Dear Parents and Guardians,
Over the course of last weekend and through this week, we have been celebrating and acknowledging Lunar New Year at SMUS. It is wonderful to have the opportunity to say happy new year twice within such a short period of time. Dumpling sampling this week has been particularly wonderful, too.
Last week, I had the opportunity to join 30 or so Heads of School from independent schools across British Columbia to discuss issues of mutual significance. One topic on the agenda was how schools should be approaching the education of climate change. This is an important issue for us all, but imperative to our students’ generation who can see that within their lifespans change and adaptation may move from being desirable to necessary.
We also looked at future projections for population growth across Canada and particularly in BC. The supply of teachers is projected to become an acute problem. This is a theme that is of particular interest to me. SMUS will be actively seeking ways to continue to promote our school as one of the most attractive places to teach, to ensure that our recruitment and retention allows us to support our aim to continue to provide inspiring teaching.
As the new year has gained momentum, we can confirm that we are on course for the opening of the Junior School Annex with all the benefits that it will bring, with the launch of the Junior Kindergarten program, and the significant improvement in our teaching and learning facilities.
It seems that the beginning of the new year is a time for reflection and the confirmation of future plans. On this topic, I have a number of announcements to communicate regarding key positions, and those retiring after more than 25 years of service.
Andy Rodford will step down from his role as Deputy Head of School and will be leaving SMUS at the end of this academic year. Over 11 busy years, Andy has been a mentor, guide, and inspiration to many students, parents, faculty, and staff, who have benefited enormously from his wise counsel. I will personally be forever grateful to Andy for ‘translating’ for me over the first few years after my arrival from the UK. There was a lot about language, curriculum, policy, and culture that needed to be explained both at a Canadian, provincial and SMUS community level. He proved to be an invaluable mentor.
After that, when we were overtaken by the avalanche of forced change necessitated by the pandemic, Andy actively led our response team. The feedback on how we remained buoyant and relatively stable on the swirling currents of the pandemic represented a strong community effort but heavily influenced by Andy’s calm, common sense approach. Since then, as we have returned to normal, Andy has been keen to get back to the personal relationships with students, faculty, and staff that are so dear to him. At the same time, he has been leading our Junior School Annex project to what we know will be a successful conclusion. It seems fitting, as we say farewell to Andy in August, that this project will be a lasting physical tribute to his contribution in so many areas. I know that our Board of Governors will be identifying opportunities to pass on their own thanks for Andy’s achievements as Director of Senior School, Acting Head of School (2017-18), and latterly as Deputy Head of School. We wish Andy every success in whatever he wishes to pursue in the years ahead.
Over 39 years at SMUS, Ian Hyde-Lay’s passion, spirit and dedication has been of enormous benefit to countless students. In what can only be described as a lifetime committed to the development of student athletes, Ian has pushed students to expect more of themselves and to rise above the challenges that sport and life puts in front of them. His drive for excellence on the field, in the gymnasium and in all areas of school life is unmatched, and he will be sorely missed as he retires at the end of this school year.
Throughout his time at the school, Ian has been keenly focused on basketball and rugby. It is fair to say that many hundreds of students have excelled in pursuit of their passions in these areas, and under his guidance these programs won a combined total of 10 BC Championship Blue Banners. We wish him well as he moves into retirement.
We are also losing a lynchpin of the fourth-floor brigade in our Finance department. Diana Leggatt, for 29 years, has worked meticulously and tirelessly in the best interests of the school, its staff, and its students as controller. Impressive attention to detail and calm efficiency have always been her hallmarks. Never in the spotlight, but always on the ball, Diana has been hugely influential in ensuring that the finances of the school are based on such solid foundations – a great achievement, particularly given the pressures of the pandemic. Diana will be missed enormously by her colleagues and by me personally, for delivering consistently above and beyond the call of duty. We wish Diana a happy retirement with her husband…
Peter Leggatt, who will also be retiring at the end of this academic year after a remarkable 27-year career in our Science department. His commitment to his students and to the school has been superb. His positive energy on campus, enthusiasm in the classroom and teaching expertise will be greatly missed.
Throughout his career, Peter has been an academic leader in the classroom and has enabled his students to succeed in a variety of science courses. However, it is in the Chemistry lab where his strengths truly shine. His belief in a student-centred approach formed the foundation for inspirational teaching known throughout the school. Of course, Peter’s contributions extend far beyond the classroom walls! He has coached both junior and senior soccer teams and lent his considerable woodworking talents to the creation of many spectacular musical sets. Peter will be missed by his colleagues.
There will be events to offer gratitude and say bon voyage in person to all our leavers.
On the other side of the ledger, we are pleased to announce the imminent arrival of alumna Chanelle Bertelsen ’11 as Director of Marketing and Communications.
Both thanks and kudos are owed in abundance to Kyle Slavin, who has so admirably and smoothly facilitated the transition as Interim Director of Marketing and Communications.
Yesterday, I was in Vancouver for our first alumni gathering there in three years. A room-bursting, enthusiastic gathering of almost 100 provided multiple testimonies of the life-changing opportunities that a SMUS education provides. We are most grateful for the role that our worldwide diaspora of 8,000 alumni play as ambassadors for our school.
With best wishes,
Mark Turner
