MAY 2025
SELKIRK
~ BELONGING~ GENEROSITY~ MASTERY ~ INDEPENDENCE ~
SECONDARY SCHOOL
Every student and staff member at Selkirk will benefit from being part of an open-minded and innovative learning community built upon the pillars of respect, growth, and equity.
Principal's Message
It is great to see the Spring activities at school and around town that are marked by the longer days and (slightly) warmer weather. March and April were both busy months with several activities both in and out of the classroom including our Talent Show, a number of field trips, and the transition to the Spring sports season. Thanks to our staff and community volunteers for the time you are putting in to offer these great activities for our students! The final two months of the school year promise to be busy as we begin planning for our year-end activities. We encourage students to remain focused on having a strong finish to the year! Students are encouraged to access the additional support available in Learning Services at lunch Monday to Thursday, lunch hour tutorials provided by teachers and peers, and afterschool peer tutoring support in our Library Learning Commons on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday if needed. Please do not hesitate to connect with us if you have any questions or concerns!
~Clint Dolgopol
Red Dress Day
ʔuⱡumi Water Starts to Rise
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Grad Flower Basket Pick-up! 4-7pm
May
Early Dismissal 2pm
Storm Spirit A block
Grade 8 & 9 Exploration 4 ends
Tyler Hornby Concert featuring Selkirk Vocal Jazz and Jazz Band
Grade 8 & 9 Exploration 5 begins
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PAC Meeting 7:00 pm
May 5th of each year is the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and 2- Spirit People in Canada (MMIWG2S). On this day we encourage you to hang a red dress, flag or T-shirt out to help spread the awareness while showing love and support for their families https://www.niwrc.org
Belonging
Grade 10 English First Peoples classes had an excellent learning opportunity on a field trip to Aqam. On the field trip students toured the Ktunaxa Interpretive Centre, learning some pieces of Ktunaxa history and culture. They also viewed a video "Red Brick School" in which they took in the stories of people who attended the residential school at St. Eugene. A third part of the field trip was a tour of the residential school with an elder. Through this experience students engaged in interactive storytelling and heard unique perspectives from an elder who had attended the St. Eugene residential school.
Many students had the opportunity to take part in "The Roadshow" a traveling truck and trailer that provided simulation experiences focusing on road building and highway maintenance equipment. Students were able to ‘test drive’ what a career in the road building and heavy civil industry might be like with a snowplow, excavator, wheel loader & an articulated rock truck.
Generosity
Selkirk Secondary School's Law Studies 12 class recently welcomed the esteemed Honourable Judge Lynal Doerksen for an enlightening presentation. Judge Doerksen captivated students with his expertise on the History of Legal Rights in Canada, Charter Rights of the Accused, and Judicial Decisions. Students were treated to a rare glimpse into the inner workings of our legal system as Judge Doerksen shared his wealth of knowledge. His engaging lesson on the evolution of legal rights in Canada left the class well informed, while his insights into the Charter Rights of the Accused shed light on the fundamental protections afforded to all Canadians. The judge's explanation of judicial decision-making processes provided students with a deeper understanding of how laws are interpreted and applied in real-world scenarios. This invaluable experience enriched the students' academic knowledge. Judge Doerksen's visit exemplifies Selkirk Secondary's commitment to providing students with exceptional learning opportunities that bridge classroom theory with real-world expertise.
Five of our students competed in the Skills Canada Regional Trades Competition in Cranbrook. They competed in Welding, Cabinetry and Woodworking. We had a strong showing this year- congrats to all! Welding: 1st place- Eli Volp, 2nd Place- Phoenix Sparrow Cabinetry: 1st Place- Mackenzie Derosier , 3rd Place- Nathan Meinig Carpentry: 2nd place- Noah Andrews Eli Volp and Nathan Meinig carried on to compete in provincial competitions.
At Selkirk, we follow a progressive discipline policy and use the following themes in conveying our expectations to students.
Members of the Student Focus Group in Invermere at the Rocky Mountain district office for a collaboration and planning meeting on April 3.
Mastery
Ms. Pavan's Literary Studies 11 Class Embarks on a 'Blind Date with a Book' Adventure at Kimberley Public Library Ms. Pavan's Literary Studies 11 class recently visited the Kimberley Public Library for an exciting "Blind Date with a Book" event. Our wonderful library friends, Ryan and Jean, curated a special selection of books for the students. Each book was wrapped and featured a teaser on the front, adding an element of surprise and intrigue. The class will return to the library with their reviews soon. Be sure to check out their thoughts if you visit the library in April!
Independence
Big Congratulations to Briar Fagan, who won UBCO's 27th Annual Okanagan Short Story Contest (High School Category). Creative Writing emeritus professor, Nancy Holmes, who began the contest in 1997, stated the following about Briar's story: “The winner of this category was a stand-out.... From the moment I read it, I knew it was a winner.” Briar Fagan from Selkirk Secondary School took the top prize for their story, Angels Don’t Smoke Earwigs.
Holmes says that many things make this story outstanding- the writing first of all. Imagery that never lets up on delivering a sense of decay, disintegration- each phrase contributes to the feeling of despair and hopelessness. “This was an astonishing story, sophisticated, beautifully written about a young man being sent off to some mysterious war— the story presents a feeling of a not-too distant future or some other country in the current geopolitical now. The story takes place over a few short hours as the young man and his lover take their leave from each other.”
Our Spring Sports are up and running! We have rubgy, mountain biking, girls soccer, track and field as well as golf! Go Storm!
Storm Report
Spring is in full swing at Selkirk Secondary, with large turnouts and enthusiastic participation. Girls Soccer- We have a huge turnout this season, with an awesome group of players who show great potential. The soccer team just finished competing in the 17th Annual Kootenay Cup Challenge in Creston last weekend. Coaches were very proud of the effort and sportsmanship our team showed throughout the tournament. Our junior team is preparing for the Zones Championship on May 7th at Laurie Middle School. Our Senior team is looking forward to competing in the Zones Championship in Nelson on May 14th. Rugby- Our rugby team is fully engaged and showing excellent teamwork. With every tournament and practice, the teams are improving and building a solid foundation for success. Golf- The golf team is “gripping and ripping,” preparing for a strong showing at the upcoming Zones championship in Creston on May 22nd. The team is focused and ready to compete at a high level in this important event. Track and Field is putting in a lot of effort to prepare for the Kootenay Zone Track and Field Championships in Cranbrook on May 21st. We have a great team of dedicated athletes that have been working hard learning new events and adapting their training routines to better prepare for the competition. Mountain Biking is going great this spring. We are excited to be hosting teams from across the Kootenay's for a cross country/enduro race event at the Nordic Ski Centre on May 21st. This is a fantastic opportunity to showcase our skills and compete on home turf. With so many activities packed into a short amount of time in the school year, our athletes are making the most of every practice and competition, Go Storm!! ~ Gregg Woytowich, Athletic Director
Flower Basket Pick up is Thursday, May 8th 4-7pm- Grads please be ready to help unload and deliver them. Please give your purchasers a heads up in advance of pick-up.
Grad Zone
Final Grad Meeting will be Thursday, May 8th at 10am- email to families to follow
Dates to remember: June 11th- Grad Ceremony Practice - 7-9 - Mandatory for all GRADS June 13th- Platzl Parade and Prom June 14th- Ceremonies - Doors open at 2:30; Ceremony starts at 3pm.
Selkirk Secondary’s recent CLC presentations were a resounding success, with graduates rising to the occasion and impressing everyone in attendance. Community members, staff, and families were treated to thoughtful, confident presentations that reflected the hard work, growth, and readiness of our students as they prepare to take their next steps. It was a proud moment for all involved and a celebration of the strong connections between our school and community.
Thank you to grad executive, grad volunteers, and parent volunteers for supporting the grad gown ironing evening. All Gowns are pressed and ready to go for the big day....
We would like to congratulate Bodi Kirby as the Grad Class Valedictorian and to Logan Marsh, the Grad Class Historian!
Homestays needed for International Students arriving September 2025!
Rocky Mountain International Student Program
This September, Kimberley will be receiving international students from Japan, Mexico, Spain, and Germany in Grades 9 - 11. We are still looking for host families that would open their home and family to one or two of these students. Monthly homestay fees are $1,050 - $1,300 per student. Host families are matched with their student mid-May, so don’t wait to apply or refer someone. For more details visit our website, or email ulli.murtagh@sd6.bc.ca.
RMISP was delighted to have eight Selkirk students opt in to our Spring Break trip to Vancouver this year. Highlights of the trip included visits to Stanley Park, Capilano Suspension Bridge, UBC and the Museum of Anthropology, Gastown, Granville Island and downtown Vancouver. Students participated in a First Nations cultural program at Grouse Mountain, an afternoon of golfing, and escape games. Sarah, one of the 25 international student participants, summed up the experience like this: “If you think about Vancouver at Spring, you will probably only think about downtown and city. But it’s more than that. We got to see the culture and history that Canada brings. We had lunch on the top of Grouse Mountain in a typical native feast house which I didn’t expect to be that cool and interesting. This trip is a nice way to see Canada in a different way and of course in a bigger way than just our little mountain town and to meet a lot of new people from other communities that have backgrounds from all over the world.”