and my students not only understand Math but enjoy it.

Nicole Andersen shouts out Sheryl Turner
I would like to give a shout out to Sheryl Turner, Teacher Librarian at Cambridge Elementary. She regularly goes above and beyond and has more patience than anyone I’ve ever met!

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