I hope you all were able to make the most of the summer holidays. Summer is such an important time for everyone in the school community to get some rest and recharge. I know how much energy – mentally, emotionally, and physically – our students and teachers give during the school year, and that having some weeks off in the summer goes a long way to resetting everyone’s energy levels in preparation for another awesome year at Urban Academy.
Over the past few weeks, the school has been buzzing with activity as staff started to return to the building. Last week was filled with meetings – both as an entire staff and within faculty teams, to ensure a great start to the school year. As a team, we all feel so privileged to work at Urban Academy, partnering with our students and families to provide an education where every student is known individually, challenged in their learning, and prepared to tackle the future as they embody the characteristics of our Profile of a Graduate.
I am really looking forward to seeing everyone at the Meet the Teacher & Back to School Celebration on Tuesday! It will be a great opportunity to reconnect with old friends and meet new ones. You’ll also get to meet our new staff, as announced in June, plus another new member of our team: Ms. Stella Georgilas, who is joining our Junior School in Student Services and Health and Wellness. Over the summer, we said goodbye to Ms. Amy Morrell, who has pursued her dream of living in BC’s Caribou Region, and Mr. Gow, who has relocated with his family to the Nanaimo area. We wish both of these teachers all the best and thank them for their contributions to UA over the years.
The Weekly Update is your go-to source of information for families, along with the Parent Hub, and regular classroom communications. Please be sure to read through the rest of this update, as it contains important details to help everyone have a great start to the school year. The Community Handbook is also an essential resource full of answers to many of your questions.
Please note: there will be changes to traffic flow around UA during drop-off and pick-up times. Please review the details in the Traffic & Parking section carefully. As we return to our routines, we ask for your patience as everyone—including the new residents at 150 Braid—adapts to the changes. With a little understanding and patience, we can ensure a smooth transition for everyone in the neighbourhood. The City of New Westminster has also changed the flow of traffic near the hospital, which may impact some of the routes you may have used to travel to the school. Those updates can be read here.
The start of a new school year brings a mix of excitement and anticipation for all of us. Before we know it, we’ll settle into the rhythm of school life and all the opportunities it brings. Thank you for choosing to be part of the UA community. I’m looking forward to welcoming back all of the students on Tuesday as we set out on another fantastic school year at Urban Academy!!
Yours in education,
Mr. Mike Slinger
Head of School