On January 16, 2025, Rick Hansen Secondary School (RHSS) buzzed with energy as students, staff, families, and community members gathered for the highly anticipated Annual Celebration of Learning. The evening unfolded with a vibrant blend of creativity, innovation, and heartfelt reflection.
As Halloween approaches, students and staff across the Abbotsford School District are excited to celebrate with costumes, creativity, and community spirit. To ensure a safe, respectful, and inclusive Halloween for everyone, we encourage families to keep the following tips in mind:
Respecting Diversity in Costumes
Halloween is a time for fun and imagination, and we want to make sure our costumes reflect respect and consideration for all cultures, beliefs, and identities. Costumes should avoid elements that might cause harm or offend others, including:
From October 24 to 27, Yale Secondary School was buzzing with energy as it welcomed over 400 students and educators for the annual BC Student Leadership Conference (BCSLC). With participants from 34 schools across British Columbia—and even one from Alberta—the event marked a remarkable gathering of future leaders, igniting conversations on personal growth, community impact, and leadership development.
In 2023, the Abbotsford Police Department launched a contest inviting local Indigenous youth from our school district to design a shoulder flash that would represent their heritage, family, and community values. The initiative aimed to reflect the attributes they wished to see in their police force.
The response was positively overwhelming, with over 40 submissions of artwork received. On Truth and Reconciliation Day in 2023, these submissions were displayed in the AbbyPD lobby, where the public was invited to vote for their favorite design.
The Abbotsford School District proudly celebrated its 2024 retirees with a memorable retirement dinner on June 5, 2024, at the Clarion Hotel. This special event celebrated the outstanding contributions and unwavering dedication of those retiring from education leadership, operations management, administration, teaching, and support staff roles.
The Abbotsford School District is excited to announce the expansion of its annual appreciation day to include all support staff, now designated as Support Staff Appreciation Day. This special day, first introduced last year as Instructional Support Staff Appreciation Day, is dedicated to recognizing the invaluable contributions of Educational Assistants, Youth Care Workers, International Student Liaisons, Indigenous Support Workers, Custodians, Administrative Assistants, and all other support staff members that contribute to the success of our organization.
Students and staff at Abbotsford School District's traditional schools experienced a vibrant display of culture and community this April as a Bhangra dance team and Dohl drummer from Abbotsford Traditional School (ATS) toured our traditional elementary schools. Performances were part of an initiative to celebrate Vaisakhi, while also fostering stronger connections among our traditional schools.
The Abbotsford School District is pleased to announce the Above and Beyond Champions (ABC) Recognition Program award recipients from the 2022-23 school year. This program highlights remarkable individuals whose contributions have profoundly impacted the district’s strategic goals, cultural ethos, and educational environment. Nominated for consideration by their peers, the 2024 award recipients were celebrated alongside their colleagues at the Long-Term Service Dinner on February 21, 2024 at the Clarion Hotel.
On February 21, 2024, the Abbotsford School District held its annual event to honour the commitment of over 150 employees. With service milestones ranging from 20 to 40 years, these individuals, from educators to administrative staff and from facilities to IT support, have been pivotal in implementing the district's mission of preparing students for a lifetime of success.
Last week, the Abbotsford School District became a place full of fun and colour as students, teachers, and families celebrated the Lunar New Year. From school assemblies to dragon parades, art projects and classroom activities, many schools throughout the system learned about this culturally significant event and what the Year of the Dragon means.
In classrooms, the learning took a hands-on approach. Students delved into the rich tapestry of Lunar New Year customs, crafting lanterns and exploring the zodiac animals, communicating their wishes and aspirations for the coming year.