Mark Your Calendar
Oct 6-8: Gr.12 Retreat
Oct 13: Thanksgiving – SCHOOL CLOSED
Oct 17: Mission Jeans Day
Oct 24: Pro-D Day – NO CLASSES
Oct 27: Picture Retakes
Oct 31: Halloween Pep Rally
President's Message
Looking into the Mirror
For the vast majority of my 36-year high school teaching career, I have intentionally taught the “bookends.” As a Social Studies and English teacher, I looked forward each year to teaching both the incoming Grade 8s and the outgoing Grade 12s. When I transitioned into a more full-time administrative role nearly 25 years ago, I continued (with the exception of the past three years) to assign myself at least one teaching block—oscillating year to year between a block of Social Studies 8 and a block of Geography 12.
While I have taught the full gamut of courses in both subject areas over the years, it is safe to say these are my two favourite classes to teach. Grade 8s enter high school wide-eyed and full of life—ready to embark on a new adventure and game for anything. You ask a question, and (literally) all 30 hands fly into the air. It does not hurt that the curriculum for Social Studies 8 is packed full of juicy content, and that they genuinely enjoy the material. However, what I love most about teaching the 8s is their willingness to take risks. Their approach is more often than not “Ready – Fire – Aim,” yet they are undeterred if their answers are even slightly off the mark. They have the confidence and gusto to forge ahead anyway.
Student Life
Terry Fox Run
Last week, our school community came together in support of the Terry Fox Run, honouring Terry’s legacy and his fight against cancer. Students and staff walked or ran for an hour, filling the day with energy, spirit, and purpose. Together, we raised an impressive $2,800 for cancer research. It was a wonderful reminder of the power of unity and the difference we can make when we rally behind a good cause.
Thank you to everyone who participated and contributed to this meaningful event!
Gr.8/12 Mixer
Our Grade 8 & 12 Mixer Dance was a huge success! Students filled the cafeteria with music, laughter, and plenty of dancing as our grads and our newest high school members came together for a night of fun.
It was the perfect way to kick off the school year and build new connections across grades.
Knights of the Month
Student Council is proud to announce our Knights of the Month:
Grade 8 – Emina Sidhu
Emina is an emerging leader in grade 8. She’s on the cross country team and a fun member of the grade! She also fully dominated musical chairs during fall House Games. We’re looking forward to seeing what she can accomplish at STMC!
Grade 9 – Raphael Chaho
Raphael is a dedicated and hardworking student athlete who goes above and beyond in everything he does. He is a friend to all who always maintains a positive attitude.
Grade 10 – Chanel Dela Torre
Chanel is a student-athlete with astonishing spirit and a warm smile who lifts everyone up. She leaves such a powerful impact on our school body.
Grade 11- Liam Golding
A Grade 11 who is a significant player on the Senior Varsity Football team. He demonstrates leadership on and off the field, especially in the 2025 Homecoming game, by scoring 2 touchdowns for the Knights.
Grade 12 – Tia Butzelaar
Tia is a student-athlete with a great personality. She’s not only on the swim team, but she is a coach as well. She is also a representative on StAC and just participated in the Terry Fox fundraiser. She’s a phenomenal student and is always a friendly face to her peers.
Student Volunteer Opportunities
Nov 5: Parent Teacher Interviews
Parent Teacher Interviews are taking place on November 5, 2025 and student volunteer opportunities are now open. Use this opportunity to knock off some service hours early on in the year.
Signup sheet: volunteersignup.org/83MW8
Signing up takes only a few seconds, thank you for volunteering!
Nov 22: Knights Christmas Market
The countdown is on! The Knights Christmas Market is coming Saturday, November 22, and we need YOU to bring the energy, spirit, and teamwork that makes this tradition so special.
This is your chance to be part of something magical—helping transform our gym into Gingerbread Lane, welcoming families, assisting vendors, and keeping the holiday cheer alive all day long. Whether you sign up for setup, games, greeting guests, or cleanup, every role makes a huge difference.
Sign up here: https://volunteersignup.org/D4M47
Bring your friends, grab a shift, and let’s make this year’s market unforgettable. Knights, it’s our time to shine!
Bottle Drive
Save your bottles! Our school will be holding a Bottle Drive from October 13–18. All proceeds go directly toward supporting school programs and activities.
Simply bring your refundable bottles and cans to the school during this week, especially after those Thanksgiving festivities!
Collection bins will be available in the courtyard. Every bottle counts, so bring in whatever you’ve got!
Club Fair
STMC Clubs kicked off with our annual Club Fair this week. 36 student-led clubs showed off their clubs and plans for this school year within their respective club. For more information about the clubs we offer at STMC check our school website.
If you would like to inquire about starting a club/getting in contact with a club leader please reach out to Mr. Jared Power.
Artona Photo Order Update
Due to the recent Canada Post strike, we have made some changes to our services and how we are delivering photo packages. We have included an outline of these changes below, along with answers to some common questions you may get from students and families.
School Day Orders
All bulk school deliveries that were due this week were shipped before the strike. All mail to home orders placed up until September 19th were also shipped. We are hopeful those deliveries made it in time. However, if you are still waiting on a delivery that was due this week, please let your account representative know. https://artona.com/contact-us
All school day orders placed after September 19th that would normally be shipped to home have been set aside at our studio. Our team will be delivering these packages in batches to your school via Purolator or by us in person. We greatly appreciate your support in helping to distribute these packages to students and families.
Stuck or Missing Orders
If any students or parents have a missing or stuck in transit order, please have them contact our Customer Service Team. Our team will work to find a solution — we do not want our families to go without their photos.
We greatly appreciate your support during this time and will be in touch if there are any other changes or updates. If you have any further questions please reach out at https://artona.com/contact-us
The Artona Team
Faith
Living Jesus in Our Hearts:
A Two-Year Journey in Catholic Social Justice Teachings
This school year marks the beginning of a new two-year journey at St. Thomas More Collegiate as we focus on Catholic Social Justice Teachings. Over the next two years, our community will explore how to live out our faith in practical and meaningful ways, guided by the values of the Church and inspired by the example of Jesus.
Our theme for the first year, “Live Jesus in Our Hearts,” calls us to make faith visible in our daily lives—through prayer, reflection, service, and action. Each two-month period will focus on a different principle of Catholic Social Teaching, helping staff and students deepen their understanding and put these values into practice. Across the two years, all ten Catholic Social Justice Teachings will be incorporated through liturgies, classroom activities, service opportunities, and community initiatives.
We began in September with the theme of Stewardship of Creation, tying in with Laudato Si’, Pope Francis’ call to care for our common home. At our staff Faith Formation Day, we reflected on what it means to be stewards of God’s creation and considered ways we can respond together as a school. Students have been involved through eco-pledges, recycling initiatives, and a variety activities and services.
Looking ahead, our November–December focus will be on Peace. This theme will be incorporated into school liturgies, Advent reflections, and student-led activities such as a peace mural, a “Random Acts of Peace” challenge, and an Advent mass. Just as Jesus is the Prince of Peace, we are called to bring peace into our classrooms, homes, and community.
Through this two-year plan, we hope to weave Catholic Social Justice into the fabric of STMC life—prayer, classroom learning, service, and community engagement. Together, as a school, we will continue to ask how we can live Jesus in our hearts and witness His love in action.
The Ten Catholic Social Justice Teachings & STMC Focus Timeline
Year One (2025–2026) – Theme: “Live Jesus in Our Hearts”
Stewardship of Creation: Sept–Oct 2025
Peace: Nov–Dec 2025
Preferential Option for the Poor: Jan–Feb 2026
Life & Dignity of the Human Person: Mar–Apr 2026
Solidarity: May–Jun 2026
Year Two (2026–2027) – Theme: “The Good Seed Will Grow: Building Peace through Justice and Love”
6. Common Good: Sept–Oct 2026
7. Subsidiarity & the Role of Government: Nov–Dec 2026
8. Economic Justice: Jan–Feb 2027
9. Rights & Responsibilities: Mar–Apr 2027
10. Participation (Mission Focus): May–Jun 2027
Gr.8 Retreat: Building Belonging in the Spirit of Edmund Rice
On September 23 and 25, our newest Knights in Gr. 8 experienced their first retreat as members of the STMC community. Held at the Burnaby Hall, the retreat was a joyful and meaningful introduction to life at STMC, rooted in the theme of Belonging and the Charism of Blessed Edmund Rice.
The retreat was led by a dedicated team of Gr. 11 and 12 student leaders, who guided the Gr. 8s through a full day of activities, small group sessions, and team-building games. These opportunities helped our students get to know each other, build friendships, and learn from the wisdom and experiences of their senior peers.
Highlights of the retreat included fun icebreakers, reflective sessions on what it means to belong to the STMC community, and an introduction to advocacy in action—encouraging our Gr. 8s to recognize their responsibility to live their faith through service and justice.
Each retreat day concluded with a grade-level Mass at Our Lady of Mercy Parish, celebrated by Fr. Hien Nguyen.
The Gr. 8 Retreat is an important milestone, setting the tone for the high school journey ahead. Through prayer, community, and the example of Edmund Rice, our Grade 8 Knights were welcomed into a tradition of faith, service, and belonging that will carry them throughout their time at STMC.
Grade 12 Retreat: A Time for Reflection, Faith and Friendship
From October 6-8, our Gr. 12 Knights will embark on their final retreat at Camp Stillwood at beautiful Cultus Lake. This special retreat offers our senior students a unique opportunity to step away from the daily routine and spend two nights focused on faith, reflection, and community.
The retreat will provide a space for students to bond as a grade level, share their experiences, and engage in meaningful discussions about important faith and life issues. Through small group sessions, activities, and reflective moments, students will have the chance to consider their personal journey, their relationships, and the path ahead as they prepare for life beyond STMC.
The Gr. 12 Retreat is a meaningful capstone to their high school experience, fostering connection, growth, and a deeper understanding of living their faith in action. It promises to be a memorable experience, strengthening friendships and leaving students inspired as they approach the final months of their time at STMC.
Action & Advocacy
LRC Work Experience Opportunities
Students from the LRC are looking for work experience opportunities within the community. A staff member will be with them the whole time. If anyone has a company or knows of opportunities for us to explore, please reach out to STMC.
Truth and Reconciliation Service 2025
On Monday September 29, STMC had their annual Truth and Reconciliation service. The main purpose of our service was to draw attention to Indigenous voices and to connect those voices to the First Peoples Principles of Learning and our current school emphasis on the Catholic Social Teaching principle of Stewardship for Creation. We recognized Indigenous Peoples as the stewards of this land since time immemorial, and discussed how residential schools impacted their connection to their culture, their language and the land.
We emphasized two Indigenous teachings:
All My Relations
Sacred Responsibility for All Creation
We connected these teachings to three First Peoples Principles of Learning:
Learning involves recognizing the consequences of one‘s actions.
Learning recognizes the role of Indigenous knowledge.
Learning ultimately supports the well-being of the self, the family, the community, the land, the spirits, and the ancestors.
The service was a respectful and reverent recognition of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. All students received an orange ribbon and there were many orange shirts present in the student body.
Thank you to all staff and students who made our service a meaningful event!
Academics
After School Academic Support
Want to excel in academics? Need extra help with school assignments? Doing well in your courses and wanting to help others succeed? If ‘Yes” to any of these then, After School Academic Support is the right place for you.
The After School Academic Support offers a wide range of support to students who need help in completing their homework assignments and preparing for any upcoming assessments. Our academically excelling Tutors support their peers and help them to be confident and do well in their academics. Also, Peer Tutors get their Service Hours for the hours that they have tutored. The program runs throughout the year on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays from 2:45 – 3:45 pm at the Learning Commons. You are free to attend any/all of the days depending on your own schedule.
If you are interested in Peer Tutoring or getting some academic support, then show up at 2:45 – 3:45 pm in the Learning Commons (sign-up can also be done any time of the year during session).
Google Classroom Code: k74ogcpf
For further information contact Mrs. Eugine at
Arts
Music
First Note Night
Our Grade 8 and Elementary Band students participated in First Note Night on September 22. We welcomed guest teachers from the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra who helped students get started on their new instruments.
Pep Band at Homecoming
The STMC Pep Band had a great time supporting their fellow Knights at Homecoming!
Gr.8 Concert & Chamber Choir
We are extremely proud of our 2024/2025 Grade 8 Concert Choir (current grade 9s) and Chamber Choir for winning provincials and Canada West in their age groups (age 13 and under, and age 19 and under).
You can find the STMC as highlighted on the following Official Winners Lists:
Equinox Chorale Workshop Day
On September 23, the Equinox Chorale had a fantastic day of workshops and team building highlighted by clinics from Geordie Roberts and Emily Cheung, pizza dinner, and a spirited game of Scattergories won by the alto section!
Athletics
Homecoming ’25
On September 6, we proudly hosted Homecoming ‘25, presented by AllWest Electric. It was fantastic to welcome back our alumni, families, and friends in support of both our Varsity Football and Senior Girls Volleyball teams.
The Senior Girls Volleyball team battled hard against Notre Dame at the StanJean Centre, falling just short in a close match. Meanwhile, our Varsity Boys Football team delivered a thrilling overtime victory against the Jugglers at Power Field—an instant classic!
A special highlight of the evening was honouring our milestone reunion classes of 1965, 1995, 2000, and 2005 during halftime. Seeing so many Knights come together to celebrate was truly memorable.
We extend our heartfelt thanks to our generous sponsors:
- Title Sponsor: AllWest Electric
- Gold Sponsor: Brandon Gee Moore ’13
- Silver Sponsor: Nova Drywall
- Bronze Sponsors: Sage Construction & Alliance Security
- Alum Zone Sponsor: ZLC Employee Benefits Solutions & Dan Eisner
STMC Alumni & Friends Ultimate Tournament
On September 27, we proudly hosted our Annual Alumni & Friends Ultimate Tournament at Power Field. Despite the rainy weather, more than 60 participants came out to play across five competitive teams, with alumni spanning graduating years from 2010 to 2030. The grads of 2011–2013 celebrated their first-ever tournament victory, marking an exciting highlight of the day.
Beyond the competition, the event raised over $1,000 in support of the Ferdie Carrion Memorial Bursary. A heartfelt thank-you goes out to Mr. Joe Muise for his effort in organizing this event year after year.
Success at the First Cross Country Meet
Congratulations to the 26 athletes who competed at our first meet last week and to the 28 athletes who competed on Oct. 1. In the first meet, we had eleven athletes finish in the top ten! It has been great to see several parents and grandparents come to Central Park to cheer on these amazing athletes.
Results for the meets can be found under BNW (Burnaby New West) meets on the Fraser North website: https://fraserrivernorthxc.wordpress.com/
STMC Sun Run: Early Bird Pricing
St. Thomas More Collegiate has a SUN RUN team! Race Day – Sunday, April 19, 2026.
We are excited to announce that STMC will have a Sun Run team again this year. Come out and participate with your friends and family. There is a 2.5km or the 10km course. Register before Oct. 31 to qualify for the cheapest price category.
Before registering, please note the following:
- STMC is NOT responsible for student supervision or transportation during the Sun Run
- STMC may offer some training resources, such as a suggested plan to prepare for running 10km and may offer some scheduled practice runs. However, please note that runners are responsible for their own training.
- If we have less than 14 members on our team, the team will be disbanded and the members will be automatically moved into the Individual categories and you will be responsible for paying the upgrade fees
- Youth team technical shirts will have STMC Knights printed on the back; however, the Cotton shirts will NOT have a team name on the back due to a limited area of print size
- Parents and siblings are welcome to register as part of the Sun Run team, however, the number of youths must be greater than the number of adults on the team.
Registration is open (early bird pricing ends Oct. 31)
To register, please go to team member registration and select STMC Knights
*Be sure you are on the Youth Team Challenge (before adding your name and details)
Team Name: STMC Knights
Access Code: RKVEDF
Students choose Youth Team Challenge: Youth 10km
Parents choose Youth Challenge: Adult 10km
Link to JOIN YOUR YOUTH TEAM: team member registration
Special Events
Faith Lecture Series: Darrell Hall
We are excited to continue our Faith Lecture Series that delves deep into thought-provoking questions at the crossroads of faith, science, the Church, and society. Our first distinguished speaker for 2025 is Mr. Darrell Hall, who will deliver a lecture entitled, “Love That Breaks Chains: The Courage to Forgive”.
Event Details
Date: October 14, 2025
Time: 6:30pm
Location: St. Thomas More Collegiate
Admission is FREE, however we kindly request registration for logistical purposes.
About the Lecture
We live in a world quick to judge, quick to cancel, and slow to forgive. But Jesus calls us to something harder and far greater. Forgiveness isn’t weakness. It’s the mark of the strong and the brave, the ones willing to love even when it hurts. What if the greatest strength we could ever show is not power or success, but the courage to love and forgive? What if real freedom begins when we release anger and resentment and choose love instead?
Jesus shows us that love and forgiveness cannot be separated; they are the way of the cross, and the path to becoming our true, best selves, people of love, courage, and the willingness to suffer. Love and forgiveness are the way of Jesus, the way of the cross, the way to freedom, healing, and lasting peace. This is not the easy road. It’s the courageous one. But it’s the only road that leads to abundant life.
Knights Christmas Market
The holiday season is just around the corner! Join us at the Knights Christmas Market 2025 on Saturday, November 22 for festive shopping, delicious treats, and fun for the whole family.
This year, we’re adding a special Gingerbread Lane, where creativity meets holiday cheer!
RSVP today at www.stmcpa.ca/event-details-registration/knights-christmas-market-2025
and get 1 entry into our raffle.
Want to be part of the magic? We’re looking for volunteers to help bring Gingerbread Lane and other festive activities to life! Email us at
to get involved.
Follow along for vendor spotlights, holiday updates, and all the festive details leading up to the big day!
Plant Sale
September may have just wrapped up, but we’re only getting started! Our Knights Christmas Market Plant Sale is now open—featuring poinsettias, holiday wreaths, and indoor plants that make the perfect gifts (or a little something for yourself).
No need for a Christmas panic this year—get your list started early, place your order now, and check one thing off the holiday to-do list!
Double the cheer:
- Order by October 15 to be entered into our special raffle prize draw.
- RSVP for the Knights Christmas Market and you’ll get another raffle entry, plus updates and all the best deals as we count down to our favorite annual holiday tradition.
All orders will be ready for pickup at the Knights Christmas Market on Saturday, November 22, 2025.
Place your plant order here: https://trellis.org/knightschristmasmarket25/items
