Mother’s Day Mass

This year’s Mother’s Day celebration on May 9th began with a Mass, starting with the Rosary and a touching tribute as one student from each class offered a candle to our Mary display. Fr. Joachim Yoon was our main celebrant with Fr. Mark McGuckin as the co-celebrant. Following the Mass, families gathered in the Cafeteria for a welcoming Mother’s Day Tea and Reception, where our Knights offered carnations to their mothers & mother figures, sharing smiles, conversation, and gratitude for the incredible women in their lives.

Grad Mass

The Annual Graduation Mass took place on May 15th at Our Lady of Mercy Parish. This special celebration marked the beginning of our graduation events, offering a moment of reflection and gratitude. After the Mass, the grads of 2025 and their families gathered for a reception in the Cafeteria and Courtyard, where they had the chance to connect with our staff who have guided and supported them throughout their high school journey.

Gr. 10 Religion: Catholic Social Teaching Advocacy Initiative

All STMC students have been participating in our service hours program through their Religion classes for many years. This year, all grade 10 students engaged in a service hours derivative where advocacy was the focus. 2024-25 marked the inaugural Catholic Social Teaching Advocacy Initiative for all grade 10 students where they identified an issue and then connected it to at least one of the Catholic Social Teachings and an Essential Element of a Edmund Rice Christian Brothers Education. Their next task was to determine the root causes of their issue by reaching out to experts in the community and to do research in order to learn more about their issues. Students were then asked to advocate towards the improvement of that cause(s) through a campaign of their choice. Finally, students reflected on their campaigns and learning with a presentation to their classes.

Advocacy is challenging work, but our students made great strides in attempting this for the first time. Some of the myriad issues that student work focused on include:

• Adolescent Mental Health
• Climate Change
• Suicide Prevention
• Overconsumption
• Human Trafficking
• Bullying
• Advocating for Non-English Speakers
• Nuclear Disarmament
• Respect for Indigenous Culture

We want to thank this year’s Grade 10 students for their advocacy efforts and we look forward to the initiatives to come from our future Grade 10 students!

Memorial Mass for Lapu Lapu Tragedy

After the events at the Lapu Lapu festival, our Knights wrote down and offered heartfelt prayers and posted them on the wall in remembrance of the lives affected by the incident that occurred on Apr. 26th.
On Monday, May 5th, we held a short memorial Mass to commemorate the event. It took place in the gym during lunch and was open to all members of the STMC Community who wished to take part. Fr. Nick Meisl ‘99 joined us as the main celebrant.

Indigenous Brilliance and Resilience Week

STMC featured its inaugural Indigenous Brilliance and Resilience Week from May 5-9. The rationale for the week was twofold: 1) to showcase positive examples of incredible Indigenous leaders and 2) to shine a light on some of the challenges facing Indigenous communities.

The week began with the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and 2-Spirit People (MMIWG2S), also known as Red Dress Day. This solemn day was recognized with red dresses hanging around the perimeter of the school campus. Students were also invited to tie red ribbons onto a plant in the foyer and say a prayer for the missing, the murdered, and their families.

There was also a special mass at lunch on the Monday with Fr. Nick Meisl. There was a strong group in attendance including some parents, and we prayed especially for the victims of the Lapu Lapu Festival tragedy as well as for MMIWG2S.

Students also created a poster series of inspirational Indigenous matriarchs who have made and are making incredible contributions to their communities.

We were also very fortunate to host Kayah George and Jaime Leigh Gianopoulos, co-directors of the short film, “Our Grandmother The Inlet.” We had a school-wide screening of the film followed by a Q&A with both Kayah and Jaime Leigh who shared their experiences and wisdom with our student body.

Our band and choir classes were able to partake in a program called “Ancestors Voices”, which featured Julian Taylor and his music, and allowed an insight into his incredible work.

Our Learning Commons displayed a number of Indigenous literature titles for any students interested in reading and learning more, plus also made bins of Lego available for students to build Indigenous-inspired innovations.

Finally, the STMC Rotary Interact Club under the leadership of Norah Benjamin (Gr. 11), Declan Williams (Gr. 11) and Olivia Lee (Gr. 10), alongside the mentorship of Mr. Kyle O’Genski, and the amazing service of a number of student volunteers, executed a Long Table Dinner fundraiser to conclude the week. The evening was a great success and raised funds for an outstanding cause due to the generosity of all those who attended. Thank you to all who made the night a success!

Blessed Edmund Rice Speech Night

On May 1, STMC held its annual Blessed Edmund Rice Speech Night. Audiences were treated to a wide variety of topics and presentation styles.The Grade 8s presented a pitch for a product of their own invention. Grade 9 students’ task was to persuade their audience of an idea they felt strongly about. Students in Grade 10 were asked to choose a literary passage–from a novel, play, short story, or poem–and present it in dramatic fashion, inhabiting each of the characters on stage. Grade 11 students got to write and present their own slam poems. Students in Grade 12, as the veterans of Speech Night, had to choose not only their topic, but also the style in which they’d present: persuasion, slam poem, or dramatic reading.

Congratulations to the top three finishers in each grade level!

Grade 8:
Leo Piccolo
Adriana Garcia
Ava Comuzzi

Grade 9:
Christopher Freire
Esther Liu
Skylar Slogan

Grade 10:
Anna Sirian
Mairi Lister
Joya Bevacqua

Grade 11:
Camila Lozano-Ibarra
Angela Malette
Katelyn Lota

Grade 12:
Miguel Aguila
Jasmine Rai
Eilidh Lister

National Geographic Explorer Educator Exchange

For the past year, a group of our young scientists have worked with Mr. Muise on a research project as part of National Geographic’s Explorer-Educator Exchange. The group has collaborated with Explorer Danny Chi-Man Leong from Macau, China to study how wavelength restricted LED lighting affects the growth of hornworm caterpillars. The group designed their experiment to be conducted in the physics lab, measuring the growth of the caterpillars between January to March. National Geographic featured the 15 groups completing the Exchange in a recent article, and our students’ work can be found on the StoryMap that covers their research.

Students on the Beamlines

The 2025 edition of our Students on the Beamlines research team concluded their project with a hybrid presentation on Monday, June 2nd. Presenting to scientists at the Canadian Light Source (CLS) virtually, and STMC staff in person, the group shared their work focusing on the effect of microplastic on the growth of mint plants. The group has spent the last year researching the importance of plants to local Indigenous cultures and how plant growth can be affected by microplastics. The group benefited from Brother O’Neill’s offer to grow plants in his greenhouse on the roof of the school, and from the generosity of alumna Caitlin Leong’s offer of young mint plants from Leong’s Nursery. This helped the students get past difficulties they had been having growing plants from seed.

Unfortunately, as the students were getting rolling on collecting samples for analysis, they received troubling news – that the upgrades to the CLS’ electron gun had encountered some problems with bringing the synchrotron back online. The team had their beamtime shifted from February to late May, and continued to work on their project, hoping that things would be repaired in time. Unfortunately, the CLS had to cancel all beamtime through the end of June, which meant that our students wouldn’t be able to conduct their experiment. Over the last month they have tried to find ways to analyze their samples and continue to do science. Their final presentation shared their journey through challenges in gardening, detailed why their project is very relevant to the world today, and outlined what they learned through this process.

Telescopes Coming Soon!

For the first time in quite a while, the telescopes will be out at STM! Plans are coming together for an observing night in early July, depending on weather. This will be welcome to all members of the STM community (students, parents, alumni, etc.). Status updates on timing will be posted on Instagram (@stmcscience) and via the Extra-curricular Science Google classroom (available to current students – classroom code: xtyotzj). More details to follow!

Check out the photo below that Mr. Muise took through one of our telescopes!

Arts Week

Arts Week (May 26th-30th) is a celebration of creativity, innovation, and the impact of the arts and design that has on our lives within the school community. This week, we embrace the diverse talents of our students, fostering a space for artistic expression, exploration, and collaboration. Through engaging workshops, captivating performances, and vibrant exhibits, we aim to inspire a deeper appreciation for the arts and their transformative potential. Arts Week isn’t just about making art; it’s about nurturing a curiosity for creativity, building community, and enriching STMC.

Watch the YouTube livestream of our Knights Competing in the BC High School Championships from Thursday to Saturday:

Planning to attend in person? Read more info from BC School Sports here:

View the full BC High School Championships schedule:

Ultimate

The junior and senior ultimate teams wrapped up a successful season at the end of May. The junior team finished second at the Fraser North zones, which qualified them for BC Ultimate’s Junior Invitational Championships. The team drew into a challenging pool, losing two close games on day 1. They then won all their games on day 2 to finish 9th in the province.

The senior team had another strong season, winning the Fraser North AA Zone championships. The team had a strong provincial tournament, finishing 6th. The players and coaches would like to thank the Ultimate parents for all their support through the season. Special thanks to our graduating seniors for their commitment to the sport: Nathaniel Blanca, Elyza Castro, Shane Deza, Angelo Figeuroa, Anna Lee, Joey Nguyen, Ieve Reilly, Devyn Tabernero & Hayden Tang.

25th Annual Greater Knight Open

The 25th Annual GKO (Greater Knight Open) is open for registration. This event is open to Alumni, Friends and Family in our STMC Community. The event will take place at the Surrey Golf Club on Saturday, June 14th. Open to all levels of ability. Proceeds from this tournament go towards our STMC Bursary Program supporting families in financial need.

Mikey’s Run

In honour of STMC Class of ’07 Grad Mike Lowe who we sadly lost last June, we encourage you to take part in Mikey’s Run. This event happens on June 29th, 2025 at the Burnaby Lake Rugby Fields.

Mike was a devoted father, son, brother, husband, friend, and a proud STMC Alum. This run is more than a tribute to Mike’s love of running – it’s a call to action. Let’s honour his legacy by creating space for openness, connection, and support. Volunteers and/or runners are encouraged to sign up through the website linked below.

STMC Summer Basketball Camp

The STMC Summer Basketball Camp is a 5-day camp designed to introduce players to the fundamentals of basketball in a fun and competitive atmosphere. It is open to boys and girls entering grades 3-8.

When: August 11th to 15th 2025
Time: 9:00am-12:00pm
Where: St. Thomas More Collegiate Gym (StanJean Centre)
Who: Boys and girls currently in grades 3-7
Cost: $200 per camper.

Includes 15 hours of instruction, Camp T-Shirt, games and prizes
Coaches: Mr. Dominic Zimmermann Mr. Aaron Mitchell
Please e-mail Mr. Zimmermann  if you have any questions.

Mrs. Cirillo is Heading to Early Retirement!

As I prepare to go into early retirement after almost 19 years in our beloved Saint Thomas More Collegiate School, my heart if full of emotions. This school has been more than a workplace – it has truly been my second home.

I began my journey here starting my career alongside an incredible administration team: Darrell Hall as Principal, with KC Steele and Ron Orser as Vice Principals. What an amazing team they were. I learned so much from their leadership, their dedication, and the way they truly lived out the values of this Faith filled school. I’m so proud to have worked under their guidance – it laid the foundation for everything that followed.

Over the years I’ve had the privilege of meeting and connecting with so many incredible families. Each one hold a special place I my heart. I’ve witnessed students grow, face challenges, celebrate triumph, and become remarkable young adults. The bond I’ve formed with this community is something I will carry with me for the rest of my life.

There are memories I will never forget – and one that will always stay close to my heart is of a very special young man, Fidel Yonathon. From the moment he joined us in grade 8, Fidel made a point of stopping by the office every morning – without fail – to say good morning. Even when he was running late, he would take the time to check in. What touched me deeply was that on the days I wasn’t at my desk, he didn’t just wonder – he cared. He would call his mom and ask if I was okay. His mom, who I also came to know and care for, would call me to check in, make sure I was ok and then reassure Fidel. That genuine kindness and thoughtfulness stays with me forever. Fidel reminded me of the goodness that lives in our young people in our school. He is truly a special young man, and I am so grateful he crossed my path.

Growing up in an Italian Catholic family, my beautiful mom always made our faith a priority in our house and always played an important role in my life. Being in faith-filled school where we start our days with prayers, where values are lived and shared – it’s been a blessing I will never take that for granted. These past 19 years have been a gift. A journey of service, connection and Love.

This school isn’t just a place I worked at – it’s been a part of my life, my heart, and my history. I’ve been blessed to witness its growth over the years. I remember so clearly when Brother Gale breaking ground for the new Fine Arts department, it was a moment of vision and hope for the future. I watched the courtyard come to life, becoming a space for gathering, and celebration. I stood in the old gym during its last Hurrah, feeling the spirit of all the students who has passed through it, and then saw it come down – only to rise again as a new, beautiful space where memories continue to be made. These walls hold many stories and I am grateful to have been part of it.

To the students, families and staff: Thank you, thank you for letting me be part of your lives, your stories, and your community. To my beloved parents…..thank you, from the bottom of my heart for how deeply you’ve shared your lives with me. Thank you for the friendly phone calls, the little chats, the impromptu treats left with a smile – and most of all, your constant Love and Support. Your kindness has meant more than words can say.

The legacy of this school is, its Faith, its People and its Mission – these are treasures I will carry with me forever.

Though I’m stepping away from the front desk, you will always be in my heart.

With Gratitude, Faith and Love

Arrivederci….next journey….“Dolce Far Niente”

Maria Cirillo