Newsletter: September 11, 2015

Welcome back; Kayak trip; School Mass; attendance up; bottle drive

View September 11, 2015 Newsletter (PDF)

TLA GRADUATION CEREMONY AND BANQUET

TLA staff, students, families and friends, bid a fond farewell to our three TLA graduates of 2015, Ben
Cengic, Nicholas Lavrik, and Yumna Parker, the class valedictorian. The ceremony at Evergreen
Cultural Centre featured talks by Edward De Vita, Vice Principal, Natalie Hudson Sonnen, National
Director for Life Canada, as well as selections sung to the graduates by the school choir. The evening
banquet was held at The Tea House in Stanley Park.

WELCOME BACK TO SCHOOL

We wish to welcome all new students and families, as well as those who are returning to TLA. We look
forward to another successful year as Coquitlam’s number one ranked school!

GARDENING BLITZ

A hearty thank you to Lyra Suelzen and family for their work landscaping at the front of the school this
summer, and for keeping everything alive by regular watering. Thanks too, to the Guzikowski’s for
taking care of our fallen branches during the windstorm.

ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE OF STUDENTS

Drivers are advised that there is no student drop off or pick up in the staff parking lot. Drivers are
requested to drop of their passengers at the sidewalks, and then leave the area to allow others to
deliver their passengers safely. Thank you for making our local streets safe for students.

GRADE 8 & 12 KAYAK TRIP SEPT 25

Mrs. Akhurst, Miss Anthony, Mr. De Vita, Mr. Dale, and several kayak instructor/guides will accompany
these classes on this annual trip up Indian Arm to Twin Islands. All students in these two grades will
meet at 8:00 AM at Belcarra Park for their instruction before heading out onto the water. Our Kayak
Leadership Trip is designed to provide the opportunity for the grade twelve class to welcome the grade
eight students into high school and to involve them in several leadership activities. Forms will be sent
home next week; please return these to the home room teachers as soon as possible.

ALL SCHOOL MASS SEPT 15 OUR LADY OF LOURDES

Parents and friends are invited to join us for the first school mass of the year on Tuesday, October 15,
at 10:30 AM, at Our Lady of Lourdes parish church in Laval Square.

TLA HIGH SCHOOL POPULATION GROWS 25%

his year our high school numbers have risen by nearly 25%, bringing our population up to 46 students
in grades eight through twelve. TLA high school, while small in size, provides an enriched academic
program resulting in 30 more credits than the minimum required for graduation by the BC Ministry of
Education. The vast majority of our graduates, over 87%, are accepted directly into college and
university, often with scholarships, in Canada and overseas. TLA grads have gone on to become
engineers, teachers, medical doctors, nurses, police officers, business management professionals,
fashion and interior designers, artists, veterinarians, anthropologists, dental assistants, computer
scientists, chefs, military personnel, animation designers, political scientists, pharmacists, theologians,
construction workers, carpenters, and more. TLA graduates report that they were well prepared to take
on the coarse load which they found at university – in fact, one of our graduates recently reported that
attending university was, “ . . .way easier than TLA”. So, spread the word by telling your friends and
family members. Help your TLA high school to continue to grow!

FIRST TLA BOTTLE DRIVE – FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25

Please bring your accumulated juice boxes, pop, wine and beer bottles, and other returnables to school
first thing Friday morning. Parents interested in obtaining Parent Participation Program hours for this,
should contact the office. (Students in grades 8 & 12 may bring recyclables into school on Thursday,
due to the kayak trip.) Bottle Drives will be scheduled for the last Friday of each month. Thank you to
Mrs. Louise Hediger who is coordinating this popular TLA program. SUPPORT YOUR SCHOOL

TLAWALK-A-THON 2015 – Friday, October 2

The race is on to collect pledges for this year’s Walk-A-Thon. Students take an active part in this major
school fund raiser, qualifying for cash and prizes according to their individual and class achievements.
The Walk-A-Thon is a significant contributor to our school economy and we hope this year to top
$35,000.00. That works out at an average of $180.00 per student as our goal. Pledge sheets are being
sent home today. Thank you to Mrs. Vicki Guzikowski for coordinating this year’s event.