School is back in session and so is Class Act.
Just a reminder, if you have any school-related tidbits – be it an event, fund-raiser or just some good news – to share with the community, give me a shout at [email protected].
Now, on to the good stuff.
Survey says
The New Westminster school district is looking to develop a strategy to ensure all students have adequate food and to promote healthy eating, and it needs your help.
The district is asking families with children enrolled in New Westminster schools to fill out an online survey to provide feedback that will help staff develop any programs or subsidies that could be offered, notes a write-up.
Some ideas include a breakfast for students before school starts, a grab-and-go program, and/or a daily lunch. This is in the early stages, so the sky’s the limit right now.
And for families in need, the district plans to have subsidies available for whatever program it chooses.
The questions are easy (I promise) and should only take a short time. To fill it out, go to tinyurl.com/SD40Food.
Green means gold
École Qayqayt Elementary School was officially recognized with a LEED Gold certification.
The school, which opened in 2014, received the honour from the Canada Green Building Council. LEED, which stands for leadership in energy and environmental design, is an international mark of excellence for environmental design, noted a press release from the school district.
The school features energy efficient lighting and heating, floors that don’t need chemical cleaners, electric car plug-ins in the parking lot, lots of natural light to help the sustainability of the heating, ventilating and air conditioning systems, and efficient faucets and irrigation systems.
“We’re pleased with it,” said New Westminster Schools facilities and operations director Dino Stiglich. “There’s a lot of extra work involved to meet the gold standards.”
Qayqayt is the first school in New Westminster to be awarded LEED Gold. The district is also seeking LEED Gold standard for Fraser River Middle School, its newest school, which opened in September 2016, and will seek it for the new high school, once it is complete.
New executive for Douglas foundation
There is a new set of executive members leading the Douglas College Foundation.
In August, the foundation, established in 1985, announced it had chosen a new executive team at its annual general meeting. The team includes, Burnaby Board of Trade president and CEO Paul Holden as chair; vice chair Nick Cheng, financial advisor and limited partner at Edward Jones; treasurer Wendy Lindvik, HSBC branch manager; secretary Neal Nicholson, a professional accountant active on several boards; and past chair Darlene Hyde, board chair for Westminster Savings Credit Union.
“This year, we are shifting our focus to strengthening and deepening the foundation’s relationships with our donors and volunteers,” said foundation executive director Leanne Poon in a press release. “We are incredibly grateful for our new executive. They are providing their expert advice as business and community leaders to increase the foundation’s community profile and increase philanthropic support for our students, programs and the college.”
The Douglas College Foundation provides financial assistance to students through donations.
