Uy’ skweyul Ladysmith Secondary Students and Families,

It is hard to believe that we are already in the middle of May and are well underway in our planning for the 2025-26 School year. The last 5 weeks of school will pass by incredibly quickly; be sure to stay tuned to the dates at the bottom of this communication.

This week we had several visitors from the primary school. It was great to see our primary friends drumming with our elder and engaging in exciting science labs with our Chemistry Club. Next week we will also be welcoming advisors from VIU for individual course planning and registration. Any grade 12 students with questions can connect with their counsellor directly.

Congratulations to Mr. Beuerlein and his Outdoor Ed classes who held an awesome fundraiser on Tuesday evening to support the program. Those in attendance were fortunate to enjoy an evening of spaghetti dinner, music, door prizes, and a silent auction. Many thanks to Mr. Beuerlein and his students for organizing the event, and to Chef and team for their support with the meal.

The Track and Field season has gotten off to a great start for LSS. We had 15 students compete at the North Island Championships and both of our junior girls and junior boys 4x400m relay teams took home gold!! The team will be competing at the Island Championships next week where the top five students in each event will have the chance to compete at the Provincial Championships in June. Best of luck to all of our track and field athletes in their upcoming competitions!

John Barsby will be hosting the 2025 Indigenous Graduation on May 29th. Doors open at 4:30pm with the Welcoming starting at 5:15pm. Families should have received an invitation already. To purchase tickets, please contact Jill Smith at jill.smith@sd68.bc.ca

NLPS is seeking feedback on the creation of a new district tagline that aligns with our current strategic plan.  They are looking for ideas from everyone in our educational community- students, parents, caregivers, and NLPS alumni to create a district tagline- a short, positive, memorable phrase to convey the essence of an organization, brand or product. We would love to hear your ideas. Students across the district are designing postcards to highlight images and words about what it means to go to school in our district and how school can help support their futures. You can provide your feedback and suggestions here.

The last PAC meeting of the year will be next week on Wednesday, May 21^st, at 6pm in the Learning Commons.

Finally, we want to remind all students and families that Monday, May 19^th, is Victoria Day and school will not be in session.

Wishing you all a wonderful long weekend!

Hay ce:p ‘qu,

Shelley Gvojich & Alistair King

Upcoming events:

• May 19^th – Victoria Day (No School)
• May 20^th – Fire Drill (2:40pm)
• May 21^st – PAC meeting (6pm – Learning Commons)
• May 26^th – VIU drop-in advising
• May 29^th – Indigenous Graduation Ceremony (John Barsby Community School)
• June 11^th – Gr 7 visit & fun day
• June 11^th – Gr 7 Parent night (6pm)
• June 20^th – Dry Grad
  • 7:00pm – 1:00am @ Beban Park
  • $75 cash, cheque, or onlinecash
• June 23^rd – Grad Rehearsal
  • Cap and Gown pick-up 8:30am – 1:00pm
  • Required rehearsal in gym – 1:00pm
  • Grad Photo – 2:30pm
• June 24^th – Graduation Ceremony (10am)
  • Grads arrive at 9:30am
  • Doors open at 9:45am
  • Ceremony starts at 10:00am

PAC Corner:

Our final PAC meeting of the year will be on Wednesday, May 21 at 6 pm in the library.  This meeting will focus on dispersing our remaining funds for the year.

Did you know PAC meetings are typically no more than an hour long?  They are much different than elementary school meetings, there’s no fundraising or hot lunches involved!  There will be several executive positions to fill in the next school year.  Please consider attending to have your voice heard!

Attachments:

• Weekly Cafeteria Menu
• “What’s on This Week?” from Kwumut Lelum Child and Family Services.

Questions?

Please contact our main office at info.ls@sd68.bc.ca or 250-245-3043

Uy’ skweyul Ladysmith Secondary Students and Families,

The sun is shining at the end of another great week at Ladysmith Secondary School!

Yesterday we were fortunate to take a bus full of students to John Barsby Community School to participate in the Indigenous Games (formerly the Northern Games) with all other secondary schools from NLPS. The Indigenous Games are a rich cultural tradition of the Coast Salish peoples in the Pacific Northwest, combining physical skill, community building, and spiritual significance. Historically, they included canoe racing, stick games, and wrestling, honing survival skills and strengthening ties between communities. Suppressed during colonization, these games have revived in recent decades through cultural festivals, intertribal events, and youth programs, symbolizing resilience and the enduring legacy of Coast Salish heritage. Today, they serve as a bridge connecting generations while celebrating identity and unity. Students had the opportunity to compete in the one-foot-high kick, musk ox fight, leg wrestle, bottom scoot, caribou carry, snow snake, hardest lacrosse shot, and lahal (bone game). It was an amazing experience for our students, and we are grateful to Barsby for hosting.

Our school partnered with members of our school community this week on two events, hosting the AGM for the Credit Union and kindergarten students from Ladysmith Primary to build drums with students from our Land and Language program. Our Chemistry club will also be hosting primary students next week to engage in exciting science labs.

Next week we will also be welcoming advisors from VIU for individual course planning and registration. Any grade 12 students with questions can connect with their counsellor directly.

On Wednesday of this week, we participated in a district wide Earthquake drill where staff and students had the opportunity engage in practicing hold and cover and exit procedures for an earthquake. Staff communicated with the district administration center via radio and students were released to their alpha stations as they would be during an actual emergency. Drills like these are a great opportunity to have conversations at home about your preparedness for emergency events.

Finally, we would like to wish a large congratulations to our counselling team (Ms. Toole and Ms. Hillbrecht) for winning the Retired Teachers Association “Golden Star” Award for working with students and the Ladysmith Health Care Auxiliary. This award will be presented on Monday and comes with $2000 to support the work of these hardworking student volunteers.

A reminder that Monday, May 19^th, is Victoria Day and school will not be in session.

Hay ce:p ‘qu,

Shelley Gvojich & Alistair King

Upcoming events:

• May 13^th – Record Valedictorian Speeches for CTC
• May 14^th – Valedictorian Speeches for Voting
• May 19^th – Victoria Day (No School)
• May 20^th – Fire Drill (2:40pm)
• May 21^st – PAC meeting (6pm – Learning Commons)
• May 26^th – VIU drop-in advising
• May 29^th – Indigenous Graduation Ceremony (John Barsby Community School)

PAC Corner:

At this month’s meeting PAC unanimously voted to support the school fun day and Elder conference events in June. We are excited to partner with the school on these great school community building events!

Our final PAC meeting of the year will be on Wednesday, May 21 at 6 pm in the library.  This meeting will focus on dispersing our remaining funds for the year.

Did you know PAC meetings are typically no more than an hour long?  They are much different than elementary school meetings, there’s no fundraising or hot lunches involved!  There will be several executive positions to fill in the next school year.  Please consider attending to have your voice heard!

Attachments:

• Weekly Cafeteria Menu
• “What’s on This Week?” from Kwumut Lelum Child and Family Services.

Questions?

Please contact our main office at info.ls@sd68.bc.ca or 250-245-3043

Uy’ skweyul Ladysmith Secondary Students and Families,

Welcome to May! We are now entering the final weeks of the school year where we begin to welcome our incoming grade 8 students and plan celebrations for our graduating students.

A reminder that report cards were released on the parent portal this week. As always, please connect with your student’s teacher directly if you have questions or concerns about their progress and contact the office or a counsellor if you need assistance accessing report cards.

May 5th is National Day of Awareness of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and Two-Spirit People. May 5th every year is also known as Red Dress Day, it is a day to honour the lives of those indigenous women and girls across Canada, who are missing or murdered, and to raise awareness on the ongoing crisis. This day started as “The Red Dress Project” in 2010 by Jamie Black and has since evolved to Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women’s and Girls Day. MMIWG Day was established in 2019 after the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls released its final report. The report revealed that Indigenous women, girls, and Two-Spirit people are disproportionately affected by violence, with higher rates of homicide, disappearance, and sexual violence than non-Indigenous women in Canada. MMIWG Day is an opportunity for Indigenous communities and allies to come together to honour the lives of those who have been lost and raise awareness about the ongoing issue of violence against Indigenous women, girls, and Two-Spirit people in Canada. It is also a call to action for governments, institutions, and individuals to address the root causes of violence and work towards a future where Indigenous women, girls, and Two-Spirit people are safe and thriving. This year, MMIWG day falls on the Pro-D day. To honour this day, staff wore red and drummed our school community into the foyer today.

A reminder that Monday, May 5th^th, is a Professional Development Day for staff. School will be closed for students on this day.

Wishing you all a wonderful long weekend!

Hay ce:p ‘qu,

Shelley Gvojich & Alistair King

Upcoming events:

• May 5^th – National Day of Awareness of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and Two-Spirit People
• May 5^th – Pro-D day (No school for students)
• May 6^th – DELF exam
• May 6^th – Safer Party Planning Presentation for Grade 11 students
• May 8^th – Indigenous Games at John Barsby Community School
• May 13^th – Record Valedictorian Speeches for CTC
• May 14^th – Valedictorian Speeches for Voting
• May 19^th – Victoria Day (No School)
• May 20^th – Fire Drill (2:40pm)
• May 21^st – PAC meeting (6pm – Learning Commons)
• May 26^th – VIU drop-in advising
• May 29^th – Indigenous Graduation Ceremony (John Barsby Community School)

PAC Corner:

At this month’s meeting PAC unanimously voted to support the school fun day and Elder conference events in June. We are excited to partner with the school on these great school community building events!

Our final PAC meeting of the year will be on Wednesday, May 21 at 6 pm in the library.  This meeting will focus on dispersing our remaining funds for the year.

Did you know PAC meetings are typically no more than an hour long?  They are much different than elementary school meetings, there’s no fundraising or hot lunches involved!  There will be several executive positions to fill in the next school year.  Please consider attending to have your voice heard!

Attachments:

• Weekly Cafeteria Menu
• “What’s on This Week?” from Kwumut Lelum Child and Family Services.

Questions?

Please contact our main office at info.ls@sd68.bc.ca or 250-245-3043

Uy’ skweyul Ladysmith Secondary Students and Families,

It is hard to believe that we are already at the end of April and approaching the start of May. Students are starting to bask in the nice weather and many are spending their lunch time outside enjoying the sunshine.

A reminder that the Myed parent portal will be closed from April 11^th – April 30^th as teachers prepare report cards, which are tentatively set to be released on the parent portal on April 30^th. As always, please connect with your student’s teacher directly if you have questions or concerns about their progress and contact the office or a counsellor if you need assistance accessing report cards.

Ladysmith Secondary students recently participated in Student Vote. Through guided lessons, students learnt about Canada’s different federal political parties and platforms then used Vote Compass to explore how their own values and beliefs aligned with the various political platforms, helping them become more informed voters. On April 22nd and 23rd, students engaged in a mock election that mirrors the real democratic process. They signed in, received ballots identical in format to official ones, and cast their votes for the candidate of their choice. Research shows that students who take part in Student Vote are more likely to become active voters in the future. By participating in this experience, students gained a deeper appreciation of the power of their voice in a democracy.  Student Vote election results will be announced on the day after the official election.  It was great to see students engaging in this worthwhile activity and taking their participation seriously. Many thanks to Ms. Dolen, Mr. Winter, Ms. Smith/ Ms. Roe and Ms. Beerling/ Ms. Goodall for lending us their classes for this event.  This event would not have been possible without their support.

Yesterday our school community participated in a fire drill. These emergency evacuation drills are great opportunities for staff and students to prepare how to exit the building safely in the event of an emergency. These are also good opportunities to have conversations at home about emergency preparation.

Yesterday we were also fortunate to have serval elders join us to help us prepare for this year’s Elders Gathering. We are honored to be learning along side our special guests and to share in the many gifts they bring to our school community.

Do you have an extra bedroom in your home? Is English the primary language in your home? Do you want to learn about other cultures, countries and languages? Are you interested in making a difference in a high school student’s life? Become an International Student Homestay Family for next year (2025/26 school year).  NLPS International Student Education Program is looking for Ladysmith families interested in earning a stipend between $1,175 and $1,375 per month per student to host an international student in their home.  Students need to have their own bedroom, a quiet space to study, and be provided 3 meals a day. Our International Education team is available 24/7 for any kind of support you need (Ie. student emergencies, respite, vacation leave).  Please click link below and complete the 1-2 minute form if you interested in becoming a Homestay family or if you would like to refer someone to become a Homestay family.

https://forms.office.com/r/Afek7k7AAZ

A reminder that Monday, May 5th^th, is a Professional Development Day for staff. School will be closed for students on this day.

Wishing you all a wonderful long weekend!

Hay ce:p ‘qu,

Shelley Gvojich & Alistair King

Upcoming events:

• April 28^th – VIU Course Planning & Registration Appointments at LSS
• April 30^th – ICBC Guest Speaker (Kevin Brooks)
• April 30^th – Report cards available on parent/student portal (Tentative)
• May 5^th – Pro-D day (No school for students)
• May 6^th – Safer Party Planning Presentation for Grade 11 students
• May 8^th – Indigenous Games at John Barsby Community School
• May 13^th – Record Valedictorian Speeches for CTC
• May 14^th – Valedictorian Speeches for Voting
• May 20^th – Fire Drill (2:40pm)
• May 21^st – PAC meeting (6pm – Learning Commons)
• May 26^th – VIU drop-in advising
• May 29^th – Indigenous Graduation Ceremony (John Barsby Community School)

PAC Corner:

At this month’s meeting PAC unanimously voted to support the school fun day and Elder conference events in June. We are excited to partner with the school on these great school community building events!

Our final PAC meeting of the year will be on Wednesday, May 21 at 6 pm in the library.  This meeting will focus on dispersing our remaining funds for the year.

Did you know PAC meetings are typically no more than an hour long?  They are much different than elementary school meetings, there’s no fundraising or hot lunches involved!  There will be several executive positions to fill in the next school year.  Please consider attending to have your voice heard!

Attachments:

• Weekly Cafeteria Menu
• “What’s on This Week?” from Kwumut Lelum Child and Family Services.

Questions?

Please contact our main office at info.ls@sd68.bc.ca or 250-245-3043

Uy’ skweyul Ladysmith Secondary Students and Families,

This week marked the end of the first term for second semester and the transition to the second half of April. The final months of the school year, which students prefer to count in weeks, are busy with several important upcoming dates and exciting events. The Myed parent portal will be closed from April 11^th – April 30^th as teachers prepare report cards, which are tentatively set to be released on the parent portal on April 30^th. As always, please connect with your student’s teacher directly if you have questions or concerns about their progress and contact the office or a counsellor if you need assistance accessing report cards.

Given the upcoming election, we are excited to be hosting a mock-vote for students on Wednesday, April 23^rd. Students will have the opportunity to learn more about political parties and campaigns to help inform them as future voters. Participation will be in classes and is voluntary.

Our school community would like to send our gratitude to Taylormade Landscaping and Kiki Nursery for their generous donations to our Indigenous Garden. You may notice staff and students revitalizing the garden located in the circle of our parking lot.

Our next Fire Drill will be happening next week, April 24^th at 2:20pm. These emergency evacuation drills are great opportunities for staff and students to prepare how to exit the building safely in the event of an emergency. These are also good opportunities to have conversations at home about emergency preparation.

Do you have an extra bedroom in your home? Is English the primary language in your home? Do you want to learn about other cultures, countries and languages? Are you interested in making a difference in a high school student’s life? Become an International Student Homestay Family for next year (2025/26 school year).  NLPS International Student Education Program is looking for Ladysmith families interested in earning a stipend between $1,175 and $1,375 per month per student to host an international student in their home.  Students need to have their own bedroom, a quiet space to study, and be provided 3 meals a day. Our International Education team is available 24/7 for any kind of support you need (Ie. student emergencies, respite, vacation leave).  Please click link below and complete the 1-2 minute form if you interested in becoming a Homestay family or if you would like to refer someone to become a Homestay family.

https://forms.office.com/r/Afek7k7AAZ

Attached to this communication you will see a school newsletter from VIHA regarding The Vaccine Status Reporting Regulation and letters that will be mailed directly to households around missing and  incomplete immunizations. Any questions should be directed to the local health unit.

A reminder that tomorrow, Friday April 18^th, is Good Friday and there is no school. School is also closed on Monday April 21^st for Easter Monday.

Wishing you all a wonderful long weekend!

Hay ce:p ‘qu,

Shelley Gvojich & Alistair King

Upcoming events:

• April 18^th – Good Friday (no school)
• April 21^st – Easter Monday (no school)
• April 24^th – Fire Drill (2:20pm)
• April 28^th – VIU Course Planning & Registration Appointments at LSS
• April 30^th – ICBC Guest Speaker (Kevin Brooks)
• April 30^th – Report cards available on parent/student portal (Tentative)
• April 30^th – Valedictorian Speeches (12:15pm)
• May 5^th – Pro-D day (No school for students)
• May 6^th – Safer Party Planning Presentation for Grade 11 students
• May 8^th – Indigenous Games at John Barsby Community School
• May 20^th – Fire Drill (2:40pm)
• May 21^st – PAC meeting (6pm – Learning Commons)
• May 26^th – VIU drop-in advising
• May 29^th – Indigenous Graduation Ceremony (John Barsby Community School)

PAC Corner:

At this month’s meeting PAC unanimously voted to support the school fun day and Elder conference events in June. We are excited to partner with the school on these great school community building events!

Our final PAC meeting of the year will be on Wednesday, May 21 at 6 pm in the library.  This meeting will focus on dispersing our remaining funds for the year.

Did you know PAC meetings are typically no more than an hour long?  They are much different than elementary school meetings, there’s no fundraising or hot lunches involved!  There will be several executive positions to fill in the next school year.  Please consider attending to have your voice heard!

Attachments:

• Weekly Cafeteria Menu
• VIHA School Newsletter

Questions?

Please contact our main office at info.ls@sd68.bc.ca or 250-245-3043

Uy’ skweyul Ladysmith Secondary Students and Families,

We hope that you all had a restful and relaxing Spring Break and are excited to return to the busiest portion of the year: April-May-June.

As indicated in the last communication home, there are several important upcoming events/dates to be aware of. This week, students completed their self-assessment of the Core Competencies within their B block class. Students should be bringing these assessments home (via paper or google classroom). Please ask your student to see it! Additionally, next week is the next provincial assessment session where any student currently registered in a grade 10 Math/English and grade 12 English course will be writing either a literacy or numeracy assessment. If you are uncertain if your student is supposed to be writing, please check in with the office or their counsellor. You will also see that the end of the first term for second semester is fast approaching. Our last early dismissal of the year will be happening on April 15^th (2pm) as teachers prepare for report cards. As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please connect with your student’s teacher directly.

Today, we were fortunate enough to have a school wide presentation from Marc Meros. Marc’s powerful program reaches students at a heart level, providing them with the tools and inspiration to face everyday challenges and view life from a new perspective. His captivating journey inspires young people to make positive life choices and develop a greater appreciation for relationships and the “gift of time.” Many thanks to the Credit Union for their support of this worthwhile presentation. Next Friday, our grade 8 students will be joining with grade 6 and 7 students from Ladysmith Intermediate School to participate in an Anti-Racism Presentation from the BC Lions.

Finally, at this week’s board meeting on Wednesday evening the Board approved the amended Local School Calendar for 2025-2026. The changes made are as follows:

• District Pro-D Day set for Mon, Feb 9, 2026, was changed to Mon, April 27, 2026
• School Based Pro-D Day set for Tues, Feb 10, 2026, was changed to Mon, Feb 9, 2026

Please find the amended Local School Calendar attached.

Wishing you all a wonderful weekend!

Hay ce:p ‘qu,

Shelley Gvojich & Alistair King

Upcoming events:

• Apr 7^th – 11^th – Provincial Assessments
• April 11^th – BC Lions Anti-Racism Presentation
• April 15^th – Early dismissal (2pm)
• April 15^th – GRASP Training
• April 16^th – Last day of term 3
• April 16^th – PAC meeting (6pm)
• April 17^th – Indigenous Games (John Barsby Community School)
• April 18^th – Good Friday (no school)
• April 21^st – Easter Monday (no school)
• April 30^th – ICBC Guest Speaker (Kevin Brooks)
• April 30^th – Report cards available on parent/student portal (Tentative)

PAC Corner:

Our next meeting is Wednesday April 16^th at 6 pm in the Learning Commons. All are welcome, please join us!

Attachments:

• Weekly Cafeteria Menu
• Revised 2025-2026 Calendar

Questions?

Please contact our main office at info.ls@sd68.bc.ca or 250-245-3043

Uy’ skweyul Ladysmith Secondary Students and Families,

As we head into Spring Break, we want to take a moment to thank our school community for making Ladysmith Secondary a wonderful place to work and learn. We also want to thank the larger Ladysmith community for their ongoing support of our school. Recently, we have received donations to support food programs for students from the Ladies Division of the Eagles Aerie and Auxiliary and the Hillside Family Pharmacy. We are so thankful for this generous support.

When we return from Spring Break, April will be upon this. This means several important upcoming events. The first week back from break, students will be completing their self-assessment of the Core Competencies within their B block class. Students should be bringing these assessments home (via paper or google classroom). Please ask your student to see it! You will see in the dates below there are several school presentations happening during the month of April. Additionally, the week of April 7^th is the next provincial assessment session where any student currently registered in a grade 10 Math/English and grade 12 English course will be writing either a literacy or numeracy assessment. If you are uncertain if your student is supposed to be writing, please check in with the office or their counsellor.

You will also see that the end of the first term for second semester is fast approaching. Our last early dismissal of the year will be happening on April 15^th (2pm) as teachers prepare for report cards. As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please connect with your student’s teacher directly.

Finally, whether you are heading away for an exciting adventure or staying close to home, we hope that you each have the opportunity for some much-needed rest, relaxation, and connection with those that you love.

Hay ce:p ‘qu,

Shelley Gvojich & Alistair King

Upcoming events:

• March 14^th – Last day of Classes Before Spring Break
• March 31^st – School Returns from Spring Break
• March 31^st to April 4^th – Self-Assessment of Core Competencies
• April 4^th – Marc Meros Presentation
• Apr 7^th – 11^th – Provincial Assessments
• April 11^th – BC Lions Anti-Racism Presentation
• April 15^th – Early dismissal (2pm)
• April 15^th – GRASP Training
• April 16^th – Last day of term 3
• April 16^th – PAC meeting (6pm)
• April 17^th – Indigenous Games (John Barsby Community School)
• April 18^th – Good Friday (no school)
• April 21^st – Easter Monday (no school)
• April 30^th – ICBC Guest Speaker (Kevin Brooks)
• April 30^th – Report cards available on parent/student portal (Tentative)

PAC Corner:

Our next meeting is Wednesday April 16 at 6 pm in the Learning Commons. All are welcome, please join us!

Attachments:

• “What’s on This Week?” from Kwumut Lelum Child and Family Services.

Questions?

Please contact our main office at info.ls@sd68.bc.ca or 250-245-3043

Uy’ skweyul Ladysmith Secondary Students and Families,

As we enter the last week of school before spring break, we want to acknowledge the hard work of our school community. Over the month of February, our Student’s Council participated in a Toilet Paper drive in partnership with the Arts Council where almost 800 rolls of toilet paper were collected to support our community. Many thanks to all who organized and participated. Next week our Student Council has also planned a Spring Break Spirit Week:

Monday – Mismatched Shoes

Tuesday – Twin (or multiples) day with a photobooth at lunch

Wednesday – Dress Up or Dress Down

Thursday – Denim on Denim/Canadian Tuxedo

Friday – Grade colours. Teachers: Rainbow/Tie-die.
Grade 12: blue, Grade 11: pink/purple, Grade 10: green, Grade 9: orange, Grade 8: yellow

Last night was our second semester Parent-Teacher night. It was so nice to connect with families and see everyone who was able to make it. As always, if you were unable to make it or have questions or concerns, please connect directly with your student’s teacher.

Do you worry about your child’s mental health and well-being? Wondering what you can do to help?

Nanaimo Ladysmith Public Schools is pleased to partner with Vancouver Island University to bring family physician, best-selling author of Feel Better, and TEDx speaker, Dr. Shahana Alibhai to Nanaimo to speak to youth and caregivers about her approach to helping youth struggling with their mental health. This free event will take place Tuesday, March 11 at 6:30 p.m. in the Malaspina Theatre at VIU and online via Teams. 

Merging neuroscience and what she sees every day in helping real patients, Dr. Shahana has come up with a set of tangible steps everyone can use to move through their emotions rather than being overwhelmed by them. CKNW radio host Jas Johal will moderate a question-and-answer session for attendees to ask questions following the talk.The event will be approximately 2 hours. Parking will be free in Lot G beginning at 5:30 p.m.

Click here to register for in-person tickets or a link to watch online. 

Details:

Tuesday, March 11, 2025

Doors open at 6:30 p.m.

Malaspina Theatre @ Vancouver Island University and online via Teams Register

Wishing you all a wonderful weekend!

Hay ce:p ‘qu,

Shelley Gvojich & Alistair King

Upcoming events:

• March 11^th – GRASP Training
• March 14^th – Last day of Classes Before Spring Break
• March 31^st – School Returns from Spring Break
• March 31^st to April 4^th – Self-Assessment of Core Competencies

PAC Corner:

Our next meeting is Wednesday April 16 at 6 pm in the library. All are welcome, please join us!

Attachments:

• “What’s on This Week?” from Kwumut Lelum Child and Family Services.
• Weekly Cafeteria Menu

Questions?

Please contact our main office at info.ls@sd68.bc.ca or 250-245-3043

Uy’ skweyul Ladysmith Secondary Students and Families,

The last couple of weeks before Spring Break are always exceptionally busy at LSS. Please be aware that on March 6^th, we will have an early dismissal at 2pm to allow for Parent Teacher Interviews, which will occur from 3-6pm in our gym. Please note that busses will be departing for the day at the same time as the Monday schedule: Route 8: 2:30, Route 12: 2:40, and Route 11: 3:00. We look forward to seeing you on March 6^th!

Attached you will find a flyer from the DPAC about three online learning opportunities for families and caregivers from the White Hatter. The sessions are focussed on digital safety and literacy and other related topics. Please contact dpacsd68treasurer@gmail.com with any questions.

All Grade 9 and 11 students at LSS complete Careers outside of the timetable with Ms. Powell and should be checking their Google Classroom for updates and important assignments. Ms. Powell wanted to share the following highlights:

Careers 9: This week on pink shirt day we had a presentation through Safer Schools about consent and relational violence in both physical and digital spaces. Students learned how to exercise consent and how to respect other people’s right to consent. They also focused on how to recognize relational violence on a variety of digital platforms which can sometimes lead to dangerous situations, and how to report it if it is happening to them or a friend. If you are interested in reporting a case of relational violence then www.erase.gov.bc.ca is a great place to do this as it alerts the school and can also be done anonymously.

Careers 11: Our Careers 11 students are working on a budgeting and rental assignment to build their skills around managing finances and housing as a new graduate. Our hope is that all students will, over the course of grade 11 and 12, become aware of how to search for rental arrangements, make reasonable financial decisions and be able to live within their means.

We also want to remind all families about the Student Learning Survey. The parent and guardian/caregiver survey is now available online until Friday, May 2nd, and will take approximately 30 minutes to complete.

To complete the survey:

1. Go to any computer that has an up-to-date internet browser access at home, work, or school.
2. Go to www.bced.gov.bc.ca/sat_survey/access.htm
3. Click on the Parents icon for Direct (logon-free) Access

• District: the name of your child’s district
• School: the name of your child’s school
• Language: the language of your choice

4. Complete the survey by clicking on the appropriate circle to answer each question and click “NEXT”.
5. When you are finished the survey, you will get a message “Thank you for sharing your views”.
6. Once complete, your school will have the results immediately.

Wishing you all a wonderful weekend!

Hay ce:p ‘qu,

Shelley Gvojich & Alistair King

Upcoming events:

• March 6^th – Early Dismissal (2pm)
• March 6^th – Parent Teacher Interviews (3-6pm)
• March 11^th – GRASP Training
• March 14^th – Last day of Classes Before Spring Break
• March 31^st – School Returns From Spring Break

PAC Corner:

Our next meeting is Wednesday April 16 at 6 pm in the library. All are welcome, please join us!

Attachments:

• “What’s on This Week?” from Kwumut Lelum Child and Family Services.
• Weekly Cafeteria Menu
• DPAC Parent Education The White Hatter Series

Questions?

Please contact our main office at info.ls@sd68.bc.ca or 250-245-3043

Uy’ skweyul Ladysmith Secondary Students and Families,

We hope that you were each able to enjoy Family Day this past Monday spending time with the people you love doing the things that bring you joy. There are several important dates coming up that we want you to be aware of. On March 6^th, we will have an early dismissal at 2pm to allow for Parent Teacher Interviews, which will occur from 3-6pm. Please note that busses will be departing for the day at the same time as Mondays: Route 8 2:30, Route 12 2:40, and  Route 11 3:00.

February 26^th is Pink Shirt Day, a day centered on cultivating a community of kindness. To this end, our GSA has organized a school wide activity where each student and class is participating in the shared creation of a paper Safety Blanket Project. In this project, each student will have a triangle to decorate with their message of hope. Each triangle will be placed together on a larger square to create a class square, which in turn will come together to create a school blanket that we will share in our foyer. We also know that a culture of kindness is about more than a single day, and we are working as a school community on a daily basis to reinforce what is important to us. As always, if your student is experiencing any challenges, please have them connect with a trusted adult or go online to https://erasereportit.gov.bc.ca/ .

Last week’s letter to families included a reminder about the Ministry of Education’s Policy on Digital Devices, namely that students are not to be using digital devices during instructional time. If you need to get a message to your student during class time, please communicate with the office. We appreciate your support.

All students should now have completed course selection. If your student missed course selection or wants to make changes to their selection, please have them connect with their counsellor as soon as possible. We build our timetable for next year based on student choice, so it is important that we have as accurate information as possible.

We also want to remind all LSS students and families about the Student Learning Survey (SLS), which has been administered every year in B.C. public schools since 2001. Students in grade 10,11, and 12 will be surveyed at LSS during the week of: February 24^th – 28^th. A letter went home to all families impacted last week. The parent and guardian/caregiver survey is now available online and is available in 18 different languages. The survey will be available until Friday, May 2nd, and will take approximately 30 minutes to complete.

To complete the survey:

1. Go to any computer that has an up-to-date internet browser access at home, work, or school.
2. Go to www.bced.gov.bc.ca/sat_survey/access.htm
3. Click on the Parents icon for Direct (logon-free) Access

• District: the name of your child’s district
• School: the name of your child’s school
• Language: the language of your choice

4. Complete the survey by clicking on the appropriate circle to answer each question and click “NEXT”.
5. When you are finished the survey, you will get a message “Thank you for sharing your views”.
6. Once complete, your school will have the results immediately.

Finally, we want to thank our school community for their efforts in coming together during last Friday’s fire. The impacted bathroom will be out of service for several weeks as the restoration company works to repair the damage. We also want to acknowledge the earthquake that was felt by many this afternoon. More information will be coming from the school district’s communication team, but events like this always serve as a good opportunity to have conversations about emergency preparation at home.

Wishing you all a wonderful weekend!

Hay ce:p ‘qu,

Shelley Gvojich & Alistair King

Upcoming events:

• February 17^th – Family Day (No School)
• February 19^th – PAC meeting
• February 24 – 28^th – Tentative Student Learning Surveys
• February 26^th – Pink Shirt Day
• March 6^th – Early Dismissal (2pm)
• March 6^th – Parent Teacher Interviews (3-6pm)
• March 11^th – GRASP Training
• March 14^th – Last day of Classes Before Spring Break
• March 31^st – School Returns From Spring Break

PAC Corner:

February 19 Meeting Highlights

• The PAC voted to cover the West Coast Jazz festival entry fees for LSS students participating.
• The PAC voted to sponsor a field trip for students to visit the Deep Bay Marine Field Station.

Our next meeting is Wednesday April 16 at 6 pm in the library. All are welcome, please join us!

Attachments:

• “What’s on This Week?” from Kwumut Lelum Child and Family Services.
• Weekly Cafeteria Menu

Questions?

Please contact our main office at info.ls@sd68.bc.ca or 250-245-3043

ANNOUNCEMENTS 

Good Morning Ladysmith!

We are gathered on the unceded

Territory of the Stz’uminus First Nation’s people

These are your announcements for

Thursday, February 20, 2025

Chem Club

Come down to the foyer today at lunch for Chem Club’s Bake Sale Round Two!

Student Council

Hey LSS! On Wednesdays we wear pink! Next Wednesday, February 26^th is Pink Shirt Day. Come to school in a pink shirt to support anti-bullying day and head down to the foyer at lunch for a glass of pink lemonade, a photo at the Photo Wall, and add a pledge to the pledge board to promote kindness at LSS!

Cafeteria

Today in the cafeteria, the soup is French Onion, the salad special is Caesar Salad with Chicken, and the Short order is Chicken Burrito with Fries.

And now for today’s Dad joke

Why are elevator jokes so classic and good?  They work on many levels

• Try your best!!
• Get better each day!!
• Do the right thing!!
• It’s the 49er way!!

ANNOUNCEMENTS 

Good Morning Ladysmith!

We are gathered on the unceded

Territory of the Stz’uminus First Nation’s people

These are your announcements for

Wednesday, February 19, 2025

Student Council

Hey LSS! Want to help plan fun events for the school? Come to the Student Council meeting today at lunch in Room 104! Everyone is welcome!

Student Council

Hey LSS! Come down to the foyer TODAY at lunch to get your results of the Best Friend Quiz and find out who your true best friend is at LSS!

Singing Club

There will be Singing Club today at lunch.  Come sing some songs!

Chem Club

If you are looking for a sweet treat, come to the foyer at lunch today for the Chem Club’s Lonely Hearts bake sale!

Ultimate Frisbee

There will be an Ultimate Frisbee Practice after school today in the gym. Come Play!

Message from Mrs. Berlanda

Someone left something special in Room 229 on Friday. If it was you, please come and pick it up. Thank you!

Cafeteria

Today in the cafeteria, the soup is Beef Barley, the salad special is Caesar Salad with Chicken, and the Short order is Pizza Sub with Fries.

And now for today’s Dad joke

I don’t play soccer because I enjoy the sport. I’m just doing it for kicks

• Try your best!!
• Get better each day!!
• Do the right thing!!
• It’s the 49er way!!