Surrey Schools celebrates employees for 25 years of service!

Glenis Kipling, senior district office clerk with the Communication Services department, was among dozens of employees honoured at a reception May 30 for their 25 years of dedication to Surrey Schools.

This year, nearly 200 district employees are celebrating 25 years of service with Surrey Schools -- and one employee is celebrating 50 years!

The Surrey Board of Education hosts the Long Service Awards annually to honour employees who have achieved 25 years with the district. This year, we have 199 employees who have reached the quarter-century mark, and one who has worked in the district for five decades.

“It is amazing to see so many of our staff reach such a milestone in our district,” said Laurie Larsen, chair of the Surrey Board of Education. “These employees have been a tremendous support to student learning over the past 25 years, and their longevity is a testament to the love they have for their jobs and the difference they continue to make in students’ lives.”

A reception was held Tuesday night at the Resource Education Centre and featured a territorial welcome song by Terrence Pierre of the Katzie First Nation, as well as messages from Supt. Mark Pearmain, Surrey Teachers’ Association  president Jatinder Bir, Surrey Principals’ & Vice-Principals’ Association president Lys Parades, CUPE 728 vice-president Theresa Pidcock and Student Advisory Council members Kate Doan and Sukhman Kambo.

The event also featured music by Fleetwood Park Secondary Grade 9 student and pianist Aneha Samra, as well as the David Brankin Elementary Intermediate Intensive Arts Choir.

As a gift in recognition of their time with the district, employees received a gift card for a local restaurant.

Twenty-five years is an incredible milestone and we encourage schools and departments to recognize long-serving staff members by way of staff meetings, morning announcements, school newsletters and school website posts.

Congratulations to all of our Long Service Award recipients, and thank you for your many years of dedication and commitment to the district!