Principal's Message September 2-5th
This Week at Lord Tweedsmuir
Thursday Sept 5th, 2024
Good morning Lord Tweedsmuir Secondary and welcome back to the 2024 – 2025 school year!
Welcome back Panthers! It has been a busy and exciting week of new beginnings as we start the school year at Lord Tweedsmuir Secondary. This year our school is on an Extended Day schedule as we provide an engaging and highly meaningful educational program for approximately 1890 Cloverdale students. In order to support our students, we have a large team of teachers and support staff. This year our staff includes 160 caring professionals. Our students are very fortunate to belong to our caring community of excellence. I am confident that each student will receive an exceptional learning experience and will enjoy many opportunities for engagement, friendship, fun and celebration over the course of the year.
We thank all of our staff for all you provide our students and our community. You are difference makers… and the influence you have on our students, and the next generation, is profound. We are so grateful. Students – you are reminded that our expectations for you are very high. We have absolute confidence that you will meet these expectations for excellence in learning, social responsibility, service and leadership. Your contributions to our school community helps define who we are as a school and supports the “Panther Pride” we know and love. Student leadership and engagement in school life are essential! Thank you for all you contribute.
With a significant increase in enrollment and a new Bell schedule model, there will be many adjustments to our systems throughout the year. Students who have a Study or a Flex block, may have a block off midday. Students, please keep our hallways clear and quiet. You may spend your time in our cafeteria and/or library (space permitting). Senior students may also elect to leave the school campus during these blocks.
Student parking and traffic management will also require increased attention and care this year. All students who drive to school will be required to register your vehicle for a designated stall (based upon availability) and park in the Student Lot. Students may not park in the Staff lot. All families are encouraged to consider alternative forms of transportation to school. Walking, biking, carpooling are all encouraged. In addition, all parents/guardians are strongly encouraged to drop your children off a couple of blocks away from the school. If at all possible, please avoid driving into our school lot. It will be very congested!
This year we will be implementing new District policy regarding Cell phones. All students are required to follow the new expectations in our Code of Conduct.
Surrey School District Cell Phone Use Expectations
- Phones are ONLY used during instructional time for educational purposes as directed by the teacher.
- Inappropriate use of devices may result in removal of the device and suspension of the use in the school.
- Exceptions to this are for students who need digital devices for medical or health reasons, translation, accessibility, or other student-specific reasons.
** Cell phones should not be used during lock downs or drills. **
Thank you to all students and families for your help in supporting these new requirements and helping to protect our learning environment.
Students, parents/guardians are reminded that, as always, course changes will be VERY limited. Our timetable was built and staffed based upon the very careful choices students were asked to make in the Spring. Our school and classes are full. We have worked very hard to try to build a timetable that provides the majority of our students’ requests. Requested changes, after the timetable is built, teachers hired, students programmed, class size and composition balanced, and rooms allocated, will be prioritized for students who are missing graduation requirements. Other changes will very likely not be possible. This is also the case for students requesting Period 5 changes. Lord Tweedsmuir Secondary is now an Extended Day school. Our 5 periods are now part of our schedule, and this is required to build capacity for enrollment of our students. Numerous students will be scheduled into period 5 based upon course availability. Please note that the number of students in period 5 will continue to grow over the years as our enrollment increases. Again, students who are missing a graduation requirement will be given priority for change requests.
The first days of school are so important. Although we are all busy and adjusting to new routines, these days provide us all so much positivity. It is wonderful to see our students arrive on the first days, meet friends, teachers and again become part of our community of learners. It is so rewarding to be part of a team of dedicated professionals who will make a direct difference in the lives of many. The work that we all do together, students, staff, parents/guardians, is very important. I look forward to another year of excellence in learning and celebration of success. It is a privilege to help lead and support our Panthers!
All the best for the 2024-2025 school year!
Ken
Traffic and Student Parking
All Panthers are reminded that traffic around the school and parking on school property will be very busy with our increased enrollment and Extended Day schedule. All student drivers are reminded that it is very important to drive with care and attention while on or near school property. Safety is our first priority. Please drive safely and responsibly, be aware of pedestrians, and follow all traffic regulations
If possible, all families are asked to consider alternative transportation options. Please walk or bike to school if possible. It would also be helpful if students are dropped off a couple of blocks away from the school and vehicles do not enter our school’s parking lot.
Please note that this year, students are only permitted to park in the Student Lot on the right side of our parking lot near our Portable classrooms. Students are not permitted to park in the Staff Lot.
All students wishing to park on school property must apply for a Parking pass. Application forms may be picked up at the office. Students must park in their designated stall.
Parking passes must be displayed on your car’s windshield at all times while on school property. Parking privileges will be revoked for any students not following our parking regulations or for unsafe driving.
Thank you for your help and cooperation in responding to our increased traffic challenges and protecting the safety of our community members.
