April 17, 2026
Weekly Update – St'a7mes School
Salmon Release Gratitude
We would like to begin by thanking our community partners for including us in the Salmon Release. Our St'a7mes students sent the salmon off in a good way by sharing a song they had learned and practiced, and by releasing salmon fry into the river. Despite the torrential rain, spirits remained high, and we finished the day back at the school—drying off and enjoying an epic parachute game together!
High School Registration Reminder
A reminder to families who are planning to register their child at another school for the upcoming year—particularly Howe Sound Secondary—that course selections are happening very soon. Families must register directly with the school, and delaying this process could result in students missing the opportunity to select their courses.
Grade 10 and above families interested in Howe Sound Secondary can find registration information here:
https://www.sd48howesound.org/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=1094706&type=d&pREC_ID=1369727
Planning for Next Year
As we move further into planning for the upcoming school year, we would like to share an update on our projected enrollment. At this time, we are expecting a similar number of students as we had at the start of last year. We are seeing a larger cohort of students in the middle years, which may lead to slightly different grade and class compositions—particularly within our Learning Expeditions.
This is a common process in a K–12 school setting and not new to us at St'a7mes. Final class placements are typically not confirmed until early September, as even small changes in enrollment can impact class organization. That said, we wanted to keep families informed as this process begins. Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions.
Living Our Values:
As part of our ongoing practice here at St’a7mes we like to start and end each week in a good way by having our school wide circle. Recently, classes have been taking on the responsibility of leading our closing circle by learning a song throughout the week and leading the circle. This is a core practice here at our school and we would like to remind and encourage families to attend. Opening circle is the first day of the school week at 10:15 and closing is the last day of the school week at 2:45. Thank you to the Sp’aḵw’us/Sx̱wi7shen class for leading us this week.
We would like to lift up and honour the following students who have demonstrated our school values this week
Chén̓chenstway - Sydney
Tímit - Rorie
Wanáxws - Emery
Thank you to these students for the way you show Tímit, Wanáxws, and Chén̓chenstway in our school community.
Take care,
Cory Hartling
Principal
St'a7mes School
Join us for Screenagers - Under the Influence!
Wednesday April 29, 2026 7-9 pm
Don Ross Middle School (and online)
Dive into Screenagers - Under the Influence, brought to you by SD48 DPAC. A panel discussion in person in Squamish or virtually.
To register for the in person event at Don Ross Middle School in Squamish go here: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/screenagers-under-the-influence-tickets-1984931205669?aff=oddtdtcreator
Get ready to dive into an eye-opening in person (and/or online) event all about how screens affect our teens. We will have a panel discussion after screening the film. It's a relaxed, informative experience where we explore the digital world and its ups and downs. Whether you're a parent, educator, youth, or just curious, you'll find tons of useful insights and lively chats. The film debunks myths and depicts strategies parents and schools can use to encourage healthy decision-making, support teen mental health, set limits, and create healthy home environments. More information can be found here: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/screenagers-under-the-influence-tickets-1984931205669?aff=oddtdtcreator
The screening will be live and accessible to our guests during our selected two-week viewing period: April 18 - May 2. This link will only work on these dates. Free access.
Under The Influence: www.thescreenagersproject.com/online-screening/school-district-48
RISE YOUTH SUMMIT
Registration is open. RISE is a free one-day summit on April 26th for youth aged 15–22 in Sea to Sky. You can find out more information about the agenda, speakers, workshops and registration by visiting the Rise Youth Summit. Lunch and snacks will be provided; registration is required. Presented by the Squamish Youth Council, RISE is a Summit designed to prepare older teens for life after high school.
STUDENT LEARNING SURVEY
This spring we will be conducting a Student Learning Survey for students in grades 4, 7, 10, 11 and 12 and Parents. The information we gather from this survey is used to develop our School Improvement Plan and helps us make data driven decisions in the best interest of our students.
Student Learning Survey - gr. 4, 7, 10, 11, 12 (administered in class)
What: The survey covers a range of topics, providing a comprehensive picture of the educational experience in B.C. public schools. Questions were developed with input from partner groups, teachers and experts in educational measurement and inclusive education.
Why: Schools, districts, government ministries and other external organizations such as the Representative for Children and Youth use the survey data for planning, research and advocacy work for youth. Feedback from participants provides valuable insight for addressing current needs and trends. Survey results are used as a part of the School Improvement Plan
Student Learning Survey – Parents
Parents may also provide feedback by accessing the survey at the link below: You do not need a password if you select the direct access section.
DRAFT POLICY
Dear Sea to Sky School District Partner,
On March 11, 2026, the Board of Education approved DRAFT Policy 808 Naming of School and District Facilities in principle during the Policy Committee Meeting. In accordance with Policy 207 Formulation and Evaluation of Policy, all newly approved draft policies undergo a 60-day public review period to gather feedback.
At this time, we are inviting input on DRAFT Policy 808 Naming of School and District Facilities.
You can review the draft policy and submit your feedback through the Policy Input Form, which is available on the Policy Consultation page here. The input period will remain open until June 1, 2026. Your insights are invaluable in shaping district policies, and we encourage you to share your thoughts.
All feedback will be compiled by district staff and presented for review at the first board meeting following the consultation period.
Thank you for your time and participation in this important process.
Kind Regards,
Sea to Sky School District Communications